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PODCAST

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30

Philip Hernandez

An insider’s take on the theme park and themed entertainment industry trends, Green Tagged Covers the Top Theme Park News from each week. From theme parks to zoos and aquariums to haunted houses, we scour the world for what you need to know. We may not have all the answers, but we ask the right questions. Subscribe to PRO content on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GreenTagged

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All Episodes

31:08

Disney’s Midjourney Lawsuit: Can Copyright Contain AI?

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/06/16

Disney and Universal just opened Hollywood’s first heavyweight copyright war against Midjourney, arguing the AI was trained on “countless stolen works.” Philip and Scott debate the case and what it means if your park’s creative team. Then Disney drops a fresh study valuing its U.S. parks at nearly $67 billion and 400,000 jobs, a powerful flex to hedge against future political turmoil. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.

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30:36

Five TRENDS You Can’t Ignore: Mergers, Velvet Ropes,...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/06/09

Six Flags and Cedar Fair’s $8 billion mash-up, Herschend’s shopping spree, and Falcon’s Beyond devouring Oceaneering are just the opening salvo in a consolidation wave now squeezing most regional parks into four corporate camps. But deal-making is only the first of five seismic shifts Philip and Scott unpack this week. They probe why per-guest spending keeps climbing even as attendance flattens, how velvet-rope up-charges like Disneyland’s $400 Premier Pass and Six Flags’ $162-a-month Flash Pass are

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30:36

Family Culture or Central Control? Herschend’s...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/06/02

Herschend finalized its acquisition of Palace Entertainment’s 24 U.S. attractions with a $1.1 billion leveraged loan—and vows 2025 will be a “listening year” before sprinkling Dollywood-style cinnamon bread and “Heartspitality” across Kennywood, Lake Compounce, and 47 other properties. Meanwhile, Six Flags fired every park president overnight, favoring a regional management model instead of a local one. We unpack whether family culture can outshine heavy debt, how a headless org might finally smash

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33:06

Six Flags Presses “Reset”

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/05/26

"The Great Reset," Six Flags' new strategic plan, aims to reach 58 million in annual attendance and $3.8 billion in revenue by 2028. The 88-slide presentation boils down to one thing: a better product makes more money. The plan gives concrete examples of what industry professionals have known for decades—improving the guest experience means guests will want to come back and spend more, convert to annual passes, bring their friends, and grow market penetration. And Six Flags has laid out an excellent

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35:04

Magic, Money, and the Middle East: Disney’s Record...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/05/19

Disney’s stock jumped 7 % after a blockbuster Q2— streaming gained a million subs, Thunderbolts opened #1 worldwide, domestic park profit climbed 13 %, and Bob Iger unveiled the first “authentically Disney, distinctly Emirati” Disney park on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island. Philip and Scott unpack why Disney is leaning into the parks (finally), Disney's new quality-over-quantity pledge, and debate whether the glowing numbers are a trailing indicator before tariffs, weather, and China headwinds bite; and

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34:23

Pruning Parks, Powering Up Hotels: Six Flags Shutters...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/05/11

Six Flags/Cedar Fair’s first post-merger casualty is Six Flags America, erasing 70 full-time and 700 seasonal jobs and $3.5 million in local tax revenue—freeing capital for “marquee” investments elsewhere. At the same time, Marriott’s Gaylord resorts are turning their glass atriums into mini-comic-cons with a DC-branded summer slate, headlined by a 17,500-sq-ft lantern trail of 24-ft heroes, to lure families who might skip a theme-park trip. Philip and Scott ask whether strategic portfolio pruning

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32:13

Can Universal Turn Spring Into “Second Halloween”?...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/05/05

Universal Studios Hollywood is stress-testing a brand-new revenue season with Fan Fest Nights—12 evenings of Comic-Con-meets-HHN running April 25-May 18th from 7 p.m.–2 a.m. Tickets range from $74-$84, and the event is anchored by a 45-minute Back to the Future immersive experience on the actual Courthouse Square backlot. By leaning into nostalgia, the Universal team has created a masterfully written, one-of-a-kind immersive theatre experience for BTTF. The reception has been overwhelmingly

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30:20

Comcast's Cash Machine: Can Epic Universe Replace...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/04/29

Cord-cutting continues to threaten Comcast, but it sees hope in its theme parks. As 200,000 broadband subscribers abandon Comcast in a single quarter, the company is aggressively pivoting toward theme parks despite them representing just 6.3% of current revenue. With $5 billion in free cash flow, Universal is simultaneously launching Epic Universe while developing Horror Unleashed in Vegas and planning new attractions in Texas and the UK—a diversification strategy that Disney, constrained by debt

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8:31

INSIGHTS: The Uncertainty Epidemic

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/04/19

In this first audio edition of Green Tagged Insights, Philip reads the inaugural newsletter analyzing what he calls "The Uncertainty Epidemic" affecting the attractions industry. With economic uncertainty now higher than during COVID and consumer confidence plummeting, hear how industry leaders are responding through strategic diversification. The episode explores Universal's multi-faceted approach with their UK expansion, United Airlines' barbell strategy revealing shifting tourism patterns, and

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32:14

What United Airline's Strategic Shift Signals for...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/04/19

