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Return of the Orlando Theme Park Wars?

Concept art for Star Wars mini-park planned for Disneyland Paris

Concept art for Star Wars mini-park planned for Disneyland Paris

Orlando in the 1990’s was bookended by stiff competition between Disney and its rival Universal Studios. When Michael Eisner got wind that Disneyland’s cross-town rival Universal Studios was preparing to open in Orlando as well, he rushed the mouse’s plans for its own studio theme park into production, even opening a whole year ahead of Universal. Universal returned the favor by firing back with Islands of Adventure, which contained rethemed versions of the Beastly Kingdom attractions Disney had cut from its Animal Kingdom project just a year earlier. Universal even hired a lot of the Imagineers Disney had just laid off to help make IOA a quality theme park.

And then things calmed down for nearly a decade. Disney kept churning out new attractions (Expedition Everest, Toy Story Midway Mania to name two) while Universal Studios was the forgotten step-child in a larger corporation that was dealing with ownership and financial problems. Eventually that got all sorted out and two things happened that turned around the fortunes at Universal Orlando Resort.

First, Universal got the theme park rights to use the Kuka robotic arm roller coaster that everyone was excited about at IAAPA in 2004. Second, it was able to convince Harry Potter scribe J.K. Rowling that they would be better caretakers for her story than Disney. The Kuka robocoaster win had something to do with that, but Universal was also willing to give Rowling final approval on nearly every detail. Disney would not.

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Global Themepark Attendance For 2012 Via TEA Report

Opening Ceremony

TEA has released its 2012 Theme Park attendance estimates listing the 25 most attended theme parks in the world. Disney has the top 8 spots and 3 others in the top 20. Not a lot of surprises if you’ve been following developments last year:

1. Magic Kingdom: 17,536,000 (+2.3% change)
2. Disneyland Park: 15,963,000 (-1.1% )
3. Tokyo Disneyland: 14,847,000 (+8.5%)
4. Tokyo Disney Sea: 12,656,000 (+8.5%)
5. Disneyland Park, Disneyland Paris: 11,200,000 (+1.9%)
6. Epcot: 11,063,000 (+2.2%)
7. Disney’s Animal Kingdom: 9,998,000 (+2.2%)
8. Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 9,912,000 (+2.2%)
9. Universal Studios Japan: 9,700,000 (+14.1%)
10. Islands of Adventure: 7,981,000 (+4%)

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Universal Orlando Continues to Expand, Grows The Simpsons Area

The Simpsons has been a staple of television animation for over 20 years. There was an profitable animated feature and a second in the works. Since 2008 there’s even been a theme park attraction that takes guests to Krustyland at Universal Studios Hollywood and Orlando.… Read More »Universal Orlando Continues to Expand, Grows The Simpsons Area

Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Photo Update

It’s been a long time since I managed to make it to Disney’s Animal Kingdom for a walk-about. A shame because it’s my favorite park. Not for the rides or parades, there are better elsewhere on property, but for the beauty of nature. I love how Disney Imagineers built their own story about nature while still allowing plenty of room for the real version to flourish. How the two layers interact with each other adds a lot to my enjoyment of the park.

So without further ado, here are some of the new, or new to me, things I spotted on my walk this weekend:

New maps and guides have been unleashed upon the park. I like the animal guide.

New maps and guides have been unleashed upon the park. I like the animal guide, might encourage people to stop and smell the roses.

Looks like the new character greeting at the Discovery Island Bazaar is almost ready to open.

Looks like the new character greeting at the Discovery Island Beastly Bazaar is almost ready to open. Sounds like the big day is tomorrow.

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The Happiest Rubber Duck Race on Earth Raises Money for Children

While no where near as physically exhausting as the Canoe boat races, the ‘it’s a small world’ rubber duck race has gained its own cast member allure in the 5 years its been running. Cast members sponsor and decorate their ducks and then race them… Read More »The Happiest Rubber Duck Race on Earth Raises Money for Children

Euro Disney Continues to Post Losses, but Gap Narrows

A debt refinancing deal has allowed Euro Disney, the management company for Disneyland Paris Resort, to narrow the gap between debt and profitability. Disneyland Paris just turned 20 and has only managed to post a profit 7 of those years. Giant debt is most of… Read More »Euro Disney Continues to Post Losses, but Gap Narrows

Disney’s St. Louis Development That Never Was

Todd Pierce at the Disney History Institute has wrapped up his 10-part series on the Saint Louis Riverfront Square development that Walt Disney has proposed building in what he considered his home state of Missouri. The project was to be the net evolution after Disneyland.… Read More »Disney’s St. Louis Development That Never Was

Mike Wazowski Kicks Off Monstrous Summer at Disney Parks

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Tonight Spaceship Earth transformed into “Monsters University” Star Mike Wazowski to help announce 24 hour events that will include special parties for the Magic Kingdom, Disneyland, and Disney California Adventure. Sully put in a brief ‘scary’ appearance too.

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“This summer, Disney Parks are bursting with a monstrous lineup of new thrills, shows and happenings,” said Kalogridis. “Guests can start Memorial Day Weekend with a 24-hour-marathon of memory-making as three Parks stay open all day and all night to celebrate the bi-coastal kick-off of a Monstrous Summer at Disney Parks.”

Here’s a video featuring just Mike Wazowski:

[Updated] and here’s the whole announcement:

More details from the press release below the jump:

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