Some blue news for Tokyo & Orlando
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Attendance slips at Tokyo Disney theme parks
Attendance dropped at the Tokyo Disney theme parks this past spring and summer when compared with the same period one year ago. The opening of Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea in June did help boost the number of visitors to the parks, but not enough to overcome a drop following the end of the resort's 40th anniversary celebrations on March 31 this year.
Tokyo Disney Resort owner Oriental Land Co. reported attendance of 12.2 million guests at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea for the six months from April 1 to September 30, 2024. That's down 2.4% from the 12.5 million people who visited the parks during the same period in 2023. Oriental Land Co. owns and operates the Tokyo Disney Resort under license from The Walt Disney Company. Oriental Land Co.'s current fiscal year runs from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.
Despite the drop in attendance, net sales per guest did rise 4.4% year over year for the first half of the current fiscal year. The average Tokyo Disney guest spent 17,303 yen [US$112.94]. Spending on tickets and food and beverage drove the increase, while merchandise sales slumped 6.3% as the anniversary merchandise came off the shelves.
Overall, net sales were up 2.1%, to 238.7 billion yen [US$1.56 billion] for the period. Operating profit was down 18%, to 63.1 billion yen [US$412 million].
In addition to the end of the anniversary celebration, Oriental Land Co. blamed "lower demand for travel and severe heat" for lower theme park attendance. Fantasy Springs has been a multi-billion-dollar investment for the company - the largest since the opening of Tokyo DisneySea. But capacity restrictions to preserve the guest experience have limited its ability to drive attendance. You can find our coverage of the new land here: Tokyo Disney opens its new Fantasy Springs.
Oriental Land Co. also recently announced plans to bring the Disney Cruise Line to Japan, with the debut of a new Wish-class ship by 2029: Disney cruises are coming to Japan.
For discounts on admission to the Tokyo Disney theme parks, please visit our partner's Tokyo Disney Resort theme park tickets page.
Link: https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/202410/10537/
Blue Man Group sets date for Orlando return
Performance art trio Blue Man Group has set a date for its return to the Orlando.
Blue Man Group played for years in the former Nickelodeon Studios theater at Universal Orlando. That show closed for the pandemic and never reopened. Earlier this year, Blue Man Group announced that it would return to Orlando in a new home on International Drive's ICON Park.
That show will open April 3, 2025. The new Blue Man Group show will play in a custom-built, 578-seat theater next to ICON Park's Orlando Eye. It's the first theater custom built for Blue Man Group and its unique multi-sensory performance.
If you've not seen it, Blue Man Group is a non-verbal music performance that incorporates percussion, movement, props, lighting, and a really big mess on stage. Since debuting in New York in 1991, Blue Man Group has played to more than 50 million people worldwide through multiple residencies and touring shows. It's also now part of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.
"We cannot wait to unveil our new Orlando show in spring 2025," Blue Man Group Managing Director Jack Kenn said. "It's the perfect way to kick off spring break for locals and visitors alike, here at ICON Park, right in the heart of Orlando’s Entertainment District."
Tickets for the show will range from $59 to $104 per person. They are available now on the Blue Man website. The show will play six days a week, with no shows on Mondays.
Link: https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/202410/10538/
It's almost time for the return of Holidays at Universal Orlando
Universal Orlando has set its schedule for the return of its annual holiday celebrations.
The Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort will start this year on Friday, November 22 and continue through Tuesday, December 31. The celebrations will include the return of the resort's traditional three holiday favorites.
Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, at both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure
Grinchmas at Universal Islands of Adventure
Universal's Holiday Parade featuring Macy's at Universal Studios Florida
The Harry Potter celebration will include the return of The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle projection show in Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure as well as the Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees holiday show in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida.
The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular show also returns this year, with entrance via Seuss Landing. The Grinch will be meeting guests in Who-ville, as well.
Finally, the daily holiday parade in Universal Studios Florida will include floats featuring Despicable Me, Shrek, and Madagascar, as well as Santa Claus lighting the 80-foot Christmas tree in front of the Macy's facade in the park's New York section.
And yes, an all-new Holiday Tribute Store will be open this year, again featuring the resort's cult favorite, Earl the Squirrel (above).
For tickets to the parks, including a two-day free deal or advance Epic Universe admission, please visit our ticket partner's Universal Orlando tickets page.
For assistance in planning a complete Universal Orlando vacation, including discounts on bundled on-site hotel stays, please contact our partner for a free, no-obligation vacation quote.
Link: https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/202410/10539/
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Robert Niles