The Barney show at universal however, is a good example of a dated attraction...if it weren't for an old Barney video I picked up at the discount rack at one of the big box stores she would have had no idea who Barney was.
It will be interesting to see if anyone climbs on this 'miss spider' series that seems to be gaining traction at least with my kids.
As for Barney, it still runs on our local PBS station, though at 5 am. It's definitely a franchise that theme parks should be watching for weakness.
A good designer, along with a good park to manage it and enough, can build a land using breakfast or the backyard as the theme and be successful. A prime example is Legoland. They created a whole park based on a boy's toy. Not big ticket Marvel Comics or Disney characters, but a simple plastic block that we all know and love. Legos aren't nearly as big as they used to be, but they are ageless because of their simplicity and because they are passed down from parent to child. The same goes with the Peanuts. What keeps them alive each year is it's simplicity the parents who grew up with them passing them down to their kids, as I am to mine. While that's not the ideal situation for theming a kids area, it will do if they can wow the audience with a great design. I'm not talking about a single ride or two, but rather a whole design with continuity and atmosphere, much like Nick Universe, who's sum was greater than it's parts. Only by that formula will Camp Snoopy enjoy the same success as Nick Universe has. Of course with Cedar Fair, it may be a pretty big if we are talking about.
I don't know about the newspaper, but I'm still waiting for the park company that cashes in on one of the fastest growing and most profitable forms of entertainment...the video game. Where is the Nintendo land?...I'll repeat, where is the Nintendo land? The other two platforms, XBox and Playstation, have their franchises that cater mostly to boys 10 and up, which could make for some great attractions. Very few images are as familiar to the 20-40 crowd, and an ever increasing amount of their children, as those classic Nintendo characters, who are still around and selling millions of games every year. Where is it park execs?
Got the point: Dick Tracy
But then again, Snoopy is known for those animated features (The Great Pumpkin, that whimpy little Christmas Tree, etc), but you are right, how relevent?
If that is the case, how was Disney able to keep their stuff so fresh? Is this the reason for the vault? I am just curious though I know that Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Mickey's House of Mouse helped alot.
Still, whenever I think of Mall of America, I think of Camp Snoopy. I am old.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/business/global/06lego.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=lego&st=cse
I don't think Robert is giving the Peanuts gang enough credit; they're an established international brand that is truly loved around the world. The Nick characters are flash in the pan with little staying power beyond their screen shelf life. Like Legos, the Peanuts holiday specials are passed down from parents to children so the comic strip aspect is not material to Snoopy's lasting success with kids. Cedar Fair made the right move dumping Nick for Snoopy as a financial decision to save money on IP and as a lasting connection to its young audience. If only CF would put some money into making Camp Snoopy look really nice with some decent non-carny rides, but that's another story.
Derek's idea for a Nintendo Land is perfect. There is little doubt that the vast landscape of today's video game franchises will eventually lead to the theme park characters of the future. Nintendo Land would be a huge success and it shocks me that no one has yet made the attempt.
Derek, lets hit Pres. Obama up for a some of that bailout money and make things happen!
Do you think that this IP will endure? Or, can you make it endure for future audiences with attractions that will remain fresh for years?
Let's put it another way: If your IP's continued cultural relevancy depends primarily upon the distribution medium of newspapers, you've got a problem going forward.
Terrence Gallman
Well, the Marvel Characters and many other comic book characters have found new life in the movies