O Captain! My Captain! EO!: Triumphant Nostlagia Returns to Disneyland

During a recent trip to Disneyland I had the pleasure of experiencing two newly re-opened nostalgia filled attractions: the fifth generation "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" and "Captain EO: Tribute". I thought I would offer my two cents on both...

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (Mach 5)
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln has not been a crowd drawing E-ticket attraction since its debut at the World's Fair in 1964, many see it as a 20 minute air conditioned break, but what it has been for decades is the last sliver of earnest, not entirely Disneyfied, American patriotism that Walt would be proud of. This latest incarnation continues the technologically impressive "edutaining", history lesson's legacy. The presentation begins with a well-made 10ish minute film about the Civil War featuring period music, historical photos, new artwork by Pocahontas animator John Pomeroy, and Paul Frees narration that combines elements from past versions with new material. The screen and curtains pull back to reveal not-quite-perfect robot Lincoln on an elaborate set with dramatic lighting and a classy background that changes from day to colorful sunset to starry night. Robo-Abe delivers the attraction's original speech crafted from segments of actual Lincoln speeches handpicked by Walt Disney himself and recorded by Royal Dano in the 60's. The recording, of course, has been digitally restored and sharpened for an improved presidential experience. There is an epic finale that concludes with a soaring eagle and the unabashedly patriotic ballad "Golden Dream" originally written for the classic Epcot attraction "The American Adventure". As you exit the attraction the hallway is filled with portraits of other important/influential patriots....such as George Lucas...and that is really the only negative thing I have to say about the experience...I have to see 'ole George being revered in the same manner as the Great Emancipator. Overall this is an excellent incarnation of the classic attraction, way better than the 2001 rehab that required you to wear headphones so they could simulate your hair being cut, aurally. More importantly though, Disneyland would be incomplete without this attraction, it will hopefully always be there in one form or another. Walt would want it that way. The park is filled with nostalgia for the past, even nostalgia for an old-fashioned view of the future, but this is the only instance of real historical preservation and true patriotism...which was always part of Walt's vision for the park. Grade: A

Captain EO: Tribute
I must preface this by saying that I have no recollection of seeing this in its original form (although it's quite possible that I did), only downloaded on my computer. While waiting in the queue to enter the theater, the audience is treated to the original pre-show film, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Captain EO featuring George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, and a bunch of dancers whom it mostly focuses on. Not a particularly interesting video, except in the sense of a historical document. Then you enter the theater and the real fun begins. A cast member gives a tidbit of history and directs the audience to put on their 3D glasses, and then we jump right in to the original 4D theme park movie experience featuring Michael Jackson and Angelica Houston. The plot is thin, the effects are old fashioned, and Michael is a laughable space captain, but all of that is irrelevant, because you are watching an enhanced/extended Michael Jackson music video, and everyone loves a Michael Jackson music video! Most of the original 4D effects are back in action, plus the new added bonus of the hydraulics equipped seating that simulates the ship's movement and (my personal favorite) bounces with the bass heavy pop tunes! The 3D looks great and the puppets and physical effects are much more charming than their lifeless CGI counterparts that would inevitably be in their place if it were remade today. As Captain EO sings, dances, and turns evil cyborgs into rainbow clad dancers via lasers from his hands, you can't help but bob with the music (literally) and have a great time! Despite being the first 4D movie ever produced, it still holds up remarkably well as a Disney theme park attraction, a testament to the dedication of its creators (or maybe MJ is just timeless). In any event, it is a refreshing change from Honey, I Shrunk the Audience which was really showing its age with the early 90's CGI and youthful Rick Moranis (Seriously though, what 8-year-old today has seen a "Honey, I Shrunk..." movie? I hope it doesn't return when Captain EO runs it's course). So in conclusion, despite its corniness, its solid theme park entertainment and definitely worth checking out next time you're there. Grade: B+

Great Job Disney, I can't wait for "World of Color" this summer!
Leisure On, folks!

