Coastin Carl
IAAPA Expo 2022 Conference & TRADE SHOW
This year’s IAAPA Expo 2022 trade show started off with a cascade of 1,500 streamers, setting a Guinness World Record for the most people launching streamers simultaneously. See the winners of the Brass Ring Awards including other stories involving the world of #IAAPA!
Hal McEvoy, IAAPA president and CEO, expressed, “We’re the industry of fun. The products that our members offer create memories for families, and that’s really the focus of what the industry does”.
Each year, attraction vendors showcase their products, ranging from full-on rides and carnival games to arcade games and fair food, hoping to attract buyers for amusement venues of all sizes. The show, exclusive to industry professionals, draws nearly 1,100 exhibitors from around the globe and hosts 33,000 attendees.
This year, over 30 companies are making announcements at IAAPA, marking an increase from 2021. Apart from SeaWorld, major attractions such as Cedar Point, Dollywood, Hersheypark, Ripley’s Believe it or Not!, and ICON Park are set to hold news conferences.
ROLLER COASTER News
The Coaster Wars may have a ceasefire but ride manufacturers are now emphasizing aesthetic and engineering innovations appealing to thrill-seekers while keeping the crucial family audience in mind. Vekoma, an awesome Dutch company, has showcased custom Jeep-inspired cars for Dollywood’s Big Bear Mountain. Rocky Mountain Construction revealed the feline-themed front train of Wildcat’s Revenge for Hersheypark. Both additions promise to infuse a storytelling element into their respective scream machines, enhancing our overall experience.
Key players like SeaWorld seized the opportunity to unveil new park details. In a notable reveal, SeaWorld presented the ride vehicle for the upcoming Pipeline: The Surf Coaster, set to debut at SeaWorld Orlando next year. Bolliger & Mabillard’s stand-up surf-themed model features a newly inspired safety harness from their previous two generations and a surfboard-shaped car. Cowabunga dudes!
VIRTUAL REALITY Achievements
The most impressive IP-based VR adventure we encountered at IAAPA was Hologate’s Ghostbusters Academy. In this adventure, four players don iconic proton packs to take on the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. While the tethered equipment felt somewhat restrictive, the exceptional visuals and audio compensated for it.
Another noteworthy contender is Megaverse, hailing from our hometown Atlanta, which has successfully networked stand-alone headsets for a wireless, free-roaming multiplayer experience. With a range of original scenarios and 4D haptic feedback, such as a moving floor, Megaverse has great potential!
LEGENDS Panel 20th Anniversary
Bob Weiss, the legendary former head of Imagineering, admitted that EPCOT actually stood for “Every Person Comes Out Tired”. Vice-president Kartika Rodriguez talked about making their attractions more inclusive of others while trying to keep Disney’s timelessness. The leader of the panel, Bob Rogers, spoke of being hired by the late Marty Sklar and producing the film Impressions de France in the World Showcase.
