Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30: Recent Episodes
Philip Hernandez
An insider’s take on the theme park and themed entertainment industry trends, Green Tagged Covers the Top Theme Park News from each week. From theme parks to zoos and aquariums to haunted houses, we scour the world for what you need to know. We may not have all the answers, but we ask the right questions.
Six Flags’ new leadership is successfully reorienting the company toward repeat visitation, yet this quarter its debt cost more than its parks earned.
The strategy of getting more passholders to attend more often and spend more, thereby increasing lifetime spend, is working. Revenue and attendance were up, adjusted for the divested parks, and the upcoming Halloween season, with 448 Halloween-themed experiences from coast to coast, should supercharge that strategy. Yet, while the parks made money, the company still posted a loss due to its debt.
Running the parks produced $88.6 million of operating income, up from $74.5 million a year ago. Interest on the company's debt cost $102 million, and the quarter landed at a $20.1 million loss before taxes. The $203 million headline loss is mostly a $157.4 million tax charge, an accounting catch-up tied to the park sales, not a bill: Six Flags paid $4.5 million in cash taxes in the entire first half. Same-park revenue, attendance, and EBITDA all grew, pass sales are up 7%, and the stock still fell 16%.
Meanwhile, Six Flags Great America announced Camp Timber Trail, a nine-attraction family land opening in 2027, led by Sky Hawk, a suspended family coaster billed as the Midwest's longest, tallest, and fastest, another build aimed at the family-together demographic that keeps spending.
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United Parks is bringing licensed IP to Howl-O-Scream for the first time, licensing two Sony films across all five of its events. Busch Gardens Tampa and Williamsburg each open an Anaconda house on September 11 with different storylines, Fear Has No Escape in Tampa and Dead on Arrival in Williamsburg, while I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Final Catch opens at SeaWorld Orlando, San Diego, and San Antonio. Sony says it is the first time either film has been licensed for a major Halloween event.
Howl-O-Scream built its identity on avoiding IP. Original stories meant the licensing money went into the product instead, while Universal paid for rights before building a single set. That calculus has flipped in a market where guests gravitate to what they already know. The risk is the pattern other parks have followed: pay for the IP out of the same budget, build less event, and blame the IP when attendance disappoints. Guests buy the whole event, and when the event shrinks, one house cannot cover the gap.
Anaconda is an animal-attack story at a company historically sensitive about how animals are portrayed, and neither film carries the pull of a Halloween staple. The two Anaconda storylines suggest houses built to swap parks next year, the right instinct, since IP buying power only works at corporate scale and the next step is infrastructure consistent enough to rotate shows between parks. One haunted house does not make a premier Halloween event.
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Halloween Horror Nights is bringing Fortnitemares to both its US events this fall, a scare zone modeled on the game's annual in-game Halloween event, complete with the Battle Bus and a few HHN-exclusive additions. Fortnite is the most-played console game in the United States, with more than 650 million lifetime registered players, a brand larger than the event hosting it. The creative objection is the weakest one, since Fortnitemares is already a Halloween event. The harder questions are operational: this targets the same young demographic behind teen takeovers, in a scare zone with no line to control. Success comes down to balancing three brands at once, enough Fortnite, enough Halloween, and enough Universal.
Meanwhile, Universal's theme parks grew revenue 2.7% in the second quarter while segment EBITDA fell 5.1%, the first decline since Epic Universe opened. Orlando attendance softened in June and stayed pressured into July, with management pointing to fuel prices and consumer sentiment. Guests who come are spending, but fewer are coming, and Epic itself is still delivering. The response is a Halloween bet: a 48-night Horror Nights run starting August 28, Universal Nights in October, and Epic passholder discounts up to 40%. We've argued summer is becoming the industry's new shoulder season, and this quarter shows why. Summer sells the core product alone, while fall sells the same core plus the seasonal overlay on one ticket. Tokyo Disney raising its top price for October and Six Flags flash-selling $35 summer tickets point the same direction.
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Legoland Shanghai passed 2 million guests in its first year, the fastest any LEGOLAND resort has reached that mark. We break down the numbers behind the milestone: an 80% family guest base, 230,000 minifigures sold, and a guest pool expanding well beyond the Yangtze River Delta. Then we turn to what Delta and the big banks just revealed about the travel economy. Premium seats outsold coach at Delta for the first time in a summer quarter, average trip costs jumped 24%, and 53% of Americans say they are cutting dining and shopping to protect their vacations. Travel is the protected line item now, but nearly 40% of lower-income households have no summer travel plans at all. We discuss what that split means for regional attractions. Plus, Disneyland Paris replaces Bastille Day fireworks with a 10-minute drone and projection show after a heat-driven pyrotechnics ban, and we consider whether weather is quietly rewriting nighttime entertainment. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Six Flags has appointed Mark Pauls as Chief Operating Officer, an operator who worked alongside CEO John Reilly at both Palace Entertainment and SeaWorld. At Kennywood, Pauls converted Phantom Fright Nights into the hybrid Phantom Fall Fest and expanded Holiday Lights to 24 nights, adding the park's first January operating days. Reilly has board support for now, but not much time, and a partner with shared shorthand and a proven seasonal-events record saves years as they pivot back to the seasonal model. The hardest fight in expanding events is convincing your own operations staff, and that fight goes better with a COO who has run them.
Meanwhile, Universal announced Universal Nights, an after-hours event at Epic Universe on two October Saturdays, with all five worlds open from 9 pm to midnight, character appearances, and unlimited specialty snacks for $179.99. We’ve advocated this model for a while, and this is clearly a test. Although the price is high, it should help validate the model.
Finally, Meow Wolf and animation studio Titmouse announced a multi-year partnership covering original animated series built from Meow Wolf's story universe, as well as animation for the Los Angeles exhibition opening late this year. Three months into CEO Matthew Henick's tenure, the deal does exactly what he promised: screen content built outward from worlds that began as physical spaces, inverting the model on which Disney built an empire.
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Comcast confirmed it will separate into two independent publicly traded companies, one focused on entertainment and one focused on connectivity, through a tax-free spin-off of NBCUniversal, expected to be completed within roughly 12 months.
The new NBCUniversal, with Mike Cavanagh as CEO, will be a focused media and entertainment company “anchored by its growing theme parks division,” with Universal film and television studios, NBC, Telemundo, Peacock, Bravo, and Sky. Michael Angelakis, the former Comcast CFO and current Atairos chairman, returns as CEO of standalone Comcast.
The widely celebrated move places NBCUniversal in a better position to compete with Disney, and Wall Street was pleased.
Those of us in the theme park industry recognize this as a structural shift towards Disney: an entertainment company where IP moves from screen to theme park to hotel to merchandise, with in-person experiences as a major profit anchor.
Also this week: Fun Spot America to Close Aug 2, 2026.
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Three news items this week, all of them about change: when to make it, when to skip it, and how to communicate it.
Disneyland is facing backlash after replacing one of the old skeletons in the Pirates of the Caribbean with a new projection-mapped animatronic. Screens and AI are deeply unpopular right now, and replacing a classic animatronic with a projection might have been a misstep.
Enchanted Parks eliminated the legacy dining plan at its six former Six Flags properties. CEO James Harhi told Attractions Magazine the company is prioritizing "rides and improvements, not chicken tenders." The line is good. The underlying strategy is not visible yet, and a smaller chain almost certainly lost the bulk discount that made the plan profitable. The cleaner play would have been to lead with the price reductions and let the cut follow.
Meanwhile, Walt Disney World extended its 2026 holiday season to nearly two months, from November 13 through January 6, without adding anything new. Christmas at Disney is built on nostalgia, and changing the product would break the emotional logic guests come for. Halloween needs novelty. Christmas needs tradition.
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Universal has priced its new Universal Kids Resort 50% above local family-market alternatives, but does it justify the markup?
The 20-acre Frisco park opened for press previews this week ahead of its July 1 launch, priced from $54.99 on weekdays to $79.99 over Labor Day weekend, and aimed at children aged 5 to 9. A family of four runs about $220 to $320 before parking and food, against $50 to $130 at local zoos, museums, indoor water parks, and family entertainment centers, most of which are climate-controlled or shaded.
Universal spent the last decade positioning Epic as the premium ceiling of the brand, and selling a cheaper, simpler product under the same flag undermines that positioning. The cleaner play would have been to ship this park under a different name. Kids at this age enjoy anything, including the free Frisco splash pads down the road, and a paid family day depends on whether the trip works for the parents, too.
Meanwhile, Epic Universe announced Universal Celestial Goodnight, its first nighttime spectacular debuting July 7, with 600 synchronized light fixtures, 350 large-scale fountains, 7 million LED lights, and a fireworks finale across Celestial Park.
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This week is a catch-up: seven news items we hadn't gotten to yet, with a quick read on each.-Oogie Boogie Bash. Disneyland is replacing the Frightfully Fun parade with a Madame Leota's Swinging Wake cavalcade for 2026. For a limited-ticket event, swapping wait-and-watch for come-and-go gives guests more of their evening back, as long as it's well executed.
-Magic of Disney Animation. Disney detailed the new Hollywood Studios building, designed as a set of small interactive rooms. This is the micro-visit logic: one room is satisfying, three are satisfying, all of it is satisfying.
-Universal United Kingdom Resort. Universal's UK park is now officially named. How it positions itself relative to the existing European market remains an open question, and the company has not addressed it.
-Universal Kids Resort. Opens July 1 in Frisco, Texas, at $54 a day, about half the price of a regular Universal ticket, with marketing that leans into appealing to both the child and the caregiver in the same line.
-Hagrid's and Tokyo Disney. Universal Orlando pulled Express Pass from Hagrid's, and Tokyo Disney ended free Priority Pass on August 31. Both moves aim to simplify queue systems to restore overall capacity.
-Carousel of Progress. Walt Disney World closes the attraction on July 6 to time-shift its scenes from 1900, 1920, and 1940 to 1969, 1985, and 2000, with Walt himself returning as an audio-animatronic. Nostalgia needs a frame of reference, and the original scenes had passed out of living memory, which is the whole point of moving them forward.
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Disney and Six Flags both shared details about new projects, and this week, we’ll compare them.
Disney announced the story behind Monstropolis, the new Monsters, Inc. land coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios. The experience is built around H.U.M.A.N. Day, short for “Humans Understand Monsters Are Nice”, a citywide celebration that brings humans into the monster world for the first time. Set after the events of the original film, the story builds on James P. Sullivan and Mike Wazowski's discovery that human laughter is significantly more powerful than screams.
Cast members work as human relations representatives, and the conflict arises from monsters who are not sold on the idea, including those from a Child Detection Agency. Beyond the suspended Monsters, Inc. coaster, Disney detailed a theater show built around H.U.M.A.N. Day that it says uses technology it has never attempted.
Theme park lands struggle from a lack of exposition time, and this framing solves that cleanly, while giving guests a solid role in the story. Moreover, it helps cast members answer one question about the guest in front of them: "Who is this parkgoer to me?"
Meanwhile, Six Flags Fiesta Texas announced Werewolf Gorge for its 35th anniversary season, a Vekoma family launch coaster opening in 2027 and the longest in park history at 4,120 feet, with four launches and speeds up to 45 mph. Guests are on a tour of an abandoned 19th-century Texas silver mine led by Jasper Bunyan, a roadside showman who has turned the haunted quarry into a tourist trap. Bunyan loads visitors onto a mining train for what he sells as a sightseeing run through the gorge, but the tour turns into a high-speed escape when a centuries-old werewolf curse comes back to life around them. The queue runs through two themed rooms, a Museum of Cryptids and a Werewolf Museum, that set up Bunyan's character and the local legend before riders board. For Six Flags, this is a real step up in storytelling. However, the story lives almost entirely in the queue, with no surrounding land to reinforce it and no role for the guest beyond a tourist on a tour.
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Six Flags found itself at the center of a chicken nugget fiasco this week, amidst a power struggle on its board. Six Flags banned content creator Alan Farrell for life from all its parks after he posted an Instagram video of himself eating a 10-piece box of chicken nuggets atop Millennium Force, in violation of the park's safety policy banning loose articles on rides. The situation raises questions about the state of entertainment and how parks should vet influencers. Buried among the nuggets was the news that Six Flags announced a new CFO and three new directors, each serving three-year terms, all with finance, M&A, and turnaround backgrounds. The board shuffle, favoring turnaround over entertainment, traces back to Jana's letter demanding change. It was private equity all along. Listen to our weekly bonus show on Patreon.
Epic Universe Vice President Jeff Polk sat down with a small group of reporters to mark the park's first year, discuss its unique design elements, and push back on expansion timelines. The design choices, the new Captain Cacao meet-and-greet, and Universal's beta tests of an open Celestial Park hub all point in the same direction: they need smaller experiences to soak up crowds, and they may eventually turn Celestial Park into a CityWalk-style space or charge per portal. Scott makes the case that Celestial Park is "pretty lights with no storytelling," a transition space that's too big for the IP-rich lands it connects to, and why pivoting the use case could work.
Then, Disney faces a new class action lawsuit over facial recognition at Disneyland. The complaint argues that Disney doesn't adequately disclose its biometric collection practices. The technology is something we’ve been discussing for years (whether at airports, sporting arenas, or even the magic bands), yet it seems the main issue is how guests expect to be informed about any AI use of biometrics. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
United Parks Q1 was rough across the board: attendance & revenue were down, and the net loss widened to $34.1 million. CEO Marc Swanson blamed unfavorable weather (again) and a decline in international visitation. Despite the misses, United Parks repurchased approximately 2.6 million shares for nearly $93 million, reiterating its belief, as in last QTR, that the stock is materially undervalued.
Meanwhile, the next Sphere installation was announced for Miral's Yas Island in Abu Dhabi — a $1.7 billion, 20,000-seat venue going up right next to SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and the Yas Mall, with construction set to finish by 2029. The Sphere business model has proven out in Vegas through concerts and immersive entertainment; the open question is whether Yas Island has the population density to fill 20,000 seats at the cadence Vegas does (and whether that even matters).
Also: Tokyo Disney's second-year Summer Cool-off event is a textbook example of mitigating heat and leaning local.
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Six Flags posted a strong Q1: 2.9 million guests (+4%), net revenues up 12% to $225.6 million, and per-cap spending up 6% to $69.26. More interesting, though, is that the new regional pass is driving cross-park visitation, and CEO John Reilly named SoCal and Texas as the markets where the pass is already working. Six Flags is leaning into this by announcing expanded summer programming and teasing new holiday programming at select parks. As some budget-conscious guests look to trim spending, Six Flags is positioned well geographically to capture that ‘trade-down’ demand.
Disney beat on the top and bottom: $25.17 billion in revenue (+7%) and adjusted EPS of $1.57. The stock popped about 7% on the day. Experiences revenue hit a Q2 record at $9.49 billion, with operating income of $2.6 billion, even as domestic parks attendance fell 1% on softer international visitation. Per-capita spending at domestic parks was up 5%. Hugh Johnston said the company has not seen any change in consumer behavior due to elevated gas prices, and Disney World forward bookings are pacing strongly, even with a 40% increase in cruise capacity. The most striking move on the call was Josh D'Amaro's reframing of Disney+ as the centerpiece of the company, calling it "the single most significant opportunity" the company has.
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Six Flags St. Louis updated and reinstated its chaperone policy following fights in the parking lot on opening day. The planned teen takeover brought roughly 100 juveniles to opening day, prompting fights around the park's 8 PM closing time. Guests 16 and under must now be accompanied by a 21-plus chaperone, with a max of 6 guests per chaperone, daily, all operating hours. ICON Park introduced a similar policy the same week. Scott and I break down the takeover trend, Scott's case that this is the first step toward the end of the family theme park, and the upstream question nobody is solving — why these kids are bored enough to organize fights at parks in the first place.
Then: Walt Disney World set the earliest start date ever for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party — August 7, 2026 — with a 38-night run, MNSSHP tickets ranging $119 to $229, and almost no new content beyond a Stitch-hosted dance party in Tomorrowland. The calendar extension is the actual product, with Merlin's disclosure that October now accounts for roughly a fifth of its annual profit, serving as the supporting case for why everyone is leaning harder into the Halloween shoulder.
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Comcast's Q1 earnings call delivered good news almost across the board, and Philip and Scott break down what it means for the theme parks division. Universal's theme park revenue was up 24%, driven mostly by Epic Universe doing exactly what it was supposed to do: increasing per-cap spending and length of stay across the entire Orlando resort.
The one cloud on the horizon is Asia. Universal called out softening attendance in Osaka and Beijing, with China-related inbound travel pressure hitting Japan and a tougher macro environment in China. We dig into Universal Cool Japan, the 10-year-old programming slate that lets USJ rapidly overlay popular IPs like the upcoming Frieren walkthrough, and why leaning local is the right answer when international demand shrinks. Then we compare that nimble seasonal model to Universal Hollywood's FanFest Nights, the hard-ticket spring version of HHN that's leaning heavily on existing daytime IPs in year two, with One Piece and Sailor Moon doing the real work of pulling in new fans.
We close on the bigger corporate picture. Theme parks are still only 7% of Comcast, and with broadband losses improving for the first time since 2020 and Peacock approaching profitability, the parks division is being treated as one of six growth drivers funding its own reinvestment rather than getting a blank check. Plus, the Iran conflict and oil prices haven't yet shown up in domestic park demand, but Comcast left the door open for that to change in Q2 and Q3.
