Disney's Dark Kingdom (Complete list on pg 24)

[DC7800]

A 5th park would give those with 7-day passes something to do when they are tiring of the other parks. It would also keep people on site, instead of having them go to Sea World or Universal.

Four parks, properly "fleshed-out" with immersive large-scale attractions, could not properly be experienced in seven days time. The problem is that's not what we have, with one or two half-day parks masquerading as full-day experiences and the remaining parks with either low attraction counts (Epcot) or actually fewer attractions than it used to offer (MK).

There is something of a mindset that touring one theme park equals one days vacation time. Not everything does or should fit that schedule, however; Back when it was just the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, many people didn't spend a full week just in the Disney parks, but they certainly spent more than two days. Supposedly when AK opened guests didn't extend their vacations, they just took one day away from the other parks.

 

[nytimez]

Four parks, properly "fleshed-out" with immersive large-scale attractions, could not properly be experienced in seven days time. The problem is that's not what we have, with one or two half-day parks masquerading as full-day experiences and the remaining parks with either low attraction counts (Epcot) or actually fewer attractions than it used to offer (MK).

There is something of a mindset that touring one theme park equals one days vacation time. Not everything does or should fit that schedule, however; Back when it was just the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, many people didn't spend a full week just in the Disney parks, but they certainly spent more than two days. Supposedly when AK opened guests didn't extend their vacations, they just took one day away from the other parks.

You're absolutely right -- but I think the problem is more complex than whether or not another park, or another section of a park, will lead to vacationers spending more days at WDW.

Many people who are there for 4-6 days are there for 4-6 days whether there are two parks or 10. They have a week off, and that's it. Most people have a finite number of vacation days, and many are further limited in how and when they can use them.

But now that you (you being Disney) have them here for 5-7 days, though, you need to keep them there... and have enough things to keep new visitors from venturing off property, and enough new things that returning guests don't do the same.

 

[DavyJonesLady]

I think it'd be awesome if they had a park centered on the villains. They are sometimes the best characters. And with Disney being happy happy all the time it'd be nice to have a little evilness.

 

[boscfan]

I've actually heard this same rumor. I can't remember where though.

I'd love to see another park, but they have a lot on their plate right now with fantasyland.

 

[ASteelersMidget]

I wont be the first to say this and I highly doubt I'll be the last.


IT WON'T HAPPEN FOR AT LEAST 10-15 YEARS. DISNEY NEEDS TO CONTROL WHAT THEY HAVE NOW BEFORE BUILDING ANY NEW PARK

 

[Backstage_Gal]

I wont be the first to say this and I highly doubt I'll be the last.


IT WON'T HAPPEN FOR AT LEAST 10-15 YEARS. DISNEY NEEDS TO CONTROL WHAT THEY HAVE NOW BEFORE BUILDING ANY NEW PARK

but how do you really feel about that?

 

[Zuzu03]

I wont be the first to say this and I highly doubt I'll be the last.


IT WON'T HAPPEN FOR AT LEAST 10-15 YEARS. DISNEY NEEDS TO CONTROL WHAT THEY HAVE NOW BEFORE BUILDING ANY NEW PARK

Where's the "like" button?? How many times does it have to be repeated???? hahahahahah!

 

[MJMcBride]

There will never be a 5th park. There is no need for it

 

[boscfan]

Pirates Cove could be awesome. They could have a skull mountain like at Disneyland California and Paris. Also the skeleton pirates would be a cool addition, but a little scary.

 

[Dfan79]

There will never be a 5th park. There is no need for it

There will be one someday, but I agree there is no need for one right away. Hollywood and Animal have to be fixed before they think about making a new one.

Those two have too many spots where there's nothing(Camp Minnie-Mickey and Streets of America).

 

[fannatic]

D79, where did you read about Dark Kingdom for your original post? Also, I think that people need to dial it back a notch when there's a 5th theme park rumor. If there is one coming within the next 10 years, no one on the boards would know for sure about it. There's no use freaking out whenever someone brings up the topic.

