Posted on 12/22/2001 6:25:17 AM PST by Pharmboy
Here's a look at the 20 most popular theme and amusement parks in North America, their 2001 attendance and the percentage change from last year as estimated by Amusement Business, a trade publication.
1. The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, 14.7 million, down 4 percent
2. Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif., 12.3 million, down 11 percent
3. Epcot at Walt Disney World, 9 million, down 15 percent
4. Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World, 8.3 million, down 6 percent
5. Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, 7.7 million, down 7 percent
6. Universal Studios at Universal Orlando, 7.2 million, down 10 percent
7. Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando, 5.5 million, down 8 percent
8. SeaWorld Orlando, 5.1 million, down 2 percent
9. Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif., 5 million, opened in 2001
10. Universal Studios Hollywood, 4.7 million, down 9 percent
11. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, 4.6 million, down 8 percent
12. SeaWorld California in San Diego, 4.1 million, up 13 percent
13. Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, Calif., 3.58 million, down 3 percent
14. Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, N.J., 3.56 million, up 1.7 percent
15. Morey's Piers, Wildwood, N.J., 3.4 million, up 3 percent
15. Adventuredome at Circus Circus, Las Vegas, 3.4 million, up 7 percent
17. Paramount's King's Island, Kings Island, Ohio, 3.36 million, up 4 percent
18. Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, Calif., 3.2 million, down 3 percent
19. Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, 3.1 million, down 9 percent
20. Santa Cruz (Calif.) Beach Boardwalk, 3 million, no change
Six Flags: Proud Past - A Thrilling Future
The founder of Six Flags, a Texas oil baron named Angus Wynne, would be proud of Six Flags' rise to preeminent standing in the entertainment industry. A pioneer in the truest sense of the word, Mr. Wynne broke new ground when he opened Six Flags Over Texas, the world's first Six Flags park.
He had a great vision. Mr. Wynne studied other pioneers around him and applied his own vision and imagination to create a new form of family entertainment. He imagined regional parks large in scope but closer to where people lived, making them convenient and affordable.
A broad entertainment product, featuring innovative rides complemented by brilliant theme presentations, became a sure-fire formula for success. His ingenious use of themes elevated the centuries old amusement park concept to a theme park. Angus' vision in 1961 was theming-theming that could enrich an entertainment experience. He was right on target. The regional theme park industry was born.
Throngs flocked to Six Flags Over Texas when the park opened in 1961. Six themed sections modeled after the culture of six countries whose flags flew over Texas during the state's colorful history, created a spectacular and magical setting for guests, and provided the park's namesake. The inventive theming afforded guests a chance to take a trip to a place that previously only existed in their imagination. For Texans quite at home with cowboy culture, Six Flags Over Texas was bigger than Texas, showcasing French and Spanish cultures with Southern belles and Pirates
Today, Six Flags is the gold standard of regional theme park entertainment. The parks are bigger and bolder than ever, offering cutting-edge, one-of-kind rides and so much more. A licensing agreement with DC Comics and Warner Bros. Consumer Products allows Six Flags the exclusive theme park rights to many of the world's greatest super heroes and cartoon characters. DC Comics Super Heroes, Batman, Superman and Looney Tunes Bugs Bunny and all their friends reside at Six Flags-creating a unique experience.
2001 will prove special at Six Flags. Guests will find grand and gala celebrations all summer long with groundbreaking new rides, show-stopping new entertainment and spectacular new headline events. This year at Six Flags there are more reasons than ever to celebrate. The 40th anniversary party begins at all 39 Six Flags this spring.
Six Flags, Inc. is the world's largest regional theme park company. The company owns and operates 39 parks throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. Six Flags theme parks serve 40 of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. The parks annually host more than 50 million guests worldwide. A publicly held corporation, Six Flags, Inc. maintains corporate offices in New York City and Oklahoma City. The company's stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol: PKS
The first Six Flags is in Texas. The name refers to the six flags that have flown over Texas through it's history: France, Spain, Mexico, The Republic of Texas, The Confederate States and the United States.
Height of Track 215 ft.
Length of Drop 206 ft.
Track Length
(total ride length) 2,700 ft
Angle of Track 90 degrees
Angle of Twist 450 degrees
Model Double-twisting impulse coaster
Structure Steel Tubular Track
Features Two 450 degree twists
Linear Induction Motor (LIM)
Color Scheme Teal columns and sunburst yellow track
Speed First launch (forward)
approximately 50 mph
Second launch (backward)
approximately 63 mph
Third launch (forward)
approximately 69 mph
Fourth launch (backward)
approximately 72 mph
Fifth launch (forward)
approximately 62 mph
Capacity Approximately 1000 riders per hour Vehicles Eight four-passenger coaches One 32-passenger train Vehicle Design Steel coaches with individual shoulder restraint and restraining belt Vehicle Color Dark blue frame Magenta seats and wheel covers Yellow shoulder restraints Investment $9 million Manufacturer Intamin
The train is propelled rapidly forward by linear motors reaching a speed that carries the vehicle approximately half way up the front tower. After stalling out and reversing, the train enters the LIM section again where the train is further accelerated in the opposite direction so that the train climbs almost the full way up the rear tower. Stalling and dropping, the train re-enters the LIM section where additional thrust is added sending the train forward at the maximum speed of 72 M.P.H. and reaching the full height of the tower - 215 feet above the ground. Stalling and reversing, the train plummets, re-entering the LIM section where energy is added again boosting the train the full height up the rear tower. With the final pass throught the LIM section brake energy is applied sending the train only halfway up the front tower. The train reverses and enters the LIM section and is finally positioned in the load/unload area.
DITTO
I refuse to go. My husband has taken our oldest son once. It's not worth the huge amount of money they want.
I agree about the price if you're referring to full price. But who pays that? A lot of workplaces have discounts (last summer at mine, an adult ticket to King's Island was $23.95). And then there are the discount coupons at McDonalds or Wendy's, etc. They can shave seven or eight bucks off an admission. Even Coke cans took seven dollars off one summer.
You must really like to wait around in long lines!
Just as with any park, you have to time it right. I was at Kings Island with the family this past Summer and hit it on a good day. Longest wait we had for any of the rides was 10 minutes for The Beast. Racer had no lines. Vortex was only a 1 carload wait. The water rides had no lines. Only real wait was at the 3D theaters, but that was just waiting for the show in the theater to finish.
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