Who owns who? Theme Park Ownership, September 2012

[GabrielOak]

I thought this report could be of interest, a look at the top ten theme park chains and the parks and attractions they own.

 

Who’s Who: Amusement Park Chain Ownership 2012

 

Thanks

[Ccron10]

Looks like I visited my first International park:

Dutch Wonderland, Netherlands

Who knew that the Netherlands owned a few acres of land in Lancaster Pennsylvania and built a park on it!

[GabrielOak]

Oops! You're right of course - thanks!

[DarkRideNick]

I'm VERY suprised that Six Flags is only #5!

[gisco]

Interesting read to see who owns what.

[GabrielOak]

It will be fascinating to see the changes over coming years. Merlin in particular looks set to continue its growth in Asia & the US and of course there are many parks rumoured and/promised. Will Dubai continue its rather shaky recovery? How will Shanghai Disney effect the rest of the Chinese market? Interesting stuff...

[larrygator]

Thanks for posting this. I never had the time to read when I was on vacation. I have copied and summarized the ownership portion of the article for those that didn't click on the link.

 

1. Walt Disney Attractions

 

Owns/Operates

 

Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Magic Kingdom

Epcot

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Blizzard Beach (waterpark)

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon (waterpark)

 

Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California

Disneyland Park

Disney California Adventure

 

Tokyo Disney Resort, Chiba Prefecture, Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo Disneyland Park

Tokyo DisneySea

 

Disneyland Paris, Marne-la-Vallée in the IIe-de-France region, France

Disneyland Park

Walt Disney Studios Park

 

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Lantau Island, Hong Kong

Hong Kong Disneyland Park

 

Shanghai Disney Resort, Pudong New District, Shanghai, China

Shanghai Disneyland Park, targeted to Open in Late 2015

 

Disney Cruise Line – Port Canaveral, Florida

Disney Magic (1998), Disney Wonder (1999), Disney Dream (2011), Disney Fantasy (2012)

 

Other operations included by Disney in the “Parks and Resorts” sector are Disney Vacation Club, Aulani - a Disney Resort and Spa, Adventures by Disney and Walt Disney Imagineering.

 

Is Owned By

US operations: Wholly owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts division of The Walt Disney Company.

Disneyland Paris: Disney has a 51% effective ownership interest in Disneyland Paris, and manages and has a 40% equity interest in Euro Disney S.C.A. , a publicly traded French entity on the Paris Stock Exchange, that is the holding company for Euro Disney Associes S.C.A., the primary operating company of Disneyland Paris. An indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Disney is responsible for managing Disneyland Paris. Euro Disney S.C.A. pays royalties and management fees to Disney on the basis of performance.

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort: Disney has a 47% effective ownership interest in the operations of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort through Hong Kong International Theme Parks Ltd., in which the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region owns the majority interest of 53%. A separate Hong Kong subsidiary of Disney is responsible for managing this resort. Based on the performance of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, the company is entitled to receive royalties and management fees.

Tokyo Disney Resort: Tokyo Disney Resort is owned and operated by an unrelated Japanese corporation, the Oriental Land Co., Ltd. of Japan. The Walt Disney Company earns royalties on revenues generated by the resort, but has no equity interest.

 

Shanghai Disney Resort: Construction and operation of the development project is the responsibility of a joint venture in which Shanghai Shendi (Group) Co Ltd (Shendi) own 57% and Disney own 43%. Another joint venture company has been formed, owned 70% by Disney and 30% by Shendi, which will be responsible for creating, developing and operating the resort. This management company will receive management fees based on project operations. Disney will also earn royalties on revenues generated by the resort.

 

2. Merlin Entertainments Group

 

Owns/Operates

 

Resort Theme Parks

 

Alton Towers, Alton, UK

Chessington World of Adventures, Chessignton, UK

Thorpe Park, Chertsey, UK

Warwick Castle, Warwick, UK

Heide Park, Soltau, Germany

Gardaland, Lake Garda, Italy

Gardaland Waterpark, Milan, Italy

 

LEGOLAND Parks

Billund, Denmark

Windsor, UK

Günzburg, Germany

Carlsbad, Calif.

Winter Haven, Florida

Malaysia

 

Midway Attractions

Madame Tussauds - New York, Las Vegas, Hollywood, Washington DC, Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, Blackpool, London, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Shanghai and Sydney (due to open in 2012).

