Just got back and heard a couple of interesting rumors from CMs

[LibertyLover]

My DH and I spent last week at WDW and heard some interesting rumors from a couple of the CMs.

1. According to a CM at AKL, Disney is trying to buy the Swan and the Dolphin and make them "real" (his words not mine) Disney hotels; and

2. According to a CM at Poly, Disney eventually wants to build 3 more parks on site - one a Sea World type attraction, a second that is primarily thrill rides, a la Islands of Adventure, and the third would be the history park that they tried to build in Northern VA about 8 years ago.

Both CMs seemed sure of their information, but of course as with everything - take cum granum salus - with a grain of salt.

 

[rocketriter]

A grain of salt approximately the size of The Swan.

 

[AK_Islander]

Yeah I wouldn't put too much stock into what they said. Lots of Imagineers will sit down with you and talk about 'what ifs' and 'proposed' ideas but that is a far, far cry from the green light.

Sorry to disappoint.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

All very interesting, but- As previously alluded to, I'm sure they are all valid concepts, but whether or not they come to fruition is another story.

Thanx for posting...

MG

 

[MrsKreamer]

When I worked there 3 years ago, they were talking about building an all thrill rides park.. It would be based on the villians, with the "castle" being Malcifent's castle....

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

I would believe that both of these have been (and probably still are) being talked about by Disney management.
There is no doubt that at some point they will add another theme park. I would guess the biggest question is "what kind of park". It seems they would want to counter Universal, but who knows.
As for the Swan and Dolphin, I remember reading a long time ago that Disney gave a long term lease for these hotels and Eisner would love to cancel. I don't know for sure, but my guess is when Disney was developing the Epcot resort area they weren't really sure if it would be successful. That is probably why they leased out the Swan/Dolphin. Kind of like taking an insurance policy. Now that this area is so popular Disney would love to get these two hotels back under their banner.

 

[areno79]

I've heard they're planning on a thrills park too, but who knows when that'll happen! I think it would make Disney more appealing to those going to Universal's to get their thrills, but that's just MHO

 

[MrsKreamer]

I've heard they're planning on a thrills park too, but who knows when that'll happen! I think it would make Disney more appealing to those going to Universal's to get their thrills, but that's just MHO

I totally agree with you. If wdw had a thrill park, you really wouldn't need to leave property durring your stay...

 

[Chuck S]

It almost seems that a Sea World type park with trained/captive sea creatures (mammals such as dolphins and whales) would be in direct contrast to the "conservation" theme they do at AK. But I do think that AK could be expanded to include more sea life educational shows and exhibits with fish.

A separate thrill park may be good, but expensive to build...still a possibility.

But I really would like to se them do more with the Studios and AK before breaking ground on a new park.

 

[KNWVIKING]

***"I totally agree with you. If wdw had a thrill park, you really wouldn't need to leave property durring your stay... "***

Let US/IOA have their place in the market.

If Disney adds a thrill park, undoubtedly the hopper ticket price will rise accordingly. If you are a family with young children - read less then 48 inches - would you like paying for a park you'll have no use for ?

As Chuck said, the existing parks need additions long before another park is built. Disney can easily add some teen friendly rides to AK and MGM.

 

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

Its always interesting to hear the 'latest' isn't it??? Dare to dream.....

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I really like the idea of a Villian's theme park, and Maleficnet's castle as the icon is perfect! You'd think that there would be a fish attraction at AK, I never thought about it. They already have the Living Seas at Epcot, I wonder if that should be relocated? Fish are pretty easy to keep when you think about it.

It is nice to hear the news! When I go to WDW in May I think I'll ask around for gossip. Where do you start with that?

D4D

 

[henrylovespooh]

I used to live in Northern Virginia and was really bummed when locals stopped Disney from putting the American history-themed park there. Now it tickles me to know that instead they built tens of thousands of houses and now the traffic is truly unbearable. Hence, we moved to NJ.

I would really like to see this park built somewhere.

 

[G00fyDad]

They an still do the park hopper ticket thing even with a thrill park added. They would simply need to sell park specific Park Hopper passes. It could allow you into MK, AK, MG, and Epcot like the current PHP but deny access to any park you choose not to add. And then price it accordingly. The more parks you add on past the original two the more it costs.

 

[DissyLove]

I had heard the rumors of a "sea-world" style park and thrill park before. It makes sense, much like the water park, of course disney would prefer people stay at disney and spend all the time and money there! We'll see if anything come to fruition.

 

[KNWVIKING]

***"They an still do the park hopper ticket thing even with a thrill park added. They would simply need to sell park specific Park Hopper passes."***

They'd never do this. If they let guests customize their PH passes it would cost them a fortune. They want to sell you hi priced single park tickets or one combo ticket for all the parks. If you spend the money for the combo ticket you will tend to stay on property to get your monies worth. If they allowed you to buy a MK & Epcot combo, people will feel more comfortable spending time + money at US/IOA.

 

[sc9500]

With the permanent closing of "River country" - would they fill that in and make it "usable" space?

 

[KNWVIKING]

One thing WDW doesn't lack is useable space. Unless there was a specific reason to repurpose that area - lake view ? - it would be cheaper to just use another chunk of land rather then teardown,haulaway & refill the RC area.

 

[rocketriter]

I used to live in Northern Virginia and was really bummed when locals stopped Disney from putting the American history-themed park there. Now it tickles me to know that instead they built tens of thousands of houses and now the traffic is truly unbearable. Hence, we moved to NJ.

I would really like to see this park built somewhere.

I have to agree. I know someone who was involved in the movement to stop Disney. He was full of rhetoric about "Disnified history" and "desecration of historic landmarks." I thought he was full of something else as well. Now, hearing that the sacred landmarks are housing and strip malls, I'm sure of it.

 

[Planogirl]

There's lots of thrill ride parks and Universal is the cream of the crop. The only possible advantage to Disney building its own is that they might be able to lure Universal fans over to check it out. However if it's only off the shelf coasters and the like, they still wouldn't be able to approach Universal's creations so they'd need to up their creativity to the level that it used to be at. Whether they would or not is an interesting question. JMHO.