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Six Flags is reinstating park president positions at 10 of its parks, less than a year after eliminating the role. This is the first major structural change under new CEO John Reilly, who, after his listening tour, described a chain that suffered from inconsistent standards and a lack of accountability after the 2024 Cedar Fair merger. When you lose a park president, you lose accountability and coherent differentiation planning. Corporate can drive real economies of scale, but corporate don't always know what's happening inside an individual park. Then, Canada's Wonderland has made its chaperone policy permanent for guests 15 and under, citing incidents of teen takeovers at other venues. Bored kids cause trouble, and while this policy isn’t the worst, it’s not the solution we need.
Read the full story: https://seasonalentertainmentsource.com/six-flags-brings-back-park-presidents-at-10-parks/
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00:00 Intro
00:30 Six Flags Brings Back Park Presidents
17:03 Canada's Wonderland has made its chaperone policy permanent
Disney is laying off 1,000 employees across film, streaming, and marketing as it continues to shed costs and reorient itself. This comes against the backdrop of two major digital plays failing: OpenAI killed the Disney/Sora partnership and Epic Games (which Disney invested $1.5B into) laid off 20% of its workforce after a 25% slump in Fortnite players. It's clear where Disney's moat lies, as its experiences posted $10 billion in quarterly revenue and 6% growth. In a parallel story, Meow Wolf is betting that it can extend its IP beyond its physical experiences. Also this week, Disney filed a patent for a weather system that would use biometric data and park sensors to adjust your itinerary in real time. Listen to weekly bonus episodes on our Patreon.
Six Flags appointed Richard Haddrill as executive chairman of the board, replacing Marilyn Spiegel (who stays on as lead independent director). Haddrill comes from the gaming industry — he was CEO of Bally Technologies and executive vice chairman at Scientific Games. The move continues the board refresh that Jana Partners demanded, and it puts more pressure on CEO John Reilly to deliver results now that the "board is in the way" excuse is gone. Merlin Entertainments reported its 2025 annual results: attendance down 6.2% in North America, total visitors down 2.3 million globally, and revenue dropping 2.8%. North America was the weakest market across all of Merlin's brands, while Asia-Pacific saw strong growth driven by Legoland resorts in Japan and Shanghai. And in Mexico, the Supreme Court ordered Xcaret to stop using Maya cultural elements in its parks, hotels, and advertising — a ruling based on a 2024 constitutional reform recognizing indigenous communities' collective IP rights over their cultural heritage. Listen to weekly bonus episodes on our Patreon.
We just got back from TransWorld's Halloween & Attractions Show in St. Louis, a show any attraction with a Halloween or Christmas event should attend. This week, we discuss the growing trend of immersive booth experiences, the robotic pig that won Best New Product, rising insurance costs hitting independent haunts, the record-breaking OSCARES ceremony, and why it all matters for professionals. Listen to weekly bonus episodes on our Patreon.
Jana Partners sent a letter to the Six Flags board pushing the company to explore a sale and replace board chair Marilyn Spiegel — just one week after the Travis Kelce brand ambassador announcement. We break down what Jana actually wants, why the timeline doesn't add up, and what this means for CEO John Reilly's turnaround plan.
Then: Sesame Workshop filed a federal lawsuit against United Parks to terminate their licensing agreement. United Parks stopped paying royalties in September 2025, took over a year to pay a court-ordered $11.4 million judgment, and is still operating Sesame-branded parks and attractions. We dig into the pattern, the contract questions, and what happens to the parks if Sesame walks.
Six Flags has officially named Travis Kelce as a brand ambassador. Kelce, who joined investor group Jana Partners when they acquired a 9% stake in the company last October, will provide marketing support across Six Flags' portfolio of parks — including digital content on his own social media platforms and the use of his name, image, and likeness in broadcast, streaming, and in-park marketing.
We also tackle what listeners have been asking us about for weeks: the impact of the Middle East situation on tourism and the attractions industry. IAAPA has canceled its Middle East expo, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, and the inflationary ripple effects of higher oil prices could squeeze discretionary spending. Scott and Philip disagree on whether that helps or hurts regional parks like Six Flags, and we talk through what parallel planning actually looks like for operators right now.
Plus, Disney Experiences announces its post-D'Amaro leadership team: Thomas Mazloum as chairman, Jill Estorino to Disneyland Resort, Tasia Filippatos to Parks International, and Lisa Baldzicki to Consumer Products.
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Six Flags is selling seven of its parks to EPR Properties for $331 million in cash.
Back in January, we flagged a series of trademark applications from an Orlando-based LLC called Enchanted Parks Holdings and connected those filings to the parks now being sold. This week, it became official. EPR is buying the real estate, Enchanted Parks is stepping in as the management company for six of the properties, and Kieran Burke — Six Flags' CEO before the company's 2009 bankruptcy — is picking up La Ronde through his own company. Full circle.
We break down the deal structure, what the 7.3x EBITDA multiple tells you about the buyer pool, why Six Flags called $331 million only "slightly beneficial" to its leverage ratio, and whether EPR and Enchanted Parks just became a new competitor in the regional park space.
Also this week: San Fransokyo Street aboard the Disney Adventure, Royal Caribbean's smart glasses policy, and more.
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United Parks & Resorts reported fiscal 2025 results this week; Revenue, attendance, net income, EBITDA were all down. "Our fiscal 2025 results did not meet our expectations. While the consumer environment was uneven and our results were impacted by negative international tourism trends and volatile weather during certain peak visitation periods, we should have delivered better results, particularly on the cost side of the income statement," CEO Marc Swanson said during the earnings call. The earnings call, however, spent relatively little time on what went wrong in the parks. Instead, the company debuted a supplemental investor presentation focused on the value of its real estate, the replacement cost of its assets, and why the stock is undervalued. The company has spent $247 million on stock buybacks over the past 14 months, while cutting expansion CapEx nearly in half.
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Six Flags posted Q4 2025 results this week. Modified EBITDA margin fell from 33.2% to 27.1%. Attendance dropped 13%, with roughly 425,000 of those lost visits tied directly to cutting winter holiday events at four parks — a decision the company now calls a self-inflicted headwind. New CEO John Reilly is two months into the job and was candid about not yet having a full plan. He's toured 14 parks, collected over 300 employee proposals, and shared examples from his listening tour: increasing ride uptime and throughput, placing executive chefs in parks, and buying equipment the chain has been renting at a loss for years. All good ideas. All things that probably should have been happening already. What the examples reveal is a deeper structural problem with how information and decisions have flowed across 26 parks — and whether the merger made that worse. Reilly deserves time. But the margin, the debt, and the parks that barely contribute to EBITDA aren't going to wait forever. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on February 9 after a $116 million wrongful death judgment. The park generates up to $16 million a year and is operationally healthy, but a judge's "felonious killing" ruling removed Colorado's damages cap, turning what would have been a $1.2 million verdict into one that's seven times the park's annual revenue. We break down what happened on the ride, why the training failures matter, and what this means for insurance costs across the industry. Plus, we respond to your comments on last week's discussion of the Six Flags pass restructuring.
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Six Flags is rolling out a simplified season pass structure. Silver passes grant access to a single park. Gold passes now cover all parks within a regional tier: East, Midwest, Texas, or West. Prestige passes unlock the entire North American chain. Existing gold passholders who added the All Park upgrade are automatically bumped to Prestige, and for a limited time, gold passes are available at the silver price at select parks. Is this simply a turnstile play? Or is it a hedge to keep customers when they close future parks? Disney's Experiences segment posted $10 billion in quarterly revenue with 6% growth, carrying a company where Entertainment lost 35% of its income and Sports dropped 23%. Disney credited its newest cruise ships for the growth but flagged international visitation headwinds at domestic parks. Against that backdrop, Josh D'Amaro replaces Bob Iger as CEO on March 18, becoming the first person in the top job who has actually run a theme park. The Wall Street Journal framed the succession as a contest for Disney's soul between real-world and on-screen entertainment. With the parks propping up the rest of the company, D'Amaro's promotion raises a question worth watching: is this good for the guest experience, or just good for the balance sheet? Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Comcast’s Parks division crossed $1 billion in quarterly EBITDA for the first time in Q4 2025, driven by a 22 percent increase in parks revenue and a 24 percent increase in EBITDA. Much of the attention went to Epic Universe, but the most striking numbers came from hotels. Universal added 2,000 new rooms in Orlando and still raised average daily rates by 20 percent, with occupancy up 3 percent. That outcome runs counter to basic supply-and-demand logic and signals a shift in how guests are using Universal Orlando.
Epic Universe did not do this on its own. The park is not yet operating at full run rate capacity and will not be fully ramped until the end of 2026. The larger story is how Universal has built an ecosystem that encourages guests to stay on property for multiple nights instead of treating Universal as a one-day add-on to a Disney trip. New hotels like Stella Nova, Terra Luna, and Helios Grand extend length of stay and allow Universal to capture dining, merchandise, and incremental park visits at higher margins than gate admission alone. This was always the plan. The difference now is that the plan is visibly working.
That success also explains the pace of expansion. Comcast’s broader business remains under pressure. Connectivity and Platforms lost 181,000 broadband subscribers in Q4, and the company's overall EBITDA declined. Universal is diversifying quickly because it has to. Universal Kids Resort in Frisco is set to open later this year. The Fast and Furious coaster debuts in Hollywood. Groundbreaking is underway for the U.K. resort. Orlando is entering a digest phase in 2026, focused on extracting value from Epic rather than announcing the next expansion.
Moving this fast carries risk. Ride capacity at Epic remains a bottleneck, and infrastructure challenges are already surfacing abroad. According to U.K. reports, local authorities are being asked to accelerate approvals that normally take years, including approvals for sewage capacity for a resort projected to draw millions of visitors. Infrastructure moves at government speed, not corporate speed.
Universal’s Q4 results make one thing clear. Disney does not have a monopoly on the destination resort flywheel. When guests are given a reason to stay for a week, they will. Adding 2,000 rooms while raising prices by 20 percent is not a lucky quarter. It is confirmation that the model works. The open question is whether Universal can keep scaling as quickly while the rest of Comcast’s business continues to weaken.
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Six Flags is expanding Grad Nite in 2026, adding Knott’s Berry Farm and Carowinds to a program the company has relied on for years. These closed-park events are built around a highly invested audience—graduating students—offering predictable attendance, controlled environments, and a clear value proposition for schools looking for local, cost-effective celebrations. We discuss why this expansion makes sense now, as parks prioritize experiences with reliable demand and lower operational volatility.
Meanwhile, Disney is reversing course on one of the boldest creative choices it made when designing Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Starting April 29, Disneyland will bring Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo to Black Spire Outpost—characters that have been deliberately absent since the land opened in 2019 because they didn't fit the sequel trilogy timeline.
Taken together, these moves point to a shared strategy: investing more deeply in what already works. Whether it’s expanding a proven private-event model or refining the use of an existing flagship land, both companies are choosing to double down on known audiences and assets rather than chase entirely new concepts. In a higher-cost, higher-risk environment, that kind of focus may be one of the most practical paths forward.
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A new set of trademark filings has raised fresh questions about Six Flags’ long-term portfolio strategy. An entity called Enchanted Parks Holdings, LLC—linked to Orlando-based Innovative Attraction Management (IAM)—has filed trademarks incorporating the names of several current Six Flags properties, including Michigan’s Adventure, Six Flags St. Louis, Oceans of Fun, Water Safari, and Great Escape Lodge. While trademark filings alone don’t confirm transactions, the scope and specificity of these names suggest preparation for potential rebranding tied to asset transfers.
That context matters. Since the merger closed, Six Flags has been explicit that not every park fits its future model. Management has already disclosed that a significant portion of legacy Six Flags parks underperform financially, and impairment charges taken in 2025 reinforced that reality. Rolling debt forward earlier this month bought the company time—but at a higher fixed cost—making portfolio simplification a logical lever if margins remain tight.
We discuss what this could mean in practical terms: water parks and resort-adjacent assets may be easier to separate than full theme parks; complexes like Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun could potentially be split; and regional operators like IAM may be assembling multi-park portfolios under unified consumer-facing brands. None of this confirms sales—but it aligns with a long-signaled strategy to slim down, reduce capital intensity, and concentrate investment on fewer, higher-performing parks.
The episode also looks at parallel signals elsewhere in the industry. Delta’s earnings show premium cabins overtaking main cabin revenue for the first time, reinforcing the broader shift toward bifurcated markets. And Universal’s newly announced Scooby-Doo and Universal Monsters walk-through for Fan Fest Nights illustrates how IP-driven, upchargeable experiences can add revenue without long-term balance sheet exposure—an approach increasingly relevant in a higher-rate environment.
Taken together, the story isn’t panic or distress. It’s positioning. Trademark filings don’t sell parks—but they often precede decisions. And in 2026, flexibility, optionality, and capital discipline are becoming as important as growth.
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Six Flags has announced a major debt refinancing, issuing $1.0 billion in senior notes due in 2032 at an 8.625% interest rate to retire bonds coming due in 2027. The move extends the company’s debt maturity by five years—but at a high cost. Compared to the retired notes, the new debt increases annual interest expense by roughly $30 million per year, reflecting today’s higher-rate environment and investor risk pricing.
Six Flags will buy more time, but at an opportunity cost. Every additional dollar of interest expense is a dollar that can’t go to staffing, maintenance, marketing, or the guest-facing improvements Six Flags has already said it needs—better food, better operations, better consistency. The bet embedded in this refinancing is that the company’s planned investments and operational upgrades will generate more incremental cash flow than the higher interest expense. It may also be the least-bad option available: if the 2027 wall looked risky in the current rate environment, extending maturities reduces near-term refinancing pressure. But it narrows the margin for error—the plan now has to work.
That context also frames Six Flags’ decision not to exercise its call option on Six Flags Over Texas, citing capital-allocation priorities while still emphasizing the park’s long-term importance. And it sits alongside the opening of Six Flags Qiddiya City—a major new park in Saudi Arabia that Six Flags operates (rather than owns) —showing where large-scale growth is still happening, even as capital risk sits elsewhere. Taken together, these moves read as a company prioritizing financial flexibility and survivability. Refinancing doesn’t solve the business— it simply extends the runway. The question is whether Six Flags can use that runway to execute fast enough before the higher cost of capital shrinks its room to maneuver.
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This episode is structured as an environmental SWOT analysis of the attractions industry, intended to support 2026 strategic planning. Rather than focusing on individual announcements or company-specific outcomes, we identify the external forces currently shaping the business environment—capital flows, guest behavior, technology, politics, and global development patterns. The purpose is not to predict results, but to help teams assess which of these factors represent strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, or threats for their own organizations as they begin planning for the year ahead.
Several conditions stand out. The largest capital projects are increasingly outside the United States, with major licensed developments underway or announced in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, the U.K., Europe, and Asia.
Guest expectations are fragmenting. A K-shaped economy is pushing design and pricing toward two ends of the spectrum—value-driven guests focused on affordability and VIP guests focused on convenience and time savings.
“Creature comforts” such as better food, transparent pricing, and reduced friction are becoming baseline expectations, while museums and indoor attractions are gaining ground as guests seek reliability amid extreme weather and travel uncertainty.
External pressures add further complexity: tariffs, immigration policy, volatility in international tourism, political instability, and declining trust in institutions and AI.
Media consumption is shifting as well—social platforms now rival or surpass traditional outlets as primary sources of information.
This episode does not attempt to rank these forces or offer solutions. It is meant to serve as a starting framework—a way for teams to pressure-test assumptions, identify blind spots, and begin structured conversations about where to invest, where to hedge risk, and where flexibility will matter most in 2026.
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Universal Destinations & Experiences has begun early planning for a theme park in Saudi Arabia, according to an exclusive Wall Street Journal report. The project would be structured as a licensing deal with government-backed funding—the same model Disney announced for its Abu Dhabi park.
This marks Universal's second attempt in the region. In 2008, the company broke ground on Universal Studios Dubailand, but the project stalled after constructing little more than an entrance arch when financing collapsed during the global financial crisis.
For Universal—fresh off the opening of Epic Universe, with Universal Kids Resort (Texas) and a UK park in development—a Middle East licensing deal would establish a presence without capital risk. The licensing model solves multiple problems simultaneously. It generates immediate revenue, provides access to the region's growing tourism market, and avoids the extended profitability timelines that characterize parks Universal builds itself. The structure mirrors successful UAE projects at Yas Island, where SeaWorld, Ferrari World, and Warner Bros. World all operate under licensing or joint venture agreements with government-backed developers.
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Six Flags Magic Mountain has delayed its highly anticipated “first-of-its-kind” coaster to 2027, citing the attraction’s complexity and a commitment to quality. The project—reported to be a Vekoma Thrill Glider—was part of the company’s broader $1 billion investment plan and would have been the park’s first major coaster addition since 2022.
At the same time, Six Flags confirmed a significant pivot toward family-focused IP with the announcement of Looney Tunes Land, a fully reimagined children’s area opening in summer 2026 with upgraded storytelling, expanded green space, new theming, and refreshed dining.
Taken together, these moves raise questions about where Six Flags is placing its near-term bets. Coasters are increasingly expensive and time-intensive to build, and ongoing tariff uncertainty may be influencing capital timelines. The decision to prioritize Looney Tunes—rather than Peanuts—could also signal a push toward IP diversification tied to Warner Bros., especially as broader questions remain about how Magic Mountain and Knott’s Berry Farm will coexist and differentiate within the same Southern California market.
We explore whether this reflects a temporary pause on thrill-heavy investments, a reorientation toward families and reliability, or simply a pragmatic sequencing of projects while the company navigates post-merger integration and external pressures. We also touch briefly on winter and holiday programming that caught our attention, including China’s massive Ice-Snow World and Alton Towers’ Santa Sleepover in the U.K., as operators worldwide look for ways to stabilize attendance across unpredictable seasons. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Netflix announced plans to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in a $72 billion deal—only to face an immediate hostile counterbid from Paramount. Either path would take months, if not years, to resolve and must clear regulatory and shareholder hurdles. But even at this early stage, the implications for themed entertainment are significant.