The Dungeons – Blackpool, London, Edinburgh, York, Warwick, Amsterdam and Hamburg

Merlin Entertainments The Eye Brand – London, Blackpool and Sydney

 

SEA LIFE

UK: Birmingham, Blackpool, Brighton, Great Yarmouth, Hunstanton, Loch Lomond, London, Scarborough, Weymouth and Tower

North America: Arizona, California, Dallas, Kansas City (Opening 2012) and Minnesota

Europe: Benalmadena, Berlin,Blankenberge, Bray, Gardaland, Hannover, Helsinki, Jesolo, Königswinter, Konstanz, München, Oberhausen, Paris, Porto, Scheveningen, Speyer, Timmendorfer Strand

Asia: Bangkok, Busan, Shanghai

Australia/New Zealand: Auckland, Melbourne, Moolooaba, Sydney

 

LEGOLAND Discovery Centres

Manchester, Berlin, Duisburg, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta and Kansas City. Opening in 2013, Toronto and New York State.

 

Earth Explorer, Ostende

Wildlife - Sydney and Hamilton Island

Falls Creek, Australia

Mount Hotham, Australia

Australian Treetop Adventures – Otway and Illawarra

The Sanctuaries – Gweek, Oban and Manly

Dubai Aquarium – Management Contract

 

Is Owned By: The ultimate parent company, ie the largest Group in which the results of Merlin Entertainments are consolidated is that headed by Merlin Entertainments S.à r.l., incorporated in Luxembourg.

 

Merlin’s ownership structure is: KIRKBI A/S (a privately owned investment and holding company that has a 75% ownership share in the LEGO Group) - 31.63%

Funds managed by Blackstone Group International - 29.80%

Funds managed by CvC Capital Partners - 24.54%

Management - 14.03%

 

3. Universal Studios Recreations Group

 

Owns/Operates

 

Universal Orlando Resort

Islands of Adventure, Orlando

Universal Studios Florida, Orlando

Wet’n Wild (waterpark), Orlando

 

Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City, California

 

Universal Studios Japan, Osaka

 

Universal Studios Singapore

 

Universal Studios theme parks reported to be currently under development are Universal Studios Dubailand (a joint venture between Universal Studios and Tatweer) and Universal Studios South Korea (with partners led by Lotte Group and POSCO Engineering & Construction). A deal is also reported to have been struck to build an indoor theme park in Moscow.

 

Is Owned By: NBCUniversal wholly owns Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort. Comcast Corporation acquired control of the businesses of NBC Universal,Inc. ( renamed NBCUniversal Media, LLC [“NBC Universal”] on 28th January 2011, and on 1st July 2011 acquired the remaining 50% interest in universal City Development Partners, Ltd. (Universal Orlando Resorts).

 

NBCUniversal has license and operating agreements with Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Singapore.

 

Universal Parks & Resorts is the NBCUniversal business unit that administers all such ownership interests and license and service arrangements.

 

Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake .

 

4. Parques Reunidos

 

Owns/Operates

 

Amusement Parks

Parque de Atracciones de Madrid, Spain

Bobbejaanland, Belgium

Mirabilandia, Italy

Parque Warner Madrid, Spain

Bonbonland, Denmark

TusenFryd, Norway

MoviePark, Germany

Kennywood, US

Idlewild, US

Lake Compounce, US

Story Land, US

Castle Park, US

Dutch Wonderland, US

Slagharen, Netherlands

 

Waterparks

Aquópolis COSTA DAURADA,Spain

Aquópolis CULLERA,Spain

Aquópolis SAN FERNANDO DE HENARES,Spain

Aquópolis SEVILLA,Spain

Aquópolis CARTAYA,Spain

Aquópolis TORREVIEJA,Spain

Aquópolis VILLANUEVA DE LA CAÑADA,Spain

Bo Sommarland, Norway

Aquasplash Marineland, France

Aqualud, France

Mirabilandia Beach, Italy

Sandcastle, US

Parques Acuáticos (USA): Big Kahuna´s, Wet n’ Wild Emerald Pointe, Wild Waters, Splish Splash, Raging Waters, Water World and Noah´s Ark

 

Zoos and Wildlife Parks

L'Oceanogràfic Valencia, Spain

Zoo Aquarium de Madrid, Spain

Faunia, Spain

Selwo Aventura, Spain

Selwo Marina, Spain

Delfinario Costa Daurada, Spain

Mar del Plata Aquarium, Argentina

Marineland, France

Aquarium of the Lakes, UK

Blackpool Zoo, UK

Bournemouth Oceanarium, UK

Silver Springs, Orlando, US

Sea Life Park Hawaii, US

 

Cable Cars

Teleférico Madrid

Teleférico Benalmadena

 

FECs (USA): There are 21 centers under the brands Mountasia, Boomers and Malibu Speed Zone.

