Fun and Games at IAAPA

January 2016

Fun and Games at IAAPA

The editors of SAM, along with a number of ski area operators, attended the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo in Orlando, Fla., Nov. 17-20, looking for both specific products and general inspiration. We spied representatives from Bristol, Camelback, Jiminy Peak, Holiday Valley, Mont Saint-Sauveur, Nashoba Valley, and Breckenridge among the thousands perusing the half-million square feet of summer fun.

Written by: The Editors

Clockwise from above left: Inflatables come in new shapes and sizes. The Car Wash (water optional) and Meltdown are both by Galaxy Multi Rides. Five suppliers were showing zip coasters, a cross between a zip line and roller coaster. Pictured here is the Zip-Coaster by Zip-Flyer, and a closeup of the Fly-Line by Outdoor Ventures. Zombies were everywhere on the IAAPA floor. Shown here is the Attack Sally Zombie Puppet. Finally, theming was a big trend. Daniels Wood Land Tree House took the award for most innovative product and brought theming to a new level.

Push to The Latest: No
Author: The Editors
Show in The Latest?: No

Inflatables continue to be a proven winner as a small-ticket item for the youngest customers, and there are new offerings beyond bouncy houses. Some are practically rides in themselves. One, “Meltdown,” looked familiar to anyone who has seen the show “Wipeout.” Want more fun for your inflatable attraction? Just add water, like the “Car Wash” does.

Another notable trend: theming. It was a major focus for many exhibitors and buyers alike. Resorts could easily adopt some of the ideas presented on the show floor to theme their summer adventure parks. Creating a “story” and/or unified look can set you apart from the competition and create an unforgettable experience for your summer customer.

A growing trend continues to be Halloween products. Flesh-eating zombies were a popular theme, from zombie laser tag and zombie paintball to Trapped In A Room With A Zombie, zombie birthdays, and good ol’ Zombie Runs, complete with software to register bites.

A final trend: zip coasters, a type of zip line that travels on a track and has all the ups, downs, curves, and thrills of a gravity-fed roller coaster. A whopping five manufacturers now offer a version. We tried a small demo at the show, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Few installations exist in the U.S., but we suspect they will be popping up soon.

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Fun and Games at IAAPA