Originally Posted By Nemo88 DCA attendance up,Universal parks all DOWN <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busin...ness-headlines" target="_blank">http://www.orlandosentinel.com /busin...ness-headlines</a>
Originally Posted By Nemo88 I guess GE cant "bring good things to life" eh Universal's two parks in Orlando, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventures, each saw declines of 8{ percent, while Universal Studios Hollywood had an attendance dip of 6 percent. All three parks came off strong attendance increases in 2004 and the parks in 2005 didn't introduce an excitement-generating thrill ride comparable to 2004's Revenge of the Mummy ride.
Originally Posted By Nemo88 looks like DCA rose this year,its ok Darkbeer,you can cry on my shoulder if you want 3 yrs in a row did DCA beat your USH!! Disney's four parks in Florida and two parks in California benefited from the celebration with new rides, stage shows and parades. The Florida parks had attendance increases of between 5 percent and 6{ percent, while Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif. respectively saw growth of 8{ percent and 3.6 percent.
Originally Posted By Nemo88 this link should work <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-bk-themepark122505" target="_blank">http://www.orlandosentinel.com /business/orl-bk-themepark122505</a>,0,1238276.story?coll=orl-business-headlines
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Powered by strong investment in new rides, the 50th anniversary of Disneyland and hurricanes that spared the theme park capital of Orlando, attendance at North America's 50 most popular amusement parks rose 4.2 percent in 2005. An estimated 176 million visitors went to North America's most popular parks, according to an annual survey being released Monday by the trade publication Amusement Business and the research firm Economics Research Associates. Worldwide, amusement park attendance increased 2.2 percent to 253 million visitors in 2005. The $10 billion North American industry had the benefit of momentum from 2004, the first year attendance had increased since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Parks that acquired new rides in 2005 saw their investments pay off while most parks that didn't make big capital investments experienced attendance dips, said James Zoltak, editor of Amusement Business. Universal's two parks in Orlando, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventures, each declined 8{ percent, while Universal Studios Hollywood had an attendance dip of 6 percent. All three parks came off strong attendance increases in 2004. Tom Schroder, a Universal spokesman, said 2004's highflying attendance was a tough act to follow. "The bar was raised so incredibly high for us by spectacular attendance in 2004, combined with a very competitive environment to higher gas prices,'' Schroder said. "2005 was just slightly less great than 2004.'' Amusement Business also said the worldwide marketing campaign for the 50th anniversary of Disneyland at Disney's parks may have siphoned off some attendance at the Universal parks. Disney's four parks in Florida and two parks in California benefited from the celebration with new rides, stage shows and parades. The Florida parks had attendance increases of 5 percent to 6{ percent, while Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif. respectively saw growth of 8{ percent and 3.6 percent. The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, with 16.1 million visitors, and Disneyland in California, with 14.5 million visitors, were the best-attended parks in the world. The next top 5 spots in North America were Disney's other Florida parks: Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Animal Kingdom. Worldwide, Disney parks in the United States, Japan and France took up the top eight spots in attendance. Six Flags Inc., which invested $135 million in new rides around the nation for the 2005 season, was rewarded with a 5.7 percent increase across the chain, according to Amusement Business. Anheuser Busch parks also had sharp increases at locations with new thrill rides
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I like how they blame the decline at Knott's on the rainy spring, but Disneyland, the 2nd most popular park in the country was not all that affected by it. The article states that DL and MK are the most visited parks in the world. I really can't believe that either of them has passed TDL. That place has a huge capacity, due to size of the park and walkways, and is always very full. I know DL benefited with the 50th, and WDW got a little more, but I doubt that would be enough to explain the jump, if it really did happen.
Originally Posted By Nemo88 Woody,USH had Fear Factor Live.Thats new. and Mummy just opened last year,you mean to tell me that its not a draw anymore only after 1 year? wow,that ride really DOES stink!
Originally Posted By leemac FerretAfros, don't forget that OLC is olbiged to disclose their attendance as it is the core of their business so we do get official figures for TDL and TDS. The figures for the US Disney parks are estimated.
Originally Posted By woody DL is up 8%. DCA is up 3.6%. While Florida parks are up 5 to 6%. DCA's increase is okay, but you can say the increase sucked the most.