 

Is Owned By: Parques Reunidos is owned by London based private equity firm Arle Capital Partners established in April 2011, who took over the Candover Partners fund which the theme park group had been a part of since 2007.

 

5. Six Flags Inc

 

Owns/Operates

 

Six Flag America, Largo, Maryland

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo, Calif.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio, Texas

Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, New Jersey

Six Flags Wild Safari (drive–through safari), Jackson, New Jersey

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor (waterpark), Jackson, New Jersey

Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Illinois

Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor (waterpark), Valencia, California

Six Flags Mexico, Mexico City

Six Flag New England, Agawam, Massachusetts

Six Flags Over Georgia, Austell, Georgia

Six Flags Whitewater (waterpark), Marietta, Georgia

Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, Texas

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor (waterpark), Arlington, Texas

Six Flags St. Louis, Missouri

La Ronde, Montreal, Canada

The Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom (waterpark), New York

Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark, New York

 

Is Owned By: Six Flags Entertainment Corporation wholly own most of the theme, water and zoological parks that they operate.

 

Six Flags has three parks owned under partnership agreements (“Partnership Parks”): Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Over Georgia including Six Flags White Water Atlanta. As of 31 December 2011, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation owned 29.7% and 53.0% of the limited partner units in Georgia and Texas. Obligations under the partnership agreement extend to 2027 for Six Flags Over Georgia and 2028 for Six Flags Over Texas at which point Six Flags will have the option to purchase the remaining partnership units. The maximum number of units to be purchased would be valued at approximately $350.2 million at 2012 rates.

 

6. Sea World Parks and Entertainment

Owns/Operates

 

SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld San Diego

SeaWorld San Antonio

Discovery Cove, Orlando

Aquatica, Orlando

Busch Gardens Tampa

Adventure Island, Busch Gardens Waterpark, Tampa

Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Water Country USA, Waterpark, Williamsburg

Sesame Place, Pennsylvania

 

Is Owned By: SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is owned by private equity firm, Blackstone Capital Partners V L.P., following the acquisition of Busch Entertainment Corporation from Anheuser-Busch InBev for $2.7 billion in 2009.

 

7. Cedar Fair Entertainment Company

 

Owns/Operates

 

Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio

Cedar Point Soak City (waterpark), Sandusky, Ohio

Castaway Bay (indoor water park resort), Sandusky, Ohio

Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, California

Knott’s Soak City (waterpark), Buena Park, California

Knott’s Soak City-San Diego (waterpark), San Diego, California

Knott’s Soak City-Palm Springs (waterpark), Palm Springs, California

Kings Island (a combination amusement and waterpark), Cincinnati, Ohio

Canada’s Wonderland (a combination amusement and waterpark) Toronto,Canada

Kings Dominion (a combination amusement and waterpark), Richmond, Virginia

Carowinds (a combination amusement and waterpark), Charlotte, North Carolina

Great America (a combination amusement and waterpark), Santa Clara, California

Dorney Park (a combination amusement and waterpark), Allentown, Pennsylvania,

Valleyfair (a combination amusement and waterpark), Shakopee, Minnesota.

