DEBATE: Ideas for a 5th park????

[Bob O]

Lets say wdw was to build 5th park, what do you think the theme should be?? Reading the link to mouseplanet regarding DCA i think a Disney's America would be a great idea for a new park if one were to be built. But not based just on what the proposed park in VA was supposed to be but a park based on the whole country, break it down into sections with hightlights from each part of the country or maybe historical periods. What do you think of something like this or what would your idea be???
You could break a historical park down into maybe 75 yr periods or the country as a whole into west/east/south/midwest sections. I dont think that would work at all at DCA due to size limtiations but shouldnt be a problem at wdw.

[raidermatt]

Great idea for a post, Bob. We've had the "should there or shouldn't there be a park debate", but I like the idea of just throwing possibilties out there without regard for whether the park "should" be built.

It would take a lot more thought and data before I would actually give the go ahead to any of these, but themes I have kicked around in my noggin are:

As Bob said, American theme. I think the separation by time theme would work better than region, or perhaps a combination.

A World History theme. Sort of like Westworld (but with attractions/shows/exhibits instead of mal-functioning killer robots). A Roman or Greek land. Rennasance (sp) land. Etc. Or, perhaps one of these as an entire park, but I think that might be a stretch.

A Villain theme, done as a thrill park. (I'm really intrigued by this one...)

Of course, something like Tokyo Disney Seas would work.

A "music" themed park? Sections devoted to classical, pop, C/W, etc. Not as high on this one, but maybe.

Gotta go now, but I'll try to think of some more...

[Bob O]

Good ideas but i dont like the TDS. I want a new park if built to be unique and unlike the other parks they have built with no cloned attractions. Something without cloned rides/shows and unlike their others parks would really give people a reason to visit and extend their visit.

[Horace Horsecollar]

Instead of historic periods, I'd prefer to see a park that celebrates the distictive regional differences within the United States -- sort of along the lines of how World Showcase presents different countries.

Imagine about a dozen villages (the "lands"), each featuring the timeless architecture, music, entertainment, art, popular food, regional fine dining, handicrafts, and other cultural characteristics of the city or region represented by that village. Imagine at least one appropriate ride or show in each one. Think about America's most distinctive cities, such as Santa Fe, Charleston, and New Orleans. Add a New England fishing village, a Rocky Mountain mining town, a Western ghost town (that looks like a ghost town, not like Frontierland), a "big city" entertainment district (like Times Square), and whatever else would fit into the mix. Throw in Alaska and Hawaii.

Make sure that the park celebrates America's diverse enthnicity.

Arrange the villages along a "coast-to-coast" highway that doubles as a parade route. (But make sure that there are alternate access paths so that parades don't paralyze movement within the park.)

Present rides or shows based on history only where that would be good entertainment, but don't pretend you're in the business of somehow providing painless lessons about the brightest and darkest episodes of America's history. (That's one of the things that got Disney's America in trouble.)

Call the whole thing Disney's American Highway. ("Disney's America" sounded too much as though Disney wanted to own America.)

OK, I know a "highway to Hawaii" is stretching it a bit, but properly done, I think it would work anyway.

As the United States becomes more and more homogenized by national retail chains, national restaurant chains, and national cable TV, this could be a great place to capture an America without WalMart, McDonalds, and CNN.

[d-r]

i'm going to say i'd rather have them add to the existing parks than build a new park, at least at this time.

[Testtrack321]

Originally posted by d-r
i'm going to say i'd rather have them add to the existing parks than build a new park, at least at this time.

Ditto. They need new rides in all the parks (big ones, not midway types) before a new park should be built.

[jlambrig]

I would want to see a Disney park that is more geared to the thrill rides, call it Disney Extreme or Disney X. It could have the villian theme throughout and incorporate some of the Disney films without park representation like Atlantis, perfect set up for a thrill based water ride like JP in Universal. Good opportunity for dueling coasters where Aladdin takes on Jafar or something to that effect.

[Walt's Frozen Head]

My favorite idea for a new park is still "Shadow Kingdom." The theme fits with classic Disney while allowing a perfect opportunity to tweak up the "thrill" a couple notches in order to give those pesky teens something to do on property.

That said, I believe building another Disney park in Orlando would be an enormous waste.

