larrygator

Advertising is not the cure-all for all problems, but the PR power of PETA was mightier than the power of SeaWorld PR in convincing people in the middle (the undecideds) whether to avoid SeaWorld. There will always be supporters of the park and haters of the park practices on the fringes, SeaWorld needs to get their story out to the others. http://www.sentinelsource.com/mcclatchy/seaworld-plans-to-launch-brand-repairing-campaign/article_de4c087a-b14c-53fd-9888-354deb55a15d.html SeaWorld plans to launch brand-repairing campaign Posted: Friday, February 27, 2015 8:00 am | Updated: 2:09 pm, Fri Feb 27, 2015. By Sandra Pedicini Orlando Sentinel ORLANDO, Fla. — SeaWorld Entertainment, still experiencing declining theme-park attendance amid controversy over killer whales, will soon debut a brand-repairing campaign and is holding off on ticket price increases. Orlando-based SeaWorld told analysts its plans Thursday as it released a fourth-quarter earnings report showing a bigger profit loss and lower revenue than the previous year. SeaWorld reported an adjusted net loss of $25.4 million versus $13 million a year ago. Year-over-year revenue declined to $264 million from $272 million. The net loss was larger than analysts’ expectations, and the stock was down more than 4 percent Thursday morning. The company’s attendance and stock value have declined, in part because of negative publicity over its killer whales. The issue went mainstream after the 2013 documentary “Blackfish,” which suggested stresses of captivity could have caused the orca Tilikum to kill Orlando trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010. Interim Chief Executive Officer David D’Alessandro told analysts the company a targeted marketing campaign starting by April 1 will focus on consumers who feel ambivalent about SeaWorld. Some people vehemently oppose keeping animals in captivity, while others support SeaWorld enthusiastically. The campaign will focus on those in the middle —a group that D’Alessandro said “wants to know our side of the story.” D’Alessandro said SeaWorld has “some of the best people in the country working with us” and the campaign will be a long-term one. “This is not a hit-and-run as we say in the marketing world, where you can just advertise for a month and hope it goes away,” D’Alessandro said. “This is changing mindsets and making sure mindsets stay changed, recognizing that the opposition is not going to stand still as we do this.” Just minutes after SeaWorld’s conference call with analysts ended, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued a statement saying “it has never been clearer that the tide has turned against the amusement park following the critically acclaimed film Blackfish.” It will likely take some time for the marketing campaign to have some effect, said S&P Capital IQ analyst Tuna Amobi. “Usually things like this in our experience take from two to three years,” he said. The campaign is expected to increase marketing costs. Much of that will be offset by a previously announced $50 million cost-cutting plan that included layoffs of more than 300 people. SeaWorld also indicated it has no immediate plans to raise ticket prices. Both Disney World and Universal Orlando have broken the $100 threshold for one-day tickets during the last few days. SeaWorld will hold the line at $95 for now. “We’re not interested in necessarily following to follow just yet,” D’Alessandro said. “But we think there may be some room there. ... I think we’d like to wait until we see how the quarter goes.” Right now, he said, “our strategy is let’s get people into the parks, let’s re-establish our pass base and then let’s market more aggressively on the domestic side with additional marketing programs.” Amobi said that is a wise strategy. “I think they’ve got to tackle the attendance question first,” he said. The company said it plans to hold off on giving financial guidance for 2015 as well. It wants to wait until its first quarter finishes and it can analyze Spring Break and Easter performance. The company pointed to what it sees as a positive sign: Attendance, while down year over year, declined less than in the previous quarter. While year-over-year attendance dove 5.2 percent in the third quarter, this time it declined 2.2 percent. Visitors paid less for admission but about 2 percent more on food, merchandise and other in-park spending. Next week SeaWorld Orlando starts another initiative that could generate more money — charging $15 per person to touch and have photos taken with dolphins. At the same time, SeaWorld has stopped allowing people to buy $7 trays of fish to feed the dolphins. In Orlando, SeaWorld also acknowledged it has stiff competition from Disney World and Universal Orlando. Without a major new attraction coming online any time soon, D’Alessandro said, “you don’t have a choice but to market, promote, build your past business and do a better job in pricing. That’s how you at a minimum maintain share.”

1. Do you have your videos set to auto-play on your: a. desktop computer and/or b. mobile device? (or if you don't know, just tell us if the videos auto-play or not in your newsfeed.) No Autoplay, not a fan 2. Do you regularly "share" content from Facebook "page" (like the TPR page) to your own personal Facebook page? And have you shared something from the TPR page? I never share content. I hate people that share cat/dog video videos. I don't want people to feel the same way about me when I share theme park stuff 3. What kind of content are you most likely to share? (Videos, Photos, News Stories, etc?) None 4. How long on average do you watch a video posted to Facebook for? Do you watch the entire video? First 30 seconds? Until you get bored? I only watch sports and TPR videos. I usually watch the whole clip because the sports clips are short and the TPR videos interest me. 5. How important are "video thumbnails" to you? (the image you see with the > Play icon before you click to watch a video) Not important, unless the headline is not descriptive 6. What do you like/dislike about Facebook? What features do you use the most and which ones annoy you? I dislike people on Facebook, no show no accountable for their actions. As part of social media, Facebook is also inherently evil and will lead to the downfall of civilization. 7. Is there anything that TPR does or doesn't do on Facebook that you think we should be doing more/less of? I know the content I will see in a TPR video before clicking on it. You tease but the descriptions are generally enough for me to know what I'm getting into.

