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Park Newswww.parkworld-online.comDisney dreamsNew hotel and cruise ship launched in FloridaThe newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleetlaunches later this month. The family-friendly DisneyFantasy makes its maiden voyage from PortCanaveral in Florida on March 31.The entertainment line-up on board includes twoBroadway-style musical stage shows, Wishes andAladdin, a detective adventure game featuring theDisney Fantasy at the shipyard in GermanyNew report examinesUS parks/FECs marketThe United States amusement park and family entertainment centre (FEC)industry produces annual revenues of around $16 billion, according to areport published in February by the company Research & Markets. The marketis also highly concentrated, with 85% of the revenue from the nation’s c.3,000individual amusement outlets generated by the top 50 companies.This capital intensive industry relies on strong marketing of new attractionscombined with a healthy economy stimulate demand, says the report. Theindustry is also labour intensive with average revenue per employee standingat about $100,000 for large parks or half that for smaller operations such asFECs.Amusement parks get about 55% of their income from admissions and about30% from food, beverage and merchandise sales, continues the report. Theremainder is made up from a mix of parking fees, commission income fromthird-party exhibitors, advertising and fees for hosting parties and other events.The report, entitled Amusement Parks & Arcades, is available for $129 viaresearchandmarkets.comMuppets, princess makeovers at the Bibbidi BobbidiBoutique and regular pirates nights. Meanwhile theThea Award-winning Animation Magic is a newdinner show in Animator’s Palate restaurant thatbrings guests’ cartoon drawings to life. After dark, theEuropa entertainment district will come alive with itsmany bars and lounges.Built for 4,000 passengers, the Disney Fantasyoffers seven-night Caribbean cruises, including a stopat Disney’s private island in the Bahamas. TheGerman-built vessel is 1,115ft (340m) in length andweighs 128,000 tonnes.Meanwhile a new resort hotel is due to open atWalt Disney World near Orlando. Disney’s Art ofAnimation Resort features wings with dedicatedfamily suites themed around classic Disney or Disney-Pixar films – Finding Nemo, Cars and The Lion King –with a fourth wing featuring standard guest roomsdedicated to The Little Mermaid.‘Eye do’Little Mermaid room at Disney’s Art of Animation ResortPixilated patterns and wavy ribbons of colourdecorate the hotel’s exterior, while pencil drawings ofAriel, Lightning McQueen, Nemo and Simba adornthe entryway. A chandelier composed of animationstoryboards enhances the lobby.The property, situated adjacent to Disney’s PopCentury Resort, will open in phases beginning in lateMay 2012. The 1,120 family suites include twobathrooms, a kitchenette and three separate sleepingareas that can sleep up to six. Some 864 standardrooms sleep up to four each.Local girl Sharon Fullerprovided a great PRopportunity for BlackpoolTower when she chose tomake a leap year proposalto her boyfriend from thetop of the UK seasidelandmark.Taking advantage of thespecial date – February 29– the 31-year-old popped the question to her partner of six years, SimonDunkerley. Over 500ft down below, the words “Marry Me!” were written inthe sand on Blackpool’s famous beach. Simon said yes.Blackpool Tower was relaunched by Merlin Entertainments and BlackpoolCouncil last September, complete with a “Eye” branded glass flooredobservation deck and Blackpool Tower Dungeon.12 MARCH 2012