Warner Bros. currently licenses its characters across a wide theme park footprint, including Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Movie World, and major IP deployments at Six Flags. Universal relies heavily on Warner Bros., most notably through Harry Potter. Control of Warner Bros. doesn’t just mean streaming libraries—it means leverage over some of the most nostalgia-driven areas in global parks.
If Netflix ultimately prevails, Warner Bros. IP would sit inside a company already experimenting with location-based entertainment through Netflix House—a flexible, free-entry model designed to rotate IP quickly and respond to audience data. That pairing could accelerate Netflix’s ability to move franchises from screen to physical space without relying on traditional park operators. Paramount, by contrast, has shown little interest in themed entertainment and appears focused on consolidating legacy media assets, including cable networks Netflix doesn’t want.
The biggest risk may sit with Comcast. Universal could find itself flanked on two sides: continuing to license Warner Bros. IP while competing against a vertically integrated Netflix that can deploy its own brands directly into physical spaces. While nothing changes overnight, the long-term balance of power between IP owners, licensors, and operators could shift sharply depending on who controls Warner Bros.—and how aggressively they choose to use it.
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A new report reveals how Gen Z and Millennials plan to travel in 2026: 78% say they’ve recreated a childhood vacation or plan to, and 69% avoid overcrowded destinations; 67% cited escape from burnout as a motivator, and interest in wellness and sober travel experiences is rising.
That context frames the debut of Netflix House, now open in King of Prussia, with another location opening this week in Dallas. The venue’s design aligns almost point-for-point with the survey data: flexible IP that can shift quickly with trends (including nostalgia plays like Stranger Things), free entry that lowers the barrier to budget-minded visitors, and pop-up-style attractions that avoid the overcrowding issues plaguing traditional destinations. Even the food program—mocktails, themed desserts, and in-house menu development—mirrors the rise of wellness-conscious, experience-driven dining.
Also this week, a potential Warner Bros. sale could reshape nostalgic touchpoints across the industry—from DC lands to Looney Tunes to Wizarding World. With younger audiences gravitating toward familiar brands and shareable moments, whoever controls these IPs will exert enormous influence over the next decade of park development.
Across all three stories, one trend stands out: guests are seeking comfort, flexibility, and low-pressure nostalgia—and the operators who can rotate content quickly and meet those expectations may have the advantage. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Six Flags has appointed John Reilly as its new CEO—a leader who spent 21 years at SeaWorld and later held top roles at Palace Entertainment, the parent company of regional parks like Kennywood and Lake Compounce. Philip and Scott discuss why that résumé matters: Reilly comes from chains where executives wear multiple hats, work with tight budgets, and operate parks that feel far closer to the “scrappy” reality of Six Flags than the polished, expert-driven models of Disney or Universal. The hosts argue that this is exactly the kind of background a merged Six Flags–Cedar Fair company needs. With the chain in a cash-constrained moment and unlikely to embark on sweeping reinventions, the next CEO must be someone comfortable operating without endless capital—and capable of executing a plan that already exists but has repeatedly stalled. Reilly isn’t tied to either legacy culture, which Scott notes is a benefit: this is a new company, and bringing in someone from the outside avoids the baggage of “old Six Flags” or “old Cedar Fair.” Philip and Scott also briefly address the DOJ inquiry into United Parks’ mobility-device policy, noting that while it may generate headlines, it isn’t likely to have a meaningful industry-wide impact. The real story this week is whether Six Flags’ new leadership can finally move the merged company from planning to performance. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
IAAPA Expo 2025 set a new record with 38,520 verified attendees, more than 28,000 qualified buyers, and an expanded floor featuring over 1,100 exhibitorsgt-nov-23. Philip and Scott break down the trends that truly mattered this year: the push toward indoor attractions (from SeaWorld Orlando’s new Vekoma indoor inverted coaster to Merlin’s $90 million Galacticoaster installations), the explosion of 'interactive' dark rides like Sally’s Phantom Theater and its new Mini™ dark ride heading to Qatar, and the rise of 'competitive socializing' through Triotech’s new Montreal trio. They also discuss the operational side: Roller’s new industry benchmark report showing mobile dominating bookings and F&B, membership driving repeat visitation, and digital wallets nearly doubling average spend. Across the board, the Expo revealed a sector leaning into indoor reliability, personalized experiences, and value-minded design. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Six Flags will attempt to leverage Travis Kelce’s 9% investment into a full branding partnership, leaning into ‘the new world.’ Meanwhile, Disney’s stock dipped 7% after its latest earnings show cable is collapsing faster than expected. Streaming and the parks remain its lifeboat, with both those sectors performing well, underscoring that the company’s future lies in IP that monetizes across screens and physical spaces. Finally, Herschend struck a deal to acquire Silverwood Theme Park. Philip and Scott unpack what these moves say about where the industry is heading—fewer ads, smaller screens, bigger personalities, and more mission-driven ownership. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Three companies, one economic reality—and three very different responses. Six Flags is doubling down on its “smaller and more nimble” plan, prioritizing core parks and openly confirming that more closures or sales are coming. United Parks & Resorts (SeaWorld/Busch Gardens) is battling brand confusion after a 25% profit drop, citing weather and marketing challenges while its Halloween events hit record highs. Meanwhile, Disneyland Resort announced 100 layoffs as part of an “organizational recalibration,” even as its parks remain packed and profitable. Philip and Scott unpack how each company’s move reflects a different playbook for survival: consolidation, rebranding, and recalibration. The big question—whose strategy will actually work? Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
From Hollywood to Florida and New York to Oregon, this year’s Halloween season proved that the industry is evolving—just not abandoning its roots. Sliders continue to grow as choreographed street theater, chainsaws remain the undeniable American haunt anthem, and creative teams nationwide are finding new ways to give guests something active to do between scares. From selfie moments and staged photo ops to queue-line performers and mini-interactions, the focus is shifting from watching horror to participating in it. Philip and Scott break down what these trends say about guest expectations, why smaller haunts are thriving by leaning into intimacy and story, and how even major parks are rethinking Halloween as a festival of constant engagement rather than a night of passive walkthroughs. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Kansas City Chiefs star—and Taylor Swift’s fiancé—Travis Kelce now owns a 9% stake in Six Flags alongside hedge fund Jana Partners, instantly making the struggling park chain a national headline. Former Cedar Fair CEO Matt Ouimet, however, wasn’t impressed—publicly calling out the board for “cycling through CEOs, destroying value, and failing to show ownership” while urging the next chief executive to rebuild with leaders who actually understand entertainment. Philip and Scott unpack what Kelce’s investment really means: Is it a lifeline, a PR distraction, or a sign activist investors are circling?
The hosts also dive into the TEA Global Experience Index, which shows global theme-park attendance up 2.4% in 2024—but growth driven almost entirely by China and the Middle East, while U.S. parks stay flat and pivot to revenue optimization. With Disney, Universal Beijing, and Shanghai Disneyland leading the charge, what can domestic operators learn from markets that are still expanding? Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Six Flags is losing more of its board—Executive Chairman Selim Bassoul and Lead Independent Director Daniel Hanrahan will leave the board at year’s end, following CEO Richard Zimmerman’s exit announcement. Bassoul, who also lined up a new role outside the industry, will remain as a consultant through the launch of Six Flags Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia. The company stumbled when its first press release listed Qiddiya City opening in 2026, only to issue an immediate correction claiming 2025—adding to investor confusion. Philip and Scott unpack what the back-to-back departures mean for a company still struggling to execute its “Great Reset” strategy and whether the Qiddiya slip hints at deeper internal misalignment. They also discuss IAAPA’s Q3 Global Outlook—highlighting how weather, tariffs, and economic uncertainty continue to shape operators’ planning worldwide. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Disney has hiked prices again—day tickets, annual passes, parking, and even Lightning Lane. At Disneyland, parking now costs $40 a day and the top-tier Inspire Key annual pass jumps to $1,899, still with blockout dates and reservation limits. In Florida, annual passes are up as well, though one-day tickets remain steadier. Philip and Scott debate whether these moves are a strategy to manage crowd levels or a sign of the parks leaning further into exclusivity—especially as Disney faces stock pressure and boycotts. Are higher prices a reset for quality and capacity, or the next step in making Disney a luxury brand? Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Universal has reopened Stardust Racers at Epic Universe, following a fatal incident earlier this year, and introduced new signage and stricter accessibility requirements. The latest safety guide now warns guests with weakened bones, limited mobility, or difficulty maintaining an upright position not to ride—and the “must walk independently” clause now extends across multiple attractions. Philip and Scott unpack what this means for operators who must balance guest safety, accessibility, and legal liability. Should Universal have waited longer to reopen, or do the updated rules demonstrate responsible transparency? Plus, Universal’s Vegas venue gets festive with Krampus and Kin, a dark-holiday overlay for Horror Unleashed. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
This week, we respond to your comments from last week's show regarding Six Flags. Scott recaps his visit to IAAPA Expo Europe; Lego invests £200 million in the acquisition of Lego Discovery Centers from Merlin; and a New immersive art venue, Atlas9, opens in Kansas City.
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Six Flags reported 298,000 more visits this summer, a 3% attendance bump compared to 2024. But guests spent 7% less on admission, pulling overall revenue down 2% even as food and merch ticked up. Management insists that trading short-term ticket prices for long-term passholder growth will pay off, pointing to early 2026 pass sales pacing ahead with prices up 3%.
Philip and Scott unpack why this strategy only works if guests return—and how seasonal event cuts complicate the picture. Knott’s Scary Farm dropped all Wednesday nights, while Magic Mountain cut Thursday Fright Fests, following news of other properties abruptly canceling both Halloween and Christmas, despite passholder expectations. Cost savings may help hit this year’s $860–910M EBITDA target, but at what risk to guest trust and long-term loyalty? PLUS - Scott is on-location at IAAPA Expo Europe! Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Only 19% of U.S. adults say they want “scary vibes” this Halloween—while 30% plan to wear multiple costumes and 70% say organized events are steady or increasing. Philip and Scott unpack the annual HalloweenCostumes.com survey and why it matters: the demand for cute, funny, and cosplay-style experiences is growing faster than gore, audiences are starting to plan earlier, and AI is already a factor in how people search for inspiration. They also discuss how rising competition and budget-conscious consumers may shape event calendars, citing Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott’s Scary Farm cutting weeknights while Hersheypark’s Dark Nights leans on bundled value and high-quality houses. The big question: with more families and casual fans in the market, can “giggles” and “cute” Halloween now generate more growth than scares? Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Universal’s roaming Art the Clown character has become a lightning rod at Halloween Horror Nights Orlando, with videos showing guests harassing, chasing, and even blocking his path. Meanwhile, Hollywood’s version of the same character ran smoothly—suggesting this is less about the IP and more about training, staffing, and audience management.
Philip and Scott break down why safety lapses around street performers are a business problem as much as a guest problem, and how differences in talent pools, training, and crowd “rules” create very different outcomes on each coast. Plus: what Hersheypark’s recent monorail incident and other headlines reveal about the industry’s biggest challenge—safety as a living, evolving plan. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Halloween Horror Nights Orlando is quietly reshaping its playbook. This year, Universal pushed queues outside the park, massively expanded the backstage infrastructure and food offerings, and layered in new entertainment to complement returning classics. From two full shows to new roaming characters, scare zone “boo boxes”, and stage moments like The Cat Lady on Crooked Lane, there's entertainment blanketing most of the park. The result: more space for guests, more reasons to linger, and an event that increasingly sells itself as a multi-night festival, not a haunted house event. This week, we discuss what these moves signal: is HHN expanding capacity by design, or evolving into a broader festival model to attract families and casual fans? And as the event leans on IP like WWE, Fallout, and FNAF—plus $20 no-scare necklaces—does this strategy future-proof the brand or risk diluting its horror core? Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon
Las Vegas has logged six straight months of year-over-year visitor declines, with June alone down 400,000 guests amid economic jitters, inflation, and weaker Canadian travel. Yet in Orlando, Epic Universe’s Monsters Unchained just passed a million visits, SeaWorld hit record attendance, and Disney reported another record quarter. Plus, fan conventions nationwide are posting record attendance. As consumers become more savvy, one answer could be that generic “something for everyone” models struggle to cut through, while focused, IP-driven events keep thriving. Is Vegas a canary in the coal mine for U.S. leisure spending—or just a regional wobble? Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Legacy Cedar Fair parks are moving to the Six Flags model this Halloween, requiring a new $10–$20 Haunted Attractions Pass for mazes—and an extra $15 for The Conjuring house. Even Gold Pass holders must pay, sparking backlash from fans who see it as a bait-and-switch. Philip and Scott debate whether this is a necessary step toward higher-quality haunts or a misstep that erodes trust. It appears that Six Flags is moving to the 'separately ticketed' model of Knott's Scary Farm instead of the 'mix-in' model of legacy Cedar Fair parks. But as Six Flags attempts to unify its Halloween portfolio - Will Guests Pay for What They Once Got Free? And while the company is still bleeding cash, where will the capital come from to bring up the quality of the Halloween events? Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Six Flags posted a nearly $100 million loss in Q2—down from a $55 million profit a year ago—on 1.4 million fewer visitors, a smaller base of season passholders, and what it calls “adverse weather.” The company is looking to sell nonessential assets, while also running an aggressive August pass sale to bring in quick cash and rebuild its passholder base. Philip and Scott unpack why front-loading revenue can backfire if you can’t keep guests returning to spend in-park, and how Six Flags’ own investor day framed season passes as its growth engine. They also discuss CEO Richard Zimmerman’s decision to step down by the end of 2025 and what it signals for the post-merger strategy. Plus, why SeaWorld Orlando is riding Epic Universe’s wave to higher attendance—and what smaller operators can learn about “rising tide” tourism. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Six Flags just canceled its Christmas and Halloween events at multiple parks—including Holiday in the Park at Great Adventure and Over Georgia, and Fright Fest at Six Flags America, which will now close permanently on Nov. 2. Michigan’s Adventure also dropped its Tricks and Treats event and will end its season on Sept. 1. The company says it’s “focusing on the core season,” but Philip and Scott aren’t buying it.
This week, the hosts break down what these cancellations mean for perceived value, season pass retention, and long-term brand equity—especially as Six Flags launches a new “Most Valuable Pass” offering access to all parks through 2026 for as little as $75. With year-round operations shrinking and aggressive discounting ramping up, is this a smart reset or a warning sign? And what happens when short-term savings override the emotional core of seasonal guest behavior? Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
What makes an IP popular today? It’s not just the box office or streaming stats—it’s the fans who show up, dress up, and wait five hours for a free experience. At San Diego Comic-Con, Percy Jackson, Alien, and K-pop Demon Hunters proved that passion, not just numbers, powers IP. Philip and Scott break down why pop-ups are becoming the new focus groups, how activations create the data stories that boards and licensors want, and what theme park professionals can learn from the way studios test, validate, and launch IP in the wild. If you're pitching an IP partnership or designing a seasonal overlay, this episode is your blueprint. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
As record heat continues to disrupt attendance, attractions in Asia are innovating to keep guests cool. Tokyo Disneyland is extending evening hours and spraying down guests in its summer parade, while Universal Studios Japan is giving out salt candy and shifting its operating schedule later. Water parks in Korea are going further—launching crossovers with popular brands like One Piece, Air Conditioned Ferris Wheels, K-pop concerts, bubble zones, and discounted villas to become full-blown vacation destinations. This week, we discuss what makes these weather-ready strategies work—and why U.S. parks still struggle to shift hours, provide basic guest comfort, or invest in low-cost cooling measures. Plus: is the traditional queue-and-ride theme park model becoming obsolete as water parks pivot toward shaded, all-day “paradise” environments? And will Six Flags’ likely Q2 miss—already blamed on heat—finally force a mindset change? Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Asia was expected to become the new theme park capital of the world—then the pandemic hit. IAAPA Asia drew 7,000+ attendees to Shanghai, but is that enough to signal Asia’s tourism comeback? Philip reports from the show floor, including takeaways from Disney executive Jill Estorino’s keynote, where she credited young adult women with shaping the guest culture at Shanghai Disneyland—impacting everything from merchandise and mobile content creation to how F&B is presented across the park. Meanwhile, Legoland Shanghai, including its eight themed lands, 85 million bricks, and resort-wide creative choices, has set a new quality bar for IP-driven family parks in the region. With the Chinese park market projected to nearly double by 2028, we ask: Is the APAC surge real—and what lessons should operators everywhere take from Shanghai’s blend of detail, service, and social-savvy design? Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Hallmark is back with its Kansas City “Christmas Experience,” aiming to top last year’s 100,000-guest debut by doubling down on comfort-food tradition—workshops, red-carpet movie premieres, and even themed Marriott suites. Philip and Scott unpack how leaning into safe, repeatable rituals can turn a pop-up into a pilgrimage. Next, Meow Wolf launches Phenomenomaly, a summer-long loop of live dance, puppetry, and guest interaction inside its Las Vegas and Denver exhibitions—proof that adding performers keeps ticket-buyers coming back for a second trip, rather than treating the art as a one-and-done selfie stop. Finally, Chicago’s big museums roll out a multisensory slate—projection-mapped Himalayan “ghosts,” a Monet-Hokusai mash-up, Mars-rover missions, and 21-plus stargazing nights—showing how after-hours programming can drive per-cap growth without requiring permanent capital expenditures. Takeaway: Whether it’s Christmas nostalgia, locally led art, or adult evening events, operators have fresh levers to boost replayability and spend beyond peak season. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Universal is doubling down on pop-culture firepower with the enormously popular gaming IPs of Fallout and Five Nights at Freddy’s confirmed for this year's Halloween Horror Nights. They're also charging superfans $350 for “Premium Scream Night,” a ticketed dress rehearsal. With massive IPs and superfans willing to pay premium prices just to attend a dress rehearsal, how can smaller attractions compete? Thirteenth Floor and Winchester Mystery House might have an answer with "Festival Fright Nights." The event will transform the labyrinthine Winchester Mystery House into a Halloween event with three haunted houses and entertainment. The key is the immersive storyline, which sets the event in 1924 and utilizes the mansion's backdrop and history, showing that smaller venues can out-maneuver giant budgets by weaponizing authenticity and location. Philip and Scott unpack what these parallel strategies signal about Halloween’s next arms race—premium previews, IP one-upmanship, and how regional haunts can lean into their unique assets instead of chasing billion-dollar licenses. Catch the gloves-off follow-up in Green Tagged Unhinged on Patreon.
