The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) brings everyone in the amusement industry together. In simplest terms, it is a huge trade-show for the amusement park industry where vendors bring their latest and greatest products to showcase and buyers can view or test out some of these products and even purchase them. If you’ve seen it in a theme park, you’ll probably see it at IAAPA. Some of the things you’ll find at IAAPA are things you would never even think of a theme park buying it, like fencing or turnstiles.
IAAPA is such a huge event each year for the industry, so unfortunately it’s not an open event to the public. Press seemed very, very limited this year, but we are honored to bring you coverage of some of the new and innovative products that were showcased on the floor this year. There is so much to see at IAAPA, and unfortunately there is only so much you can cover in a single day. We were given a special look at the floor from a bit above where all the action was taking place. Look how much you can see just from a corner of the North Concourse.
We were limited to a single day by our real lives this year, but we are already planning to spend at least two days at IAAPA next year if we are able to cover the event again. Big thanks to the IAAPA public relations team for giving us the opportunity to cover this year’s event!
Attractions
Bolliger & Mabillard
B&M had no coaster train set up this year, but they did have posters set up, marketing their latest innovation, the wing coaster. Wild Eagle, opening at Dollywood in 2012, is a wing coaster. The wing coaster truly gives floorless another meaning.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Cutting Edge Creations
Cutting Edge Creations had quite a few different inflatables for display (and for sale). They offer several different types of inflatables including mazes, slides, and obstacle courses. While you won’t find these at many theme parks, you can find them within your area with businesses who throw birthday parties for kids, carnivals (occasionally) and more.
New for 2012 is 10 different inflatables, including a pirate ship, a forbidden temple (pictured below), UFO bounce house, and an ice cream truck!
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Dinosaurs Unearthed
Dinosaurs Unearthed is the company the created “Dinosaurs Alive” that was installed at Kings Island for the 2011 season. Dinosaurs Alive is going into four more Cedar Fair for the upcoming 2012 season (Cedar Point, Kings Dominion, Dorney Park, Canada’s Wonderland). The Dinosaurs can get pretty detailed, to include blinking eyes, moving arms, and more.
Dinosaurs Alive is considered a semi-permanent attraction. The attraction is nothing like a coaster with huge supports drilled into the ground, but it’s not easily removed. Dinos Unearthed can make the attraction permanent or just temporary as well. By the sounds of things, it sound like Cedar Fair had plans to let the attraction rove between parks from year to year as they don’t take but a few weeks to move. However that is not the case as Cedar Fair will reach a total of five Dinosaur Alive attractions by 2012.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Elite Entretenimientos
Elite Entretenimientos specializes in children’s rides, decorations, and more. Featured on display at IAAPA was a small carousel. Their products can typically be found not only at parks, but in your local mall.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
ETF Ride Systems
ETF Ride Systems is all about ride systems. Their main focus is family entertainment, but they can also include interactivity between passengers and the ride itself. Their “InterAction” rides are a perfect combination of this. Guests can choose directions in which they’d like to go, and it creates interactivity with features such as a spotlight on the vehicle. And here’s a plus, this concept is all trackless. ETF featured a trackless vehicle at IAAPA this year.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Great Coasters International
GCI brought their best to the floor again this year: Millennium Fliers. The style of trains are quite popular (and very comfortable, I have to admit). GCI also featured some of their outstanding work through a display model (which took months to build). It shows several different elements they can incorporate in their rides and their work-ability around existing rides.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Gerstlauer
Gerstlauer had quite a few models on display, including Sky Fly and their Euro-fighter coaster. Sky Fly looks paticularly interesting. In 2012, the Sky Fly will make it’s debut at “Nigloland” in France. Here’s a bit of concept art (may not be exact) for this particular attraction.
As the arm swings, riders can “fly”. I think it will truly be a crazy ride. Eurofighter models were also on display. I experienced my first Eurofighter over the summer (Dave Devil Dive at Six Flags Over Georgia). I think they’re an outstanding product with a very small footprint, but they still pack a lot of punch.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Mack Rides
Mack unveiled the train from their latest product at IAAPA: Manta. Manta recently has it’s first piece of track installed at Seaworld San Diego a few weeks ago. Shortly after the convention is over, the train will be shipped out to California and will eventually launch riders.
