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OT: Fun Spot Action Park undergoing a $40-million expansion


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From Orlando Attractions Magazine...

Fun Spot Action Park undergoing a $40-million expansion – Two roller coasters, water park and more planned

Jul 52012

Filed under: Fun Spot, International Drive

Posted by: Anthony Armenia

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Fun Spot Action Park is undergoing a $40-million expansion to triple its size. Over the next two years they’ll be adding two new roller coasters, a water park, a sky coaster and much more. The first phase will open next spring when the park will be renamed and re-themed Fun Spot America.

The first phase (opening spring 2013) will include a brand new wooden roller coaster called White Lightning from Great Coasters International, a brand new steel suspension coaster by Vekoma, a 250-foot SkyCoaster purchased from Las Vegas that resembles the St. Louis arch, an expanded multi-level go-kart track, a double carousel relocated from Cypress Gardens (now open), and new family and thrill rides.

The second phase (open by 2015) will consist of a water park with four slide complexes and a new building housing an expanded arcade, a food court, more birthday rooms and a dinner show.

The water park will have four slide complexes: a SplashRally figure eight racing slide, a Double BowlsEye with two tubes that feed into a single bowl, a 360Rush with vertical drop capsules and a TwistedRacers mat racing slide. A lazy river with a spin-out lagoon, in-water seating areas and racing lanes are planned to surround a water playground.

By the end of the expansion, the park will triple its size going from five acres to 15 acres. Here’s a computer animation of the White Lightning coaster:

Click here to visit the official Fun Spot Action Park website.

http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2012/07/05/fun-spot-action-park-expansion-details-released/

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There are parks of that size and scope around the country. Why would I use my vacation time and money in Orlando to go there when I can visit Disney, Universal or other world class parks? Maybe I'm missing something. ???

My boys love Fun Spot....go karts mainly. We have to go every time we stay at Tropical Palms (the Fun Spot next door to Old Town)

My guess for the "draw" would be mainly the multi level go kart tracks and the thrill rides, like the sky coaster. Of course, any water park in Florida does well (for obvious reasons) Even crappy old Wild Waters in Ocala is still going strong and it's very tiny with only a few slides.

IMO, WDW is a great "experience" but very short on thrills, which appeal to teenagers and young adults.

Of course, I could be totally off base and they could lose their ass with this expansion! :rofl2:

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I'm really surprised at how big that little ride area has become over the years. I'm not sure about a new expannsion but they always seem to be doing very well whenever we've visited. Not crowded but consistently busy.

The half-price deals on groupon and living social likely don't hurt either. Not many places you can go in this area for unlimited rides & carts under $15 these days. For people staying off property, it's gradually gaining it's own following, which is painfully obvious by the traffic backups heading down the road in that direction some nights...

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Maybe I'm missing something.

I'm missing that something too.

There are a number of attractions in the Orlando that somehow survive competing against the big boys.

Maybe the $30 price tag has something to do with it. In reality, if you break it down to a per hour cost, it's about the same or even more expensive than the theme parks.

I think those places appeal to those people that are theme parked out and looking for something different. I'm assuming that a lot of locals also go there.

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I hadn't really considered the "thrill" component. Guess that comes from being a wuss raising 5 girls. Everest is about as thrilling as I can handle. :rofl2:

You're welcome to borrow my guys anytime. One day with them is enough to test your courage.

Is Fantasy Island still around? Would that compare to Fun Spot, I wonder? There was a place my parents used to take us on summer evenings on Niagara Falls Blvd in Buffalo -- Dealings or something? But it was small but just enough to give you a little fun.

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Fun Spot sort of reminds me of the amusement piers on east coast boardwalks if that helps any Mo. Smallish, but reasonably priced for an evening of family fun when you don't have park days...

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I hadn't really considered the "thrill" component. Guess that comes from being a wuss raising 5 girls. Everest is about as thrilling as I can handle. :rofl2:

I'm a wuss even after raising one boy! Even Everest is beyond my thrill. ;D

For $30, it's definitely an inexpensive thrill for the young uns.

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You're not saying that Go Karts are a thrill ride, are you?

You and I are doing TOT and RNRC next time.

No, I do ride go karts, but not all the other rides.

No, we are most definitely not. :wetpants:

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You're welcome to borrow my guys anytime. One day with them is enough to test your courage.

Is Fantasy Island still around? Would that compare to Fun Spot, I wonder? There was a place my parents used to take us on summer evenings on Niagara Falls Blvd in Buffalo -- Dealings or something? But it was small but just enough to give you a little fun.

Yes, Fantasy Island is still there. We camped on Grand Island a few years back right next to the place. Fun? Wow!!

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