Issue 3: May/June 2025

Issue 3: May/June 2025

Topic Overview (Excerpt):

  • Grand Prix EDventure: Europa-Park opens Gameplay Theater
  • Le Défi du Dragon – a world’s first at Jardin d’Acclimatation
  • Just Opened!
  • Djurs Sommerland debuts Adventure Trail
  • Wiener Looping “2.0”: The Prater upside down!
  • Gozimba: Premiere anticipation at Serengeti-Park Hodenhagen
  • Georgia Gold Rusher: New (surf-)coaster fun!
  • Interactive water slides upgrade at Sportiom, Netherlands
  • Europa-Park: Svømmepøl expansion at Rulantica
  • Aqua Lounge 2025: Fly high & keep connected!
  • Future Food – What could be on the menu this season?
  • Emotional experiences in digital times: A conversation with Michael Mack
  • 50 years of slides & rides: Wiegand celebrates anniversary
  • Knowing the ropes – 160 years of play rope production in Berlin
  • Review: This was VDFU ConnEX 2025
  • NewsPoint: “Fun Safe“ smart tool & more
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Special Feature
| Dreamworld opens Rivertown with first Switchback coaster

Jungle Rush Down Under

Dreamworld opens Rivertown with first Switchback coaster
The Dreamworld animal and theme park on Australia’s Gold Coast underwent an extensive redesign programme with an investment volume of 55 million Australian dollars. In 2023, a new themed area for children, “Kenny and Belinda’s Dreamland”, and a new wave flyer, the “Dreamworld Flyer”, were built. And shortly before the Gyro Swing “The Claw” was dismantled at the end of January 2025 to be replaced by a new and larger version, Dreamworld opened the new “Rivertown” theme area shortly before Christmas last year – including the world’s first switchback coaster “Jungle Rush” by Vekoma ...
Digital Reading
Special Feature
| The largest indoor water park in Oklahoma

OKANA Resort in Oklahoma City

The largest indoor water park in Oklahoma
A new indoor water park and resort has opened in Oklahoma City (USA). Located right next to the Oklahoma River, the Chickasaw Nation, an indigenous tribe native to Oklahoma, operates the new tourist attraction. Around USD 400 million was invested in the construction, which is now the largest indoor water park in the state. The design and theming concept for the entire facility is based on the indigenous culture, what – in addition to the offer of several large water slides – makes the guests’ stay a special experience ...
Digital Reading
Special Feature
| The new Sun Bay at Fantasiana Erlebnispark

Towards the sun with Helios

The new Sun Bay at Fantasiana Erlebnispark
The Austrian Fantasiana adventure park in Strasswalchen in the Salzburg Lake District recently opened its new main attraction: a BigDipper roller coaster with a Stryker Coaster train. The theme of the ride, called “Helios - Journey with the Sun”, is based on a ride with the sun god of the same name from Greek mythology. His most famous image was a statue over 30 metres high, which existed in the third century BC in the island capital of Rhodes and went down in history as the “Colossus of Rhodes” and one of the seven wonders of the ancient Greek world. Helios’ purpose was to guide a sun chariot pulled by four stallions through the air ...
Digital Reading
Special Feature
| Best practices of inclusion at parks & attractions

Accessibility at European Amusement Parks

Best practices of inclusion at parks & attractions
Around 7.9 million people with a severe disability were living in Germany at the end of 2023. This corresponds to almost ten per cent of the country’s total population. Almost eight million people that operators of leisure facilities in Germany should not and cannot ignore – after all, leisure parks are generally aimed at the whole family. But how to implement accessibility? While US amusement and theme parks have long attached great importance to inclusion – and pioneers such as Morgan’s Wonderland prove what is possible in the design of accessible theme parks and attractions - more and more amusement parks in Europe are also endeavouring to specifically address people with disabilities and expand their offerings to this end ...
Digital Reading
Special Feature
| What could be on the menu this season?

Future Food for Leisure Facilities

What could be on the menu this season?
Creative, personalised, technology-based: Concepts for successful quick service catering are constantly changing. Mega trends such as increased health awareness and sustainability in nutrition are influencing F&B demand, as are new developments in food technology. As change is a continuous process, it is of course also important for leisure centres to make regular adjustments to their own F&B offer in order to generate maximum additional revenue – and of course to round off the visitor experience for guests and receive positive feedback (keyword: social media)! Let’s take a look at fresh ideas for the catering offer at leisure facilities and best practice concepts that promise a tasty experience!
Digital Reading
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Topic outlook for issue 4/2025

  • Epic Universe: Universal’s new theme park in Orlando sets benchmark for future leisure experiences.

  • Dockworld: Walibi Belgium celebrates 50-year anniversary with new theme area & multi launch coaster.

  • Thermal Spas & Health Centres: Location development and future projects for more high-quality wellness options in Europe.

  • Nouvelles de France: Latest projects and new openings at France’s amusement parks and leisure attractions.

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