Disney Discovery Cove Rumor

[Sarangel]

From the Orlando Business Journal:

Merry Christmas? The rumor mill often spits out the wacky and weird. But the latest may be the tops: Walt Disney World is buying land in Christmas, in a effort to replicate the natural experience SeaWorld offers through its Discovery Cove.

The intricate details say Disney is buying land to build an animal interaction park enabling guests to get up close and personal with an array of critters.

It would be designed for Disney Cruise Line guests. They would be able to spend a day -- and a couple of hundred dollars -- experiencing the real Florida.

Disney, as usual, won't comment on rumor or speculation, but it just doesn't sound like a Disneyesque move. Disney, after all, has put millions of dollars into ensuring that visitors have so much to do at Disney World and its related attractions that they never leave its sprawling theme park ...

 

[Douglas Dubh]

Besides, wouldn't it be a lot easier to provide this sort of thing as an add on to Animal Kingdom?

 

[HBK]

the location just does not seem right

Huh?

Why not? Seaworld has already built DC in Orlando....

I also disagree with the writer. Disney seems like they are conceeding guests will venture out of WDW....but by building places such as Vero Beach, the whole cruise line, and possibly a premium gate, they are trying to capture those dollars as well.

Besides, wouldn't it be a lot easier to provide this sort of thing as an add on to Animal Kingdom

Why? Because it would be hard to charge a "premium" price for such a gate if it is percieved to be an addittion to an existing park.

For evidence of this....see Universal Studios Islands of Adventure & DCA.

 

[All Aboard]

The location does seem a little odd to me, as well. Why out in Christmas? That's pretty much the middle of nowhere and a good 25-30 miles from WDW. Why not do it within the friendly confines of WDW. Certainly an easier sell to the millions who are already on-site each year.

 

[F.C. Fan]

I hope Disney is not trying to get a hold of this little old road-side zoo attraction that was once either in, or near Christmas.
I went on a field trip there when I was a little kid and while I honestly don't remember much about that zoo( I was sick that day), I thought I remember hearing a few years ago that it had turned into a "private zoo" or animal refuge, as in only for field trips for schools and other youth, and church organizations.

That would be a shame if this is the same place and Disney makes this a part of their cruise only package.

On the other hand, if refurbished the place and they continued to keep it open to the schools and youth organizations then that would be great for all involved.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

"Why? Because it would be hard to charge a "premium" price for such a gate if it is percieved to be an addittion to an existing park."

Well, number one, the animals and the infrastructure to care for them is already in AK.

Two, Disney has add on tours at the other parks, a special animal encounter could be sold like those.

Three, as already pointed out, the customers are already there.

 

[Banzai]

AK needs every little attraction they can get their hands on.

 

[Euphscott]

Let me try to explain why this might actually be true - and work!

When you take a Disney Cruise, you have options when you arrive in town. If you take the 7 day cruise without a WDW stay, you can stay in Orlando or at the Radisson near Port Cnaveral. Most passengers arrive a day early to avoid travel snarls and be fresh to board the ship as early as possible.

Now, what if Disney builds an attraction near the port giving their cruise passengers an additional option besides teh Cape for entertainment dollars. Then what if you build a hotel and make a resort of this attraction.

Maybe it sounds more plausible given that scenario. You could also add a magical ending to a cruise before you head home.

For those that have cruised with DCL, you can see the benefit to this project. Getting customers that are not sailing the ships would simply be a bonus.

 

[Testtrack321]

This is not a new rumor. Chanses are that this seems more likely to happen in DL or in AK. But there is still that plot of land in Bay Lake fomaly called Discovery Island.