Magic Kingdom Expansion Confirmed!

[Padrepride]

To put the discussion to end once and for all...

I will ask the Boat driver and the Bus driver when I am down there in 2 weeks.

Until then, I agree....

... Wait and see. Of course Disney is always looking at "Expanding" in some way shape of form.

that's pretty funny.

anyhow, my hope is that they will knock down Stitch's Celebration, and take out Stitch's Great Escape to make room for a massive E-Ticket spectacular ride that will blow Harry Pottyland out of the water: a "Race to Witch Mountain/Jonas Brothers" ride that goes through the monorail roundhouse and then down to the Utilidor tunnels under Magic Kingdom. I can't wait!!!!!

 

[srferson]

As for a "Magic Pass", one of the things I appreciate about WDW is that anyone with a ticket can get a FP, and then another when your time is up. The universal system feels more like "Okay rich people, you can go first. The rest of you stand over there."
brent

That is exactly the way I feel. Disney World is supposed to be the happiest place on earth where everyone feels like they're welcome and appreciated. Plenty of things have understandable price differences, but the Fast Pass system doesn't need to be one of those things. When I first heard of Fast Passes, I thought it was something that would only be able to those with enough money to spend and I was pleased and impressed when I found out it wasn't the case. I hope they don't mess with it.

 

[Dznefreek]

 

[MJMcBride]

But the bus driver said that they were...

Thats good enough for me

 

[Captain Bryman]

That is exactly the way I feel. Disney World is supposed to be the happiest place on earth where everyone feels like they're welcome and appreciated. Plenty of things have understandable price differences, but the Fast Pass system doesn't need to be one of those things. When I first heard of Fast Passes, I thought it was something that would only be able to those with enough money to spend and I was pleased and impressed when I found out it wasn't the case. I hope they don't mess with it.

actually Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. The Magic Kingdom is the most magical place on earth ahahah

 

[Condorman]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Universal's system give preference to people who stay at Universal's resorts? So what's wrong with Disney doing the same thing? The only people who would be adversely affected are off-site guests and locals. The next argument is if I'm a local, with an AP, and I'm visiting and giving my money to Disney regularly, why shouldn't I get the same privilege? Because you're not giving as much money to Disney per annum as a couple of two or a family of five visiting once a year for a week, that's why.

Frankly, if incoming, onsite Disney guests are willing to shell out the extra cash to stay at a Disney resort, I (being among them) wouldn't mind having the option of a VIP/Magic FastPass, even if I had to pay extra for it, even if it was $150 on top of a MYW PH. I'm kind of shocked Disney hasn't done this sooner at WDW. I still can't determine how they would regulate the quantity. Again, it would have to be sold like a hard ticket a la MVMCP. But they would certainly make millions in additional revenue, and I say let everyone else get in standby.

 

[lugnut33]

At $140 per person the "magic" would wear off real fast... as I wouldn't pay for it. Have fun Condorman in you empty park. I highly doubt thousands of people would pay that much.

 

[Condorman]

At $140 per person the "magic" would wear off real fast... as I wouldn't pay for it. Have fun Condorman in you empty park. I highly doubt thousands of people would pay that much.

Are you kidding? If I could pay $140 and have an "empty park" all to myself? Who in their right mind wouldn't pay for that? That's an even better deal than I had thought of! Please get a job at Disney. I'm begging you.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Universal's system give preference to people who stay at Universal's resorts?

Universal only has 3 hotels so you're dealing a limited number of people who have the free ExpressPass. It does not impact the ability to utilize ExpressPass. Disney has THOUSANDS of hotel rooms. If each guest was given unlimited Fast Pass access, there would be so many users that the Fast Pass line would be clogged with people and the entire concept would crash. THAT'S the difference.

If Disney charged $140 per day to have unlimited Fast Pass use, sure a few people would buy it. But not many. That's way too high. A lower price point would be needed to maximize revenue yet not crash the system. Seriously, if you want to walk onto rides at will come visit midweek in October to mid-November and you can do it for FREE!

BobK/Orlando

 

[disney1990]

Are you kidding? If I could pay $140 and have an "empty park" all to myself? Who in their right mind wouldn't pay for that? That's an even better deal than I had thought of! Please get a job at Disney. I'm begging you.

That would be great for some, but some people save up for years to just to pay for a basic vacation at Disney World. This wouldn't be fair to them.

 

[wishdisney]

pretty sure the only place they could expand is in tomorrowland by where they tore down the galaxy palace theatre. by wait, no..they built a mangers parking lot.

from be being a cast member and knowing whats around MK, i dont see much of this happening.

 

[CanadianGuy]

RE: FP Changes

Always been talk on this point and frankly - I'm a 'watch and see' guy on this one. Talk is cheap. Action is what costs money.

RE: MK Expansion - Is There Enough Room?

In a word - yes. In two words - yes, absolutely.

There is ample room to expand MK in Florida with some creative thinking and approaches to how to do it..

The map below shows a number of colored areas that could easily be used with bridges or walking paths over the Railroad tracks in some cases ... some internal backstage areas might have to be relocated or better 'hidden' with fake facades or artful landscaping but there is a huge amount of land that is useable when you look closely..

The 'yellow' highlighted areas behind Cindy's castle would be trickiest because some fireworks are shot from that area for Wishes and other nighttime spectaculars at MK and there needs to be a safety 'cushion' so that shell fallout and so forth doesn't land on guests pending wind direction and so on.

I didn't highlight it - but the Magic Kingdom lake area below Space Mountain and behind Carousel of Progress could be used for 'pier like' area and possibly even hosting a new evening show involving water, fireworks and whatever.. kinda like Fantasmic..

