Disney in Houston!!!

[Schmeck]

At least we're not rude.

Untrue generalization right there too! I could tell you a story about a loudmouth Texan that would curl your toes, and have you understand where the idea of the stereotypical ugly American originated

Of course, not all Texans are rude, but they are not all nice either, which can be said for every state in the union.

Could you all just hear the "our castle is bigger and better in Texas" bragging going on if Disney built in Texas

 

[CandyMandy]

Yup, when I wrote "built by the same guy", I meant the guy who built Pleasure Island, but then my wording wasn't good.

Although it's hard to verify the claims when no reliable info exists about his involvement with Disneyland...

Doc, here's an interesting, well researched and detailed writeup on Wood:

http://hystoracle.blogspot.com/2009/05/always-let-your-conscience-be-your.html

 

[CandyMandy]

Wow - I just found something that shows what an innovator Wood was. Here is part of a Freedomland U.S.A. flyer from 1960, highlighting the fact the park has a single admission fee covering all attractions. That was revolutionary compared to where Disneyland was at the same time (the infamous A-E ticket books).

 

[RobOnDisney]

The one I always obsessively wanted, and still do, was Disney's America... Alas it never came to be!

I did a short write up a few years ago.... http://www.disneyfamilyman.com/search/label/Disney's America

 

[RobOnDisney]

Few other good pieces on it...

http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2008/03/disneys-america-theme-park-project.html

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2012/04/the-fight-over-disneys-america.html?page=all

http://samlanddisney.blogspot.com/2011/01/disneys-america-story-part-two.html

 

[CandyMandy]

The one I always obsessively wanted, and still do, was Disney's America... Alas it never came to be!

True. Freedomland in New York was the closest we've ever seen (and will likely ever see) to an articulation of what Disney's America was aiming to be. Yes, Imagineers were able to employ some of their "Virgina" concepts at California Adventure, but in diluted, fragmented form (everything has to relate to what still ends up being a very uncohesive "California" theme). And an industrial revolution territory/attraction -- which could have been unique and powerful -- is completely absent.

Granted, Disney's vision for an America park was much more refined than what Wood built in 1960, but to his credit Disney in their designing had the benefit of three and a half decades of evolution in technology and its use in theme parks. That stated, it's still striking to see some of the parallels between Freedomland and America, especially the idea of using the civil war as a chance to provide a big, loud full-blown battlefield experience. The version at Freedomland was fun but somewhat cheesy. One can only imagine what Disney's would have been like (a thundering, smoky, nightmarish re-creation of the 9 and 11 inch guns on the Monitor and Merrimac relentlessly hurling tons of metal shot at each other).

 

[iGoofy]

I'm doing the happy dance over here.
http://woodlandsrealestatenews.blogspot.com/2011/03/woodlands-township-inks-disney-land.html

This is still the talk of the town here in The Woodlands. It was an April fools joke from last year. It resurfaced and I haven't run into one person who hasn't brought it up. As much as we wish it was true it isn't so.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[VikingInMouseEars]

I was living in Houston in the 80s and there were rumors that Disney was buying land just north of Houston for a new theme park. The theme park part was true, but of course the Disney part wasn't. Turned how to be Hanna Barbera Land that lasted all of 2 years before it was sold and turned into a water park.

 

[fab5friend99]

Disney's not going to The Woodlands, it's going to Katy! About 5 years ago when I lived outside Houston near Katy, one of the guys I rode with on the van told me that Disney was coming to Katy and he was very serious. He was telling me exactly where the land had been purchased etc. I told him I hoped so but don't get your hopes up.

 

[HollyL]

Texans will believe anything about Texas. Completely delusional. Texas, ugh!

Okay, that is a really rude comment. I am not a native Texan (born and raised in San Francisco), but I love my new home and am much happier here in Texas living among wonderful Texans than I would be living in crazy liberal land California. Just sayin.......

Texas would be a great place for Disney to open a park, they own a bunch of land about an hour outside of Houston. Why shouldn't Texans believe that Disney may open a park here one day, after all, didn't they just put a cruise ship here (Galveston- 45 mins. south of Houston) ?!

 

[Icecoldpenguin]

Not only that but they own a CRAP load of land in Bastrop Texas right outside of Austin it would not be far fetched for a park to pop up in the middle of the US. and the comment about texans is rude. I have lived here all my life and I am a proud texan but also very very very smart and why is it so bad to believe in the disney magic coming to texas. Heck the cruise line now has a port in galveston!

 

[HollyL]

I mean think about it......Houston would be great because it's the 4th largest city in the country, and we don't have any kind of theme park here. Not only that, but within a few hours you have the huge Dallas Metro area, within a couple of hours, you have Austin and San Antonio. New Orleans is just 5 hours away. You would also attract people from West Texas, Oklahoma, and Mexico. It's a huge area and there is a market for sure. The weather is great. Sure, the Summers get hot and humid, but no worse than Orlando, and there isn't any greater risk of Hurricanes than Orlando has.

