Um, someone get Disney’s lawyers on the line? How they drew up a contract that allows one of the Disney Channels hottest properties to set up a permanent home at a competing themepark is a rather large omission. Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey is announcing a brand new land called "Wiggles World" themed to the Playhouse Disney kids pop band, The Wiggles.
"Wiggles World," the park’s fourth area devoted exclusively to children, will feature specially themed rides and attractions including The Big Red Car ride, The Big Red Plane ride, Dorothy the Dinosaur’s Racing to the Rainbow balloon ride, Bouncin’ with Wags ride and the S.S. Feathersword Pirate Ship. The area will also include retail locations selling Wiggles merchandise and a restaurant, the Yummy Yummy Cafe.
"Wiggles World" will be populated by The Wiggles’ cast of supporting characters: Dorothy the Dinosaur, Captain Feathersword, Wags the Dog and Henry the Octopus, who will pose for photos and perform in daily shows. The Wiggles themselves – Anthony, Sam, Jeff and Murray – will make an appearance and perform at the park in 2007.
Or, perhaps there is an exclusivity clause in the contract, in which case someone had better get Six Flags on the phone. (Read)
In other Wiggles news, Bindi Irwin, daughter of the Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, has announced that she will be continuing her father’s legacy by touring with The Wiggles on their US Tour this year. (Read)
I live not to far from six flags GA so this was big news here yesterday. My first though, what the hell is Disney thinking? My second though, if it goes through, how soon til any iteration of the wiggles is gone from Studios?
It’s not too uncommon for this to happen. The Wiggels aren’t a Disney-exclusive group.
Expect Six Flags to get more of these deals. After all, they just inked a deal with Tony Hawk to put his name on two coasters, and they were trying to get Ice Age in the parks. Six Flag’s new management (headed by ex-ESPN Shapiro) is going after a lot of liscensed deals (or originals… Six Flags over Texas is getting a stunt show based on a new franchise next year).
I wish I’d read this earlier to add some feedback. Australias best theme park Dreamworld (http://www.dreamworld.com.au) has had a wiggles world for a few years now (http://www.dreamworld.com.au/content/wiggles_home.asp?name=WigglesWorld). Id say that they have sold their park design to six flags or something…
I dont think six flags and disney are in competition. listen to mark shapiro, he visions Six Flags as a “daycation” while he admits disney is a destination park. while he wants six flags to be more like disney, he doesnt really want to compete. disney is an excellent model and is the best runner of theme parks in the world, so its understandable that six flags would want to be like disney. also six flags fiesta texas and probably other six flags parks actually have stores selling mostly disney stuff and licensed items from disney can be found throughout the park
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