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Attendance at theme parks increases, reversing 2 years of decline
- Thread starter speck76
- Start date
Pat X said:.....Universal Orlando added Mummy, Shrek, etc and still lags Animal Kingdom....was that worth it? :lol: Similarly, Universal Hollywood added Mummy and still lags DCA...Universal Hollywood also offered heavy discounts to lure people to their parks.
They could have needed to add the attractions "to keep pace" with the other parks. USF has SOME good attractions, but many are really looking dated now, and are no longer as great as they once were. If they did not add all of these attractions, who knows how much they could have lost.
BTW...The Mummy was pretty cheap, only $35million for the entire project.
NemoRocks78
Seized
AB and ERA estimate 2004 attendance at Universal Studios Florida to be 6.7 million, an increase of 14% for a North American ranking of sixth, while its sister park Islands of Adventure took the seventh spot with attendance of 6.3 million, an increase of 13%.
NemoRocks78
Seized
There's also the fact that Universal hasn't designed itself yet as a week-long vacation destination. All in all, their parks still had a fantastic year.Pat X said:.....Universal Orlando added Mummy, Shrek, etc and still lags Animal Kingdom....was that worth it? :lol: Similarly, Universal Hollywood added Mummy and still lags DCA...Universal Hollywood also offered heavy discounts to lure people to their parks.
This is what the attendance rankings should look like....
1. Magic Kingdom; 15.2 million, 8% increase
2. Disneyland; 13.4 million, 5% increase
3. Epcot; 9.4 million, 9% increase
4. Disney MGM Studios; 8.2 million, 7% increase
5. Disney's Animal Kingdom; 7.8 million, 7% increase
6. Universal Studios Florida; 6.8 million, 14% increase
7. Islands of Adventure; 6.3 million, 16% increase
8. Disney's California Adventure; 5.6 million, 6% increase
9. Sea World Orlando; 5.6 million, 4% increase
10. Universal Studios Hollywood; 5.0 million, 8% increase
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
speck76 said:
Considering there was no building construction costs id say that was a sound deal. unless thats for the attractions in both parks :dazzle:
MGM is half a dozen solid attractions surrounded by a whole shed load of empty, temporary closed, unused buildings and its added a load behind the scenes now too. marvelous.
DDuckFan130
Well-Known Member
I don't think so :veryconfu. This does relate to the WDW parks and it's news so it does belong here. And Speck gave us some news (or rumors) about MGM so it's all good :lol:.ImaginEAR said:
Anyway, thanks for the info Speck :wave:.
Pumbas Nakasak said:
There was considerable demolision of the previous attraction (Kongfrontation) plus they had to do all of the construction inside a building, which migh be more difficult.....most indoor coasters are built, then the building is built around the coaster.
The cost was $70million for the two rides, USH replaced ET. Probably the LA version had a higher cost...prob needs more supports for earthquakes and whatnot.
NemoRocks78
Seized
I have found them to be crowded throughout this year as well.
I'm surprised USF didn't surpass AK, especially since AK hasn't opened anything new since '02.
I'm surprised USF didn't surpass AK, especially since AK hasn't opened anything new since '02.
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
speck76 said:
Perhaps, but.....
build inside no weather problems.
coasters come in sections, design well - build easy
previous attraction was like a back lot set hardly town centre high rise.
That said
I like the mummy, a little short in ride time, but I hope this dosent signal Universals decent into Eisner style inspired cut n paste attractions.
Pumbas Nakasak said:
I think Universal is headed the way of WDC during the Pressler years.
They got 2 rides for $70million.
MIB cost over $80million
BTF cost $80million back in 1993
T2 was over $100million
On top of that, the studio has not been performing great the last few years....not really too many hits to speak of. With GE now as 50% owner of the Florida property, I think the spending may be a little more conservative.
Just imagine how well the parks would have done if they would have added a major attraction to IOA also.
CTXRover
Well-Known Member
NemoRocks said:
NemoRocks, out of curisosity, can I ask your source? The actual attendance numbers you quoted are exactly what I calculated given the info on percent changes from the Sun Sentinel article I linked to above and last year's AB numbers. That being 6.7 million for USF and 6.3 million for IOA for 2004. According to themeparksabout.com, the AB numbers for USF and IOA for 2003 were 6.9 and 6.0, respectively. If USF really had a 14% increase to 6.7 million, that would mean last year's (2003) attendance for USF was an all-time low of 5.9 million, which I just don't believe.
NemoRocks78
Seized
2006....
CTXRover
Well-Known Member
Oh, ok 
I couldn't believe USF could drop given the increases at Disney, and that is why I kept questioning it and reminding everyone that I wasn't confident in it.
HOWEVER, did AB change their 2003 numbers released? I'm thinking one of two things has to be wrong in the new 2004 numbers for Universal, either the percent changes OR the actual numbers quoted in the new AB article are incorrect.
In 2003, AB stated USF saw 6.9 million and IOA saw 6.1 million. In 2004, they state USF saw 6.7 million and IOA saw 6.3 million. Using those numbers, the percent changes that I listed above are correct.
HOWEVER, perhaps the percent increases are what is correct, and its the actual 6.7 and 6.3 million number quoted in the AB article for 2004 that is INcorrect.
I don't know, but either the actual numbers quoted are wrong or the percent changes are wrong. Since I can't believe USF could actually drop, I'd say the "actual" numbers are what is wrong.
