Last July, ATZ reported the news of Zamperla’s Water Mania, an interactive water ride that was under development and promised to open in Luna Park Coney Island. Alberto Zamperla had told Italian Wired about the new ride when the reporter asked what he was secretly working on. Now Water Mania is slated to make its world debut in Coney in May, according to a report last month in Park World. “The ride will feature a pirate theme with six four-seater spinning barrels on each of two rotating platforms, offering a total 48 passenger capacity,” says the amusement industry journal. “Each barrel will have its own motor, and riders will board from the outside of the platform without having to set foot in the water.”
Park World’s article “Splash Battle Continues” highlights the popularity of interactive water attractions from major ride manufacturers. Mack’s Spinning Tea Cups on Water debuted with a SpongeBob theme as Splash Bash at Blackpool in 2011 and will open this year at Etnaland in Sicily and La Ronde in Montreal. Also mentioned are Moser’s Corsair Battle and Preston and Barbieri’s Splash Battle.
Last summer, Zamperla debuted an interactive water ride called “Mediterranea” at Minitalia Leolandia, a beautifully landscaped park in Italy formerly owned in part by the ride manufacturer. The pirate-themed ride features galleon style boats sailing under the flags of the four Italian Maritime Republics of the Middle Ages. Riders splash each other as well as bystanders with water cannons. This video of the ride recalls the pageantry of a tall ship parade.
Related posts on ATZ...
April 9, 2013: Zamperla to Bring Venetian Carnevale, Da Vinci-Inspired Ride to Coney Island
March 11, 2013: Luna Park’s Pinwheels Go Up on Coney Island Boardwalk
July 3, 2012: Alberto Zamperla Talks Watermania for Coney Island, Cowboys & Aliens Coaster
September 16, 2010: Luna Park Coney Island: Zamperla Air Race On-Ride POV Video
They are either doing maintenance to the water flume ride, or dismantling it for this ride to take its place??
Not sure which rides are being replaced post-Sandy!