With the strong euro making holidays in the Mediterranean pricey, Matthew Hampton heads Stateside to find out what’s new in the thrilling world of US theme parks.
Summer 2008 is shaping up to be a better year for US theme parks, as British families start to look across the pond once again.
British Airways has added three extra flights to Orlando this summer, taking the total number of services to 10 a week. Business development manager Alison Nicholls said this has not drawn traffic away from its five-times-a-week service to Tampa.
Funway Holidays product manager Lee Burns pointed out that while sales to Las Vegas have flattened out, Florida has strengthened considerably.
“The vacation homes product is doing really well, especially around Orlando,” said Burns. “These are three and four-bedroom houses; it’s not couples who are booking them.”
Flight prices may be expensive, but with the dollar hovering at the $2 to £1 mark, the US is cheap on the ground, particularly compared with the eurozone.
So if your clients haven’t been for a while, this is the summer to send them Stateside. Here’s a round-up of what’s new at the theme parks.
Disney
At Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California and Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, it’s all about toys.
Toy Story Mania! is an interactive ride featuring characters from the hit movies, produced by Disney’s Pixar studios.
Guests don 3-D glasses and, guided by the film’s two main characters Woody and Buzz Lightyear, try to rack up points by throwing darts at balloons and the like. The ride premieres at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this summer.
Elsewhere, the High School Musical: School’s Out! parade arrives at Hollywood Studios in the Orlando park, with open-air performances inspired by the films. Other new song and dance routines include Block Party Bash and Playhouse Live.
Anheuser-Busch
Animals reign supreme at the Busch group of parks – SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, and now Aquatica.
The new water park has four high-speed slides and plenty of water-based thrills, but is also home to a number of exotic fish, birds and – a first for Florida – Commerson’s dolphins.
Not to be outdone, Busch Gardens has opened a new zone at its Tampa Bay park, Jungala. Four acres of jungle-themed habitat have been created for the park’s latest inhabitants – Bengal tigers and orang-utans.
Six Flags
Six Flags announced a major expansion plan at the end of last year, with several new rides and attractions.
The Dark Knight is the flagship, based on the sequel to Batman Begins, which hits cinema screens this summer. The $7.5 million ride is an indoor coaster, tying in visuals from the movie and debuts next month at Jackson, New Jersey and Gurnee, Illinois.
Other developments include a new Evel Knievel roller coaster at Six Flags St Louis and an Inverted Coaster – Goliath – at Six Flags Fiesta in Texas.
Universal
Like Disney, Universal has gone coast to coast with its newest attraction.
The Simpsons ride opened last month at both its Orlando and Hollywood parks and the concept is a park within a park; guests enter Krustyland through the mouth of a 32-foot tall Krusty the Clown, before being swept into an adventure featuring the homicidal Sideshow Bob.
The creators promise a ride with humour, a story and some genuine white-knuckle thrills.
Also new for this year is a Curious George adventure in the Hollywood park. It features tours through jungle settings and a journey into space.
Looking further ahead in Orlando, next year will see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit. It’s themed around downloading music, but will rely on old-fashioned thrills.
Ticketing options
Multi-park tickets are the best way for a family to get the most out of a resort – and can help you boost commission. They can be booked direct or through specialists.
Orlando FlexTicket ties in six parks – Universal Studios, Wet ‘n’ Wild, Busch Gardens, Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld, and the new Aquatica – over 14 days.
Adult tickets cost £155, children £130.
Disney Ultimate Ticket gives unlimited access to all four of Disney’s Orlando parks (the Magic Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios, Epcot and the Animal Kingdom), plus other Disney attractions such as the Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks.
Durations are 14 or 21 days; adults from £175, children from £155.
Disney Premium Ticketgives unlimited access to the four main Orlando parks, plus up to six admissions to other Disney attractions.
Durations are five or seven days; adults from £165, children from £145.
Go Orlando Card is a multi attraction pass that ties in more than 50 Orlando parks, such as Gatorland, Silver Springs and Wild Waters, plus dinner shows, tours and cruises.
Durations are one, two, three five and seven days; seven-day adult passes cost £120, children £96.
Sample product
J Virgin Holidays offers seven nights’ room-only at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort in South Carolina from £1,189 per adult (under 12s from £674), including flights with US Airways.
J Keith Prowse offers a two-week Do It All Passport, tying in a seven-day Disney Premium Ticket with a 14-day Orlando FlexTicket plus an Arabian Nights dinner show for £299 per adult, £259 per child; cheaper than buying the components separately.
New Hard Rock theme park to open in South Carolina
Is rock a sound marketing concept for a family attraction? Visitors to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina will soon find out when The Hard Rock group opens its first theme park: a 55-acre, £200 million affair with more then 50 rides and attractions.How it will do is anyone’s guess, but South Carolina is a favourite with Brits attracted to its golf courses and sandy beaches.
Hard Rock promises entertainment for all the family across the park, which is divided into five themed zones: Born in the USA; British Invasion; Cool Country; Lost in the ’70s and Rock and Roll Heaven.
The flagship attraction is a six-loop, 65mph tribute to Led Zeppelin, set to their 1969 classic, Whole Lotta Love.
