Archive: December, 2009

Jeff, Carrie, Mike and Pat review this week's news in the amusement industry.

• Cedar Fair sale is pending to Apollo, a private equity firm. Does it mean anything to the average customer? Is the foregone conclusion that the business is capital intensive something that will be challenged? Gonch asks why you have to build something every year to return to a place you already like.
• Jeff thinks the talent bleed from the acquired Paramount Parks was one of the core issues with the company, not to mention a "what would Cedar Point do" attitude toward managing the various parks.
• Micromanagement and a lack of trust in underlings certainly led to problems. The arrogance that Cedar Fair could realize cost savings was a huge part of their failure.
• Sale is contingent on unit holder approval. Hard to say how that will go, as a relatively small percentage belongs to institutions.
• Comcast acquisition of NBC Universal rolls on. Lots of regulatory agencies will watch this one.
• Universal Orlando starts to ramp up marketing for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
• Cedar Fair sues Santa Clara over 49ers deal, just to protect their interests. They're still talking.
• Disney is going to back off on discounts at Disney World. Have we turned a corner in the economy?
• Tivoli chasing wind power. Weird that more parks don't do this. Carrie says it's because wind blows.
• Roy E. Disney dies, was credited with maintaining the soul of the company. What's up with the direct to DVD movies though?
• Candlelight Processional is a big deal and a tradition at Epcot with celebrity readers.
• Additional thoughts on the goings on at Disney World during the holidays, including how they measure wait times.
• Off-topic: perks at work, free beverages, discounts and bus lines. More nonsense on Jeff's personal blog.
• New events posted to the list for 2010 on the club page. Check them out!
• CoasterBuzz Club is $25 per year. You can join or renew today. Enjoy CoasterBuzz with no ads.

Jeff, Carrie, Mike and Pat review this week's news in the amusement industry.

• Jeff goes to Disney World. What did they really do to Space Mountain? It didn't seem that different, aside from a lot of paint. New Hall of Presidents film is way cool. "Peterman" was doing the Candlelight Processional. Snow in Houston made travel difficult, and Seattle to Orlando is a lot longer than it looks.
• Osborne Family Christmas light display at Disney Hollywood Studios is completely amazing.
• The Kings Island versus Mason tax issue seems to sway overwhelmingly against. The panel seems to agree that it seems like an arbitrary money grab.
• Universal Orlando fined by OSHA for accident involving worker in Dueling Dragons low zone, fences coming.
• Six Flags Great America "saves" a family coaster from Kiddieland, but really they get a cheap ride that will be easy to market to families. Hardly the philanthropic cause it sounds like on the surface.
• Busch Entertainment sale complete, new company called SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment.
• Check out the Busch Gardens Christmas Town photos in the Day in Pictures forum.
• Speaking of Christmas events, remember the one they started at Kings Island? Cedar Fair should have given it some time. Insert "old man's gotta go" rant here.
• Yet another proposal for a Six Flags bankruptcy plan, including the suggestion that Six Flags shouldn't get to decide the only plan. Carrie doesn't care, she just wants to hear about the outcome of the bankruptcy.
• A guy with a robotic wheel chair makes a big scene about how poorly Disney World treated him over his sweet chair. We can't help but feel that there's a certain amount of douchebaggery going on from him. Jeff can't honestly believe he would be "harassed" after just being at the parks, given their own employees and the accommodations they make.
• The electric scooter thing is still out of control at Disney World. Jeff's wife wondered if you'd see the same thing at the Disney parks in Paris or Tokyo. They've become a crutch for anyone who just doesn't want to walk. Carrie believes that culturally even doctors want to treat the symptoms instead of the cause, and this is representative of that.
• Additional thoughts on the goings on at Disney World during the holidays, including how they measure wait times.
• CoasterBuzz Club is $25 per year. You can join or renew today. Enjoy CoasterBuzz with no ads.