Latest news with #themeParks
The Sun
18-05-2025
- The Sun
I've saved £350 on days out and holidays in the first three months of Sun Club – here's how you can do the same
THERE are huge savings to be had on days out and holidays if Sun Club members use their perks wisely - here's what you need to know to make membership work for you. I signed up to Sun Club for just £12 for the year in mid-February and have already saved almost £350 in the first three months. 7 7 I claimed free theme park tickets, booked a bargain caravan break and bagged a pair of darts tickets. And I haven't even used all the incredible offers yet, as there's more Superdays at the likes of SEA LIFE, Warwick Castle, the London Eye and Cadbury World to come. I reckon I'm on track to save more than £1,000 over my first year. Sun Superdays I've been using Sun Superdays for theme parks tickets like Alton T owers Resort for years and I actually think the current offer under Sun Club is better than anything I've seen before. There are no booking fees and lots of free dates in the school holidays and at weekends, which have been a struggle to get in the past. We've already had a great day out at Alton Towers Resort on a school inset day, which would have cost £58 for two people if I'd booked online in advance instead of using my free tickets. I've also booked Chessington World of Adventures and Thorpe Park during the summer holidays, which both would have been more than £65 for two tickets without the Sun Club offer. My top tip for is to get online on the day that booking opens for each offer with a few dates that you can do, in case your first choice is already taken. Sometimes you can get to the front of the virtual queue quickly and book your tickets straight away, giving you the pick of the dates. Other times, you'll need to wait a while as there are lots of people all trying to make the most of the offer. It's taken me around an hour to get through before, but I still got summer holiday tickets free, so it's well worth the wait. Once you've got your booking code, you can go to the theme park calendar and see which dates still have free tickets and which ones you have to pay for. Check out Sundays if all the free school holiday tickets have already gone. WHAT IS SUN SUPERDAYS? Sun Superdays is The Sun's exclusive partnership with Merlin Entertainments, giving Sun readers the chance to get FREE or highly discounted tickets to 11 of their top UK attractions - including Alton Towers Resort, Chessington World of Adventures, Thorpe Park, London Eye and many more. And as a Sun Club member, you can get automatic access to these great deals - without the need to collect Sun Savers codes - just head to The Sun Club Offers & Competitions section, where each month you'll find an exclusive Sun Superdays offer waiting to be redeemed. This month, you can book tickets to Warwick Castle. Booking opens at 11am on Wednesday, May 21. Holidays From £9.50 per person 7 When it comes to the Hols From £9.50 deal, Sun Club members could book a day early in the April promotion, so I bagged a brilliant break in Norfolk for a May weekend for just £130 for six people. The same caravan booked direct with the holiday park would have been £200. We've had some great bargain breaks over the years. Nowadays, UK chains like Park Holidays and Lyons take part and you can also go to caravan parks in Europe for a weekend, a midweek or a full week. If you can go term time midweek, you'll be able to find holidays for just £40 for four people, but prices do go up at weekends and in the school holidays, so you need to check carefully to make sure it's the best deal for your family, especially once you factor in extras like entertainment passes. If you book direct, the price you're paying normally covers all the added extras like linen or passes, but that's not always the case when you book through a third party like Sun Hols From £9.50. Having said that, there is a price guarantee that means you could get money back and an extra £10 if you find a better deal within 28 days once you've booked your break. Tickets galore Even if you're not a theme park fan and don't want a caravan holiday, there are other deals on Sun Club that could make it worth your while to join. We've never been to a darts tournament before, but with two free tickets worth £74 available, it seemed like a good way to introduce my eldest to a different kind of sport that's enjoying a renaissance at the moment. And Sun Club members can also enjoy four free tickets to racecourses all over the UK. Kids go free and the tickets could be worth up to £128 if you book the summer opening party at Windsor, featuring Marvin Humes. We're often in Great Yarmouth over the summer, so I'm keeping my eyes peeled for tickets to the horse racing there. If you're a bingo lover, you can claim 20 free plays each month. There's even a link to book discounted theatre tickets if you're heading to the capital for a night of culture. I'm certainly maxxing out my Sun Club membership. Make sure you're doing the same! 7 7
The Independent
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Best May half-term deals on family days out: Alton Towers, Legoland and more
