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Disney Planning A ‘Muppets’ Sequel; Sees ‘Avatar’ Park Attraction in 2015

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Tuesday March 13, 2012 @ 9:20am PDTTags: Disney, The Muppets, Theme Parks

The Muppets Movie Sequel DisneyDisney CEO Bob Iger let the frog out of the bag at the company’s annual meeting in Kansas City today. “Somewhere in my mind I know that work is being done on a sequel,” he said, before stopping himself saying he didn’t know how much has been disclosed about a second ‘The Muppets‘ movie. Iger added, in response to a question, that design work is “just beginning” for the Avatar attraction planned for Animal Kingdom in Orlando — and “in all likelihood” it won’t open until 2015. He says the company is “working on some concepts” to introduce attractions involving Marvel characters. They’re also “kicking around ideas” to enhance the presence of Pirates Of The Caribbean and Cars at the parks. “It would be tough to do walk-around characters” for Cars, he said.

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Comcast Hints That ‘Harry Potter’ Will Go To Additional Universal Parks: UBS Confab

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Monday December 5, 2011 @ 1:07pm PSTTags: Comcast, NBC, NBC Sports & Olympics, Olympics TV Rights, THe Wizarding World Of Harry Potter, Theme Parks, Universal Islands of Adventure, Verizon FiOS, Verizon Wireless

Comcast CFO Mike Angelakis says that The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter was so successful for Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure that it became “a reset mechanism” for the theme park. But he stopped short of confirming reports … Read More »

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‘Avatar’ Theme Park Deal Won’t Inflate Disney Costs, CFO Says

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Wednesday September 21, 2011 @ 11:14am PDTTags: Animal Kingdom, Avatar, Disney, Fox, James Cameron, Theme Parks

Will ‘Avatar’ From Fox Provide Disney With The Theme Park Hit It Needs?
Disney and Fox Unveil Plan For ‘Avatar’ Theme Park Attractions

Disney’s newly announced Avatar theme-park attraction is ”a perfect example of something that could be a needle … Read More »

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Will ‘Avatar’ From Fox Provide Disney With The Theme Park Hit It Needs?

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Tuesday September 20, 2011 @ 1:10pm PDTTags: Disney, THe Wizarding World Of Harry Potter, Theme Parks, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios

Disney And Fox Unveil Plans To Develop ‘Avatar’ Theme Park Attractions

Disney must be hoping that its new plan to build Avatar theme park attractions will be the shot in the arm the business may need. And, unbelievably, the new … Read More »

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Disney And Fox Unveil Plan For ‘Avatar’ Theme Park Attractions

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Tuesday September 20, 2011 @ 10:22am PDTTags: 20th Century Fox, Animal Planet, Avatar, Bob Iger, Disney, James Cameron, Lightstorm Entertainment, Theme Parks

Disney has licensed exclusive global rights to the Avatar franchise from Fox and James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment — and the director will help to develop the attractions, CEO Bob Iger says. The first will be at Animal Kingdom in Orlando. The goal, he says, is to enable visitors to “enter the Avatar universe and explore it first-hand.” Cameron adds that “to bring that to life at Animal Kingdom is fantastic because it’s so thematically aligned. … We want to do things that maybe they haven’t even thought of.” Tom Staggs, who runs Disney’s theme parks, says the company is “just beginning the development phase” for a complex that will begin construction in 2013 and include Avatar-themed shops and food destinations to “bring that world to life.” Although he wouldn’t say how much the company has budgeted, he compared the scope of the first project to the 12-acre Cars Land site at Disney California Adventure Park. Cameron is working on two Avatar sequels that he plans to release around Christmas 2014 and 2015. ”That seems to correspond well” with the park plans, he says — noting that the destination will include environmental features that don’t appear in the movie. Iger says the attraction will open after the movies, although “we’re in the ballpark.” Avatar will add jobs in the ”low single digit thousands,” Staggs says. Here’s the release:

