Europa-Park’s record-breaking Voltron Nevera opens to the public
Getty to return illegally excavated bronze head to Turkey
Alone in the Dark: Alterface’s Stéphane Battaille on Heide Park’s terrifying new Dämonen Gruft dark ride attraction
Efteling’s steam trains going green with switch to electric energy
Louvre considers moving Mona Lisa to improve visitor experience
Bali’s Waterbom pledges to become one of the world’s most sustainable waterparks
Why Disney is doubling down on theme parks with a US$60bn plan
Unesco lists 18 new geoparks worldwide
Disney rule change punishes people with disabilities for actions of able-bodied ‘disability fakers’, says group
Donkey Kong delay hits Nintendo theme park
Korean theme parks recover to near pre-pandemic levels
Universal tram accident injures more than a dozen people
Attractions.io launches Indoor Mapping feature
Could nuclear power be the key to carbon neutrality for the cruise industry?
Amsterdam bans new hotel development in latest bid to reduce tourism numbers
Bob Marley immersive experience making its way to Las Vegas
Mather appointed to reimagine Hereford Museum and Art Gallery
Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood launches TCM Classic Films Tour
Phoenix Rising ‘100 percent complete’ reveals Busch Gardens
Chuck E. Cheese and American Society for Deaf Children partner on inclusivity initiative
Tate to improve Indigenous representation in its collection
Historic Copenhagen stock exchange destroyed by fire
Hawaii’s off-limits ‘Stairway to Heaven’ to be dismantled following repeated tourist trespassing
Disneyland Paris renames park ahead of €2bn expansion
FEC market projected to reach US$111bn by 2030
Locals queue for hours ahead of public consultation for UK Universal theme park
Disney threatens guests who lie about disabilities with lifetime bans from theme parks
Storm surge: How Chimelong Spaceship’s award-winning and record-breaking Bermuda Storm was brought to life
MSC announces world-first Cliffhanger swing ride suspended 50m above the ocean
Halo Space unveils capsule ahead of public trips into the stratosphere
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Voltron Nevera is the new anchor attraction for Europa Park’s Croatia-themed area Credit: Europa Park
Europa Park is celebrating following the launch of Voltron Nevera - the first major coaster to come to the popular German theme park in 12 years.
Created by Mack Rides, the steel coaster sits in Europa-Park’s new Croatia-themed area and excites visitors by reaching speeds of up to 55.9mph (90kmph) and a maximum height of 105ft (32m).
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The ancient bronze will be returned to Turkey Credit: Getty
The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles has removed a life-sized bronze head from display after the institution learned it was illegally excavated.
Associated by some scholars with the archaeological site of Bubon, in the Burdur province of southwestern Türkiye, the head comes from a location where illicit excavations in the late 1960s brought to light several ancient bronzes that were subsequently sold abroad.
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A new attraction has arrived at Germany’s Heide Park, with Dämonen Gruft frighting and delighting visitors since its launch in March. Alterface’s Stéphane Battaille spoke to Planet Attractions about what went into the horror-filled ride’s creation.
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Efteling’s steam trains have been powered by coal for more than 55 years Credit: Efteling
With Efteling planning to become carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon positive by 2032, the operator has announced that its popular steam trains - powered by coal for more than 55 years - are set to switch to electric energy.
According to Efteling, the trains will retain their appearance, with only the method of power modified. To maintain the feel of a traditional engine, effects such as steam will be added.
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The Louvre is considering moving the world-famous Mona Lisa to its basement room in a bit to make it easier for visitors to see the artwork.
With around 10 million visitors each year clamouring to see the work by Da Vinci, huge crowds and limited gallery space present a significant challenge.
By moving the painting to its own room, museum officials believe it could help to “end the public’s disappointment”.
“Visitors are not being properly received in the current room so we feel that we’re not doing our job properly,” said Laurence des Cars, the museum’s director.
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One of Bali’s most popular waterparks has pledged to hit a net zero target by 2033, a move that would make the attraction one of the world’s most sustainable.
First opened in 1993, Waterbom Bali features a range of slides and attractions supplied by Whitewater, with the waterpark set over 39,000sq m (420,000sq ft) of land.
Undergoing a number of renovations and improvements since its foundation, the waterpark is already one of Bali’s most sustainable and modern attractions, with CEO, Sayan Gulino, revealing the upgrades are, in part, to push it towards its sustainability goals.
“We will be upgrading our ambitions and targets, as Waterbom aims to be the first Asian tourism business and the first waterpark in the world to be net zero by 2033,” said Gulino.