Worlds of Fun, Kansas City, Missouri

Oceans of Fun (waterpark), Kansas City, Missouri,

Michigan’s Adventure (a combination amusement and waterpark),Muskegon, Michigan

Wildwater Kingdom (formerly known as Geauga Lake) (waterpark), Cleveland, Ohio

Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, Gilroy, California - management contract

 

Is Owned By: Cedar Fair is a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio, and traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

8. OCT Parks China

 

Owns/Operates

 

Splendid China Folk Culture Village, Shenzhen, China

Window of the World, Shenzhen, China

Happy Valley Beijing, China

Happy Valley Chengdu, China

Happy Valley Shanghai, China

Happy Valley Shenzhen, China

Happy Valley Wuhan, China

Shenzhen OCT East (Eco-Resort and amusement park)

Taizhou OCT East (Eco-Resort and amusement park)

Yunnan OCT East (Eco-Resort and amusement park)

 

Is Owned By: The OCT Group was founded in 1985 and is one of the main enterprises governed by the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council. The Group’s OCT Tourism brand includes its amusement park businesses owned by the holding company, Shenzhen Overseas Chinese Town Co., Ltd.. The company has a Happy Valley Division, holding the Happy Valley theme parks, as well as a Tourism Division which is includes Splendid China Folk Culture Village, Window of the World, Shenzhen OCT East (Eco-Resort and amusement park), Taizhou OCT East (Eco-Resort and amusement park),Yunnan OCT East (Eco-Resort and amusement park).

 

Shenzhen Overseas Chinese Town Co., Ltd. is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

 

9. Herschend Entertainment

 

Owns/Operates

 

Theme Parks

Dollywood, Pigeon Forge (TN)

Silver Dollar City, Branson (MO)

Wild Adventures, Valdosta (GA)

Managed Parks

Elitch Gardens, Denver (CO)

Darien Lake Theme Park Resort, Darien Center (NY)

 

Waterparks

Dollywood's Splash Country, Pigeon Forge (TN)

White Water, Branson (MO)

 

Attractions

Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta (GA)

Talking Rocks Cavern, Branson (MO)

 

Aquariums

Adventure Aquarium, Camden (NJ)

Newport Aquarium, Newport (KY)

 

Sightseeing Tours

Classic Cable Car Sightseeing, San Francisco (CA)

Ride The Ducks, Atlanta (GA), Newport (KY), Philadelphia (PA) , San Francisco (CA) and Branson (MO)

 

Dinner Shows

Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede, Branson (MO), Pigeon Forge (TN) and Myrtle Beach (SC)

Showboat Branson Belle, Branson (MO)

 

Lodging

Dollywood Vacations, Pigeon Forge (TN)

Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort, Atlanta (GA)

Stone Mountain Inn, Atlanta (GA)

Stone Mountain Park Campground, Atlanta (GA)

The Wilderness Log Cabins & RVs, Branson (MO)

 

Is Owned By: Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation is a family-owned company that owns, operates or partners in themed attractions in the US. It is the largest family-owned theme park corporation in America.

 

10. Compagnie Des Alpes

 

Owns/Operates

 

Parc Asterix, Plailly, France

Grevin, Paris, France

France Miniature, Elancourt - Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France

Dolfinarium, Harderwijk, Netherlands

Fort Fun Abenteuerland, Bestwig / Sauerland, Germany

Planète Sauvage, Port Saint Father, France

Mer de Sable, Ermenonville, France

Bioscope, Ungersheim, France

Walibi Belgium, Wavre, Belgium

Bellewaerde Park, Ypres, Belgium

Walibi Holland, Biddinghuizen, Netherlands

Walibi Rhone Alps, The Avenières, France

Walibi Aquitaine, Rocquefort, France

Futuroscope, JAUNAY-CLAN, France

Aqualibi Belgium, Wavre, Belgium

 

Is Owned By: Compagnie des Alpes is a public company listed on Euronext Paris .

Edited October 13, 2012 by larrygator

[cal1br3tto]

^Very helpful. I was just researching what chain and/or corporate parks I still need to visit in the US. I came up with 16, counting anything more substantial than a small FEC. I added Castle Park thanks to your list.

[Meteornotes]

Nice summation, Larry. Cool to have this list for future reference.

 

dt

[Hurricane]

Village Roadshow Limited (Village Roadshow Theme Parks):

 

Current Properties:

 

*Warner Bros. Movie World - Gold Coast, Australia

*Sea World - Gold Coast, Australia

*Paradise Country - Gold Coast, Australia

*Australian Outback Spectacular - Gold Coast, Australia

*Wet 'n' Wild Water World - Gold Coast, Australia

*Wet 'n' Wild - Phoenix, Arizona

*Wet 'n' Wild - Kapolei, Hawaii

 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION:

 

*Wet 'n' Wild - Sydney, Australia

*Wet 'n' Wild - Las Vegas