BURBANK, Calif. — Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide is joining forces with visionary filmmaker James Cameron and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the world of AVATAR to life at Disney parks. Through an exclusive agreement announced today by Disney, Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox, Disney will partner with Cameron and producing partner Jon Landau to create themed lands that will give theme park guests the opportunity to explore the mysterious universe of AVATAR first hand. Disney plans to build the first AVATAR themed land at Walt Disney World, within the Animal Kingdom park. With its emphasis on living in harmony with nature, Animal Kingdom is a natural fit for the AVATAR stories, which share the same philosophy. Construction is expected to begin by 2013.

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Disney Shuts Down All Operations In Tokyo

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Friday March 18, 2011 @ 11:32am PDTTags: Disney, Earthquake, Japan, Theme Parks, Tsunami

The two Tokyo theme parks have been closed since last Friday’s earthquake and tsunami (they were used as shelters for park-goers stranded following the quake), and now the Burbank-based company is temporarily suspending operations in the city’s stores and administrative … Read More »

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Disneyland Turning Away Visitors At Gates

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Tuesday December 28, 2010 @ 4:34pm PSTTags: Disneyland, The Walt Disney Company, Theme Parks

It’s a nice problem to have if you’re the Walt Disney Co — but not if you’re trying to visit the Anaheim theme parks. I’m told that both yesterday and today Disneyland began turning away would-be visitors within hours of opening and … Read More »

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Reliance Bringing Universal Studios Theme Parks To India?

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Friday July 30, 2010 @ 4:13am PDTTags: Marvel Comics, Reliance ADA Group, Spider-Man, The Hulk, Theme Parks, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, Wall Street Journal
Mike Fleming

The Wall Street Journal reports that Reliance ADA Group is negotiating with Universal Studios to replicate its  movie-themed amusement parks in India. The result would be a $1.5 billion new park that covers 400 acres –in either New Delhi or … Read More »

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Disney & Guillermo Del Toro Developing Film Based On Haunted Mansion Attraction

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Thursday July 22, 2010 @ 12:48pm PDTTags: Comic-Con, Comic-Con Convention, Disneyland, Guillermo Del Toro, The Haunted Mansion, The Haunted Mansion Movie, The Walt Disney Studios, Theme Parks

UPDATE: Luke Y Thompson reports from Comic-Con 2010 today: Walt Disney Studios ended the TRON panel with a surprise: the logo of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion ride! The green drawing of a ghost was shown along with some of the spiel from the ride. The audience is asked who … Read More »

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VIDEO: Harry Potter Theme Park Opening

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Saturday June 19, 2010 @ 6:10pm PDTTags: Actors, Studios, Theme Parks

Featuring actors Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, author J.K. Rowling, composer John Williams, and crass commercialism:

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Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Now Open

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Friday June 18, 2010 @ 1:20pm PDTTags: Books, Movies, Studios, Theme Parks

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort celebrated its grand opening today after 5 years in the making. “I said right at the beginning, either we do it right or we don’t do it at all,” J.K. Rowling said in a statement. “The teams at Universal and … Read More »

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Harry Potter’s Orlando Theme Park Opens

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Thursday June 17, 2010 @ 3:20am PDTTags: Actors, Movies, Studios, Theme Parks


harry potter theme park2

I still say ugh to such crass commercialism. But the studio tells me that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort kicked off its grand opening celebration last night with help from … Read More »

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Warner Bros Snubbed London Over Harry Potter Theme Park

By TIM ADLER in London | Tuesday June 8, 2010 @ 4:14am PDTTags: Books, Finance, London, Movies, Studios, Theme Parks

harry theme parkThe studio ignored London mayor Boris Johnson’s plea to site the Wizarding World of Harry Potter over here rather than Florida. Johnson has called for the public to write to Warner Bros, petitioning for a second theme park to … Read More »

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More About Harry Potter Wizarding World

