In a year of ups, downs, loops and scoops, Attractions Management looks back at some of the biggest stories to hit the headlines, giving possible indicators at what’s still to come in the year ahead.

With IAAPA's annual expo taking place during the month, November has traditionally featured some of the biggest news of the year.

Cirque's splash

Coming out of the show, WhiteWater West and Cirque du Soleil announced a brand new partnership to bring Cirque-themed waterparks to life in multiple locations worldwide.

WhiteWater's Paul Chutter revealed that the company was in discussions with at least two interested parties to develop the concept, with a wider plan to build Cirque du Soleil parks worldwide under a franchise model.

"At Cirque du Soleil we're always looking for the next breakthrough," said Martin Boudreau, president and executive producer of Parks and Hospitality at Cirque du Soleil, speaking at the IAAPA expo.

"In our respective industries, WhiteWater and Cirque du Soleil have always pushed the limits of what we can do. Together, we will redefine the waterpark experience by delivering a spectacular attraction and entertainment experience to our guests.

"It's not just about bringing wonder and excitement to the masses, it's also about taking live entertainment to the next level."

Absolutely Fabulous

In an exclusive with Attractions Management actress Joanna Lumley spoke about her patronage of a Peter Pan-themed literary attraction, which is currently under development in Scotland.

Expected to draw around 250,000 visitors a year to the Dumfries area of the country, the historic Moat Brae house – the inspiration for writer JM Barrie's Peter Pan – is undergoing a major redevelopment to transform it into a national centre for children’s literature and storytelling.

Lumley – who boasts an acting career spanning nearly five decades, has backed the project, throwing her weight behind it as the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust’s patron.

"Moat Brae matters on many levels," said Lumley, speaking to Attractions Management. "Dumfries and the wider region have had a tough time economically for many years and a new international visitor attraction will make a valuable contribution to all the regeneration work taking place. It’s a very beautiful part of Britain and once people discover it they often return."

US$1bn lawsuit filed against Disney and Fox

Plans to open the world's first Fox-branded theme park have came to a screeching halt in November, with resort and casino operator Genting Malaysia filing a US$1bn (€883m, £784m) lawsuit against both Twenty-First Century Fox and Disney for abandoning the project.

Fox seemingly emerged as a competitor in the theme park market in 2013, announcing a licensing partnership to develop the first international Twentieth Century Fox theme park.

Originally scheduled to open in Malaysia in 2016 at Resorts World Genting near Kuala Lumpur, US$300m (€264.8m, £235m) was earmarked to develop the park, which would have featured major Fox IPs, such as Ice Age, Alien and Night at the Museum. Genting says it's already invested more than US$750m (€662m, £587.8m) in the project.

Disney is currently preparing a US$71.3bn (€63bn, £55.9bn) purchase of Fox's assets, a deal which is expected to be completed by the end of Q1 2019.

In 2015, the park's opening was pushed back to 2017, with the Genting Group at the time citing weak local currency as the reason for the delay, with a sharp depreciation of the Malaysian ringgit increasing costs.

The lawsuit from Genting says that, with Disney's help, Fox breached the 2013 contract to license its IPs for the Fox World development at the Resorts World Genting complex near Kuala Lumpur.

Check back with Attractions Management tomorrow for a look back at the highlights from December