I particularly like the paint job on this train. It fits Seaworld very well, and very much reminds me of our version of Manta here in Orlando. I’d also like to point out, each seat is connected to the floor with a “V” shaped supports.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Mondial World of Rides
Mondial World of Rides designed the “Windseeker” attractions that opened at Cedar Point, Kings Island, Canada’s Wonderland, and Knotts. Mondial featured a seat from their Windseeker attraction that will also be going into a couple more Cedar Fair parks this year including Kings Dominion and Carowinds.
Mondial is known for their flat rides, including Ferris Wheels, Ultra Max, and Mistral attractions.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Philidelphia Toboggan Coasters
Think of classic wooden coasters. That would simply say “Philidelphia Toboggan Coasters”. This particular company has been building woodies since the early 1900’s, including a coaster in 1920 at Seabreeze Amusement Park, which still runs today. They have worked with parks such as Holiday World, Kings Island (The Beast), Cedar Point (Blue Steak) and more. PTC displayed their 2-seat coaster cars at IAAPA.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Preston & Barbieri
Preston & Barbieri is known for smaller flat rides and smaller roller coasters, including a dueling sit-down steel coaster and wild mouse coasters. During IAAPA, they had a small display for their dueling coaster.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Rocky Mountain Construction Company
RMC is quite an interesting company as they not only do work within theme parks and water parks, but they’ll pretty much try to do any type of construction job. Established in 2001, they are a team of experienced builders who are always looking for something new and challenging.
At IAAPA, they featured a display of their “ibox” track, which features wood supports and steel track (that kind of looks like steel beam supports). It may sound new, but the “ibox” track is featured on the Texas Giant at Six Flags Over Texas now after a long refurb to the ride’s track.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Rope Courses
Rope Courses set up a rope course again this year. The course touted new harness with interchangeable parts. If I remember correctly in 2010, the harnesses they used were all one piece. This year, the harness were two different pieces, one for the lower section of your body and one for the upper section of your body. Both harnesses connected together, and connected to the rope keeping you on the course.
Rope Courses are spouting up everywhere, including Old Town in Kissimmee and other places. If you see a ropes course, you’ve got to do it. They’re a lot of fun (even though they look scary).
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
S&S World Wide
The very first thing you noticed as you entered the southern part of the expo was S&S. The train pictured below will be featured on a brand new coaster that is being installed in Australia. This train is very different from previous “El Loco” trains as they can seat up to 8 passengers, double the previous number of 4. The train is very well themed and even has a glowing lantern on the front of the train.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Sally Dark Rides
Sally touted their creation “Lost Kingdom Adventure” that was installed for Legoland Florida for this year. The attraction featured special dual loading to help increase capacity. They also touted a new attraction, Power Blast. They have yet to build it in a park yet, but the attraction features the traditional targets, plus on-screen targets.
Sally has also told us they have something new in the works and to stay tuned.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Gravity Group
Gravity Group featured a very, very sexy train from Quassy’s Wooden Warrior coaster this year. They have also announced within the last several days they will be building a new coaster in China.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
WhiteWater West
WhiteWater had a big and impressive display again this year, featuring their MegaTube. The MegaTube features a giant tube with another tube along the inside (part of another ride).
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Food/Beverage
Bayou Billy
These guys offer quite an interesting product. Flavored snow cream (and soda)!
Once the customer has cream pour into their cup, they can add whatever kind of flavoring they want. Billy offers flavors including Grape, Lemon Lime, and others.
Each year, Billy releases a brand new tin-mug to collect. They hold up very well and refills are only $1 for life! Dollar refills.. Say what? That’s an amazing deal. Unfortunately they didn’t have any test products available, but this is something I would love to see in a park soon.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Chuck Wagon Old Fashion Soda
Chuck Wagon Old Fashion Soda is soda-goodness without all the caffeine! Originally, you could only purchase it from a soda wagon, however now they also offered bottled products. If you ever happen to try them, you can feel free to recommend them to your local theme park (or grocery store) to try and get them to carry the products.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola brought the Freestyle back to IAAPA, plus other Coke products, including Fuze, Vitamin Water, and a few others. One notable point is the Freestyle Machine. The machine now comes in a sleek black, possibly to represent Coke Zero, and it also comes with a total of 125 different products. During last year’s Expo, Coke only offered 106 different products.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Dippin Dots
Dippin Dots brought their coffee dots to the floor this year. They offer several different flavors of coffee, including Mocha Cappuccino and you have the option to add a shot of expresso to it. Dippin Dots also has another product you might be surprised to hear about: Island Rox. Island Rox has no traces of the Dippin Dots name , however it’s produced by them and is great for mixing liquor with. All you have to do is add the dots to your favorite liquor.
