News Round Up

[Josh Hendy]

Reports are an entire fleet of parking lot trams at DHS are down so people are forced to walk.

Not sure how a fleet of trams could go down, but we've never taken a tram at DHS because it always seemed to be shorter to walk than to wait for one.

 

[AzzySpazbourne]

Today it was yes.

Wait a second... So just to confirm the Disney Visa meet and greet is available in Hollywood studios now? I thought that that wasn't available until next year...if true you just made my day!

 

[rteetz]

Wait a second... So just to confirm the Disney Visa meet and greet is available in Hollywood studios now? I thought that that wasn't available until next year...if true you just made my day!

Yes it is located in Launch Bay and was open.

 

[rteetz]

I have created a DHS related thread for updates concerning new things and upcoming things there to not clog up this thread.

 

[summerw]

BIG Miceage Disneyland update

http://micechat.com/116178-miceage-disneyland-rumor-update-star-wars/

Executive shake up at Disneyland, and no Colgaizer is getting his contract extended unlike the last 4 presidents.

Star Wars prep work begins in January under the name Delos. Fantasy fairs theater is safe for now.

New luigi ride is ready to go in DCA should soft open before the holidays.

It seems DTD will be getting some work.

FP+ in Disneyland will be a second option to legacy FP rather than the way it works in WDW. A Disneyland smart phone app will allow you to book same day FPs. FP will also be expanded to more attractions in Disneyland just like it was in WDW.

Thanks for posting this! Super excited the theater is safe for now. I was just telling DS we have to try to go again in case it closes and he was sad because he said M&tMM is his favorite show. I really like it too.

Is there a map anywhere of where Star Wars Land will sit? I just can't visualize. Is Tom Sawyer's island staying or going? I'd be fine if they took out the lame treehouse in Toontown and too bad Donald's boat can't go too. I've seen several kids get seriously injured on the steering wheel there.

 

[rteetz]

Thanks for posting this! Super excited the theater is safe for now. I was just telling DS we have to try to go again in case it closes and he was sad because he said M&tMM is his favorite show. I really like it too.

Is there a map anywhere of where Star Wars Land will sit? I just can't visualize. Is Tom Sawyer's island staying or going? I'd be fine if they took out the lame treehouse in Toontown and too bad Donald's boat can't go too. I've seen several kids get seriously injured on the steering wheel there.

Tom Sawyers Island is staying but might shrink a bit. A lot of Star Wars land will take up backstage. I believe there is a past Mileage update with a map.

 

[rteetz]

MK ramp and skipper canteen update

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/12/magic-kingdom-update-castle-ramps.html?m=1

 

[atricks]

Game changing news for Orlando tonight, it was confirmed that Universal is reaquiring all the old Lockheed land it sold back 10-12 years ago. Which is enough for a new theme park (or two) for universal, with a train/monorail system connecting the two Universal Areas (line would be shorter than the Epcot line distance wise).

http://www.growthspotter.com/news/i...olony-capital-s-474-acres-20151201-story.html

and confirmed at the Skyplex meeting (which also passed).

 

[rteetz]

Game changing news for Orlando tonight, it was confirmed that Universal is reaquiring all the old Lockheed land it sold back 10-12 years ago. Which is enough for a new theme park (or two) for universal, with a train/monorail system connecting the two Universal Areas (line would be shorter than the Epcot line distance wise).

http://www.growthspotter.com/news/i...olony-capital-s-474-acres-20151201-story.html

and confirmed at the Skyplex meeting (which also passed).

Honestly I'm not surprised by the info but I am surprised that it wasn't leaked sooner that they were buying that land back.

 

[AzzySpazbourne]

Game changing news for Orlando tonight, it was confirmed that Universal is reaquiring all the old Lockheed land it sold back 10-12 years ago. Which is enough for a new theme park (or two) for universal, with a train/monorail system connecting the two Universal Areas (line would be shorter than the Epcot line distance wise).

http://www.growthspotter.com/news/i...olony-capital-s-474-acres-20151201-story.html

and confirmed at the Skyplex meeting (which also passed).

....Your move Disney

 

[rteetz]

According to permits for the building in Disney Springs that is being built out of Fox Blocks it will be a Coca-Cola location.