Recession Dissection: Disney Discounts, Hard Rock Hawked

In previous posts I have touched upon the failing economy's negative effects on the theme park world, today I want to delve into this issue more in depth and explore exactly how parks across the country are being affected and responding to this recession. It is no secret, people are spending less today than they were a year ago, especially on unnecessary bonus commodities. According to NPD Group's latest Consumer Spending Indicator report, "In October, consumers said they were most likely to cut back on dining out (with 57% saying they planned to spend less), followed by apparel at 54% and entertainment at 50%." That includes theme park admission, souvenirs, and dining. Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld are all reporting lower profits this quarter. Although this is affecting the entire industry, it is the non-Disneys and Universals that are in the most trouble. Many parks are putting their plans on hold or shutting down entirely. Tennessee's Dollywood has delayed it's latest projects until 2010. Florida's famous Cypress Gardens is removing their rides and zoo animals. If you have a couple thousand bucks to spare you can purchase their attractions online (Starliner Woodie for sale, pictured, left). Branson's Celebration City is among the handful of parks that have been forced to shut down. Most depressing of all is that Hard Rock Park, the only major American theme park to open in the last decade, which filed for bankruptcy back in September, is up for sale six months after it's debut. With the future of theme parks everywhere on the line, I have commented on two excellent blogs regarding theme parks' responses to the current economic climate. One on a major park and one on a minor park. The first post I commented on, "Chance to Purchase Disney Theme Park Merchandise at Discount May be Approaching," is about the Mouse's latest response to the entertainment spending recession. Following up on a previous post about Hard Rock Park misfortunes, my second comment is on the Coaster Critic's post, "Hard Rock Park for Sale, Future Uncertain." I have included my comments below as well as to the bloggers' posts.

"Chance to Purchase Disney Theme Park Merchandise at Discount May be Approaching"
Comment:
Thank you for your lively post about Disney's new discount merchandise test. There have really been some interesting new Disney developments in response to the country's economy as of late, starting with the "What Will You Celebrate?" campaign. Unfortunately, I cannot see this idea being very successful. For one, it appeals only to a limited group of big Disney spenders or collectors who will be purchasing these items whether they have a discount or not. It is just a little bonus for them. These are the people that Disney has chosen as the testees for this experiment, and beyond this group it will be far less popular. Even if guests are willing to spend five hundred dollars on merchandise, they will feel better about it if they spend a little at a time as opposed to one large sum for the credit. On the other hand, it is possible that consumers may react favorably because it could theoretically put an imaginary limit on their spending. They have a specific sum of money allotted for the vacation and their souvenir budget must fit within this frame. Personally, I think the way I would use the credit would be on the collectible Disney artwork that I so covet every visit. Those might not be included in the credit's usage policy though. The fact, however, is that I am a poor college student, and as much as I would love to buy hundreds of dollars worth of Disney merchandise credit, it is not going to happen. This promotion is not going to affect my Disney consumption in the slightest, perhaps something a little less high roller oriented such as meal coupons would be a more enticing deal to those on a smaller budget. It is interesting that you do point out that there are benefits to be found in this time of economic crisis, which is a point that is often forgotten. There are great deals everywhere, and if you are a die hard Disney collector, this is a dream come true. Discounted merchandise inside the park is a rare phenomenon, indeed. Should this offer open to all Disney visitors, in addition to the select group it is currently servicing, it will be interesting to follow it's success and see if Universal follows suit with a similar promotion.

"Hard Rock Park for Sale, Future Uncertain"
Comment:
Thank you for another interesting and timely post. Sadly, this is most unfortunate news. I have been looking forward to Hard Rock Park since it was announced and was unable to make it to Myrtle Beach from Los Angeles in the few months it was open. The current economic slump is really taking a toll on these smaller parks. With so many shutting down and plans being pushed back, I hope we have a financial turn around soon. Theme parks' futures are on the line, certainly Hard Rock's is. It would definitely be interesting to see if the park's success would have been different in more affluent times. Although, the management's marketing incompetence seems to have been a major factor in it's demise. I think Cedar Fair would be the best choice for a new owner. In my opinion, they really improved Knott's Berry Farm's management when they purchased it in 1997. Granted they got rid of a lot of classic attractions that gave Knott's it's nostalgic, old-school charm, but financially it has been successful. What do you think would be the best choice? From what I know about Hard Rock Park, it appears to have more than a few worthy rides, attractions, shows, and ideas to be given a fair chance.