The Louvre’s staff closed the world’s most-visited museum with a snap strike, blaming “untenable” crowding and a 20 % cut in state funding even as attendance soars. Philip and Scott pull three operating fixes every attraction can steal now—hard capacity caps, timed-entry tech, and reinvesting in on-site teams before adding the next wing—because a six-year master plan won’t save a gallery that melts down tomorrow. Across the Atlantic, Netflix unveiled its first Netflix House venues—permanent ticketed centers built around Wednesday, One Piece, Stranger Things, and Squid Game. The hosts explain why Netflix needs brick-and-mortar revenue as YouTube does to streaming what streaming once did to cable, and what that means for parks that suddenly share a lane with a $200 billion content giant. Bottom line: cultural icons must treat capacity as an asset while digital titans rush to monetize IP in the real world—collision is coming. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Disney and Universal just opened Hollywood’s first heavyweight copyright war against Midjourney, arguing the AI was trained on “countless stolen works.” Philip and Scott debate the case and what it means if your park’s creative team. Then Disney drops a fresh study valuing its U.S. parks at nearly $67 billion and 400,000 jobs, a powerful flex to hedge against future political turmoil. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Six Flags and Cedar Fair’s $8 billion mash-up, Herschend’s shopping spree, and Falcon’s Beyond devouring Oceaneering are just the opening salvo in a consolidation wave now squeezing most regional parks into four corporate camps. But deal-making is only the first of five seismic shifts Philip and Scott unpack this week. They probe why per-guest spending keeps climbing even as attendance flattens, how velvet-rope up-charges like Disneyland’s $400 Premier Pass and Six Flags’ $162-a-month Flash Pass are normalizing class tiers, and why every operator—from Universal’s Fan Fest Nights to SeaWorld’s Coasters After Dark—now treats shoulder-season festivals as its loyalty engine. The hosts also tackle staffing’s post-pandemic “cool-down” and ask whether AI-driven scheduling and on-site dorms finally solve the labor puzzle. Think you’ve already future-proofed your park? These five trends say otherwise. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Herschend finalized its acquisition of Palace Entertainment’s 24 U.S. attractions with a $1.1 billion leveraged loan—and vows 2025 will be a “listening year” before sprinkling Dollywood-style cinnamon bread and “Heartspitality” across Kennywood, Lake Compounce, and 47 other properties. Meanwhile, Six Flags fired every park president overnight, favoring a regional management model instead of a local one. We unpack whether family culture can outshine heavy debt, how a headless org might finally smash Six Flags’ notorious silos, and why both moves reshape the post-merger map where just four companies now control most regional parks. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
"The Great Reset," Six Flags' new strategic plan, aims to reach 58 million in annual attendance and $3.8 billion in revenue by 2028. The 88-slide presentation boils down to one thing: a better product makes more money. The plan gives concrete examples of what industry professionals have known for decades—improving the guest experience means guests will want to come back and spend more, convert to annual passes, bring their friends, and grow market penetration. And Six Flags has laid out an excellent plan, complete with benchmarks, examples, and research. But - can the newly merged mega-chain deliver? It sounds simple, but executing doesn't always work out. Plus: why Falcon’s Beyond buying Oceaneering tips the turnkey arms race, and what IAAPA’s board thinks about staffing, storms, and tariffs. Tune in—then catch the gloves-off debate in Green Tagged Unhinged on Patreon.
Disney’s stock jumped 7 % after a blockbuster Q2— streaming gained a million subs, Thunderbolts opened #1 worldwide, domestic park profit climbed 13 %, and Bob Iger unveiled the first “authentically Disney, distinctly Emirati” Disney park on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island. Philip and Scott unpack why Disney is leaning into the parks (finally), Disney's new quality-over-quantity pledge, and debate whether the glowing numbers are a trailing indicator before tariffs, weather, and China headwinds bite; and examine how licensing to Miral lets Disney tap 500 million potential guests without spending a dime of cap-ex. Plus, Scott shares on-the-ground LGBTQ insights from living in the UAE—and what other operators can learn from Disney’s risk calculus. Hear the Six Flags and United Parks earnings showdown (and Chicago’s new Harry Potter retail-tainment) in this week’s Unhinged on Patreon.
Six Flags/Cedar Fair’s first post-merger casualty is Six Flags America, erasing 70 full-time and 700 seasonal jobs and $3.5 million in local tax revenue—freeing capital for “marquee” investments elsewhere. At the same time, Marriott’s Gaylord resorts are turning their glass atriums into mini-comic-cons with a DC-branded summer slate, headlined by a 17,500-sq-ft lantern trail of 24-ft heroes, to lure families who might skip a theme-park trip. Philip and Scott ask whether strategic portfolio pruning and shoulder-season IP pivots are the new survival play as rising rates have already killed Sacramento’s planned $300 million Elk Grove zoo. Listen for the implications—and catch the gloves-off bonus chat on Patreon.
Universal Studios Hollywood is stress-testing a brand-new revenue season with Fan Fest Nights—12 evenings of Comic-Con-meets-HHN running April 25-May 18th from 7 p.m.–2 a.m. Tickets range from $74-$84, and the event is anchored by a 45-minute Back to the Future immersive experience on the actual Courthouse Square backlot. By leaning into nostalgia, the Universal team has created a masterfully written, one-of-a-kind immersive theatre experience for BTTF. The reception has been overwhelmingly positive, proving that Fan Fest’s format has legs; the question for 2026 is whether Universal will rebalance resources toward the bigger, younger fandoms that clearly showed up this year, and whether they have permanently hamstrung this event. Listen to our bonus episodes on Patreon.
Cord-cutting continues to threaten Comcast, but it sees hope in its theme parks. As 200,000 broadband subscribers abandon Comcast in a single quarter, the company is aggressively pivoting toward theme parks despite them representing just 6.3% of current revenue. With $5 billion in free cash flow, Universal is simultaneously launching Epic Universe while developing Horror Unleashed in Vegas and planning new attractions in Texas and the UK—a diversification strategy that Disney, constrained by debt and market scrutiny, cannot match. Can the theme parks and media divisions grow fast enough, or is management selling an optimistically stable storyline? We explore how Universal aims to deliver Disney-level quality at broader accessibility and whether it can weather potential tourism challenges. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon
In this first audio edition of Green Tagged Insights, Philip reads the inaugural newsletter analyzing what he calls "The Uncertainty Epidemic" affecting the attractions industry. With economic uncertainty now higher than during COVID and consumer confidence plummeting, hear how industry leaders are responding through strategic diversification. The episode explores Universal's multi-faceted approach with their UK expansion, United Airlines' barbell strategy revealing shifting tourism patterns, and what attractions of all sizes can learn from these examples. Philip also covers Merlin's entertainment outsourcing partnership with RWS, Disney's Paris expansion plans, and Sphere's content strategy - all presented in a straightforward, analysis-focused format that complements the main podcast.
Travel patterns are changing. United Airlines' latest earnings reveal a strategic pivot as they prepare for two economic scenarios in 2025, cutting domestic flight capacity by 4% while seeing surges in both premium and budget travelers – but not the middle market. This "barbell demand" mirrors what's happening across the attractions industry, where guests increasingly choose either high-end experiences or budget options. This week, we examine whether regional parks should prioritize local audiences as flight routes decline. Additionally, Merlin confirms its partnership with RWS Global as their entertainment partner – is outsourcing creative talent the new economic reality for operators navigating uncertain waters? Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Universal's newly announced UK theme park isn't just another expansion—it's a strategic economic revitalization plan positioned to transform Britain's post-Brexit economy. We analyze how this 476-acre project near London promises 8.5 million first-year visitors, 28,000 jobs, and a £50 billion economic impact by 2055. Scott and Philip explore why Universal's diversification strategy—balancing global location risk while expanding into kid-friendly, adult-horror, and now European markets—represents smart portfolio planning that mirrors current financial advice to balance US and international investments. Plus, we examine how Universal's IP-driven approach will differentiate it from Puy du Fou's cultural focus and potentially challenge Merlin's regional dominance. Is this massive project the vote of confidence Britain needs to overcome Brexit's tourism impact? Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
In this bonus episode, we present the complete remarks from Massimiliano Freddi, IAAPA Chair of the Board and Wonderwood CEO, recorded at the IAAPA North America Summit. Hear Freddi’s powerful perspective on why attractions should become catalysts for true social connection—from countering phone addiction to designing transformative guest experiences. Tune in to discover new insights on how parks can foster genuine togetherness in a fast-paced, digital world.
Go behind the scenes at Disney with exclusive takeaways from IAAPA's North America Summit 2025 at Disneyland Resort! Philip shares first-hand insights from Disney executives on the thoughtful redesign of Toontown and how small, intentional changes create significant guest experience improvements. Discover how Disney balances operational necessities with guest comfort through innovative solutions - from stroller parking zones to decompression spaces to mixed-and-match cast costumes that enhance storytelling. We explore why seemingly simple elements like tables, chairs, and even non-flat grassy areas faced resistance yet proved crucial for guest satisfaction. Scott provides industry context to these practices, making these high-level insights applicable to attractions of all sizes. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
International tourism to the US is projected to decline by at least 5% this year instead of the expected 9% growth, threatening a $72 billion reduction in total travel spending. We analyze the factors behind this dramatic shift—from policy changes to negative media coverage—and explore how theme parks are responding. Disney's strategic summer announcements following Universal's Epic Universe opening suggest industry collaboration as parks work to make visiting the US "worth the hassle." Will these efforts be enough to overcome damaged international perceptions? Plus, we examine which destinations might benefit from America's branding crisis and whether the impact could extend through the 2028 Olympics. Listen to this week's episode for essential insights on navigating tourism's uncertain future.
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This week we analyze Herschend's strategic acquisition of Palace Entertainment's U.S. properties, potentially establishing them as a major third-place challenger in the theme park industry. Unlike the public Six Flags-Cedar Fair merger, this private company acquisition brings a different approach—emphasizing people-first culture, regional park identity, and quality entertainment experiences. With annual visitors projected to reach 20 million, Herschend is positioning itself alongside industry giants while maintaining its commitment to employee development and local communities. Plus, we explore Disney's new velvet rope experiences: an adults-only lounge in Epcot and a third exclusive DVC member retreat. Is consolidation the future of themed entertainment, or does Herschend's regional focus offer a different path forward? Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
This week Philip shares key insights from the Themed Entertainment Association's Inspire Week and Leadership Forum. Amid tariff concerns and market volatility, we explore how Universal is strategically diversifying its entertainment portfolio. From a year-round horror experience in Las Vegas to fan-focused pop-up festivals and a family-centric local approach in Texas, Universal is placing calculated bets across multiple markets. Discover the inside details on Universal Horror Unleashed, FanFest Nights, Universal Kids Resort, and why "don't panic, just pivot" has become the industry's survival mantra in 2025's unpredictable economic landscape. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our patreon.
Six Flags reported a $206 million net loss for 2024—but investors are cautiously optimistic. Meanwhile, United Parks is blaming hurricanes for its flat revenue and attendance, but is it really the weather, or is there a deeper issue? This week, we break down earnings reports from Six Flags and United Parks, analyzing the good, the bad, and the uncertain. Six Flags is growing attendance and spending, but merger costs, debt, and operating expenses are eating into profits. Meanwhile, United Parks is downplaying Epic Universe’s impact—but with no major IP announcements and vague growth plans, analysts aren’t convinced.
Universal’s Horror Unleashed is officially opening in Las Vegas on August 14th—but will it succeed? Meanwhile, China’s tourism industry is rebounding, with the government aggressively fueling growth through investments, policy changes, and new attractions. This week, we break down Horror Unleashed’s opening details, including ticket pricing and what guests can expect. But with a challenging location at AREA15 and IPs that feel familiar rather than fresh, we discuss whether Universal’s year-round haunt is built for long-term success. Then, we shift focus to China’s massive tourism revival—including record-breaking attendance at Harbin’s Ice Festival, Hong Kong’s visitor rebound, and Warner Bros. bringing a Harry Potter Studio Tour to Shanghai. What does this mean for global theme park trends? And is China reclaiming its status as the next big market for attractions? Subscribe to our Patreon for weekly BONUS Episodes.
Come with us to IAAPA's Middle East Trade Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This episode is presented as a series of diaries over the course of three days, so you can hear our reactions in real-time to Qiddiya City and BLVD World.
Tokyo Disney Resort is thriving with Fantasy Springs and seasonal events driving record-breaking revenue, while Universal Studios Hollywood is experimenting with a bold new event: Fan Fest Nights.This week, we break down Oriental Land Company’s latest earnings, revealing how Fantasy Springs and seasonal activations like Halloween helped boost attendance and spending—while also creating operational challenges. Then, we dive into Universal’s Fan Fest Nights, which blends pop-up experiences, immersive LARPing, and haunt-style walkthroughs to test new event formats. What does this mean for the future of park events? And will Universal’s experimental approach lead to year-round second gates? Subscribe to our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes.
Is Disney’s success unstoppable? Despite rising ticket prices, hurricanes disrupting domestic parks, and the looming Epic Universe, Disney still delivered strong earnings. This week, we dive into Disney’s Q1 FY25 earnings to explore how robust international attendance propped up U.S. shortfalls, Bob Iger’s plans to make ESPN Flagship a 24/7 sports streaming powerhouse, and why Disney+ and Hulu are now three-quarters profitable—even with subscriber challenges. Plus, learn how the cruise line expansion factors into Disney’s long-term play. Will consumers keep paying more, or is there a limit to how high Disney can push prices before families tap out?
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Trump’s proposed tariffs could drive up costs for theme parks, and Merlin Entertainment is cutting live entertainment across multiple locations—but what does it all mean for the industry?
This week, we break down how new tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada could lead to higher construction costs, delayed projects, and rising ticket prices. Meanwhile, Merlin’s staffing cuts in Florida, California, and the UK are raising concerns—are they shifting to third-party contractors, or is this part of a larger trend away from live entertainment? Join us as we analyze these industry shake-ups and what parks should be doing to prepare. Listen to bonus episodes on our Patreon.
Immigration reform, tariff hikes, federally controlled ride safety, and drone regulations - The Trump Administration's policies will shake up the theme park industry, and we must be ready.
This week, we discuss IAAPA’s position on these critical topics, including how changes to youth employment laws and visa programs might address the looming labor crisis. We explore the financial strain tariffs could place on park development and why IAAPA advocates for federal no-fly zones over amusement parks to ensure safety and security. Join us as we unpack the big questions: Can the industry adapt? And what should operators do to prepare? Subscribe to our Patreon for weekly bonus shows.
This week, we connect two seemingly unrelated stories—the devastating California wildfires and TikTok’s temporary shutdown—to explore a common theme: crisis planning. With wildfires displacing employees and closing theme parks, and TikTok’s uncertainty highlighting the risks of "rented land," we examine how the attractions industry can better prepare for disruptions. From employee housing to social media strategies, this episode delves into what parks must do to adapt to a world of increasing unpredictability. Subscribe to our Patreon for weekly BONUS episodes.
Scott is unavailable this week, so we're airing a panel discussion from IAAPA 2024. The panel, "IAAPA Fireside Chat: Inspiring Minds of the Industry," combines large and small attraction operators to discuss 2024 and industry trends. During this presentation, you'll hear how Mojang Studios is joining forces with Merlin Entertainments to bring Minecraft adventures to life in the real world through immersive and interactive attractions. Featured in this discussion: Kayleen Walters, VP of Franchise Development for Microsoft; Scott O'Neil, CEO of Merlin Entertainments; Jakob Wahl, President and CEO of IAAPA; Robert Dahl, Founder & CEO of Karls Erlebnis-Dörfer; & Steve Thomas, President of Business Operations for Belmont Park.
Subscribe to our Patreon for bonus episodes. On December 21, multiple drones from Sky Elements unexpectedly fell during a holiday show at Lake Eola, Orlando, injuring 7-year-old Zander Edgerton, who required open-heart surgery. Following the incident, on December 23rd, the FAA opened an investigation and suspended Sky Elements' Part 107 waiver, halting all night drone flights and shows over populated areas. Investigations by the FAA and NTSB are underway, and Sky Elements has since canceled multiple drone shows nationwide. Universal Orlando Resort removed drones from its nighttime show immediately following the incident. Today - we discuss the ramifications of this drone crash on the attractions and themed entertainment industries.
