bkroz

Gotta be Fury then. Unless a Hornets name will be revealed at the last second. But we can probably safely say that it's NOT a royal blue, striking, Gatekeeper-style ride called Centurion.

Here's a crazy thought. What if SeaWorld did release their killer whales into oceanic pens? The ignorant masses are screaming "release the orcas into the wild." At least the researched masses are saying "create an oceanic pen for them." And really, why not? Are orcas SeaWorld's big draw? You bet. Are they doing more harm than good as it currently is? Sure seems that way... So if they have this mindset that orcas are their "thing" and getting rid of their "thing" would render them helpless, they may be overthinking it. Orcas may be their "thing," but that "thing" is drawing them more criticism than praise. And no, it doesn't look like that's going to change anytime soon. If SeaWorld let those orcas off in an oceanic pen and continued to care for them just as they do now, but without the entertainment aspect, then they might recoup some lost interest. I truly think it couldn't hurt. I'm sure they've done their studies though and found that those killer whales are their only chance at long-term success, right? ...right? I maintain my point: SeaWorld is a zoo. A good zoo. A really good zoo even, with international brand identity, some incredible partnerships, and a conversation reach that most other, smaller, less-recognized zoos can't manage. Even Blackfish didn't question SeaWorld's care of manatees, penguins, flamingos, etc. Their argument is that orcas specifically are too intelligent for captivity, no matter how much care or attention they get. I buy it. I don't buy that SeaWorld is negligent or evil, but I buy that orcas would do better in the wild. If you HAVE to be in a zoo, SeaWorld would be the one to be in. But at this point, I think they'd actually be better off by removing the orcas from their parks. Sure, it'd be read as them buckling to pressure. Yep. But those whales would be happier, and the parks might actually survive. Win-win? And I say again: I bet they're regretting "SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment" and "SEAS" right now. Would Worlds of Discovery Parks be faring as poorly? I don't know...

Seems pretty simple. Kings Island has a themed area dedicated to the old Coney Island. Perfect spot for any new flat-ride expansions, and if Coney Mall would get the same update / retro-fit that Gemini Midway got, it would be far and away the most beautiful area of the park.

ORIGINAL POST: So in other words, pretending that today's management was the management in place in 2006, preceding or immediately after the purchase.

In addition to bigger space, they get toys, jets, streams to swim in, deeper pools to play in, etc. SO much better than the current circular blue pools. Much more engaging. The fact they can actually swim instead of just floating is a hugely important thing. Again, not sure why they were kept in such a "primitive zoo" exhibit to begin with. In retrospect even now, it seems a little absurd.

Wow. That's... wow. Fast Lane Plus for the whole day? Oh man.

The orca habitat is definitely the least appealing. In terms of SeaWorld being a really good zoo, the orcas are the one habitat where it's like "ehhh...." It's just a big blue pool.

Paramount Park Spain will make sure of a VERY odd selection of intellectual properties (including quite a few you listed, silver, from Grease to Godfather.) DEFINITELY not ones I would've expected. Note that Paramount Park Spain (if it opens) will be like Tokyo Disney Resort, only licensing the rights to use Paramount branding and associated films. Paramount itself does not plan to own or operate the park through its channels. That could be great, like in Tokyo. Maybe not. I'm no expert so I don't know, but some of the ideas proposed here seem unlikely. A film's distributor, I'm guessing, doesn't just retain perpetual rights to use that film in any way it deems fit. Like Indiana Jones. Now owned by Disney. Even before it was, Disney exclusively had Indiana Jones themed attractions in its parks. I don't know what kind of deal was in place there, or for how long, or to what extent, but it seems that the Indiana Jones thing was off the table, even if the movie says "Paramount" before it. Likewise, Shrek. Dreamworks is no longer a subsidiary of Paramount. Even when it was, it partnered with Universal and Australia's Dreamworld. All I know is, it must not be as easy as it sounds. Paramount Park Spain will have a kids area made up of really odd, older fantasy movies that are no where near as recognized as Dreamworks' more recent films. So I think if they COULD have Dreamworks, they WOULD. You know?