It is interesting to see how different parks are affected by the unfavorable economic climate. Disney does not seem too worried, offering a few merchandise and hotel discounts, while other parks like Celebration City are closing the gates. Perhaps it is time for parks to lower admission costs. When was the last time that happened? In a depression environment, the movie industry thrives because it is still the cheapest form of entertainment outside of the house, despite the higher-than-ever ticket prices. In order for theme parks to compete with them, it only makes sense to lower admission prices, especially in California where Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed applying the sales and use tax rate to amusement parks and sporting events, which will raise park admission by seven to eight dollars. I might have to sacrifice TiVo or gasoline to get my theme park fix. These are trying times. The worst part, however, is that we cannot look forward to any new parks getting built in this kind of economy.

Cirque du Suck: No Country for New Age Acrobatics

In a previous post I commented on the bane of every theme park: bad parenting. This week I discuss the second worse unpleasantness invading parks across the world: Cirque du Soleil and its rip-off shows. Almost every major theme park I have been to in recent years contains its own shortened version of the New Age, techno music driven, costumed Euro-acrobat extravaganza. The latest of these artsy displays is A'Lure, The Call of the Ocean (pictured, left) which just opened at SeaWorld, Orlando. The appeal of thinly plotted, repetitious acrobatics is beyond me, yet for some reason these pretentiously French-titled shows span the country from Cirque de la Mer at SeaWorld, San Diego to DisneyWorld's La Nouba. Las Vegas has not surprisingly become the Mecca of Cirque shows and smaller amusement venues such as zoos have their own versions. When will there be a stop to the Cirques? Although my own contempt for these shows can be traced to a personal issue, the Cirque-style acrobat performances are over-saturating the already struggling theme park show market.

The first issue I want to address is the appeal of these shows. Why are they so popular? I surmise that theme park managers love them because they are safe in the sense that they have multi-cultural and multi-generational appeal. Anyone can be amazed by the feats of the human body because that is something every human shares. Prolific columnist Linda Sharp conjectures that in a more health-conscious, exercise-obsessed world, people are drawn to and inspired by the physically fit performers of Cirque du Soleil. "If you are ever in the market for a truly humbling experience in terms of what the human body is actually capable of, take in any performance of the Cirque du Soleil — Be it live or televised," Sharp advises, "those one hundred sit-ups and two miles on the treadmill won't seem like such an accomplishment anymore." The traditional theme park style musical show can alienate certain people with its musical style (showtune, rock 'n' roll, funk, etc.) or storyline (if there is one), but anyone can appreciate acrobatics without any previous pop culture knowledge. Cirque-style entertainment is just the latest trend of bland mass-appeal theme park fads such as stunt and extreme sports shows from the 1980's and 1990's. Yet there is an interesting paradox regarding Cirque du Soleil that should be noted: even though the white, middle-class has been a traditionally homophobic group as we have just seen in the current election, it is precisely the white, middle-class who have popularized Cirque-style acrobatics despite the blatant homosexual undertones (see pictures, above and below). The cheapest "obstructed view" ticket at Las Vegas's notoriously homoerotic, Zumanity, costs $69, yet the show's success, in addition to the success of all the other Cirque productions, suggests that America has wholly embraced evenings of perfectly toned bodies, tight spandex, garish face paint, flamboyant costumage, and man grappling. When did same-sex ballet become more popular than "76 Trombones?"

Although the mass adoration of Cirque du Soleil may be a paradox, my own feelings toward it most certainly are not. I will have to diverge from the theme park world for a moment to explain my distaste. The Cirque-style show has usurped the position of real circuses such as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and commandeered the term "circus." Reviewers and publications talk about Cirque du Soleil as if it is a circus, it is not! Circuses take place under a big top and have a variety of acts taking place within one to three rings with American-style clowns, a ringmaster, popcorn, peanuts, cotton candy, some acrobatics, and most importantly animals. Cirque du Soleil is a major contributor to the disappearance of the traditional circus, something that is dear to my heart. Almost every year growing up my mom would take my sister and me to the San Diego Sports Arena to see Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus, "The Greatest Show On Earth." I have many fond memories of this incredibly fun and entertaining event, but I could not say when the last time I went to the circus was. Of course, the other major contributor to the decline of the traditional circus is PETA and the animal rights activists who think the only place for an animal to be is in the wild. It is true that Ringling Bros. has a history of animal abuse, and that definitely needs to stop, but overall they treat their animals with care and respect and even run a conservation center for elephants. The point I want to make here is that I cannot stand Cirque du Soleil because to me it represents the loss of the traditional circus.

