Dreamworks theme park in NJ?

[Figment632]

I hope they do something with Zanadu!

http://m.nypost.com/p/news/local/dreamworks_plans_theme_park_at_stalled_Wov8k2YMifHhYFIYV0xaWM

 

[CandyMandy]

That "in construction since 2007 but still not open" mall has been a massive black hole for anyone involved since the get-go and this 'announcement' isn't going to change that. The financing of the thing is in perpetual trouble; most proposed major tenants have bailed or failed (Circuit City, Virgin Megastores) and the structure itself has problems (major parts of the "ski dome" buckled under heavy snowfall last winter). And on top of all that the NY Giants are adamantly against the place being open on game days at their nearby stadium.

Gov. Christie is correct: it's become an ugly, useless eyesore.

And if you read the article carefully, Dreamworks isn't really committing itself to anything.

 

[tjkraz]

And if you read the article carefully, Dreamworks isn't really committing itself to anything.

Yeah, it's just a licensing deal so they really have nothing to lose.

Still it would be interesting to see someone delve into a small-scale regional park like this. It's market Disney has considered for years. Jay Rasulo spoke about it numerous times when he was in charge of the parks.

I always thought Disney could compete with the likes of Great Wolf Lodge. I'm sure Disney is well aware of GWL and must not think it's a market worth entering.

An indoor park would be an expensive venture and if someone else can make a success of that business, Disney could quickly join the fray. But it sounds like this particular venture has an awful lot of challenges to overcome.

 

[CandyMandy]

Indoor amusement parks (I wouldn't refer to any yet as really entering the realm of "theme") in or tied to major shopping malls aren't a new idea.

The most notable is Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America. The park was previously named Camp Snoopy, before M.O.A. changed management of the park from Knotts to Viacom in 2008. Frankly there is only attraction here that even begins to approach Disney or Universal "theme park" standards: a Paul-Bunyan themed log flume ride which is actually suprisingly elaborate and quite well done; the journey on it includes a hauntening cave encounter with what is arguably the largest functioning animatronic -- Blue the ox -- of any park in the world.

The real problem with Nickelodeon Universe and other places like it is the confined industrial feel indoor parks inevitably have. All that steel truss required to support roofing over large expanses just takes away from whatever other ambience you're trying to establish.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I hope they do something with Zanadu!

http://m.nypost.com/p/news/local/dreamworks_plans_theme_park_at_stalled_Wov8k2YMifHhYFIYV0xaWM

yeah...me too...

Knock the ugly thing the hell down

 

[lockedoutlogic]

That "in construction since 2007 but still not open" mall has been a massive black hole for anyone involved since the get-go and this 'announcement' isn't going to change that. The financing of the thing is in perpetual trouble; most proposed major tenants have bailed or failed (Circuit City, Virgin Megastores) and the structure itself has problems (major parts of the "ski dome" buckled under heavy snowfall last winter). And on top of all that the NY Giants are adamantly against the place being open on game days at their nearby stadium.

Gov. Christie is correct: it's become an ugly, useless eyesore.

And if you read the article carefully, Dreamworks isn't really committing itself to anything.

To be fair...Christie is an eyesore as well...so he would know

but also realize that not only was it a horrible idea...it was pushed through and invested into by one James McGreevy...

a somewhat notable former politician. so there was bad blood and political tie ups around the thing that would have squashed even IF there was a chance of it succeeding.

which there really wasn't.

 

[ChrisFL]

IMO they shouldn't hire color blind designers when making buildings

 

[Figment632]

Pisses me off every time I drive buy! I own a trucking company that delivers containers and those buildings were made to look like the containers from the port! Just what I want to see when im not at work!!!

 

[umichigan10]

IMO they shouldn't hire color blind designers when making buildings

How long has this been here? I haven't driven by the meadowlands in ten yeard or so (the first time my family drove to Disney) and I don't remember it being there

Also I don't get why the giants oppose this so much. I don't know how the situation is in new york but half an hour from my house the patriots have a while system of shops, restaurants, and movie theaters araround their stadium and ive never heard a fan complaint on parking. Honestly, I don't know why the giants (or the jets for that matter) try to partner op on helping this project. Because any money they make off this they can keep straight away without goof through the NFL.

