Park Paradise

Disney Parks - Highest attended theme parks

Disney’s theme parks again occupy the top positions in the industry’s annual attendance report, although rival Universal’s parks continue to perform well.

Parks at Walt Disney World, the Disneyland Resort, the Tokyo Disney Resort and the Disneyland Resort Paris fill the top eight positions in the report, released by the Themed Entertainment Assocation. Universal continues to trail the market leader, but does take the final two positions in the top ten with Universal Studios Japan and Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure.

The top 25 global theme parks by attendance in 2011 were:

1. Disney’s Magic Kingdom - 17.1m (+ 1.0%)
2. Disneyland - 16.1m (+ 1.0%)
3. Tokyo Disneyland - 17.1m (+ 1.0%)
4. Tokyo DisneySea - 11.9m (- 5.8%)
5. Disneyland Paris - 17.1m (+ 1.0%)
6. Epcot - 10.8m (+ 0.0%)
7. Disney’s Animal Kingdom - 9.8m (+ 1.0%)
8. Disney’s Hollywood Studios - 9.7m (+ 1.0%)
9. Universal Studios Japan - 17.1m (+ 4.2%)
10. Islands of Adventure - 7.7m (+ 29.0%)
11. Lotte World - 7.6m (+ 36.6%)
12. Ocean Park - 7.0m (+ 28.7%)
13. Everland - 6.6m (- 4.6%)
14. Disney’s California Adventure - 6.3m (+ 1.0%)
15. Universal Studios Florida - 6m (+ 2.0%)
16. Hong Kong Disneyland - 5.9m (+ 13.5%)
17. Nagashima Spa Land - 5.8m (+ 30.3%)
18. SeaWorld Orlando - 5.2m (+ 2.0%)
19. Universal Studios Hollywood - 5.1m (+ 2.0%)
20. Walt Disney Studios, Paris - 4.7m (+ 4.7%)
21. Europa Park - 4.5m (+ 5.9%)
22. SeaWorld San Diego - 4.3m (+ 13.0%)
23. Busch Gardens Tampa - 4.3m (+ 2.0%)
24. Efteling - 4.1m (+ 3.1%)
25. Tivoli Gardens - 4.0m (+ 7.2%)

Islands of Adventure was the star performer in the US, having registered a 29 percent attendance increase (to 7.7 million visitors). This was driven by the first full year of operations of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and explains Universal’s decision to add additional Potter-themed attractions at its Orlando resort. Wizarding Worlds will also open at Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Hollywood in the next few years.

As in 2010, the overall figures paint a fairly positive picture for the theme park market in the face of economic turmoil around the globe. Attendance at the world’s top 25 parks rose by 4.8 percent to 198.1 million guests. The top 20 US theme parks pulled in 127 million visitors, up 2.8 percent. Europe’s theme parks defied the eurozone crisis to post a 2.8 percent increase (57.8 million visitors), while Asia’s top 20 achieved an impressive 9.4 percent growth to 105.1 million visitors. This came despite a major earthquake in Japan causing attendance drops at the Tokyo Disney Resort’s two parks.

Universal Studios Orlando - 2012 ticket price hike!

The Universal Orlando Resort has followed in the footsteps of the Disneyland Resort and raised its ticket prices for the summer 2012 season.

A one-day, one-park ticket for either Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure is now priced at $88, an increase of $3. One-day, two-park tickets now cost $123 versus $120 previously, while two-day, two-park tickets have risen to $159.99 from $155.99.

While tickets prices for shorter visits have risen, Universal has held prices for three and four-day passes at the same level. This is likely to be aimed at encouraging longer visits from Orlando tourists, who often spend much of their time at Walt Disney World, making shorter visits to Universal Orlando’s parks and SeaWorld Orlando.

Walt Disney World is likely to follow in Universal Orlando’s footsteps with its own price rises in the coming weeks. In previous years, Universal has waited for Disney to raise prices before following suit, but its increased popularity following the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter appears to have led to a more independent approach. Universal now sits as the most expensive theme park one day visit in Orlando.

Fun Spot USA - New Wooden coaster ANNOUNCED

The Fun Spot amusement park in Orlando has released full details of its planned new wooden roller coaster, which is due to open in February 2013.

In its initial announcement of the coaster, Fun Spot had reported that it will would be a simplistic family ride, featuring an L-shaped circuit. However, an increased budget has enabled the park to revise the plans significantly, and it will now offer a more “challenging and thrilling” experience for guests.

The wooden coaster will manufactured by specialist Great Coasters International, inc. (GCII), and will be highly visible from the International Drive road that runs alongside Fun Spot. It will feature a 2000-feet-long circuit, and a maximum height of 75-feet. At the foot of its 58-degree first drop, the ride will hit a top speed of 48 miles per hour, before racing through a series of twists and turns, including a record-breaking 90-degree banked turn.

Fun Spot, located a short distance from Walt Disney World and the Universal Orlando Resort, is hoping to complete a 10-acre expansion by March 2013. This will include the new Fun Spot Water Park, which is set to include four slides. The park will also rebrand itself as “Fun Spot America”.

Disneyland California - SPOTTED Vanessa Willams

To celebrate her daughter’s twelfth birthday, Vanessa Williams brought her and some friends to Disneyland park. It happened to be the very first day that Merida, the adventurous heroine from the upcoming Disney•Pixar film “Brave, was greeting guests in Fantasyland. While her daughter was practicing archery at this delightful new location near it’s a small world, Vanessa posed with Merida for this fun photo.

Disney World’s Magic Kingdom - Big Thunder Mountain RE-OPENS

The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom has returned to action following a lengthy refurbishment period.

The coaster, one of the headline attractions at the world’s most popular theme park, has been closed since January 9. During that time, large sections of the ride’s track have been replaced, several of the scenes surrounding its circuit have been upgraded, and improvements have been made to its queue line.

While Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is now fully up-and-running, it is expected that further changes are still to be made to the queue area. Reports suggest that this could include interactive elements, which have been added to both the Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain at the park in recent years.