Episodit
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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 attractionsâbut did the U.S. get that memo? Get weekly BONUS episodes in our Patreon.
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Disney Cruise Lineâs 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.
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Universal Studios Hollywoodâs 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 Disneylandâs 70th anniversary plans, featuring the highly anticipated Walt Disney animatronic and the return of beloved shows like Paint the Night.
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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 VidantaWorldâs 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.
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Get weekly bonus episodes here. In this weekâs 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 networkingâon the show floor and after hoursâfosters 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.
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Philip and Scott dissect Disney's Q3 earnings, celebrating Disney+'s profitability, billion-dollar blockbusters, and robust park performance. CEO Bob Iger calls it âa new era of growth,â 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 Flagsâ efforts match Disneyâs IP-driven strategy, or is it a short-term refresh? Plus, how does Disneyâs storytelling mastery make its ecosystem thrive? Get weekly BONUS shows on our Patreon.
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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 strategyâa 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.
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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, Universalâs new experiment in year-round horror, Universal Horror Unleashed, will open in Las Vegas next year â the same year as Universalâs new Epic Universe theme park. Next, Universal released information surrounding the animatronics coming to Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment at Universalâs 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 Universalâs strategy, attendance trends, and how the new Vegas location could attract horror fans year-round. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
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Weekly bonus episodes on our Patreon. Itâs our Halloween special! We dive into Fun.comâs costume data to see how IP-driven favorites like Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, and Inside Out define the season, showing Halloweenâs unique synergy across homes, media, and theme parks. We then delve into recent haunt visits: Scottâs behind-the-scenes look at Netherworldâs stellar operations and Philipâs trip to Dark at Fort Edmonton, exploring how the event has expanded.
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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 parkâs 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 Universalâs 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!
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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 Floridaâs 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.
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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 Universalâs reach into mainstream and niche fandoms. These additions leverage the studioâs scenic expertise and offer fans unique, interactive content. Universalâs "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 Halloweenâs appeal to a wider audience.
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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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NEW: Subscribe to BONUS content on our Patreon. Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) kicked off at Universal Studios Orlando this weekend. As the largest Halloween event in the world, HHN is a significant revenue generator for Universal, inspiring similar seasonal offerings at attractions worldwide. However, this yearâs event falls short of expectations. Could the impending opening of Epic Universe be stretching the team too thin? Or is Universal experimenting with a lower-budget experience to see how it impacts sales? In this video, Scott and Philip break down the highlights and challenges of HHN 2024.
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NEW: Subscribe to BONUS content on our Patreon. 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.
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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.
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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?
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