Any New Theme Park Rumors?

[Disney Girlie-Wirlie]

Anybody have any good rumors regarding any of the Disney Theme Parks?

New rides? New additions to existing parks? New parks? New restaurants? Or even any closings? Anything!

I love hearing this stuff! I remember awhile ago there was one where people were saying the they were going to open a new Villian based theme park in WDW. Anything like that? I love it!


Thanks!

 

[Sarangel]

Take the time to read through some of our old threads, you'll find lots of stuff: The new Irish Pub in Downtown Disney, the new Monsters Inc. ride in DL, Expedition:Everest pictures, and the revitalization of the Submarine ride in DL. The Villian Park rumor seems to be just that - a rumor. We've been hearing about a supposed "Villain Park" for 2 or 3 years now.

Sarangel

 

[All Aboard]

On the big rumor front, it's been a bit quiet lately. Each of the things Sara mentions are in the construction phase. As for a new WDW theme park, you could knock me over with a feather if one gets announced in the next five years. The Villain/thrill based park caught some traction in the rumor mill when IOA opened. But, that park (while a great place) still lags behind Animal Kingdom's numbers. Which leads Disney to a couple of conclusions - a thrill park wasn't as wildly successful as some expected, and the Central Florida may be reaching the saturation point with theme park capacity.

 

[Disney Girlie-Wirlie]

Yeah, I think the first time I read the one about the Villain Park was a few years ago now, but it won't seem to go away.

I saw those old threads, but I wanted to know about any new rumors regarding WDW. I guess there's nothing good. I've seen the pix of Expedition Everest, seems to be coming along pretty nicely. Looking forward to that.

Oh well.

 

[nuts]

Go to www.screamscape.com

 

[mattsdragon]

On the big rumor front, it's been a bit quiet lately. Each of the things Sara mentions are in the construction phase. As for a new WDW theme park, you could knock me over with a feather if one gets announced in the next five years. The Villain/thrill based park caught some traction in the rumor mill when IOA opened. But, that park (while a great place) still lags behind Animal Kingdom's numbers. Which leads Disney to a couple of conclusions - a thrill park wasn't as wildly successful as some expected, and the Central Florida may be reaching the saturation point with theme park capacity.

I wasn't impressed with IOA. It was too crowded and lacked the character that WDW has. I think that there is still room for expansion of WDW. Universal is no Disney World.

 

[All Aboard]

I wasn't impressed with IOA

Not everyone is. However, the slice of the market pie that Disney thought they were missing out on generally raves about IOA. But, it turns out that they don't have a big enough say in where the family is going to visit. Also, a good portion of IOA's numbers are locally drawn.

I think that there is still room for expansion of WDW.

Acres and acres, still doesn't mean that it's a wise business decision

Universal is no Disney World

Is this just a throw-in comment, or are you making this part of your argument why Disney should add a park to WDW?

 

[mattsdragon]

With regards to the local draw of IOA vice MGM, I'm reasonably sure that Disney is more concerned with a large draw from around the world, vice the all important central Florida demographic. As I said, I do believe there is room for expansion, and I'm sorry if you took that literally, because I understand that the resort encompasses 30,000 acres, but I was actually meaning that there is an opportunity for growth based on the draw that IOA is receiving. A lot of teens and young adults aren't big on the FantasyWorld part of MK, and would prefer something more along the lines of what IOA offers with thrill rides. As I said, Universal is no Disney, that wasn't a throw-in comment, it was a legitimate observation with regards to the drawing power the two companies have. I think that Disney needs to decide if who they want to gear MGM towards. With the roller coasters/thrill rides, it seems like they are going for the thrill ride audience, but there is also the Muppets, and the JoJo Circus and other kiddie attractions that I think put a lot of people off.

Condescention is not appreciated.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

I've heard a couple mentions of an E-ride planned for the location of Pooh's Playground.

Villians based? Perhaps.

Fire Mountain? Seems like that's where it's heading.

Probabilty? I think it partly depends on how bad they thin the herd at WDI.


But hey, until you see shovels it's all talk. This one almost has a legend to rival Texas Disney.

 

[RAD]

On the DVC members cruise in one of the presentations he was going over the layout of AK and at one point said this is where Beastly Kingdom would go (be he was always saying he could neither confirm or deny, so take it for what it's worth).

 

[All Aboard]

The strongest piece of evidence that the Central Florida theme park business is reaching saturation, and that each new offering is less well received than its predecessors is the fact that Epcot trails MK in attendance, the Studios trail Epcot, and AK trails the Studios.

Without significantly growing the number of visitors to Central Florida, the only way Disney is successful with a brand new theme park is by siphoning guests off its competition. Are there enough of them?

And, hence my point about IOA guest base being heavily local intensive. Those are not the guests Disney is interested in siphoning. So, here's the rub. You go into a new theme park venture with a realistic expectation of drawing another 6-7 million guests, tops. So, what kind of capital allocation does a park like that get? Only enough to support a pre-determined RoCap. And then we hear another chorus of "half-day park" tuning up in the background.

Perhaps Disney is beginning to think that their reactive strategy (Universal is building a Studios park, we need one; hey Busch is getting guests down in Tampa, we need an animal park) isn't iron clad. So, "Universal has a thrill park" is likely falling on deaf ears these days.

 

[DoxaRich]

Without significantly growing the number of visitors to Central Florida, the only way Disney is successful with a brand new theme park is by siphoning guests off its competition. Are there enough of them?

I think Disney is attacking the competition with a new strategy now. They are investing in their existing parks and have set up a ticket pricing system that encourages keeping florida guests in Disney parks longer.

 

[WDWHound]

I've heard a couple mentions of an E-ride planned for the location of Pooh's Playground.

Villians based? Perhaps.

Fire Mountain? Seems like that's where it's heading.

Probabilty? I think it partly depends on how bad they thin the herd at WDI.


But hey, until you see shovels it's all talk. This one almost has a legend to rival Texas Disney.

Fire Mountain? Really? I have heard nothing on this rumor for a looong time. Have you been reading or hearing anything on this one that I have missed?

I would love to see this attraction happen. It was so close to becoming a reality 4 or 5 years ago, and then it just died. I know that the former 20K site was rumored to be where they would build it (though other rumors put it in adventure land), but it seems like it would be a bad choice of location now, what with the new kiddy playground right there.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

There have been some rumblings on the podcasts. Mouse Tunes has been the most vocal about it. Almost all that mention Pooh's Playground concur that it's temporary.

This could be just a pipedream, but I don't see what the benefit of bringing up an old rumor (that most thought was dead) unless they have some leads.

 

[jezebella]

I heard on my way in to work today that Disney is talking to authorities about building a new park in Seoul.

 

[Sarangel]

There's another thread on that very subject.

Sarangel