Theme park show fads like Cirque-style acrobatics can be entertaining at first, but they have been around for a good ten years now and I have seen the same boring formula repeated over and over again. It is time to find something new. Cirque du Soleil can have its own theatrical venues where I never have to see them, but they need to get out of my beloved theme parks. They are preventing the development of fresh ideas and filling the venue space of better traditional performances. Hopefully, the scathing reviews for the latest Cirque du Soleil abomination, Criss Angel: BiLIEve, which opened on Halloween, are a sign of the demise of the New Age acrobatics tyranny. On the other hand, the struggling economy has severely decreased Broadway ticket sales, which cannot be a good sign for theater in general. An even worse thought than Cirque show saturated theme parks, is a world with no shows at all, and that is a very sad thought indeed. Theatrical entertainment is just as important to the theme park experience as rides, so come on parks! Get out of this boring slump and entertain me with a show!

Beyond the Queue: A Ride Through the Online Theme Park Community

This week, I explored the web in search of quality theme park related websites and blogs in an effort to gain a greater understanding of the online theme park community and enhance the reader's experience at this blog. In this post I will offer a short critique of twenty exceptional theme park news sites, online guides, and fan blogs using the Webby and IMSA criteria for evaluation. Content, structure, visual design, functionality, interactivity, depth, authority, and overall experience will be considered in my assessment. All of these sites can be found in my linkroll (right) in addition to this post. The first site I will address, as it is unique in my findings, is the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions website. The IAAPA (logo, left) "represents more than 4,500 facility, supplier, and individual members from more than 90 countries, including most amusement parks and attractions in the United States." IAAPA's excellent website is extremely comprehensive in its offering of information for industry professionals, however, its weakness is interactivity. It is a great source for information, but that is it. Next up is Webby Award finalist, Theme Park Insider. The site's main attractions are the reader ratings and reviews that help travelers plan their next theme park vacation. Despite the site's usefulness, there are too many advertisements that blend in with the site's substance interfering with easy navigation. Theme Parks Online is another excellent guide site that offers a unique interactive "virtual tour" of the parks which includes photos of each ride, restaurant, shop, and attraction. You can even change the year in which you "visit" the park. Because the site is so interactive, loading times are longer than desired. Also, the site is still a work in progress, so many parks' "virtual tours" are still in development. Ultimate Rollercoaster is a unique guide site that focuses on roller coasters and thrill rides. It contains extensive reviews and stats for coasters across the country as well as a nice feature chronicling the history of roller coasters across the 20th century. This great site has very little weaknesses, I might suggest enhancing the park guide section to compliment the coaster section. Moving on from the guide sites, we have the news and community sites.

My favorite theme park news site is Screamscape: The Ultimate Guide to Theme Parks. The name is deceiving as it is not really a guide so much as it is a daily listing of theme park related news, constructions reports, and rumors. The visual design could definitely be enhanced, it is very minimalist, but the quality and expansive daily updates more than make for its shortcomings. Coaster Buzz is a visually pleasing and easy to navigate site offering the latest roller coaster news as well as providing stats and basic information for roller coasters and parks across the world. Though nicely presented, the site's information could be a bit more comprehensive. For the Disney fanatic, there is Laughing Place, an expansive site "Connecting Disney Fans Across the World." News, park guides, blogs, special features, games, podcasts, a radio, and much more make up this diverse site. While the content is great, it could definitely benefit from a better organization of information and links to keep the reader from getting overwhelmed. Theme Park Review and Westcoaster are two community sites with the main feature of an active, high traffic, discussion forum. Both sites also provides trip reports, photo updates, and videos. Theme Park Review also contains news updates and park reviews, but has a bland visual design. Westcoaster, on the other hand, has excellent visual design and includes original blog entries, but could be improved with news updates and park reviews. The two sites could learn from each other's strengths and weaknesses and become two superior web destinations. Another unique site is Coaster Fanatics which contains a detailed roller coaster database and allows users to rate and keep track of their favorite coasters (user rating profile pictured, right). This is an excellently constructed site and I see little room for improvement except for the fact that it's news archive appears to stop at March 2008 and is in need of updating. Thrill Network is another diverse community site with a forum, news update, park database, and the unique features of an industry job listings section and a feature where members can share virtual roller coasters designed in programs such as Roller Coaster Tycoon. This is another site, though, that seems to have too much going on and could benefit from cleaner visual design and better organization. Bordering on news site and blog is About.Com: Theme Parks where the writer, Arthur Levine, offers his own commentary on industry news. I commented on this blog in a previous post. The strength of this site is Levine's personal commentary, everything else could use improvement, especially the structure and interactivity. Mouse Planet is a nice site offering basic Disney park guides, news, trip reports, blogs, a podcast, a forum, and more. The visual design is bland and the pages load slowly, but the jewel of this site is the large blog section offering original articles written by a diverse team of industry professionals and enthusiasts. That will lead us in to a series of outstanding blogs I discovered while searching the web.