May half-term is almost here, and you may be looking for trips, days out and activities to keep the family busy. However, once you've paid for tickets, food, transport and, of course, a trip to the gift shop, excursions can be very expensive. Luckily, our team of expert deal-hunters are always on the lookout for discounts. We've done the hard work for you and found the best deals and ways to save on theme parks from Alton Towers to Legoland, as well as UK staycations and train travel. We'll keep updating this page as we spot more deals, so bookmark it and check back for the best May half-term offers. Our pick of the best May half-term deals: Book a short break at Alton Towers If you've got little thrill-seekers to entertain over half-term, look no further than Alton Towers. The theme park is best known for exhilarating rides like Nemesis Reborn and Toxicator, which is new for 2025. There's plenty for younger kids too, with rides, play areas, and meet-and-greets with well-loved characters in CBeebies Land. You can extend your visit into a short break. There are lots of places available to book in or around the theme park, starting from £49 per person per night at the beach-themed Splash Landings Hotel during half-term. As a hotel guest, you'll get breakfast and free parking included with your overnight stay, as well as early entry to popular rides on the second day of your stay. Stays are also available to book at the Alton Towers Hotel (from £56 per person), as well as cosy options in the Woodland Lodges (from £62 per person) and Stargazing Pods (from £32 per person). Planning a day trip this half term? Here's Save on advance bookings at Warwick Castle If your kids can't get enough of knights, princesses and dragons, they'll love the activities at Warwick Castle this May half-term. There's a retelling of the Wars of the Roses brought to life through a jousting show, birds of prey on display, meet-and-greets with Zog the dragon and lots more. Booking in advance will bring your tickets down to £29 per person, with under-2s and carers receiving free entry. Tickets can cost up to £39 when booked on the day, so you can save a fair chunk when booking for the whole family ahead of time. See even more of the best deals and discount codes for a day out at Warwick Castle Enjoy Lego Festival activities at Legoland The Lego Festival runs from now until the 8th of June, so Legoland Windsor makes for a great May half-term trip. As well as earning a Legoland Driving Licence and swooping through the air on The Dragon ride, kids can enjoy extra activities including brick-building challenges, dance parties, music and more. The festivities continue beyond half-term too, with Lego's World Play Day on 11 June bringing a whole host of activities and entertainment. The cheapest tickets start from £39 per person if you visit during the last Sunday or Monday of the month, the latter of which is also a bank holiday. A walk-up ticket on the day can cost up to £68, so it pays to plan. Book a last-minute staycation with Away Resorts You may think it's too late to book a trip away for May half-term or the bank holiday weekend. However, we've spotted some great options at Away Resorts, with holiday parks nestled in the Scottish countryside, on the sandy seafronts of North Wales and surrounded by stunning scenery in Cornwall. You can use our discount code below to get 10 per cent off your stay. We've rounded up even Save on travel with a family & friends railcard You may be making a train journey or two this half-term, whether that's to visit loved ones or head on days out. However, the cost of train tickets can quickly add up, particularly if you're travelling as a family. An easy way to save on tickets is with a family and friends railcard. This can be used on tickets for up to four adults travelling with four children under 16 years old. Adults will get a third off train travel, while children will benefit from a 60 per cent discount. The family and friends railcard costs £35 a year, or £80 for 3 years, so while there's an initial outlay, it quickly pays for itself in the savings that you'll make.
CBS News
07-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Disney boosts profit expectations after 2nd quarter success
Disney posted solid profits and revenue in the second quarter as its domestic theme parks thrived and the company added well over a million subscribers to its streaming service. The company also boosted its profit expectations for the year. For the three months ended March 30, Disney earned $3.28 billion, or $1.81 per share. The Burbank, California, company lost $20 million, or a penny per share, a year earlier. Removing one time charges or benefits, earnings were $1.45 per share, easily topping the $1.18 that Wall Street was expecting, according to a survey by Zacks Investment Research. Revenue rose 7% to $23.62 billion, also topping projections. Revenue for Disney Entertainment, it's movie studios and streaming, climbed 9%, while revenue for the Experiences division, its parks, increased 6%. Recent box office hits include "Moana 2" and "Mufasa: The Lion King." Its latest film, "Thunderbolts(asterisk)," is currently s itting atop the box office. CEO Bob Iger and Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston said in prepared remarks that they're confident in this year's movie slate, which includes "Lilo & Stitch," "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" and "Avatar: Fire and Ash." Trump administration's impact on House of Mouse Disney, however, faces potential ramifications from the trade war launched by President Donald Trump. Other U.S. corporations have noted blowback by consumers in overseas markets and on Monday, Trump opened a new salvo in his tariff war, targeting films made outside the U.S. In a post Sunday night on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he has authorized the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to slap a 100% tariff "on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands." Disney has come under some scrutiny from Trump's administration for other issues. In March the head of the Federal Communications Commission said that he was opening an investigation into Disney and its ABC television network to see whether they are "promoting invidious forms of DEI discrimination." FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr announced the probe in a letter to Iger. The company said at the time that it was reviewing the letter and was looking forward to answering the commission's questions. Streaming and studios success As of now, Disney's streaming business continues to grow. Its direct-to-consumer business, which includes Disney+ and Hulu, posted quarterly operating income of $336 million compared with $47 million in the prior-year period. Revenue increased 8%. The Disney+ streaming service had a 2% increase in paid subscribers domestically, which includes the U.S. and Canada. There was a 1% rise internationally, which excludes Disney+ HotStar. Total paid subscribers for Disney+ edged up 1% in the quarter to surprising 126 million subscribers, from 124.6 million in the first quarter. The Walt Disney Co. previously said that it expected a modest decline in Disney+ subscribers in the second quarter when compared with the first three months of the year. Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions totaled 180.7 million, up 2.5 million from the first quarter. Iger and Johnston said that Disney has benefited from success at the box office, which becomes content for its growing streaming service. "Moana 2" has more than 139 million hours streaming since hitting Disney+ on March 12, making it the biggest Walt Disney Animation Studios' premiere on the platform since "Encanto," he said. The first "Moana" film remains the most watched movie on Disney+ with more than 1.4 billion hours streamed. The Moana franchise also drives traffic at Disney's theme parks, with meet and greets with characters at theme parks and on cruise ships and the Journey of Water at Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The Experiences division, which includes Disney's six global theme parks, its cruise line, merchandise and videogame licensing, reported operating income rose 9% to $2.5 billion. Operating income climbed 13% at domestic parks. Operating income dropped 23% for international parks and Experiences, due to softness at its Shanghai and Hong Kong theme parks. Disney also announced Wednesday that it will build its seventh theme park in Abu Dhabi. The waterfront resort will be located on Yas Island and be Disney's seventh theme park. The theme park will be built and run by the developer Miral, with Disney licensing its intellectual property for the project and providing development and management services, according to a regulatory filing. Disney, which won't provide any capital, will earn royalties based on the project's revenues and will also earn service fees. Search for CEO successor While Disney continues to pull levers to successfully manage all of the different components of its business, it also continues to work on its search for a successor to Iger, the face of Disney for most of the past two decades. Disney created a succession planning committee in 2023, but the search began in earnest last year when the company enlisted Morgan Stanley Executive Chairman James Gorman to lead the effort. Disney does have some time, as Iger agreed to a contract extension that keeps him at the company through the end of 2026. Disney is looking at internal and external candidates. The internal candidates are widely believed to include the chairman of Disney-owned ESPN, Jimmy Pitaro, Chairperson of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Josh D'Amaro, Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Dana Walden. Disney is projecting full-year adjusted earnings of $5.75 per share, which is better than the $5.43 per share that analysts polled by FactSet are looking for. The company's previous guidance was for high-single digit adjusted earnings per share growth for fiscal 2025. Shares surged more than 6% before the market open on Wednesday.
Bloomberg
07-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Stock Movers: Disney Up on Parks, Uber, AMD Down
Disney (DIS) rose on strong earnings results driven by theme parks and streaming, with the company announcing plans for its first theme park in the Middle East and expecting a modest sequential increase in Disney+ subscribers in the current quarter. Uber (UBER) fell after the ride-sharing company reported first-quarter results that were slightly weaker than expected on key metrics, including gross bookings and revenue. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) after the chipmaker reported first-quarter results that beat expectations but gave an outlook that analysts see as mixed. The company also said it sees an annual hit of $1.5 billion due to China export controls. (Source: Bloomberg)
The Independent
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Disney parks thrive in second quarter and it adds well over 1 million streaming subscribers
Disney's posted solid profits and revenue in the second quarter as its domestic theme parks thrived and the company added well over a million subscribers to its streaming service. For the three months ended March 30, Disney earned $3.28 billion, or $1.81 per share. The Burbank, California, company lost $20 million, or a penny per share, a year earlier. Removing one time charges or benefits, earnings were $1.45 per share, easily topping the $1.18 that Wall Street was expecting, according to a survey by Zacks Investment Research. Revenue rose 7% to $23.62 billion, also topping projections. Revenue in Disney's Entertainment segment climbed 9%, while revenue for the Experiences division increased 6%. Disney's direct-to-consumer business, which includes Disney+ and Hulu, posted quarterly operating income of $336 million compared with $47 million in the prior-year period. Revenue increased 8%. The Disney+ streaming service had a 2% increase in paid subscribers domestically, which includes the U.S. and Canada. There was a 1% rise internationally, which excludes Disney+ HotStar. Total paid subscribers for Disney+ edged up 1% in the quarter to 126 million subscribers from 124.6 million in the first quarter. Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions totaled 180.7 million, up 2.5 million from the first quarter. The Walt Disney Co. previously said that it expected a modest decline in Disney+ subscribers in the second quarter when compared with the first quarter. The Experiences division, which includes six global theme parks, its cruise line, merchandise and videogame licensing, reported operating income rose 9% to $2.5 billion. Operating income climbed 13% at domestic parks. Operating income dropped 23% for international parks and Experiences. Disney is projecting full-year adjusted earnings of $5.75 per share. The company's previous guidance was for high-single digit adjusted earnings per share growth for fiscal 2025.
