Record revenues for Disney
WORLD
THE Walt Disney Entertainment Corporation has reported record earnings for the fourth quarter of 2014, as the entertainment conglomerate witnessed growth across its media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment and consumer products divisions. In the three months to September 27, revenues for the California-headquartered company totalled
$48.8bn, up eight per cent over the prior-year period. Earnings rose 22 per cent to a record $7.5bn. “Our results for Fiscal 2014 were the highest in the company’s history, marking our fourth consecutive
year of record performance,” said Robert Iger, chairman and chief executive officer for Disney. “We’re obviously very pleased with this achievement and believe it reflects the extraordinary quality of our content and our unique ability to leverage success across the company to create significant value, as well as our focus on embracing and adapting to emerging consumer trends and technology.”
Revenues in Disney’s key parks and resorts segment totalled $3.96bn, up seven per cent on the
$3.72bn in the third quarter of 2013, as strong growth in the group’s domestic operations helped offset a slight dip in the international market. “Higher operating income at our domestic operations was driven by increased guest spending
and attendance, partially offset by higher costs and lower vacation club ownership sales,” read a statement attached to the group’s latest balance sheet. “The increase in guest spending was primarily due to higher average ticket prices for theme park admissions and for sailings at our cruise line and increased food, beverage and merchandise spending. “The decrease at our international operations was due to lower operating performance at
Disneyland Paris, higher pre-opening expenses at Shanghai Disney Resort and the impact of a weaker yen on our royalties from Tokyo Disney Resort. Lower operating income at Disneyland Paris was driven by higher operating and marketing costs and lower attendance, partially offset by increased guest spending, due to higher average ticket prices and higher real estate sales.”
US venue opens surf simulator
BREAKER Bay Waterpark at Blue Harbor Resort and Spa in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, has cut the ribbon on a new $1.7m surfing attraction. This new experience, Riptide, is a “step forward in the evolution of the resort,” according to David
Sanderson, vice-president and general manager of Blue Harbor. Construction began in July in the south east corner of Breaker Bay after about two years of planning. It is located in the section where the small children’s slides were previously. A large basin will hold 70,000 gallons of water, which will be pushed through two pumps that
shoot the water across the trampoline-like surface at 25-30 mph. The powerful flow of water up the ramp, which is angled at 25 degrees, creates the wave. “Brace for impact” warns the promotional video by Flowrider, the manufacturer of the wave machine. Riders must be 48 inches tall. It’s the second attraction added by Blue
Harbor in recent months, the first being the black-light golf course, Lost Temples. Both, it is hoped, will help make Blue Harbor and Sheboygan a destination vacation stop.
6 InterPark January–February 2015
NEWS
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