-WFH

PS: If they did a small Shadowlands park, with mostly/exclusively thrill rides, the park could be a separately ticketed attraction. I think that would give WDW a cash shot in the arm, ammo against families with teenage guests fleeing to IOA, and avoid the potential backlash from the "WDW is for my four-year-old, exclusively" crowd by clearly separating the thrill element.

[mrtoadslastride]

One of the problems I see with most of the possible themes is that they overlap with attractions or lands of current parks. Shadowlands IMO would be the best bet to add attractions to WDW that wouldn't necessarily fit well in the the other parks. I also think WDW really needs some addtional thrill rides and Shadowlands would be a great way to do it without messing up the magic of the 4 parks.

WFH great idea about a seperate ticket!!!

[BRERALEX]

DNJA!!!!


i can see it now DISNEY NEW JERSEY ADVENTURE!!!! YESSSSS

wait shouldnt it be should they add a fourth park...........................oh yeah forgot A.K. againlololol

[raidermatt]

i'm going to say i'd rather have them add to the existing parks than build a new park, at least at this time.

Nobody's trying to argue that it makes sense to build the 5th park (at least not in this thread...).

Just supposed to be a fun brainstorming thread...

[JonetteA]

Wasn't there a rumor about 5 years or so ago where Disney was trying to add a new park in Virginia that would have the American theme?

[EUROPA]

I vote for an all Villains (Thrill-Ride) Park.

[Wantogo]

Florida Seas would be cool.

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by EUROPA
I vote for an all Villains (Thrill-Ride) Park.

I think the villains/thrill theme would be AWESOME.

[Bob O]

I agree totally that wdw doesnt need a new park. But this posyt was meant as a brainstorming session and not a citique of their current parks needs. Raidermatt was right!!!

[*Robin*]

I love the Villian and Shadowlands ideas, the Americas Highways is really an interesting concept...I wish they would do that!

But for me, after seeing all the pictures of DisneySeas, and knowing I'll probably never make it out there...I want our own!!

:)

[King Triton]

Before building a new park, I highly recommend building a Horizons II and a World of Motion II ride at Epcot. Epcot lost it's charm when Disney made a huge mistate removing those great rides.

King Triton
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Villain Dude]

Last May... We were lucky enough to be chosen "Grand Marshall's" for the MK parade.

As we were waiting for our GM vehicle (stage coach), the CM who picks the GM's and coordinates ... tells us that he heard a pretty good "rumor" and we could tell who we wanted.

He heard that WDW was considering a "SPACE" theme for its next park. He went on to say that this was only a rumor but not the internet kind. He mentioned that was an in house rumor and came from "reliable" sources.

Well, take it for what it is worth ... but, I'm taking it w/ a grain of salt.

Dude

[marty3d]

I'm going to cop out a little here:

1 - My vote for a park I'd be likely to visit every time - a Florida version of TDS

2 - The Shadow Kingdom idea is great too - I like the idea of concentrating thrill rides in one park (and therefore keeping the "Teen" level and associated issues in one park) - but I'd probably only visit once every 2 or 3 times I visit.

[CWIPPERMAN]

As someone that will soon be making my second trip (and first as an "adult" - I took a "family" trip when I was 18...but stuck with the family instead of going out on my own), I can tell you what would really get me excited. First, I understand that the general "Disney" theme is families, and children. But, it should be obvious by the number of folks that post in the "Disney for adults", or "Disney for teens" forums that not everyone going has kids. That is why my vote would be for a "heavy duty thrill ride" park. When my girlfriend and I were planning, we got the "birnbaums" book, and have been hitting this forum and some other websites. But we tend to notice, that as two "late-20's adults" with no kids, unless we want to wait in line for hours, we aren't going to be able to go from one exciting ride to another.

I would love the thought of a park full of some of the more technoligicallly (sp?) advanced rides. Take a look at how much press "Cedar Fair" gets (I've never been there, but if you watch Discovery, TLC, or The Travel Channels, they are always featuring roller coasters from those parks). I have never heard of a "Coaster Enthusiasts of America" trip to Disney.

Don't get me wrong...like I said...I understand the "bread and butter" of Disney is keeping rides themed with their movies, and appealing to families with younger kids. But look at the popularity of "Test Track", or "Tower of Terror". Both of those rides are designed to thrill, and from what I read on these boards and from other sources they are often the busiest rides in their perspective parks.

