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Small News From The Theme Park Industry

A $3.1 million contract has been approved by the City Council for the reconstruction of Funland amusement park at Burns Park in North Little Rock, Arkansas, after it was devastated by a tornado on March 31. The park is set to reopen by July 4th with all-inclusive and accessible attractions and playground sets. Source

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Aerial view of the damage
 
Efteling has begun experimenting with handing out numbered cards on Vliegende Hollander, telling guests which designated row they should sit in. The hope is it will lead to increased throughput and less cluster around the boarding platforms. Efteling’s been doing similar procedures over at Baron 1898 for years, but the current trial on Hollander is only set to last until the end of the main holiday season on Sunday.

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Several attractions at Disneyland will close this week to make way for the park's planned renovations. The closure includes World of Color, Sailing Ship Columbia, Grizzly River Run, and It's a Small World, which will all be temporarily closed beginning on Jan. 7 or 8. The four attractions will join the Astro Orbitor and Mark Twain Riverboat on the refurbishment list. Source
 
Apparently there was an incident on Ride to Happiness at Plopsaland on New Year’s Eve. A light strip measuring 60 centimeters in length dislodged from one of the cars mid-ride and fell to the ground near a pair of young children waiting in the queue. A staff member reportedly went and retrieved the fallen strip soon after, but it took another 20 minutes for the area to be cleared of guests. The affected train resumed operation later that evening without the strip present, but Plopsa is currently in discussions with Mack on what can be done to prevent the incident from re-occuring.

 
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Speaking of evacs, a staff member was injured during an evacuation on Valkyria at Liseberg on December 26th. Apparently the staff member was leading guests across the track in the station (there was no train present at the time and thus the retractable floor wasn’t available) when they slipped and fell three meters beneath the station, sustaining injuries to their feet and shoulders. The staff member was taken to the local hospital but was released later that evening. The park has since clarified their evacuation policies, making it explicit that neither staff nor guests are to cross the track at any point during evac procedures.

 
For anyone heading to Phantasialand before the end of Wintertraum in late January, Chiapas is now closed due to unexpected maintenance and will remain closed until the end of the event. The ride is expected to be back up in time for the summer start in late March.

 
Walibi Belgium has declared their winter opening an overall success with around 100,000 visitors coming to the park and the adjacent Aqualibi over the holiday period. The event is set to return next year, and deliberations have been made over opening the park during the February break starting in 2025, but nothing’s set in stone as of yet.

 
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After nearly 70 years Playland Fresno will be permanently closing in less than a week. Playland opened its gates in 1955, the same year Disneyland opened, and in a social media post, the amusement park says its last day will be this Sunday, January 14. The park, the home of a dragon coaster, ferris wheel, and several kiddie flat rides, will be open Thursday through Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm. On Thursday, January 11, Playland is hosting a Farewell Community Day with $1 admission and $1 train rides for everyone. Source
 
Double post Yay!
Just days after news broke that it would be closing its doors for good this past weekend, Playland Fresno announced operator Helm and Sons struck a deal with the Playland board to continue to operate the amusement park for at least another six months. The park is expanding its days of operation from Wednesday through Sunday with extended hours and will offer new specials for guests, including a flat $5 admission on Thursdays. Source
 
Plopsa has unveiled new logos for all of their properties, giving them a more sleek and simplified look:

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I like it - but it feels very corporate - it's not really screaming fun and theme park.
 
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