SeaWorld Orlando's Future Plans

[quinnmac000]

If a buyout does happen, which I doubt at this point, it would benefit SeaWorld most if it was CBS Corporation. CBS is the one of the last major media companies and, with SeaWorld, could turn the combined company into a Comcast or Walt Disney kind of scenario.

Maybe this could also work with Time Warner or Sony. Who knows?

CBS is owned by National Amusements which the owners of that already own Viacom (Paramount) who already pulled out the US theme park business. Seaworld is too toxic for most major company to touch especially Sony after the email leaks and lack of equal pay and Time Warner has licensed too many of their popular IPs to other parks such as Universal/Six Flags.

 

[Scott W.]

Someone like Time Warner, the financiers behind Blackfish?

Wasn't there a big conspiracy about this? Something along the lines of: that they were interested in buying SeaWorld but not at the current price so they brought out Blackfish to make the share prices drop so they could buy it for a fraction of the price.

 

[WAJAS]

CBS is owned by National Amusements which the owners of that already own Viacom (Paramount) who already pulled out the US theme park business. Seaworld is too toxic for most major company to touch especially Sony after the email leaks and lack of equal pay and Time Warner has licensed too many of their popular IPs to other parks such as Universal/Six Flags.

Eh... If the company is large enough then SeaWorld can't bring it down.

 

[Scott W.]

And things get worse.

SeaWorld killer whale dies at San Antonio park - CNN.com

 

[Teebin]

Not to worry, that slot can be filled easily thanks to SeaWorld's orca manufacturing facilities.

 

[SeventyOne]

If a buyout does happen, which I doubt at this point, it would benefit SeaWorld most if it was CBS Corporation. CBS is the one of the last major media companies and, with SeaWorld, could turn the combined company into a Comcast or Walt Disney kind of scenario.

Maybe this could also work with Time Warner or Sony. Who knows?

PETA aside, Sea World's problems largely stem from having been run by non-theme park companies (Harcourt, Busch) for decades. It needs a company that understands the theme park business at its core to come in and basically redesign everything. Whether the live animal shows and even the sea theme survives that is the million-dollar question.

 

[Nick]

PETA aside, Sea World's problems largely stem from having been run by non-theme park companies (Harcourt, Busch) for decades. It needs a company that understands the theme park business at its core to come in and basically redesign everything. Whether the live animal shows and even the sea theme survives that is the million-dollar question.

Honestly, if they can start putting out world-class attractions, they don't need the animal shows. Problem solved.

They have to figure out how to get to that point though and right now they just look like they are throwing sh*t against the wall and seeing what sticks.

 

[Donald Razorduck]

And things get worse.

SeaWorld killer whale dies at San Antonio park - CNN.com

Ok, so USA humans live around 72 years on average (women longer than that) yet I live in Memphis and St. Jude is a constant reminder that some of us simply will not get there no matter all attempts to the contrary and yet I'm suppose to come down hard on SeaWorld that an animal, in spite of treatment, died early in life, OK, Got It, Whatever.

 

[ragerunner]

I think the Sea World company is headed in the right direction. Plus, the Tower being stuck is not a new worthy issue.

 

[Kevin38]

Some good news for Seaworld The class action lawsuit got booted with prejudice (most charges) and they filed suit to get the Coastal board decision overturned as being something a zoning board can't order.

 

[WAJAS]

I didn't even realize this before, but did you guys know that almost every vacant block around SeaWorld is owned by them. Great Orlando Wheel Corporation is the only other company that owns a sizable amount of vacant land around there. I was thinking maybe this was how the whole area south of SR 528 has SeaWorld themed signage for all the businesses and the crosswalks are themed to SeaWorld as well. The businesses had requirements put on their deed by SeaWorld in the sales. Btw, completely conjecture.

Just got to say that all of these vacant lots that SeaWorld owns are prime real estate for future expansions like hotels and the such. They would basically own a large strip of land between the main park and the 528 and I4 interchange if they bought that one plot from the Great Orlando Wheel Corporation.

