Dreamworld's newest big cat residents will be the first mane show for new exhibit

Dreamworld today confirmed rumors that the themepark is undergoing major construction work to create a brand new interactive enclosure that is capable of displaying various exotic animals and is due to open in time for April school holidays.

The first animals to be featured on display will be two rare white lions to be temporarily relocated to the Gold Coast themepark from their permanent home at Canberra’s National Zoo and Aquarium.

With just a handful in captivity around the world, this will be the first chance for many South East Queensland locals and visitors to view this breed of big cat in such authentic surroundings and at so close a range.

Spotted for the first time in the 1930’s in the Timbavati region of South Africa it wasn’t until the 1970’s that the White Lion was rediscovered with the first breeds occurring in the 1980’s at Johannesburg Zoo.

The three year old brother and sister duo named Jake and Mischka will inhabit the new 334m² enclosure where visitors will be able to observe their natural behavior and Dreamworld’s General Manager Life Sciences, Al Mucci, explains that this playful pair will provide plenty of enjoyment for observers.

“These white lions are still in an adolescent stage and as such are really playful and active. They’re both big cats with Jake weighing in at over 200kgs, so guests will really be able to see the sheer power as they play with each other and adapt to their temporary surroundings.”

The new exhibit is to be purpose built to suit a range of animals and future plans for the themepark will offer locals and visitors the chance to observe different species at various times of the year.

“White lions will be the first exotic animal we introduce to the new enclosure and we are looking into other exotic carnivores that have never before been displayed on the Gold Coast,” said Mr Mucci.

The new enclosure will be located near the entrance to Tiger Island and will feature many interactive elements where guests will be able to walk alongside the displayed animal while remaining safely behind the facilities purpose engineered, triple laminated toughened glass.

The new exhibit will be ready in time for April school holidays and Dreamworld is keeping a few secrets up its sleeve, with the promise to really amaze visitors.

“There are a few elements we are still working on and we will have further news in the coming weeks. We know our guests will be really excited about this new facility,” said Mr Mucci.

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Thorpe Park announce B&M Wing-Rider - LC12

In line with THORPE PARK’s Medium Term Development Plan, application for full planning permission for a new rollercoaster in 2012 has been submitted to Runnymede Borough Council. This can be viewed on the Runnymede Borough Council website, www.runnymede.gov.uk (ref: RU.11/0101).

The German manufacturer Bolliger and Mabillard have been commissioned to build
the unique new rollercoaster due to their consistent record of delivering extreme
rides of the highest quality. Subject to planning permission, the ride will open in
Spring 2012 and will be located on one of the new development islands adjacent to
Stealth, measuring just under 40 metres in height.

Mike Vallis, Divisional Director, comments:

“THORPE PARK has developed significantly over the last decade to create the ‘must
do’ destination for thrill seekers in the UK. We have focussed our investment on
delivering exciting new rides and attractions including SAW – The Ride: the world’s
first horror movie themed rollercoaster, Stealth: one of Europe’s fastest
rollercoasters, Colossus: the world’s first 10 looping rollercoaster and Nemesis
Inferno the 4.5 G-force experience.

This new development for 2012 will further add to the Park’s impressive ride portfolio and firmly establish the THORPE PARK as the nation’s Thrill Capital with a wide range of adrenaline pumping rides.”

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SeaWorld San Diego Announces New ‘Manta’ Coaster

SeaWorld San Diego is excited to announce that in 2012, the park will unveil its new launch coaster, Manta — a new mega-attraction that will seamlessly transition guests from the awe of watching rays in underwater flight … into the sensation of actually being one. SeaWorld is scheduled to break ground for Manta within a month and the ride is slated to open to the public in 2012.

Swooping over sea and sky, Manta will not only inspire riders with amazing underwater animal habitats, but take them on an exhilarating ride on a coaster shaped like a giant manta ray.

“We are delighted to bring energizing new attractions to our guests year after year,” said SeaWorld park president, John Reilly, “and Manta does just that, combining the thrill and excitement of a coaster, with the educational and entertaining value of an incredible marine-life exhibit.”

Gliding, flying and diving through more than a dozen twists and turns, riders will feel as if they are a ray, taking flight from sky to sea — so close at times that the Manta’s wings skim the waves.

Manta also will feature a unique “launch station” where the passengers will start the ride enclosed in a launch tunnel with larger-than-life images of rays projected on a 270-degree enveloping screen. This stunning introduction to the world of the rays also will visually enhance the physical acceleration as the ride launches down the track. This state-of-the-art projection system will be the first of its kind in the United States.

