Universal to Buy Busch Entertainment?

[Thrill Seeker]

According to screamscape, there is a rumor flying that Universal's parent company, General Electric, is looking into purchasing Busch Entertainment from Inbev. If that happens, we will have a major shake up in tourism in the Orlando area. If that does happen, Universal will also now own the biggest competetor to their Halloween Horror Nights even, Howl O Scream, and probably replace it with Halloween Horror Nights Tampa. If this does happen, maybe that will be what is needed to convince Disney to get their head in the game. It also would probably drastically improve the theming at the Busch parks, which really sucks currently.

 

[SirGoofy]

If this is true, it's a mistake IMO. Busch owns a lot of parks, and I can see GE getting into a Six Flags problem here.

 

[Thrill Seeker]

Maybe, but then again, it could also be a big success and a way for Universal to be in many more places...

 

[jonnyc]

I'm sure i read on another thread that Uni could potentially be in some financial trouble, which if true would make this unlikely

 

[JT3000]

I'm sure i read on another thread that Uni could potentially be in some financial trouble, which if true would make this unlikely

Universal Orlando is in debt, not GE. The resort is responsible for its own budget. I still doubt GE would buy the Busch parks though.

 

[teebin]

"Universal's Seaworld Adventure" can you imagine? I can.
"Teebin's Seaworld Adventure" I can't.

 

[Soundstage'95CP]

I could see GE's desire to add Sea World and Busch Gardens and use it them to promote their environmental Green products and initiatives. I think that they would quickly tweek the concepts of the parks to regional-based eco-tourism destinations where guests can learn about conservation (and the GE products that help them conserve resources).

 

[Thrill Seeker]

I think the biggest plus is getting some decent theming on the attractions. Busch is good at a lot of things, theming isn't one of them...

 

[SirGoofy]

I think the biggest plus is getting some decent theming on the attractions. Busch is good at a lot of things, theming isn't one of them...

I disagree entirely. They theme their coasters just as well as Hulk and DD over in IOA.

 

[Skip]

I disagree entirely. They theme their coasters just as well as Hulk and DD over in IOA.

Well, Busch's queues are far less elaborate than the Gamma Lab or Merlin's Castle, or even the train theming themselves...

...but I think what he was getting at is the overall feel and theme of the park is eons stronger than Busch. Universal is an excellent theme park, Busch is an excellent amusement park. That's all there is to it.

 

[Thrill Seeker]

Well, Busch's queues are far less elaborate than the Gamma Lab or Merlin's Castle, or even the train theming themselves...

...but I think what he was getting at is the overall feel and theme of the park is eons stronger than Busch. Universal is an excellent theme park, Busch is an excellent amusement park. That's all there is to it.

Exactly. The classic example of this is the Tital Wave at Busch Gardens Tampa. The theming for the ride is a fairly cheesy looking African village and playing random classical music in the background. The only reason to go on it is to get soaked on the big drop. I'd love to see what Universal could do to better theme that and Journey To Atlantis at Sea World Orlando.

 

[SirGoofy]

I don't know, I've been to BG Williamsburg, and I've found their theming to be on par with Universal.:shrug:

 

[kcnole]

Have you not seen the theming they're doing with Manta? That's probably better than anything Universal has done.

I could see GE buying the Sea World and Busch Gardens in FL. Don't know if its a good idea for them to buy everything.

 

[Thrill Seeker]

I don't know, I've been to BG Williamsburg, and I've found their theming to be on par with Universal.:shrug:

So have I. The exterior theming is much better there than it is in Tampa, but they are pretty bad at actual attraction theming. Escape from Pompeii is one of the lamest rides ever. You go up into this gigantic building, see some random fire effects and then plunge. That's it. No storyline, nothing. Universal is really good at theming their attractions, so I think it would make a positive impact on the quality of the theming of attractions at Busch parks.

 

[Thrill Seeker]

Have you not seen the theming they're doing with Manta? That's probably better than anything Universal has done.

I could see GE buying the Sea World and Busch Gardens in FL. Don't know if its a good idea for them to buy everything.

They are good at building fancy exteriors, especially for coasters. It's the non coaster rides that need a lot of help.

 

[JT3000]

Have you not seen the theming they're doing with Manta? That's probably better than anything Universal has done.

Does Manta even have a theme? I'd call that landscaping, which Busch is good at, not theming. It certainly doesn't touch DD's castle.

 

[teebin]

Does Manta even have a theme? I'd call that landscaping, which Busch is good at, not theming. It certainly doesn't touch DD's castle.

When AK was built, the designers declared "landscaping is the theme". Landscaping is also the primary theme of Jurassic Park at IOA. It is also the major theme in Jungle Cruise.

Sometimes the theme is a specific place on earth and thus plants from that region. Sometimes the theme is idyllic Jungle with plants combined from all over the world.

I would say that Manta is themed to the Tropics and Caribbean and the interior is themed to the underwater caves which occur in those locations naturally.

 

[JT3000]

When AK was built, the designers declared "landscaping is the theme". Landscaping is also the primary theme of Jurassic Park at IOA. It is also the major theme in Jungle Cruise.

No, there's a difference. Landscaping is used to create those themes, but it isn't the theme itself. Jurassic Park is the theme of Jurassic Park. A cruise through a jungle is the theme of Jungle Cruise. Manta is a roller coaster with a bunch of aquariums and generic "tropical" buildings. It looks nice, but it doesn't use the landscaping to take you somewhere specific.