In the final episode of 2024, we dive into the most prominent trends that defined the year and will shape 2025. From the evolution of immersive experiences and the rise of personalization to integrating AI into attractions, the duo explores how the industry is adapting to meet guest expectations. They discuss the balance between high- and low-tech solutions, the guest agency's role in storytelling, and why parks need to embrace AI as a tool for innovation. Plus, find out what these shifts mean for operators of all sizes in the new year. Listen to the weekly BONUS episode in our Patreon.
Tokyo Disneyland operator Oriental Land unveiled an ambitious USD 2.1 billion plan to launch an "offshore theme park" cruise by 2028, aiming to reduce its reliance on Maihama operations. This approach mirrors Disney's investment in cruises, which we discussed last week. While Disney has a smaller share of the cruise market, it has significantly less debt. Attendance rates rose from 63% in 2022 to 97% in 2024. Meanwhile, China's theme parks drive inbound tourism, now ranking alongside iconic attractions like the Great Wall and the Palace Museum. These significant shifts underscore global trends toward experiential, human-centric attractions—but did the U.S. get that memo? Get weekly BONUS episodes in our Patreon.
Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Treasure, is making waves with its IP-packed premium entertainment, like the Haunted Mansion Parlor, Tale of Moana, and Plaza de Coco dinner show. In essence, Disney is moving portions of the theme park experience onto their cruise ships, using a highly curated and controlled environment to deliver guest experiences that are no longer possible within the theme parks. Meanwhile, United Parks is taking the opposite approach by outsourcing elements of its food operations to C3, bringing recognizable brands like Umami Burger to their parks. This episode explores how attractions balance control and collaboration to deliver better guest experiences. Subscribe to our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes.
Universal Studios Hollywood’s 2025 event calendar dropped, including dates for Halloween Horror Nights and the debut of FanFest Nights. Plus, we unpack the $5 million lawsuit verdict against Busch Gardens Tampa, discussing its potential ripple effects across the industry. Finally, we look at Disneyland’s 70th anniversary plans, featuring the highly anticipated Walt Disney animatronic and the return of beloved shows like Paint the Night.
Philip and Scott dive into key developments in the global attractions industry. China's theme parks are seeing a massive rebound, with a 71.8% surge in visitors and nearly 98% revenue growth in 2023. Meanwhile, Mexico's Grupo Vidanta revealed groundbreaking details for VidantaWorld’s BON Luxury Theme Park, a $1.3 billion project opening in 2026. Finally, the Mattel Adventure Park opening has been delayed until 2025, reflecting ongoing challenges in the industry, from supply chain disruptions to economic uncertainty. Subscribe to our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes. Now you can gift a subscription to Green Tagged.
Get weekly bonus episodes here. In this week’s Green Tagged, Philip and Scott unpack the networking and education opportunities that defined IAAPA Expo 2024, which broke records with 41,429 total attendees and over 140 educational sessions. Philip reflects on the IAAPA Fireside Chat, where industry leaders highlighted how partnerships like Merlin x Minecraft bridge the digital and physical worlds to drive engagement. Meanwhile, Scott shares insights from the Entertainment Professionals Network session, which spotlighted innovative approaches to talent development and live entertainment. Drawing on his own experiences as a session leader, Scott discusses how education sessions offered attendees practical strategies for elevating guest experiences in a challenging operational environment. Beyond the structured events, we explore how informal networking—on the show floor and after hours—fosters critical peer-to-peer learning. With such a dynamic range of opportunities, IAAPA proves yet again why in-person connections are indispensable for the future of attractions.
Philip and Scott dissect Disney's Q3 earnings, celebrating Disney+'s profitability, billion-dollar blockbusters, and robust park performance. CEO Bob Iger calls it “a new era of growth,” but looming challenges like declining TV assets and leadership succession raise questions. Meanwhile, Six Flags announces a $1 billion investment over two years, featuring record-breaking coasters, dining upgrades, and seasonal events. Will Six Flags’ efforts match Disney’s IP-driven strategy, or is it a short-term refresh? Plus, how does Disney’s storytelling mastery make its ecosystem thrive? Get weekly BONUS shows on our Patreon.
In this week's Green Tagged, Philip and Scott dive into Six Flags' Q3 earnings report and their new three-year plan, "Project Accelerate." With attendance dipping slightly but per capita spending climbing, Six Flags has pivoted to a revenue-over-quantity strategy—a trend echoing the broader theme park industry. Project Accelerate aims to boost attendance to 55 million guests and reach a 35% Modified EBITDA margin by 2027. However, as Philip and Scott discuss, the plan lacks specific, measurable goals and a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. Is this strategy bold enough to inspire transformation, or does it fall short? Join the conversation and let us know if you think Six Flags is on the right path! Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Universal promises 2025 will be its biggest year ever, but are those promises genuine or distractions covering up declining park revenue? This week saw two major announcements from Universal. First, Universal’s new experiment in year-round horror, Universal Horror Unleashed, will open in Las Vegas next year – the same year as Universal’s new Epic Universe theme park. Next, Universal released information surrounding the animatronics coming to Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment at Universal’s Epic Universe in Orlando. However, Comcast posted a 5.3% decline in theme park revenue for the third quarter, citing lower attendance at domestic parks. This episode discusses what these reveals mean for Universal’s strategy, attendance trends, and how the new Vegas location could attract horror fans year-round. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
Weekly bonus episodes on our Patreon. It’s our Halloween special! We dive into Fun.com’s costume data to see how IP-driven favorites like Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, and Inside Out define the season, showing Halloween’s unique synergy across homes, media, and theme parks. We then delve into recent haunt visits: Scott’s behind-the-scenes look at Netherworld’s stellar operations and Philip’s trip to Dark at Fort Edmonton, exploring how the event has expanded.
Get weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon here. Universal Orlando Resort officially announced the opening date for their much-anticipated new theme park, Universal Epic Universe, slated for May 22, 2025. We discuss what this means for the park’s future and how it stacks up against industry expectations. Plus, Disney is launching the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, offering guests a more flexible option similar to Universal’s Express Pass. We discuss how this new offering might change the guest experience and what it signals for the future of queue management at Disney parks. Tune in for insights on these major theme park developments and more!
Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon. Florida's weather is growing more extreme, and our strategic planning must evolve to meet it. This week, we focus on Hurricane Milton's aftermath and its sweeping impact on Florida’s theme parks, including closures, operational challenges, and recovery efforts. Then, we turn to the future and discuss why strategic planning for hurricanes may need to evolve.
Subscribe to our Patreon for weekly bonus shows. Could Universal's Fan Fest Nights Define the Future of Hard-Ticketed Events? Joining Star Trek, Back to the Future, and Dungeons & Dragons are anime experiences from One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen, expanding Universal’s reach into mainstream and niche fandoms. These additions leverage the studio’s scenic expertise and offer fans unique, interactive content. Universal’s "immersive pop-up" event strategy could shift theme parks' operations. Plus, a deep dive into the revitalization of Dark Harbor, with its larger footprint, modernized approach, and efforts to broaden Halloween’s appeal to a wider audience.
Subscribe to our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes. IAAPA announced the IAAPA Expo Middle East in Abu Dhabi in 2026; this is perhaps one of the most significant signals that the industry is exploding in the Middle East. Back at home, Six Flags Fright Fest Extreme can't seem to get its haunted houses open nationwide, and Busch Gardens Williamsburg faces curfews that impact guest experiences. Finally, SeaWorld lost an 11.4 million dollar licensing judgment against Sesame Workshop.
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In this episode, Philip and Scott break down the latest findings from the IAAPA Q3 2024 Quarterly Outlook Survey, exploring how theme parks are navigating a challenging landscape of reduced capital, labor shortages, and shifting consumer behaviors. With per-capita spending fluctuating and North American parks lagging in recovery, we dive into the role of creativity and innovation in keeping attractions engaging. We also connect insights from the TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report and Disney's earnings call to comprehensively examine the industry's future. Listen for an in-depth discussion on how parks find new ways to thrive amid tightening budgets and operational challenges.
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It's our four-year anniversary, and we're celebrating by launching a Patreon for our Unhinged content. Find it here. This week, we discuss Dark Nights at Hershey Park and Field of Screams, which both opened last weekend. We also discuss Universal's new Butterbeer offering at CityWalk and the upcoming Wicked experience before addressing the controversial funding cap on Disney's Aspire program.
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NEW: Subscribe to BONUS content on our Patreon. In this episode, Philip and Scott discuss their recent experiences at Oogie Boogie Bash, Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood, and Fear Factory. They highlight the immersive and consistent atmosphere at Oogie Boogie Bash, where guests can interact with villains in well-designed sets. They also discuss the unique elements of Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood, such as the use of sign language by actors in the A Quiet Place maze and the intense chainsaw-filled Texas Chainsaw Massacre maze. Additionally, they mention the collaboration between Halloween Horror Nights Singapore and luxury streetwear brand Wang Design for a haunted house called Under the Castle. They emphasize the importance of partnerships and storytelling in creating memorable experiences.
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Halloween Horror Nights opened this weekend at Universal Studios Orlando. HHN Orlando is the largest Halloween event in the world, but comes at the time when universal is already strained with other projects. Scott and Philip discuss the highlights and challenges.
The 2023 Global Attractions Attendance Report from TEA/AECOM just dropped, and we are diving deep into its findings. The report highlights the recovery of the global attractions industry after the pandemic and the performance of different theme parks worldwide. It also explores the trends in attendance and spending and the potential for growth in other regions. Scott and Philip draw attention to the impact of weather on attendance, the need for parks to focus on guest experience and creature comforts, the significance of Halloween events, and the potential for special events to drive demand throughout the year.
While Disney's income dip isn't exciting for investors, it signals that the tourism industry continues to moderate post-pandemic. Six Flags and Cedar Fair also released their final separate earnings; there's hope in those reports. Meanwhile, Universal has hijacked the news again by expanding Halloween Horror Nights to New York City.
During the D23 Fan Expo last weekend, Disney confirmed plans for a new Villains Land expansion in Magic Kingdom, delighting fans and media alike. The announcement immediately drew comparisons to Universal's recent Dark Universe announcement. While this seems like a new season of 'Theme Park Wars' - how much of it was planned? In other words, are the two using each other to draw crowds and reduce the overall development they each do?
Universal kicked off the modern theme park ‘immersive’ trend with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in 2010 – and now, it plans to up the ante. In 2025, as part of EPIC Universe, Universal Orlando Resort will debut its third installment of Harry Potter-themed lands with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. The central ride ‘Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry’ is Universal’s most ambitious ride and promises to take guests across countries and time to 1990s London using the Métro-Floo for a thrilling adventure set inside the iconic British Ministry of Magic. Meanwhile, in a remarkably fast turnaround, Disneyland workers ratify a new contract setting base wages at $24 an hour.
NBCUniversal Theme Parks division saw a 10.6% drop in revenue in the second quarter, and they’re attributing the drop to post-pandemic equalization; should we be concerned? Also, Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights announced the all-original haunted house, “Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines,” and Union members at the Disneyland Resort voted to authorize a strike against the resort.
Country Bear Jamboree opened last week, and features popular Disney songs from other IPs - is this world building on Disney's part, or world destruction? Also, Scott has something to say about the new Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
The Mega Movie Parade opened to much fanfare at Universal Studios Orlando, two years after the previous daytime parade, Universal’s Superstar Parade, which closed in 2022. The parade targets a broader demographic and signals Universal’s continued testing to balance pricing and investment. Two more ways Universal is trying to find a balance include the express for Multi-Night Halloween Horror Nights tickets that have sold out and the ticket policy announcement for EPIC Universe.
Following approval from the DOJ, the newly merged Six Flags operates 27 amusement parks and 15 water parks across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. All 42 parks will retain their legacy branding for now, and the company has signaled new investment in rides and enhanced park offerings through intellectual property. Also, Dark Nights at Hersheypark has added a fifth haunted house for the upcoming Halloween season, all while keeping access free for passholders. And—Seaworld Orlando’s “no re-entry” policy.
Six Flags unveiled partnerships with an expansive lineup of horror franchises to debut this Halloween season and is focusing development on the New Jersey, Los Angeles, and Mexico markets. Two of the franchises mentioned - Stranger Things and Texas Chainsaw Massacre - come from the Netflix catalog, which announced two new themed experience venues in Pennsylvania and Texas. The story behind all these announcements is that Netflix is shifting from a streaming company to an entertainment company and is looking to replicate the Disney flywheel model.
Universal Orlando Resort unveiled details about Dark Universe, one of the worlds coming to Universal Epic Universe in 2025. Dark Universe will feature a dark ride (Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment), a spinning family coaster (Curse of the Werewolf), a Monster Makeup Experience, character meet and greets, dining, and shopping. As the only ‘non-IP’ area at Epic Universe, we think Dark Universe caters to a niche market but also holds the most potential for future extension. Plus, how Disney empowered the guests and cast during their Pride Nite events and why CommuniCore offers essential creature comforts.
Universal's new lagoon show, Cinesational, opened to the public this week, and A Quiet Place haunted house will use American Sign Language. Knott's Berry Farm has added a hotline for guests to report line jumpers, but will this worsen the issue? Scott and Philip debate why line jumping is more of a problem now; is it a generational phase or low staffing and opportunity?
Universal is testing a ‘Premium Scream Night’ package that allows guests to ‘preview’ Halloween Horror Nights the night before opening – will it perform better than Taste of Terror, and can smaller attractions try something similar? Also, Saudi Arabia expands its tourist bubble with its first gender-inclusive wave pool; Illuminarium Las Vegas introduces a show inspired by Hasbro’s Lite-Brite; and why ‘Disney Dreams That Soar’ is the best thing to happen to Disney Springs in years.
IAAPA Expo Asia concluded last week, having returned to Thailand after 17 years. The show welcomed 4,623 verified attendees, 352 exhibiting companies, and 3,187 qualified buyers from 2,480 companies. Philip attended the show, and we recap his takeaways in this episode.
Philip visited Fantasy Springs and has a trip report to discuss. Scott believes the era of food festivals is over, and Halloween Horror Nights has already announced 5 haunted houses.
This week: Arrivals in Japan are set to surpass the annual record of 31.9 million seen in 2019, but this is causing friction among the locals; Qiddiya Investment Co. incorporates SEVEN to advance the Saudi entertainment industry; United Parks reports slight gains to start the year; and Cedar Fair and Six Flags are Struggling in Q1.
Airbnb debuted 11 Icon experiences as part of its Summer 2024 Release and many of them are full-on themed experiences. As a bonus episode, Philip brings you into the room where Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky unveiled the Icon experiences. Explore the detailed theming of all 11 experiences in the full recording of the Airbnb press conference. See photos from Airbnb here.
Disney finally saw a profit in streaming, so why did its stock fall 10%? One answer could be theme park jitters. The "evidence of a global moderation from peak post-Covid travel" has raised concerns for Disney, despite the approval of DisneylandForward, robust Halfway to Halloween announcements, and new research showing travel spending in California reaching an all-time high of $150.4 billion in 2023. This week, we dig into all the numbers to determine whether the concern is warranted.
Universal released details about SUPER NINTENDO WORLD coming to EPIC Universe in 2025 while earnings at Universal Parks slipped during the past quarter. Elsewhere, Six Flags explained how AI will roll out in its properties, and Airbnb recreated the house from UP.
A Tram collision injured 15 at Universal Studios Hollywood, but does that mean the park has a safety issue? Meanwhile, EPCOT cuts a month from Food & Wine, Donkey Kong is delayed, and Japan is concerned about Overtourism. View the full show notes here.
Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris will be renamed Disney Adventure World, marking an official shift from 'how it's done' to immersive lands. Also, the Disneyland union contracts are up again, and we tackle a listener question regarding closures in Las Vegas.
Abu Dhabi has announced it's 2030 tourism development plan, and we'll dive into the highlights. The 26 key metrics are divided into 4 main pillars that they hope will bring in 40 million visitors by 2030.
Universal Orlando made history by announcing that Halloween Horror Nights will begin on August 30th, while select Unmaking the Horror tours will start on August 11th - this is one step closer to the three-month Halloween window Theme parks have been vying for decades. Meanwhile, Bob Iger pushed back against shareholders questioning whether Disney is prepared for Epic Universe.
This week we delve into the Isle of Berk details at Epic Universe and the world's first Dragon Ball theme park.
This week: Scream Break returns to Six Flags Magic Mountain; Mattel Adventure Park is coming to Kansas City in 2026; New Walt Disney World drone show will soar above Disney Springs; ‘Phantom of the Opera’ VR coaster is coming to Europa-Park this spring.
This week, Disneyland Forward Moves one step closer to approval, plus a roundup of expansions elsewhere.
What is immersive entertainment in 2024? This week, we discuss the "Willie Wonka Incicident" in Scotland, the new Immersive Fort Tokyo, and Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea. Watch the video of here.
Cedar Fair reported a loss during the last earnings, but does it matter? We also discuss Six Flags Great Adventure’s Savannah Sunset glamping resort and the ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ off-Broadway show.
Disney's latest earnings call showed the theme parks continue to perform well, and alongside that news, Disney announced a partnership with Epic Games and a foray into live sports.
This week, we've chosen 4 stories that show excellent up charging strategies: Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure, The Giant at American Dream, the "SkyRide" attraction reopened at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and Monster Makeovers.
On Tuesday, Universal Orlando revealed more details about Epic Universe, which is set to open in late 2025. Celestial Park is the first area guests will see upon arriving at Epic Universe, and it serves as the gateway to the other areas, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon and Dark Universe. Today, we dedicate the full show to our thoughts on the details.
This week we recap the latest earnings from Universal Studios, discuss IAAPA's new office in the middle east, and review the "Top 2024 Risks" from the Eurasia Group.
