Are licensed characters crucial to the bottom line of regional parks?

Actually Im pretty sure that Nintendo has elected to not sell theme park rights in the states (and no one in Japan is willing to pay the price Nintendo is asking for them.) But I could totally see kids going gagga over Mario/Princess/Toad/Yoshi while teens flock to Link and Samus. As for rides somethings I can think of off the top of my head:

-Yoshi as a motorbike coaster
-Mario themed Spidermanesque ride
-Samus interactive shooter dark ride
-Mariokart Go Karts
-Samus (via spaceship) Inverted Coaster
-Bowser/Mario Dueling coaster

And I, a 24 year old male, would absolutely go to a park solely to see a well done Nintendo area. It would be amazing.