Orlando, Wednesday, 29 October 2025.
At IAAPA Expo Orlando, key suppliers signalled a shift toward modular, interoperable attraction ecosystems to operators and merchandisers. Vekoma teased a ‘surprising’ coaster tied to Grupo Vidanta, WhiteWater unveiled compact, capacity‑boosting waterplay systems, Dronisos highlighted near‑500 shows at Disneyland Paris validating drone spectacles, and Accesso updated its accessoPassport guest‑management SaaS. Together these reveals point to shorter lead times, bundled procurement opportunities across rides, shows and retail/F&B systems, and rising demand for systems‑integration expertise to turn IP‑compliant show tech into per‑capita revenue. For retail teams this means tighter tie‑ins between show scheduling and F&B/merch forecasts, higher yields from dynamic bundles, and new vendor negotiation levers around modular delivery and post‑install platform fees. Operators should prioritise integration roadmaps, rider throughput metrics and IP licensing terms when evaluating bids. Expect procurement windows to shorten and the premium on cross‑discipline project managers to grow as suppliers push packaged, interoperable stacks that monetise flow.
Project focus: Vekoma’s ‘surprising’ rollercoaster for Grupo Vidanta
Vekoma publicly teased a “unique and surprising” new rollercoaster developed in partnership with Mexican resort developer Grupo Vidanta, planned to launch at the Vidanta World complex in Nuevo Vallarta — a reveal first signalled by supplier briefings at IAAPA Expo Orlando 2024 and repeated in event coverage [1]. The announcement positions the coaster as a headline attraction tied to a major resort operator rather than a standalone park-install, emphasising strategic alignment between manufacturer product planning and integrated resort development [1].
Why the project matters for operators: modularity and shorter delivery windows
Suppliers at IAAPA emphasised product families and modular offerings intended to shorten delivery schedules and simplify procurement, a strategic pivot that operators can leverage when negotiating bundled contracts across rides, shows and retail/F&B systems [1][2]. That industry messaging — visible in the collection of supplier reveals at the trade show — indicates vendors are packaging interoperable systems that should reduce bespoke engineering time and allow more predictable procurement windows for resort-integrated attractions like the Vekoma–Vidanta coaster [1][2].
Technical architecture and engineering innovations (what is known and what is not)
Public information from IAAPA coverage and vendor releases confirms the coaster will be presented as a new, differentiating product rather than a catalogue repeat, but specific engineering parameters (train type, propulsion system, maximum g-loads, track length, thematic show systems integration points) were not disclosed in the event briefing [1][alert! ‘Vekoma did not publish technical specifications in the IAAPA briefing; therefore precise engineering numbers are unavailable in the public source.’]. The lack of published specs suggests Vekoma is protecting IP and element-level novelty until a formal project reveal or park press release is issued, a common practice for headline coasters unveiled at trade shows [1].
Theming and guest-flow strategy in a resort context
Framing the coaster as part of Grupo Vidanta’s resort masterplan implies a theming strategy designed to integrate with broader guest circulation, F&B and retail nodes — suppliers at IAAPA highlighted a rising emphasis on tying show schedules to merchandising and food & beverage forecasting to drive per-capita revenue, a capability operators should expect to demand in procurement discussions for resort coasters and associated IP-driven entertainment [1][2]. That integration logic underpins the commercial rationale for resort operators to prioritise modular interfaces between ride control, ticketing and retail systems during contract negotiations [1][2].
Systems integration: show-control, ticketing and monetisation levers
Exhibitors at IAAPA signalled converging interoperability expectations: Accesso showcased updates to its accessoPassport guest‑management SaaS at the Expo, illustrating the sector’s movement toward platforms that can coordinate admissions, timed-entry and upsell offers — capabilities that become important when a major coaster is embedded in a resort guest flow and needs dynamic bundling for F&B and retail [1]. Suppliers across rides and experience technology emphasised modular, IP‑friendly show systems that can be coordinated with guest‑management platforms to create higher-yield bundles and shorter dwell‑time friction points [1][2].
Adjacent product trends that influence ride procurement
WhiteWater used IAAPA to introduce compact, capacity‑boosting waterplay systems described as ‘fusion’ attractions combining slides, rides and play; the same product logic — packing more throughput and session time into smaller footprints — informs ride procurement choices where resort land availability and guest circulation favour higher-capacity, modular attractions [2]. Likewise, drone-show vendors showcased validated deployments — Dronisos referenced near‑500 performances of its Disneyland Paris nighttime show — reinforcing supplier claims that drone-based IP‑compliant entertainment can be integrated as complementary spectacle to coaster openings, further complicating integration and licensing negotiations for operators [1].
Procurement implications for project teams and retailers
Taken together, the IAAPA announcements imply procurement windows will compress and the role of cross-discipline project managers will expand: operators should expect shorter lead-time attraction packages, greater demand for systems-integration expertise and new vendor negotiations that bundle ride manufacturing with show-control, ticketing and retail platform fees [1][2]. Retail and merchandising teams should be prepared to model tighter tie‑ins between scheduled spectacle times and dynamic F&B/merch forecasts, and to press for contractual clarity on post-install platform fees and API access when evaluating bids that promise interoperable stacks [1][2].
What remains uncertain and requires follow-up
Key project details remain unpublished in IAAPA briefings: exact technical specifications of the Vekoma coaster, definitive delivery and opening timelines at Vidanta World, scope of integration with accessoPassport or comparable guest‑management systems, and precise commercial terms for bundled procurement were not provided in the public IAAPA coverage [1][2][alert! ‘IAAPA exhibitor summaries and supplier press snippets at the Expo did not include element-level technical specs, contractual models or firm opening dates; these require direct vendor or operator confirmation.’]
Bronnen