Wiggles World premiere
Children enjoy new section of Great Adventure
Posted by the Ocean County Observer on 04/6/07
BY KIM PREDHAM
STAFF WRITER
JACKSON — Not even dark clouds could dim the spirits of children experiencing Wiggles World for the first time.
"It's great. I like the fact that it's very little-child friendly," Joan Szlaga of Toms River said of the newest attraction at Six Flags Great Adventure.
Wiggles World, based on the popular children's entertainers, opened to favorable reviews this week when the theme park officially resumed operations for the year.
The play area has transformed elements of The Wiggles' repertoire into rides, a show and a play area.
Monday's grand opening included Wiggles songs performed by students from Toms River's Chesterbrook Academy and a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Jackson Mayor Mark Seda and his daughter. Sixteen Chesterbrook students and about 40 children from the Boys and Girls Clubs of America had exclusive access to the area's attractions the first hour the park opened.
"We have a good relationship with them (the Boys and Girls Clubs)," park spokeswoman Angel Aristone said to explain why the club was given first dibs.
The children were the first to encounter attractions such as the Big Red Car ride, which features — what else? — large red cars. Each car has four seats outfitted with a steering wheel for each passenger. As the cars ride along a track, passengers glide by scenes of cities such as New York and London.
They also got the chance to play in the S.S. Feathersword pirate ship area, dominated by a large pink and green ship that has chutes. Visitors can crawl through hollow barrels and a treasure chest, or climb atop a red and orange starfish.
And there were more rides to try, like the aptly named Big Red Plane (flying red planes). Dorothy's Racing to the Rainbow ride allows children to sit in pink baskets made to look like hot-air balloons, which move up and down diagonally. And then there is Bouncin' With Wags, which lifts riders up a tree to where Wags the Dog stands.
"We're trying to offer thrills for all ages," Aristone said.
A cast of characters from The Wiggles — including Dorothy the Dinosaur and Captain Feathersword — will perform daily in their own show as well.
And anyone who still can't get enough of the uber-cheerful Wiggles also can stop by their store, stocked full of costumes, stuffed toys, candy, shirts and dinnerware such as plates and bowls.
Just next-door is the Yummy Yummy Cafe, where children and their parents can grab a bite.
"It's good for the kids," said Heather Plasencia of Jackson, whose 4-year-old son, Nicholas, sang at the grand opening. Nicholas's 3-year-old brother Gabriel also attended, though he did not sing.
Nicholas liked the Big Red Plane ride, his mother said.
In the past few years, Six Flags has focused on family-oriented activities, Aristone said.
Wiggles World is the park's fourth area exclusively for children.
The park added Bugs Bunny National Park last year and Balin's Jungleland in 2005, Aristone said. The park's other children's area is the Looney Tunes Seaport, directly adjacent to Wiggles World.
Also added this year is the Six Flags Wild Safari's exploration station, a chance for visitors to be introduced to animals such as Cleo the capuchin monkey and Kumai the kinkajou (a monkeylike animal related to the raccoon).
Visitors can also touch animals such as the zebu, a creature similar to a cow, Aristone said.
The safari will remain open every day through Sept. 9 and then is open on select days in September and October.
The theme park will be open today, tomorrow and from April 9 to 15. The park will begin to operate daily May 24, according to the Six Flags Web site |
