BREMEN, Germany — Huss Park Attractions, the German ride manufacturer, has launched the Sky Tower Multimedia. This combines the highly successful HUSS Sky Tower observation experience with the latest HUSS film-based attraction, the Explorer. It is a world-first and provides a one-of-a-kind experience.

The Sky Tower Multimedia’s ring-shaped passenger cabin lifts and rotates, making it a striking landmark at any site. The attraction moves gently and offers a unique viewing experience. It is a completely inclusive family ride with broad appeal for all ages. Visible from afar, the Sky Tower fulfils a fundamental human yearning to be among the clouds with a ‘bird’s-eye view’.

The Sky Tower Multimedia enhances the trip and experience by immersing passengers in a virtual reality world or presenting customized movie content on an additional level, separated from the actual world by an iris. The custom content could be anything from a deep-sea dive to a voyage to outer space.

Following the movie experience, guests rise to a height of up to 80 meters, enjoying a 360- degree unrestricted view through the full double-curved glass windows as they glide smoothly up and down the structure.

An accessible ride
The Sky Tower Multimedia measures 20 meters in diameter and can hold 70 passengers per cycle for a maximum capacity of 1400 people per hour. There are no restrictions, meaning people of all abilities can enjoy the ride.

The passenger capsule has a full double-curved laminated safety glass window front, and guests enter and exit simultaneously through two automatic doors. The innovative capsule design offers passengers unobstructed vistas and a new level of freedom – on arrival, they naturally split into two directions, strolling along the row of seats on both sides of the cabin on a walkway that is broad enough for comfortable access but narrow enough for a steep viewing angle.

Guests sit around the cabin on outward-facing seats with a panoramic view. For ultimate comfort, the interior has air conditioning and direct and indirect LED lighting.

Available cabin upgrades include 20 LED head-up displays angled at the front window to present additional content/information during the ride cycle, a high-quality, full-powered audio system with subwoofers under the seats, and show effects to enhance the experience. The multimedia upgrade also includes a CCTV camera system.

The guest experience
The adventure begins with a themed pre-show as customers wait at the launch platform to watch the cabin soar upwards or descend into the theatre below.

The cabin is smoothly accelerated upwards to a pre-set velocity when all doors are closed. The cabin gently rotates after clearing the entryway, allowing passengers to enjoy the full tower panorama with unrestricted views at increasing heights. Once at the maximum height, the cabin makes at least one complete circle, giving passengers a stunning 360° view of the surrounding environment. It then slowly descends while revolving, but the journey is far from over.

Guests are surprised as the capsule floor splits open and the cabin submerges into the multimedia theatre. After the drop, the floor separation element covers the movie scenery, adding to guests’ excitement, and the closing iris above cocoons passengers from the outside world. As the cabin revolves, a seamless 360° screen creates immersive, high- definition content unique to each installation. At the same time, the totally enclosed 360° movie scene ensures an identical ride experience for each guest.

Guests are provided with a completely immersive experience through the combination of an individual movie, audiovisual effects, and sensory elements. Content can be produced in live-action, CGI (computer-generated imagery), or a combination of both types.

Once below the surface, passengers can travel to any location, from the macro to the micro and everything in between, including beneath the sea, through a storm’s eye, into space, back in time to a Jurassic forest, forward in time to a futuristic city, and through some of the most breathtaking scenery on Earth.

A visual impact
Various lighting effects and distinctive surface decorative elements can enhance the Sky Tower’s visual impact. The almost 85-meter cylindrical tower can be illuminated from the base, top, and cabin with colored spotlights, creating a dynamic spectacle. Multifunctional lighting can make the top spire’s machine room and flagpole stand out.

The cabin’s outside circumference below the windows has many independently controllable light spots, enhancing its daylight appearance. The cabin’s exterior circumference above the windows can also be highlighted if needed. Additional lighting can be added to the cabin’s inner back wall and ceiling, which can be white or other vibrant colors.

The machine room’s exterior surface and cabin bottom provide better projection surfaces visible from a distance. These can be lit with rotating, static, white, or colored effects. For instance, the cabin can rotate while the lighting parts remain stationary or move opposite the mast. As another alternative, the Sky Tower’s machine room can be lit to display videos in high definition, even in daylight, enabling theming or sponsorship options, which can produce significant additional revenue.

Apart from being a huge hit as a theme park or amusement park attraction, the Sky Tower has also demonstrated its popularity and viability as a standalone building. Corporate sponsorship is just one of the many additional revenue-generating options that Sky Tower Multimedia can provide operators.

