Do you think WDW will build any new stand alone parks? I sure do hope so (jump off from Construction thread) - Adding, what you you like to see?

[Cadiewampus]

I think they will. I say this because the company I work for just quoted them a bunch of transformers and switch gear for what our salesman says is for a new park. Also plans for 2 new waterparks and another downtown disney shopping area

 

[LuvOrlando]

I do not expect a fifth gate. Typical US vacations are already short enough that it is hard to visit the four they have. Building a fifth would more or less only cannibalize the existing parks.

I think it is much more likely that we will see continued renovation and expansion of the existing parks, and that's been the playbook for the last dozen years now, including New Fantasyland and Tron in MK, Pandora plus the upcoming expansion/renovation of Dinoland in AK, Pixar Place and Batuu in Studios, and the third Soarin' theater plus the France expansion in Epcot.

No way to be sure but I don't think so, when my kids were little we always did a 10 day trip with 5 WDW and 2 Universal with a travel in between and would have welcomed another anything. Our most recent trip I was down to 4 days I think because it is a demanding trip with the crowds.

When Animal Kingdom was new it drew countless families, I couldn't even get into AK until our 3rd attempt in the 3rd year, it was jammed beyond belief. Also, I am pretty sure Universal is opening a new one and I can't imagine it will draw down at all, if anything it will gather interest of people who are bored and actually might siphon off visitors from WDW.

I guess we'll all know more when Universal opens up the new park, it will either be a draw to them or not.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I think they will. I say this because the company I work for just quoted them a bunch of transformers and switch gear for what our salesman says is for a new park. Also plans for 2 new waterparks and another downtown disney shopping area

This would be glorious

 

[LuvOrlando]

Oh man, yes! The parades need to come back in a major way! Every park used to have something. They help draw people to them, and in the case of parades, spread crowds out along the entire route.

Disney does reduce capaactiy when it is slower, which sometimes makes sense but sometimes it doesn't. Usually they are running only one side on Big Thunder first thing in the morning which is fine - there aren't a lot of people there that early. They should be running full capacity after the first hour though, even if it's not the busiest day. Maybe if it's absolutely dead in the parks on a given day it would be okay.

That said, that's one of the most noticeable cutbacks - labor! Forget maintenance, CMs make or break the guest experience, and the more CMs the better - across the board. I can deal with some scuffed up drywall as long as the service levels are excellent.

The service levels indeed. I follow a few WDW forums and my heart hurts for the cast members. They are the face of WDW, and they seem to be exhausted. I dont mind crowds, wait times, or heat. I do mind overworked underappreciated cast members. There is no excuse for placing this kind of burden on the people who make WDW what it is. They need help and support and a working environment that is conducive for guests to be kind.

Awww this is sad, when I was there in the fall I didn't notice this at all and actually thought to myself how nice it was that the CMs actually seemed happier. Although, I was there in the fall when it is cooler and there are far less people.

I went to Florida in July only once and I was maybe 25 with two other couples and it was fun because we could sleep in and stay out very late. However, I remember trying to do parks in the day feeling like I was in a sauna in an oven and I was very cranky, there were lots of kids who were cranky and lots of parents who were cranky and I can't imagine being crammed in there makes it better 30 some odd years later.

 

[StarCruzer]

I think they will. I say this because the company I work for just quoted them a bunch of transformers and switch gear for what our salesman says is for a new park. Also plans for 2 new waterparks and another downtown disney shopping area

Yeah, it was in the news recently that they worked with local government on updating some ordinances, and one of those was approval for the ability to build a fifth gate. That doesn't mean they're going to announce anything anytime soon--it just means if they want to start on something 10 years from now, they have the ability to start right away.

However, your comment is fueling my fantasy speculation that they are trying to do all the groundwork to build a new park on the DL. Here's my argument:

• Animal Kingdom cost $1B to build in 1998. Pandora addition cost $500M in 2014-17. In today's dollars, that would be $2B + $650M.
• The investment amount Disney has earmarked for the Florida parks over the next decade is $17B. Enough to build a 5th gate AND expand existing parks.
• Every time Disney/Iger is asked how they will compete with Epic Universe, they wave it off and give a non-answer--which is a weird play when you're trying to assure shareholders that your highest-grossing company division won't be negatively impacted

In my fantasy speculation, this is because they are keeping a 5th gate under wraps as long as possible to make sure funds, permits, Imagineering, etc. are all finalized and on the same page before announcing.

• This would be done to prevent another EPCOT revitalization debacle. Pretty sure we're all on the same page that COVID derailed that project harder than anyone could have possibly imagined, damaging Disney's credibility with fans.
• Disney also knows that their fans are absolutely insane when it comes to digging up information--both online, and by flying over Disney properties in private planes with cameras.

In any case, I know the chance of a fifth gate in Florida is not high. But there are still some faint signs it could happen sooner than we might expect. I CHOOSE TO DREAM BIG

 

[BrianL]

Awww this is sad, when I was there in the fall I didn't notice this at all and actually thought to myself how nice it was that the CMs actually seemed happier. Although, I was there in the fall when it is cooler and there are far less people.

I went to Florida in July only once and I was maybe 25 with two other couples and it was fun because we could sleep in and stay out very late. However, I remember trying to do parks in the day feeling like I was in a sauna in an oven and I was very cranky, there were lots of kids who were cranky and lots of parents who were cranky and I can't imagine being crammed in there makes it better 30 some odd years later.

They actually are doing better with staffing and CM morale than they were just during and after COVID. It's on an upswing, and generally I meet happy CMs. I still see where they are short staffed in places though, and there's no need for it.

 

[LuvOrlando]

They actually are doing better with staffing and CM morale than they were just during and after COVID. It's on an upswing, and generally I meet happy CMs. I still see where they are short staffed in places though, and there's no need for it.

Agreed, there is absolutely zero reason a place that calls its staff CAST MEMBERS can justify shortchanging customers with tires and overworked staff, that is where the magic lives and breathes. If I want Crusty the Clown I can go anywhere for that, the dude at the corner store can scowl at me for free. People who go to WDW pay for happy because seeing a happy CM makes them smile too

 

[BrianL]

Agreed, there is absolutely zero reason a place that calls its staff CAST MEMBERS can justify shortchanging customers with tires and overworked staff, that is where the magic lives and breathes. If I want Crusty the Clown I can go anywhere for that, the dude at the corner store can scowl at me for free. People who go to WDW pay for happy because seeing a happy CM makes them smile too

If you want Krusty the Clown, you can go to Universal!

 

[LuvOrlando]

If you want Krusty the Clown, you can go to Universal!

View attachment 874957

Got me, good one!

 

[Brian Noble]

when my kids were little we always did a 10 day trip

This is not the typical US vacation---it's more than twice as long.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/yoga-wellness/ideal-vacation-length