The first blog I found is Coaster Radio Blog. It is the companion blog to the internet's first theme park related podcast. Though aesthetically pleasing and covering a wide variety of theme park related topics, many of the posts are a bit too short and lacking in substance. Less visually appealing is Jim Hill Media. This blog offers excellent, original, mostly Disney related posts. Jim Hill must have inside Disney connections because the blog is often first to report significant Disney news. The Disney Obsession is one of my new favorite blogs. The focus of this site is not news based. The writer, a self-proclaimed "Disney obsessive compulsive," passionately posts on personal observations about the Disney parks which makes for an interesting and often emotional read. Another excellent Disney blog is, appropriately titled, The Disney Blog, a source of Disney news and information for fans by fans. Despite being timely and informative, there are too many advertisements on this site for my taste and the posts do not promote reader discussion. Rounding out the Disney related blogs is Re-Imagineering. This is a unique forum where Disney and Pixar professionals discuss imagineering missteps and solutions. The posts are often controversial and lead to passionate debates on the site. Thrill Holder is a blog where writer/park enthusiast, Will Holder, offers his unique commentary on the theme park industry. The posts are excellent, however, it is not updated with frequency, in fact, the last post is from June. The last blog I found is the award-winning The Coaster Critic. The Coaster Critic offers his opinion on recent theme park news while also providing reviews of parks and coasters. It is a well-designed blog, however, I think the posts could be a bit longer and meatier. Overall, I hope this will be a useful supplement to my blog and will peak readers' further interest in the online theme park community.

Celebration Vacations: What Does it Mean for Disney?

With the holiday season quickly approaching, theme parks are rolling out the promotional campaigns for 2009, the most significant of which is Disney's new "What Will You Celebrate?" campaign. At a rare and rumor-steeped announcement in New York City on Thursday, Jay Rusalo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, revealed their big plans for next year. The question-posing campaign's goal is to encourage families to celebrate significant events in their lives at the Disney resorts. Everything from birthdays, to anniversaries, to reunions, to personal triumphs are invited to the year long party. To facilitate this all-inclusive festival Disney will be offering a number of personalized add-on services for guests to customize their individual celebrations such as the one-of-a-kind cake pictured, right. Additionally, they will be debuting new online tools to help families plan their personalized visit in detail. To top it all off, in a historic move, Disney, a company which rarely has park admission discounts, will be offering free admission to anyone on their birthday. Disney's press release states that this campaign is the result of a nationwide survey revealing "that 70 percent of U.S. leisure travelers have taken a vacation with the primary purpose of marking a special occasion in their lives – a 'celebration vacation.'" While the post 9/11 world and economic depression may be causes for the emergence of this new trend of "celebration vacations," the question is, will the people come to party? The success of Disney's 2009 campaign is dubious given its unprecedented nature.

On the subject of the "celebration vacation," I would like to consider if its emergence is due to more that just financial circumstances. People want justification when spending a large sum of money, and a day at Disney, let alone a Disney vacation, is no cheap affair. Is simply taking a vacation or having a day of fun not enough to justify the cost? Maybe there is a feeling that people do not deserve to take a vacation without justification. After all, vacations do not exactly fall in line with the American work ethic. Americans are expected to work hard every weekday. The multitude of drugs available to help people accomplish their daily tasks as if they were healthy makes even sickness a moot excuse for absense. Taking a break is almost unpatriotic. Vacations are seen as a reward or privilege, rather than a pleasure to be taken advantage of for one to relax and spend time with those they love. The reasons for the celebration vacation's emergence must be more than financial, especially since Disney's myriad of new guest/event specific services such as family portraits, personalized souvenirs, decorated or themed hotel rooms, private cruises, and in-park birthday parties are going to cost a hefty additional fee.

