Surely the contract renewal will cost money as well?
Hence why the ride is so poorly themed outside with those amazing 'props' from the film, cos all the money went on getting the name in?
I've always questioned Merlin's choice of IPs though, what with Saw, Ice Age and Shrek (Towers Farm retheme idea that fortunately died before it happened) are all essentially dead or dying franchises with minimal lasting appeal, especially when you compare to what Drayton and Paultons have done with clever long lasting IPs...
Maybe they were cheaper...