One of the biggest questions we had was regarding their bankruptcy situation. Fortunately, Dippin Dots should be able to overcome the situation. Basically, the bank Dippin Dots was dealing with is the cause behind all of this, but they have switched banks and are currently in the process of reorganizing things. Everything should be A-Okay soon!
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Kemps/Ittibitz
Ittibitz is similar to Dippin Dots and Mini Melts, except for the fact they don’t just offer delicious frozen treats, they also offer other products. You may have actually purchased some of their products at the grocery store as they also produce Egg Nog, Juice, and other stuff. Ittibitz is owned by Kemps.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Jelly Belly
Okay, who doesn’t love jelly beans? Jelly Belly is very well known for their jelly beans, but they had something a little bit different on display at IAAPA: Dips. What are Dips? They’re Jelly Beans dipped in chocolate. Yes, they’re flavored, too. They come in various flavors including cherry, strawberry, orange, and more. Delicious!
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Lil Orbits
Donuts are great for breakfast.. and great for snacks! Lil Orbits offers mini donuts that are not only tasty, but are automatically made. They’re very simple to make. All you have to do is add the donut mix, set the temperature and it will start creating donuts. Donuts can be small or large, full size donuts (all depends on your preference). Add powdered sugar and you’ve got a super delicious donut!
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Minimelts
Minimelts is very similar to Dippin Dots, but is still different. They are small “dots”, but Minimelts uses more butterfat in their mixture compared to Dippin Dots. Minimelts uses 12% butter fat, where-as, Dippin Dots uses 8%. What’s butter fat got to do with anything? It makes it taste creamier.
They also have a vacuum powered Minimelts dispenser. All you have to do is select the flavor you want and it retrieves the melts for you. The container also has a spoon, so you’re not left to eat with your hands.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Philly Pretzel Factory
Pretzels are a great theme park item. You’ll find them almost across the board at theme parks, but Philly Pretzel Factory goes above and beyond with their products and gets creative. Aside from the traditional pretzels, you also find “specialty” items like Cinnamon Pretzels, Pretzel Dogs… And CHEESECAKE PRETZELS. Om Nom Nom!
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Pucker Powder
Pucker Powder offers tubes and powder, but you’ve got to bring the creation aspect to the table. They offer stations that hold several different flavors for your guests to create their own pucker-licious creation in a tube. Pucker Powder offers a total of 16 different powered flavors.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Robo Fusion Ice Cream
This company offers not only an interesting product, but something that really catches the eye. The machine has a robo-arm, kind of like some of the ones you’ll find in rides, except a lot smaller and programmed to make ice cream! The customer can pick their own combinations of ice cream and toppings and the arm does all the work (while you watch).
Containers at the top hold various toppings and are dispensed down tubes into the cup. Once the creation is finished, the arm sets the ice cream cup into a glass station where it turns it around for you to take. It only takes a few mintues to create from start to finish.
Another plus, the machine does require cleaning, but cleaning roughly takes 15-30 minutes, which means less down time and more ice cream! Several places already have this product installed, but Robo Fusion Ice Cream is getting ready to launch a new version of their machine very soon.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
SnoBiz
SnoBiz offers flavored shaved-ice to their customers. One notable thing about their business is their flavor offerings. Your typical flavors like grape, watermelon, and strawberry are blown away by other flavors such as Pina Colada and Butterbeer!
I tried the Butterbeer. It’s very delicious, but it doesn’t taste exactly like Butterbeer from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. It has a very butterscotch-y flavor, but delicious none-the-less.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Other Stuff
Amusement Today
Amusement Today touted their daily news updates plus their Golden Ticket Awards. It’s free to receive email updates straight to your inbox. Keep your eye out for updates from Behind the Thrills if you subscribe as we occasionally make Amusement Today’s daily newsletter.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Aqua Reign
Aqua Reign is a very customizable product. The pieces come in small sections and can be built into almost any shape the buyer wants it to become. The particular setup at IAAPA was just a straight set-up. The set-up contained about 600 nozzles to create the display seen in the water. Fortunately, if one goes bad or becomes clogged, it’s very easily repairable. The particular nozzle only has to be pulled down and replaced or cleaned. The gentlemen I spoke with stated other companies would require the entire strip of nozzles to be sent back for repair.