Visited today. A whole table of "Geauga Lake Consignment Sale." Lots of shot glasses and key chains. Seeing them again made me remember how Cedar Fair inexplicably created merchandise with absolutely no consistency in park logos. A shot glass with "Geauga Lake" written in underlined Times New Roman. Another in some script. Another in blue Comic Sans. I so distinctly remember all their merchandise being mix-and-match logos now. Lost memories. As for the park, it's sad to see any in the state it's in. There were many more people than I expected - probably 50 or 60 - and a surprising number had all-you-can-ride wristbands, which were $25.00. Including kiddie land, there were maybe 12 operating attractions. I don't know stuff about taxes and arbitration and the park's current standing. Is the park worth saving? Obviously I'd rather it didn't close. It needs more than just to break even though. It needs serious TLC. Repaving, re-building, re-painting, re-growing, re-staffing... It might be hopeless. Not half of Kiddie Land's rides were open today. And why should they be? No one comes, so the rides aren't staffed. Rides aren't staffed because no one comes. Really a vicious cycle. It may be too late. I just got that impression. Could be a cute park, and if someone with a few million to spare could come in and basically re-build it from scratch, I think it would be a nice family park for the local community. As it is, it does feel like a dead end. Under nearly a million dollars in debt? The place isn't worth that to begin with. How do you break even there while also financing the countless improvements that MUST be made just to meet the status quo? If it were well-located along an interstate, I'd say a small time operator could work wonders with the park. For less than the price of a shiny new B&M, I think Parques could snatch the place, pay the debt, close it for a year, re-build, expand, build a ballroom, charge $17 for entry ($20 on concert nights) and it would be a nice little forested midway family park. So yeah, I do think that a reputable and financially stable owner could easily stabilize the park, grow it a teeny bit, and then coast with it. But... who would want to? :\ Yikes. I mean, maybe Parques would! They have Dutch Wonderland and Idlewild and Lake Compounce. Conneaut could easily be a small Idlewild with a year off to renovate.

Everything I've seen about it looks incredibly boss. I think any notoriety of Blackfish will thin out, it hit the market, ran through the media course, and now.... is just another film. Anyone who wants to research captive orcas more eventually ends up reading both sides, if they are truly interested. Yes, anyone interested in orca captivity will read up on both sides. Problem is, not everyone who considers (or would have considered) a trip to SeaWorld is genuinely interested in orca captivity. In other words, you now have a very large group of half-educated people who don't think about orcas daily, monthly, or even yearly and don't really care to learn about the subject. But when someone suggests a trip to SeaWorld, they'll suddenly be very vocal. It doesn't take an informed person to make a decision. And yes, Discovery Cove is a must every time I go to Orlando. I did the dolphin experience the first time, and it was wonderful for what it is. Every time since, I've left it out. Without it, I think the all-inclusive day is in the mid-$100s? Which is very reasonable for what you get. The dolphins add $100 per person, and it's a really nice experience once or twice but not a must-do. The park is still magnificent without it. EH HEM. All your questions shall be revealed below. (No spoilers. Just trying to not clutter the topic on SEAS stock performance.) From the article The Interpreter linked to earlier: Doesn't this just seem obvious? I guess not if the owners are frantically looking for a way out, which may be the case... If we're being honest, their biggest and most succinct attempt at something was Empire of the Penguins, which seems to have been running on fumes from the get-go. It seems investment just isn't in their cards. Not the kind these parks need and deserve, anyway. Shameful. Disney Parks once had a chairman named Paul Pressler with a similar strategy. Cut investment and reduce expenses. Install nothing new. Remove excess. Cut budgets. Revamp merchandise and operations to favor inexpensive knick knacks and quantity-over-quality. "Cheap and cheerful," you might say. Lightbulbs burnt out and were left dark. Gardens were untended. Pressler's own direction filled Disney's California Adventure with more shops and restaurants than rides - quick money! Big returns! Mr. Pressler was also the brains behind New Tomorrowland 1998. Lots of flash for little cash. The numbers look good for a few quarters... Record profit! Then it nose-dived. He fled in 2002, moving in as CEO of Gap, Inc. where he did... almost exactly the same thing, to almost exactly the same results. If you're interested in Disney, Mr. Pressler's time in the industry, or his particular style of strategy, I HIGHLY encourage you to read this article. What've Gap and Disney got to do with SeaWorld Parks? Different stories, different problems, same basic issue embedded in there...

I don't think it takes an all-new attraction to get people excited. I'm sure these forums would be ablaze with excitement if Backlot Stunt Coaster got a new name and an extensive re-theme. I can envision them building on what's there now with Backlot and giving it an earthquake-style makeover with minimal investment. Or they could invest more and focus on beautifying that area, giving it a Maverick-esque canyon-carving theme with willow trees and such. Yep! So what we know is: It takes less than a new ride, but more than a new name. I wonder if ridership on Backlot Stunt Coaster was markedly higher than on Italian Job: Stunt Track?

I joked with my friend that we swear we heard a young man saying, "Man, The Bat kicks [butt]. I'm so glad they got rid of [Flight Deck], it was a piece of [crap]." A wise man (or two) once said: Things are seldom what they seem, Skim milk masquerades as cream.

I love the SeaWorld Parks line-up. Great parks. Great service. Great style. Great rides. Great balance for families. Great shows. Great atmosphere. That's just slowly changing. Which is a shame.

We dream of Kings Island being so high quality in food, entertainment, rides, themed lands, music, etc. Busch Gardens Williamsburg has it, HAD it, and manages to screw it up. And that's with outcry telling them they're doing it wrong!

