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Fun Spot America Discussion Thread


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Adam:

Earlier this past week Theme Park Review was invited back to Fun Spot America to check out White Lightning, Freedom Flyer, the Skycoaster and all that the new additions have to offer! Having not been to the park in years, I have to say that I was very impressed with the new additions and the look and feel of the new side of the park. It was especially odd to enter from the opposite side of the original entrance, only to walk towards what is now the back of the park to see what is actually the original front!

 

Seriously, the place looks and feels great--and it doesn't hurt that they're the only one with a (very fun) wooden coaster in Orlando!

 

Robb:

Today was the official Grand Re-Opening of Fun Spot America. Trust me it was HUUUUUGE! They sold $15 wristbands to celebrate 15 years of business. The park was PACKED! Lines for both White Lightning and Freedom Flyer stretched out to the midways and the line to buy tickets was wrapped around the front entrance. What a GREAT response from the local crowd!

 

A short, but very sweet opening ceremony opened the park, construction partners were thanked, dignitaries were recognized, and the ribbon was cut! Then it was time to ride!

 

It's been a lot of fun working with Fun Spot the past month or so to help produce their video B-Roll package. Below are some of the videos we've shot over the past few weeks. Some of then for the park to use in their marketing materials, some of the just for fun! Check out the videos below and all the photos of the park. It looks GREAT!

 

 

 

 

 

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Yep! I'm just a little excited to be here!

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The first drop on White Lightning really catches you off guard!

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The double up is so awesome!

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And it gives a heck of a lot of air!

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There's this wicked turnaround...

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NINETY DEGREES!!!

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TWISTY!!!

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There's also the Vekoma with a bit of bite, Freedom Flyer!

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Looks pretty great right?

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The ride cuts across the park's new entrance midway.

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And with no OSTRs, this ride just plain fun!

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There's even an odd hill that gives you a weird kind of airtime.

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They're flying for freedom!

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Oh right, we're doing this now!

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"This might be a mistake."

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"This definitely is a mistake."

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"HOLY CARP!!!"

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Soaring! Flying!

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Rip Curl is a custom made Himalaya ride made just for Fun Spot America.

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It is on this ride that you can TAKE THE TUNNEL!!!

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Fun Spot has a brand new Tilt-A-Whirl too!

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Let's admire Freedom Fighter some more!

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This is a really fun first drop!

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What have we here?

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If you didn't know, Fun Spot America saved Six Flags over Georgia's Wheelie from retirement, getting it fully refurbished, adding an awesome lighting package and getting it up and running in the new area of the park as Enterprise. This ride is still amazing.

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This really adds a neat kinetic energy to the park!

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The park's new kiddie coaster is being painted and prepped for its opening soon! (And it did open just a couple of days later!)

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Can we drool over White Lightning some more?

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Yes we can!

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The sun is beginning to set...

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Hello beautiful!

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*drools*

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Pretty!

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Sooo pretty!

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Seriously, this park has been transformed! Come on down and check it out for yourself!

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Let's fast forward a few more days to the "Grand Re-Opening" of the park. Yes, that is the line of cars waiting to park! Looks like this is going to be a HUGE day for Fun Spot!

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And this is the line to buy tickets! Wow! Looks like this new expansion of Fun Spot America could prove to be successful!

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Opening ceremonies included John Arie Jr. thanking those who were involved with the expansion. Here he is giving Jeff Pike from Great Coasters a hand shake and a thank you!

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"IT'S HUUUUUUUUGE!!!!"

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John Arie Sr. says a few inspirational words. Both these guys were GREAT to work with! Wonderful to see the whole family coming together for the expansion!

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It's ribbon-cutting time! =)

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Fun Spot America is officially re-opened!!!

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Now let's officially open White Lightning - Orlando's ONLY wooden roller coaster!

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Wow! Check out that line for White Lightning!

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Did we mention there were donuts? A LOT of donuts??!?! =)

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Wow! Freedom Flyer has a HUGE line!

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We found some REAL celebrities at Fun Spot's opening!

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Yay! Another roller coaster credit for Orlando!

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White Lightning is doing what it does best... FLYING!!!

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Fun Spot basically started with Go Karts, and they still are the best in Orlando!

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Some of our favorite rider cam shots from White Lightning!

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This ride produces smiles!

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Seriously great "throw your hands up and have fun" coaster!

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"This is my imaginary bunny rabbit friend. He goes on every roller coaster with me."