Travel patterns are changing. United Airlines' latest earnings reveal a strategic pivot as they prepare for two economic scenarios in 2025, cutting domestic flight capacity by 4% while seeing surges in both premium and budget travelers – but not the middle market. This "barbell demand" mirrors what's happening across the attractions industry, where guests increasingly choose either high-end experiences or budget options. This week, we examine whether regional parks should prioritize local audiences

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31:46

Universal Studios UK: A £50 Billion Brexit Comeback...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/04/12

Universal's newly announced UK theme park isn't just another expansion—it's a strategic economic revitalization plan positioned to transform Britain's post-Brexit economy. We analyze how this 476-acre project near London promises 8.5 million first-year visitors, 28,000 jobs, and a £50 billion economic impact by 2055. Scott and Philip explore why Universal's diversification strategy—balancing global location risk while expanding into kid-friendly, adult-horror, and now European markets—represents

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24:01

BONUS: Catalyzing Social Connection- IAAPA Chair...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/04/09

In this bonus episode, we present the complete remarks from Massimiliano Freddi, IAAPA Chair of the Board and Wonderwood CEO, recorded at the IAAPA North America Summit. Hear Freddi’s powerful perspective on why attractions should become catalysts for true social connection—from countering phone addiction to designing transformative guest experiences. Tune in to discover new insights on how parks can foster genuine togetherness in a fast-paced, digital world.

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31:27

Disney's Operational Magic: Key Insights from IAAPA's...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/04/07

Go behind the scenes at Disney with exclusive takeaways from IAAPA's North America Summit 2025 at Disneyland Resort! Philip shares first-hand insights from Disney executives on the thoughtful redesign of Toontown and how small, intentional changes create significant guest experience improvements. Discover how Disney balances operational necessities with guest comfort through innovative solutions - from stroller parking zones to decompression spaces to mixed-and-match cast costumes that enhance

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31:33

The US Has a Branding Problem: Tourism Decline...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/03/31

International tourism to the US is projected to decline by at least 5% this year instead of the expected 9% growth, threatening a $72 billion reduction in total travel spending. We analyze the factors behind this dramatic shift—from policy changes to negative media coverage—and explore how theme parks are responding. Disney's strategic summer announcements following Universal's Epic Universe opening suggest industry collaboration as parks work to make visiting the US "worth the hassle." Will these

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31:37

Park Power Play: Herschend's Bold Acquisition...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/03/24

This week we analyze Herschend's strategic acquisition of Palace Entertainment's U.S. properties, potentially establishing them as a major third-place challenger in the theme park industry. Unlike the public Six Flags-Cedar Fair merger, this private company acquisition brings a different approach—emphasizing people-first culture, regional park identity, and quality entertainment experiences. With annual visitors projected to reach 20 million, Herschend is positioning itself alongside industry giants

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30:48

Tariffs & Terror: Why and How Universal is...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/03/17

This week Philip shares key insights from the Themed Entertainment Association's Inspire Week and Leadership Forum. Amid tariff concerns and market volatility, we explore how Universal is strategically diversifying its entertainment portfolio. From a year-round horror experience in Las Vegas to fan-focused pop-up festivals and a family-centric local approach in Texas, Universal is placing calculated bets across multiple markets. Discover the inside details on Universal Horror Unleashed, FanFest

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31:31

Six Flags & United Parks Earnings: Optimism or Trouble?

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/03/09

Six Flags reported a $206 million net loss for 2024—but investors are cautiously optimistic. Meanwhile, United Parks is blaming hurricanes for its flat revenue and attendance, but is it really the weather, or is there a deeper issue? This week, we break down earnings reports from Six Flags and United Parks, analyzing the good, the bad, and the uncertain. Six Flags is growing attendance and spending, but merger costs, debt, and operating expenses are eating into profits. Meanwhile, United Parks is

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30:54

Will Horror Unleashed Succeed? And, Is China’s...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/03/02

Universal’s Horror Unleashed is officially opening in Las Vegas on August 14th—but will it succeed? Meanwhile, China’s tourism industry is rebounding, with the government aggressively fueling growth through investments, policy changes, and new attractions. This week, we break down Horror Unleashed’s opening details, including ticket pricing and what guests can expect. But with a challenging location at AREA15 and IPs that feel familiar rather than fresh, we discuss whether Universal’s year-round

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41:57

SPECIAL: LIVE From The IAAPA Middle East Trade Summit...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/02/23

Come with us to IAAPA's Middle East Trade Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This episode is presented as a series of diaries over the course of three days, so you can hear our reactions in real-time to Qiddiya City and BLVD World.

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30:22

Fantasy Springs Boosts Tokyo Disney as Universal...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/02/16

Tokyo Disney Resort is thriving with Fantasy Springs and seasonal events driving record-breaking revenue, while Universal Studios Hollywood is experimenting with a bold new event: Fan Fest Nights.This week, we break down Oriental Land Company’s latest earnings, revealing how Fantasy Springs and seasonal activations like Halloween helped boost attendance and spending—while also creating operational challenges. Then, we dive into Universal’s Fan Fest Nights, which blends pop-up experiences, immersive

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276 results

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