Amusement parks add metal detectors


Amusement parks add metal detectors

SANDUSKY

Amusement park visitors to the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World” can expect slightly longer wait times to pass through new metal detectors.

The parent firm of Cedar Point added another level of security to all of its parks.

Cedar Point spokesman Tony Clark says the process for passing through metal detectors should go quickly.

Cedar Point open this season with a newly expanded water park called Cedar Point Shores. It has the second most roller coasters in the world behind Six Flags Magic Mountain in Clarita, Calif.

Cedar Fair L.P. operates 11 amusement parks in the U.S., including Knott’s Berry Farm in California and Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Pennsylvania.

Disney chief: No virtual reality

SANTA MONICA, Calif.

Walt Disney Co.’s chief executive has no interest in having theme park visitors strap on virtual reality headsets that block out their view and place them inside a digital world.

Smaller rivals have turned to such virtual reality experiences as an affordable way to spice up rides.

But Disney CEO Robert Iger said reality-destroying headsets would be “ersatz” at his stable of parks. He’s ordered his team not to even think about the idea.

Iger instead talked up the possibility of launching high-tech augmented reality attractions. Those will still probably involve headgear, but the devices will blend the real and digital worlds.

Cruise ships add lifeguards

After at least a dozen drownings or near drownings on cruise ship pools in the past several years, three major cruise lines now have lifeguards on duty.

Norwegian Cruise Line is the latest to add lifeguards, announcing recently that the line would roll out guards at family pools beginning this summer on its largest ships - Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Epic.

The remainder of the Miami-based line’s fleet will have lifeguards by early 2018.

Norwegian will also begin offering complimentary swim vests for adults and children, which it hopes to offer across all its ships by this summer, said NCL spokeswoman Vanessa Picariello.

The line has stationed deck attendants who are certified in first response on its four mega ships since 2015, said Andy Stuart, president and CEO of NCL, in a statement, but will now add dedicated lifeguards.

New partnership

Cruise Critic, the world’s leading cruise review site and online cruise community, has announced a new partnership with Regent Seven Seas Cruises to offer Cruise Critic Meet & Mingle parties onboard all Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ voyages.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is the ninth cruise line to host the exclusive events, offering the opportunity for cruisers who have interacted online to meet in person while onboard.

Cruise Critic’s community of over 1.5 million members use the site’s forums to meet and interact prior to boarding through the popular Roll Call tool - often times more than a year before the sail date.

Geography quiz

Q. Which continent has the smallest land area?

A. Australia. It’s about 2.97 million square miles. The second smallest is Europe, with about 3.84 million square miles.

Combined dispatches

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