Bemusement - The Attractions Industry Blog

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 What are you main objectives for the IAAPA Expo?    We asked the 3000+ members of Blooloop's LinkedIn group, “Are you planning on attending the IAAPA Expo? If so, what are your main objectives?”...View more

Thursday, April 07, 2011 10 years to Orlando or not to Orlando - is that a question?    The topic is certainly not new, but it keeps on coming back in various media, most recently in the evaluation of the 2010 IAAPA Expo. In 2010, IAAPA signed a 10-year deal to hold the annual conference and tradeshow at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. It was a decision that sparked many comments, both in favour and against.
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Monday, December 13, 2010 Disturbing my Equilibrium on Universal's Harry Potter Ride    I count myself and my family very lucky to have lived through first release of the Harry Potter books and Harry Potter movies. Sure there will be those who love the series in the future. However, there is something particularly special about being there at the birth of one of these iconic cultural happenings....View more

Wednesday, December 08, 2010 Optimism with a Frosty Reception : The IAAPA Expo 2010    The annual IAAPA Expo was back to its spiritual home of Orlando in November after last year’s visit to Las Vegas. Many felt a sense of relief to be back in Florida and there was a palpable sense of excitement and optimism in the air as the show began. So what did I learn during my week at the show, other than that I can’t play golf, The Adirondacks are a mountain range and I still don’t like grits?...View more

Thursday, November 25, 2010 Cold-Blooded Fun at Orlando's Gatorland Theme Park    With a day to spare before the IAAPA Expo last week, I took a visit to Gatorland, which although not on every tourist’s hit list for Orlando, certainly should be, being not only one of the city’s oldest attractions (opened in 1949) but also one of its best, with Tripadvisor ranking it 7th out of the city’s 196 attractions listed....View more

Tuesday, November 23, 2010 Well Above Par: at IAAPA's Charity Golf Event    I don’t play much golf over here in England. Cricket’s my thing, with its dizzying combination of grace, power and elegance, each ball a challenge and a contest , each minute fizzing with excitement. Golf just never did it for me. I think of an English golf club and I don’t think of sporting endeavour or athleticism....View more

Friday, November 05, 2010 Not bad for a Boy Wizard! Universal's Magical Ride    The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, opened June 18, 2010, has delivered the best quarterly results in Universal’s 20-year history. According to a new Securities and Exchange Commission filing, prior to Harry’s apparition at Universal, paid theme park admissions were 5% down on the previous year.
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Saturday, September 26, 2009 Themed Entertainment: Blue Sky Adventure at TEA's SATE Conference    After a briefing and introduction from George Wiktor, Karen Armitage, Larry Tuch, Jeff Mayer, Chick Russell and Linda Smith, attendees of the 3rd annual SATE Conference (Storytelling-Architecture-Technology-Entertainment) in Orlando split up into five groups to conduct two-hour mini-charrettes......View more

Friday, September 25, 2009 Themed Entertainment on both sides of the brain    The discussion at the third annual SATE Conference, hosted by TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) was lively and productive today. We met in the beautiful Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney's Boardwalk in Orlando for a transformative nine hours....View more

Thursday, September 24, 2009 Theme Parks: Fun For Mom at Manta    SeaWorld Orlando helped the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) kick off its annual SATE (Storytelling-Architecture-Technology-Experience) Conference in style last night with an industry mixer behind the scenes at the new Manta roller coaster/aquarium attraction.
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Saturday, June 20, 2009 InfoComm's Audiovisual Marketplace: The floor according to Steve    Friday, June 19 was the last day of InfoComm 09. This year, the world's largest pro audiovisual marketplace celebrated its 70th anniversary and reported respectable numbers: 28,000 attendees and 850 exhibitors. Exhibitors scramble to get new products, upgrades and prototypes ready in time for this important marketplace. ...View more

Friday, November 14, 2008 Amusement Parks: Queueing for Devon's Finest Fudge at the IAAPA Expo    Queues on my mind this week. This is not just because I am English and queuing is a national pastime...
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Tuesday, October 21, 2008 Amusement Law: Legal Learning at WWA and IAAPA    For those interested in legal and regulatory issues, fall is a useful time as it’s the season when some of the industry’s largest associations hold their annual conventions.
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Wednesday, August 27, 2008 Amusement Law : Theme Park Trends in Central Florida and the Game of "What-If?"    I sat down last weekend to write about local government regulatory issues that have slowed, stalled and even stopped new projects from opening, and which vex a wide variety of operators. Then, a fascinating conversation with an industry insider prompted a quick change in direction ....View more

Thursday, March 20, 2008 Amusement parks: New Coaster set to Rumble at Universal Studios Orlando in '09    Universal Studios Orlando this week announced that its "Project Rumble" will in fact be a dazzling new hi-tech coaster which will sweep over the heads of the crowds in the Citywalk entertainment district and will wow riders with high tech wizardry, appealing to the "You Tube Culture."
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Tuesday, November 06, 2007 aquariums: Florida Aquarium Gets Technical    View the post