5th Park!

[AnimalPrincess]

I just wanted to kind of clear things up, or share what I know. I worked at DAK with the animals so that would be where my knowledge comes from. So....The $300 ticket park, is very likely a go, it will be very similar to Discovery Cove and will be right next to DAK, they have a lot of land there.

Beastly Kingdom was supposed to be in DAk like others said but from what I know the main reason that it didn't happen is that Universal outbid them for Dueling Dragons which was to be the main attraction.

If AK was ever supposed to be a late park the safari was never included in that. The animals need to come in to eat etc and as it is they are waiting back by the gate at least an hour early already.

One more thing, a second safari, that is Asia themed is very likely a go as well.

 

[ChrisFL]

Beastly Kingdom was supposed to be in DAk like others said but from what I know the main reason that it didn't happen is that Universal outbid them for Dueling Dragons which was to be the main attraction.

Nearly right...from what I know, some of the imagineers working on the Dragons coaster concept were canned by Eisner's regime and subsequently picked up by Universal who were looking for a few good men to complete IOA. They fit perfectly.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

If AK was ever supposed to be a late park the safari was never included in that.

Hmm... I remember reading the article on this in one of the now defunct Disney mags.
It talked about it being too expensive to light the savanna, so they rigged the vehicles with lights.

I always wondered what happened to the whole night safari thing..

MG

 

[MJMcBride]

Beastly Kingdom was supposed to be in DAk like others said but from what I know the main reason that it didn't happen is that Universal outbid them for Dueling Dragons which was to be the main attraction.

Actually, the generally accepted timeline is that after Disney decided to cut construction costs at DAK, many creative people went to Universal and used the dragon ideas for IOA. For a long time, Disney had some basic plans to do the Beastly Kingdomme but they have come to the decision that its not worth the costs.

One more thing, a second safari, that is Asia themed is very likely a go as well.

I would very much doubt that

 

[AnimalPrincess]

I would very much doubt that[/QUOTE]

You can doubt it if you want to...

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

A second safari would be GREAT. Not a coaster, not a show but animals...At Animal kingdom, what a concept! I hope this one comes true.

The 5th gate? Never and I mean Never. They have plenty of expansion possibility (money making opportunities within the existing parks) and Voice is right in that AK was supposed to extend guests visits and it didn't so adding another park only canniblizes what they're already doing.

They are already selling the land off piece by piece and subbing locations from shopping, to dining to drinking. Expansion is not on their minds and it certainly will NEVER come intthe form of such a huge capital outlay as a new park in my opinion.

 

[MJMcBride]

You can doubt it if you want to...

I don't want to, its not very realistic. But as an animal lover and zoo afficinado, I would love it.

 

[Dolce27]

The 5th park 'Beastly Kingdom' rumors were around back in '99 when I worked at MGM on the college program. While I think that it is a great concept, I don’t think that will ever be built.

 

[jbpatrice]

It's funny that this topic has been brought up again, because just this morning I read an article on Yahoo Finance under Disney's stock symbol that stated things that will be happening in 2010 and it stated that Disney WILL be building a 5th theme park and it will be villian based. I would say that this article is pretty credible being that it is a financial statement. My nieces are also stock holders of Disney stock and my sister said that about six months ago there was some released information in their statements about this 5th park.

I know that so many people post that this is just a rumor, but at this point I am going to have to believe what Disney has released with their stock statments.

 

[GrumpyFan]

While I think a "5th gate/park" will eventually be built, I think it's still too early, for several reasons. The main reason being that Disney just commited a HUGE amount of money (1.2 billion?) and resources into fixing DCA. Another reason would be Animal Kingdom is still nowhere near a full day park, and they've got plenty of room left to add more there. Another big reason is the Orlando job market and being able to find competent cast members. Yet another reason is the somewhat uncertain economy. However, all this being said, I wouldn't be surprised to see Disney looking at some kind of "boutique" or deluxe (mini) park/adventure with a big price tag of course, but I wouldn't really call that a "5th park", if it is only accessible to a very select and wealthy few.

 

[MJMcBride]

While I think a "5th gate/park" will eventually be built,

why?

 

[GrumpyFan]

why?

Because Orlando has become a major vacation destination for Americans as well as people from other countries. Universal and Seaworld aren't going to stop adding more shows, rides and hotels to draw more and more visitors to the area. If history is any indication, the crowds are going to keep on growing in numbers year after year. I hate to say it, but I see Orlando as being much like Las Vegas, where things have only gotten bigger and more flashy over the years, and is showing no signs of slowing down. And, as long as people keep coming in more and more numbers, the demand will dictate that a new park or some kind of attraction be built to accomodate them. Also, if Disney doesn't do it, Universal or Busch will.

 

[MJMcBride]

Universal and Seaworld aren't going to stop adding more shows, rides and hotels to draw more and more visitors to the area.

Agreed. However, Universal and Sea World are attempting to steal vacation days away from Disney. Disney has cannibalized just about everyone's 7 day vacation. The fact that Animal Kingdom did not significantly add visitors is all the proof they need on that. Plus, Disney draws people to Orlando, there is no proof that Sea World or even Universal does that, at least to any significant degree.

If history is any indication, the crowds are going to keep on growing in numbers year after year.

Actually, crowds are only now getting to pre-2001 levels. If the crowds were so massive, why do they keep cutting hours at the park? Why have they decided that building a Beastly Kingdomme doesn't make financial sense?

the demand will dictate that a new park or some kind of attraction be built to accomodate them. Also, if Disney doesn't do it, Universal or Busch will.

The demand to build a new park would not come from the number of visitors. Look at this way, if they had 8 million people at WDW spread out over 4 parks. Why would they would spend billions of dollars just to spread those 8 million over 5 parks. The answer: they wouldn't. Perhaps they will build DAK and DHS to increase single day ticket purchases. But don't expect them to spend billions just to ease crowds.