An interesting aspect of this campaign is its mentality that guests are only going to visit the park once. It has a "well-they're-only-gonna-come-here-once-so-lets-milk-them-for-all-they're-worth" philosophy behind it. All of these personalized, occasion-specific features are cool, but they do not encourage multiple visits. Attendance should be the biggest concern of a theme park ad campaign. That is exactly what Disney's current three-year long "Year of a Million Dreams" promotion encouraged by giving away many prizes every day. It was successful considering Disney park attendance has increased steadily each year since 2003. Comparing the success of these two campaigns will be interesting when it is all said and done.

In comparison to other theme parks' new campaigns, Disney is definitely weak. Six Flags has chosen to hype up the 2009 season with a series of announcements regarding new attractions in all of their parks such as the Buccaneer Battle, an interactive water ride, at Six Flags Great America and the Glow in the Park parade at Six Flags Over Texas. Disney's only major new attraction for 2009 is The American Idol Experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios park in Orlando. It is not exactly the broad appeal attraction that will bring in the crowds. Where are the new rides? Rides and attractions are the core of the theme park industry. I know those are what keep me coming back. Disney seems to be neglecting this important park aspect. Granted, the innovative Toy Story Mania attraction opened this summer in both Anaheim and Orlando, but that was 2008's major draw. New ride hype should not be underestimated. Disney has always been more than just an amusement park, and these new custom services are a great addition, but making them the focus of their entire promotional campaign is underwhelming, especially with the build up of the mysterious New York announcement.

The most disappointing aspect of this campaign for many Disney fans, including myself, is passionately expressed by John Frost on The Disney Blog, a blog maintained by and for Disney fans. The source of this disappointment is the fact that Disney used to have fun promotions that tied the films, parks, and parades together. True cross-marketing experiences with exciting and inspirational themes and taglines. Instead of an incendiary "Where the Adventure Begins!" we are asked a question "What Will You Celebrate?" The most disturbing thing, Frost writes, is that "Disney is equating themselves with the local Chuck-e-Cheese. Little Johnny’s having his Birthday? Where do we want to celebrate? How about Chuck-e-Cheese? Or maybe Disneyland?...Disney isn’t in the same category as local options, and they shouldn’t act like it either." Whether it is because of the recent Disney film releases, a lack of communication between the films and parks divisions, or for some other reason, one of Disney's biggest draws has ceased to exist. These promotions were a huge part of the Disney magic. 1994's "The Lion King Celebration" (promotional image pictured, left) is a perfect example of these exciting campaigns. It featured an extravagant and technologically astounding parade that brought the film to life in the park. The Lion King became more than just a movie. An innovative and seamless integration of films, music, shows, characters, stories, and attractions in to one experience of perfect synergy is what has raised Disney to its status as the number one name in theme parks, vacations, and family entertainment.

The "What Will You Celebrate?" campaign undermines the fact that Disney is larger than life. It is more than just a place to go for a party. The real draw of a Disney park on a psychological level, is that it creates an illusion of escape from ordinary life, it is a fantasy world designed to let the visitor forget everything else and just enjoy. This promotion breaks the magic barrier and brings Disney out of its fantasy world and into our everyday world. That is not what Disney should be about. Needless to say, I feel that returning to promotions like those of the 80's and 90's, along with some great new shows and rides, would be a more effective marketing campaign for keeping guests coming back again and again.

Disney has not been reaching its full potential as of late and the fans' nostalgia for a more exciting time is catching up to them. The "What Will You Celebrate?" campaign is not a step in the right direction, but it will be interesting to see what kind of crowd it draws in next year. Free birthday admission is definitely going to be a big factor. If the "celebration vacation" trend continues Six Flags and Universal may not be far behind in offering custom services too, but let us hope they can come up with more-than-lackluster promotions in the future and remember that great attractions are what bring guests back. The theme park and vacation industries are constantly evolving, who knows what ideas will roll out next. Only time will tell.