Walt Disney USA Beaten By Disney International

Some very interesting results coming out of Disney’s full yearaccounts.  With net profit across the board increasing by 19.8%

Overall revenues rose by 5.3% to $38.1bn, while operating income improved by 13.7% to $7.6bn.

Revenues from Disney’s Parks and Resorts group increased by 0.9% to $10.8bn, however operating profit fell 7.1% to $1.3bn.

Disney have stated that the decrease is attributed to a decline in the U.S. market, but was actually added by improved results at its international parks.

Disney attributed this loss to the following

  • 1 less business week compared to last year.
  • Lower hotel occupancy.
  • Decrease at Disney Cruise Line.
  • Lower Disney World Attendance
  • increased operating costs

These reasons  were partly offset by higher visitor spending, primarily due to higher average ticket prices and increased attendance at Disneyland Resort (Anaheim).

Meanwhile, the growth in international operations reflected improvement at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, driven by increased attendance, guest spending and hotel occupancy, and an increase at Disneyland Paris, due to higher guest spending and a real estate sale, partly offset by lower attendance.

Higher guest spending at both resorts resulted from higher average ticket prices and average daily hotel room rates.

For the fourth quarter alone, the group saw net profit slip by 6.7% to $835m, on revenues down 1.3% at $9.74bn. Operating profit fell 7.3% to $1.7bn.

Ferrari Theme Park Abu Dhabi

Opening on the 28th October 2010 Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi will become the worlds first Ferrari theme park.

Featuring more than 20 rides and attractions spread out over 200,000 square metres all covered by a Ferrari red roof shaped like a futuristic space ship, Ferrari World will have everything from roller coasters, to interactive exhibits as well as restaurants and a shopping mall.

Rides

Rides will include the Speed of Magic, a 4-D adventure whichdrives visitors through deep green jungles, icy cavern and ravines.

Formula Rossa, build as the worlds fastest roller coaster, pushing riders to 150 mph in less than five seconds.

Junior F1 is a scaled down track designed for children.


Orlando Thrill Park To Hit International Drive?

As we mentioned briefly in our Theme Parks To Make Major Announcements piece, developers are looking to open a major new Theme park on International Drive.

According to details submitted to the city of Orlando, the new park could have up to 15 high spec rides. One of the more interesting submissions was the designs of a huge, extreme roller coaster with interlocking loops and vertical, “top-hat” drops.

One ride is described as being 425 feet high! The application would require official FAA approval!

The site for the park is thought to be at 5001 Vanguard St. and would cover roughly 77 acres, which will obviously effect the local community, representatives of I-Drive Investors LLC. OTP Group LLC who own the land and have links to the hospitality company Baker Leisure Group said.

“Although we are in the early stages of development, we will eventually generate several thousand jobs during construction and operations,” Jorge Ortega, manager of I-Drive Investors, said in a written statement. “We are reaching out to the community to assure that we have taken all of their concerns into consideration.”

Wet N Wild At Universal Studios Orlando

Wet N Wild is Universals premier waterpark and is credited as being the first ever waterpark in the USA. Wet N Wild is stretched out over 30 acres of land , the park includes 8 thrill rides, 6 Multi person rides and 2 kids rides.

  • The Storm – You push yourself down into a steep tunnel that sends you flying down extremely fast into a giant bowl that sends you spinning around with mist surrounding in the air as you drop into the pool below. This slide was created by Proslide company, labeled as a ‘ProBowl’ slide
  • Mach 5 – Grab a mat and walk your way up a long winding tower to the top where you have three slides to choose from. When told by the lifeguard at top, push yourself down the ride of a twisting, turning, head-first flumes that fall 1,700 feet (520 m) over three different courses.
  • Der Stuka – Push yourself down a six-story speed slide that sends you flying down a 76-foot (23 m), nearly vertical drop that transitions to a 115-foot (35 m) water runway.
  • Bomb Bay – The ride for all dare devils is right here. Go inside the rocket waiting not knowing when the trap door that sends you down a 76-foot (23 m), nearly vertical slide drops you to the depths below.
  • Knee Ski – A cable-operated ski lets you kneeboard like a pro around a half-mile long lake.
  • Wake Boarding – Everyone from beginner to expert can show their stuff on the WakeZone Cableway.
  • The Wild One – Two people are pulled by a Jet Ski around the lake on big, bouncy tubes that make for a wild ride.
  • Brain Wash – Lose your grip on reality in Wet N Wild’s newest thrill ride.This mind blowing hypotnic thrill ride sends you down a steep 53-foot drop on a 65-foot (20 m), funnel.

