5th theme park?

[serendipity]

When I visited Disney a few weeks ago I spoke to a cab driver who said that Disney had plans to make a 5th theme park and Universal also had plans to make a 3rd. I don't know how reliable this source was and I was wondering if anyone else had any info on it. I did a little bit of research on the internet and found something about a Disney Villains park that would be more geared towards thrill rides and the darker elements of the disney movies. Any info would be great!

 

[MJMcBride]

Dig your trip report. My family was there the same time and I'm still looking for us in the backround so keep posting.

To your question, it will never happen. I recall a CM telling me the paln was a Sports themed park over the Wide World Complex. It was all a bunch of whoee. The simple fact is that 4 theme parks and 2 water parks fill the average 1 week vacation. It would not make any fiscal sense at all to build a 5th park as you will just take visitors away from the ones you got.

At this point, DAK and even MGM don't fill an average persons touring day (off-season anyway). I expect you'll see more additions there, like a new continent in DAK. For new parks, you'll get them in other parts of the World, not in Florida.

 

[Cool-Beans]

The promise of a new park is a possibility in the future...hope springs eternal! But there hasn't been even a credible rumor that there are any plans on the table for now.

Villans would be cool, though. We can dream.

 

[brocklesnar69]

Well, rather than build a whole new park, why not just add a "villians" land to MK or something?

 

[MJMcBride]

Well, rather than build a whole new park, why not just add a "villians" land to MK or something?

Why? MK is the most visited theme park on the planet. In all likelihood, it would not effect attendance to any great extent. It would make much more fiscal sense to build a "Villians" section to MGM

 

[TheGoofster]

I love the idea of a Villians park (even if it never comes about), I would also love a Retro Park, where they have all the old retired rides.
It's really a shame that Disney doesn't ask me my opinion.

 

[alfredromero1975]

WDW already has 7 parks, if you could Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach and DisneyQuest - and this still excludes plenty they have to offer. I'm sure they will open another theme park at some point, but don't see it in the next 10 years.

 

[cleo]

Disney has repeatedly said they have no plans for a 5th gate, as all their focus is on 'updating' the current parks. Cab drivers (and Disney bus drivers) are notorious for spreading these sorts of rumors. If you heard it from a cab driver you can be pretty sure it's not true.

Still....it'll happen SOME day.

 

[MJMcBride]

Still....it'll happen SOME day.

no it won't

 

[serendipity]

Darn. You all are depressing me! I have dreams darnit!

 

[disjmp]

when DAK was first announced there was a planned land for mythical creatures. (ie, dragons )......

 

[EUROPACL]

when DAK was first announced there was a planned land for mythical creatures. (ie, dragons )......

Sorry that money was spent on old cartoons. Hope you enjoy re-runs of Power Rangers insted.

 

[miranda1979]

we have just came back from our fantastic vacation! And we stayed at the boardwalk and we did see a glow at night right by the Magic kingdom at night. Maybe it is coming in by there.

 

[dbm20th]

Forget a 5th park. You don't need that to get pumped about the future. How about the Villians section to MGM that was talked about earlier? Or 2 new countries at WS? Or Raging Spirits in Adventureland? How about a Beastly Kingdom and an Australia section in AK? That's enough for me to forget about a 5th gate

 

[minnie61650]

when DAK was first announced there was a planned land for mythical creatures. (ie, dragons )......

Before AK was built one of the lands was supposed to be Beastlie Kingdomme. Because of budget cuts Disney delayed the building of Beastly Kingdomme and built Camp Mickey and Minnie and put the show Lion King in that area to keep the area ready for Beastlie Kingdom.
My understanding is that because Lion King and Camp Mickey and Minnie are so well liked that Disney scraped the whole idea of Beastlie Kingdomme.
They really had some great ideas on the drawing board and many people would like to see them become reality but I fear the chances of that happening are slim.
We can always hope.

Here is an article about some Disney attractions that were designed but never built. The Dragon Tower attraction was originally slated for Beastlie Kingdomme land planned for Disney's Animal Kingdom park in Florida. This article gives one a virtual walk-through of Beastlie Kingdomme and the ride Dragon Tower.
http://www.mouseplanet.com/mark/mg041027.htm

------------------------------------------------------

In an article I read by Paul Torrigino, contributing writer (introduction by Mark Goldhaber)
Paul tells about how he worked on a project for the Animal kingdom.
He spent 2 years helping to plan the Dragon Tower ride. (a thrill ride)
It was going to be a suspended coaster ride inside a castle complete with bats and a dragon.

There was going to be a restaurant on a little lake with mythical sea creatures.
The Loch Ness monster was going to appear every so often. Bubbling would start up in the lake and then the monster would slowly appear.
Sounds so cool.
They were also going to have, Fantasia Gardens, a bridge called "Billy Goat Bridge",a Unicorn Maze, a Mother Goose's shop, etc., that all over the land.

He said, "I remember after they shelved it, I watched the guys crate up all the pieces, very sad. They probably still have it all in a warehouse somewhere."

I for one hope they get those concepts out of the warehouse and build BK.

 

[Disneybag]

Odd that the cab driver didn't mention Sea World. They actually are adding a new park. They've already started construction and buildings are starting to go up.

 

[Another Voice]

How about the Villains section to MGM that was talked about earlier?
Not going to happen. The idea was to through up some decorated carnival thrill rides in the backlot area in a "quick, cheap, and dirty" response had Universal's Islands of Adventure proven popular. That park did not open well and so the plans were scrapped.

Or 2 new countries at WS?
Unlikely to happen. Disney will not build a pavilion with their own money. And Disney is having a horrible time keeping its current sponsors from bailing out, yet alone find a bunch of international investors willing to chunk in $250 million for nothing in return. The money in international travel today is in well-heeled yuppies that have kicked the kids out of the McMansion. Disney these days is going after the second mortage set with cheap motels and free food. They're not the crowd that's going to interest Dubai or even Spain.

Or Raging Spirits in Adventureland?
Only at the expense of 'The Jungle Cruise' - and even this is a budget-hacked version of the original replacement with a flying or a suspended coaster. And this also depends on the Hong Kong government putting up the money to buy one for HKDL - like 'Tower of Terrors', Disney will only build their own if they get a cut rate "second copy" discount from the ride's maker.

How about a Beastly Kingdom and an Australia section in AK?
You're more likely to get a tram tour through Area 51. Disney fired everyone involved with 'Beastly Kingdom' and they built it bigger and better at Islands of Adventure. Besides, all of Disney's fantasy's movies has tanked and they won't build a land that doesn't hock plush. As for Austrailia – Marketing has a whole series of PowerPoint presentations from their “guest surveys” and they call animals "stupid, boring and expensive". Again, what DVDs are kangaroo's going push on the kiddies?

That's enough for me to forget about a 5th gate
Well, at least forgetting about the 5th gate is a start.

 

[RobInBigKC]

Cab drivers (and Disney bus drivers) are notorious for spreading these sorts of rumors. If you heard it from a cab driver you can be pretty sure it's not true.

Disney boat drivers, on the other hand, their word is gospel!

-- Rob

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I actually read recently...

That Disney wants to do a Sea World style Disney theme park~
Tokyo Disney Sea comes to my mind~

anyone else heard that yet?

 

[MJMcBride]

AV, you're a real glass is half full kind of guy ain'tcha?