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theme parks | report
ON A ROLL
With new openings, rides, movie franchises and technology innovations aplenty, theme parks are attracting a wave of repeat travelers, reports Debbie Ward
MORE THAN A third of respondents in a Mintel theme parks survey considered themselves ‘avid’ visitors. It’s good news for travel agents, particularly since selling to theme park fans often leads to several repeat bookings. Parks are keeping up the interest by continuing
to evolve, with some record-breaking new rides launching this year. Aquatica will claim Orlando’s tallest, steepest multi-drop tower slide, while Wet ’n Wild Orlando boasts Florida’s tallest, fastest water-racing attraction, and Busch Gardens Tampa welcomes North America’s tallest free-standing drop tower. But perhaps the most hotly anticipated launch
is the extension this summer to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Orlando resort, which is also adding eight new CityWalk entertainment venues. Looking ahead, Universal Studios Hollywood — which has just debuted its own Despicable Me Minion Mayhem — will see signifi cant further expansion by 2016. Disney recently broke ground on an Avatar-themed land
in its Animal Kingdom and, worldwide, a new Shanghai Disneyland and a Ratatouille-themed area for Disneyland Paris are well under way. Besides attractions, anniversary celebrations
are good vacation drivers. T is year sees SeaWorld’s 50th birthday, and across its parks a ‘sea of surprises’ will mean new shows, increased animal encounters and entertainment, and giveaways from roaming ‘surprise squads’. Meanwhile, at California’s Knott’s Berry Farm, Camp Snoopy celebrates its 30th anniversary with refurbishment of the High Sierra area and the classic Calico Mine Ride, along with the addition of new rides. With so many great theme parks on their
doorstep, US travelers are unlikely to let such attractions entice them overseas, but it’s worth suggesting parks as add-ons to vacations abroad. In Europe, many are near major tourist cities, including Disneyland Paris, PortAventura near Barcelona (which is adding an Angkor Wat- themed water ride this year) and Legoland
Windsor Resort, an easy day trip from London. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London — T e Making of Harry Potter, which opened in 2012, is unique enough to be an overseas sales clincher, showcasing actual sets and props from the movie series, including Hogwarts’ Great Hall, Diagon Alley and the Knight Bus. Malaysia gained a Legoland last year at
Iskandar, a region being developed as a theme park hub, and Disney’s sixth park, Shanghai Disney Resort, is due to open in late 2015. T e Middle East is also a burgeoning theme park center, with attractions easily visited on stopovers. Abu Dhabi has the world’s only Ferrari-branded theme park, Ferrari World, with the fastest roller coaster ever. In Dubai, the water park of Atlantis, T e Palm recently saw a $27 million upgrade. Another international theme park hotspot
is Australia’s Gold Coast, which includes a SeaWorld, Wet ’n Wild, Warner Bros. Movie World and Dreamworld, which has a whole section dedicated to DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda. u
summer 2014 | ASTAnetwork | 47
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