SeaWorld is betting that one other batch of curler coasters will help its parks discover new momentum and launch ahead within the theme park business.
SeaWorld San Diego final month introduced Arctic Rescue, a brand new triple-launch terrain coaster from Intamin. Themed to snowmobiles, the sit-down coaster trains will attain a high pace of 40 miles per hour on its 2,800 toes of observe whereas not rising greater than 30 toes off the bottom, consistent with California Coastal Fee guidelines that prohibit a lot of the park.
On the East Coast, sister park Busch Gardens Williamsburg is getting an identical Intamin coaster, besides that one can be put in indoors. DarKoaster will go into the park’s former Curse of DarKastle darkish trip present constructing, persevering with its authentic story of King Ludwig with a four-launch coaster that reaches 36 miles per hour.
In San Antonio, Texas’ SeaWorld park can be getting Catapult Falls, which the corporate is asking the world’s first launched flume coaster. The outside boat trip will function a 20-mph launch and a 55-foot vertical raise as much as a 53-degree splashdown drop.
Lastly, in Orlando, SeaWorld’s flagship park can be getting Pipeline: The Surf Coaster. This next-generation stand-up coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard will function what the corporate hopes are extra snug seat helps than discovered on present stand-up coasters, akin to Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Riddler’s Revenge. Themed to appear like large surfboards, Pipeline’s trip automobiles will attain a high pace of 60 mph.
All these new rides are scheduled to debut in 2023.
Disney and Common proceed to steer theme park attendance in america, in line with the newest TEA/AECOM Theme Index attendance report. SeaWorld has been combating Knott’s Berry Farm proprietor Cedar Truthful and Six Flags for a distant third place ever since Common moved forward of them by getting the theme park rights to Harry Potter.
SeaWorld’s attendance additionally took a success across the identical time when it eliminated its trainers from the water throughout orca reveals, following a coach’s dying in Orlando. With out its iconic second of a coach flying out of the water from a breaching orca, SeaWorld’s parks have been struggling to discover a new id that resonates with followers. Shedding the free beer that former proprietor Anheuser-Busch gave away on the parks didn’t assist, both.
I'm completely happy that SeaWorld has rescued hundreds of animals and promotes habitat conservation, however individuals go to theme parks for thrills and leisure — not optimistic environmental messages. Even Disney is shifting away from the nonfiction themes it as soon as prioritized in Tomorrowland, Epcot and Disney’s Animal Kingdom as individuals look to flee, quite than have fun, the troubled world round them.
Curler coasters, particularly ones designed for households, may need extra attraction as we speak than animal reveals and displays. SeaWorld declaring itself the coaster capital of San Diego and Orlando definitely offers the corporate a brand new id. However alone, that received’t distinguish SeaWorld from the long-time coaster leaders at Six Flags and Cedar Truthful — and it definitely isn't going to get the corporate any nearer to Common and Disney.