Creating Tomorrow's Attractions: Inside Three Major 2026 Launches - Lawrence Mancey, James Cox, Hogne Høstmælingen and Guest Host Owen Ralph

In this Summer Special of Skip the Queue, guest host and attractions industry journalist Owen Ralph is joined by three theme park operators for a closer look at their new offerings for 2026. Lawrence Mancey discusses Paultons Park’s £12 million themed area Valgard, the largest ever investment at the UK park, also home to Peppa Pig World. He explains how the viking theme was a ‘no-brainer’, why the family-run park likes creating its own IP, and also tells us about Paultons’ embryonic holiday park plans. Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s James Cox highlights the famous park’s new £8.7 million Aviktas thrill ride and its long-running Hot Ice show. He also explains how the team is trying to revitalise neglected areas of the seaside site and why its operating season is longer than most other British parks. Finally, Hogne Høstmælingen from Hunderfossen in Norway – celebrating its 40th anniversary this season – tell us about the Lillehammer park’s troll roots and much more. We hear how an IP first introduced in 2014 has spawned three attractions including a rollercoaster, Thea Award-winning simulator experience and the new dark ride Rally Flåklypa. ## Topics Discussed - Developing a new themed area - Working with intellectual properties - Increasing Paultons’ appeal to older kids - The flexibility of lodge accommodation Vs a hotel - Choosing a new thrill and where to site it - Revitalising a forgotten corner of Blackpool Pleasure Beach - How an eye-catching ride can be an ‘attraction’ even to those that don’t ride it - Live entertainment and its role in broadening a park’s offering - Squeezing a dark ride into a remarkably small building - How Hunderfossen invested in a movie to extend an IP’s life - A unique troll-themed dining experience - An enchanting winter park offer   **Show references:**    **Guest host:** Owen Ralph **International Editor, Kirmes & Park International** Regular contributor, Blooloop/World’s Fair - www.kirmesparkrevue.de - www.wordsandattractions.com - https://www.linkedin.com/in/owen-ralph/   Lawrence Mancey **Marketing and Technology Director, Paultons Park, UK** - www.paultonspark.co.uk/themed-worlds/valgard-realm-of-the-vikings - https://796f0761.flowpaper.com/GemiKirmes0726E150/#page=24   James Cox **Director of Marketing, Sales and PR, Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort, UK** - www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/aviktas - www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/shows/hot-ice   Hogne Høstmælingen **General Manager, Hunderfossen, Norway**  - www.hunderfossen.no/en/ - www.boldmove-nation.com/rally-fl%C3%A5klypa   **Skip the Queue** is brought to you by Merac. We provide attractions with the tools and expertise to create world-class digital interactions. Very simply, we're here to rehumanise commerce. If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn.   **Credits:** Written by Owen Ralph  Edited by Steve Folland Produced by Emily Burrows and Sami Entwisle (Plaster) **Download The Visitor Attractions Website Survey Report -** https://www.merac.co.uk/download-the-visitor-attractions-survey   We have launched our brand-new playbook: **‘The Retail Ready Guide to Going Beyond the Gift Shop’** — your go-to resource for building a successful e-commerce strategy that connects with your audience and drives sustainable growth.   Download your FREE copy here