"OMG - Robb Alvey is a psycho!!!!"

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They'll basically let anyone ride this coaster! =)

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This is more like it! Now if we could just get Elissa a sexier date! =)

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Fun Spot America is now OPEN!!! It's HUUUUUUGE!!!!

Edited by robbalvey
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Drove by Fun Spot about an hour ago, and the place looked like it was packed, with the line going way out of the entrance. Looks like their numerous news stories, ride shoots, and promotions paid off. Awesome to have another park in Orlando (with a really good woodie).

Edited by TXman308
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We showed up this morning, but didn't get there until 10a (on account of me having to work until 8:30a). The line to get tickets was PACKED! We attempted to endure the line for about 40 minutes or so (where Ericka brought us a Krispy Kreme, YUM! And thank you!) ... and while it WAS inching along just fine, ultimately decided to leave the queue and take advantage of the purchasing several tickets for future dates instead (for the same promo price)! The cash only table had NO line. So we chose NOT to endure the "crowd" and coaster/rides today, I am REALLY looking forward to returning SOON! Having walked through the park, it really looks amazing! And it was wonderful seeing a CROWD there! In years past when I visited, for go-kart fun, it was rather slow. Hopefully this new expansion draws a ton of popularity to this park! And having left around lunch time, we chose to fill up on tacos and queso at "LIME"! YUM-O!

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We too went this morning around 10:30 but saw the ling snaked around the sidewalk past the station of White Lightning, so we decided by the time we parked and waited in line, we probably wouldn't make it through in time anyway. After a pretty intense storm, we headed back to the park and it had cleared out nicely around 8pm.

 

Fun Spot has such a winner with this new expansion. Freedom Flyer was even a great family coaster. I was impressed by that last helix. White Lightning is such a solid ride. One of the most enjoyable rides. Not too intense that you can't marathon it, but intense enough that it leaves you going back for more! Again, great job Fun Spot. This is how a quality expansion is done!

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"Fun Spot" seems like an understatement with all the new additions and total makeover! Looks like a really awesome place. I LOVE Himalayas and kick-ass woodies that leave me grinning ear to ear! Haven't seen a ride like Enterprise in years - the last one I rode was Cyclops at Hersheypark many moons ago. The lighting package on it looks great. Way to go Fun Spot for hitting it out of the park!

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I just noticed that the Enterprise sign is in the Star Trek font. Nice!

When I saw that photo I thought someone had taken a giant nes controller and wrote on it using the star trek font

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This looks to be an awesome and major addition - the re-launched Funspot is now officially on the top of my list the next time I visit Orlando. Although SWO's Antarctica does have penguins.

 

Hmmm... Penguins > Woodie? Woodie > Penguins? Either way, it's a win-win! Although I didn't know that they moved SFOG's Wheelie there... unheralded Schwartzkopf-rescuing WIN!

 

Seriously, very excited for the Fun Spot folks - I've always been impressed with how well run & staffed they are, especially compared to a lot of mediocre/scary operators around in the whole go-kart racket... they're clearly one of the classier operations, and I sincerely hope the paying public supports them with their business - and allows them more $$$ for even further expansion, because clearly they're making great choices!

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I cannot say enough about this great little park! I have been going every week now sometimes twice a week to ride their great coaster and enjoy the friendly service provided by everyone. It's a nice change of pace from the huge theme parks, and I wish them nothing but success for many years to come!

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This place really does looks fantastic, I can't wait to check it out on my next trip to Orlando (July 4th weekend can't get here soon enough!).

 

I really hope Fun Spot has a tremendous amount of success with these additions. I realize that the Orlando market is vastly different than every other market in the world but I feel like there are a ton of little go cart/ mini golf/arcade centric FEC's out there in America that could pull off an expansion like this. Best of luck to this place!

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Finally got my night rides on White Lightning. Returned to the park saturday night around 10 pm, after the massive downpour. The crowds were light as compared to earlier in the day. All I can say is that the speed was crazy after all the rain. WL was running great. After getting 3 rides at midight we finally left around 12:15 am. They were still running 2 trains even that late. Tha crew was fantastic. They were dispatching trains with remarkable efficiency. Kudos to Fun Spot on this great new expansion !

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This all looks like a million bucks, and with a new Tilt-A-Whirl?! SWEET! Fun Spot is definitely on the list the next time I'm in Orlando.

 

Some of the dusk shots are beautiful; I love that time of day in Florida.

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