The first Sky Tower Multimedia project has already been delivered to the Golden Bay Resort in Shenzhen, China, and the equipment is ready for installation.

DALLAS, Texas — Block your calendars! For the first time ever, the Minecraft community will have their chance to experience a real-world, immersive, interactive Minecraft adventure. To celebrate Minecraft’s 15^th anniversary, Experience MOD and Mojang Studios announced Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue, which is set to debut in Dallas on September 20, 2024, giving longtime Minecrafters, players and non-players alike, and families of all ages their first chance to be heroes in a real-life, in-person Minecraft quest. Dallas is just the first stop; Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue will tour to additional cities around the world to be announced at a later date.

Interested Minecrafters who want to be first to attend can join the waitlist starting May 29 at www.minecraftexperience.com. The waitlist will gain access to the Dallas exclusive presale starting May 31, and tickets go on sale to the general public June 3. Single ticket prices start at $32, and friends and family multipack tickets start at $28.

Minecraft is the best selling game of all time with over 300 million copies sold, with players from around the world adventuring and creating together in their Minecraft worlds. Now, with Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue spawning in cities around the world, they can take part in an epic rescue mission and story-based experience where iconic places and creatures from the game are brought to life before their eyes.

Attendees begin their 1-hour journey by entering the forest, where they will learn the ropes, give tips to other players, or just bask in the blocky nature. Moving into the village, they will receive their quest and embark on a rescue mission with a team of fellow Minecrafters. On this interactive scavenger hunt, adventurers will journey through multiple Minecraft biomes while building structures and interacting with iconic mobs – some more friendly than others. Minecrafters can gush over pandas and dolphins as well as face skeletons, spiders, and – of course – creepers. Once they complete their quest, they can kick back and celebrate their heroic feat at the Minecraft Experience Trading Post with a crafty memento from the adventure.

“We’re thrilled to introduce the first-ever immersive touring Minecraft experience where guests can follow a quest through the Minecraft Overworld in real life. Starting in Dallas later this year, players will have their dreams of a Minecraft adventure brought to life,” says Kayleen Walters, Head of Franchise Development at Mojang Studios. “Finding ways for our community to express their love for Minecraft both in-game and out is always top of mind for us.”

Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue is designed to welcome players and non-players alike and no prior knowledge of Minecraft is required to enjoy the experience. New players, creators and longtime Minecrafters will love the opportunity to connect and reconnect with the game together in an entirely new and unforgettable way.

“Minecraft Experience is an adventure unlike anything we have ever created. The collaboration between our creative and producing team and the teams at Mojang and Microsoft has created an entirely new form of in-person experience at the crossroads of game design, experiential storytelling, and high-tech multimedia,” says Supply + Demand’s Founder and CEO Olivier Goulet.

The creative and producing team from Supply + Demand is led by Goulet, who is also an executive producer for Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue. With decades of experience in live entertainment, theatre, live and broadcast productions, and multi-sensory multimedia experiences, they have developed and promoted successful exhibitions for international institutions, brands, and artists including Cirque Du Soleil, Universal Studios, Warner Bros., Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Cher, and many more.

This September 20, Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue will spawn for a limited time into 2712 N Central Expressway in Plano, just North of I-635 adjacent to DART’s Parker Road station.

ORLANDO — In June, Universal Orlando Resort will debut the Universal Epic Universe Preview Center at Universal CityWalk – an all-new interactive experience that allows guests to get an up-close look at the new theme park ahead of its opening in 2025. Through a massive model offering a bird’s-eye view of the entire park, the preview center will highlight many of the awe-inspiring attractions and experiences to be discovered within Epic Universe.  Guests will also be able to see exciting elements of the model come to life via augmented reality on compatible mobile devices, shop a variety of brand-new collections of Epic Universe merchandise and pose for pictures with unique backgrounds themed to each of the park’s five spectacular worlds.

ITASCA, Ill. — Family Entertainment Group (FEG) is excited to announce the grand opening of the Carousel Arcade on Mackinac Island, officially launched on Memorial Day weekend to kick off the summer season.

This unique location, renowned for its nostalgic charm and strict prohibition on motor vehicles, provided a picturesque setting for this new arcade featuring the latest high-tech games, all delivered in true Mackinac style via horse and carriage.