 

[FirstTimeDisneyVisit]

How long has this been here? I haven't driven by the meadowlands in ten yeard or so (the first time my family drove to Disney) and I don't remember it being there

Also I don't get why the giants oppose this so much. I don't know how the situation is in new york but half an hour from my house the patriots have a while system of shops, restaurants, and movie theaters araround their stadium and ive never heard a fan complaint on parking. Honestly, I don't know why the giants (or the jets for that matter) try to partner op on helping this project. Because any money they make off this they can keep straight away without goof through the NFL.

Traffic,Traffic, Traffic.. that's all they are worried about , how bad its going to be during game day. Its really bad now could you imagine how bad it will be if this opens. I live ten minutes away i been dying for the Zanadu to open, i hope they do something soon it just a waste of space.

 

[umichigan10]

Traffic,Traffic, Traffic.. that's all they are worried about , how bad its going to be during game day. Its really bad now could you imagine how bad it will be if this opens. I live ten minutes away i been dying for the Zanadu to open, i hope they do something soon it just a waste of space.

Oh I agree, getting to a patriots game was bad before they built all the retail I can only imagine how bad it is now. And seeing as the meadowlands is right on 95 I cant imagine how it must be there.

 

[rutgers1]

If traffic near the Meadowlands is bad, then it must be HORRIBLE everywhere else on the planet. The complex is at the crossroads of every major highway in the state: Route 17, Parkway, Route 3, Route 80. There is mass transit.

I live nearby and have never had a problem, though admittedly I leave a bit early and haven't experienced postgame traffic. However, even if the whole place backed up for hours after a game, then that is a problem with traffic control, as there are more than enough places to funnel traffic after the game.

I just went to the Pocono Speedway for NASCAR, and although there was some traffic, I was pretty impressed considering all you had was country roads leading up to the complex. Once again, if the Meadowlands can't get it done with all of the highways leading up to their front gate, then there is a major problem.

 

[kelleigh1]

Oh I agree, getting to a patriots game was bad before they built all the retail I can only imagine how bad it is now. And seeing as the meadowlands is right on 95 I cant imagine how it must be there.

I live in Foxboro. I can tell you that anyone with any sense knows not to try to go shopping when there is a game, or at least not to try to go over there on the morning of a game. I've worked at a couple of the stores at Patriot Place and we used to tell customers that the best time for them to come shopping, if they wanted to come on a game day, was right after the start of the game. The traffic isn't any worse because the shopping is there. It was always a nightmare because of the game and the shopping/entertainment venue of Patriot Place didn't add to it.



Oh, and ironically...my husband is from NJ and lived about 10 minutes from the Meadowlands. We've been together 10 years (one of our first dates was a game at the old Giants Stadium) and in that time, we got to watch them tear down the old and the build Zanadu on all the trips back and forth from Foxboro to visit his parents and now we get to see it as it just sits there empty.

 

[diamondpixienc]

I don't think most people would even care about the beams. Besides how many people you hear at the parks complain about a line not being covered? But, it would be interesting to see how this turn out. I would probably visit if this opens and i'm in the New York area. Also, I have often wondered the same thing about Disney having a GWL type thingy. I guess you can say that they decided to dip the tip of their pinky finger into the idea of a full immersion GWL lite with the AoA resort minus the micro Typhoon Lagoon of course.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Xanadu is just an ugly mess. Most of is that live in the rural areas in NJ do not even want to go to the meadowlands any more because of the traffic mess. Yes there are a bunch of highways meeting in the area, that is a big reason why it can be a mess... stick thousands of cars driven by people who are likely not familiar with the area in a small area and have them try to navigate the cluster of roads, ramps, exits and parking areas at high speeds, not my idea of a good time.

 

[dismichael]

Our state has had a bunch of troubles over the years, but I think that they need to do something with the land. Not necessarily continue Xanadu, but it would be nice to have something else besides our Guido- infested shores to draw people into the tourism here. Dreamworks- land would be interesting, maybe knock down the existing buildings and start from scratch tho, they probably could get it cheap.