- Joined
- Jan 3, 2001
- Messages
- 9,289
Theme parks make splash for holidays
New attractions and glitzier shows will greet revelers.
Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted November 22, 2006
As the first wave of holiday crowds hits Orlando this week for Thanksgiving, Central Florida's theme parks are rolling out new attractions and promising improvements to holiday shows.
The improvements may be hedges against already positive projections. Some industry observers are expecting another banner holiday season this year to follow up the large Christmas crowds last year, which included record attendance at Walt Disney World.
"They get all the business they can handle during Christmas with the Christmas offerings alone. I don't think they need to do any more" to attract people, said Steve Baker, president of the Baker Leisure Group in Orlando.
Though the timing may be coincidental to the Christmas season, Walt Disney World is bringing out the big fish -- a new ride and a new stage show both based on Nemo, the hero of the 2003 blockbuster animated movie, Finding Nemo.
In addition to outlining its annual Christmas season entertainment and offerings, including some expansions, Disney introduced Epcot's new ride, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, and Disney's Animal Kingdom's new show, Finding Nemo -- The Musical, to media Tuesday.
"Having them both come online during the holidays . . . I think those will give great reasons for people to come and visit during the holiday season," Duncan Wardle, Disney World vice president for public relations, told a media gathering.
Disney also is slowly bringing another show online, the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club with occasional performances between now and its official premiere in January.
Two weeks ago Universal Orlando announced its new entry, a daytime TV talk show called iVillage Live that will be broadcast live, daily, starting with its Dec. 4 premiere at Islands of Adventure.
The need might not be to bring in more people, however, but to give people more to do once they arrive, say industry observers.
Jerry Aldrich, president of Amusement Industry Consulting in Orlando, said most of the theme park business internationally is talking about a recent surge in business. At an international convention in Atlanta last week, almost everyone was predicting a big Christmas season, Aldrich said.
Aldrich said the new attractions, and the holiday-themed entertainment, are needed to keep up with the crowds, not to create them.
"It's not to draw people in. It's to give them more things to do when they're here," Aldrich said. "And there will be plenty of folks here."
Disney also is expanding some of its seasonal entertainment, and Universal and SeaWorld are updating their offerings. Disney announced it is adding a musical element to its Osborne Family's Spectacle of Lights show at Disney-MGM Studios, programming the millions of lights to flash in swirls and dances to holiday music. Disney also has added additional days for the after-hours Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom.
SeaWorld is offering its festivities at the Waterfront and Christmastide shows and its Makahiki Christmas Luau festival. Universal Orlando has canceled its Grinchmas show but is expanding its Macy's Holiday Parade.
Baker said the new attractions and the Christmas celebrations, which Disney began as early as Nov. 13 in three of its parks this year, also are aimed at filling in the softer periods just before Thanksgiving week, and in early December. And Disney and Universal can try out the shows before hitting the peak holiday period that begins a week before Christmas, he said.
Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441.
New attractions and glitzier shows will greet revelers.
Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted November 22, 2006
As the first wave of holiday crowds hits Orlando this week for Thanksgiving, Central Florida's theme parks are rolling out new attractions and promising improvements to holiday shows.
The improvements may be hedges against already positive projections. Some industry observers are expecting another banner holiday season this year to follow up the large Christmas crowds last year, which included record attendance at Walt Disney World.
"They get all the business they can handle during Christmas with the Christmas offerings alone. I don't think they need to do any more" to attract people, said Steve Baker, president of the Baker Leisure Group in Orlando.
Though the timing may be coincidental to the Christmas season, Walt Disney World is bringing out the big fish -- a new ride and a new stage show both based on Nemo, the hero of the 2003 blockbuster animated movie, Finding Nemo.
In addition to outlining its annual Christmas season entertainment and offerings, including some expansions, Disney introduced Epcot's new ride, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, and Disney's Animal Kingdom's new show, Finding Nemo -- The Musical, to media Tuesday.
"Having them both come online during the holidays . . . I think those will give great reasons for people to come and visit during the holiday season," Duncan Wardle, Disney World vice president for public relations, told a media gathering.
Disney also is slowly bringing another show online, the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club with occasional performances between now and its official premiere in January.
Two weeks ago Universal Orlando announced its new entry, a daytime TV talk show called iVillage Live that will be broadcast live, daily, starting with its Dec. 4 premiere at Islands of Adventure.
The need might not be to bring in more people, however, but to give people more to do once they arrive, say industry observers.
Jerry Aldrich, president of Amusement Industry Consulting in Orlando, said most of the theme park business internationally is talking about a recent surge in business. At an international convention in Atlanta last week, almost everyone was predicting a big Christmas season, Aldrich said.
Aldrich said the new attractions, and the holiday-themed entertainment, are needed to keep up with the crowds, not to create them.
"It's not to draw people in. It's to give them more things to do when they're here," Aldrich said. "And there will be plenty of folks here."
Disney also is expanding some of its seasonal entertainment, and Universal and SeaWorld are updating their offerings. Disney announced it is adding a musical element to its Osborne Family's Spectacle of Lights show at Disney-MGM Studios, programming the millions of lights to flash in swirls and dances to holiday music. Disney also has added additional days for the after-hours Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom.
SeaWorld is offering its festivities at the Waterfront and Christmastide shows and its Makahiki Christmas Luau festival. Universal Orlando has canceled its Grinchmas show but is expanding its Macy's Holiday Parade.
Baker said the new attractions and the Christmas celebrations, which Disney began as early as Nov. 13 in three of its parks this year, also are aimed at filling in the softer periods just before Thanksgiving week, and in early December. And Disney and Universal can try out the shows before hitting the peak holiday period that begins a week before Christmas, he said.
Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441.