“We are thrilled to bring our brand of family entertainment to such a historic and beloved destination,” said Ray Smith, Vice President of Business Development at Family Entertainment Group. “The Carousel Arcade offers a blend of classic and cutting-edge games, ensuring that visitors of all ages can enjoy a memorable experience.”

The Carousel Arcade features a wide array of state-of-the-art games and attractions, enhancing the island’s appeal as a premier family destination. From vintage arcade favorites to the latest in gaming technology, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

FEG’s commitment to delivering exceptional entertainment experiences is reflected in this new venture. The Carousel Arcade is poised to become a favorite fun spot for both locals and tourists alike, contributing to the vibrant community spirit of Mackinac Island.

ORLANDO — It’s every Halloween Horror Nights fan’s dream (or nightmare) come true – for the first time ever, guests can experience Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights before it officially opens with limited capacity and shorter wait times at an exclusive Premium Scream Night event on Thursday, August 29. Tickets for this unparalleled experience go on sale on Thursday, June 6.

Premium Scream Night guests will earn the ultimate bragging rights as they will be among the first to face this year’s slate of all-new frights comprised of 10 horrifying, movie-quality haunted houses inspired by cinematic greats and eerie original stories created by the twisted minds of Universal’s Entertainment team, five scare zones filled with hordes of menacing creatures and outrageous live entertainment. Ticketholders will also enjoy:

• Everything fans love about the world’s premier Halloween event in a more intimate experience – complete with limited capacity and shorter wait times;
• Staggered entry by group into the haunted houses, so everyone will fall prey to the scares lurking at every turn;
• A selection of all-you-care-to-enjoy food items created by Universal’s award-winning culinary team and inspired by this season’s haunts, as well as non-alcoholic beverages;
• An exclusive event souvenir credential and lanyard;
• Access to select attractions at Universal Studios Florida;
• and free self-parking on August 29.

Tickets for the Halloween Horror Nights Premium Scream Night event are limited and will be available for purchase online beginning June 6 for $350 plus tax. Universal Annual and Seasonal Passholders can purchase tickets for the discounted price of $325 plus tax.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando officially kicks off on August 30 and will run select nights* through November 3. Additional details about this year’s event will be revealed soon. For more information about Halloween Horror Nights, visit www.universalorlando.com/Halloween.

*Event dates: August 30-31; September 1, 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-29; October 2-6, 9-13, 16-20, 23-27, 30-31; November 1-3.

BRISTOL, Conn. — Lake Compounce, The Official Park of Family Fun,is welcoming Daniel Tiger from the Emmy Award-winning series, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, to the park this June. As a part of Kids Fest, fans of the PBS KIDS series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood will have the opportunity to meet Daniel Tiger during select times on Saturday, June 1 and 8 and Sunday, June 2 and 9. 

“We are continuing to elevate the guest experience at Lake Compounce as we introduce a more robust event lineup with unique entertainment opportunities for our guests to experience something different during each of their visits to the park,” said Doug Hemphill General Manager. “We are pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with Fred Rogers Productions as we welcome Daniel Tiger to the park this June.” 

Visitors are invited for exclusive meet and greetswith Daniel Tiger in the Kiddie Land Pavilion during Kids Fest. This pint-sized party featuring exclusive kids shows, roaming entertainment throughout Kiddie Land, special kid-themed food like Fruity Pebbles churros, Strawberry Dippin’ Dot shakes and more takes place every weekend in June with special surprise guests like Daniel Tiger.   

Kids Fest kicks off a full season of events at Lake Compounce. The park’s Summer Concert Series and boomin’ fireworks shows returning every Saturday in July with performances by nationally touring tribute acts including Good Vibrations, Bruno & the Hooligans, Boy Band Review and Adventures in Parrotdise. In August, the beach is bouncing every Saturday and Sunday as fist-pumping DJs take the stage for family-friendly Beach Bashes. Then, the days are for play and the nights are for frights as Phantom Fall Fest takes over the park weekends in September and October and America’s First Amusement Park will close out its 178^th season with Holiday Lights in November and December.  

Meet and greets with Daniel Tiger and access to Kids Fest are included free with park admission. Single day tickets are on sale now for as low as $34.99 when visitors purchase online. Park-goers looking to make the most of the season can save up to $35 now on 2024 Season Passes and enjoy a variety of perks with select passes including free parking, discounts on food and beverage, retail discounts and more.

CARLSBAD, Calif. — Hip, hip, PARADE! Today, LEGOLAND California officially introduced the nation’s first LEGO World Parade. Visitors can celebrate the summer season in the best way possible – by dancing and singing along as LEGO themed parade floats starring iconic new characters make their way through the family theme park.