IF the actuals are right AND the percent changes are right, that would mean in 2003 USF saw only 5.9 million and IOA saw 5.5 million, which HAS to be wrong. That would mean between 2002 and 2003 the UO resort had a HUGE loss (2002 numbers were 7 some million for USF and 6.1 for IOA...if my memory is correct, lol )
For those curious, these are the 2003 numbers I keep referring to. I think all of the other percent changes match up with those in the new 2004 AB article EXCEPT for Universal's...weird:
2003 attendance figures from AB:
The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 14 million
Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif., 12.7 million
Epcot at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 8.6 million.
Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 7.8 million,
Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 7.3 million.
Universal Studios at Universal Orlando, 6.8 million
Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando, 6 million.
Disney's California Adventures, Anaheim, Calif., 5.3 million.
SeaWorld Florida, Orlando, Fla., 5.2 million
Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City, Calif., 4.5 million
I couldn't believe USF could drop given the increases at Disney, and that is why I kept questioning it and reminding everyone that I wasn't confident in it.HOWEVER, did AB change their 2003 numbers released? I'm thinking one of two things has to be wrong in the new 2004 numbers for Universal, either the percent changes OR the actual numbers quoted in the new AB article are incorrect.
In 2003, AB stated USF saw 6.9 million and IOA saw 6.1 million. In 2004, they state USF saw 6.7 million and IOA saw 6.3 million. Using those numbers, the percent changes that I listed above are correct.
HOWEVER, perhaps the percent increases are what is correct, and its the actual 6.7 and 6.3 million number quoted in the AB article for 2004 that is INcorrect.
I don't know, but either the actual numbers quoted are wrong or the percent changes are wrong. Since I can't believe USF could actually drop, I'd say the "actual" numbers are what is wrong.
IF the actuals are right AND the percent changes are right, that would mean in 2003 USF saw only 5.9 million and IOA saw 5.5 million, which HAS to be wrong. That would mean between 2002 and 2003 the UO resort had a HUGE loss (2002 numbers were 7 some million for USF and 6.1 for IOA...if my memory is correct, lol )
For those curious, these are the 2003 numbers I keep referring to. I think all of the other percent changes match up with those in the new 2004 AB article EXCEPT for Universal's...weird:
2003 attendance figures from AB:
The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 14 million
Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif., 12.7 million
Epcot at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 8.6 million.
Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 7.8 million,
Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 7.3 million.
Universal Studios at Universal Orlando, 6.8 million
Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando, 6 million.
Disney's California Adventures, Anaheim, Calif., 5.3 million.
SeaWorld Florida, Orlando, Fla., 5.2 million
Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City, Calif., 4.5 million
TTATraveler
Active Member
After having just gone to IOA for the first time since the soft opening there, nothing really has changed there. The park pretty much looks the same with some more wear and tear, so I don't see a particular draw to IOA now, unless there are people out there who have yet to visit the park.
While I liked the Mummy Ride, Shrek, and MIB, the rest of the rides are dated. Jaws is pretty lame, Earthquake was always better than Catastrophe Canyon in my opinion, but is getting old as is ET, Beatlejuice, and Back to the Future.
The Univeral Hotels are nice, but are a bit pricey. Using your onsite hotel key to bypass lines is a great idea, but then you finish the park in no time.
Overall, I think if IOA built another couple big attractions, that would help boost Universal's Attendance.
To me, MGM has lost it's original theme. I agree with you Speck about your points as MGM being a broken park. The only thing left in MGM now that truly reminds me of the original MGM theme is The Great Movie Ride and perhaps Muppets/Indiana Jones. The movie making theme and glitz/glamour theme of movie production is long gone. The newest attractions of ToT and RnRC to me were for the lone purpose of adding thrill rides to the park to bolster attendance. While they are great rides, they don't fit the original MGM theme.
I think the motor stunt show will be good and perhaps be more on track with the original theme, I hope that it will be a big draw and won't tire out soon.
While I liked the Mummy Ride, Shrek, and MIB, the rest of the rides are dated. Jaws is pretty lame, Earthquake was always better than Catastrophe Canyon in my opinion, but is getting old as is ET, Beatlejuice, and Back to the Future.
The Univeral Hotels are nice, but are a bit pricey. Using your onsite hotel key to bypass lines is a great idea, but then you finish the park in no time.
Overall, I think if IOA built another couple big attractions, that would help boost Universal's Attendance.
To me, MGM has lost it's original theme. I agree with you Speck about your points as MGM being a broken park. The only thing left in MGM now that truly reminds me of the original MGM theme is The Great Movie Ride and perhaps Muppets/Indiana Jones. The movie making theme and glitz/glamour theme of movie production is long gone. The newest attractions of ToT and RnRC to me were for the lone purpose of adding thrill rides to the park to bolster attendance. While they are great rides, they don't fit the original MGM theme.
I think the motor stunt show will be good and perhaps be more on track with the original theme, I hope that it will be a big draw and won't tire out soon.
CTXRover
Well-Known Member
Ok, I can answer my own question. The beginning of the AB article states clearly that they revised a number of estimates from 2003, specifically Universal. I just can't believe Universal only attracted 5.9 million to USF and 5.5 million to IOA in 2003. That's like a 15-20% some drop between 2002 and 2003 for USF, of course assuming any AB numbers have been right.
I'd like to see the revised 2003 numbers, if anyone can grab a hold of it.
I'd like to see the revised 2003 numbers, if anyone can grab a hold of it.
CTXRover
Well-Known Member
I just wanted to apologize for the percent change discrepency. My ACTUAL park attendance was dead on, but I was using estimates from 2003 before they were revised apparently. Even with the revised percent changes for USF, its hard to believe that AK beat out Universal's top park by over 1 million and that DCA, often considered the embarrassment of Disney parks is only 0.6 million behind IOA, considered Universal's best park and easily the best competition for a Disney branded park.