Any Rumors of a New Park?

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Rumors and News board. And wildeoscar is right. There are no reliable rumors of a new park at WDW.

 

[mmtska]

First off, Kennywood is a MUCH smaller park than WDW. Most people don't know about it! And they didn't build another park, they just added the old rides to the back of the park. They weren't even gone that long. Lost Kennywood is full of 'newer' rides too.

Second-DisneySea is NOTHING like Sea World. There aren't any animals or anything, it's just a park that has an oceanic theme. Although some of the rides-Journey to the Center of the Earth and the Indiana Jones ride NEED to come to WDW!! They're amazing! But DisneySea also has 20,000 Leagues and the Tower of Terror.

 

[fannatic]

I recently read a blog where the writer told that Iger's recent visit to WDW was to inspect the site of the 5th park. The blogger said that the research has been done and the plans drawn up. They didn't mention the theme, but they didn't think that it will be Night Kingdom/Jungle Trek or Villains. It will reportedly be an actual theme park and not a pricey, limited experience like Night Kingdom. He didn't believe that it had been green lit yet. They probably won't get serious about it until the economy improves and the crowds and hotel occupancy increase. I hope it's true. It's nice that they are planning for the future. So, maybe within the next 10 years it will appear.

 

[Shelton123]

I would <3 a villains park. It would be like... the thrills of Six Flags/Busch Gardens + the magical-ness of Disney + Disney Villains = AWESOME! I mean, yeah sure Disney has Rock n Roller Coaster and Expedition Everest, but they are dumbo compared to a lot of the other rides, and I'd like those rides, but with magic and much better theming. If that is possible, that would be perfect!

 

[vorpalswrd]

On this board? Every. Day.

 

[Condorman]

I never understood the fascination with a "Villains Park". Disney once had a villains character meal and canceled it because it was scarying the bejesus out of kids (there are a hundred other rumors why they stopped doing it but that was the real reason). So why on earth would Disney devote $1-3 billion on a new park with that theme? Disney differs from its competitors because it caters to everyone from 8 months to 80 years. A villains park, like a Night Kingdom, like a thrill-ride Park, are all narrow-minded, niche ideas that would service 25% of WDW guests and never be more than a half-day park. The last time I checked, WDW already has a half-day park... two of them, actually.

There's no need for a 5th gate until they redo 75% of Future World, add a few more countries to the World Showcase, max out the MK by filling in all that available space in Fantasyland, and install the Beastlie Kingdomme in AK. Do that, and it will be the equivalent of building a 5th gate without the headache or cost of new infrastructure.

 

[fannatic]

Beastly Kingdom is actually one of the concepts for the 5th park that I've heard of. One rumor has them expanding the idea into a whole park. Although, I doubt this rumor. I would guess something like DisneySea that they already have and can clone.

 

[movie77]

There's no need for a 5th gate until they redo 75% of Future World, add a few more countries to the World Showcase, max out the MK by filling in all that available space in Fantasyland, and install the Beastlie Kingdomme in AK. Do that, and it will be the equivalent of building a 5th gate without the headache or cost of new infrastructure.

Totally agree with this! At the prices it charges Disney needs to constantly be adding a major new ride or update to each park every year or every other year at the least. Epcot is so stale it couldn't even be sold as day old bread. Don't get me wrong, I love Epcot, it's my favorite park. It's in need of investment. Disney management is totally just banking on the passion Disney fans have for coming back while turning off the investment spigot. They are turning WDW into a cash cow to fund investments in other areas of Disney like ABC and ESPN.

 

[fannatic]

EPCOT does seem to be neglected. I've heard rumors of new attractions for MK and DHS, but I haven't heard many rumors for EPCOT or AK. Animal Kingdom also seems to be neglected. It has such promise. Has anyone heard any rumors about these two parks?

 

[mitros]

Please people, Disney is NOT building a new park now, or in the near future. Where do these rumors get started......oh yea, post #2.

 

[Condorman]

Actually, they are considering a new park outside Shanghai. That's not a rumor. Every Disney big-wig has gone on record confirming this. I watched an interview on CNBC not too long ago where they spoke with the Asian Head of all-things Disney and he said it was simply a matter of paperwork. When asked about how the current economy would play into Disney's decision to greenlight the project, the response was that it would not. China was too great an investment to neglect; that maybe HK was too expensive for most Chinese to get too, but that building something more mainland would be far more successful.

Also, Disney has to compete with that psuedo-Disneyland that already exists there. If you don't know what I'm talking about, look it up online. It's hysterical.

As for a new park in the USA, no, that isn't on the drawing boards whatsoever. FWIW, I do have Disney's America as the wallpaper on my computer right now, and I visit the park several times a day. *sigh*

 

[Padrepride]

I heard they are building a park based on the Disney Channel. The Hannah Montana ride which will take your picture multiple times and allow you to email them out to your friends who aren't at Disney (like Mission Space's postcards but during the ride), a Jonas Brothers themed ride resembling Tower of Terror but for kids and a Jett Jackson ride similar to Buzz and TSM.

I thought that this was pretty hilarious.

Anyhow, I think that a villains/thrill park will never, ever happen because it just doesn't have the appeal to everyone. The same thing goes for the Night Kingdom. The reason why the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland are so popular is that there is something for everyone. This translates into $$$$ for the company and makes them happy.

I agree, massive renovation needs to take place before a 5th gate should ever take place. The Studios needs a shot in the arm ASAP. There's close to nothing around Muppet Vision, the Backlot Tour is in dire straights, and Pixar Place screams to be expanded. Epcot needs to redo Imagination, and Universe of Energy [although I enjoy it]. WONDERS OF LIFE needs to be made once again into an active pavillion.