“Surrounded by a whirlwind of streamers and waving flags, we proudly launched the nation’s inaugural LEGO World Parade at LEGOLAND California today,” said President of LEGOLAND California Resort Kurt Stocks. “This landmark Parade feels even more celebratory as we honor LEGOLAND California Resort’s 25^th birthday this year. Every float tells a story and every step along the way ignites imagination. The Parade is the perfect finale to a day spent riding, climbing, splashing, and building through our 60+ rides, shows and attractions.”

The Parade features a dazzling array of LEGO themed floats including a bright red LEGO City Firetruck, a swashbuckling pirate ship, and floats inspired by LEGO NINJAGO, LEGO City Deep Sea Adventure, and DUPLO. Accompanying these floats is an exclusive ensemble of LEGO characters and more than 50 performers, captivating audiences as they march through the west side of the Park.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Kennywood, a USA Today 10 Best Theme Park, unveils the all-new Potato Smash with its mouthwatering mashup fully fried, just in time for the unofficial start to summer. Potato Smash sprouts on the scene with a grand opening ceremony set for 9:45 a.m. Saturday, May 25 as the all-new bumper car ride is inducted into Kennywood’s lineup of classic and thrilling attractions.

“Kennywood kicks off the unofficial start to summer with tons of thrills and fun, beginning with Potato Smash’s delicious debut, plus Bites and Pints Food & Drink Festival and brand-new entertainment,” says Kennywood Assistant General Manager Rick Spicuzza. “This Memorial Day Weekend sets the tone for what is sure to be the park’s most exciting summer season yet. 

The park’s classic bumper car ride has been totally transformed, themed to Kennywood’s iconic fresh-cut Potato Patch® fries. Potato Smash features 20 new cars modeled after the park’s signature snack, each fitted with fries, oozing cheese sauce and an oversized fork. The new a-peel-ing attraction is a perfect mix of Kennywood’s modern thrills and iconic traditions. 

To further celebrate the new appetizing attraction, Kennywood announces a Potato Smash-ing Contest to be held at the park on Wednesday, June 12. Potato enthusiasts and smashing aficionados can enter for a chance to participate in the contest or attend and root for their best spuds. Potato Smash swag will be given to all contestants, with the top tubers receiving two 2024 Kennywood Gold Season Passes.

Potato Smash deep-fried debut is just the start of the fun beginning Memorial Day Weekend. The park’s gastronomic extravaganza, Bites and Pints, spotlighting eight different international cuisines, kicks off on Friday. The chef-inspired tasting event features unique menu items with dishes inspired by Brazil, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, South Korea, Mexico plus brand-newelectrifying entertainment. This Saturday, The Nerveless Nocks’s Jetpack Flying Water Circus featuring daredevils Cyrus Nock and Troy Stowe, will wow guests with incredible demonstrations and stunts performed with jet ski-powered jet packs that thrust the stuntmen 50 feet in the air. Visitors can catch the all-new show at select times daily, from May 24 through July 7, at the park’s Garden Stage.

Also, for the extended holiday weekend, Kennywood is offering free admission to active duty and retired military members and veterans.  Beginning Thursday, May 23, the park’s first day of daily operations through Monday, May 27, all military members and veterans will receive free admission, plus discounted tickets for only $34.99 for up to four friends and family members at the gate with proof of valid identification.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — Dolly and Dollywood officials opened The Dolly Parton Experience—the park’s eagerly anticipated new attraction—to great fanfare this morning during a special event for invited media and VIPs. Thousands of Dollywood guests eager to see inside also were able to enjoy the multi-faceted experience, which is comprised of multiple buildings at the award-winning Smoky Mountain theme park.

“Our old museum really needed a facelift, but instead of a nip-and-tuck we just decided to start all over! There are a lot of interactive elements and technology all through the area, but luckily for all of you, there are no holograms of me in there anywhere. I think the last thing this world needs is a bunch of ‘Dolly-grams’ running around everywhere,” Dolly said with a laugh.

“Seriously though, I’m so proud of the work our people have put into this new experience to make sure it is something our guests will enjoy for many years. It’s been almost three years in the making, and it’s three times larger than anything like this we’ve ever created before, so it really is something! For me, the most special part is the area called ‘Precious Memories,’ because it’s about my family and everything they have done to support me through the years.” 

