NEWS: What Disney and Six Flags Tell Haunts About Fall

0:07 Coming up your weekly roundup of news from around the haunt industry. Welcome to the show. I'm Philip on the HN Show. We bring you the haunt news, information and education you need to prepare for Halloween. On Tuesdays, we bring you a roundup of news from haunts worldwide. Read more about these stories and so much more in our free weekly newsletter. Subscribe at the link in the show notes, and as always for the news roundup, I'm passing it off to Darryl. In theme park news. Disney Q two's revenue is up seven percent, as Dmorrow pitches Disney Plus as the everything app. In its Q two earnings report, Disney reported twenty five point one seven billion in revenue, which is seven percent increase an adjusted EPs of a dollar fifty seven. Experiences.

0:58 Revenue hit a Q two record at nine point four nine billion dollars, with operating income of two point six billion, even as domestic park attendants fell one percent on softer international visitation, per capita spending at domestic parks was up five percent. Hugh Johnson said the company has not seen any change in consumer behavior due to elevated gas prices and Disney World forward bookings or pacing strongly even with a forty percent increase in crew's capacity. The most striking move on the call was Josh Diamaro's reframing of Disney Plus as the centerpiece of the company, calling it the single most significant opportunity the company has. He described a hub and spoke model with Disney Plus at the center and spokes including experiences, ESPN Games, Epic Games, partnership, and consumer products. Instead of simply consuming produced long form content, the new Disney Plus could act as a fan hub.

1:53 While Demero didn't share any details about this, it seems the first integration will be vertical short form video Disney's Creators collection and verts the TikTok style vertical video feed. Disney rolled out on the Disney Plus app in March twenty twenty six, after testing it on ESPN in August twenty twenty five. You can watch Philip and Scott discuss more on this week's episode of The Green Tag Podcast, or read the full analysis on Seasonal Entertainment source by following the links in our show notes. Six Flags Q one revenue is up twelve percent as Riley doubles down on pass strategy. Six Flags posted a strong Q one two point nine million guests, which is a four percent increase.

2:36 Net revenue is up twelve percent to two hundred and twenty five point six million dollars and per cap spending up six percent to sixty nine dollars in twenty six cents. More interesting, though, is that the new regional passes driving Cross Park Visitation and CEO John Riley named South Gallen, Texas as the markets where the pass is already working. Six Flags is leaned into this by announcing expand summer programming and teasing new holiday programs at select parks as some budget conscious guests look to trim spending. Six Flags is positioned well geographically to capture the trade down demand. The six Flag strategy targets guests seeking more regional or local vacations where price is a greater concern. The Ougi Boogie Bash who returns for thirty three select nights. Oogi Boogie Bash is set to return to Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California for thirty three select nights August eighteenth through October thirty first, two more event nights than in twenty twenty five. At this separately ticketed event, the Park transforms into a family friendly, frightfully fun after hours event filled with tricks and treats. Entertainment and other programming has yet to be announced, aside from a note that the Ugi Boogie Bash VIP tour will return this year.

3:52 According to an email sent to Disneyland Resort Magic keyholders, pre sale for Inspired keyholders will begin on June sixteenth. Their Magic keyholders will have access to ticket sales on June's seventeenth. A date for general ticket sales to non pass holders has not yet been announced. Special effects makeup and prop company AEO Studios is close in June. AEO Studios from Orlando, Florida, a special effects, makeup and prop company, will close its doors on June thirtieth, twenty twenty six. Since nineteen ninety six, co owners Alan Ostrander and Drew Delare have supported film, television, and theater productions with makeup and special effects product coseplay supplies, props, Halloween decre and more.

4:37 Their notable Haunt credits include Ocean Park Halloween Bash and Hong Kong Terror on Church Street, Bush Gardens, Tampa Bay hallo Scream, Universal Studio, Florida Fright Nights ninety one and HHN two thousand Tosha May In Park, Queen of the Night Horror Show in Tokyo. Additional updates, including plans for a farewell gathering, will be shared via the company Facebook and Instagram accounts. Scare Con twenty six takes place May eighteenth through twentieth. Scare Con returns to the Heart of England Convention Center in Coventry, UK, May eighteenth through twentieth. On Monday May eighteenth, there will be a pre show meet and greet at the convention center. Tuesday, May nineteenth will feature the exhibit Hall, Workshop and seminar program scare Ball, an annual scar Awards ceremony. On Wednesday, May twentieth, scare Con will host Aztec Zombie Golf, where guests will be able to play indoor miniature golf in a specially created atmosphere.

5:35 This experience will contain live scare actors from Steurbridge Scare Mays in Steurbridge, United Kingdom, who will be lurking across the eighteen hole course, which includes overgrown Aztec jungles and mine covered ancient ruins. If guests survive to the end, they can catch up with friends and other delicates to relax in the ruins, bar a vibrant Tiki themed tropical oasis, or grab a tasty bite to eat Eat it as tech eats scare Con. Tickets are on sale now starting at eighty four pounds plus fees per person. Mars unveiling new seasonal treats for Halfway to Halloween. Mars is getting a head start on the spooky season with its third annual Halfway to Halloween celebration by unveiling its twenty twenty six lineup featuring ghoulishly delightful innovations and the return of the annual fan favorites. Halfway to Halloween has become a treasured tradition at Mars, said Tim LaBelle, chief Halloween Officer and Chief Customer Officer at Mars Snacking North America. Our twenty twenty six portfolio is a direct reflection of what the consumers are telling us they want new textures and experiences along with beloved classics. New for twenty twenty six, Skittles Popped will debut a Creepy crunch flavor, a freeze dried version of the classic candy that delivers a uniquely crunchy, airy texture The Twix brand is getting a spooky makeover with the introduction of Twix Skull Singles and Twigs Skull Share Size, offering a new huntingly fun shape for the iconic cookie bar. Snickers is also expanding its popular pumpkin

7:08 shape offerings with a new pack featuring Snickers Fun sized pumpkins. Returning Halloween favorites include M and M's Milk Chocolate Pumpkin Pie, m and M's Halloween Blends and Milk Chocolate, Peanut and Peanut Butter, Snickers Pumpkins, Twigs and Snickers Ghoulish Green, and Skittles Shriekers. The twenty twenty six Mars Halloween lineup will begin rolling out into store shelves and online this summer. Mars Halloween Headquarters in Topeka, Kansas will celebrate halfway to Halloween on Thursday, May fourteenth with a free event inviting community members to come together for an evening of trick or treating with Mars candy, music, food, and other festivities at Red Bud Park and Topeka from six pm to eight pm Central daylight time. Some upcoming events this May through July of twenty twenty six includes scare Con in United king May eighteenth through twentieth. Monster Palooza from Pasadena, California, May twenty nine through thirty first in the Midwest Haunters Convention in Rosemont, Illinois, June sixth and seventh, and the Texas Haunters Convention from Irving, Texas, July eighteenth through nineteen.

8:19 And that's all for the news this week. Today's episode was produced by me Philip Hernandez with reporting by Daryl Plunky. Post production by David Swope. This haunt News Update is a production of the Haunted Attraction Network and you can sign up to our weekly newsletter at hantattrastionnetwork dot com. Support for this episode comes from Gantum Lighting and Controls. Until next time, Haunters, Stay Scary This It's a Haunted Attraction mid production