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Thursday April 15, 2010 @ 3:18pm PDTTags: Movies, Theme Parks, Video

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Universal Studios Korea Theme Park & Resort To Be Opened in 2014

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Tuesday January 19, 2010 @ 7:39am PSTTags: Foreign, Studios, Theme Parks

(SEOUL January 19, 2010) A consortium of reputable South Korean conglomerates led by Lotte Group signed a Framework Agreement in Seoul today announcing the multi-billion dollar Universal Studios Korea Theme Park and Resort project at Gyeonggi Province of South Korea. Universal Studios Korea Resort (USKR) will include a state-of-the-art Universal Studios theme park, Universal CityWalk, a retail, dining and entertainment complex, a championship 18-hole golf course, themed hotels, a water park, premium retail outlet and hypermarket, as well as condos.

“Korea is a great business opportunity for Universal Parks & Resorts. We are excited to be working with an esteemed group of Korean corporations under the leadership of Lotte, and we are thankful for the strong support of the Korean government,” said Tom Williams, Chairman and CEO, Universal Parks & Resorts.

In December 2009, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs of South Korea announced the Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Plan which confirmed various highway and railway extension plans were underway to provide the necessary transportation infrastructure for USKR.

“Universal Studios Korea shows our continuous commitment to growing our business in Asia,” said Williams.”

Highlights not before announced include:

  • New project business partner with extensive theme park experience
  • Construction and opening timetable schedules
  • Employment data and park site size
  • Approval of Korean Government Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Plan to build highway/transportation infrastructure to support the major theme park resort.

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EXCLUSIVE: DISNEY’S BIG JOB SWITCH; CFO Tom Staggs Moving Over To Theme Parks, Theme Parks Chairman Rasulo Moving Over To CFO; More Swaps Planned

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Thursday November 12, 2009 @ 10:01am PSTTags: Moguls, Studios, Theme Parks

iger 2mouse smallBREAKING NEWS! 4TH UPDATE: The Disney press release finally came in at 10:24 AM (see below). I first heard the rumor at 10:00 AM, and confirmed it minutes later. Wow, what a shocker from Walt Disney CEO Bob … Read More »

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EXCLUSIVE: Spielberg Agrees To Push Back His “Put” to 2017 On Universal Theme Park Consultant Agreement

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Tuesday October 20, 2009 @ 10:25am PDTTags: Studios, Theme Parks

spielberg theme parkThis is a huge concession by Steven Spielberg, who has had a longstanding 2% consulting deal with Universal theme parks dating back to January 20, 1987, and the days when Lew Wasserman/Sid Sheinberg controlled the studio. Nowadays, … Read More »

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Universal Studios Singapore Launches ‘Madagascar’ & ‘Shrek’ Attractions From DreamWorks Animation

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Wednesday September 23, 2009 @ 12:53pm PDTTags: Foreign, Movies, Studios, Theme Parks

SINGAPORE, 24 September 2009 – Asia’s largest integrated resort in Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa, has created not one, but TWO world’s firsts in collaboration with DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA) within its Universal Studios Singapore theme park.

Themed after DreamWorks Animation’s blockbuster movie Madagascar, Madagascar: A Crate Adventure will be

… Read More »

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Details On ‘Harry Potter World’ Theme Park: Opening Spring 2010

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Tuesday September 15, 2009 @ 12:21pm PDTTags: Movies, Studios, Theme Parks
rtmp://streaming.deadline.com/ondemand/video/bc-archive/1379067645_40311713001_The-Wizarding-World-of-Harry-Potter-Fly-Through.flv rtmp://streaming.deadline.com/ondemand/video/bc-archive/1379067645_40311670001_The-Wizarding-World-of-Harry-Potter-Map.flv

harry theme parkORLANDO, Fla. (September 15, 2009) – Universal Orlando Resort, together with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, today revealed first-ever details about the incredible scope of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

… Read More »

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