Disney's Next BIG Announcement

[poppop]

With the Opening of Stitch, Soarin & Motor Cars well under way as well as Everest next year, What will be Disney's next big announcement and when will they make it? What will it Be ?

It seems like they would be due to make a big announcement sometime soon.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I don't believe there will be a BIG announement until 2010. I just read that there will be no capital investment until that date.

 

[Dznefreek]

Disneyland Eyed for Kwachon

By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
Seoul City and the Walt Disney Company are discussing a plan to establish an amusement park at Seoul Grand Park in Kwachon, south of Seoul, Seoul City officials said Sunday.

Officials from the U.S. entertainment giant recently visited City Hall in central Seoul for a workshop with related city officials to discuss details of the plan, the city government said.

The project to establish a Disneyland in Kwachon is part of the company's plan to expand its business in the Asian market. The Walt Disney Company opened a theme park in Tokyo in 1983 with one in Hong Kong, currently under construction, scheduled to open next year. The company is also planning to build another in Shanghai in the 2010s.

City officials said the company had asked the Ministry of Finance and Economy for further information related to the project. The ministry originally proposed four candidate sites for the amusement park, of which the Walt Disney Company selected Seoul Grand Park in Kwachon for a number of advantages, including traffic considerations and accessibility for subway and public buses, they added.

Three other candidate sites are Yongjongdo, an islet where Incheon International Airport is located, and two other islets. They all belong to a free economic zone in Inchon, which is under construction to help transform South Korea into a Northeast Asian business and transportation hub.

``If the theme park is set up, it would create a lot of jobs for Korean people and bring other economic benefits for the surrounding area,'' a Seoul City official said.

The plan to establish a large-scale theme park near Seoul is part of the campaign pledges made by Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak during the mayoral election in 2002. He said he would build a giant theme park for the capital, citing those in the United States and Japan.

Officials said the Walt Disney Company had requested Seoul City to remove towers set up at Seoul Grand Park for power lines. Until the plan is finalized, Seoul City will suspend various construction projects scheduled for the park, the officials said.

Founded in 1984, Seoul Grand Park is home to zoos, botanical gardens, parks and various leisure facilities. The city government operates the zoos and botanical gardens directly, while private companies own the other facilities.

jj@koreatimes.co.kr
11-07-2004 16:36

 

[DisLUV]

Do you view the new theme park talk in korea as good or bad?

 

[Lewisc]

Not sure if it's a BIG announcement but I don't think Disney has officially announced the TL expansion.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Originally posted by DisLUV
Do you view the new theme park talk in korea as good or bad?

Anything that could potentially raise the stock price of Disney is a good thing but I would really rather that they take whatever money they are going to use for this new park and spend it on the existing parks for better maintenance, upkeep, new attractions, etc.

Pretty soon the sun will never set on Disney.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I have to question whether or not these will actually be "Disney's" parks. Tokyo Disneyland, and I believe the upcoming Hong Kong Disneyland are both owned and operated by the Oriental Land Company. THat's why DisneySea has the reputation as one of the best Disney parks - because Disney designed it with budgets provided by the OLC.

It seems to me though that they're REALLY overbuilding. They've already got one park, and there's soon to be a second in a VERY small land area.

Just my guesses though!

 

[insanedisneyfan]

I heard a rumor that they are going to be building a 5th Theme park in Orlando. It is going to be mainly thrill rides and simulators. They have tough competition with Universal now. I also beleive they are expanding Typhoon Lagoon as well. I thought I saw some construction going on this past weekend. I also think they opened a Disney Studios at Disneyland Paris as well.

 

[mega13]

I am all for new thrill rides and simulators... that's what I love best about Universal Studios. I can't wait to see if that will really happen... I'll be there the first year!

 

[Ted and Holly]

Originally posted by insanedisneyfan
I heard a rumor that they are going to be building a 5th Theme park in Orlando. It is going to be mainly thrill rides and simulators. They have tough competition with Universal now. I also beleive they are expanding Typhoon Lagoon as well. I thought I saw some construction going on this past weekend. I also think they opened a Disney Studios at Disneyland Paris as well.

The 5th park rumor has been around for years. It would be nice, but I agree with others. They should invest some of the new development money into the current parks.

Ted

 

[yecats]

I just returned from a trip and took a backstage tour of MK. When tour CM was asked about additional parks he stated that Disney is looking to build 3rd waterpark like TL and BB as both of those parks had to close early everyday during summer due to crowds. Makes sense to add another waterpark but I don't see them adding a 5th park. This past Thursday (11/18) I spent the afternoon/evening in the parks which were supposed to be open until 8pm. They closed at 7pm due to low attendance (HM was a walk on as were all mountains with 10/15 minute waits at best). I was having the best time of my life and had to leave.

I have to agree with other posters that they need to improve the parks they have. Epcot really needs a few other rides (the Sea needs real improvement and something needs to go in where Body Wars was. The WS also needs some improvements as well. I would love to see some improvements at MGM instead of Indiana Jones Stunt show put in the Indy ride from CA. They need to improve and upgrade rides to keep the interest. We've seen what Disney thinks is an improved park in California Adventure (don't think that is doing better than IOA). I just saw Stitches Great Escape and don't think I'll be seeing that again either. Disney really needs to let the imagineers do their jobs and not put pressure on the money side as much - then they will find that those parks will rebound.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by yecats
This past Thursday (11/18) I spent the afternoon/evening in the parks which were supposed to be open until 8pm. They closed at 7pm due to low attendance (HM was a walk on as were all mountains with 10/15 minute waits at best). I was having the best time of my life and had to leave.

For November 15-18, the Magic Kingdom's hours were scheduled to be 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Perhaps you were looking at the weekend hours. Disney sometimes extends hours, but Disney doesn't close early (except for hurricanes or other unusual circumstances).

 

[mitros]

Yea, that 5th park rumor has been around for a while, and I'll agree with others that the money can be better spent fixing other things.

 

[mjtm610]

I don't know how anyone else feels, but I wish they would change some of the shops in Epcot. I love visiting all the countries, but they ALWAYS have the same merchandise!!!
I mean, how many tea cups can you buy in UK and how much turn over is there in any of the other countries? It seems like I keep seeing the same things year after year,
What are your thoughts?

 

[mitros]

You know, we are so used to so many different things in our stores in this great country of ours, maybe some of these other coutries just don't have the variety of mercandise that we do, so they cannot change the items too often. Or, perhaps, what they do sell, they sell a lot of, so they keep restocking the merchandise that does move well in the stores.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Who HASN'T heard the fifth park rumor? As well as a villains theme park, a park built in TX, one in St Louis, one on the east coast...
New Disney park rumors and locations are almost as active as Elvis sightings use to be.

 

[wilki32]

Isn't the merchandise based on what people recognise as that country. In the UK, lots of Wimbledon, Beatles, fudge and Beefeaters.
IMHO I think someone needs to have another look at this, our biggest sport is football and I don't think I have ever seen any football merchandise. But those beefeaters are becoming a real problem in the UK, hanging around street corners, hurling abuse at people, they really need to be taken in hand!!!
Seriously there are a lot more interesting things that could be sold as merchandise but as has already been said they're all probably best sellers.
Suggestions for merchandise, build your own millenium dome, it maybe a bit expensive and will be totally useless, a blow up Queen with catchy phrases like 'Philip, leave the corgis alone' or maybe even Love Songs by George Bush and Tony Blair!!!
There is so much we could offer!!!

Anthony

 

[rtjcbrown]

Next Big announcement:

Ron Artest hired for one year as customer relations specialist