Warner Village Theme Parks

Warner Village Theme Parks is a chain of theme parks operated on the Gold Coast, Australia.

Previously a joint venture between Time Warner and Village Roadshow Limited, Village took full ownership of the group in 2006 [Village Roadshow Limited. [http://www.villageroadshow.com.au/profile/theme_parks_introduction.asp Company Profile: Theme Parks] . Accessed on 2007-11-12.] , with Time Warner continuing to provide a licence to the Warner Bros. brand. Its main competitors are the Dreamworld and WhiteWater World theme parks (currently owned by Macquarie Bank, through their Macquarie Leisure Trust).

The group operates the following theme parks:

*Movie World (a movie-themed park similar to Universal Studios)
*Sea World (a sea themed park based on SeaWorld)
*Wet'n'Wild (a waterpark)
*Australian Outback Spectacular (an Australiana dinner and show package featuring many Australian animals, songs, and "bush tucker")
*Paradise Country (an Australian Farm experience)
*Aussie World (bought in early 2008 by the group from its original owners, with plans to make a second Wet'n'Wild park)
*Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park (bought/ buying from original owners, first park owned outside of Australian borders)

Sea World is located in the Gold Coast suburb of Main Beach, while the other parks are located further inland, in Oxenford.

The group also owns the Sea World Resort, located next to the Sea World park. Previously known as "Sea World Nara Resort" (opened in 1988 as a joint venture between the then-owners of Sea World and the Japan-based Nara Group [ [http://seaworld.myfun.com.au/Schools/Project-Information/History-and-Development.htm Sea World: History and Development] . Accessed on 2007-11-12.] ), Village also moved to take full ownership of the resort in 2006 [Village Roadshow Limited (2006). [http://www.villageroadshow.com.au/pdf/2006_Village_AReport1.pdf 2006 Annual Report] , p. 5. Accessed on 2007-11-12.] , resulting in the recent name change.

The group also own Warner Roadshow Studios, located between Wet'n'Wild Water World and Warner Bros. Movie World.

The group claimed an annual patronage of approximately 4.2 million across all of its properties during the year ending 2007-06-30, including 1.3 million each to both Movie World and Sea World, and 1 million to Wet'n'Wild [Village Roadshow Limited (2007). [http://www.villageroadshow.com.au/pdf/AnnualReport/12773%20VRL_ipdf_Editorial_C3a.pdf 2007 Annual Report] , p. 6. Accessed on 2007-11-12.] .

ydney Expansion Attempt

In 2007, Warner Village Theme Parks commenced a hostile takeover attempt for Sydney Attractions Group. [http://business.smh.com.au/foxtel-lies-in-wait-for-austar/20071217-1hmt.html?page=2]

Sydney Attractions Group manages
*the Sydney Aquarium & Wildlife World in Darling Harbour
*Oceanworld and Shark Dive Xtreme at Manly, and
*the observation deck of Sydney Tower (including the OzTrek ride).

References

External links

* [http://www.myfun.com.au/ Warner Village Theme Parks]