Originally Posted By Nemo88 Id rather have a 3.6% increase than a 6 % decrease like USH had. so I guess it can be said that DCA sucks less than USH does! in fact DCA has beaten USH every year since 2003
Originally Posted By Roger55 <<DL is up 8%. DCA is up 3.6%. While Florida parks are up 5 to 6%. DCA's increase is okay, but you can say the increase sucked the most.>> Excellent job making a negative statement out of something positive!! ((Stands and applauds in awe))
Originally Posted By Sweeper I love the quote, "Anheuser Busch parks also had sharp increases at locations with new thrill rides." This is the biggest "no duh" statement about amuzement parks. I sure hope Disney executives pay attention to the fact that new RIDES bring in more people, not shops and new shows.
Originally Posted By 9oldmen >>I sure hope Disney executives pay attention to the fact that new RIDES bring in more people, not shops and new shows.<< I think the new management team gets the idea. In fact, I think the impact of "Monsters" in 2006 is going to be greater than people here anticipate. It is: -Adapted from a RECENT DISNEY movie, rather than a vintage non-Disney T.V. show -An original attraction -An immersive dark ride with no height, age, health restrictions (finally, a ride you can take anyone on!),rather than just some dressed up kiddie rides (I rode "Monsters" twice on that first preview day last week, which is about twice the number of times I have ridden "Heimlichs" in my life, the only attraction in "Flic's" that I ever intend to go on). -Finally, I think it has a pretty efficient loading/capacity system. Now, I wouldn't be too proud of DCA beating USH, not with those two Universal parks in Florida STILL getting higher attendance than DCA. Remember, prior to DCA's opeining, you would NEVER have seen a non-Disney park get higher attendance than ANY Disney park. DCA's attendance is SLOWLY creeping up to their levels, but it's not there yet.
Originally Posted By moria1 <<DCA's attendance is SLOWLY creeping up to their levels, but it's not there yet. >> Actually, by my calculations IOA and DCA should both be about the same. IOA: 6.3 mil - 8% = 5.8 mil DCA: 5.6 mil + 3.6% = 5.8 mil
Originally Posted By LuvDatDisney "FerretAfros, don't forget that OLC is olbiged to disclose their attendance as it is the core of their business so we do get official figures for TDL and TDS. The figures for the US Disney parks are estimated." I would guess that means that WDW's figures aren't open and shut and certainly may not be accurate? I have never (except for NYE and July 4th) ever seen the MK as busy as almost any day at DL over the past year, regardless of day/season. And then there's TDL where folks wait in line 45 minutes to get a FastPass. yet the MK outpacks them all ... I don't get it.
Originally Posted By 9oldmen >>I guess GE cant "bring good things to life" eh << You mean like they were doing when they sponsored Carrousel of Progress and Horizons? I don't think anybody thought that within a year of the acquisition, attendance at the Universal parks was going to suddenly skyrocket. These things take time. Also, attendance at the Universal parks was down for 2005, but their two parks in Florida, as I keep pointing out, continue to meet, or as seems to be the case this year, match (In the case of IOA) the attendance of DCA. So does this mean DCA is failing? Also, their parks are still among the 10 most visited theme parks in the nation. So is DCA and "certain" people keep claiming that that is proof positive that DCA can't be in too much trouble. Of course USH could have slipped off of that top 10 list. It won't happen if their attendance dropped a certain percentage per sey. It will only happen when their attendance falls BELOW that of the park which is at NUMBER ELEVEN, which I believe is currently the "Grand Slam Canyon" at Circus Circus. It will be interesting to see the final "Top Ten" list for 2005 so we can all put this into proper perspective.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer I posted this in the Disney Business section, but let me repeat it here... The Top 25 North American parks with the highest percent of increases per AB/ERA.... 1. Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Ill., 2.8 million, +24 percent 2. Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. 14.5 million, +8.5 percent 3. Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, Va., 2.6 million, +8.3 percent 4. Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., 2.3 million, +7.3 percent 5. Paramount Canada's Wonderland in Maple, Ontario, 3.6 million, +7 percent 6. Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 16.1 million, +6.5 percent 7. Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., 2.9 million, +6 percent 8. Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 9.9 million, +5.5 percent 9. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, 4.3 million, +5.1 percent 10. Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 8.6 million, +5 percent 11. Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 8.2 million, +5 percent 12. Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Calif., 2.8 million, +5 percent Industry Average, +4.2 percent 13. Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif., 5.8 million, +3.6 percent 14. SeaWorld San Diego, 4.1 million, +2.5 percent 15. Adventuredome at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, 4.5 million, +2.3 percent 16. Morey's Piers in Wildwood, N.J., 3.1 million, +1 percent 17. SeaWorld Orlando, 5.6 million, +0.2 percent
