Lord of the Rings World ?

[Myron]

I have heard rumors that attendance is slipping at WDW because they have no new attractions to speak of; while Universal has major new rides. While Universal has Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Terminator, MIB, etc.. WDW really has no new hit film tie-ins except for the old Star Tours. Any chance that WDW will add a Lord of the Rings attraction? That would be cool.

 

[George4]

They don't own that content. It would cost them a lot of money to license the content from the various copyright holders, money beyond the cost of any attractions. Most of that cost would be a year by year cost, much like what Disney collects from Universal for the Marvel-based rides.

Bottom line: It ain't happening.

 

[SalutemyShorts]

I have heard rumors that attendance is slipping at WDW because they have no new attractions to speak of; while Universal has major new rides. While Universal has Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Terminator, MIB, etc.. WDW really has no new hit film tie-ins except for the old Star Tours. Any chance that WDW will add a Lord of the Rings attraction? That would be cool.

It's unlikely that if it ever happens that it will be with Disney. Tolkien pretty much hated Walt Disney, and his estate haven't forgotten that. Warner Brothers who own the film rights also have a great relationship with Universal.

 

[Whatsthegoodword]

...only attendance at WDW isn't slipping. In fact, it's growing - and they already have so much IP to work with...

That said, it does seem like a no-brainer for someone, but the Tolkien estate still control$ this option. IMHO, it might be worth Disney looking into it just to keep it away from Universal. If USO had a "Middle Earth" in addition to Potter they might could start to challenge The Mouse.

 

[rteetz]

They don't own that content. It would cost them a lot of money to license the content from the various copyright holders, money beyond the cost of any attractions. Most of that cost would be a year by year cost, much like what Disney collects from Universal for the Marvel-based rides.

Bottom line: It ain't happening.

Actually there was a rumor for a while that universal would be buying the theme park rights for lord of the rings.

 

[nilla]

I have heard rumors that attendance is slipping at WDW because they have no new attractions to speak of

We went straight back to the newest attraction at MK (a little over a year old) in June at rope drop, and the line was so long we moved on.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_World#Attendance

 

[Andrew015]

Starting to think this section ought to have a name change... Rumors, News & BS.

 

[rteetz]

Starting to think this section ought to have a name change... Rumors, News & BS.

You know the only other place I can compare the Dis to is wdwmagic and their news and rumors board is their biggest traffic getter.

 

[skier_pete]

Well, I want to give the OP the benefit of the doubt and assume he or she wasn't just trolling. It is NOT true attendance at WDW is slipping, though the haven't seen the % growth that Universal has. However, though Universal is ahead in percentage, they actually aren't ahead in growth. If both places grew at their current rates from a #s standpoint, Universal would never catch Disney. This doesn't mean Disney never wants to expand, in fact there is a pretty massive expansion on the Table, but a low likelyhood that it relates to LotR in any way.

That said, the LotR IP is an interesting one. I am not sure that it fits well with Universal even though that rumor has been around, because (and I realize their are those that will argue against this) it sort of parallels Harry Potter - in that their are Wizards and Elves and Giants and all those type things...but whereas Harry Potter has all those magical creatures in OUR world, LotR has all those creatures in a fictional world, making that a MUCH more difficult theming task.

Disney, as others have said, may have had interest in the LotR IP before they got Avatar and Star Wars, but now I would say they have ZERO interest in LotR. So, I think LotR is without a them park home.

 

[101disneyfan]

The only Disney rumor that I've ever heard for LotR was about five years ago to be a new scene for the Great Movie Ride.

 

[soniam]

A LOTR park would be awesome, but I just don't think it will happen with anyone, unless the family changes it's mind/direction completely

 

[jtowntoflorida]

LotR just seems like a really bad fit for Disney to me. I think if we ever see Middle Earth in a theme park, it will probably be a stand-alone.

 

[BrokeMack]

I think several companies have toyed with the idea over the years. I don't see it happening at either disney or universal, neither one of them needs it. They both have rights to more properties than they can use.

 

[Planogirl]

LOTR would be amazing but not likely very soon and definitely not at a Disney park.

 

[Lord Fantasius]

Disney, Inc., never understood how to handle Lewis' Narnia...which is why the attraction never really took off and just died in obscurity...and interest in the movies dried up. No way they'll be able to pull-off a Middle-Earth "land" (which, IMHO, would have to be an entire Gate unto itself); it would take $3-$5 billion in investment to create and they don't even have SW or Pixar-place started (which they've already hesitated in spending the money on even though they are rather "sure things"). Middle-Earth would be too big of an initial pay-out for them. Plus, as mentioned previously, the Tolkien estate (controlled with a tightfist by Christopher) isn't really on good terms with Disney, Inc.

 

[Planogirl]

Disney, Inc., never understood how to handle Lewis' Narnia...which is why the attraction never really took off and just died in obscurity...and interest in the movies dried up. No way they'll be able to pull-off a Middle-Earth "land" (which, IMHO, would have to be an entire Gate unto itself); it would take $3-$5 billion in investment to create and they don't even have SW or Pixar-place started (which they've already hesitated in spending the money on even though they are rather "sure things"). Middle-Earth would be too big of an initial pay-out for them. Plus, as mentioned previously, the Tolkien estate (controlled with a tightfist by Christopher) isn't really on good terms with Disney, Inc.

I thought that the Narnia treatment was sad. There was a lot of potential there and the first movie did quite well.

Wasn't it purchased by another studio? I've heard that another movie is in development but that was a while ago.

 

[eXo]

Disney got into an argument over the budget in regards to the third film, so they didn't co-produce that one. Fox took over instead. I thought the third movie was done pretty well. I don't remember absolutely disliking the second one, but it did feel the weakest of the three.

Then Walden Media's film contract expired in 2011 and they had to wait through some three year moratorium during which the Lewis estate had the rights to shop the film options around again. They finally got started on The Silver Chair last year and according to wikipedia (which is where basically this entire post is sourced from), the script was just completed last month.

 

[tmoo]

I can't wait for the meet and greet with Azog the Defiler.

I love Lord of the Rings. It would be an incredible theme park idea (far better than Pandora), but the truth is Disney owns Star Wars which is an even better property, probably the best on the the planet. If there was ever something that could support an entire park it is Star Wars and we will be lucky if Disney makes a land with 2 rides on it.

 

[Flynnismine]

I'll join in the daydream....This would need to be a separate stand alone park along with several themed resorts. I'm confident that Disney, and probably USO, would not be able to do a middle earth themed gate justice. Unlikely daydreams aside and stepping up to proudly let my geek flag fly, I'd most definitely pay a stupid amount of money to be completely immersed in every single aspect of middle earth. Imagine the possibilities for M&G's, shows, rides, merchandise.......it's a literal gold mine that will sadly never see the light of day.

 

[Lord Fantasius]

I'm with you, Flynnismine, do you think we can raise $5 billion through GoFundMe? I was driving through Arizona last week with my family and thought there are some ideal locations around Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. With the higher altitude, the temperature would be perfect year-end...and the scenery would be incredible. Ah yes, daydreaming the entire time (at least during the times my kids weren't fighting).