This week we’ll discuss Good to Go days at WDW, Legoland Shanghai, and why drinks are the new hot item for 2024. SOURCES: Good to go days; Legoland; Starbucks.
This week: Disney Electrical Sky Parade, Puy du Fou to open immersive theater in Xuhui, and dynamic pricing in theme park restaurants. The story we mention from marketplace is here.
Steamboat Willie has crossed into the Public Domain, and we discuss what impact (if any) this has on the theme park industry. Philip references this article from the Verge. We also highlight the five 2024 openings we're most excited about. See the full list from Attractions Magazine here.
In this special episode, we discuss 4 trends that we predict will heavily impact the theme park and attractions industry: the US soft landing, the misinformation avalanche, the content reckoning, and climate change.
News is out that Universal is considering a new theme park and resort in the UK, plus we recap Christmas events.
Taylor Swift is Time Person of the Year, and we discuss the parallels between her career and storytelling (“All great art is the art that sees you”). Philip references this episode from The Daily.
Announcements abound as attractions attempt to bolster 2024 sales and temper expectations. We'll discuss a select few: Universal Kids Resort, Disneyland After Dark, and Disneyland 2024 Events.
It seems like EVERYONE is doing something for Christmas. Some are repurposing assets to make Christmas events, while others are simply using their Halloween stuff, and yet others are just opening limited-run shows. We'll discuss a few, including the Ohio Christmas Factory, Legendary Ski-Lodge, Zoo Tampa, Sinister Saloon's Night of the Krampus, Nightmare Cafe, and more.
World of Frozen opened Nov 20th, 2023, at Hong Kong Disneyland and the 30rh Annual Thea Recipients from the Themed Entertainment Association were announced - what do these say about the trend of entertainment?
IAAPA Expo is the largest tradeshow in the attractions industry, and this week we break down the top announcements from this year's show. Watch Philip's video here: https://youtu.be/Kwp1QiQLWVk
This week we discuss Disney's latest earnings report, the new Jollywood event, and SeaWorld's drop in attendance.
This week, Cedar Fair and Six Flags are merging. The combined company, using the Six Flags name, will boast 27 amusement parks and 15 water parks, for a combined annual revenue of more than $3.5 billion.
We discuss the article 'What haunts the haunted house industry?' and discuss solutions to staffing concerns in the themed entertainment industry: https://www.marketplace.org/2023/10/27/what-haunts-the-haunted-house-industry/
This week: Philip's segment on NBC and how you can prepare for media; Disney's new reporting system reveals how profitable their parks are; Halloween Nights at Eastern state penitentiary
We discuss takeaways from IAAPA Presents: Universal Studios Japan, held Oct 11, 2023, in Osaka. Specifically, Philip compares the "Unlocking the Power of IP in Entertainment Programs" presentation by Dan Mitchell and Dan Perez with firsthand reporting. Special thanks to the IAAPA Asia Pacific Team.
Scott and Philip discuss takeaways from events they've worked on the past week, including: Dark at Fort Edmonton, Terror Vault at the San Francisco mint, Terror Roulette in Chicago, and Treasure Hunt: The Ride in Monterey CA.
This week: Spend the night in Shrek’s Swamp, now on Airbnb; Beto Carrero World introduces the world’s first NERF-themed land in a theme park; Cedar Point Esports: New gaming facility to open in Sandusky on October 6; Scott and Philip discuss their work for Hush Haunted Attraction.
Scott and Philip are busy installing shows for Halloween, and this week they're sharing takeaways.
The 2023 Golden Award ticket winners, Dark Nights at Hersheypark opens, and Six Flags delays the opening of their new maze.
Halloween Horror Nights has opened in Hollywood, and we share takeaways any attraction can apply to their operations.
Theme parks in the United States are anticipated to make a $1.5 billion investment in new attractions this year despite experiencing a decline in attendance numbers; there's a new Weather-or-Not policy rolling out.
This year’s 50th anniversary of Knott’s Scary Farm includes three new mazes (totaling 10), five scare zones, and four shows. Beginning on September 21 and running through October 31, the event will see 29 terrifying nights of scares. We'll discuss takeaways from the event.
While Hurricane Hillary causes SoCal theme parks to close for the first time in a long time, we review the Q2 2023 earnings from Disney and Universal
Mickey's not so scary Halloween party opened August 10 and has already sold out event dates in Aug. Today we'll break down the successful elements of this second gate.
Attractions from all over Southern California gathered at Midsummer Scream this weekend to engage with fans and announce their Fall plans; we'll review the takeaways.
After Iger's contract extension, he outlined some strategic plans for the next few years. We'll break down his comments on the Writer's Strike, Streaming, and demand for theme parks.
This week: Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando extends through Nov 4th; Disney extends CEO Bob Iger's contract through 2026; iSwii by Angry Birds: world’s first Angry Birds retail café opening in NY.
Threads, Meta's Twitter Rival, has had the best app launch is history by reaching 100 million subscribers in 5 days. But should your attraction be using Threads?
Hasbro City opens in Mexico, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park reopens Haunted Mide Drop as Crystal Tower, and The Mall of America (Bloomington, MN) and American Monsters are set to open a new haunt this Halloween season: “Onionhead’s Revenge”.
The Walt Disney world Resort will have a new holiday ticketed event this year in Disney Jollywood Nights. Plus, Halloween Horror Nights Singapore partners with Netflix.
Disneyland hosted its first-ever Pride Nite on June 13th, and Philip discusses how it went. Halloween Horror Nights announced that a haunted house based on The Last of Us would come to both coasts.
We're in Chicago for the Midwest Haunters Convention, recapping learnings from the weekend. We're also looking at the upcoming Halloween announcements from Disneyland, Ocean Park in Hong Kong, and Knott's Scary Farm.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi Opened in May, and Scott was there to bear witness. Also this week: Fiesta Village Reopens at Knott's Berry Farm, the final night of Splash Mountain saw wait times of 260 minutes, and Six Flags Great Adventure will implement Amazon's Just Walk Out technology.
IAAPA released its 2022-2026 Global Theme and Amusement Park Outlook Report and forecasts a seven percent boost in attendance for North American theme parks, with an estimated attendance of 308.5 million in 2023. We discuss the report, and Scott reflects on his six months in Abu Dhabi.
Disney has canceled the Lake Nona Campus plans and will no longer require those Imagineers to relocate from California to Florida. Meanwhile, Disney announced that the final Galactic Starcriser voyages will be Sept 28-30, 2023. We have opinions.
Disney’s Parks, Experiences, and Products division saw an astounding $17% increase compared to the same quarter in 2022. SeaWorld is operating at a loss but is improving. Cedar Fair is trending down on all metrics.
Unlock the food & beverage potential of attraction with the latest insights and tips from the 2023 Bar & Restaurant Expo. In this special, we blend food trends with practical advice and mouth-watering inspiration!
Disney is suing DeSantis; Meanwhile, Cedar Fair has instituted chain-wide chaperone policies in response to escalating violence at its parks.
This week: Haichang Ocean Park plans tourism investment in Saudi Arabia, Annual Passes are back at Disney World, Hershey’s Great Candy Expedition opens May 19, Pride Nite comes to Disneyland, and Katmandu Park Punta Cana announces its opening date. Subscribe on our website.
Sustainability, Safety, and Staffing- these areas continue to be challenging in the attractions industry. We don't have answers yet, but IAAPA plans to ask questions. We'll discuss what it might mean for the industry and whether politics has anything to do with it.
Everything you need to know about the Disney VS DeSantis debacle involving the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
Theme parks nationwide have announced expanded Halloween schedules; meanwhile, more horror experiences are opening up in the off-season. Will 2023 be the Year of Year-round horror? In this episode, we look at the Creepiest Trends for 2023.
We recap the major takeaways from the First Annual IAAPA North American Trade Summit, specifically, the central theme of Authentic Reality. The IAAPA Trade Summits have replaced the former Leadership Summits, and each region will host a local trade summit annually. The trade summits combine member connections and education on regional issues with a trade component. This year’s North American summit took 134 attendees on 5 facility tours in the San Diego area over 4 days, with 21 trade partners and 3 keynote speakers. This episode features on-location audio and interviews with Michael Shelton (VP and Executive Director, IAAPA North America), George Walker (CEO & Founder, The League of Extraordinary Dining), Jim Lake (President of SeaWorld San Diego), Spencer Meinburg (GM of Plunge San Diego), Andrew Terbush (Executive Chef, SeaWorld San Diego), and the San Diego Zoo.
Political clashes are shaking up the theme park world: Biden against Resort Fees and Disney versus De Santis. Plus, trends are unfolding in the world of Six Flags expansions.
Universal announces a rebrand as their expansion in Texas is approved. Meanwhile, Disney is hitting a price ceiling due to a lack of demand for the Galactic Starcruiser.
We're breaking down the 2022 earnings for Six Flags and SeaWorld this week!
Overall good news, as despite lower attendance, the parks showed more profitability.
Six Flags Magic Mountain is opening its haunts in March! Scream Break is a new after-hours event happening Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from March 18 to April 16. Philip and Scott discuss the event and what you can learn from it. Plus, wage raises at Tokyo Disney and Rogers: The Musical.
We discuss the impact of Super Nintendo World on the themed entertainment industry and look at the pay raise Universal Orlando is offering.
Scott and Philip discuss Key Takeaways from Transworld's Halloween & Attractions Show in St Louis.
Comcast's Q4 earnings show record profit, prompting the company to announce additional investment in theme parks for 2023. Meanwhile, 2022 marked the largest population decrease in China in 60 years.
In contrast to last week's show, we look at recent Disney Policy changes and discuss their impact. Plus, it's Chinese New Year, and theme parks all around the world are celebrating.
Universal took the industry by storm by announcing two major attractions coming to Dallas and Las Vegas. Stories: Universal Parks & Resorts Plans to Bring New Concept for Families with Young Children to Frisco, Texas; Universal Parks & Resorts to Bring Entirely New Year-Round Horror Experience to Las Vegas.
China has reopened its boarders, signaling the final phase of tourism recovery for the world. This week, we'll look at how different countries are responding to Chinese travel resuming. We'll also discuss how one attraction is rethinking career paths.
For our year-end episode, we look at some large stories from 2022 and how they will impact 2023. We've broken them into 4 large buckets: Recovery, Supply Chain, Attention Wars, and AI Technology.
Nearly 250 million people around China were infected with COVID this December, but that didn't stop "Frostival" at Shanghai Disneyland, happening through Feb 19th. Sources: China and COVID cases ; Frostival coming to Shanghai Disneyland ; Haunted Mansion Holiday gets extension.
We have an opening date for Super Nintendo in Hollywood, and its set off an avalanche of announcements from the US Parks. Meanwhile, massive investment continues to be announced for the UAE. Stories: SUPER NINTENDO WORLD Opens at Universal Studios Hollywood; SEVEN begins construction of Al Hamra entertainment district; Free Queen Mary guided tours offered during the holiday season.
Stories this week: NBCUniversal CEO shares more details of new Epic Universe; Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee says quarantine-free travel to mainland China next year ‘very realistic possibility’; Ocean Park posts deficit of almost HK$1.82 billion; Minion Land featuring Villain-Con Minion Blast attraction and Minion Café coming to Universal Orlando; and Dubai Parks and Resorts in UAE celebrates holiday season
Scott and Philip walk the IAAPA Expo Show Floor, meet with some friends, and discuss the 2022 show.
Cedar Fair Earnings are great; Supply chains will be strained more for Chinese New Year; Seoul's Halloween Stampede is a cautionary tale.
Scott and Philip take a break from the news to discuss marketing a Halloween event at your attraction.
The price of genie+ will increase at both Disneyland and the Walt Disney world resort. Plus, we review a listener message about TikTok and takeaways from the new secret bars at Hush haunted attraction.
The WTO's outlook for 2023 isn't great. Scott and discuss what that means for the attraction industry plus takeaways from Eastern State Penitentiary.
While parks have reopened after Hurricane Ian, Knott’s tweaked their chaperone policy and Kennywood reels from shooting during Phantom Fall Fest.
We break down Bob Iger's interview for Code, Dark Nights at Hersheypark, and DARK at Fort Edmonton park.
We recap the Disney Parks announcements from D23, including Pacific Wharf in Disney California Adventure Park to Be Reimagined into San Fransokyo from “Big Hero 6;” Disney100 Celebration at Disneyland Resort Kicks Off in Late January 2023, and EPCOT's Harmonious to be replaced with new nighttime spectacular in 2023.
This week we’ll discuss some takeaways from Knott’s Scary Farm and Oogie Boogie Bash, plus the new Harry Potter: A Yule Ball Celebration.
Scott and Philip celebrate their 2 year anniversary by reflecting on Lost island's early closure and the opening of Halloween Horror Nights
Disney is listening to guest reactions and is adjusting several policies, including Magic Keys and reservations. Plus, Year 2 of Seaworld Orlando’s Howl-o-Scream demonstrates an impressive amount of story cohesion.
For the first time ever, streaming outperformed cable & broadcast TV; Shanghai factories are shut down again due to record heat waves; Both Knott’s and Universal Orlando test chaperone policies to curb violence at their parks in preparation for Halloween.
More earnings reports are out, and we'll compare and contrast Six Flags with Disney. Despite record attendance at its competitors, Six Flags is loosing crowds. The chain will attempt to copy the Disney playbook, despite having assets that don't align with that plan. Meanwhile, Disney is exceeding predictions in both Disney + and Parks. Now if only those pesky Magic Key members would spend more...
Coming up, we’re discuss the earnings reports from Universal and Cedar Fair – plus changing ticketing policies at Tokyo Disney
Today we discuss the CDC lifting restrictions for Cruise Ships; Hong Kong Disneyland Resort enhancing cast benefits; GDP data fanning concerns about a U.S. recession; and why Meta’s Profit is down 36%. Subscribe to all our offerings: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork
Scott and Philip go on an extended discuss about chaperone policies at your attraction and preparing for violence in the Fall Season. Then, we discuss the ICON park theme recall and the new Halloween announcements from Universal Studios Japan.
This week: Hersheypark announces Dark Nights Halloween event with haunted houses and Scare Zones; Legoland's Lego Monster Party returns; Nope Experience at Universal Studios Hollywood.
This week we’re sticking to I-5 for a few stories including girl injured by flying cellphone, Oogie Boogie Bash has sold out, Universal Studios Hollywood adds ‘Nope’ Jupiter’s Claim set to Studio Tour, and United has expanded their pilot program. We finish with two stories and a word of caution from China.
Coming up, we’ll discuss Bob Chapek’s extension, the closing of California’s Great America, and Pride Day celebrates inclusion at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Subscribe to all our offerings: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork
We discuss Disney's Abortion Travel Credit and their delayed move to Florida, plus new openings with Shaqtoberfest and Volkanu
How much would you pay for a 24-day dream Disney vacation? Coming up – Disney unveils a new luxury experience, Universal Orlando unveils escape rooms, Ghost Town Alive! and Forbidden Frontier are returning for the 2022 season, and Electric Ocean comes to SeaWorld Orlando.
In our first "IRL" episode, Scott takes us on-location to the Indianapolis Zoo for a construction update. Then, Philip speaks with Brian Morrow at BMorrow Productions HQ about the recession, staffing, upcoming projects, and working with IP.
Tiqets.com published “Must-Know Travel Industry Trends For the 2022 High Season” and we dig into the report and discuss some key takeaways. We also discuss the Shanghai reopening, Castaway Cove’s staffing, the live production of “The Greatest Show On Earth,” and new announcements from Matel Adventure Park. Download the report here (https://www.tiqets.com/venues/resources/high-season-travel-industry-trends-2022/) and read the show notes here: https://www.haunt.news/green-tagged-2022-summer-travel-trends
This week we recap Licensing Expo 2022, discuss Ocean Park Hong Kong’s new water park, Hersheypark’s 2 new rides, Rocky Mountain Construction’s apprentice program, the Milwaukee County Zoo requiring masks, and the Drive-thru zoo experience returns to San Antonio Zoo.
Coming up, Big Moves in the Right Direction. We’ll talk about Disney’s pride collection, Pirates of Speelunker Cave, the Summer Celebration at Busch Gardens Tampa, and how attractions are using TikTok.
This week Scott and Philip argue quite a bit over the Six Flags Q1 Earnings and Meow Wolf’s 2 new locations. Plus, are teens convinced about the Metaverse? Show notes: https://www.haunt.news/green-tagged-make-your-position-known
This week: The new queueless experience from Disney, SeaWorld and Cedar Fair are seeing financial recovery (despite still loosing millions), Universal staffs up, and performer safety.
It’s Halfway to Halloween and we’re breaking down what you can learn from how other attractions are celebrating! Show notes: https://www.haunt.news/green-tagged-halfway-to-halloween
We dive deep into Disney’s troubles in Florida, then hit takeaways from the dissolution of CNN+ and the latest RWS acquisition. Show Notes: https://www.haunt.news/green-tagged-parks-politics-purchases
We’ll review the most important new attractions openings and break down why they’re all continuations of ongoing trends. Show Notes: https://www.haunt.news/green-tagged-trend-convergence
This week we explore stories of staffing, acquisition, diversification, and breaking the 4th wall. https://www.haunt.news/green-tagged-the-staffing-balance
After a round of Quick Hits, we discuss the recent string of acquisitions and Universal’s new housing project. Find all the stories we discussed in our show notes: https://www.haunt.news/green-tagged-curation-community
Supply chain disruptions are back as attractions also struggle with training new staff. Meanwhile, it’s full steam ahead for a record fall season. Stories covered: 14-year-old boy dies from fall on ICON Park ride in Orlando; China’s Covid Lockdowns Set to Further Disrupt Global Supply Chains; Select Tickets and Packages are on Sale Now for Halloween Horror Nights; Expo 2025: “More than an event.”
