Disney, Universal and SeaWorld roll out attractions

waits to enter the park. The $200 million Harry Potter land, based on the popular books and movies, became an instant game-changer for Universal’s Islands of Adventure. In less than a month of its opening, more than a half-million rides were taken on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and for the first time in more than two years, Universal Orlando posted an attendance gain. Just half a year of Harry Potter was enough to lift Universal Orlando’s full-year attendance by 20 percent. Children rejoiced with new rides such as Under the Sea — Journey of The Little Mermaid. Another anchor attraction, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster, opened later in 2014. And parents, broken down by long lines in the hot sun and their children’s tantrums, also rejoiced as Be Our Guest, a Beauty and the Beast-themed restaurant, sold alcohol for the first time in the Magic Kingdom. Harry Potter opened up, allowing Muggles to ride Hogwarts Express and walk through Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. Theme park enthusiasts were wowed by the attention to detail. growth during quarterly shareholder earnings calls. will also open Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway where riders get state-of-the-art 3-D effects without wearing special glasses at Hollywood Studios where the Great Movie Ride was once located.

On Wednesday, SeaWorld Orlando announced a spring 2019 opening day for the new Sesame Street land. The theme park is overhauling Shamu’s Happy Harbor play area and plan to add a daily parade for the first time, a wet and dry play area as well as iconic locations from the television show. “We’d like to build the actual Sesame Street that kids can be on and walk down,” then-SeaWorld Entertainment CEO Joel Manby said last year.