New Article Highlights Cedar Fair's Impressive Changes + Growth

© Funworld Magazine

The April edition if IAAPA's magazine, Funworld, features a wonderful look at the Cedar Fair of today, which is pretty different than the Cedar Fair of even 5 years ago.  Sure, big coasters still reign king at the parks, but behind the scenes the executive team at the company has hit the fast-forward button and worked tirelessly to bring the organization into current times.

As the article explains, nearly every aspect of the parks has been reviewed and rethought, incorporating technology and current trends in some areas, while beefing up some of the more stale aspects of amusements parks as well, like food offerings.

One (of many) interesting parts of the article details the company's efforts to do an in-depth study of each of their parks to truly understand what the visitors want, and why they were (or were not) still passing through the gates.  From these individual park studies came the recent changes at Knott's Berry Farm, including refurbishing classic existing rides to this year's restoration of GhostRider.  The team has completed the studies of Carowinds, Cedar Point and just recently finished Canada's Wonderland.

There's also some great information on the decisions behind Cedar Fair's recent move into dark rides and utilizing intellectual properties for them, like with Plants Vs. Zombies.  It certainly sounds like we haven't seen the end of these types of attractions in the parks!

From the elaborate special events that are now operating at the parks to Cedar Fair's serious look at more hotels, there's plenty of goodies in the story.  I'd say more - but just go read it yourself!

The Flying Dinosaur Open at Universal Japan + Last Back to the Future Ride to Close

Universal Studios Japan has opened The Flying Dinosaur, B&M's largest flying roller coaster to date, to very eager park guests.  The above video of the ride from its opening day shows plenty of off-ride views of the coaster - including several crazy elements like an inside raven-turn, pretzel loop and many fly-to-lie moments.

The ride, at least from the video, looks to really hold its speed throughout the entire course, ending with a speedy heartline twist just before the final brakes.  The ride's pretzel loop actually goes around one of the entrances to the Jurassic Park themed area, adding nice interaction with non-riders.  I guess to a degree the entire ride does that, since it's located almost exclusively above the park's midways.

© Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan also announced that Back to the Future: The Ride will be closing for good on May 31st, 2016.  The simulator ride is the one version still in operation at any Universal park, with both the Florida and California versions of the attractions having closed in 2007 to make way for The Simpsons Ride.

Now word yet on what will be replacing the attraction, even if it will be a retheme that will still use the existing simulator hardware, or a total removal of the ride.

Dorney Park's Thunderhawk TLC Continues + A 2016 Haunt Hint?

© Dorney Park / M. Fehnel

Dorney Park has continued work on the major refurbishment of the park's oldest roller coaster, Thunderhawk, throughout this mild winter.  Dating back to 1924, the wooden coaster is now looking pretty spiffy for the ripe old age of 92.

The park's General Manager has been sharing photos of the ride's progress over the past few months, and recently revealed some views of the total repaint that is underway.  The official color of the ride is Banana Cream, meaning it will still have the yellow hue that the ride is known for.

© Dorney Park / M. Fehnel

These photos make it pretty evident, but the park has completed painting the ride's lift and first drop.  Set against a clear blue sky (and the red of Steel Force's track), the new paint really pops.  The park also promises to feature new running lights along the coaster's hills to make it even more beautiful after dark.

© Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters

Along with the new paint and other general maintenance, Dorney Park has also purchased two new trains from Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters.  The famous train manufacturers have been keeping us updated on their progress, and recently featured the above photo of one of the completed trains!  They look great - the front piece with open-air design and custom name sign came out wonderfully.

© Dorney Park / M. Fehnel

One other interesting item to bring up.  The park's General Manager also shared a photo of some signs that they are working on that cover Thunderhawk's long history, which is a great idea if you ask me.

But if you stop looking at the signs and pay attention to the background, you may notice something else:

This is, of course, zoomed in so a bit blurry - but there's very clearly a bit of a hint for a new Halloween Haunt attraction hidden in plain sight!  Labeled "Haunted House A" and noted to be for Haunt '16, there appear to be designs for an elaborate facade including a balcony (on the right) and a two story structure (on the left).  The designs are hard to totally get a feel for, but they almost give a bit of a New Orleans type of feel to me.  Perhaps we will get more hints as time passes, oh and maybe there is a "Haunted House B?"

Got Fear? Be the First to Ride Phobia Phear Coaster at Lake Compounce!

Lake Compounce is holding a fun contest to select the first 12 riders on their brand new, multi-launch roller coaster - Phobia.  The amusement park has set up a website where fans are urged to submit their "deepest, darkest phobias" for a chance to be named one of the first riders.  If selected, the winners will be featured on the park's social media channels, with the whole world able to see just what scares them the most.

On the park's opening day, May 7th, the 12 winners will get the honor of riding before the general public - the contest also offers the chance to win a season pass for the year.

Phobia Phear Coaster features "speeds of 65 mile per hour with many exciting and unique elements including multiple launches, a twisting heart-line inversion, and ascending and descending twists."  The ride features a heartline roll that takes place 150 feet in the air, the tallest inversion in the Northeast.

If you think you have what it takes - enter here!

© Lake Compounce

One last note - Lake Compounce just started loading the trains onto the ride's track... which means that testing isn't far off! 

California's Great America to Stick Around Until at Least 2074

© California's Great America

Yes, that's a bit of an odd title for a post, but the good news is that it's true!  California's Great America opened for the season this past weekend and as part of the festivities they cleared the air (once again) about the future of the park.

Despite who ends up owning the land under the park, Cedar Fair is locked into a solid lease to operate the park until at least 2074, meaning almost six more decades of fun to come.  The park is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and along with the confirmation of the park's future the General Manager also says that more expansion will come and that "the plan is to develop the park and take it to the next level."

We've all seen how that works out when Cedar Fair gets passionate about a park (Carowinds), so this could mean many great things for California's Great America.  First up is the addition of WinterFest at the end of 2016, which will help move the park toward a year-round operation schedule.  As for new rides and attractions, we will have to wait a while longer to hear those details.

The park is also opening a new 4-D experience, Mass Effect, this year, but it wasn't quite ready for opening day.  Check out some shots of the park's 2016 improvements and the outside of the Mass Effect building at this link.

Another Villain Rolls Into Six Flags Great Adventure's 2016 Season

To celebrate the arrival of The Joker, Six Flags Great Adventure's new 4D Free Fly coaster, Harley Quinn has decided to join the fun and move in next door to the new ride.  Taking over what was formerly known as Blackbeard's Lost Treasure Train, the family roller coaster will now be known as Harley Quinn Crazy Train.

The roller coaster - suited for smaller guests with only a 41 inch height requirement - has been thrilling visitors for more than 15 years.  It is one of the remaining attractions installed during the theme park's massive 1999 "war on lines" expansion.  The transformation into Harley Quinn Crazy Train will utilize all new colors and theme.  Here is how the ride looked prior to 2016:

© Six Flags Great Adventure

The new version of the coaster will see a mix of black and red used on the track and supports, as seen in this update Great Adventure History.

“It is only fitting that this twisted makeover reunites The Joker with his partner in crime, Harley Quinn,” said Six Flags Great Adventure President John Fitzgerald. “As ultimate thrill seekers flock to our new, jaw-dropping coaster The Joker, family-sized thrills will be right next door with Harley Quinn Crazy Train.”

Harley Quinn Crazy Train focuses on gentle curves for thrills over the 1,181 feet of track, using a 28 foot tall lift hill to get the train moving at 22 miles per hour.   The renovated roller coaster should open sometime around the end of April, 2016.