As a family, we try to hit Disneyland once a year. If there were a park in Texas, we would get Annual Passports and go a LOT. I was discussing this with some co-workers who said the same thing. Sure, people still have the option of the Disneyland Resort in California (my preference since I grew up going to that one) or WDW, and those people may only get to go once a year or once every few years, but if there was a park closer, those same people would go several times each year.

The area where they hold the Ren Fair every year would be great. There is nothing out there and plenty of room to build, yet it's still close enough to Bush Airport and within an hour drive of Downtown Houston.

I too remember when people said that they wouldn't put a Disney Cruise ship in stinky old Galveston, well.....the maiden voyage just happened folks. It just makes sense to add a park here!!!!

Oh, and all you Texas haters......what gives? Have you ever even visited Texas? I've lived all over the U.S. and am now spending my 4th year here and I love it, and am happy that I will be raising my Texan children here!

Don't mess with Texas ya'll!

 

[JB2K]

Ha right, I know what you mean. I live in Missouri and ever since I was a child I also heard rumors about Disney buying up a lot of property by Branson and building a park near there.

Actually -- and this is no joke -- back in the early 60's, Walt Disney was floating the idea of a fully-enclosed Disneyland-style park in St. Louis.

Brewing magnate Gussie Busch (of Anheuser-Busch fame) told Disney his idea would "never fly" because of the Disneyland policy of no alcohol served at the park.

Then, something called "Florida" happened...

 

[HollyL]

Yeah, I was reading about that too, and also read about plans to build a park in the Northern Virginia/D.C. area, but those plans got scrapped. That's too bad.....that would have been cool. I lived in Northern Virginia for 5 years before relocating to Texas, and I would have spent a lot of time and money at that park, had there been one.

Why should Southern California and Florida have all of the fun........give some love to Texas!!

 

[Gorechick]

I'm from the CT coastline, grew up near New Haven and I remember a rumor as a kid that Disney was interested in land there for a park. There was a small amusement park at our beach that closed the year I was born so it wouldn't be inconceivable to build there. I've never been able to find concrete evidence though that CT was ever considered.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Not only that but they own a CRAP load of land in Bastrop Texas right outside of Austin

What is the basis for the claim that The Walt Disney Company owns a large amount of real estate in Bastrop, Texas?

Are there public tax records? Public real estate transfer records? Public filings with the SEC? Disclosures to Disney shareholders?

Or none of the above?

It's 2012. Major publicly-held corporations in the United States do not hold large assets secretly. So if the Bastrop claim is true, surely it can be backed up with evidence.

I eagerly await the evidence.

 

[Q-man]

What is the basis for the claim that The Walt Disney Company owns a large amount of real estate in Bastrop, Texas?

Are there public tax records? Public real estate transfer records? Public filings with the SEC? Disclosures to Disney shareholders?

Or none of the above?

It's 2012. Major publicly-held corporations in the United States do not hold large assets secretly. So if the Bastrop claim is true, surely it can be backed up with evidence.

I eagerly await the evidence.

Disney used multiple layers of shell companies when buying the land in Florida. If they did so elsewhere they would have done the same and no one would know Disney was the buyer.

Central Texas has water availability issues that make those rumors extremely unlikely not to mention the winter climate issues.

 

[doconeill]

Disney used multiple layers of shell companies when buying the land in Florida. If they did so elsewhere they would have done the same and no one would know Disney was the buyer.

It's a bit harder to do in today's information age. But any time there seems to be a land grab by some previously unheard of corporation, everyone automatically starts saying, "Disney is coming! Disney is coming!" because that's what was done for the Florida project...even though plenty of other companies do it too.

 

[Q-man]

What is the basis for the claim that The Walt Disney Company owns a large amount of real estate in Bastrop, Texas?

Are there public tax records? Public real estate transfer records? Public filings with the SEC? Disclosures to Disney shareholders?

Or none of the above?

It's 2012. Major publicly-held corporations in the United States do not hold large assets secretly. So if the Bastrop claim is true, surely it can be backed up with evidence.

I eagerly await the evidence.

It's a bit harder to do in today's information age. But any time there seems to be a land grab by some previously unheard of corporation, everyone automatically starts saying, "Disney is coming! Disney is coming!" because that's what was done for the Florida project...even though plenty of other companies do it too.

If they brought it way back it wouldn't very valuable. They'd be grazing cattle on it and have an ag exemption.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

If they brought it way back it wouldn't very valuable. They'd be grazing cattle on it and have an ag exemption.

The point is that Disney DOESN'T own a huge tract of land in Bastrop, Texas -- with or without an ag exemption.

Now, I would be thrilled if somebody could prove me wrong regarding my statement above.

Real estate tax records and transfer records are public, either online or through a visit to county offices.

Sure, real estate can be held by private trusts and offshore companies with secret ownership. However, a publicly-held corporation like The Walt Disney Company has to disclose all of its subsidiaries in SEC filings, which are also public.

If Disney owned a tract of land big enough for a destination resort in Bastrop, reporters for business publications would have no trouble tracking down the real ownership story.

Companies can negotiate privately and work on secret projects. But they can't keep two sets of books. They can't hide their subsidiaries. And they can't hold onto major assets in a way that the ownership is invisible to the government, the public, and the business press.

It's not 1964 anymore.