His plan, we're led to believe, is to bait and switch daily guests and the state of Kentucky. I imagine that Mr. Hart thought that Kentucky Kingdom would be a rousing success and that operators would be lined up begging to take it off his hands and fold it into their families. I truly think Mr. Hart planned to impress the hell out of the industry by saving a park, and that he knew he'd dump when the inevitable check was written. He thought the park's story would be one of a rousing success and that he could invest the taxpayer's money, assure himself hero status, then bail... again. Is $9.99 a clever last tactic to fill the park for promotional photos? A veritable "Winterfest" of advertisement? If so, it's going to backfire, just like so many of the park's moves. He's no doubt quaking in his boots now at the thought the he might be stuck with Kentucky Kingdom for another year or more. I don't think his plan was to go down with the ship, but if he's the captain when it happens this time...

By 2016 we'll probably be facing political ad campaigns promising us that democrats would have Cedar Point used for spare parts, with its rides distributed to the less fortunate. "Do you really want Michigan's Adventure having your Millennium Force?!"

And for only $49.94 more, you can have free drinks all day, too.

Sounds true. And though this doesn't mean they're low quality, they're certainly not working with headlining companies. Moser's Rides for Mach Tower? Zierer for Verbolten? I'm guessing Europe in the Air was created in-house? I guess Intamin has been their partner for Falcon and Cheetah Hunt (one had a very delayed opening, the other has not opened yet). Remember when the parks worked almost exclusively with B&M and churned out fantastic sister rides every few years? That partnership brought about Griffon, SheiKra, Alpengeist, Montu, Kumba, Great White, Kraken, Manta... I think the lack of planning and investment is the main problem. But it's aggravated by the park that whomever is making these decisions appears to be completely out of touch. Busch Gardens Williamsburg - most beautiful theme park on Earth. Irish mythology simulator "Corkscrew Hill" is replaced by the awful, modern "Europe in the Air," which closed halfway through last season, allegedly just to save money. The entry British hamlet turned into a modern plaza of horrendous decor and rock music. Mach Tower closed more than it's open. Entertainment division implodes last year with walk-outs and firings canceling most shows halfway through the season. And apparently next year, the park will get a 750-pph coaster decorated in modern, grungy, motocross, flaming-hoops carnival themes. My god... Never thought I'd see the day.

BUT if you're given unlimited food all season, what's the difference if that unlimited food is presented unlimitedly in a buffet? Unless the food isn't REALLY unlimited. Which it isn't. Perhaps folks were getting the wrong idea and taking advantage of unlimited food when their unlimited pass really was supposed to be limited. Get it?

New at Silver Dollar City for 2015: FIREMAN'S LANDING (Including 10 New Family Attractions) A new family-friendly land featuring 10 new rides and attractions. 1. FireSpotter – Soaring balloons for spotting fire dangers 2. Fire Wagon Frenzy - A bumpy ride for the bucket brigade volunteers 3. FireFall - The 8-story fire tower free-fall drop ride for more daring recruits Station No. 3 Firehouse Play Place, in which guests can meet the station's newest Dalmation residents and "sign in" for three training activities: 4. Firefighter's Fire Drill - Featuring buckets, pumpers, foam ball cannons, and targets for showing mock fires 5. Firefighter's Fire Escape - An obstacle course of tubes, mazes, climbing structures and slides. 6. Firefighter's Junior Escape - A soft play area for toddlers 7. Fireman's Flyer - A low-flying swing ride for little firefighters. 8. Up the Ladder - A smaller drop ride for junior recruits 9. The Roundabout - A bouncing ride on Dalmatians racing around a fire hydrant 10. Firehouse Splash Yard - Squirting water jets and pump hoses. What an outstanding development in the family craze... A nice evolution from Cedar Point's Gemini Midway. Wouldn't we kill for an area like this? Just so well done. No surprise though, is it? OFFICIAL SITE

If parks should shuffle in the future, here's hoping that the best of the best acquire some of SeaWorld's parks. Those parks deserve to be nurtured and invested in.

Let's just hope the park doesn't decide to go dry again! But I don't think that went very well.

SeaWorld is an odd duck. If we're really being honest, it's a zoo. And a darn good one! And the few coasters it has are nice ones. But people travel from around the world to get to Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World, and become absorbed into its parks and resorts and day trips and details. No zoo – no matter how beautiful – can compete with that. SeaWorld is not a great "theme" park, nor a great "amusement" park. It's a great zoo with some nice themes and thrills. It's just an odd duck. It doesn't quite fit with the parks it's supposedly "competing" with.

The Legend is right. The only truly remarkable and well-done rides added to the parks since this conversion have been Verbolten and Cheetaka. Everything else has been filler. This as the parks face exponentially stronger competition. At least fifteen years ago, a family visiting Walt Disney World would have a hard choice to make between a day at Universal Studios and a day at SeaWorld. As it is now, a visit to Orlando already includes Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando... SeaWorld will need to step up its game in some big ways. More and more, the future of the current SeaWorld Parks is looking grim. I bet, for one, they wish they hadn't chosen that name.

Isn't Midway Market the buffet? Maybe they could meter you... Season Long Dining Plan can go, but must wait quietly in the booth for 45 minutes between trips to the buffet.