Great thread; I think outside of Universal Experiences the American themepark landscape is currently stagnating. I could argue that even UDX is stagnating with Events and other parks are picking up some slack If you’ve been disappointed voice your concerns appropriately to the organizations - ThreadSky

thatjakekid91.dissky.com • 88 days ago

Great thread; I think outside of Universal Experiences the American themepark landscape is currently stagnating.

I could argue that even UDX is stagnating with Events and other parks are picking up some slack

If you’ve been disappointed voice your concerns appropriately to the organizations

Reposted from Jeremy Thompson

Since this is the first time in relatively modern history that a major roller coaster record has moved backward, it's worth pondering whether the state of American theme parks at large has also regressed, at least from the perspective of those who visit and care about these experiences. (THREAD)

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thalain.bsky.social•88 days ago

(Continental) Europe is a different beast however. Great new rides popping up left and right and few losses.

thatjakekid91.dissky.com•88 days ago

Oh yeah, I’m strictly thinking of the US market. I talked about how in Europe, Asia, and cruising Disney is the challenger brand, so they’re pushing harder to gain market share.

Domestic parks, it’s Universals for the taking.

thalain.bsky.social•88 days ago

To be honest, I think Disney is far behind in all markets when it comes to value. Europa Park has more rides than the whole 4 parks of WDW combined, for half the day price of any Disney park worldwide - and wait times that makes it possible to actually use them without express.

thatjakekid91.dissky.com•88 days ago

I don’t disagree, but they have the highest attendance and average spend.

When I look at Efteling & Europa they’re definitely lagging.

thalain.bsky.social•88 days ago

They don't want more. Most Euro parks are focused on giving a good experience, not grabbing the last Euro. Neither Efteling nor Europa do any express passes. They put an extra train on the tracks if waits get long instead of taking one off so they can sell line skips.

thalain.bsky.social•88 days ago

Efteling actually has a legal cap of 5m visits per year for environment reasons, too (and they're already stretching it by counting a multi-day hotel stay as only one).

alexandermbush.bsky.social•88 days ago

Speaking on UDX and events I wonder how intently they are watching the domesticated version of Universal Cool do with Fan Fest Nights @ USH. If it’s successful, then that could be a major leap in combatting SFs ploy of Scream Break.

themeparkmikeb.bsky.social•88 days ago

This is why I find myself frequently talking with guest relations at both universal and Disney. Not so much Seaworld or Busch gardens cause i genuinely believe management there don’t care about guest feedback. I don’t complain for free shit I give honest direct feedback.

thatjakekid91.dissky.com•88 days ago

I email and do surveys. I typically don’t go to guest services unless it’s a big issue or it’s a ticketing problem.

But I think both are super important

themeparkmikeb.bsky.social•88 days ago

When I have specific feedback I like a fire hose method.

thatjakekid91.dissky.com•88 days ago

But that’s also valid. I’m a proponent of social reach outs for positive interactions on the fly too.

It helps me not forget

paintervision.bsky.social•88 days ago

Some of the Six Flags parks give me hope, blurring the lines between “amusement” and “theme” parks. Jeff Siebert is doing good things with Fiesta Texas, Dorney Park’s Iron Menace has nice theming, and I’m looking forward to Rapterra at Kings Dominion next year.

thatjakekid91.dissky.com•88 days ago

If the legacy Cedar branch & leadership can get the Six flags branch to the same operational and safety level I think Six has a good future.

But man seeing them rip out all these rides with little to no capital investment is rough

thatjakekid91.dissky.com•88 days ago

I’ll also note, I went to SF:Fiesta and did have a lot of fun. I had a terrible coaster run though. I think I picked up 6 new coasters because so many were down, and my ADA accommodations were pretty terrible there too.

But I had a lot of fun at their Halloween event

paintervision.bsky.social•88 days ago

Missteps aside (Ka closure without announcing it publicly), I’m willing to give them a chance.

When Cedar Fair took over the Paramount Parks there was some dicey things happening around it (Geauga Lake closures, ride removals, etc) - but those parks came out the other side looking much better.

paintervision.bsky.social•88 days ago

The only thing that worries me is how big the chain is. Parks already got passed-over under Cedar Fair; now with 51 properties I don’t know how they will balance additions… and I’m a little worried that they will not really “compete” anymore for some markets with overlap.

thatjakekid91.dissky.com•88 days ago

Yeah, it’s a different game with UDX, DisParks, & United. United happily picking up the leftovers, but Universal is trying to take Disney’s market share actively.

I’m hoping that the Horror Unleashed, Kids Park, and Merlin building the smaller FEC type parks make Cedar Six step up some

paintervision.bsky.social•88 days ago

If they’re a hit, all for more Universal Kids parks.

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