All that said - there is enough room for expansion for at least two or three entire 'lands' if they think creatively.. I suspect they are talking about something much less ambitious however in which case space is the least of their concerns.

Reposting for those who clearly missed it..

 

[Justin the Hook]

That would be great for some, but some people save up for years to just to pay for a basic vacation at Disney World. This wouldn't be fair to them.

I save up for years to go to Disney and always make sure I save up enough money for everything that I think that I would need. MYWPHw/WPM, DD, and then if this would be offered this also. It took me 8 years last time, but I did it and it was a Magical Vacation last September

At $140 per person the "magic" would wear off real fast... as I wouldn't pay for it. Have fun Condorman in you empty park. I highly doubt thousands of people would pay that much.

I doubt Disney would make this a must for its park guests. Think of it as an add on to your ticket. You have like 5 levels of dining now. Now you would just have different levels of FP. The first would be free like it is now, the second would be X amount of $ and include all the FP rides now and the the final stage would cost X amount of $ and include every ride.

Not every visitor would pay for it, not every resort guest that would that do would wouldn't be in the same park and also not on the same ride. Just some thoughts.

Also take it from someone who won Dream Fast Passes last year. It was worth every single second at HS. To get on and not wait for people on Star Tours, TT, RNR, TSM, The Little Mermaid. No waiting. So we ended up doing everything at HS in less than 1/2 of a day. That was so worth the $$$$$$

 

[The Duck]

That would be great for some, but some people save up for years to just to pay for a basic vacation at Disney World. This wouldn't be fair to them.

I don't know why everyone always feels like they're entitled to everything. The FastPass system was designed to be a first come, first serve kind of deal that benefits those that are able to get it. Charging for some FastPass equivalent is no different.

With that said, I think that $140 is a crazy price for something like this. Something along the lines of maybe $50/person would be ideal. The regular lines are still available if you don't want to pay.

 

[Jessfrogger88]

I don't see why people think they deserve some kind of VIP fastpass just for staying in a WDW resort I would say like 60-70% of the guests on any given day are staying at a WDW resort. Honestly the value's are not that much more expensive than the standard Holdiay Inn, and I don't understand the elitest atitiude within this thread. I think Disney should be a place that the average family should be able to enjoy as much as a upper class family. Granted the average income family might have to pack a lunch and buy less souvineers, but I don't think they should have to wait in significantly longer lines (which the fast pass lines would probably be 3 times as long if they give away these phantom VIP fastpasses) just because they don't have as much money... A trip to the world is a ton of money for most people. Keep it the way it is! Also there is no reason that locals who visit the park on a regular basis (annual pass or not) should not be able to utilize fast pass just because they live in Florida.... That would be so dumb of Disney to bite a hand that feeds them.

 

[mitros]

RE: FP Changes

Always been talk on this point and frankly - I'm a 'watch and see' guy on this one. Talk is cheap. Action is what costs money.

RE: MK Expansion - Is There Enough Room?

In a word - yes. In two words - yes, absolutely.

There is ample room to expand MK in Florida with some creative thinking and approaches to how to do it..

The map below shows a number of colored areas that could easily be used with bridges or walking paths over the Railroad tracks in some cases ... some internal backstage areas might have to be relocated or better 'hidden' with fake facades or artful landscaping but there is a huge amount of land that is useable when you look closely..

The 'yellow' highlighted areas behind Cindy's castle would be trickiest because some fireworks are shot from that area for Wishes and other nighttime spectaculars at MK and there needs to be a safety 'cushion' so that shell fallout and so forth doesn't land on guests pending wind direction and so on.

I didn't highlight it - but the Magic Kingdom lake area below Space Mountain and behind Carousel of Progress could be used for 'pier like' area and possibly even hosting a new evening show involving water, fireworks and whatever.. kinda like Fantasmic..

All that said - there is enough room for expansion for at least two or three entire 'lands' if they think creatively.. I suspect they are talking about something much less ambitious however in which case space is the least of their concerns.

I think your last sentence says it all. Much less ambitious? Yes! Space the least of their concerns? most definetley. They just ain't interested in spending the money. They do have plenty of room over there, but they seem to be more concerned about Tokyo Disneyland, or whatever it's called, then doing anything here in the U.S.
They keep selling more and more DVC memberships, filling up the property with bodies to the bursting point. Yea, thanks Disney, bring a zillion people on property and treat them like sardines, and don't bother giving us more things to do, or more room to move around. Yea, that makes for a lovely vacation. Disney, you stink! God, I hope Disney monitors this web site.

 

[yitbos96bb]

The rumors I have read were 1) The new Little Mermaid Ride for DL will go where 20,000 leagues was.

2) It is rumored to be a forest themed expansion of Fantasy Land, princess-centric, called the Enchanted forest. Would take the place of part of or all of Mickey's county fair/toon town/whatever they call it now.

 

[CanadianGuy]

The rumors I have read were 1) The new Little Mermaid Ride for DL will go where 20,000 leagues was.

2) It is rumored to be a forest themed expansion of Fantasy Land, princess-centric, called the Enchanted forest. Would take the place of part of or all of Mickey's county fair/toon town/whatever they call it now.

And on this... to borrow from Mythbusters... I call "Plausible"

 

[doconeill]

And on this... to borrow from Mythbusters... I call "Plausible"

Agreed. I think expansion in the north sector would be the easiest, and provide the greatest access to more area, starting at the former 20k lagoon area, if they just reroute the backstage road. I don't see it necessarily taking all or part of Toontown. although redoing Toontown as an extension of Fantasyland would be cheaper for a "princess project".

 

[Joolish1313]

You have all given me a lot to think about. Thank you!