HOW TO SELL U S THEME PARKS Fun in the sun
GENERAL INFORMATION
USEFUL CONTACTS: Walt Disney World
disneytravelagents.co.uk Universal Parks & Resorts 020 7079 6364
universalorlando.co.uk SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment 01737 648 468
seaworldparks.co.uk LEGOLAND Florida T: 07725 027561
florida.legoland.com Attraction World 0871 700 8888
attractionworld.com DoSomethingDifferent.com 0208 090 3799
dosomethingdifferent.com CityPass
001 208 787 4300
citypass.com Visit Florida 020 7932 2406
visitflorida.com/uk California Tourism 020 7257 6180
visitcalifornia.co.uk
LOOK TO BOOK
SAMPLE DEAL: ATTRACTION WORLD 0871 700 8888
www.attractionworld.com Its best-selling Florida ticket package – The ONE – costs £465 for adults and £427 for children aged three to nine and includes unlimited admission for 14 consecutive days to all the main Florida theme parks, excluding Discovery Cove. Its California best seller is the Southern California CityPass, costing £199/£171.
US THEME PARKS
BY PETER ELLEGARD When it comes to pulling power for British holidaymakers, the theme parks of Florida and California reign supreme. The enduring appeal of favourites including the Disney, Universal and SeaWorld parks ensures clients are happy to return again and again, thanks to their constantly- evolving attractions. There is so much to see and do it is impossible to fit it all in on one holiday, giving another reason to keep going back.
Mutiple choice Walt Disney World in Orlando could fill an entire holiday by itself. Besides the perennially-popular Magic Kingdom, it also offers its futuristic Epcot park, movie-themed Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach water park and Walt Disney World Speedway in addition to the Disney Downtown shopping, dining and entertainment area. Universal Orlando weighs in with two parks – Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, where the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened in 2010 – and Universal CityWalk entertainment zone. SeaWorld Orlando features Shamu, other natural attractions and rides as well as its water theme park Aquatica and Discovery Cove, where swimming with dolphins is the highlight. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay offers more animal experiences and thrill rides, while Florida’s reptiles are the stars at Gatorland. LEGOLAND is a recent addition appealing to kids aged 12 and under. Yet more water fun can be had at Wet ‘n Wild.
California bound In California, Disneyland Resort has just completed a five-year expansion to its Disney California Adventure park. It also has its original Disneyland park and the Downtown Disney district. Universal Studios Hollywood has long been popular for its movie- themed attractions. Other West Coast family favourites include SeaWorld and LEGOLAND in San Diego and Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park. For agents, theme parks can be big business, and they help can also clients save money. Tickets can be included as part of a package by tour operators such as Jetsave, Funway and Virgin Holidays. They can also be bought independently. The Orlando FlexTicket combines up to six theme
“Not only do your customers save a lot of money but you also earn fantastic commission”
parks – Universal Studios Orlando, Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld, Aquatica, Busch Gardens and Wet ‘n Wild – with unlimited park-to-park access for 14 consecutive days. CityPass offers savings of almost 30% on Southern California theme parks.
Before they go Attraction World sells a range of tickets via the trade, including all the main Florida and California theme parks and other attractions. Head of product and marketing, Gail Dunwoodie, advises: “Pre- selling your customers’ theme park tickets is an absolute must. Not only do your customers save a lot of money but you also earn fantastic commission – it’s a win/ win situation! “On the average Florida booking for a family of four, your customers can literally save hundreds of pounds on gate rates and can guarantee their entry into popular attractions such as Discovery Cove, which
often gets booked up months in advance. Furthermore, as an Attraction World agent you can easily earn £200 per booking on our most popular ticket combination.”
What’s new Walt Disney World has two special offers for 2013. Under its Free Disney Dining offer (
www.disneydining.co.uk), when clients book a 2013 hotel and ticket package for five nights or more everyone in the party dines for free for the entire stay, at up to 100 dining locations in the resort. And they can also get Disney’s 14-Day Ultimate Ticket for the price of its 7-Day Premium Ticket (
www.disneytravelagents.co.uk). Both offers must be booked by December 3.
Clockwise from top: Aquatica's Taumata Racer in Florida; Disney's California
Adventure Park in California's Disneyland Resort; the Magic Kingdom Castle, Walt Disney World, Florida
www.sellinglonghaul.com • October 2012 49
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