“Our energy sources will be 100% renewable, and our business will also be removing more carbon from the atmosphere than we emit. Throughout this process, we will keep ourselves accountable and provide data and reports to the public to show transparency.”
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Over the decades since Walt Disney opened his first theme park in 1955, the company’s tourism business has ballooned to an enterprise worth tens of billions in yearly sales, with sprawling locations in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Today, the Burbank entertainment giant is doubling down once again. Disney plans to invest US$60bn over 10 years into its experiences division, which includes the theme parks, resorts and cruise line, as well as merchandise.
Why the massive investment? At a time when Disney faces revenue challenges due to cord-cutting, streaming wars and a slower film box office, its theme parks are a bright - and reliable - spot for its business. Moreover... More from LA Times
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Greece is celebrating the addition of Meteora Pyli - a location famous for the towering Meteora sandstone columns Credit: Chris Karagkelis
Unesco has added to its list of Global Geoparks, recognising 18 new locations of geological significance that combine conservation efforts with community-led sustainable development.
Now totalling 213 such sites across 48 countries, the Geoparks use geological heritage, in connection with all other aspects of the area’s natural and cultural heritage, to enhance awareness and understanding of key issues facing society, such as using earth’s resources sustainably, mitigating the effects of climate change and reducing natural hazard-related risks.
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Disability fakers are becoming a problem for Disney parks, with many people abusing the disability system in order to skip the lengthy lines
After threatening guests who lie about disabilities with lifetime bans from its theme parks, Disney has come under fire over the changes made to its longstanding Disability Access Service provision service.
Disney made the changes to its disability policy earlier this month following a “significant” increase in people taking advantage of disability policies to skip lines and avoid crowds. These services are the most requested at the operator’s Florida and California parks, with such requests tripling over the past five years.
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The upcoming Donkey Kong Country-themed expansion to Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan has been struck by a delay.
The huge new area, themed around Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, will now be fully bolted-on to the existing Mushroom Kingdom park in "late 2024", Universal Studios said today.
That's a delay of around six months, as the Donkey Kong area was previously set to open sometime this spring. Readjust your holiday plans appropriately!
Universal Studios did not provide a reason for the hold-up, which was announced... More from Eurogamer
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A tulip festival at Everland (Courtesy of Yonhap News)
Everland and Lotte World, South Korea’s two largest theme parks, posted their highest-ever profits in 2023, recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic shock, thanks to a sharp increase in visitor numbers and ticket price hikes.
In pursuit of new growth drivers, they are utilizing the intellectual property (IP) of webtoons, or digital comics, to create new events based on their characters, props and environment designs.
Everland is also upping the marketing for animals such as giant pandas in its zoo, which drew large crowds of visitors and media attention last year.
Everland, owned by Samsung C&T Corp. posted 66 billion won... More from KED Global
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Over a dozen people have been injured following an incident at Universal Studios Hollywood that saw a tram carrying passengers crash.
Taking place during a tour of the Universal backlot, the four-tram car hit a metal guard rail, “causing it to tilt and eject multiple passengers” according to a report from the California Highway Patrol, which added there was “some type of issue” with the tram’s brakes.
Fifteen tram passengers were taken to the hospital for treatment of "minor to moderate injuries," the Highway Patrol said, adding that drugs and alcohol were not considered to be factors. The agency will continue to investigate.
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Indoor Mapping allows guests to easily navigate complex indoor spaces Credit: Attractions.io
Attractions.io has announced that it is expanding its navigation capabilities even further with Indoor Mapping - a new tool created to map complex spaces indoors.
Following surveys conducted with staff working at indoor attractions, Attractions.io identified a need to improve mapping of indoor attractions. For indoor attractions, GPS positioning can be unreliable, and other technical solutions, such as RFID and triangulation methods, are still in the works.
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The Thor concept is a nuclear-powered ship which also generates energy for an electric companion vessel Credit: Ulstein Design & Solutions AS
As the cruise industry looks for new ways to reduce its carbon footprint, an unlikely solution has entered the conversation - nuclear power.
At this year’s Seatrade Cruise Global conference, which had the theme ‘Evolution of Cruise’, leaders in the sector explored the idea of nuclear power being used to propel the cruise industry.
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As the city of Amsterdam continues to attempt to reduce tourism numbers, the city is taking its next big step by saying ‘no’ to new hotels.
Amsterdam has been trying to rein in its tourist numbers for several years, launching a campaign to keep British men aged 18-35 away, barring cruise ships from docking in the city centre and tightening its rules on smoking marijuana.
