It doesn’t come as much of a surprise that theme and amusement park operator Six Flags has filed for bankruptcy protection. Times are tough all around, and running a major park requires the regular infusion of large capital invesments (that new rides, to you and me). For… Read More »Six Flags Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection
Time to close a bunch of open tabs again and pass along some of the latest Disney news and links.
Is an IMAX Theater coming to Downtown Disney’s Pleasure Island 24 movie multiplex? According to the AMC website there is. Click on the ‘coming soon’ button at the bottom of this page. Alas, the date is TBD. The current thought is that it would either be expanded into the parking lot or into the space of the Virgin Megastore that’s closing soon. Of course an Apple Store and ESPN Zone have also been rumored for that space.
It’s not Halloween, but FoxxFur has the spooky tale of George, the ghost who inhabits the Magic Kingdom’s Pirates Of The Caribbean Attraction.
Six Flags isn’t the only theme park company facing debt restructuring issues right now. The Orlando Sentinel has the details on Universal Orlando’s problems. They’re looking at having to pay down $1.5 billion if they can’t get everything in line. That could mean in park cutbacks or even being forced to sell some properties.
Iron Chef Cat Cora, who will soon be opening a new restaurant at Walt Disney World, welcomed a new baby to the family last week. Cat’s wife, Jennifer, gave birth to a son. Cat is also pregnant and expecting this July.
Time to add another band to the banned list from Disneyland’s Downtown Disney House of Blues. The hardcore heavy metal band Daath was kicked for inappropriate content, no chance of appeal. I think Disney’s actually more concerned with keeping the peace at its open air mall than inappropriate content on stage.
A couple of Disney blogs to add to your list if you haven’t already. DisneyShawn smartly reveals the details and backstory behind Disney World’s theme parks. Meanwhile TouringPlans.com, the website of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, has started a blog as well.
Finally, I’d like to introduce you to the Disney Fan Review video podcast. It’s a new series that looks at the creative efforts of Disney fans across youtube. Sort of like a TV station for Disney fans. I’ve embedded one of his recent episodes below the cut:
Robert Niles at Theme Park Insider writes passionately about why it’s important not to stop attending your local theme park just because you read in the news that it is struggling financially. Robert is specifically talking about Six Flags, but it applies to all regional… Read More »Save Your Local Theme Park?
The news that AB-InBev would be selling the Busch theme parks came as a surprise to almost no one. The sale of SeaWorld has the potential to change the Central Florida theme park business forever. The other news I’m reading could be an even bigger… Read More »More Themeparks Up for Sale?
It’s been ten years since Time Warner sold off Six Flags Theme Parks to Premier Parks, which subsequently adopted the Six Flags name. Six Flags parks have used Warner Brothers characters since, just as they did before Time Warner bought the company. Now it looks… Read More »Six Flags Wants Some Disney Magic
Phil Milford of Bloomberg News writes that Disney and other theme park companies are being sued over mangnetic roller coaster brakes. The other companies include Universal, Busch, Six Flags, and Cedar Fair. Safety Braking holds exclusive licenses to the patents, one from Magnetar Technologies Corp., based in Seal Beach, California, and the other from G&T… Read More »Magnetic Brakes Attract Lawsuit
Alex Dobuzinskis of the Los Angeles Daily News filed an update on Six Flags California, and by extension, Six Flags. He notes the family-friendly turn, which involves some prominent familiar brands. Brand names are playing a big part in the new strategy. Cold Stone Creamery will dish out the ice cream, Kodak will do the… Read More »Update on Six Flags Magic Mountain
As John posted earlier, the City of Garden Grove, California, which is just south of Anaheim, is trying to get a Hollywood studio to participate in a proposed theme park project. Deepa Bharath of the Orange County Register drops in the MGM name in an update article today.
MGM representatives seemed impressed with the city’s proposal and feasibility study, Yoshizaki said. The study identified two sites that could be developed into theme parks – the 100-acre Willowick Golf Course and 30 acres adjacent to the course, and 139 acres adjacent to the Garden Grove (22) Freeway at Harbor.
The study, released in October, says the park could attract 4.6 million people and generate about $350 million a year.
A spokesman for MGM in Los Angeles said Wednesday that his company has no immediate plan for theme parks in Southern California or elsewhere in the country.
Keep reading for my analysis.