Industry calls in fifth graders to test theme park foods, rides

<p>More than 1,100 exhibitors representing a $29 billion amusement industry snapped to attention Friday when a group of clipboard-toting fifth graders marched into the Georgia World Congress Center exhibit hall.</p><p>The group of Atlanta-area fifth graders, wearing brightly colored "Kid Testers" T-shirts, were invited to test the latest theme park rides, games and foods on display at the massive International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo, which began Monday and ends Saturday.</p><p>This is the first time the IAAPA has reached out to kids to experience and rate the new products, and the companies were braced for potentially candid reviews.</p><p>"Who's more honest than a kid?" asked IAAPA vice president of communications Beth Robertson.</p><p>"It's a great opportunity to see who's going to be riding these things."</p><p>Snapfinger Elementary teacher Donna Brockmann said the IAAPA "wanted children who are outgoing and who have the ability to be critical." Brockmann brought three students from the DeKalb County school's gifted program _ Kai Pace, Devonte Blow and Jacqueline Billings.</p><p>The lucky eight fifth graders took their job seriously as they dutifully scribbled notes and circled grades following each stop. Even so, Josh Trainer, a home-schooled student from Dacula, had chocolate syrup smeared on his official judging sheet after the first stop at the Cool Dog Ice Cream Sundae display.</p><p>"It's cold," observed Nigel Manley of West Clayton Elementary, who was accompanied by his teacher, Eric Coburn.</p><p>Ice cream and amusement park rides? This was far more than a normal field trip.</p><p>"He didn't sleep at all last night," said Coburn of Manley.</p><p>As soon as the group finished off their hot dog-shaped ice cream treats, they were off to their first rides _ the Zamperla company's "Wave Blaster" and "Disk'O."</p><p>Two students refused to ride the daunting "Disk'O," the biggest ride set up inside the convention center. Manley, however, graded the ride _ which whips riders around a big spinning circle _ "totally cool."</p><p>The biggest compliments came later when the kids were taken outside to S&S Powers' 65-foot tall "Screamin' Swing." Only about half the kids were brave enough to ride the big swing, but Trainer, who was the first to volunteer, returned for a second ride.</p><p>"I thought it was awesome, better than all the others inside," Trainer said. "I liked how high it goes."</p><p>The students stayed grounded for other games and exhibits, including a 4-D Theater that won positive reviews.</p><p>"I liked the way it comes out of the picture at you," said Bria Collins of Point South Elementary in Clayton County.</p><p>Collins said she didn't ride the Disk'O. "I thought I might get dizzy," she said.</p><p>But Collins said the Wave Blaster, which takes riders in a circle while each seat moves up and down, was not exciting enough.</p><p>"On the ride that went up and down, I thought it could go higher and faster," Collins said. "Once you got on, it really wasn't that scary."</p><p>Other students had unfavorable reviews of a "MagiQuest" interactive show where contestants do battle with magic wands.</p><p>"We are Christians," explained Zachrey Foster of Brookwood Elementary near Snellville. "We don't believe in witchcraft."</p><p>Added Trainer: "That one had too much witchcraft in it."</p><p>But Trainer say he would enthusiastically recommend his favorite ride, the Screamin' Swing.</p><p>"I'd tell them the swing isn't scary," Trainer said before adding, "but they might not like me when they got off the ride."</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/11/134914