September
3, 2008
Contacts:
Gary
Slade 817.460.7220
Janice
Witherow 419.357.3520
“THE
GOLDEN TICKET AWARDS HONOR
THE “BEST OF THE BEST” IN
AMUSEMENT INDUSTRY
AMUSEMENT TODAY
ANNOUNCES WINNERS
OF ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL POLL
ARLINGTON,
Texas, Sept. 3, 2008 – Envelope,
please … and the Golden Ticket
Award goes to … In an awards’ show
today hosted by Give Kids The World
Village, Kissimmee, Fla., Amusement
Today announced the winners of its
prestigious 2008 Golden Ticket Awards.
The Golden Ticket Awards are presented
to the “Best of the Best” in
the amusement industry calculated from
an international poll conducted by
Amusement Today. Surveys were sent
to a database of experienced and well-traveled
amusement park fans around the world – in
balanced geographical regions – asking
them to rate the “bests” in
25 categories such as “amusement
parks,” “roller coasters,” “shows,” “friendliest
staff” and “water rides.” The
2008 winners are …
Best
Amusement Park
Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
Best Waterpark
Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort,
New Braunfels, Texas
Best Children’s
Park
Legoland California, Carlsbad, Calif.
Best Marine Life Park
SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Fla.
Best
Seaside Park
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, Calif.
Best Wooden Coaster
The Voyage at Holiday World, Santa
Claus, Ind.
Best Steel Coaster
Superman Ride of Steel
at
Six Flags New England, Agawam,
Mass.
Best Kids’ Area
Kings Island, Kings Mills, Ohio
Friendliest Staff
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari,
Santa Claus, Ind.
Cleanest Park
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari,
Santa Claus, Ind.
Best Halloween Event
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal
Orlando, Orlando, Fla..
Best Landscaping
Busch Gardens Europe, Williamsburg,
Va.
Best Christmas Event
Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood,
Pigeon
Forge, Tenn.
Best Food
Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg,
Pa.
Best Shows
Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio
Best Outdoor Night Show Production
IllumiNations: Reflections of the
Earth
at Walt Disney World’s
Epcot Center, Orlando, Fla.
Best Water Ride
Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw
Falls
at
Universal’s Islands of
Adventure, Orlando, Fla.
Best Waterpark Ride
Master Blaster at Schlitterbahn
Waterpark Resort,
New Braunfels,
Texas
Best Dark Ride
Amazing Adventures
of Spiderman
at Universal’s Islands
of Adventure, Orlando, Fla.
Best New Ride of 2008
- Amusement Park
Ravine Flyer II at Waldameer Park,
Erie, Pa.
Best New Ride of 2008 - Waterpark
Dragon’s Revenge at Schlitterbahn
Waterpark Resort,
New
Braunfels, Texas.
Best Carousel
Grand Carousel at Knoebels Amusement
Resort,
Elysburg, Pa.
Best Indoor Roller Coaster
Revenge of the Mummy at Universal
Orlando,
Orlando, Fla.
Best Indoor Waterpark
Schlitterbahn Galveston Island, Galveston,
Texas
Best Funhouse/Walk-Through
Attraction
Frankenstein’s Castle at Indiana Beach, Monticello, Ind.
This is the 11th annual year for Amusement
Today’s coveted Golden Ticket
Awards, which are the most sought-after
awards in the business of amusements
and attractions. The awards have
become the subject of much discussion
by park aficionados the world over
and have garnered mentions in such
notable media outlets
as USA TODAY and the Chicago
Tribune,
by venerable radio newsman Paul Harvey
and were the topic of a one-hour documentary
on the Travel
Channel.
“We
commend the Golden Ticket Award winners
and all of the finalists for their
varied achievements,” says
Gary Slade, publisher and editor-in-chief
of Amusement
Today. “These
awards are the pinnacle of honors
in the amusement industry, and it
is nice to recognize parks and attractions
around the world who are striving
for excellence each and every day.”
Personally
chosen by Slade, the Publisher’s
Pick Awards are presented in three
categories: Park, Individual and
Supplier. Respectively, the 2002008
recipients are Xocomil waterpark
in Retalhuleu, Guatemala, for its
first-class quality and amazing attention
to detail; Paul Nelson of Waldameer
Park in Erie, Pa., for his remarkable
15-year effort in bringing a venerable
wooden roller coaster back to life;
and Zamperla in Parsippany, N.J.,
for its continuous innovation, longevity
and creativity.
For
the fourth consecutive year, Amusement
Today recognized college students
who plan to pursue a career in the
amusement industry and are employed
by the ceremony’s host park
of Give Kids The World Village, Weeki
Wachee Springs in Spring Hill, Fla.,
and Fun Spot USA in Kissimmee, as
Ms. and Mr. Golden Tickets. These
individuals exemplify the spirit
and integrity of the amusement park
industry by promoting the cornerstones
of safety, service, courtesy and
cleanliness at the highest level,
while consistently exceeding job
expectations. This is an annual designation
by Amusement Today to promote education
in the field of hospitality and amusement,
as well as to spotlight future leaders
in the amusement industry.
Amusement
Today newspaper
covers international amusement and
water park news and trends and in
its 12-year history is a five-time
winner of various awards from the
International Association of Amusement
Parks and Attractions. Give Kids
The World Village is a 70-acre, non-profit
resort in Central Florida that creates
magical memories for children with
life-threatening illnesses and their
families.
For
a detailed outline of the 2008 winners
and survey results, please log on
to amusementtoday.com. News media
may also call the Amusement
Today offices at 817.460.7220 for interviews
or more information about the Golden
Ticket Awards.
View
the complete list of winners!
Click here to download
2008 Golden Ticket Awards Bonus Section
PDF file (13.6 mb)
