We are back this week with more Theme Park News With an Attitude. As always, you can follow along on the Wakefield Report Facebook page! Here are your 9 News Nuggets You Need to Know for this week.
Story 1: The World’s on Fire There was a small fire that broke out near Disneyland’s It’s a Small World. The attraction suffered no damage and the Orange County Fire Department is still investigating the cause of the blaze. As usual, some major news outlets got wind of the story and quickly created headlines stating, “Disneyland’s Its a Small World Catches Fire!!!!!” This was far from the case. Am I the only one who gets annoyed when major media outlets get a hold of theme park news and manage to mangle and misreport the story. Chalk it up to #NerdProblems
Story 2: Avatar Video Reveals All Ok, not really. Last week the Disney Parks Blog released a video of Tom Staggs, James Cameron, and other imagineers at Imagineering HQ in Glendale. The video highlights Avatar Director Cameron going over some of the newest models and technologies that will go into the themed land inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Cameron plays with some bioluminescent plants and watches as his footprints glow behind him on an interactive walkway. There is also a lot of pointing in the video. Cameron points at a model. Staggs points at a model. I would think that by now, three years since publicly announcing the project, they would be beyond the, “pointing at the model of the land and checking sight lines” phase. But maybe this video was from a year ago….
Story 3: Drowning at Castaway Cay A passenger on the Disney Cruise Line ship, Magic drowned at Disney’s private island in the Bahamas. As most of you know, all Disney Cruise Line ships that pass through the Caribbean, Bahamas passage make a one day stop at the private island where guests can relax, snorkel, etc. The passenger was swimming on the adults only beach on the island where there are signs posted that there are no lifeguards. No foul play is expected but Bahamian authorities are investigating the tragic incident.
Story 4: Things are Looking Up Well, not exactly. Like every year, Universal has followed suit with Disney and has raised ticket prices for their Orlando theme park. A single day ticket to Universal Orlando is now $102. While still a very stiff price to pay for a one day, one park pass, many argue that there is much more value at Universal Orlando with the recent additions of Transformers, Diagon Alley, a newly renovated Simpsons land, and more.
Story 5: Things are Looking Up I am sensing a theme here. Disneyland has also raised ticket prices. A single day, single park pass for The Happiest Place on Earth is now $96. Still a fairly good value, if you ask me.
Story 6: Sea World in a World of Hurt Things are not looking up for Sea World. The themed entertainment company released its quarter 4 report last week and the number are not good. The parks lost over 1 million visitors last week as the company struggled to stave off the bad press it is still experiencing from the 2013 documentary Blackfish. Sea World is in the middle of searching for a new CEO and will continue to have a difficult time repairing it’s public image for the remainder of the year. Is there a magic bullet or PR scheme that can solve Sea World’s problems? Or is the company doomed to die a slow death?
Story 7: Hungry Hungry Dolphins Sea World Orlando recently announced that they have put an end to their dolphin feeding program. Well, ok. Let me rephrase that. Guests to Sea World Orlando will no longer be able to feed the dolphins. Guests could pay more for this experience and it had been a staple at the park for years. Sea World said that food and other objects were being dropped into the dolphin pool and those objects could be hazardous. Is this the public relations magic bullet that Sea World has been looking for?
Story 8: Things Get Real at Fun Spot The normally safe and quiet Fun Spot theme park in Orlando was rattled two weeks ago by a shooting. 21 year old Jamal LaFortune walked in to the park and opened fire on guests. Two visitors were hit by the gunfire and were taken to a nearby hospital and treated. LaFortune, who is a convicted felon now faces charges and Fun Spot Orlando is left with a possible PR disaster. Immediately after the shooting, Fun Spot announced new security procedures that involve bag checks, wanding, and increased security at the parks entrances after dark.
Story 9: Bye Felecia The dreaded Sorcerers hat at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is now completely gone.Our long national nightmare is over.
On Episode 14 of the E Ticket Report Derek, Tim, and I discuss the latest in theme park news including:
- Universal Orlando’s King Kong
- Theme Park Ticket Price Increases
- The Avatarland Video
- The possible future for Hollywood Studios
- New leadership for Disney Parks
- Improvements to Little Mermaid at Magic Kingdom
- Food Truck Island at Disney Springs
- and more…
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