So, my vote is for a park of rides that are geared toward mid-teens and up. Cut out the fairy princesses, and put in some rides with speeds of 60+mph.

[mistermouse]

The rumored "space" park sounded intriguing, but wouldn't such a park overshadow Tommorrowland and Epcot's Futureworld?

I fall into the Disney Seas group on this one.
A "thrill" park doesn't seem to fit the Disney experience. Seems like it would be out of place. Enhance the thrill categories at each of the existing gates while adding a Seas park. Does anyone know if Oriental Land Co. has some sort of exclusive on the theme?

Leave the 1/2 day thrill park at IOA where it belongs.

[Lanshark]

I think they should build a thrill park based on Disney Movies. There are so many action sequences in past Disney Movies they could theme a thrill park much in the same fashion as IOA. As someone previously mentioned there could be sections including Villians, Heros etc.

[Douglas Dubh]

Put me down for a vote for a DisneySeas concept - only I'd make some modifications to the concept as executed in Tokyo. Florida's DS should contain live sea animals - so people have less reason to go to Sea World. The focus of a Florida DS should be on the history and legends of those who live in or near the sea, in contrast to Epcot's Living Seas, whose focus should be on the future of the ocean.

[marty3d]

I like the idea of live sea animals (though Sea World does that amazingly - it's my favorite non-Disney park) - wouldn't it make more sense in the AK?

[wdwfreak]

I would have to say that, so far, the ideas that most intrigue me would be the Villians theme and the "thrill ride" theme.

There is so much potential with the Disney Villians that I think Disney has not necessarily fully explored.

One question, however. And this is posed to all those in favor of a "thrill" park. Do we want themed thrill rides, a la Space Mountain, Big Thunder, etc., or just lightly-themed, b**ls-to-the-wall super roller coasters, like the ones at King's Island and Cedar Point?

[Douglas Dubh]

I like the idea of live sea animals (though Sea World does that amazingly - it's my favorite non-Disney park) - wouldn't it make more sense in the AK?

I think there are plenty of things with which they could build out AK without ever touching sea life.

[manning]

Discovery Cove next to Animal Kingdom.

[JungleMansion]

I agree with many of you, a thrill ride park would be a pretty good idea. It would help Disney bring in the people that think WDW is just a little kid place. And a park rather than a separate land, would keep the other parks free from the extra crowds that would come just for the thrill rides day to day. And if they wanted to make it more "Disney" they could just combine a thrill park with the Villains. Then they could bring back the Villain character meal!

[Tik Tok]

I don't really have an idea, but I hope that whatever Disney decides to build next is something revolutionary, and not reactionary like their last two parks in Orlando. They built MGM to compete with Uni, and AK to draw the Busch crowds, so I really hope they don't do something like that again.

If they really want to draw more bodies to Orlando, then the 5th park really needs to be something AMAZING that will make everyone stand up and go "WOW, I HAVE to see that place"!! Something as visionary as the Disneyland or EPCOT Center.


(Of course I should also point out that I hope they don't build a new theme park for a long, long time!)

[bigs1923t]

The park that was supposed to be built in Va was near Mannassas an area deep in history. They did not want the construction & crowds there. As for a 5th park. I feel Disney has no choice they have to build one. It has to be based on thrill rides. They are losing too much business to IOA and need to get it back. The real thrill seekers are not interested in Disneys parks as they are. As for me I went to IOA once, didnt ride many thigs at all. I like the thrill of the mouse !

[Don Karnage]

Disney Realms

A collection of lands completely not of this world...

possible examples:

an alien planet
Mideval/Fantasy/ psuedo Beaslty Kingdom land
Shadowlands (devoted to the villains)
Underwater/Submariner land
Other dimensions
Mandatory 'kid friendly' land (whatever....you name the theme)

endless possibilities, opportunities to borrow things from other concepts and parks (Disney Seas)

Reach each land through funky portals, etc....

I know this reads as an IOA rip-off BUT it would give them endless flexibilty and the chance to try some of their more interesting concepts without risking and entire park on one strict theme.

Just a thought... I like the Disney America theme too.