 

[CanadianGuy]

It's funny that this topic has been brought up again, because just this morning I read an article on Yahoo Finance under Disney's stock symbol that stated things that will be happening in 2010 and it stated that Disney WILL be building a 5th theme park and it will be villian based. I would say that this article is pretty credible being that it is a financial statement. My nieces are also stock holders of Disney stock and my sister said that about six months ago there was some released information in their statements about this 5th park.

I know that so many people post that this is just a rumor, but at this point I am going to have to believe what Disney has released with their stock statments.

Care to post a link?

 

[GrumpyFan]

The fact that Animal Kingdom did not significantly add visitors is all the proof they need on that.

Not sure where you're getting your numbers, but from everything I've found, there was about a 7 million visitor jump in the year after DAK opened. Seems pretty significant to me.

Actually, crowds are only now getting to pre-2001 levels.

From what I found, it appears that in 2005, they surpassed the numbers for 2000. And, from what's been reported, 2007 was another record setting year. Seems like I remember hearing something back in September or October about how they had passed the 2006 attendance numbers.

I agree with your logic, in that right now I don't think it makes sense. But, think about something else. They are adding the new Four Seasons hotel, and several chains at the Western Way expansion (forgot the name), as well as the Animal Kingdom DVC, Contemporary (supposed) DVC, the (eventual) Pop Century being finished, I believe I counted the number of new rooms on-property to be in excess of around 10,000 being added over the next 5-10 years, which equates to roughly 7 million more people in a year (avg 2 per room x 365 days). With that many more rooms, the people are going to have to go somewhere, and the parks had several capacity closing days last year during peak holidays. I'm just thinking that with all of these new rooms being added and the continual growth of Orlando, and new hotels being built off-property as well, eventually, the parks are going to start hitting capacity crowds more often and that's just not good business. More people will necessitate another park, or at the very least greatly expanding DHS, DAK, and adding more attractions to Epcot to handle more people.

 

[RNtheRN]

there will never be a 5th park. It makes no sense to do it

What makes you say that. When I was in Disney in '76, my uncle mentioned that it didn't make sense to have disney so big. Now look at it. Or maybe it doesn't make sense to have two water parlks either.

Never say never when it comes to Disney.

 

[MJMcBride]

What makes you say that. When I was in Disney in '76, my uncle mentioned that it didn't make sense to have disney so big. Now look at it. Or maybe it doesn't make sense to have two water parlks either.

Never say never when it comes to Disney.

In my mind, there is no reason for Disney to build a 5the park. DAK did not have the impact they wanted in drawing visitors to WDW. Considering its attendance, there is no reason to believe anyone said "hey, now that Disney has that zoo, we should go". Instead, it just redistributed the people going anyway. Disney will not spend billions to redistribute guests again.

What they may and should do, is keeping adding attractions in existing parks to make repeat visits more appealing. Plus, add new "lands" to DHS and DAK to boost attendance levels at those parks. Single day passes lag at those parks due to the belief (rightly or wrongly) that those are half day parks.

 

[Jason71]

I agree with your logic, in that right now I don't think it makes sense. But, think about something else. They are adding the new Four Seasons hotel, and several chains at the Western Way expansion (forgot the name), as well as the Animal Kingdom DVC, Contemporary (supposed) DVC, the (eventual) Pop Century being finished, I believe I counted the number of new rooms on-property to be in excess of around 10,000 being added over the next 5-10 years, which equates to roughly 7 million more people in a year (avg 2 per room x 365 days). With that many more rooms, the people are going to have to go somewhere, and the parks had several capacity closing days last year during peak holidays. I'm just thinking that with all of these new rooms being added and the continual growth of Orlando, and new hotels being built off-property as well, eventually, the parks are going to start hitting capacity crowds more often and that's just not good business. More people will necessitate another park, or at the very least greatly expanding DHS, DAK, and adding more attractions to Epcot to handle more people.

I don't think the plan is to build those rooms to attract new visitors (well, that may be the case with the Four Seasons, but that is relatively tiny compared to the Western Way/"Flamingo Crossings" motels). I think the point is to take visitors away the motels on 192. Same number of people going to the parks, just shifting where they stay. It's not like there are thousands of potential visitors who would come to Orlando but for the fact we don't have enough Best Western and Comfort Inn rooms in town.

 

[Rora]

Hmm.. I would doubt this happening but I'm interested in the other DISers posts and beliefs on this!

 

[tinkerbelluk]

I would never say never to a 5th gate at walt disney world.

Firstly, the resort currently does not target some of the major visitor groups within the theme park industry. For example it lacks the facilities on the whole to cater for the todays big thrill seekers, with only Rock and Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror (and to a degree Everest) really appealing to these groups, and the lack of attractions to draw them means they head elsewhere to satisfy their need to be thrilled.

Secondly, the Walt Disney Company has always been know to take risks. Walt was a big risk taker, lots of people said disneyland would never work, and it ended up being a huge success and started a chain recation leading to the creation of the other disney parks being built across the USA and eventually spanning the globe.

Thirdly, disney has opened a new park about evey 10 years or so give or take a few years for the last 4 decade, and the resort is growing more popular each year.

Last but not least, one day tickets for disney world cost a lot more money, as additional days usually only cost a few dollars per day especially when the vacation spans more than 3 days. thrill seekers my be less inclined to buy vacation long tickets as they my only want to visit the one park and if they go in the numbers which attend IOA, alton towers (which is in the UK) and Busch gardens, a big thrills park could actually increase overall visitor numbers and revenue. this makes business sense, but of course there are cons such as finding staffing, increasing running costs etc.