 

[mcd2745]

I agree with those who say a 5th park isn't necessary. Would a 5th gate be great? Of course it would - particulalrly if it were villains-themed. I disagree, though, with people who characterize AK & DHS as only half-day parks. Can they use additions/improvements? Absolutely - DHS moreso than AK, in my opinion. But I can easily spend full days in each park and still not have done "everything".

 

[Dfan79]

D79, where did you read about Dark Kingdom for your original post? Also, I think that people need to dial it back a notch when there's a 5th theme park rumor. If there is one coming within the next 10 years, no one on the boards would know for sure about it. There's no use freaking out whenever someone brings up the topic.

I read it after a google search with the title Disney's Dark Kingdom a few months back, but for some reason its not there anymore. I swear to God I saw it on google, but its gone now.

 

[tjkraz]

Sorry but I don't see Disney every investing in a 5th gated theme park in the same vein as AK, Epcot, DHS and MK.

Disney has learned a lot of hard lessons in the last decade regarding its theme park operations.

They learned that when you open too many different venues (Animal Kingdom, specifically), the primary result is that you simply cannibalize business from existing operations. When DAK opened, guests didn't extend their vacations by a day or two as predicted--they simply spent less time at Hollywood Studios, Epcot and MK to compensate.

Disney also learned that you can't throw up a cheap half-day park and expect guests to arrive in droves. They are in the final stages of spending $1.2 BILLION on upgrades to Disney California Adventure just to get its crowds up to a reasonable level. Similar growing pains were mirrored in Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong.

Opening a realistic 5th park on WDW property would cost them $3-4 billion up front. The returns wouldn't come close to justifying that. They could get far more bang for their buck by spending $500-750K on a new land at DHS or DAK, but aren't even willing to do that.

IMO the most likely stand-alone project would be a niche park along the lines of Sea World's Discovery Cove. It would be limited in scale (cheaper to build, cheaper to operate), yet allow Disney to charge premium prices. Sea World has a daily cap of 1000 guests in Discovery Cove and charges $200-300 per person. Disney would certainly charge more and push the boundaries on admission limits. I think Disney would love to get a piece of that business if they felt the economy would support it.

Some will tell you that Disney was on the verge of announcing such a niche park in the months leading up to the 2008 stock collapse and recession. The Wild Africa Trek at DAK is believed to be result of this delayed / cancelled niche park.

 

[choirchic]

Who needs a 5th park when we're all expecting the awesomeness that is the Magic Kingdom Expansion. LOL

 

[nytimez]

They could get far more bang for their buck by spending $500-750K on a new land at DHS or DAK, but aren't even willing to do that.

nice timing!

 

[DCTooTall]

I know this has slipped under the radar with the other big announcement the past couple days...

But it looks like Disney is finally going to do something to confirm the rumors. Within the near future guests will be able to experience Disney's new Disney Villains Park.....


.....king lot.

 

[disneysource]

I don't know where the first poster got his info, but IT'S TRUE. My great Uncle is an imagineer with Disney. I should probably not say his name though.

D79 missed two sections of the park though.

Mean Street USA and The Hollow

Mean Street: has buildings w/angry expressions
Pirates Cove: Hook, Curse of the black pearl, etc
Ghost Town: Stinky Pete's Roundup, Phantom Mountain
The Hollow: Headless Horseman's last ride, Nightmare b4 xmas, Boogey Manor
Villian Ville: Hoppers (Dumbo), Its good to be bad(dark/singing), Oswald's Revenge???
Witch Way: Salem looking village w/ various witch attractions

also the castle was supposed to have a dragon coaster

its not going to happen though because they decided to do expansions instead.

 

[Figment632]

^^

True and not true.

I have seen the art for the 5th gate to describe. The part that is not try is linking it to Avatar. Dark Kingdom was never ever close to happening.

 

[mike the canuck]

I have seen the art for the 5th gate to describe.

Is there anywhere online to view this art?