Concerts draw people to Orlando theme parks during slow season

I was at Universal a few years ago (2007?) on a concert day, Daughtry, I think. It wasn't planned. What a total zoo, but in a good way. It was a completely bizarre mix of a theme park mixed with an outdoor concert venue, with shooter hoochies roaming the midways. Despite all of that, it still seemed remarkably family friendly, in no small part because of the massive security presence.

The Chicago and Earth Wind and Fire concerts in 2010 were crazy busy days. The crowd for the concert was all they way back past the side of the Shrek building and going back towards Mummy for both of them. They do walk around offering Jell-O Shots in the area in front of the stage (a little girl asked her mom if she could have one after three passes by the shot lady, that was funny), but yes, they do a good job at keeping it family friendly. The only one where the crowd was a little "rough" for the ones I went to was Heart.

What about love, indeed.

Heart is 60 year-olds playing middle-of-the-road rock. How on Earth could that crowd even approach "rough"?

"That grandma over there is giving me the stink eye...no not the one in the kitty sweater, the one with the brass knuckles!"

^"My grandson can beat up your Bieber-loving honor student ANY day!" :)

I'd say the Heart crowd was about equal to the crowd at the Scorpions' farewell tour (with Ratt opening) I went to in Tampa, only Heart doesn't play as many songs one would be as inclined to get up and go crazy to. I thought there was going to be a domestic violence episode next to me at that one. They take their rock seriously when they're drunk and high.

Sounds like my kind of crowd.

I remember when Pitbull came last year.....egad!!!! It was a good show, but the clientele was what I found most entertaining. I'm excited for (pauses dramatically) Diana Ross!!!

I admit I'd see Kelly Clarkson. While indifferent to her music, I just like her personality. She's the original American Idol.

After looking at the line-ups....in this article and elsewhere....it appearss the B-52s and Davy Jones are the only acts involved I'd have any interest in seeing. And that would be based purely on nostalgia. I was a fan of the B-52 and Monkees, and Davy was actually the first "concert attraction" I ever saw when I was around 11-12 years old.

Jeff said:
I admit I'd see Kelly Clarkson. While indifferent to her music, I just like her personality. She's the original American Idol.

And the only one that has some sort of longevity in the business...
Anyone remember who Kris Allen is?

Carrie Underwood has done alright for herself...probably sold more than Clarkson. Daughtry and Jordin Sparks have also done ok...not Clarkson success...but ok.

Longevity seems to come easier in the Country and adult contemporary markets. That bodes well for Underwood, Sparks, and that Pickler chick. My hunch is Clarkson will switch to more adult contemporary as she ages too.

I don't go to amusement parks for concerts...but there was that Tears for Fears experiment at Timberwolf back in the 80's/90's...

I had gotten the value of my Universal AP back and then some just between the Chicago and EW&F concerts (considering the seats I would have tried to get for each individually), so I love my Universal AP. It is a crazy good value if you enjoy going to concerts like I do. Though I think the concerts are much more effective in getting locals into the gates, or getting them to the tier above the AP with blackout dates than it is at getting travelers to come on certain dates.