It’s very user friendly and can be updated through out the day and without someone being in front of a computer all day. It can display information or a water show can be created with it.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Empex Water Toys
Empex offers a variety of water play elements and water play areas. Empex can install some of their products in pre-exsisting pools and play areas and in new areas.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Glimmer Body Art
You’ve seen henna tattoo stands and face paint stands out in the parks, but how about glitter body art stands? Glimmer Body Art is quite a promising product for parks as the tattoos go on in just a few minutes and are very easy to do. They’re great for theme parks and water parks alike, as they are resistant (for the most part) to water depending on how much water it is exposed to. The life of the tattoo is expect to be around 7 to 10 days.
I had one put on myself at IAAPA on Tuesday (pictured above). It’s Monday and it’s still looking pretty good, but it’s starting to fade a little bit on the edges. I’ll update this once it’s completely faded away.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Gordon’s Action Products
Unlike your typical inflatable bounce houses, Gordon’s offers more than just bounce houses. They offer products that are great for the entire family that will get them playing and having fun with each other. Whether it’s spinning inside of a wheel or rocking each other around, there is plenty of fun to be had.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Park World
Park World is a monthly magazine based around the amusement industry. In the past, the magazine was free and would delivered directly to your home’s mailbox. Beginning very soon, Park World will begin charging for their magazine (to cover shipping charges), however you can still get it delivered digitally to your email inbox.
For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Sandy Creek Mining Co
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Technical Park
Technical Park offers a wide variety of rides, with rides geared mostly towards families and thrill seekers. During IAAPA, they displayed a train for their “Rock N Roll” multiple car family roller coaster. This design is intended to be compact, but small enough for the little ones and parents to ride together and all have fun.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Thermoserve
This particular company provides services to a very wide market. Not only do they serve theme parks, but they also serve stores that you might visit on a regular basis, like 7-Eleven. Thermoserve makes cups of all kinds, including coffee mugs, yard cups (those really tall ones), souvenir cups, and more.
They had a huge collection to display during the expo.. Some parks don’t even exist anymore or have been replaced by other theme parks.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Tree Mendous Aerial Forest Adventure Park
Tree Mendous already has a location set up somewhere off of I4 (I see signs along I4 all the time). Their product is very interesting because it’s a “green product”. By green product, I mean, they don’t dig up anything to cement poles into the ground to create their zip-lines, they use the trees around to set up their attractions.
Most notably, they don’t even drill through the trees. Each tree is taken into consideration as they make a harness for the tree so that it won’t damage the tree.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Virginia Toy & Novelty
Virginia Toy & Novelty, based out of Virginia Beach, VA, has some pretty cool products. Among your typical light up stuff you see at the parks, they also have light-up squeezable animals and glow-forks. They didn’t have any spoons or knives on display, but I was told they have a whole set and can really light up your meal.
Feeding your kids just got a little more interesting, right?
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Xtra Ice
Xtra Ice is a world leader in synthetic ice rinks. Disneyland Paris chose to work with Xtra Ice over their previous ice company. They not only do work for parks, but they also do work for sports teams, ice skate rinks, and more. And here’s a plus, their ice is 100% non-toxic and recyclable.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Games
Good Stuff
Looking for cool prizes for your games? Good Stuff really offers the good stuff. From what I saw, most of their prizes included candy and angry birds. They had one prize in particular that was so big, it was taller than me. I’m not tall by any means (only 5’1″), but it was huge! I was told the prize costs $2500. However, I see one problem. How do I get this to my car once I win it?!
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
The Game Patrol
Game Patrol offers a few different products: a gaming vehicle, a mirror maze, and a laser maze. The gaming vehicle is very impressive. It’s decked out with several big-screen TVs connected with Xbox, but the coolest thing.. All your friends can play the same game at the same time across each screen. Xbox party anyone?
The laser maze is a lot of fun, and quite challenging. The whole goal is not to trip the laser beams. The less you trip, the better your score. Thankfully, they have different levels of expertise.. Easy, medium, and hard. You can also customize how you want to expect payments, whether it’s through cash, credit cards, or tokens.
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
US Bowling Corportation
US Bowling Corp had a small version of what they truly do set up for display at IAAPA. Actually, you can find something similar to this at Coco Key in Orlando’s arcade. They do large scale bowling alleys and mini alleys that are perfect for your home or arcade (or theme park arcade).
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For more information about this product, visit the official website.
Outdoor Exhibits
IAAPA is said to take place at the Orange County Convention Center (down the street from Seaworld) until at least 2020. Let me tell you.. the convention is so huge, it takes up the entire show floor on the North and South concourse and even goes outside. Most of the stuff outside is inflatables, but you can find other stuff such as smaller rides and a Ferris Wheel (can’t ride it though).
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