Multi-person rides

  • Disco H2O – Start off in a tube traveling through a dark tunnel that sends you down a huge drop, and before you know it you find yourself traveling around a room filled with disco music and lights. This slide was too made from Proslide company as a “BehemothBowl”.
  • The Surge – A 5-story tube ride that carries a 4-passenger tube down 600 feet (180 m) of banked turns, radical twists and diabolical dips. This ride was made by Proslide as a “Mammoth” slide.
  • Bubba Tub – Grab the family and climb aboard one of the four-passenger tubes for a six-story, triple dip drop ride.
  • The Black Hole The Next Generation – 1000 gallons a minute sends a two-person tube rocketing through 500 feet (150 m) of twisting, turning darkness on this space-age thrill ride. The Black Hole currently reopened under the moniker “The Black Hole: The Next Generation” and now features more light effects, fog, and an updated ride boarding area.
  • The Flyer – Travel around in a 4-person raft that sends you on on an exciting, family-fun ride that covers 450 feet (140 m) of hairpin turns and banked curves.
  • The Blast – Take a raging ride along a raptured pipeline that will thrill you to the core and soak you to the bone.

Kids rides

  • Bubble Up – A huge, wet inflatable bubble made just for kids who climb, bounce, and slide into three feet of water. The inflatable “bubble” has had numerous designs over the years.
  • Kid’s Park – You’ll find miniature versions of a lot of the rides and a gigantic bucket that periodically fills with water and splashes into the pool below.

Rip Ride Rockit Closed

The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster at Universal Studios Florida will remain closed indefinitely, it was confirmed on Monday.

Universal Officials claim that the unscheduled closure has nothing to do with the  safety warning from Maurer Sohne, the German steel company that makes the ride’s vehicles. Who stated that the coupling used to hold the vehicle together may not be fatigue endurable.

Universal Orlando said the safety concerns from Maurer Sohne would have been addressed soon after the memo’s release and the ride’s closure was not related to the safety bulletin. However, Maurer Sohne said the repair solution or new design would not be available for two to three months.

Universal closed the attraction last Wednesday and said it was undergoing unrelated maintenance. It said the closure was temporary.

Universal Orlando spokesman Tom Schroder said on Monday that the ride’s extended closure was due to the park’s decision to do annual maintenance on the attraction.

“The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit was operating safely when we closed it for maintenance and it will be operating safely when we reopen it,” said Schroder.

“We don’t forecast when an attraction will reopen from annual maintenance due to the fluid nature of the maintenance work,” Schroder said.

Universal Studios Florida

Universal Studios Florida is located in Orlando and is one of the parks that make up the Universal Orlando Resort along with Islands of Adventure and CityWalk.

The park is very much themed around movies and encourages users to “ride the movies”

In 2009 Universal Studios Florida attracted 5.4 Million visitors making it the 9th most visited theme park in America.

Universal Studios Florida features six themed areas all situated around a large lagoon. This lagoon is home to Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular, a seasonal fireworks display that showcases scenes from various Universal films, featuring lasers, projectors and fireworks. The six surrounding themed areas, clockwise from the entrance, are Production Central, New York, San Francisco/Amity, World Expo, Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone and Hollywood. Each area features a combination of rides, shows, attractions, character appearances, dining outlets and merchandise stores.

The Six Lands are

  • Production Central Blue Man Group Sharp Aquos Theatre • Donkey’s Photo Finish • Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit • Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast • Shrek 4-D • The Universal Music Plaza Stage
  • New York The Blues Brothers Show • Delancey Street Preview Center • Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride • Twister…Ride it Out
  • San Francisco/Amity Beetlejuice’s Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue • Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride…Starring You!Fear Factor Live • Jaws
  • World Expo Men in Black: Alien Attack • Roboasis • The Simpsons Ride
  • Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone Animal Actors on Location • Curious George Goes to Town  • A Day in the Park with Barney  • E.T. Adventure  • Fievel’s Playland  • StarToons: 80’s Rewind • Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster
  • Hollywood Lucy: A Tribute • Mel’s Drive-In Concert • Terminator 2: 3-D Battle Across Time • Universal’s Horror Make-Up Show Lagoon Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular

Buzz Lightyears Space Ranger Spin At Magic Kingdom Disney

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin can be found at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Tomorrowland and is based on a computer game shoot ’em up. 

Riders can spin their space cruisers in any direction and are rewarded for every enemy they hit, generally with a new noise or special effect. Each hit gains the user points which are tallied for a total score at the end.

Space Ranger Spin  mixes familiar copmputer gaming elements with a multi coloured physical environment to create an amazing new experience that will entertain both young and old.

Height to ride – Any height

Vehicle Capacity – 2-3

Ride Duration – 4:30

Attraction Tickets Review – Totally hated this….. ok fine! The only reason I didn’t like it was because my 5 year old beat me… ok happy now 😉