TEA ERA 3/26/07 4:20 PM Page XII
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the first time for gambling in this
context. On Sentosa Island, a major
tourist and family destination, the TOP 20 NORTH AMERICAN AMUSEMENT/THEME PARKS (2006)
first integrated resort will soon
Ranking 2006
appear (2010) contained within a
2006 2005 Park & Location Attendance Change
larger, family-themed resort being
1 1
MAGIC KINGDOM at Walt Disney World 16,640,000 3.0%
developed with Universal Studios. Lake Buena Vista, Florida
The Sands casino (Las Vegas) is
involved in developing Marina Bay, an
2 2 DISNEYLAND, Anaheim, Calfornia 14,730,000 1.2%
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
urban, integrated casino resort in
downtown Singapore to open in
3 3 EPCOT at Walt Disney World 10,460,000 5.5%
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
2009.
4 4 DISNEY MGM STUDIOS at Walt Disney World 9,100,000 5.0%
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
The resort approach also points to
5 5 DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM 8,910,000 8.6%
ways of extending the length of the at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
operating day. “There’s a media
6 6 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS 6,000,000 1.2%
infusion across all experiences that
at Universal Orlando, Florida
can be used to broaden the appeal of
a destination,” explains Dan Martin, 7 8
DISNEY'S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE 5,950,000 2.1%
Anaheim, California
VP of ERA’s Chicago office. “Music,
sound, and lighting packages can be
8 9
SEAWORLD FLORIDA, Orlando, Florida 5,740,000 2.5%
programmed and cycled to attract
different age groups at different
9 7
ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE 5,300,000 -4.8%
times of day and night.”
at Universal Orlando, Florida
The growth, success and business
10 10
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD 4,700,000 0.0%
Universal City, California
creativity of indoor waterpark
resorts—of which there are currently
11 12 BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY, Tampa, Florida 4,360,000 1.5%
about 40 across the US—invites
study. They are not turnstile attrac-
tions; they distribute a certain 12 13
SEAWORLD CALIFORNIA, San Diego, California 4,260,000 4.0%
number of passes per room night
booked. (That makes it difficult to 13 15
KNOTT'S BERRY FARM, Buena Park, California 3,670,000 2.0%
gauge actual park visits, and has kept
them from being listed in these 14 14
PARAMOUNT CANADA'S WONDERLAND 3,230,000 -2.0%
Maple, Ontario
attendance tallies.) Todd Nelson’s
family- and business-friendly Kalahari
15 18
CEDAR POINT, Sandusky, Ohio 3,070,000 -2.5%
resorts in the US boast some of the
world’s most extensive indoor
16 16
PARAMOUNT'S KINGS ISLAND, Kings Island, Ohio 3,050,000 -1.5%
waterplay attractions in combination
with hotel and convention facilities
17 23
HERSHEY PARK, Hershey, Pennsylvania 2,690,000 -0.4%
plus retail, restaurants and condo-
miniums. “If indoor waterparks were
18 20
SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE 2,730,000 -8.0%
Jackson, New Jersey
on the Top 15 list, Nelson’s would be
there,” says Martin. “And the Wilder-
19 21
SIX FLAGS GREAT AMERICA, Gurnee, Illinois 2,620,000 -8.0%
ness Hotel and Golf Resort in Wiscon-
sin Dells would be right behind
them.”
20 22
SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN 2,550,000 -10.0%
Valencia, California
Potential age-range appeal within Note: Attendance figures are estimates, based on company information, annual reports, published information
waterpark resorts is especially broad
Percent changes for 2006 for certain parks (noted by *) are based on adjusted/updated figures for
and resorts are making the most of it
Source: TEA and Economics Research Associates (ERA)
by offering such diverse experiences
as hydrotherapy and spa facilities;
open-ended adventures that are not
physically demanding (i.e. lazy rivers);
XII © 2007 TEA and ERA APRIL 2007