Paramount is bringing a $4.3 billion (£3.5 billion) theme park to Dartford, Kent by 2022. The London Paramount “U.K. version of Disneyland” will feature over 50 attractions, including rides and a 2,000-seat theatre. As well as Paramount properties, the park will boast licensed attractions from BBC Worldwide (possibly including Doctor Who) and Aardman Animations (Shaun the Sheep).
Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida will open its new Avatar-themed land, Discovery River into Pandora, in May. The experience transfers visitors across the Alpha-Centauri solar system, where they will explore floating mountains and bioluminescent rainforests. Windtraders, the on-site store, will offer fans a range of Na’vi cultural items, toys, science kits, and more.
Italy’s Leolandia theme park expands its Masha and the Bear area for the 2017 season with new features and attractions.
Sanrio Entertainment partners with virtual reality authoring, publishing and analysis company InstaVR in a content production deal that will add VR experiences to Puroland, Sanrio’s official Hello Kitty theme park in Tama, Japan.
Overall, the amusement/theme park business is ramping up—for licensed brands, it’s only getting better. Global theme park spending totaled $40.4 billion in 2015, up 7.4% from 2014, according to the Intl. Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA). See the full story on amusement park profits here.
Data Source: Brand Finance. Note: Numbers may not add up exactly due to rounding. |
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Park | Operator | Location | Properties |
---|---|---|---|
Alton Towers | Merlin Entertainments | Staffordshire, U.K. | Cbeebies |
Chessington World of Adventures Resort | Merlin Entertainments | Surrey, U.K. | The Gruffalo |
Disney’s Animal Kingdom | Walt Disney Parks & Resorts | Florida, U.S. | Avatar |
Disney’s California Adventure | Walt Disney Parks & Resorts | California, U.S. | Guardians of the Galaxy |
Disneyland | Walt Disney Parks & Resorts | California, U.S. | Star Wars (2) |
Heide Park | Merlin Entertainments | Soltau, Lower Saxony, Germany | Ghostbusters |
Hong Kong Disneyland | Walt Disney Parks & Resorts | Hong Kong | Frozen, Iron Man, Marvel (2), Moana |
IMG Worlds of Legends | IMG Worlds | Dubai, UAE | Nickelodeon (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants), Ubisoft (Assassin’s Creed, Raving Rabbids, Just Dance), Power Rangers, Pokémon, Mattel (Barbie, Hot Wheels, Bob the Builder, Thomas & Friends, Mega Bloks), Toei Animation (Dragon Ball Z, One Piece), Naruto, Cartoon Network (We Bare Bears, more TBA) |
Legoland Florida | Merlin Entertainments | Florida, U.S. | Ninjago |
motiongate Dubai | DXB Entertainments | Dubai, UAE | Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Ghostbusters, Hotel Transylvania, Kung Fu Panda (2), Madagascar, Shrek, The Smurfs (4), The Green Hornet |
Port Aventura | PortAventura World Parks & Resort | Tarragona, Spain | Ferrari |
Six Flags Great Adventure | Six Flags | New Jersey, U.S. | Justice League |
Six Flags Magic Mountain | Six Flags | California, U.S. | Justice League |
Six Flags Over Texas | Six Flags | Texas, U.S. | Justice League |
Six Flags Over Georgia | Six Flags | Georgia, U.S. | Justice League |
Six Flags New England | Six Flags | Massachusetts, U.S. | Justice League |
Six Flags Great America | Six Flags | Illinois, U.S. | Justice League |
Tokyo Disney Sea | Walt Disney Parks & Resorts | Tokyo, Japan | Finding Nemo |
Tokyo Disneyland | Walt Disney Parks & Resorts | Tokyo, Japan | Beauty and the Beast, Big Hero 6, Minnie Mouse |
Universal Orlando Resort | Universal Studios | Florida, U.S. | Nintendo |
Universal Studios Florida | Universal Studios | Florida, U.S. | Fast and Furious, Jimmy Fallon, Despicable Me/Minions |
Universal Studios Hollywood | Universal Studios | California, U.S. | Nintendo |
Universal Studios Japan | Universal Studios | Osaka, Japan | Despicable Me/Minions, Nintendo |
Warner Bros. Movie World | Village Roadshow | Queensland, Australia | Ice Age |
Untitled Paramount park | Paramount | Kent, U.K. | Paramount, BBC Worldwide, Aardman Animations |
Leolandia | Minitalia Leolandia | Capriate San Gervasio, Italy | Masha and the Bear |