No one's tanking.
Six Flags has sold the parks it wanted to sell and is gearing up to make family-friendly additions to the parks it retained. Cedar Fair has bought out Paramount Parks. Busch is investing in new and upgraded attractions at its parks. Universal's finally found stable ownership, in NBC, and is rumored to be dropping a major new attraction into Islands of Adventure soon.
And Disney? Well, the market leader is still showing the rest of the field how to make some serious coin.
Disney announced yesterday that its first quarter profit more than doubled from a year ago. Of course,l Disney's got money following in from about a gajillion different industries, but theme parks remain strong for the Mouse.
Park earnings ose 8 percent to $405 million for the quarter. Per guest spending was up at Walt Disney World, though Disneyland (coming off its 50th Anniversary) saw a decline in attendance and spending. Disney's CFO told reporters that theme park bookings were up 3 percent in the first quarter of its fiscal year, when compared with the same period one year ago.
The only bleak spot was Hong Kong Disneyland, where attendance and spending remains in the tank for that underdeveloped Magic Kingdom park.
Of course, 2007 performance for all theme park companies depends upon... you. What are your plans for theme park visits in 2007? Are you planning to visit more, less or about the same as you did in 2006?
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I plan on visiting Six Flags often, Universal Studios often, Knott's Often, Disneyland I've already been to 4 times since 2007, and I'm going to go to Walt Disneyworld this summer.
This year looks great.
Actually, My family and I are doing something new this year. We are going to the European Disney Cruise and going to Disneyland Paris! This will be my first Disney overseas experience!
So I guess that makes up for going to Disney World for the thosandth time!
Really on Hong Kong Disneyland? It a shame that they do not have more people going since Tokyo Disneyland seems to have alot of business. EPCOT's China had models from Hong King Disneyland and it looked quite intersting. It looked like half the park was Adventureland. From what I hear, its still under construction! Whats with Disney opening parks before they are ready? AK????
Honestly, if you want to see a Six Flags Park that is done well, come to Chicago (well Gurnee) and try it out!
Chances are, I will renew my season Pass to Six Flags. Its one of the best theme park deals out there in my opinion.
We will be doing at least 7 days at the Disney parks (though with our Florida resident passes it could be more...) plus sea-world, and possibly Gatorland... (didn't that burn down recently?) Also if my wife and I can get a sitter we will be hitting IOA and Universal... one day for both parks... pretty much Men in black and The mummy at Universal and the rest of the day at IOA...
a 21 day theme park extravaganza should put a little money in the parks pocket... though we are notoriously good at finding the best deals... CANT WAIT!!!
Hopefully squeeze a long weekend at Disneyland Paris early next year.
On the other hand, I bought annual passes for the Disneyland Resort and I haven't spent much time there in years. So comparing my local visits, I will significantly increase what I did last year. For overall money spent, it should be pretty close to the same as 2006.
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