 

[Brian G.]

Well I'm a bit surprised.

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/...-rumored-to-have-big-hotel-plans-in-play.html

 

[Mad Dog]

Well I'm a bit surprised.

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/...-rumored-to-have-big-hotel-plans-in-play.html

It's a great idea. Didn't look like they had any serious bids when they had feelers out to sell the parks. Seems like this is a good way to build up the brand's value. It seems like Manby has them headed in the right direction.

 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

Great move by Sea World Entertainment. But the other two Sea Worlds, I wonder how many rooms their hotels would have since they are not the exact tourism market Orlando is.

 

[WAJAS]

Great move by Sea World Entertainment. But the other two Sea Worlds, I wonder how many rooms their hotels would have since they are not the exact tourism market Orlando is.

Mission Bay is pretty touristy already. Well, it is full of staycationers, so that one may work as well. Idk about San Antonio though.

 

[Mad Dog]

Great move by Sea World Entertainment. But the other two Sea Worlds, I wonder how many rooms their hotels would have since they are not the exact tourism market Orlando is.

It would probably work at BGW also. It's basically a tourist destination along with Williamsburg,Jamestown,Yorktown and plantations. There's a very high level golf resort next to it also. I'd definitely get a room if they were themed to the European resort theme.

 

[Donald Razorduck]

Great move by Sea World Entertainment. But the other two Sea Worlds, I wonder how many rooms their hotels would have since they are not the exact tourism market Orlando is.

San Antonio has the Sea World and Aquatica. There's one of the better run Six Flags there, and there's the Grand Daddy of the Shlitterbahns there. It's a booming state without a destination park with a location with near Orlando like temps with plenty of air service. Yeah, San Antonio could be a hot spot in the future. There's some nice resorts in the area already.

I've thrown out the idea of a Disney owned Marvel Universe park there as it's west of the Mississippi. Texas would bend over backwards for it and there's tons of land.

I figure you'll see a 300 room first volley for San Antonio. Honestly, this park has the most upside and growth potential.

Manby is a go getter, Herschends was moving to their own resorts under him, see Dollywood. This is no surprise considering the bundling opportunities and enticements like free fast pass or early and late hours.

SEAS is trading(even with all the current market turmoil) 2 bucks higher than the Blackfish bottom. That's where I bought some shares.

I wish I had thought of buying a basket of Theme Park related stocks in late 11 or early 12 consisting of Six Flags, Cedar Fair, Comcast, Disney Village Roadshow and later on, Merlin. The five year charts on all those are sweet even with Disney's recent troubles.

 

[UNIrd]

Surprised SeaWorld never capitalized on this before, especially in Orlando. They could offer lots of perks for staying in their resort, like preferred seating at shows, ride again privileges, etc. for hotel guests.

 

[IzzyB]

It's a great idea. Didn't look like they had any serious bids when they had feelers out to sell the parks. Seems like this is a good way to build up the brand's value. It seems like Manby has them headed in the right direction.

Agreed. Good idea. If you think about it people could do 4 days at Sea World, 5 with bus transportation to Busch Gardens. Sea World is easily a two day park, Aquatica for a day, and Discovery Cove for a day. Once they have hotels they could have package deals with the hotel and various theme park options. Maybe even give quick queue and priority seating for on site guests. I think this is a really smart move and will help them in Orlando. I know nothing about the other markets, so I won't even comment on those and how they can do it with those markets. But for Orlando I think it could do well. Think about the non-Disney crowd. Spend 4 days on site at Uni and 3 days on site at Sea World. You can do more parks and not do Disney.

Prior to Aquatica I don't think they had enough to do to have a hotel. Also, they have more special events now. I think for the last 3 years hotels have made sense. It is just having an executive willing to go out on this ledge.

 

[anihilnation]

I've been wondering if we might hear something of another addition to Aquatica, with VB opening next year, I think it would be wise to add something.