GAcoaster Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 From InParkMagazine.com: Top 20 Amusement/Theme Parks - North America (2007) 1 MAGIC KINGDOM at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL 17,060,000 2.5% Continued successful "Year of a Million Dreams" marketing campaign. Orlando tourism up which helped fuel another strong season combined with higher visitor spending. Opened Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor interactive attraction. 2 DISNEYLAND Anaheim, CA 14,870,000 1.0% Record season. Re-opened submarines, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, with positive guest response and new Pirate's Lair based on Pirates of the Caribbean blockbuster. Increased guest spending. L.A. tourism up slightly. 3 EPCOT at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL 10,930,000 4.5% Benefit from WDW's successful "Year of a Million Dreams" marketing campaign. Opened The Seas with Nemo & Friends. 4 DISNEY'S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL 9,510,000 4.5% Benefitted from WDW's continued successful "Year of a Million Dreams" marketing campaign. Tourism up. Opened Jedi Training Academy in second half of season. 5 DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL 9,490,000 6.5% Continued strong performance and word-of-mouth for Expedition Everest which led to record year. Also, opened new musical stage show based on Finding Nemo. 6 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS at Universal Orlando, FL* 6,200,000 3.3% Good season - rebound from previous year with increased tourism to resort in particular domestic tourist segment. Good fall Halloween. In Nov. closed the Earthquake attraction to develop ‘Disaster! Ride’, which opened Jan 2008. 7 SEAWORLD FLORIDA, Orlando, FL 5,800,000 1.0% Competitive market. Attendance slightly up due to increased domestic and international tourism. 8 DISNEY'S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE, Anaheim, CA 5,680,000 -4.5% No new major attractions - main attention on Disneyland. Announced new major multi-year masterplan to overhaul and expand the park with new entertainment and family-oriented attractions including Pixar properties (e.g. 12-acre Cars Land). 9 ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE at Universal Orlando, FL * 5,430,000 2.5% Benefited from increased tourism to Universal Orlando which helped increaseattendance. Announced new Harry Potter themed land for late 2009/10. 10 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD, Universal City, CA * 4,700,000 0.0% Competitive market - maintained previous years attendance level. 11 BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY, Tampa, FL 4,400,000 1.0% Good summer season. Modified and upgraded existing coaster. Good summer and fall (Howl-O-Scream) helped increase overall attendance. 12 SEAWORLD CALIFORNIA, San Diego, CA 4,260,000 0.0% Coming off strong previous year - overall flat season. Slight decline in San Diego tourism. 13 KNOTT'S BERRY FARM, Buena Park, CA * 3,630,000 -1.0% Opened new family coaster, Sierra Sidewinder, but competitive market and slight attendance decline. 14 CANADA'S WONDERLAND, Maple, ONT* 3,250,000 0.5% Lowered front gate prices at start of season, which helped maintain attendance and small increase. 15 BUSCH GARDENS EUROPE, Williamsburg, VA* 3,157,000 12.5% Strong season for both theme park and waterpark. A new roller coaster, the Griffon created major new draw and marketing vehicle in addition to revival of a oldies concert series, sustained growth of Howl-O-Scream and excellent weather. 16 CEDAR POINT, Sandusky, OH* 3,120,000 1.5% Opened $21 million rollercoaster, Maverick, and several smaller family rides in kids area. Despite regional economic weakness managed to increase attendance (great fall weather) and achieve record revenues and operating profit. 17 KINGS ISLAND, Kings Island, OH* 3,050,000 0.0% Celebrated the park's 35th anniversary with new flying coaster, Firehawk, and several new shows. 18 HERSHEY PARK, Hershey, PA* 2,940,000 9.2% Strong season benefiting from the The Boardwalk at Hersheypark waterplay area; Centennial Celebration; and favorable weather conditions. 19 SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE, Jackson, NJ 2,720,000 -0.5% Flat to slightly down season. Opened the Wiggles World children's area and removed Batman & Robin ride due to technical problems end of June. 20 SIX FLAGS GREAT AMERICA, Gurnee, IL 2,630,000 0.5% Opened a major stunt show called "Operation SpyGirl." as part of Six Flags' strategy to reposition its parks as more family-friendly. Note: Attendance figures are estimates, based on company information, annual reports, published information and from reliable TEA/ERA industry and tourism sources Percent changes for 2007 for certain parks (noted by *) are based on adjusted/updated figures for 2006, thus not directly comparable to published TEA-ERA list for 2006/05 Source: TEA and Economics Research Associates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsDevs4Lyf Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 very nice to be considered within the top twenty North American parks. I think very deserving especially for park management who have really worked hard to bring the park back to the positive experience it shjould always be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Looking at the list I just realized that by hitting Six Flags Great America last summer I have been to all top 20 parks. I haven't been to Canada's Wonderland in years though. I went there in the early 90s when I think they were still part of Taft Broadcasting. It's good to see GA made the list even with a slight decline in attendance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsDevs4Lyf Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 I certainly take pride in knowing that our park is considered on that list epecially even with the slight decrease in attendance figures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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