 

[rteetz]

....Your move Disney

Star Wars is part of that move but I doubt this prompts Disney to build a fifth gate yet. I also don't think Disney does anything until an official gate announcement from universal for all we know they may not have immediate plans for another gate yet. I doubt that but I'm sure we will see more info within the next year.

 

[AzzySpazbourne]

Star Wars is part of that move but I doubt this prompts Disney to build a fifth gate yet. I also don't think Disney does anything until an official gate announcement from universal for all we know they may not have immediate plans for another gate yet. I doubt that but I'm sure we will see more info within the next year.

I always thought SW was the counter to U's HP rights

 

[rteetz]

I always thought SW was the counter to U's HP rights

I don't think so if it was it would've been done sooner.

 

[SureAsLiz]

I always thought SW was the counter to U's HP rights

Pandora is the counter to HP. They are just taking their sweet time with it

 

[wareagle57]

A 5th gate will not help Disney nearly as much as a 3rd and 4th will for Universal. As it is now, if you are really determined, you can do all of Universal in 1 day. 2 is not a problem. But add in a 3rd gate, plus the water park, and it's just as much of a destination location as Disney is currently. People will start taking Universal vacations and spending a day at the MK or a day at Star Wars.

 

[rteetz]

Pandora is the counter to HP. They are just taking their sweet time with it

I don't think Disney has countered HP. I don't consider Pandora a counter because if it was it would be open by now.

 

[rteetz]

A 5th gate will not help Disney nearly as much as a 3rd and 4th will for Universal. As it is now, if you are really determined, you can do all of Universal in 1 day. 2 is not a problem. But add in a 3rd gate, plus the water park, and it's just as much of a destination location as Disney is currently. People will start taking Universal vacations and spending a day at the MK or a day at Star Wars.

Exactly, many people looked at length of stay when AK opened. Disney was already a destination at that point but adding AK didn't really extend people's vacations. Many people don't take much longer than a week. Adding a fifth gate is only going cut time out of the other parks to go to that new park.

 

[SureAsLiz]

I don't think Disney has countered HP. I don't consider Pandora a counter because if it was it would be open by now.

I know it doesn't seem like it from a consumer POV, but that's what it was supposed to be.

Looking at the timeline, HP opened mid-2010. Talks of Pandora began Spring 2011 and everything was signed mid-late 2011 just a few months before phase 2 of HP was announced.
Based on a post from 2011, the project was supposed to take 3-5 years with construction beginning in 2013. This puts the end date between 2016 and 2018 on the late end depending on when they started the 3-5 range (planning v construction) which puts the land completion in their original timeline.

I think the biggest difference is that Disney doesn't need Pandora as much as Universal probably needed HP. The simple act of beginning to plan a new addition to DAK (with that addition being a new IP to the park, comparable to HP), plus the expansion NFL did a lot to satiate the public in their desire for something new

 

[rteetz]

I know it doesn't seem like it from a consumer POV, but that's what it was supposed to be.

Looking at the timeline, HP opened mid-2010. Talks of Pandora began Spring 2011 and everything was signed mid-late 2011 just a few months before phase 2 of HP was announced.
Based on a post from 2011, the project was supposed to take 3-5 years with construction beginning in 2013. This puts the end date between 2016 and 2018 on the late end depending on when they started the 3-5 range (planning v construction) which puts the land completion in their original timeline.

I think the biggest difference is that Disney doesn't need Pandora as much as Universal probably needed HP. The simple act of beginning to plan a new addition to DAK (with that addition being a new IP to the park, comparable to HP), plus the expansion NFL did a lot to satiate the public in their desire for something new

If Disney cared what Universal was doing DHS stuff would be done by now.

Talks of Pandora started with them just doing a small attraction in DHS but then sprung into the major land in AK but I really don't think that is because Pandora was a reaction to HP. Again if it was it would've been done by now because phase 2 of HP is already open. Construction for Pandora starting Jan. 2014.

Universal has done a ton of work since the change in ownership yet Disney keeps riding high with attendance and high stock prices without doing much in their florida parks. Disney isn't worried about Universal yet. A third gate might make them a bit worried but not worried enough to build a fifth gate. I think if the public really desired something new we would see attendance decreased or at least stagnant definitely not rises.