Despite these changes, however, tourists still flock to the city, which is trying to bring numbers under 20 million people a year.
Its latest move is to introduce a ban on new hotels, a move which will not affect the 26 already in development. Under the new rules, a new hotel will only be allowed to open if another closes, with the new hotel not allowed to add more rooms than are available.
“Amsterdam is saying ‘no’ to new hotels,” said the City Council in a statement. “We want to make and keep the city livable for residents and visitors.”
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A new immersive experience is coming to Las Vegas, with ‘Bob Marley Hope Road’ set to open at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino later this year.
Inviting audiences to “enter a world where the heartbeat of one man unites all in celebration” the experience will be making its debut in the US as fans immersive themselves in ‘Marley’s Jamaica’.
Featuring a range of musical and visual experiences, Hope Road will be divided into two distinct experiences. By day, visitors will take part in an experience made up of digital and analogue installations. At night, visitors will be immersed with dancers, DJs, musicians and entertainers, all of whom will be celebrating Marley’s music.
“Our family is incredibly proud of this project that honours the life of our father,“ said two of Marley’s children, Cedella and Ziggy Marley, who are included as the project’s executive producers. “His legacy lives on through his music and life’s work of empowering and uniting the people. We invite all to be a part of this journey through Bob Marley Hope Road.”
More here
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Design consultancy Mather & Co has been appointed to reimagine the Hereford Museum and Art Gallery, with the project set to see the museum's Grade II-listed building transformed into a contemporary cultural destination for local people and tourists.
Located in Hereford, UK, the redeveloped museum, says Mather, will feature new exhibition spaces, enhanced visitor facilities and improved accessibility.
Funded via the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Mather & Co’s appointment comes as the redevelopment moves into its next stages - technical design and then construction.
“The unique heritage and history of the region will be brought out through a closer co-development with audiences, working with stories and collections to create a strong sense of pride and ownership,” said Mather’s content manager, Leanne Clydesdale. “We’re looking forward to starting on this next phase in what will be a flagship project for everyone.”
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The tour takes visitors through the Golden Age of Hollywood Credit: Warner Bros Studio Tour
The Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood has announced the launch of a new tour experience celebrating 30 years of Turner Classic Movies (TCM).
Turning 30 years old this month, TCM has partnered with Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood on the experience, which is called TCM Classic Films Tour and opened on April 16.
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Phoenix Rising will be Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s 10th coaster Credit: Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has announced that it has completed track installation for its upcoming Phoenix Rising coaster.
A B&M coaster, Phoenix Rising is scheduled to open to the public in the spring, with the new addition seeing the park reach a landmark of 10 rollercoasters on-site.
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Chuck E. Cheese will embark on several initiatives, including the organisation of national and local fundraising events Credit: Chuck E. Cheese
Chuck E. Cheese has announced a partnership with the American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC), with the collaboration aiming to foster greater inclusivity for all children, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, and their families.
Through the rest of the year, Chuck E. Cheese will embark on several initiatives, including the organisation of national and local fundraising events, with 20% of the proceeds going to the ASDC.
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Tate has launched a new initiative to bring more works by Indigenous artists into its collection with a four-year commitment from AKO Foundation to fund acquisitions from Sámi and Inuit art from Northern Europe.
Similar projects to research, collect and display the work of artists from other Indigenous communities in South Asia, Oceania and the Americas will follow.
Tate said in a statement that... More from the Museums Association
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The nearly 400-year-old Copenhagen stock exchange has been almost totally destroyed following a major fire.
The 17th-century building, which dates back to 1625, is a cultural landmark of the city and is home to the Danish Chamber of Commerce. During the fire, members of the public were seen rushing to rescue a number of historic paintings from the blaze.
The building was in the midst of a renovation and had been covered in scaffolding at the time of the fire. As much as half of the building, including its iconic spire, was destroyed but Danish authorities have vowed to rebuild the city icon “no matter what”.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
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A staircase in a Hawaiian beauty spot is set to be dismantled as a result of tourists repeatedly accessing the off-limits structure.
Unofficially known as the Stairway to Heaven, the Haiku Stairs in Oahu were built during World War II and will be removed at the end of April.
Officially closed to the public in 1987 due to the dangerous terrain, social media posts have made the steps a popular destination among YouTubers, TikTokers and other tourists.
“Due to rampant illegal trespassing, Haiku Stairs is a significant liability and expense for the city, and impacts the quality of life for nearby residents,” Honolulu City Council member Esther Kiaʻāina told Hawaii News Now.
