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BigQuestion How's business been this season?
Giovanni Modena, PortAventura, Spain: The results were positive, and over the first nine months of the season we achieved all our expectations in terms of numbers and guest satisfaction. We have one 1.5 million people riding Shambhala, our new B&M coaster, and we have been able to weather the economic storm in the domestic market by increasing the number of foreign visitors.
Joel Golder, Palace Playland, Old Orchard Beach, USA: We were very happy with business this season. Our season pass sales were up from the previous year, so we were happy to see more customers taking advantage of what we consider our highest value offer. Unlike many other parks we do not have a paid admission here, so it can be a bit tricky determining whether our overall attendance is up or down. The general consensus in the area is that the amount of people visiting has been increasing, but they are being more careful with their spending. Most importantly, we had some good weather this summer, and anyone in this industry will tell you that is the biggest factor in a successful season.
Silke Holzner, Bayern Park, Germany: We were hoping to reach 350,000 visitors this season (from 320,000 in 2011), but we have only had a 5% increase because from Easter onwards there has been very little good weather in Bavaria, or in much of Europe actually. We had a few good weeks in summer, but we lost so many weeks earlier on in the season we can’t get them back.
Nick Laskaris, Mt Olympus, USA: The 2012 season proved to be yet another record breaker for Mt Olympus. We were up just over 20% in revenue and we had over 1.2 million visitors to the park. I feel the main reasons for this solid increase are because of the superior diverse product we offer to our guests and the hot weather the Wisconsin Dells had this year.
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Ups & Downs
Hungary For Fun – After the closure of Vidám Park in Budapest (Hungary) looks likely to be replaced by a year- round family entertainment centre
Figures of Fun
8
US dollars – cost of one-day’s admission to Children’s Fairyland near San Francisco
18
US dollars – cost of one day’s parking at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom near San Francisco
200
average number of guests per night at Drayton Manor Hotel, which opened September 2011. Plans are now in the pipeline for a second and third hotel at the English park
2,046,684
number of guests at Floriade in the Netherlands during its 186-day opening period. The horticultural festival/visitor attraction closed on October 7
5,954,000
number of rides given over the last 42 years by Tivoli’s Big Clock mini Ferris Wheel. The Copenhagen park retired the ride on October 27
Auf Wiedersehen – Germany’s Land und Leute amusement park closed last month after 23 years’ operation. Its average attendance was 30,000
Holy Crap! – A New Jersey man was arrested last month for taking a gun into the Holy Lane theme park in Orlando
Sandy Strikes Jersey Shore – Funtime Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey abandoned its Hallowe’en season after pier damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. All other Jersey Shore parks were hit, but some less seriously
Euro Disney Debt –The Walt Disney Company is reported to be extending over €1 billion in loans to help Disneyland Paris operator Euro Disney clear its debt
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