All articles tagged with #theme parks
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced a €6 billion investment to build three theme parks near Paris, to be developed in Cergy-Pontoise on the former Mirapolis site and featuring a manga-themed attraction. Led by the investment firm Qiddiya, the project was unveiled during Macron’s visit and is expected to create about 22,000 jobs, marking a major boost to the Paris area as a new global destination.
Saudi Arabia will invest six billion euros ($7 billion) to build three mega theme parks on the outskirts of Paris (Cergy-Pontoise), financed by the Qiddiya entertainment group. Macron called the announcement extraordinary and said the projects would create about 22,000 jobs, with a scale unmatched since Disneyland Paris; one park is rumored to be Dragon Ball-themed.
Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro used the D23 expo briefing in Anaheim to outline a Disneyland-focused future built on extreme attention to detail and fan experience, stressing that Disney Imagineering will push for perfection and often scrap concepts that don’t meet standards. He emphasized balancing legacy with audacious new ideas and maintaining a direct connection with fans. The event also highlighted upcoming park plans tied to an ongoing expansion of Avengers Campus, a Coco boat ride, Avatar-themed land and a Tomorrowland makeover as part of Disney’s broader theme-park push.
Disney’s D23 Expo unveiling signals a roughly $60 billion, decade-long push to refresh and expand its theme parks with IP-led lands and targeted upgrades to attract casual, international, and loyal visitors. Key moves include reviving the Disco Yeti at Expedition Everest, bringing back Dreamfinder and Figment to Epcot, and overhauls of Tomorrowland, plus new attractions like Monstropolis, Avengers Campus, Villains Land, and Cars-theming. Disney emphasizes placing fans at the center of decisions to balance rapid expansion with the needs of regular guests and passholders, aided by strong recent quarterly results (nearly $10 billion in Experiences revenue) and audience-focused promotions.
Disney’s fiscal third quarter was powered by Toy Story 5 and strong theme-park performance, delivering $25.2 billion in revenue (up 7%) and $5.5 billion in operating income (up 21%), with streaming turning more clearly profitable. While some franchises underperformed at the box office, Disney outlined a broad strategic shift—moving consumer products into the entertainment division, turning Disney+ into a comprehensive membership ecosystem, and using AI to boost creativity and efficiency—funded in part by stock buybacks from the $1.2 billion sale of its A+E stake. Parks remained a bright spot domestically despite softer international attendance, and the company signaled significant changes ahead across its divisions.
Disney’s experiences segment (parks, cruises, resorts) posted nearly $10 billion in Q3 revenue, a 10% year-over-year gain and a quarterly record, with operating income above $3 billion. Domestic attendance rose and guest spending increased, aided by promotions and refreshed attractions, while two new ships boosted cruise capacity and resorts revenue. Despite a 6% drop in international travel to the U.S., Disney says it is outperforming competitors in parks and maintains momentum through marketing and promotions.
Disney posted a 21% jump in Q3 operating income to $5.6B on revenue of $25.2B, powered by Toy Story 5, stronger park attendance, and streaming profits that more than doubled to $712M on $5.5B SVOD revenue; the company also disclosed the $1.2B sale of its 50% stake in A+E Global Media, continued ESPN strength, and a plan to make Disney+ a central, more expansive membership ecosystem with international originals.
Disney is set to report fiscal Q3 2026 results before the bell, with expected EPS of $1.86 and revenue of $25.4 billion. Investors will parse CEO Josh D’Amaro’s growth strategy—emphasizing intellectual property, storytelling tech, and expansions in parks and streaming—after July layoffs and amid cautious macro conditions. Park attendance and guest spending in domestic parks have shown resilience, while Disney+ and ESPN’s DTC app will be watched for subscriber and ad growth as the company outlines its path forward.
A Cleveland family of five spends six days in Orlando, mainly at Universal with an Epic Universe visit and one Disney day, totaling about $8,620 before rewards. They flew Frontier to save time, stayed in two Terra Luna Resort rooms to fit everyone, used four-day park-to-park tickets (skipping Express Pass), and offset costs with a $300 dining credit per room plus $1,920 in credit-card rewards, leaving roughly $6,700 out-of-pocket. The family says it was worth the memories.
Peacock posted its first-ever quarterly profit in Q2 (EBITDA $189 million) as subscribers rose to 48 million, helped by sports events and global hits; NBCUniversal’s total revenue reached about $10.7 billion, with strong film and sports-driven results, though theme parks showed near-term softness with EBITDA down 5.1%. Comcast is moving toward a split into two independent companies, with executives noting profitability will vary quarter to quarter based on content timing and sports schedules.
Disney and Kraft Heinz have struck a multiyear strategic alliance spanning film/TV, streaming, theme parks and cruises, bringing Kraft Heinz brands like Heinz, Philadelphia and Kraft Mac & Cheese into Disney content and park experiences, plus new menus and condiment stations at parks and ships and media integrations around major events; terms were not disclosed, with collaboration expected to unfold across Disney’s ecosystem.
A summer travel feature highlights five anticipated roller coasters debuting this season across major parks, including the 309-foot Tormenta Rampaging Run at Six Flags Over Texas, plus other high-speed, beyond-vertical experiences at Universal Studios and Legoland, alongside family‑friendly options for broader appeal.
Fiesta Village Family Fun Park in Colton, California, will close permanently after more than 50 years due to rising operating costs and declining attendance; opened in 1974 and run by Michelle and Patrick O'Brien since 2002, the park grew from mini-golf and go-karts to amusements like rides, laser tag and a roller-skating rink; last public days were July 10–11, and owners said they couldn't find a buyer, leaving generations with memories of field trips and birthday parties.
A man exited a Kilimanjaro Safaris vehicle at Disney World's Animal Kingdom to urinate in the bushes in full view of other guests and his child; a cast member intervened, the incident went viral, and commentators condemned the behavior while noting possible consequences, though Disney has not publicly confirmed any punishment; such actions could lead to a lifetime ban due to safety concerns with wildlife on exposed open-air rides.
Disney announced at its 10th anniversary event that Shanghai Disney Resort's third hotel will be the Disney Enchanted Star Hotel, an Art Nouveau-inspired 400-room property opening in winter 2027; it will be the smallest of the three current hotels (Shanghai Disneyland Hotel with 420 rooms and Toy Story Hotel with 795), and a fourth hotel near the park entrance was announced in November 2025.