Small News From The Theme Park Industry

[ECG]

You gotta admire Maurer for still trying with the Spike coaster concept, if nothing else.

They're at it again...

...this time it's a Spike Jet Ski interactive coaster concept.

 

[MLDesigns]

It's just kinda sad at this point. Their ENTIRE Youtube channel over 7 years is just for the Spike (39/40 videos, insane). Just throw in the towel please. Can they not develop a new family coaster concept or something?!

It also doesn't help that the ride is also truly terrible. I just did my first one of these a few weeks ago at Qiddiya, what a vile contraption it is.

 

[martinparks]

turning back to the older project like the x-car and the spinning coaster could be more profitable.....

 

[JoshC.]

You gotta admire Maurer for still trying with the Spike coaster concept, if nothing else.

Yeah, after experiencing a Spike coaster, I no longer even admire Mairer for still trying it...

 

[martinparks]

Yeah, after experiencing a Spike coaster, I no longer even admire Mairer for still trying it...

oh so you found one not in maintenance?

 

[Boodangy]

Can they not develop a new family coaster concept or something?!

In the era where compact launch coasters and larger family coasters are all the rage it truly is bewildering why Maurer doesn't go back to it's X-train coaster like Dragon Legend here in the video and refine the product a little and start marketing it again. We know they can make normal capacity rollercoasters, they just for some reason choose not to.

Thing is because of their restraint design they could just use the same trains for both family and extreme coasters and just like, not put a central spine on the family version, and put block brakes at the end so it can run multiple trains, we know they can do block zones from their spinners.

 

[Niles]

A park called Festyland in France is getting a new custom Vekoma family boomerang and the station looks rather good, never heard of the park but hey currently have two very interesting looking Soquet coasters.

Parc Festyland on Instagram: "Le cœur de l’expérience prend forme ! 💥 La gare de Valkyrie se dévoile : structure, sécurité et décors, chaque détail compte. Nos équipes mettent tout leur savoir-faire et leur passion pour créer un lieu unique, prêt à

456 likes, 13 comments - parcfestyland on February 24, 2026: "Le cœur de l’expérience prend forme ! 💥 La gare de Valkyrie se dévoile : structure, sécurité et décors, chaque détail compte. Nos équipes mettent tout leur savoir-faire et leur passion pour créer un lieu unique, prêt à vous...

www.instagram.com

 

[JoshC.]

For what it is, Festyland is a decent park. A Vekoma Boomerang really adds to the line up in a meaningful way, and that theming looks like it will match some of their better themed areas too. This plus 1066 will be a good duo for the park (their other coaster, however, needs to be binned...I don't think I've ever experienced a coaster which felt like it was naturally slowing down whilst going downhill...)

Really excited to see the final product on this though!

 

[YoshiPoseidon]

They're at it again...

...this time it's a Spike Jet Ski interactive coaster concept.

They need to give up on this concept and make more of theeesssseeeee

Venus GP - Space World (Yahata Higashi, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan)

Looking for statistics on the fastest, tallest or longest roller coasters? Find it all and much more with the interactive Roller Coaster Database.

rcdb.com

 

[Matt N]

I’m baffled at why Maurer continues down the road of Spike Coasters when they’re evidently rubbish… or why any parks bought them after seeing the early prototypes, for that matter!

This seems like an age where Maurer’s spinning coasters and X-Cars could sell quite well, yet they continue to peddle this model over either of those arguably much better bets… I don’t understand the logic.

 

[VonRolland]

I’m baffled at why Maurer continues down the road of Spike Coasters when they’re evidently rubbish… or why any parks bought them after seeing the early prototypes, for that matter!

This seems like an age where Maurer’s spinning coasters and X-Cars could sell quite well, yet they continue to peddle this model over either of those arguably much better bets… I don’t understand the logic.

Feels like they've sunk too much into R&D and need to recoup the costs, don't see that happening anytime soon even with all the cruise spike coasters

 

[ECG]

... they've sunk too much into R&D and need to recoup the costs,..

This.

 

[Niles]

Festyland have shown a sneak peek of the train for their Vekoma family boomerang and like the station building they look quite nice.

