Universal Studios Japan's First Year Attendance?

Nine million through the gate at Universal Japan so far? Can that be true?

From Anonymous
Posted January 4, 2002 at 10:44 PM
An Anonymous User submitted the following report:

Universal Studios Japan exceeded 9,000,000 first year visitors number on January 4. It is expected that the 11,000,000 guest comes by March 31.

Um, wow! I couldn't find a confirmation of this report anywhere on the web. If it's true, wouldn't that make USJ Universal's most popular park?

Granted, Japan has a history of supporting theme parks. After all, Tokyo Disneyland is the world's most attended theme park. But for a first year park, this would certainly be an impressive performance. Can anyone confirm? And if it is true, is this lighting a fire under anyone at Vivendi? -- Ed.

From Anonymous
Posted January 5, 2002 at 10:30 PM
I've Heard this too, I also heard that they are expected to have 12 million people that visited the park in it's first full year.

From Hidenori Kemmotsu
Posted January 6, 2002 at 4:48 AM

From Kevin Baxter
Posted January 6, 2002 at 6:49 PM
Okay, I posted once, but that has disappeared. Hopefully I won't double-post now.

I heard that they pre-sold more than a million tickets before the park even opened. Experts predicted they would do far better than Universal's predictions of six million by year's end. Yeah, by about three million!

I can't see how this would affect the US parks. Like I said on another thread, maybe they will try out some new technological ride in Japan, since they know it will bring people in there. Then, if it is a hit, they can clone it, debug it and bring it to the US for less than the original.

Don't forget that it looks like Universal IS doing stuff this year. USF is supposedly turning Kong into a Scorpion King coaster. USH is turning the Wild West Stunt show into a Rush Hour Stunt Show and they are currently transforming Cinemagic into something different. (Unfortunately Men In Black is probably still at least a year in the future.) And IOA is still allegedly doing something big (Jurassic Park Jeep Safari?) this year. This may not be loads, but it beats the glacial pace over at Disney.

From Anonymous
Posted January 9, 2002 at 2:56 PM
Kevin,

What is the Men in Black attraction you mention? surely that is already in place at USF, though admittedly it does appear only half finished....

From Kevin Baxter
Posted January 9, 2002 at 10:18 PM
Men In Black has been operating in USF for over a year and a half now. Click over on the USF link for a more detailed explanation of the ride. USH is rumored to be looking into building a version in the near future. With their current problems, I would guess that it will happen in 2003.

From Anonymous
Posted January 11, 2002 at 6:11 PM
I heard that Universal has already started planning and setting up phrase 2 for Universal Studios Japan

From Kevin Baxter
Posted January 12, 2002 at 6:53 AM
Someone in the park's hierarchy said that with new attractions the park could do even better this year. I haven't heard anything about it and Universal isn't known for being secretive about their additions, so I believe there isn't anything but talking going on so far.

From Anonymous
Posted April 7, 2002 at 8:16 AM
Per Variety dated march 5, 2000:
Universal Studios Japan theme park passed the 10 million visitor mark Sunday, just 11 months after opening......
And I heard from someone currently working on the park expansion (yes, it is in the works) that they passed 11 million.

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