2 Attractions are stepping up their hiring incentives, plus we go LIVE from this year’s Transworld’s Halloween & Attractions Show in St Louis. Subscribe: https://www.haunt.news/
Today’s show is all about the impact of policies on the attractions industry. From Chapek’s latest debacle to the Russian Oil Ban, Tokyo Disney’s new passes, and the cancellation of IAAPA Expo Asia – it’s a policy week on Green Tagged.
This week we discuss the latest SeaWorld earnings, takeaways from the PLASA survey on live events, and why two cedar fair parks are discontinuing scary Halloween events.
Today, we’re discussing ways the industry will change from the Russia Invasion, the Galactic Starcruiser, the Harry Potter Exhibition, Peppa the Pig, and the new Attack on Titan Exhibition.
While Disney continues to build walls around experiences with ‘Storyliving by Disney,’ attractions across the world are tearing them down by inviting guests to engage in cultural festivals. This week we touch on: Storyliving, Lost Spirits Distillery, St Patrick’s at Busch Gardens, Mardi Gras at Seaworld, The Batman Season in Abu Dhabi, and Cool Japan at Universal Osaka.
Disney continues to build higher walls around their properties. This week we discuss takeaways from the latest earnings call and compare that to Bob Chapek’s 2022 Goals.
This week we discuss SeaWorld offering to buy Cedar Fair, Bob Iger’s exit interview with the NY Times, and what it all says about the attention economy.
This week we delve into the deluge of opening announcements from attractions around the world and look at two museums are pivoting. Openings: EPIC Universe, Iron Gwazi, Emperor, Pantheon, Peppa Pig, the NFT Museum, Studio Ghibli Theme Park, Avengers Campus in Paris, Animax’s new China Facility, Universal Studios Beijing’s Chinese New Year Celebration, EPCOT’s Flower & Garden Festival, & Legoland New York.
This week we’re discussing Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard and what that means for the Themed Entertainment Industry. Plus, how 2 large attractions are combating staffing issues. Participate in the Haunted Attraction Benchmark Survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HAAHANSurvey
This week we explore stories about how attractions keep the guests flowing. From combating low staffing to setting attendance records, Half a Billion Dollar Renovations, and new seasons of fun – this week we’re showing the resilience of attractions. Take the Haunted Attraction Benchmark Survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HAAHANSurvey
This week we're recapping some of the largest stories from the last three weeks, all centered around the trend of attractions moving forward into the new year.
In this New Year Special, we review our top 5 trends that will impact you and your attraction most in 2022. The list is: Reducing friction for the guest; Inflation; Season Creep; IP Extension; and Market Expansion.
It's our Christmas special! In this special we take a break from the news to discuss the elements of a Christmas event at attractions.
Omicron updates; Winter programming updates at parks (09:30); Theme Park Holiday Viewing Guide (18:30); Instagram Data Dive (26:10).
While we’ve been focusing on the US market the past few shows, there’s growth showing in Asia and the UAE. Plus a round up of new openings. Stories: Universal Beijing Resort likely to surpass Shanghai Disney's daily visitors; Expo 2020 Dubai in UAE posts 7-week attendance figures; Melco unveils concept for second phase of Macau’s Studio City; Lunar New Year, Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival returning to Disneyland in 2022; Disney Genie Service coming to Disneyland Resort starting Dec. 8; The Arcane Experience in Los Angeles; Holiwood Nights 2022 Requires application at attend; Universal Orlando debuts Earl the Squirrel walk-around character
While attractions are benefiting from a booming economy, low unemployment and a high quit rate continue to confound. Is it time to rethink the employment model for attractions? Also, has Disney lost it’s magic?
In the wake of the holiday season, Disney is doubling down on the day guest and working to secure staffing. Also a new slate of Thea recipients and Peppa the Pig! Stories: NY State of emergency; Walt Disney Co. pauses vaccine mandates for employees; Walt Disney World Pauses Select Annual Pass Sales; TEA announces 28th annual slate of Thea Awards recipients; Peppa Pig Theme Park at LEGOLAND Florida Resort to open as Certified Autism Center; Innovative FOTO at Field Museum allows guests to capture memories unaided
IAAPA Expos 2021 is over, and we’re recapping some the largest takeaways. Plus, a little update on Thanksgiving Travel Trends.
Results are in from the Q4 earnings reports: Disney continues to lead the pack as their strategy pays off while other parks are hoping seasonal events will save them. Meanwhile, the Halloween Autopsy revealed that the holiday season is beginning earlier than ever. Stories: Party City Halloween Revenue; HauntPay Industry Report; Disney Q4 Earnings Call; Cedar Fair Earnings; Seaworld Earnings; Holiday World Announces Return of 'Thanksgiving to Go' Meal Program; a preview for IAAPA 2021.
With Halloween coming to an end, it’s time to recognize your cast and celebrate the transition over to Christmas. Staffing will continue to play a major role as international travel resumes. Stories Covered: Orlando Welcomes the Brits Back; Tokyo Disney Posts loss for 2021; Shanghai Disney Reopens after testing guests; Cedar Point Q3 earnings report is positive; the US added 531,000 jobs in October; IAAPA Announces 2021 Brass Ring Winners.
We're reflecting on the Halloween experiences we've worked on or attended this year. Mentioned: Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa, Ghoul School at Gaylord Palms, Hauntoween, Leogoland, Franklin Frights, Six Flags Fright Fest, Castle Park's Castle Dark, Luna Park Sydney, Universal, Knott’s Scary Farm, Seaworld Orlando and San Deigo, LA Haunted Hayride, The Vault of Souls, Nosferatu, Clown Academy, Winchester Mystery House, House of Spirits, and Terror Vault
Stories: Insurance hikes threaten show rides and amusement parks, Vienna museums take to OnlyFans to share uncensored art, InPark Tracks is now available from InPark Magazine, Storyland Studios to create luxury tattoo experience for Fine Ink Studios, The labor shortage is spooking a new victim: haunted houses. Takeaways from The Vault of Souls, The Clown Academy, and Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail.
We’re discussing trends for this holiday season and crafting sophisticated fear on this episode of green tagged. Stories: Accesso reflects on industry trends; The Harris Poll releases Halloween metrics; Haunted Ghost Town (Findlay, Ohio) has cancelled their 2021 haunt season due to a lack of staffing; WDW will begin Christmas November 8th with Universal following on November 13th; Reflections from Terror Vault, The Vault of Souls, and Creatures of the Night at Zoo Tampa.
This week: A PSA for EIDL extensions, USJ and The Pokemon Company announce partnership, Six Flags Magic Mountain works with Clear, Prices for Lighting Lane Released, plus a roundup of new openings.
Crowds continue to swell at mega fall events, leading to more accidents. We dive into the incident report from Glenwood Caverns and the fighting at Six Flags properties, then discuss how attractions are responding. Plus, are unvaccinated people more likely to visit theme parks?
Quarterly reports from Disney and Cedar continue to show good trends, but more people at fall events means more conflict. Media has been latching on to anything that can be viewed as unsafe at attractions. In this episode we touch on larger trends and discuss what some folks are doing as a defense. Plus, we finish up with some killer collaborations at ScareHouse, Hershey Park, and the first haunted house NFT.
After some quick hits, we’re discussing the Golden Ticket awards and how attractions are engaging their super fans. Stories covered: LA County Guideline updates; Amusement Today’s Golden Tickets; Universal Beijing’s Opening; Takeaways from Knott’s Scary Farm, Universal Orlando Horror Nights, SeaWorld, and more.
The administration is asking entertainment venues to require vaccines for guests; what should attractions do? Also – a discussion on SeaWorld’s inaugural Halloween event HowloScream, Universal Orlando’s Sellout nights, and Disneyland’s Very Merriest Nites.
We’re one year old! This stories in today’s show deal with attractions choosing between wide audience appeal versus targeting audience segments. Stories: Walt Disney World Annual Pass sales to resume Sept. 8 with four new pass types; Merlin Entertainments & LEGO break ground on LEGOLAND Shenzhen Resort; Storyland Studios to design experiences around Ubisoft franchises; Europa-Park to launch its own on-demand streaming service on VEEJOY; InPark Magazine’s interview with Cedar Point’s new GM.
After some quick hits, our deep dive this week is retail experiences versus app extensions; while many brands are crafting experiences with licenses, Disney is doubling down on app experiences. Stories: Walt Disney World requiring COVID vaccine for unionized cast members; Delta’s Extra $200 Monthly Healthcare Surcharge To Unvaccinated Airline Workers May Have Serious Unintended Consequences; Vinyl dividers will separate guests and scareactors at Universal Studios; Universal Beijing Begins Trial Operations Sept 1; Ocean Park Hong Kong opens Bid for Development; Licensing International selects its 2021 Excellence Award winners; Universal Orlando releases Halloween Horror Nights menu inspired by haunted houses; Nearly all Disney store locations in Florida closing as Target announces ‘shop-in-shop’ expansion; Disney Wish to include interactive mobile device experience on board.
This week’s big news is the unveiling of Disney Genie. The service puts Disney one large step closer to the ‘park sharing’ model of peak efficiency. While the service democratizes concierge planning for every ticketholder, the lightning lane marks another set of ‘velvet ropes’ to get more spend per guest. Disney’s walls climb ever higher by adding technology and cash to the chasm. Will the service discourage passholders? How will other attraction compete? Does this kill vacation spontaneity? There’s a lot to discuss.
Last week we mentioned that Universal matching 2019 attendance levels with Cedar Fair at 85%. Disney’s Q3 Earnings report is better. Stories Covered: Disney’s Earnings Report; Cedar Fair Announces 2022 Investment; 12 Hasbro-themed entertainment Centers Openings; San Francisco’s Mandates; Disney Very Merriest After Hours offerings revealed; K11 Art Mall in Hong Kong welcomes new Meme Museum; Six Flags Over Texas celebrates 60th anniversary with new ride.
As China begins to shut down again, attractions in the US are fighting to stay open and working. NYC’s new mandate program for recreation is one path, while Florida’s is another. And yet, numbers released this week show Universal already matching 2019 attendance with Cedar Fair at 85%. Plus, AA shows business travel returning.
The bad news: guests are grumpy, violent interactions are on the rise, and differing restrictions continue to confuse.
The opportunity: keeping reservation systems and upcharge experiences.
This week we’ll discuss all this and what you can do to navigate the next few months.
Delta is all that’s on anyone’s mind this week, so we’re doing something a little different. We dedicate the show to what you can do no to prepare. What contingency plans can I make?
How much should I reduce capacity? How will that impact staffing? Will demand go soft? All those questions answered and more.
This week we’re giving updates on industry staffing and then discussing new openings that focus on blending IP with the natural world to refurbish existing attractions. Stories: Disney Cruise Line to resume Bahamian voyages from Florida in August; multiple layers of safety measures added; IAAPA Supports the Robust Resumption of Visa Processing; Ohio's Coney Island offers new incentive for seasonal staff; Disney staff relocation to Florida indicates shift in priorities; Scream n' Stream; Ocean Park Launches Explorer R; Step into the Wizarding World with ‘Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience’; Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibit coming to museums across Japan
While France and LA are adding new mandates, new attractions are opening in time for the Fall Season. This week: LA County’s mask mandate; France’s tourism pass; Disney’s new campus; Halloween Nights at Eastern State; よみうりランド Pokemon Hunt; Universal Osaka’s Demon Slayer partnership.
Stories covered: The Travel industry has a blueprint for reopening international travel; A congressional update from IAAPA; IAAPA Awards are open; The Theas are now free to stream; Universal Hollywood and Disneyland announce Halloween events; Lego’s NY Store has upped the retailtainment game; and Hans Christian Andersen museum opens in Denmark.
Despite the rising Delta Wave, surveys show that Americans are ready to go out. We’ll discuss recent travel surveys and look at new business opportunities for attractions. This week: Surveys from Morning Consult and AnyRoad show a return to events; Marriott on bleasure trends; parades return to Orlando; NCAA ruling; Knott’s Releases Official Podcast; Great Wolf Resorts Moves into Animation with ‘The Great Wolf Pack’
This week: American cancels hundreds of flights; Knoebels and Seaworld Orlando add incentive programs for new hires; Disney resumes college program in time for 50th anniversary; Royal Caribbean discourages unvaccinated guests from sailing.
This week we’re following up on trends impacting the day to day and the near future. Stories covered: California is reopen; prices for travel services are surging; Universal opened sales for HHN30; the Boo Bash is selling out; Midsummer Scream’s Awaken the Spirits; Dorney reduces summer days due to staffing shortage; and Universal hints at the future of Epic Universe.
Quick Hits, a roundup of some of the new experiences catching our attention, and a discussion on app extensions.
Stories: Spain reopens borders to vaccinated tourists; Walt Disney World makes masks optional for guests effective June 15; Fantawild opens new Glorious Orient park in Ganzhou; Cedar Point opens Snake River Expedition; Hasbro unveils new Monopoly experience set to open in London; Musion delivers world's first hologram dining experience; Maya Hawke’s ‘Stranger Things’ Character Robin is Getting a Scripted Podcast and Novel Prequel; Youseum opens TikTok museum at Westfield in the Netherlands
This week is full of updates from around the world. The EEOC gave guidance for mandating vaccines, while Universal Orlando became the first theme park to make masks voluntary for all guests. Seaworld Orlando enters into Universal’s territory with a new Halloween event; is allowing 100% ownership by foreign investment; Butterbeer is coming to New York; The Studio Tour in Tokyo is under construction; Japan’s TeamLab expands into food experiences; and Disney is cashing in on Pride month.
Disney is reopening to out of state guests in California and Universal Orlando Resort is raising wages to compete on staffing. Companies are betting on the future of in-person experiences, but meanwhile media companies are trying to consolidate to combat Disney +. But what’s the big deal? IP is critical because it has extendibility. This week we summarize the state of media consolidation and discuss how attractions are using IP to extend experiences.
This week, we’re circling back to cover updates on some big topics from previous shows. The EU is reopening to international travel, staffing struggles have escalated, and Disney doubles down on demand bets by raising prices.
Stories covered: The EU Reopens; Cedar Point to pay $20/hour; Disney Cruise Line Releases Pricing for the Inaugural Season of the Wish; Hong Kong Disneyland has posted its worst net loss on record at HK$2.66 billion.
This week’s major news is – of course – the CDC announcement that fully vaccinated Americans can stop wearing masks and maintaining social distance in most settings — both indoors and outdoors. While this is great news for attractions, it’s going to take some adjusting with your team. We discuss the Disney/Universal response and how you should open the dialogue at your attraction. Plus – as demand surges at attractions, the support infrastructure of tourism is straining.
Seasonal events have always been used to encourage FOMO and drive attendance – and they work. Despite the staffing concerns we discussed last week, attractions are pushing Fall 2021 for all they’re worth. Attractions, restaurants, and streaming services are jumping on the Halfway to Halloween bandwagon – and you should too! This is the perfect time to begin pre-sales and get audiences a preview of the Fall. Clearly they’re ready for it.
Stories: Disney After Hours BOO BASH to Replace Halloween Party in 2021; Disney conjures up recipes for a ‘Halfway to Halloween’ celebration; The Muppets take The Haunted Mansion with new interactive YouTube world tour and Disney+ show; Inferno Lodge: People Living in the Red Forest; The forbidden Wedding.
Fall is coming and as attractions ramp up, some are scrambling to find employees. We discuss why that is, how attractions are adding incentives, and what training will look like in the new normal.
Stories Covered: Genting SkyWorlds in Malaysia seeks 1,500 new workers; Great Wolf Resorts has almost 2,000 job openings available at 16 of its locations; 900 jobs available at Pennsylvania parks for 2021 season; Dutch Wonderland in Pennsylvania hiring 200 employees; Walt Disney World begins mass hiring again; Meow Wolf is hiring for various positions; A third of Basecamp’s workers resign after a ban on talking politics; Current Research Surrounding Social Distancing (April 2021) From IAAPA and UCF; Japan to introduce 'vaccine passports' for international travel
How’s your merch game? This week we’re discussing large retailtainment openings and the land grab happening as companies struggle to go vertical.
Stories covered: ‘Harry Potter New York flagship store opening date set for June 3,’ ‘Next-Gen Luxury Guest Experience at the new IWC Flagship Boutique in Zurich, Design Build by The Producers Group,’ ‘Design Museum supermarket is selling artistic essential items,’ ‘2 new solar plants planned for Florida's Walt Disney World,’ ‘Disney launches plastic-free boxes for dolls ahead of Earth Day,’ ‘James Cameron’s ‘Secrets of the Whales’ debuts on Disney+ on Earth Day,’ ‘Disney and Sony announce unprecedented licensing agreement,’ ‘Escape Room Reality TV Show,’ ‘California theme parks can open to out-of-state guests.’
Curation is the antidote to our recent algorithm poison; how can your attraction use Thought Leadership to excel? This week on Green Tagged we discuss the curation and discuss openings we love.
Stories: Time Out Market: first editorially curated market opens in Dubai; Avengers Campus; Super Mario Land; The Secret Life of Pets; Eye candy: getting high at California's Sugar Rush theme park; Cupnoodles Museum at China Hong Kong City now open; Cupnoodles Museum at China Hong Kong City now open; Ocean Park’s Spring Butterfly Festival.
This week on Green Tagged we summarize the stumbling blocks attractions still face to successfully reopening. Specifically: the differing policies on travel, the new CDC guidelines, and scaling your workforce.
