Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30

It's our four-year anniversary, and we're celebrating by launching a Patreon for our Unhinged content. Find it here. This week, we discuss Dark Nights at Hershey Park and Field of Screams, which both opened last weekend. We also discuss Universal's new Butterbeer offering at CityWalk and the upcoming Wicked experience before addressing the controversial funding cap on Disney's Aspire program. 


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NEW: Subscribe to BONUS content on our Patreon. In this episode, Philip and Scott discuss their recent experiences at Oogie Boogie Bash, Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood, and Fear Factory. They highlight the immersive and consistent atmosphere at Oogie Boogie Bash, where guests can interact with villains in well-designed sets. They also discuss the unique elements of Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood, such as the use of sign language by actors in the A Quiet Place maze and the intense chainsaw-filled Texas Chainsaw Massacre maze. Additionally, they mention the collaboration between Halloween Horror Nights Singapore and luxury streetwear brand Wang Design for a haunted house called Under the Castle. They emphasize the importance of partnerships and storytelling in creating memorable experiences.

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NEW: Subscribe to BONUS content on our Patreon. Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) kicked off at Universal Studios Orlando this weekend. As the largest Halloween event in the world, HHN is a significant revenue generator for Universal, inspiring similar seasonal offerings at attractions worldwide. However, this year’s event falls short of expectations. Could the impending opening of Epic Universe be stretching the team too thin? Or is Universal experimenting with a lower-budget experience to see how it impacts sales? In this video, Scott and Philip break down the highlights and challenges of HHN 2024.

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NEW: Subscribe to BONUS content on our Patreon. The 2023 Global Attractions Attendance Report from TEA/AECOM just dropped, and we are diving deep into its findings. The report highlights the recovery of the global attractions industry after the pandemic and the performance of different theme parks worldwide.  It also explores the trends in attendance and spending and the potential for growth in other regions. Scott and Philip draw attention to the impact of weather on attendance, the need for parks to focus on guest experience and creature comforts, the significance of Halloween events, and the potential for special events to drive demand throughout the year.






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While Disney's income dip isn't exciting for investors, it signals that the tourism industry continues to moderate post-pandemic. Six Flags and Cedar Fair also released their final separate earnings; there's hope in those reports. Meanwhile, Universal has hijacked the news again by expanding Halloween Horror Nights to New York City. 

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During the D23 Fan Expo last weekend, Disney confirmed plans for a new Villains Land expansion in Magic Kingdom, delighting fans and media alike. The announcement immediately drew comparisons to Universal's recent Dark Universe announcement. While this seems like a new season of 'Theme Park Wars' - how much of it was planned? In other words, are the two using each other to draw crowds and reduce the overall development they each do?

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Universal kicked off the modern theme park ‘immersive’ trend with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in 2010 – and now, it plans to up the ante. In 2025, as part of EPIC Universe, Universal Orlando Resort will debut its third installment of Harry Potter-themed lands with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. The central ride ‘Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry’ is Universal’s most ambitious ride and promises to take guests across countries and time to 1990s London using the Métro-Floo for a thrilling adventure set inside the iconic British Ministry of Magic. Meanwhile, in a remarkably fast turnaround, Disneyland workers ratify a new contract setting base wages at $24 an hour.

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NBCUniversal Theme Parks division saw a 10.6% drop in revenue in the second quarter, and they’re attributing the drop to post-pandemic equalization; should we be concerned? Also, Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights announced the all-original haunted house, “Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines,” and Union members at the Disneyland Resort voted to authorize a strike against the resort.

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Country Bear Jamboree opened last week, and features popular Disney songs from other IPs - is this world building on Disney's part, or world destruction? Also, Scott has something to say about the new Tiana's Bayou Adventure. 

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The Mega Movie Parade opened to much fanfare at Universal Studios Orlando, two years after the previous daytime parade, Universal’s Superstar Parade, which closed in 2022. The parade targets a broader demographic and signals Universal’s continued testing to balance pricing and investment. Two more ways Universal is trying to find a balance include the express for Multi-Night Halloween Horror Nights tickets that have sold out and the ticket policy announcement for EPIC Universe.

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