Industry News

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation has announced that Alexander "Al" Weber, Jr. will takeover the role of President and Interim Chief Executive Officer from Mark Shapiro, effective immediately.

"I am excited to have this opportunity to serve as President and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Six Flags", Mr Weber said in the statement.

"The Company has made great strides to improve park operations and has significantly reduced its outstanding debt, paving the way for Six Flags to continue investing in its operations to provide an even more enjoyable experience for the whole family", Mr Weber added.

From 2002 to 2006, Mr Weber served as President and CEO for Paramount Parks, Inc., later becoming CEO for Palace Entertainment, LLC.

The board is now searching for somebody to serve as Chief Executive Officer on a permanent basis.

Photo: Six Flags Magic Mountain

The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) has released the annual theme and water park attendance report for 2009, highlighting the busiest parks from around the world.

The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World has again been recognised as the world's busiest theme park, with 17.2 million people visiting the theme park in 2009, representing a 1 per cent increase over prior-year results.

Typhoon Lagoon at Walt Disney World was the most-visited water park in 2009.

In fact, Disney parks from around the world recorded excellent results; the top eight performing theme parks and top two water parks belonged to Disney.

While global theme park attendance dipped slightly in 2009, water parks defied this trend and went on to attract more visitors than ever.

Top 10 performing theme parks in 2009:

• Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World
• Disneyland
• Tokyo Disneyland
• Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris
• Tokyo Disney Sea
• Epcot at Walt Disney World
• Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World
• Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World
• Universal Studios Japan
• Everland

Top 10 performing water parks in 2009:

• Typhoon Lagoon at Walt Disney World
• Blizzard Beach at Walt Disney World
• Chimelong Water Park
• Aquatica
• Caribbean Bay at Everland Resort
• Ocean World
• Wet 'N Wild (Orlando)
• Wet'n'Wild Water World (Gold Coast)
• Summerland
• Sunway Lagoon

Top 10 performing chains in 2009:

• Walt Disney Attractions
• Merlin Entertainments Group
• Parques Reunidos
• Six Flags, Inc.
• Universal Studios Recreation Group
• Busch Entertainment
• Cedar Fair Entertainment Co.
• OCT Parks China
• Compaigne des Alpes (Grevin)
• Aspro Group

Photo: Magic Kingdom

Join Theme Park Review for Bay Area Bash on Saturday 15 May at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and Sunday 16 May at California's Great America!

Register for Bay Area Bash 2010 here.

This is a "VIP" Theme Park and Roller Coaster fan event where you will get:

• "Exclusive Ride Time" on several major attractions including: Medusa, Tony Hawk, Roar, V2, Flight Deck (Top Gun), Vortex, Drop Tower and Survivor!
• "Exclusive Ride Time" means the rides are open just for our group... no one else. NO WAITING IN LINES!
• Lunch will be included on both days
• VIP experience enhanced with "Backstage Tours" at both parks
• "Animal Encounters" get you up close and personal with some of Discovery Kingdom's animal stars!
• Event T-Shirt included!
• The return of the "Tony Hawk Water Challenge!"
• There will be games, fun, and lots of other great activities you won't want to miss

Event Pricing:

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom:

$40 -- Season Pass & Non-Season Pass Price

California's Great America:

$30 -- Season Pass Holder

$52 -- Non-Season Pass Holder

Take the PARTY BUS to Bay Area Bash!

Travel in style with fellow theme park fans from So Cal to Nor Cal to both events and make a weekend out of it!

$375 for the TPR Party Bus Includes:

• All ground transportation
• Admission to both events (SFDK & CGA)
• Hotel stay for two nights
• A BONUS PARK & COASTER ON FRIDAY NIGHT!!!
• Dinner included on Friday night
• Breakfast and Lunch included on Saturday and Sunday
• Snacks, drinks, fun, fun, fun!
• MORE SURPRISES!!!

Download the event flyer for Party Bus and event details.

See you at this year's Bay Area Bash!

Photo: Theme Park Review

Lo-Q, the leader in virtual queuing at theme parks, has renewed contracts with five of its customers.

This means that Lo-Q will continue to provide its flagship VQ2020 queue management system, or the Q-txt system, to LEGOLAND Windsor, Dreamworld, Mirabilandia, Dollywood and Parque Isla Mágica.

Lo-Q also provides virtual queuing systems to various Six Flags parks.

Photo: Lo-Q

The results for the 2009 Best Roller Coaster Poll have been released.

The poll is split into two categories -- steel and wooden coasters -- and each coaster that makes it to the list is ranked in order from best to worst.

Bizarro, Eagle's Fortress, Expedition GeForce, Diamondback and Goliath (best to worst) topped the list for steel roller coasters.

The Voyage, El Toro, T Express, Boulder Dash and Ravine Flyer II (best to worst) were the top rated wooden coasters.

The poll is published yearly and it invites anyone from the general public to write in and share their opinion on roller coasters that they have ridden.

While the full list of poll results for wooden coasters has been released, the complete list on steel coasters is yet to be published.

Photo: Holiday World