The Dolly Parton Experience features a number of interactive elements to make guests feel as if they were alongside Dolly as she journeyed from Locust Ridge to stages around the world. The entire Adventures in Imagination area was completely transformed to create The Dolly Parton Experience. Guests can peruse exhibits which span her unparalleled career and include a look at the inspiration behind and the results of her biggest dreams, detail the importance of her family, and highlight many of Dolly’s signature styles through the years. 

“I think we can all agree there is no one else in the world like Dolly Parton,” said Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton. “She is able to shine a light of positivity and inspiration that has influenced millions of people around the world. Our team has created a remarkable experience that shares Dolly’s inspiring story in an authentic, larger-than-life way. I think The Dolly Parton Experience is going to truly move our guests when they see it. We hope they take some of Dolly’s light and share it with the world just like she does every single day.” 

In Songteller, guests trace Dolly’s roots from Sevier County to the bus she boarded to Nashville the day after her high school graduation. Several exhibits showcase some of Dolly’s favorite mementos from music, movies and TV shows, while one room is dedicated solely to her record-selling albums. The showstopper for the experience is a massive room which features a 360-degree, projection-mapped story that showcases how Dolly has become one of the most beloved figures in the world. Songteller also honors Dolly’s philanthropy efforts, including a live counter that tracks the number of books given to children through her Imagination Library program. As of opening day, the counter is nearing 240,000,000 books. Songteller is housed in the former Chasing Rainbows Museum.  

At Behind the Seams, guests gain an understanding of how this Smoky Mountain girl’s iconic look comes to life, with a number of memorable wardrobes on display as well. To preserve these priceless pieces, Dollywood employed the same techniques used by the Smithsonian in their museums. 

At the Precious Memories exhibit, located in the front of Dreamsong Theater, honors Dolly’s friends and family and details how their support allowed her to spread her wings to unimaginable heights. A new show, “Heidi Parton’s Kin & Friends,” also debuted today in the Dreamsong Theater. The show features Dolly’s niece, Heidi Parton, and a cast singing songs and telling stories; and since Heidi wrote it alongside her aunt Dolly, it includes songs and stories that only family would know! Dolly made a surprise appearance prior to the first show and sat in the audience to see the entire performance. 

Guests also can get a glimpse of Dolly’s time on the road as one of her former motor coaches also is available to tour in The Dolly Parton Experience. Dolly’s Home-on-Wheels has been a fixture of the park for several years with hundreds of thousands of guests stepping inside the 1994 Prevost each season. The coach is located adjacent to Behind the Seams.

Finally, guests can visit Dolly’s Fan Shop for unique items to remember their trip to The Dolly Parton Experience. Several exclusive items only can be found in this special location. The curated selection of merchandise includes apparel, accessories and iconic keepsakes every Dolly Parton fan will cherish. 

After exploring The Dolly Parton Experience, guests can enjoy spring in the Smokies thanks to Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival presented by Covenant Health through June 9. With more than one million vibrant blooms, the fresh tastes of spring and unique entertainment offerings throughout the park, it’s an event that has quickly become tradition. Already in its fifth season, this guest-favorite festival transforms Dollywood into a breathtaking display of Mother Nature’s finest handiwork. Elaborate floral installations emerge around every corner, translating nature into living art, each coming together to create an unbelievable presentation of color and wonder.

While admiring the bright blooms throughout the park, guests can explore a multitude of menu items crafted with inspiration from spring’s freshest flavors. Returning for this year is the tasting pass, which allows guests to partake in multiple food items at different festival locations.

Festival elements carry over to Dollywood’s resort properties— Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort and Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa—with a variety of festival-themed activities, crafts and entertainment that will inspire and delight the entire family. Guests can enjoy live entertainment by featured performers, fresh culinary creations, and rejuvenating spring-fresh spa treatments all alongside blooming festival décor and floral designs.

There is still plenty of fun for Dollywood guests this year. Following the Flower & Food Festival, the Sweet Summer Nights drone and fireworks show takes to the skies above the park as part of Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration presented by Food City (June 15-Aug. 11). A family tradition for many, Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 9-Oct. 28) celebrates the beauty of fall with thousands of carved pumpkins, spirited performances from talented singers and the fun of Great Pumpkin LumiNights presented by Covenant Health. The industry’s Best Theme Park Christmas event—Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 1- Jan. 5, 2025)—concludes the park’s 2024 season with 6 million lights, festive holiday shows and the warm Christmas atmosphere guests have come to expect during this joyous time of year.