Business at most of Orlando's theme parks was flat or up slightly in 2003, raising hopes the area's uncertain tourism economy is continuing to recover from a two-year slump.

Only Disney-MGM Studios saw a decline. Attendance there fell 2 percent, according to estimates released Friday by Amusement Business.

But visitor counts grew at SeaWorld and Disney's Epcot and held steady at the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom and at Universal Orlando's two parks, the trade magazine said. Park officials neither confirm nor deny the magazine's estimates but often cite the figures.

"There's no question that flat is better than down," said Bill Peeper, president of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Attendance at most of Central Florida's megaparks fell sharply between 2000 and 2002, hurt by a recession and a slump in travel after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Only Universal's Islands of Adventure saw a modest increase during the period, which is attributed to the move of Halloween Horror Nights from Universal Studios in 2002.

"The fact we're flat does say maybe we've bottomed out," Peeper said.

Despite its flat attendance, the Magic Kingdom remained the most-visited park in the world, Amusement Business said. Tokyo Disneyland saw a slight jump in attendance but remained No. 2, followed by the original Disneyland, which drew about the same number of visitors this year as last.

Disney's California Adventure saw a 13-percent jump in visitation on aggressive marketing and good reviews of the stage show Disney's Aladdin -- A Musical Spectacular.

Attendance at Universal Studios Hollywood fell 12 percent, while a soft economy and a slow rebound in the South and Central American markets led to a 4 percent decline at SeaWorld's sibling, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

If there's a lesson in this year's Orlando theme-park visitor counts, it's this: build it, and they'll probably come.

Business generally was better at the Central Florida parks that added attractions and about the same at those that didn't, the magazine said.

Last summer's launch of Mission: Space, a $100 million rocket-ship ride, helped lift Epcot's annual attendance 4 percent, the magazine said.

Attendance was flat at Disney's Animal Kingdom and at the Magic Kingdom, which opened a 3-D movie attraction, Mickey's PhilharMagic, in October, during what is usually a slow period.

The decline at Disney-MGM Studios followed a successful "100 Years of Magic" celebration in 2002, the magazine said.

Disney wouldn't comment on the magazine's estimates, but a senior company official said in a statement that business at the company's U.S. parks is looking up.

"We have now seen several months of consistent but moderate growth in our domestic parks, both among international and domestic guests," said Jay Rasulo, president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

SeaWorld also had a 4-percent increase, thanks to the opening of the Waterfront, a shopping and dining area, Amusement Business said.

"Since opening the Waterfront, we had six record months," through November, spokeswoman Becca Bides said.

But attendance was flat at Universal Studios despite the opening of Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast and Shrek 4-D, the magazine said.

Amusement Business said attendance held steady at some Orlando parks because a continued slump in international travel offset gains in domestic visitation.

Overall, tourism has improved throughout the year, said Peter Yesawich, an Orlando-based travel-marketing consultant.

Concern over the threat of war in Iraq squelched many people's travel plans in the first part of the year, but that has given way to higher consumer-confidence levels in the months since, he said.

"I think we've certainly got the wind at our back economically," and that could help tourism in the coming year, he said.

Dennis Speigel, a theme-park consultant based in Cincinnati, said he has heard from manufacturers who have had discussions for rides to open in the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

"We are a capital-driven business," he said. "New attractions will drive the business."

If true, then Orlando's parks should continue to see more visitors during the next couple years.

Universal Studios in Orlando plans to open an attraction based on The Mummy films in 2004, and SeaWorld is expanding its waterfront.

Disney, meanwhile, plans to open several new attractions in 2005, including a car-stunt show at Disney-MGM Studios and Expedition: Everest, a thrill ride under construction at Animal Kingdom.

(c) Orlando Sentinel], 20. Dezember 2003 von Todd Pack

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