jedimaster1227 Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2010/06/14/story3.html?b=1276488000%5E3482271 Kissimmee family entertainment park Fun Spot USA will unveil a new $1.3 million attraction this winter and add up to 14 new jobs. The Galaxy Spin, a 55-foot-tall “wild mouse” coaster that seats up to four people per car, will open this Christmas, said company executives. A wild mouse coaster is a small roller coaster that takes tight, flat turns and average 30 miles per hour. Some mouse coasters, such as the Galaxy Spin, also spin the rider’s car as it progresses along the track. Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom theme park has a wild mouse coaster called Primeval Whirl, which includes the coaster’s trademark sharp turns and twirling sensations, as well as the G-forces that create an added experience. “This will be the first roller coaster at Fun Spot, and it’ll be huge,” said Chief Operating Officer John Arie Jr., whose father, John Arie Sr., opened the firm’s first location, Fun Spot Action Park, on International Drive in Orlando in 1998, and created Fun Spot USA in Kissimmee in 2007. “Our coaster gives a full over-the-edge type of experience, and what better ride to add to the market than another roller coaster.” Arie Jr. said a wild mouse coaster provides different experiences depending on how many people ride it at a time and how much they weigh. Those factors can cause variation in the spins and turns the cart takes. Galaxy Spin initially was an attraction at the now-closed Cypress Gardens theme park in Polk County, which is the future location for the planned Legoland Florida theme park in 2011. “We tried to purchase the ride for two years when Cypress Gardens had it, but we never came to an agreement. However, once Legoland came in, they decided to get rid of the ride,” said Arie, who bought it in March for $1.3 million. The ride, which was broken down into separate pieces, will be reassembled this fall and require up to 14 new workers to operate and maintain it, said Arie. The average wage is $8 an hour, with skilled positions earning as much as $20 an hour. Hiring for the positions should start near the Thanksgiving holiday. There are no plans to advertise the new attraction besides having it assembled at the venue’s northern end overseeing U.S. Highway 192, said Mark Brisson, director of marketing for Fun Spot USA, who declined to reveal the firm’s revenue. “It’s going to be our 20th ride [in Kissimmee], and it will be incorporated within our $34.95 all-rides armband.” The $34.95 armband includes all of Fun Spot’s thrill rides, go-kart tracks and other attractions. A $24.95 armband includes all of the attraction’s rides except the go-kart tracks. Individual admission — three Fun Spot tickets — amounts to about $9 per ride. Although the venue sells merchandise such as T-shirts, postcards and pictures of its popular Sky Coaster attraction, there are no plans at this time to sell Galaxy Spin merchandise, said Brisson. Tracy Parkinson, special events manager at Old Town, the shopping, dining and entertainment venue next to Fun Spot USA, said she’s confident the new roller coaster will help bring more traffic to local businesses. “Anything that draws people to our little area is good for both parks,” she said, noting Old Town is visited by roughly 2 million people a year. The addition of the coaster is a smart move to further grow what Fun Spot offers guests, said Scott Smith, an industry expert with the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. “This attraction fits right into their business, and they should keep wanting to expand and stay fresh, because it will keep people coming back. “Roller coasters, even the smaller ones, have almost a cult following of fans that want to ride them, so that can bring a lot of business for Fun Spot.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solid Gold Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 I really like how there's a random excited dude in the track photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hercules Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 Random excited dude? That is John Arie Jr. Anyway, this is pretty cool news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedimaster1227 Posted June 11, 2010 Author Share Posted June 11, 2010 ^^^I believe the Kiddie Coaster and Windstorm are both considered to be a part of Old Town and not Fun Spot USA. As far as I know (as of three weeks ago), both were still there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hercules Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 ^ Yes, the kiddie coaster is a part of Old Town. Fun Spot does not currently have a coaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 Fun Spot USA did have a kiddie coaster operating in 2009. I have no first hand knowledge if it is still there or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 No guys he's right. There's a kiddie coaster at Fun Spot and a Wacky Worm and Windstrom at Old Town. We all rode it in October! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillrider Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 I never realized that there were 2 different parks there. I always thought it was all old town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hercules Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 I was there in November and I don't recall there being a kiddie coaster at Fun Spot. Then again, I don't typically ride them so I guess that might be why I don't remember one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 Here's a picture of the kiddie from when we were there in October. You can see it's RIGHT next to the Sky Coaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 ^You know I just spent an hour searching for a picture of this, since it was not in the Park Index. I knew one of the 25 of us that rode it had to have a picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 ^LOL! I was actually going to message you when I didn't see a picture in the park index. Turns out there are a bunch on Robb's Facebook under the IllumiGAYtions Album Part 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 What's the name of the place with the Star Flyer? I was thinking that was called Fun Spot USA or something like that (stupid FECs) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 (edited) ^ Magical Midway. Edited June 11, 2010 by BeemerBoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 ^ Midway, thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay20016 Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 The Kiddie Coaster was there about two weeks ago.... The track for the new coaster has been there since that as well, just across the street behind one of the restaurants/hotels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looty Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 Fun Spot big-wigs were at Nickelodeon Universe a few weeks ago checking out the new Brain Surge ride. Perhaps the next installment is headed to Florida... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rydrmr9 Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 Yes its still there. I was there on june 3 and did a little credit whoring. Lol But fun spot was great and I had a lot of fun there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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