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ITPS Amusement INdustry News

April 18, 2008

International Theme Park Services, Inc. ("ITPS") brings you the news you want to read regarding the amusement and leisure industry! 

No where else can you find more news covering the amusement and leisure industry!  When news hits, you can be certain that will deliver it to you. 

  ITPS has proudly served the leisure industry since 1983.  Visit http://www.interthemepark.com for more information.

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Amusement/Theme Park | Waterpark
Aquarium/Zoo | FEC/LBE/Museum
Other News

Amusement/Theme Park News

Return of the King With 80 rides, new shows and other attractions, Kings Island is primed to catapult park visitors to more fun in 2008  Kings Island is opening Sunday, April 20 — an event that area residents of all ages have been anticipating for months. Thirteen-year-old T.J. Farnbacher of Springboro said he's been counting down the days for more than a month. "I like it so much because it's a world-class park in my mind," he said. "It has a great collection of rides — some are mild, but some are kind of wild and thrilling."

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Theme park plans in the Middle East Rundown of theme park plans in the Middle East  NEW YORK (Associated Press) - A look at plans announced by Hollywood studios and other entertainment companies for theme parks in the Middle East: _ March 2007: Marvel Entertainment Inc. says it will help create a $1 billion theme park based on characters like Spider-Man, X-Men and Hulk with Al Ahli Group in Dubai by 2011.

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Disney Trashes Its Kingdom  The clock is ticking on Disney's (NYSE: DIS) Virtual Magic Kingdom. The online experience -- think a family-friendly version of Second Life for the mouse-eared set -- will be shutting down next month. The free site was launched three years ago in conjunction with Disneyland's 50th birthday. I was one of the early beta testers. It was a hoot to create an avatar and stroll through a virtual recreation of Disney's flagship theme park. Members would play games, text chat, unlock secret spells, and earn credits that could be used to deck out their online digs.

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Magic Mountain drops X2 tunnels, keeps special effects  Six Flags Magic Mountain has shelved plans to add “ominous” fly-through tunnels to the refurbished X2 roller coaster but still intends to incorporate special effects into the ride as part of a $10-million overhaul. Scheduled to open May 24, X2 will feature fire and fog effects paired with music evocative of the new volcano-themed logo.

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3 finalists in running for Disney's Chief Magic Official  The three finalists for the position of Chief Magic Official have arrived at Walt Disney World for the final stages of the competition. The candidates, winnowed from 1,300 video applicants, are involved in two days of light-hearted contests that will show off hospitality and general magic-making to a global jury of online voters.

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Waterpark News

Kalahari Resorts Continues to Lead the Hotel Industry With Innovative 'Green' Operations - New AquaRecycle System to conserve 26 million gallons of water each year - WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis., April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Kalahari Resorts' long-standing commitment to energy efficient operations continues as it adds the AquaRecycle system, a laundry water recycling and filtration system which will allow Kalahari Resorts to reuse 70 percent of its laundry water.

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Aquarium/Zoo News

Ace of Cakes’ To Unveil Sweet Pea Cake  The Newport Aquarium will unveil a 4-foot-long, life-like cake replica of Sweet Pea, the shark ray, custom-made by world-famous Chef Duff Goldman from Ace of Cakes, (the reality television show on the Food Network) Saturday, April 19 at 1 p.m. In Currents Ballroom, located directly above Kids Central, near the rainforest, Chef Duff himself will help unveil Sweet Pea’s Birthday Cake amid the standing-room-only group of Ace of Cake fans.

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Ripley's exhibit turns light on nature's incubators  "Living Babies in Incubators" is the newest exhibit at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. Though it sounds more like something you would see at Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum - with an exclamation point added to the title to make it more sensational! In fact, the starting point for this aquarium exhibit about the natural incubators found in the animal world (both fishy and non-fishy) does come from the sensation-fueled world of the sideshow.

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Zoo opening The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo will open for its 44th season Saturday, and it’s all about the babies. Visitors can see baby wallabies, a new herd of 2-month-old Nigerian dwarf goats and black-footed penguins.

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Petting zoo could become history Waste-disposal rules threaten beloved attraction   The wildly popular goat petting area in the Beacon Hill Children's Farm may become out of bounds to youngsters because the city of Victoria no longer wants to accept animal waste at its nearby parks work yard. A tearful Marcia Koenders, who manages the farm run by her parents for the past 24 years, said yesterday that under new rules she can't afford to keep the goat pen clean enough to allow the public access to it.

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FEC/LBE/Museum News

5 students accused of trying to steal baby alligator  Five Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students sneaked into a miniature-golf course Thursday under the cover of night with palm fronds and duct tape, but they weren't constructing a space-science project -- they were there to kidnap a baby gator, according to a police report. The mission was scrubbed when Daytona Beach Shores police threw them in jail.

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To send attraction and facility press releases, e-mail Shawn at the address below.

Contact:
Shawn M. Haas
Vice President of Retail, Operations and Information Technology
International Theme Park Services, Inc
2195 Victory Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45206
513-381-6131 Phone
513-381-2756 Fax
http://www.interthemepark.com
shawnhaas@interthemepark.com
April 2008
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ITPS Services

ITPS provides a full spectrum of services to all types of attractions no matter the size, small to large.

Below are some of the services that ITPS' experienced team of experts can provide:

Call 513-381-6131 for more information on how ITPS can assist your facility!


25 Years...
Through the good, the bad and the ugly, International Theme Park Services, Inc. (“ITPS”) continues to provide the industry with its skilled services internationally. 

ITPS celebrates its 25th year in 2008 and has served over 450 projects in over 40 countries!  Considered a leader in the industry by the many companies who have used ITPS’ services, ITPS is still growing and offering its knowledge and experience to every continent.  Dennis Speigel, President of ITPS, is a past president of the IAAPA and remains active on their Board of Directors.  He is called upon by people throughout the industry to advise and recommend on projects.  A leader today and for the future, ITPS is there when you need assistance.

Feasibility, design, pre-opening planning, business audits, on-site training and management…ITPS is still leading the industry into the future.
Leisure Capital Resources
 International Theme Park Services provides merger, acquisition, financial, and strategic advisory services to public and private entertainment companies that wish to acquire or sell a business, raise equity capital, raise or restructure debt, or sell real estate.

Contact: Dennis Speigel at 513-381-6131 or Howard Kahn at affiliated Leisure Capital Resources in New York at 516-621-5183.