Riders and non-riders alike will enjoy the graceful beauty of bat rays and fishes. Forbidden Reef, an existing SeaWorld attraction where guests can feed and touch bat rays, will be incorporated and enhanced as part of Manta.

“With Manta, our guests will be able to see and interact with 65 bat rays, 10 guitar fish, and hundreds of fishes,” said SeaWorld San Diego curator of fishes, Thad Dirksen. “The below-water viewing area will include eight acrylic windows and a reef design. The above-water interaction area will allow our guests more opportunities to touch and feed the rays.”

Manta will be located just north of Rocky Point Preserve. SeaWorld is working with German ride design company MACK, which also engineered the marine-life park’s popular ride, Journey To Atlantis. Guests at SeaWorld’s sister park in Orlando have been enjoying a similar version of Manta since it opened in 2009.

Fact Sheet

• Type of ride: Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) Launch Coaster
• Maximum launch acceleration: .7 to .8 G
• Maximum speed: 43 mph (69 km/h)
• Maximum vertical G-force: 3 to 4 G
• Maximum height: 30 ft (9.1 m)
• Maximum drop: 54 ft (16 m)
• Track length: 2,835 ft (864 m)
• Ride duration: One minute, 56 seconds
• Seats/train: 20 seats per train/four trains
• Guest capacity: 1,400 passengers per hour
• Location: Just north of Rocky Point Preserve
• Manufacturer: German ride engineer, MACK
• Rider height restriction: 4 ft 0 in (48 in / 122 cm)
• Other elements: 100,000 gallon marine-life exhibit:
  
  • 65 California bat rays
  • 10 guitar fish
  • more than 400 fishes

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New Shamu Show to Premiere at the SeaWorld Parks

“One Ocean” is scheduled to premiere at SeaWorld Orlando at the end of April, SeaWorld San Diego on Memorial Day weekend and SeaWorld San Antonio in June. The show is exactly what you love about our parks – thrilling entertainment that educates and inspires you to celebrate, connect and care for the one world and one ocean we share. Check out the video below to get the scoop from Julie Scardina, our curator of animal training.



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2011 Brings Ten New Attractions to Parks Across the Country

Hey Fans! In case you haven’t heard, 2011 is a really exciting year for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. We’re opening ten – that’s right, ten – new attractions in our parks across the country! Here’s a quick download on everything that’s coming to your favorite parks this year.

Just announced this morning, a new killer whale show is opening at all three SeaWorld parks. “One Ocean” connects guests to the sea, and to these amazing animals, with a new level of excitement while it educates and inspires you to make a difference in this world. The show is scheduled to premiere at SeaWorld Orlando at the end of April, SeaWorld San Diego on Memorial Day weekend and SeaWorld San Antonio in June.

SeaWorld San Diego also is opening a second major attraction this summer – Turtle Reef where you can get an up-close look at 60 threatened or endangered sea turtles. And don’t miss its new ride which takes you on an exciting animal rescue mission!

SeaWorld San Antonio also opens Sesame Street Bay of Play this spring which will include three acres of exciting rides, shows and play areas and will be home to a colorful carousel with all the friends of Sesame Street.

Just across the street from SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove is opening an all-new area called The Grand Reef. You can experience this new adventure in a variety of ways: there’s plenty of shallow water areas; a chance to snorkel among thousands of fish and rays in deeper water; and, for the most thrill-seeking fans, there is SeaVenture – an underwater walking tour using dive helmets.

If your favorite part of a park visit is thrill rides, then the Busch Gardens parks are the place for you! Busch Gardens Tampa is opening Cheetah Hunt, a multiple launch-point coaster that uses repelling magnets to launch riders from 0 to 60 mph in a matter of seconds. At the new Cheetah Run animal habitat, you can witness the world’s fastest land animal in action during daily sprints.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is opening a drop tower called Mach Tower, where you’ll be lifted almost 200 feet in the air before a breath-taking and exciting drop. Also in Williamsburg, Water Country is opening Vanish Point, a new thrill attraction where you can choose which way you drop out of sight: either plunging down after the floor drops out from under you, or horizontally on a 300-foot speed slide that drops you straight down.

And, for our littlest fans, you can have tons of fun at Sesame Place, near Philadelphia, during “Neighborhood Street Party” with all of your favorite Sesame Street characters, then scoot on over to the park’s newest ride – Elmo’s Cloud Chaser.

Pretty exciting stuff, right? We'll keep you updated on all of the latest developments on these attractions right here on our blogs, so check back often!

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