There is a difference between themeing and decorating! Themeing does not change the intensity, airtime or lateral movement, but it can provide entertainment on a mediocre ride. Then again, poor decorating is just as amusing.

Over the years the park has certainly proved itself to be maintenance savvy. Even this isn't currently being done, I'm sure they considered it.

Do not start another thread with questions about Beech Bend. 1) You just started a new thread asking the same question that you asked a week ago. What is your favorite ride at Beech Bend? 2) You also included a poll that has nothing to do with the question asked. 3) A poll is not necessary for a yes or no question. http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=51314

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I would have no problem with that

Nights in White Satin is still my favorite dark ride ever.

Since i don't expect to travel much this year, this should be one of the best new coasters I ride in 2015

I've never watched a scene from Avatar (just like Harry Potter) but of course I'm looking forward to this addition as I did with Potterville.

It is the park's way of keeping their stupid patrons (those who want to ride Kingda Ka) away from their intelligent patrons (those who prefer El Toro)

But you can buy them frozen in the supermarket and they taste and smell just as bad.

Stop being a jackass! You know damn well it is a permanent installation because after you each of these disparaging posts you were corrected. Maybe they just leave it on the flat bed so they can just hook the truck up to it and pull it wherever it needs to go. Don't worry. Your new "roller coaster" will pull in any day now. Will they leave it on the flat bed and put some skirting around it or will they permanetely brace it to the ground? You'd think they would leave it on the trailer in case they want to move it. Because they take one day to install and you can call is a roller coaster. In addition, you can simply back a truck up to the trailer it sits on, hook it up, and move it wherever you want.

Probably the most fun flat ride to come along in a few year. Intense, but not too intense

The only coaster with a pre-show I found amusing through multiple re-rides was Furius Baco. Somehow, many of the Mad Houses have really good pre-shows. Even in mainland Europe when I couldn't fully understand what was going due to language on I liked the pre-shows.

PLEASE, stop asking stupid questions?

I do not recall Batman: The Ride backwards ever being confirmed by Six Flags Great Adventure. It is possible that someone jumped the gun and mocked up a press release, but I don't remember anything beyond teasing from the park.

Are you serious????? This video is complete speculation. This video gives no insight beyond what is already common sense, don't duplicate your current coasters. For the most part the guy considers coasters the park already has and says any style not already in the park is a possibility. Duh!!!!!!!!!

Whoa! Floorless mantis AND a dive coaster in the same year!!! I'll change my prediction to Dive Coaster for 2016 and a Mean Streak RMC conversion in 2017!

The over hyping of newly designed European coasters was brought up in the Efteling thread. But let's use this thread to talk about our favorite European coasters. While Expedition G-Force, Nemesis, Katun, Balder, Piraten and Colossus tend to rate highly what are your favorites. While I love all the coasters I listed above the other top European coasters in my experience are: iSpeed - Mirabilandia Heiße Fahrt - Klotten Dragons Fury - Chessington Winjas - Phantasialand Wild Mouse (wooden) - Blackpool Wild Train - Fantasiana (Strasswalchen) Insane - Grona Lund

Exactly: Katun, Nemesis, Expedition G-Force, iSpeed, Balder, Colossus, Piraten, Goliath to name a few are all great European coasters. My apologies, if I missed any, those are just a few I thought of off the top of my head. Follow this link to discuss your favorite European coasters

Thank you, but please copy and paste articles when you create links, otherwise when the links go dead the article can no longer be accessed. Soaring Eagle Zipline to Open at Fiesta Texas this Spring Posted on February 19, 2015 | By Meredith Hayashi A thrilling new attraction is set to open this spring at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. The Soaring Eagle Zipline is a unique way to gain a breathtaking view of the Fiesta Texas grounds. Unlike most single-passenger ziplines, riders sit side-by-side for a shared hair-raising experience. View of both sides of the park during this 1500 foot ride during which guests soar both forwards and backwards over several other rides and attractions. The zipline swoops over the Superman Krypton Coaster track six times and will offer a view of the new Batman: The Ride 4D Coaster. Riders will begin their trip at the station in Rockville and be pulled backwards more than 150 feet off the ground to dangle above the quarry walls. Once they reach the pinnacle of the flight, riders sail forwards and are safely decelerated as they reach the zipline station. This ride was designed with the whole family in mind as passengers 40” and taller are able to jet through the air.

You forgot to close your eyes and click your heels together 3 times.

Then how come there are no hoes in your PTR?

Lame Neil, very lame. Let me know when you plan a trip to those Northeast US parks, so I can avoid the area.