Stories covered: Summaries of policies from New Zealand, Britain, Japan, China, and the US. “Disney also announced cancellations of all Disney Magic cruises from European ports through Sept. 18,” “The C.D.C. advised that there was very little chance of contracting Covid from surfaces,” “HOLOGATE returns to peak player numbers following pandemic,” “More workers at Japanese airlines seconded amid pandemic,” “RWS Entertainment Group has announced the launch of RWS Staffing.”
This week we have updates to stories we’ve been tracking and news on new openings. Stories covered: US Vaccine Passports, State of California issues full updated theme park opening guidance, Hong Kong to lift ban on residents stranded in Britain, Taiwan And Palau Launch Coronavirus Travel Bubble, Disney World Will Pay Cast Members Who Get Vaccinated, IMF chief says lack of fans at Olympics won't harm Japan's recovery, Disneyland Proposes MAJOR Theme Park Expansion.
Airbnb is now the most valuable hotel company and attractions are testing face recognition technology. This week on Green Tagged we’re discussing your Digital Footprint and how that is changing what attractions know about guests. Stories Covered: Airbnb’s IPO; Facial recognition technology coming to Abu Dhabi, UAE, theme parks; Disney World Testing Facial Recognition Tech to Enter Parks; State Museum of Baden to feature Tinder-style app, My Object; Vacancy rates of Hong Kong street shops stabilize as eateries bet on spending bounce, cheaper rents to move into trendy districts; Marriott Quietly Launches Day Passes; Start-up Dash Living helps Hong Kong hotels switch to monthly leases, ride out pandemic slump.
Should we develop a worldwide tracking system that allows international travelers to skip quarantine? We detangle this topic including the sticking points and where we stand. Stories Covered: “China’s plans for ‘vaccine passport’ may be hampered by lack of data, diplomats say,” “This Is The Latest Cruise Line To Require Vaccinations For All Passengers And Crew,” “China asks visa applicants to get inoculated with Chinese-made vaccines,” “China creates a digital vaccine passport,” “British Airways boss says vaccinated people should be allowed to travel without restrictions,” “'Vaccine passports' could help global travel resume. But is Japan on board?” “Oxford Street plans include visitor attractions and green spaces,” “Hong Kong lawmakers almost unanimously approve HK$6.8 billion rebirth plan for Ocean Park.”
This week we discuss announcements from Disney and Universal, vaccine policies in Israel and Thailand, the Tokyo Olympics, and pivots. Stories covered: “WDW is selling out,” “Florida's Walt Disney World reveals "Ratatouille" ride debut date,” “HHN30 announces dates,” “As Israel Reopens, ‘Whoever Does Not Get Vaccinated Will Be Left Behind’,” “Japan to stage Tokyo Olympics without overseas fans,” “Thailand eyes plans for vaccine passports and quarantine waivers to reopen travel to potentially millions of tourists,” “Online funerals and Zen apps keep Japan’s Buddhist temples afloat” “Spanish park and football league partner to create "The Beat Challenge"” “This patch developed in Japan could let you vaccinate yourself.”
This week on Green Tagged we discuss how attractions will navigate states dropping restrictions, additional changes in the guest experience, and new pivots. Stories covered: “Texas Drops Its Virus Restrictions as a Wave of Reopenings Takes Hold,” “California theme parks, stadiums can reopen as soon as April 1 under revamped COVID-19 rules,” “Hongkongers may have to wait up to six months to resume travel, top tourism official warns,” “IAAPA updates COVID-19 guidance for physical distancing on rides,” “Work resumes on Universal's Epic Universe in Florida,” “Walt Disney Co. to focus on improving guest experience,” “Space tourism: world’s first space hotel opening in 2027,” “Steakhouse in New York fills dining room with wax figures,” “New Exhibit Coming to Philadelphia for Disney’s 100th Anniversary in 2023.”
The industry professional's weekly dose of important Theme Park news in 30 minutes.
Americans are holding on to $1.3 TRILLION and you must be ready to catch the wave of demand when the gates open. On this BONUS episode of green tagged, we’re discussing preparing you for the tidal wave of demand coming this year. Stories covered: “Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary to transform park icons into “Beacons of Magic”” “A Touch of Disney: Brand New Ticketed Festival Experience Coming to California Adventure in March,” “Far from done with lifetime achievements, former Imagineer Joe Rohde joins Virgin Galactic in key role,” “Herschend takes over as operator of Kentucky Kingdom.”
The industry professional's weekly dose of important Theme Park news in 30 minutes.
This week on Green Tagged, we discuss two new industry reports. First IAAPA released a study showing the impact of COVID-19 on the industry. Thinkwell’s study is the ‘2021 Guest Experience Trend’ and focuses on artificial intelligence.
This week we explore the avalanche of reopenings and new openings happening worldwide. Sit back and relax for this feel-good episode that shows light at coming at the end of the summer. Stories covered: “More than 40 U.S. theme parks set 2021 reopening dates,” “Disney World visitors may be wearing masks through 2021,” “Reopening guidance issued for New York amusement parks,” “Hong Kong theme parks resume operations with changes,” “New section to open at Energylandia in Poland, in 2021,” “Yerevan Park set to open in spring 2021 in Armenia,” “Bath, England, to see debut of Mary Shelley museum,” “Harry Potter exhibition planned for 2022,” “Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart now open at AREA15 in Las Vegas,” “HOLOGATE WORLD planned for Germany,” “Disney California Adventure Park to debut ticketed food and entertainment event in March; 1,000 employees to return to work.”
This week on Green Tagged we dive into how attractions in the western world are celebrating Valentine’s Day and what impact the Lunar New Year is having in Asia. Stories covered: “Ranch of Horror sends in the clowns for a twist on Valentine's Day grams,” “Hong Kong may ease coronavirus control measures after Lunar New Year, but rule on tracking app sparks business fears,” “China’s Covid-19 outbreaks force caution as Lunar New Year travel rush begins,” “Israel’s ‘green passports’ plan could lead way in reviving world tourism after Covid-19 vaccination programme is complete,” “SeaWorld San Diego’s Howl-O-Scream takes on Universal, Knott’s and Six Flags Halloween events.” Kung hei fat choi! 新年快乐!
This week on Green Tagged we explore the concept of building a town square and adding tiers of play to your offerings. Stories covered: “With no Mardi Gras parades, New Orleans transforms houses into ‘floats,’” “NBBJ unveils spiral tower with hiking trails for Amazon’s new HQ,” “Expect revivals and VR from the stage as theater continues to deal with the coronavirus,” “Japan's new virus law: Fines for noncompliance and support for hard-hit firms,” “Hong Kong landlords adjust rent expectations as pandemic reshapes retail landscape amid changing consumer preferences,” “Quarantines are killing Thailand’s tourism industry, and not even a long holiday can offset 14 days of isolation,” “Walt Disney World Updates Social Distancing Policy.”
This week on Green Tagged we cover the controversy surrounding Ocean Park in Hong Kong and then discuss other news that impact the guest experience worldwide. Stories covered: “Ocean Park in Hong Kong to overhaul business model,” “Ocean Park must show its will to survive,” “JRA partners with Holocaust & Humanity Center to present new AI exhibit,” “Disney's Jungle Cruise Attraction is Getting an Update,” “What 'vaccine passports' mean for your summer vacation,” “Lower House OKs ¥19 trillion extra budget despite criticism of virus measures.”
This week on Green Tagged, we dedicate the entire show to pivots happening across the industry. Stories covered: “Disneyland in California to host COVID-19 vaccination site,” “LVHN setting up mass COVID-19 vaccination site at Dorney Park,” “IAAPA Expo Asia 2021 to take place in Shanghai,” “Show Up: A New Social Convention for FECs,” “ADG creates neighbourhood FECs from Moscow’s Soviet cinemas,” “Pawprints and lion-ripped jeans: Struggling zoos and aquariums in Japan offer unique gifts for donations,” “Al Ain Zoo launches new mountain biking experience,” “Ocean Park in Hong Kong to overhaul business model.”
This week on Green Tagged: Policies and Mandates to get back out in front of the COVID Spread and Climate Change leads to more Experience Based Economy. Stories covered: “Japan to halt all business travel in new step to curb COVID-19,” “Around 80% of people in Japan believe the postponed Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics should be canceled or rescheduled,” “California's San Diego Zoo reports coronavirus cases,” “Tourism industry in Malaysia details expectations for 2021,” “Travel to Kamikatsu for a green epiphany: ‘Zero waste is about knowing yourself,’” “NEOM, The Line…The REAL Epcot,” “Moody’s new report outlines risk of climate vulnerable companies.”
On today’s Green Tagged, we discuss Combating Disenfranchisement and Designing for Empathy. Stories covered: “Inside the Capitol Siege,” “Japan declares 2nd State of Emergency,” “Busch Gardens Williamsburg to be open for first time in January,” “Glamping at Singapore’s Changi airport as traveltainment help airports weather COVID.”
Show notes: www.greentaggedshow.com
On today’s Green Tagged, we examine three trends that will impact your attraction in 2021: Demand regeneration, Changing Guest Expectations, and Deglobalization. Stories covered: Universal reaches capacity before 9AM; Denny’s hostess quits on the spot after customers claim ‘religious exemption’ to wearing a mask; Discussion points taken from an interview with the new head of global content at Netflix.
On today’s Green Tagged, we continue the Futureproofing discussion with two topics your attraction should tackle in 2021: Diversity and Sustainability. Stories covered: “The World Travel & Tourism Council published new diversity guidelines for the travel and tourism sector,” “Walt Disney Company releases 2030 environmental goals,” “Self-driving vehicles launch at Wuhan’s Longlingshan Ecological Park,” “Wall Street’s Dilemma: What Are Tesla’s Shares Worth?,” “Army tests wrist-worn Covid-19 tracking device,” and “Tivoli donates Christmas trees to Corona test centers in Copenhagen, Denmark.”
On today’s Green Tagged: Virtualizing pieces of your experiences and what the FTC’s case against Facebook means for your attraction.
Stories: BBC’s new Radiophonic Travel Agency, VR waterslide at Vana Nava Water Jungle, Thailand, MicroStrategy’s massive purchase of Bitcoin, & 4 Takeaways From The Government's Case Against Facebook.
This week on ‘Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30’ we dive deep into the ripples caused by Warner Brothers in the entertainment and attractions industry.
Stories covered: Warner Bros CEO Jason Kilar explains his move in an interview with the NY Times; California lockdowns resume; Russia announces plan for tourism recovery; Technifex pivots to offering themed environments to real training; Enchanted Forest raises $350K in crowdfunding; Flamingo Mingle; Rage Rooms; Museums in China are cashing in on blind box gift campaigns.
Full Show Notes: www.greentaggedshow.com
This week on ‘Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30’ we examine Big Moves in brands monetizing DTC digital experiences, vaccine requirements from Airlines, and big openings.
Stories covered: Warner Bros to Release 2021 films on HBO MAX concurrently with theatrical release; Qantas to require COVID-19 Vaccine to fly; Online shopping up 21.5% with 47% being via mobile; Cirque resuming in Summer 2021; USJ opens Super Nintendo World on Feb 4th; The National Gallery and The Design Museum sell tickets to digital exhibits; Monterey Bay Aquarium launces YouTube Music Playlists; Another Disney Minute.
Full Show Notes: www.greentaggedshow.com
This week on ‘Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30’ we examine the slow US recovery and what some attractions are doing to diversify revenue. Stories: The Malaysian Tourism Ministry reveals recovery plans for pandemic-hit travel sector; Reuters reports US $500B travel spending dive, slow recovery through 2024; Academy Museum of Motion Pictures exceeds pre-opening fundraising goal by leaning mostly on private investors; The Dublin Zoo also leaned on private investors to raise operating capital; California’s theme parks may not open until summer 2021; Kennywood offers annual pass pandemic protection; Wine Bathing in Japan; Blooloop reports How Monterey Bay Aquarium is engaging AND generating revenue with Animal Crossing on Twitch; Imperial War Museum opens online center; Falcon’s Game Suite is the Karaoke Lounge of Gaming; and the International Association of Mixed Reality Sports is here.
Full show notes: www.greentaggedshow.com
This week on Green Tagged we explore trends and new experiences in the theme park and themed entertainment industries. Universal Hollywood launches a drive-in experience; Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser; Own The Park at Great Wolf Lodge; IAAPA went virtual; PortAventura World is carbon neutral; The Hyperloop test was successful; 3 bid opening announcements.
Full show notes: www.greentaggedshow.com
This week on Green Tagged: How does a vaccine change planning at your attraction? While Buena Vista Street plans to open on November 19th, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk closed after only one weekend. The Pandemic has inspired a cornucopia of new tech, including AI Bag Scanners, UVC light fixtures, disinfection robots, socially distanced roller coasters, and wearables. Planning for a post pandemic future, MAD System has registered a patent for facial recognition technology they hope will personalize visitor attractions.
Full Show Notes: greentaggedshow.com
This week in Green Tagged: We discuss how different countries are recovering their tourism sectors amid the pandemic. The through line is, of course, how well local governments are containing the virus to ease consumer distress. Western countries continue with broad approaches which Eastern countries experiment with targeted approaches. In Europe, attractions are shutting back down. Demand is suffering in the UAE despite attractions remaining open. Indonesia and South Korea are experimenting with more targeted recovery plans. In the US, Universal is down 81% and yet Comcast reaffirms commitment to park development. Six Flags is surveying guests about mandating COVID testing for park entry.
Read full show notes at: www.greentaggedshow.com
This week on Green Tagged: Commentary on California's Reopening Guidelines and 10 positive trends to come out of the Pandemic. Full show notes: www.greentaggedshow.com
This week on Green Tagged: Attractions weigh in on sustainability; Hong Kong has a new COVID Safe Certification Plan; India Operators Doubt Demand; Disney and Six Flags continue to Rightsize; Hong Kong’s Ocean Park Faces Rebranding Challenge; Both Disney and Universal are testing new hotel models.
Full Show Notes: https://greentaggedshow.com/theme-park-industry-news-green-tagged-oct25/
This week on Green Tagged:
Big moves at Disney; Eastern State Penitentiary considering discontinuing Terror; INSIDE brings new voyeuristic experience to LA; coworking from a Ferris Wheel at Tokyo’s Yomiuriland; Aquarium Yoga debuts at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park; Knott’s launches Spotify playlist; Airbnb celebrates Halloween.
Full Show Notes: https://greentaggedshow.com/theme-park-industry-news-green-tagged-oct18/
This week on Green Tagged: California theme-park reopening redux; discouraging cruise news; USO to invest in affordable housing; “Frozen” sing-a-long returns while movie theatres close; Disneyland opens a popup; Shanghai Disney Resort celebrates Halloween; Silver Dollar City creatively pivots; brands pivot to in-person Halloween experiences; Zipline into Godzilla’s Mouth.
Full Show Notes: https://greentaggedshow.com/theme-park-industry-news-green-tagged-oct11/
This week on Green Tagged: Florida governor lifts restrictions as Disney lays off workers; the CDC and White House disagree on “no-sail” guidelines; associations worldwide continue to plead for assistance; guests are on-edge and attractions must respond; and pandemic-resistant ideas.
Show notes: https://greentaggedshow.com/theme-park-industry-news-green-tagged-oct3/
This week on Green Tagged:
An update on policies at play in the attractions industry; the latest pandemic proof ideas including flights to nowhere and Driven: A Latinx Artist Celebration; expansions and openings; how attractions in the US and Japan are planning for a longer recovery.
Full show notes: https://greentaggedshow.com/theme-park-industry-news-green-tagged-sept27/
On this Bonus Green Tagged, everything you need to know about Halloween in 30 minutes:
What 11 drive-in haunted attractions have in common, where they differ, and why it matters; a rundown of what every major US theme park is doing for Halloween; musings on The Haunted Toilet Experience; what hotels, a small town in Maine and, Mars Candy is doing to innovate this season.
Read the show notes: https://greentaggedshow.com/theme-park-industry-news-green-tagged-halloween
This week on Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 -
Halloween-themed drive-in movies debut at theme parks in the US and UK; Round One is slated to Replace a Sears store in Florida; while droves of escape rooms pivot virtual others reopen in-person; updates from the attractions industry in Singapore, Australia, Japan, and Hong Kong on working towards recovery plans.
Read the Full Show Notes: https://greentaggedshow.com/theme-park-industry-news-green-tagged-sept20/
This week on Green Tagged: ‘Schoolcation’ packages debut at Four Seasons Resort Orlando, Cancellations for Mickey’s Christmas Party and IAAPA Expo, live performances are coming back, and the theme park capital of the world battles public attitude.
Read the Full Show Notes:
https://greentaggedshow.com/theme-park-industry-news-green-tagged-sept13/
We divided this week’s news into three piles: the Florida and New York governors’ responses to how themed attractions can move forward during the pandemic, the evolution of IP experiences, and the trend to virtual.
Full show notes here: https://greentaggedshow.com/theme-park-industry-news-green-tagged-sep6/
August 30th Edition - Welcome to the Green Tagged Podcast!
Top Stories
Guggenheim approves plan to become more inclusive and racially diverse following accusations by employees of racism at the museum in New York.
Chessington launches free safari experiences including entry to the theme park.
Singapore’s S.E.A. Aquarium offers dining with underwater views.
Georgia’s Wild Adventures park unveils Pumpkin Spice Festival instead of its “Terror in the Wild” experience, which won’t be happening this Halloween season.
SeaWorld San Diego opens a zoo and dining experience.
Full Show Notes Here:
https://greentaggedshow.com/theme-park-industry-news-green-tagged-aug30/