 

[mitros]

Actually, they are considering a new park outside Shanghai. That's not a rumor. Every Disney big-wig has gone on record confirming this. I watched an interview on CNBC not too long ago where they spoke with the Asian Head of all-things Disney and he said it was simply a matter of paperwork. When asked about how the current economy would play into Disney's decision to greenlight the project, the response was that it would not. China was too great an investment to neglect; that maybe HK was too expensive for most Chinese to get too, but that building something more mainland would be far more successful.

Also, Disney has to compete with that psuedo-Disneyland that already exists there. If you don't know what I'm talking about, look it up online. It's hysterical.

As for a new park in the USA, no, that isn't on the drawing boards whatsoever. FWIW, I do have Disney's America as the wallpaper on my computer right now, and I visit the park several times a day. *sigh*

The way things are now in the world, it's also not gonna happen any time soon......

 

[ccallari]

I herd that HS might be getting a Monsters Inc coaster Based on the chase on the doors at the end of the movie. Also the MK will get a Mermaid ride. Ak might build the beastly kingdom as another land in the AK not as another park.
Epcot is also rumored to get a couple of E ticket attractions for future world and world showcase. Can't wait to see if the rumors are true, I hope so,I like Epcot and HS but as it stands now, to me they are half day parks.

I don't think a 5th gate will happen for a long time.

 

[fannatic]

What I don't understand is why some people seem almost violently against even the idea of a fifth park. I know there are some conservative Disney fans who want things to stay exactly the way they were as when they were kids. But, why should they rant against those who want something new. Sure, the economy is currently in the toilet, but it won't be that way in a few years. They should be planning for the economic recovery. I don't buy that WDW is "built out". I've read that they have enough land for 3 or 4 new parks. Those who say that there will "never" be a fifth gate are just wrong. I'm not saying it will be here in 2 or 3 years, but it probably will be within the next 10 years. That calls for long-range planning today.

 

[yitbos96bb]

There is a reason the rides are no longer there. It's not like they were extremely popular rides. Sure rides like Horizons and Toad had a cult following but they weren't all that popular. Take all of the abandoned rides and throw them in one park and it's like the island of misfit toys.

I beg to differ... Toad was a very popular ride. I remember the protests and such when they closed it. I also remember going on it on almost a daily basis for 6 months in its last year. Its still a very popular attraction in Disneyland

Horizons was very popular too. As was the Skyway and 20,000 leagues... Many of those were closed due to budget issues and repair issues... not lack of popularity.

You also have the case with some rides where new management takes over and doesn't like the ride and works to get it out of there. Or an idiot in a suit decides to try and turn a beloved people mover attraction in Disneyland to a thrill ride and fails miserably.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I'd love to see it, but I doubt it will happen in the next 10 years.

I also think a lot of people object to a 5th park because they feel the money is better spent in the current parks... I mean I love DAK, but it isn't a full or multi-day park. The studios has regressed and is now pretty much a half day park.

What I don't understand is why some people seem almost violently against even the idea of a fifth park. I know there are some conservative Disney fans who want things to stay exactly the way they were as when they were kids. But, why should they rant against those who want something new. Sure, the economy is currently in the toilet, but it won't be that way in a few years. They should be planning for the economic recovery. I don't buy that WDW is "built out". I've read that they have enough land for 3 or 4 new parks. Those who say that there will "never" be a fifth gate are just wrong. I'm not saying it will be here in 2 or 3 years, but it probably will be within the next 10 years. That calls for long-range planning today.

 

[mitros]

I beg to differ... Toad was a very popular ride. I remember the protests and such when they closed it. I also remember going on it on almost a daily basis for 6 months in its last year. Its still a very popular attraction in Disneyland

Horizons was very popular too. As was the Skyway and 20,000 leagues... Many of those were closed due to budget issues and repair issues... not lack of popularity.

You also have the case with some rides where new management takes over and doesn't like the ride and works to get it out of there. Or an idiot in a suit decides to try and turn a beloved people mover attraction in Disneyland to a thrill ride and fails miserably.

Regarding Horizons, it was VERY popular. What gave the impression it was not busy was the fact that it had a large que inside the building as well as the fact that it had a quick load ride vehicle that moved continuosly, and there was no pre-show, as in HM, to slow things down.

 

[KYMickey]

What I don't understand is why some people seem almost violently against even the idea of a fifth park. I know there are some conservative Disney fans who want things to stay exactly the way they were as when they were kids. But, why should they rant against those who want something new. Sure, the economy is currently in the toilet, but it won't be that way in a few years. They should be planning for the economic recovery. I don't buy that WDW is "built out". I've read that they have enough land for 3 or 4 new parks. Those who say that there will "never" be a fifth gate are just wrong. I'm not saying it will be here in 2 or 3 years, but it probably will be within the next 10 years. That calls for long-range planning today.

People are not violently against a 5th park, most would cheer if one was announced. Rather they are realistic in their expectations. Yes, I'm sure sufficient land is available at WDW for several more parts but realistically would there be a good return on investment for a new park? Upgrading and maintaining the current parks in order to maintain Disney's image is probably a better use of the money that would be put into a 5th park. Disney has shown that only make investments based on the anticipated ROR and right now that's definitely in DVC and overseas parks and will be for the foreseeable future.

 

[wilde_oscar]

I've moved this thread to the Rumors and News board. And wildeoscar is right. There are no reliable rumors of a new park at WDW.

this is perhaps my favorite post ever.