The Effect of a Potential Magic Mountain Dismantling

[atticbat]

Maybe Comcast should buy it...They sure thought they could buy DL.

[PragmaticIdealist]

Well, again, the good thing is that this eventuality may present a great opportunity for Disney to expand in California with new attractions and additional capacity.

I know I would take a Disney experience anyday over whatever a Six Flags park could offer.

D.C.A., especially, needs more money invested into it. So, the decreased competition would help justify this greater reinvestment.

Since Cedar Fair made its acquisition, Knott's Berry Farm is no longer interesting. Legoland seems overpriced and appealing to children only. Sea World has always been rather lackluster and gimmicky, and the housing of large whales in captivity was and still is unethical. That leaves Universal Studios, which has always seemed touristy and unappealing to southern California residents.

Disneyland and D.C.A. are in a pretty good position to capture local dollars that might otherwise go to the inferior attractions in the area.

Among amusement parks, I only visit Disneyland and D.C.A., myself. I had free tickets to Knott's a few months ago, and I was still disappointed in the place. The last time I was at Magic Mountain several years ago, I swore I would never go back because so many attractions were closed and the lines were so long. Nothing about Sea World inspires me to visit it on any regular basis. Legoland doesn't do a thing for me. And, the best parts of Universal Studios are the City Walk trappings that don't require an admission fee.

If Disney moves a little more aggressively, it could capture a much larger share of the market than the company does currently. These other attractions are weak, and several of them are priced too high for what they offer.

[sir clinksalot]

I don't think that SFMM closing (IF it happens) would effect Disneyland attendance as much.


The reason they are thinking of closing the park is NOT because the park isn't profitable. The park has become a hangout for teenagers and "Wannabe" gangbangers who:

- Don't fit the new "family" image that Six Flags is going for
- Don't spend as much $$ as families do

The other reason Magic Mountain is an easier target than some other parks is because the SoCal market is already flooded with "Family" theme parks. Disneyland, Knott's, Sea World, Legoland, Universal, etc.


This is where I think Six Flags could be wrong. Unless they take out some of their coasters Magic Mountain will always be a thrill park. But there is no reason why you can't make the park more "Family Friendly" while also being a thrill park.

Do I think this will happen? Eventually ... yes. The land is just too valuable.

Do I want this to happen? No. It's the closest park to where we live and we do enjoy going there, especially to Hurricane Harbor.

[lazyboy97O]

Much larger share of the market and expansion? How many people do you think go to Six Flags Magic Mountain in a year? And most of them were Six Flags Season Pass holders.

[Wren]

Wont affect DL at all, growing up around MM most that went were AP local teenager or gangs from the San Fernando Valley. Most either cant afford DL tickets nor want to go to DL because is not interesting to them, not hardcore enough.

[Gemini Cricket]

I could see a big corporation buying the park and retaining the name "Magic Mountain". It just might be "Comcast's Magic Mountain" or something like that. There are a ton of stores and restaurants around the park who make a ton of their income from park goers. I don't see it being demolished...

[Druggas]

MM never was competition for DL. No theme, bad reputation, and not a place you plan your vacation around. When land becomes so expensive that MM is under consideration for development, are Knotts and DL that far behind?

[sir clinksalot]

^ Totally different scenarios IMO.

The land under MM is going for $1 million an acre. That's JUST for the land. The land under Knott's and Disney would probably go for 1/2 that. The reason why there is an Anaheim is because of Disneyland. The surrounding area of Knott's isn't the best area IMO.

[Corith]

For those living in southern California, it has long been known that Magic Mountain has become the Disneyland for the gang crowd. As the years have gone on, the problem, like the gangs themselves, have only grown worse.

The fact that the problem has grown to the point were the park is no longer profitable because possible, hard-working, honest patrons are no longer willing to be sheep to these savage, barbaric leeches is problematic of all of major metropolitan areas of America.

America is a country in retrograde.

[sediment]

I know a few countries you could live in instead....

[CAspace]

I have been to Magic Mountain over 100 times in the past 2 years, the Gang problems that have existed in the 1980's and Early 1990's at Magic Mountain are a non issue now. Six Flags has had a Sheriff substation on the property for the past few years, with medal detector screening and security presence I hate to say it but I believe the park is probably more secure than DL, which does not properly screen bags or persons entering the premises (IMHO).

[lazyboy97O]

I have been to Magic Mountain over 100 times in the past 2 years, the Gang problems that have existed in the 1980's and Early 1990's at Magic Mountain are a non issue now. Six Flags has had a Sheriff substation on the property for the past few years, with medal detector screening and security presence I hate to say it but I believe the park is probably more secure than DL, which does not properly screen bags or persons entering the premises (IMHO).

Doesn't matter. People percieve it as a gang hang out. The metal detectors are themselves also a problem. People don't want to be treated as if they are gang members.

[sediment]

Would anyone care to speculate on the bearing this potential event may have on Disneyland?

One can only hope that the admission scheme used to demolish the competition can finally be discontinued.

[Mortgageman]

On a related note, why is a bail bondsman running ads at the top of these forums? Wouldn't he get a much better bang for his advertising buck on a MM forum?

[Radiobarry]

MM never was competition for DL. No theme, bad reputation, and not a place you plan your vacation around. When land becomes so expensive that MM is under consideration for development, are Knotts and DL that far behind?

This may be the case these days, but I know for a fact that in the 70's and 80's DL felt a lot of competition from other local parks, especially MM - it was a time where if you didn't offer something new or revamped basically every summer, you'd lose out in the battle for the locals entertainment dollars. And DL attendance was sagging in the recession of the mid-70's, when MM added the Revolution, et al...there's no doubt in my mind that MM competition led to the final decisions to build Space and Big Thunder and renovate the Matterhorn.

Competition from MM among others is what led to DL's eventually giving up ticket books in the early 80's.

So I wouldn't say that it was "never" competition...I remember it differently. I do agree about the "no theme" thing...I mentioned that once to an MM fan, who said they didn't care about that. I went once in the late 70's and never cared to go back.

--Barry