Momentum, marketing are key for parks -- with few new waves

Scott Powers writes:

Most of Orlando's theme parks will be counting on momentum and marketing, more than new attractions, to overcome any potential economic woes in 2008, so the opening of Busch Entertainment Corp.'s Aquatica should produce the biggest waves this year.

When that next-generation water park opens in the spring, it will give Busch Entertainment another full-size park and -- if it matches the best of Central Florida's other water parks -- perhaps 2 million admissions to go along with SeaWorld Orlando and Discovery Cove here and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Aquatica also gives Busch more options to offer multi-day, multi-park ticket packages.

The Busch parks, Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando should all expect another year of attendance and financial gains following a strong showing in 2007, said Ady Milman, a theme-park professor at the University of Central Florida's Rosen College of Hospitality Management.