The work to remove the stairs will cost around US$2.5m and will take at least six months to complete.
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Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris is no more after the company announced it was rebranding the park Disney Adventure World.
Disneyland Paris is currently in the middle of a major overhaul which is seeing the entire theme park and resort experience expanded and reinvigorated through a €2bn (US$2.1bn, £1.7bn) investment.
Coming alongside a “fresh creative vision”, the newly-christened Disney Adventure World will nearly double in size, with a variety of new attractions and Disney IPs set to feature.
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The global FEC market has been predicted to grow significantly, with the sector forecast to increase from US$46.36bn in 2023 to reach $110.97bn by 2030.
According to the report, the sector has seen a significant rise in popularity among teenagers and children, driven by their diverse activities catering to varied interests.
Among the highlights, Dave and Buster's, Legoland Discovery Centers, Bandai Namco Holdings, The Walt Disney Company and Landmark Group have been highlighted as being among the key players globally.
Representing a compound annual growth rate of 13.27%, the figures rely on enhanced economic conditions and rising household incomes, with an increase in leisure spending.
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Queues of up to an hour were in place ahead of the first public event about Universal’s UK theme park plans, with the operator saying the local people have embraced the project, keen for it to become a reality.
Speaking to the Bedford Independent, Page Thompson, president of new ventures at Universal Theme Parks & Resorts, said: “From our very first meeting, a year and a half ago, with (former) Mayor Dave, it has been an incredibly positive reception from Bedford who are really embracing the project and want it to go forward.
“And that’s really important for Universal because we want to bring a project to an area that wants to have it.”
According to Thompson, a timeline for the project is yet to be confirmed, though more plans will hopefully be nailed down “by the end of the year”.
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Disney says it is changing its policy for guests with disabilities at its theme parks, with the changes coming alongside the threat of a lifetime ban from its parks for those who attempt to misuse the programme.
According to a Disney spokesperson, there has been a significant increase in people taking advantage of disability policies to skip lines and avoid crowds, with such services the most requested at the operator’s Florida and California parks. Over the past five years, such requests have more than tripled.
Under Disney’s new policy, disabled guests can now "request a return time for a specific experience that is comparable to the current standby wait”. Meanwhile, guests found to have taken advantage of the programme will earn a lifetime ban, with Disney narrowing down previously vague language to define who exactly can make use of the policy.
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Bermuda Storm is a collaboration featuring some of the attractions industry’s biggest names
When the world’s largest indoor theme park opened its doors in China last year, it came with a very special, record-breaking flagship attraction.
Part of the Zhuhai Chimelong Resort, Chimelong Spaceship is an aquatic park, with the attraction built around what is now the world's largest aquarium facility, featuring the world’s largest single aquarium tank.
More than 150,000 marine animals across 400 species are on display at the attraction, which features 15 themed zones and a number of ride additions.
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Cliffhanger is a first-of-its-kind attraction on-board the MSC ship Credit: MSC
MSC Cruises has unveiled a world-first attraction on board its upcoming World America liner - the only over-water swing ride at sea.
Dubbed ‘Cliffhanger’, the ride will make its debut when the ship enters service in April 2025 with the attraction sitting on the MSC liner’s top deck as part of the Family Aventura district alongside a range of attractions including bumper cars, a roller rink and water slides.
Cliffhanger, which has four seats, starts close to the deck, with powered arms then lifting riders up and out over the edge of the ship. From there, riders will be swung back and forth, with the activity taking place 50m (164ft) above the ocean. The ride, says MSC, is the only one of its kind in the world to be built on a cruise ship.
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The Aurora shuttle takes inspiration from Space Age architecture and design and will offer unparalleled views of the earth Credit: HALO Space
Halo Space - a company specialising in commercial flights into the earth’s stratosphere - has unveiled ‘The Aurora’, its new space capsule.
Founded in 2021, Halo works with a select group of top-tier aerospace companies in the development of a programme which will see the company offer zero-emission commercial flights, allowing passengers to observe the curvature of the Earth and the vastness of space. This is made possible thanks to a stratospheric balloon, which will carry a pressurised capsule with 360 viewing to a height of up to 40km (131,000ft).
With interiors imagined by Frank Stephenson Design, passengers will spend up to six hours inside the vessel, which measures 5m (16.5ft) wide and 3.5m (11.6ft) tall.
Capable of housing up to eight passengers and a pilot, the design of the Aurora takes inspiration from Space Age architecture and design, with a heavy use of curved lines, curved edges, and reflective materials.
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