Amusement park attendance up 4.2 percent

Gorman, BGT was up 5.1% to about 4.3 million and BGW was up 8.3% to about 2.6 million in attendance.

+Danny

Nothing personal, just some friendly retort. :)

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1. The ability not to park hop. When I looked online at ticket options I didnt see it, I might have missed it though.

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You did.

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2. There simply isnt enough to do at either park for my family since we have seen it all already.

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So something is not fun unless it's new and then it mysteriously becomes un-fun as it ages? You're not the only one to say this, but I've never gotten it. I enjoy many of the attractions at Universal. I imagine I'd enjoy them just the same now as I always have.

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IOA hasnt had anything new since it opened (The X-Men teacups dont count)

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Why not? Those are some badass teacups. And there was Flying Unicorn. And the changes to Poseidon. Probably some other stuff that I've forgotten or don't know about as well.

I've always felt the need to new attractions to draw guests was overrated. If you have a fun park with enjoyable attractions, shouldn't that be enough?

I guess the equation I have a hard time with is:

Park X as it stands = not worth it
Park X as it stands with one new thing to do = worth it

I knew from my trips to SFGAm this season that things were more crowded with the new waterpark. But a 24% increase! That's more than I expected.

Too bad they didn't have adequate staffing to handle the crowds properly.

Gonch, I have been to IOA over 10 times since its opened, so I obviously enjoy it. With that said, why would I go someplace where Ive done everything numerous times over someplace that has something new that I havent tried, but yet still have been there and enjoyed it. Your example doesnt hold any weight when you factor in Park Y and Z.

Wow... the top 15 parks in North America.

Only ONE of those parks is a seasonal park located in a cold area...
That's none other than Canada's Wonderland:

"14. Paramount Canada's Wonderland in Maple, Ontario, 3.6 million, +7 percent"

I'm very surprised. It has now officially beat Paramount Kings Island and every other seasonal park out there, not just in its chain. I think we found a new "king" here.

Either they're doing something right, or there's just nothing else to do in Toronto for amusement fun (there isn't).

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Your example doesnt hold any weight when you factor in Park Y and Z.

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Very true.

I had assumed you were as equally familiar with the other parks.

I guess from my POV what I was thinking is that we plan on returning to Orlando either this summer or next. I've done all the parks numerous times (used to have that coveted FL resident status). I'll do them all on the next trip too, regardless of the lack of new attractions. I liked them then, and I'll enjoy them again.

But I guess I see what you're saying. If heading there for a shorter amount of time and having to make a choice, I'd be inclined to choose a new attraction over the lack thereof.

On the same note, I wouldn't immediately dismiss a park simply due to the lack of something new.

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According to Jeff Siebert, PKI's woes were weather related. Too many days above 90 degrees. He said attendence peaked on days when the high was between 75 and 85 and even the water park suffered when it got much hotter. It could explain some of CP's dip as well.

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Cedar Point markets to Detroit quite a bit and with everything that is going on here, people are not finding the cash to really even spend a day there. The heat never really seemed to keep people back.

I find it hard that weather was really a factor, if heat backed people away then why did SFGam have a 25% increase. Yes they had a new water park but if what Jeff said about the heat then that increase should have been much smaller.*** This post was edited by skpdogg 12/27/2005 8:40:55 PM ***