Parc Festyland on Instagram: "On vous avait dit que ça allait prendre de la vitesse… Aujourd’hui, on vous dévoile quelques éléments du train de Valkyrie 🎢 Regardez ces détails… chaque élément a été travaillé et pensé avec soin ✨ Un vrai bijou qui co

701 likes, 38 comments - parcfestyland on March 3, 2026: "On vous avait dit que ça allait prendre de la vitesse… Aujourd’hui, on vous dévoile quelques éléments du train de Valkyrie 🎢 Regardez ces détails… chaque élément a été travaillé et pensé avec soin ✨ Un vrai bijou qui commence à se...

www.instagram.com

 

[bratcurry]

Feels like they've sunk too much into R&D and need to recoup the costs

Throwing good money after bad won't recoup anything. Sunk cost fallacy at its finest.

 

[cocoa]

I'm sure festyland is a lovely place but I can't get over how funny it sounds in aussie slang

 

[ECG]

The Oceanic Aquarium in Balneário Camboriú, Brazil, unveiled plans to add an indoor theme park featuring the country's second-largest indoor roller coaster and additional family-friendly rides. The eight-floor, 5.5-acre (22,000 m2) building will include an arcade, new aquarium exhibits, parking, and themed restaurants. The Italian ride manufacturer was not named, and construction is slated to begin this month. Source

 

[Boodangy]

^ Judging by the rendering it's probably all SBF, they're a veteran at indoor packages including small family coasters plus the tower ride in the middle is one of their twist'n'drop models.

 

[Cruisin@325]

Those flats are definitely SBF. SBF Drop Tower
Decent chance that's a spinning cars coaster. Spinning Cars Coaster

 

[WoodCoasterFan]

Niagara Amusement Park has suspended season pass sales for 2026. Their official Facebook page has gone from having multiple posts per week to complete radio silence. Might the park be in danger of closing again?

 

[cookie]

Sesame Workshop is suing United Parks for withholding royalties and trying to undermine the Sesame Street brand through retaliatory measures:

SeaWorld sued over mishandling 'Sesame Street' brand, unpaid royalties

Sesame Workshop, known for the iconic children's TV show "Sesame Street", sued SeaWorld on Thursday to end their decades-long relationship, accusing the theme ‌park operator of withholding royalties and undermining the "Sesame Street" brand.

www.reuters.com

NEW YORK, March 12 (Reuters) - Sesame Workshop, known for the iconic children's TV show "Sesame Street," sued SeaWorld on Thursday to end their decades-long relationship, accusing ‌the theme park operator of withholding royalties and undermining the "Sesame Street" brand.

In a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, Sesame Workshop said SeaWorld, a unit of United Parks & Resorts (PRKS.N), has been its exclusive U.S. theme park licensee for 45 years, opening several "Sesame Street"-themed parks and attractions featuring characters including Big Bird, Cookie ⁠Monster and Elmo.

Sesame Workshop, however, said SeaWorld has for a few years ignored the most recent licensing agreement, which dates from 2017, including by withholding royalties and closing sites, including the temporary closure of Sesame Place San Diego.

According to the complaint, matters worsened in September when SeaWorld stopped paying royalties to Sesame Workshop altogether, and as a pretext to end the relationship made the "preposterous" accusation that the New York-based nonprofit failed to invest in its own brand.

"SeaWorld’s rogue, retaliatory actions pose an imminent threat" to ‌Sesame ⁠Workshop by tarnishing its reputation, using its intellectual property without permission and "disappointing children and families" who hoped to visit the closed sites, the complaint said.

“United Parks & Resorts has repeatedly failed to honor its contractual obligations, leaving Sesame Workshop no choice but to pursue litigation to protect ⁠our brand and the trust that families place in it," a Sesame Workshop spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

United Parks and SeaWorld, both based in Orlando, Florida, did not immediately respond ⁠to requests for comment after market hours.

The lawsuit also seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

In September 2024, a federal judge in Orlando upheld an arbitration ruling that ⁠required SeaWorld to pay Sesame Workshop more than $11 million, including interest for breaching their licensing agreement. SeaWorld didn't pay until October 2025, Sesame Workshop said.