It's official details from the press release.

[nytimez]

and AK.

So a 2014 date for FLE to be completed. Gee a NFL stadium would be put up quicker.

If you count the past year of construction, that's four-five years total, depending when in 2014 it's actually finished.

Wasn't all of Epcot built in just three years?

 

[Oglet]

The artist renderings are still kinda vague - is that an "underground" entrance to the mine ride in the middle?

Yep, It sure is. From my understanding you pay an additional fee and the mine coaster will roar through the utilidoors giving you a quick backstage tour

 

[johnGorski]

If you count the past year of construction, that's four-five years total, depending when in 2014 it's actually finished.

Wasn't all of Epcot built in just three years?

Yes Epcot was finished in 3 years. I think AK was done in 3 too. They say the first phase to be open in LATE 2012, thats 2 years away and a year later for the next phase featuring the mine coaster 3 years away. They announced this FLE Sept 2009 now not to be totaly done 4 years later .

I am sure Iger and TDO is getting a sweet deal with Lake Buena Vista Construction Company to take there time.

So DHS and AK expansions will happen now 2015-2020 or later!

I am sure a bay lake tower 2 or a new DVC would be built in no time.

 

[doconeill]

Note: NFL stadiums, Epcot and AK did not require being open during construction...and for Epcot and AK you could debate calling them "finished" at the grand openings...

 

[johnGorski]

Note: NFL stadiums, Epcot and AK did not require being open during construction...and for Epcot and AK you could debate calling them "finished" at the grand openings...

but that FLE is in a remote location too. just saying!

 

[doconeill]

but that FLE is in a remote location too. just saying!

...but fronted by active guest areas, which means they can only access from one direction, etc.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Lots of folks are happy.
2) I still think there are too many princess-themed sections.

 

[johnGorski]

...but fronted by active guest areas, which means they can only access from one direction, etc.

two attractions are completly blocked off right now and with a opening date late 2012 seems to be a long time.

 

[nytimez]

Note: NFL stadiums, Epcot and AK did not require being open during construction...and for Epcot and AK you could debate calling them "finished" at the grand openings...

Sure -- but it's not like guests are wandering through the construction zone.

 

[doconeill]

Sure -- but it's not like guests are wandering through the construction zone.

True, but they do surround two sides (currently, soon to be just one) of the construction zone with an active roadway, railroad, and cast member access area as well. And they are a hell of a lot closer than when they built the parks originally.

There is also another reason it can take longer - cost. Not necessarily total cost, but cost per quarter, etc.

 

[skier_pete]

Gosh - that whine didn't occur to me..."Why's it taking so long?" I don't know, a year and a half from now for things to be opening don't seem so bad to me.

Sometimes smaller projects take as long as big ones. Not that this is small, but the example is for an entire theme park, you can hire 2,000 people to be working all at once, and it takes 3 years. For a smaller area like this, even if you hired 2,000 people to do it, they couldn't all work on top of each other. Instead you hire 400 people, and it still takes them 3 years. Plus you often have to do this in order. First build the infrastructure, then the equipment, instrumentation, wiring, then the decorative effects. You can't do them all at once.

In addition, they probably want to open it in stages to be as least disruptive to the guest experience.

SkierPete

 

[swimmingneno]

I do really like all the improvements. the new princess area/ the castle + dining seems like a great idea. When are the parks ever lacking in food options?

 

[nytimez]

True, but they do surround two sides (currently, soon to be just one) of the construction zone with an active roadway, railroad, and cast member access area as well. And they are a hell of a lot closer than when they built the parks originally.

There is also another reason it can take longer - cost. Not necessarily total cost, but cost per quarter, etc.

OK -- DisneySea had Tokyo Bay on one side, and Tokyo Disneyland on the other... built in less than three years.

I can't and won't address the cost issue. Maybe you're right on that, but I don't know enough about that to address it.

And I know it seems nitpicky... but it DOES seem to me like this is taking a long time, especially when you consider there's not a major E ticket attraction in the bunch.

And Circusland -- I mean that should take weeks to build. Goofini is already there. Dumbo is a traveling carnie ride that they can unload off a truck and building in an afternoon. Sure, they're going to build some tents and games and all, but this shouldn't that long.

 

[johnGorski]

OK -- DisneySea had Tokyo Bay on one side, and Tokyo Disneyland on the other... built in less than three years.

I can't and won't address the cost issue. Maybe you're right on that, but I don't know enough about that to address it.

And I know it seems nitpicky... but it DOES seem to me like this is taking a long time, especially when you consider there's not a major E ticket attraction in the bunch.

And Circusland -- I mean that should take weeks to build. Goofini is already there. Dumbo is a traveling carnie ride that they can unload off a truck and building in an afternoon. Sure, they're going to build some tents and games and all, but this shouldn't that long.

I think it all is with cost, its just not justifiable a project like this is taking 4-5 years from orginal announcement to G.O. Now if it was announced today and opening late 2012 phase 1 then late 2013 early 2014 too be 100% complete that would make more sence IMHO. EE was another one that seemed to take forever from announcemnt to G.O., i think that was a 3 year time frame.

 

[Cleveland Hercules]

Does anybody know what is going in the top right corner of fantasyland. If you look at the art posted there are 2 large tents, 2 smaller ones, and something in the middle of the area. I know one of the smaller structurs is going to be the train station, but what about the others? My guess is one of them is going to a place to meet Mickey just like in the current toontown, but does anyone know for sure?

 

[ahoyle]

I have to agree with the people that are saying this is taking way too long to complete. Looking at the plans I was thinking I would need to plan a trip to Disney next year. Instead, I see it wont be finished until 2014? If I were Universal I would have a Wizarding World expansion ready for a grand opening in 2014.

And its amazing that Wizarding World can be built in 2.5 years, or 3 years from announcement, but this is taking 5 years? I dont know how anyone can explain that away, other than the whole spreading out costs on different quarters thing mentioned above. although if thats the case, I hate to see how long it takes to add to the other parks.

 

[skier_pete]

Am I missing something? Where in the press release does it say that it will not be completed until 2014. All I see is it will "Open in stages starting late 2012." That COULD mean most things will open in late 2012, and a few things will be open in early 2013. Or perhaps they won't "close" SWSA to replace that until they open the other stuff. I remember the original plan had it completed sometime in 2013.

 

[Oglet]

Am I missing something? Where in the press release does it say that it will not be completed until 2014. All I see is it will "Open in stages starting late 2012." That COULD mean most things will open in late 2012, and a few things will be open in early 2013. Or perhaps they won't "close" SWSA to replace that until they open the other stuff. I remember the original plan had it completed sometime in 2013.

I believe they are being vague because they have no idea either.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Job's is sick. Disney is for sale.

 

[nytimez]

I believe they are being vague because they have no idea either.

Right. And you rarely see things like this completed ahead of schedule. It might be 2015 before it's really done.