If that May 24 date sounds familiar and significant, it's because that's also the date when SeaWorld Orlando is unveiling the biggest investment in that chain's history, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin.
That sets up a bit of conflict for Orlando-area theme park fans, and visitors who'll be in Central Florida at the start of this year's Memorial Day weekend. Do you head over to SeaWorld for the debut of its multi-million-dollar, high-tech new dark ride and penguin exhibit? Or do you hit up the Magic Kingdom for another Disney marathon? Or do you hope that the crowds flock to those parks and head to one of Orlando's other theme parks, instead?
In Anaheim, Disney's got no competition for the day. Knott's is opening its new wild mouse coaster the next day, and Magic Mountain's Full Throttle won't be ready until later in the summer. (Universal Studios Hollywood won't have anything new this year, as Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem isn't scheduled to open until 2014.) It's telling that Disney's opted to include both parks for this go in California, while leaving the event in just the Magic Kingdom in Florida. The original One More Disney Day drew tens of thousands of fans to Disneyland, overwhelming local streets and backing up traffic for miles on Interstate 5, as Disney had to close the park's gates as after-work crowds swamped the park. The larger Magic Kingdom actually drew fewer guests, as the Orlando area simply doesn't have anywhere near as many local Disney passholders as Southern California does, and late February isn't exactly prime time for tourists in either place.
But Disneyland's largest tier of annual passholders -- owners of the lowest-priced SoCal Select pass -- will be blocked out of the parks this time. And Memorial Day is a huge attendance weekend for tourists. So I'm wondering if the Magic Kingdom won't end up the more crowded park this time. Unless Orlando-area visitors opt for SeaWorld instead, of course.
What would you choose? Let's make that our Vote of the Week.
Let's hear your thoughts in the comments. And, as always, thank you for reading Theme Park Insider!
Which doesn't mean that I might not try the May 24th at DLR...
AWESOME ANNOUNCEMENT!
This whole promotion date makes me MORE interested in going to Antarctica. Is Disney that worried about SeaWorld taking away a significant amount of business? I doubt it; however if they are willing to pull promotion like this then they must think that SeaWorld has created something special with Antarctica, and I can't wait to see it!
To borrow (and then alter) Mr. Niles' words "if that May 24 date sounds familiar and significant, it's because that's also" the Friday before Memorial Day weekend.
By scheduling the rare, 24 hour event on the Friday, visitors who planned to hit WDW over the long weekend will start arriving the Thursday night before -- increasing resort rooms booked and money spent during those typical "night-before-the-parks-Downtown Disney forays."
Brilliant move by the folks at Disney.
I will be out of town that day, but if I was here in Orlando I probably would visit both SeaWorld and MK.
Those that are planning on going to Disneyland resort, please note that last time, they hit capacity around 9pm once everyone was off from their day jobs. So whatever park you are in at around 8pm, that's where you'll be staying all night.
I have a feeling more people are going to flock to CA Adventure this time around.
Universal has construction crews on-site almost 24/7. What would normally take 3 years can be done in just 1. Potter 2.0 is moving at incredible speed compared to the first land at IOA.
I do see Disney beginning to somewhat compete with the other parks. Disney usually sets the standards, if it continues to try and beat competitors, it's just a slippery slope. I pray that they see this before it's too late.
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With that out of the way, I'd choose MK. Antarctica will be swamped the whole day, plus how often can you see a sunrise over the castle?