Midwest Theme Park?

[Eeyores Butterfly]

While on my last CP in 06, I had a FTer tell me that she heard it from a higher up that they are planning a theme park for the midwest, possibly Iowa. I would love it, but dismissed it as pure fantasy at the time.

Fast forward to this past spring: I was running a CP booth at my college's Career Expo. A lady from a company in Branson, MO came up and asked me about Disney building a theme park in Branson. Apparently, somebody is buying large quantities of land in Branson, including from her company. The scuttlebut is that it is Disney, and she indicated that the person who handled the transaction for her company was indeed a Disney representative. I have also found out that they are closing all the Disney Stores in Missouri except for Branson-where they will have 2! I find it very suspicious that they will have two stores there when they are closing all the stores in Kansas City and St. Louis.

Has anybody hear any of these rumors?

 

[Brian_WDW74]

This rumor keeps popping up every so often. It's not true. Check out this article in the Branson Daily News, the title of which says it all: Rumor of Disney park not valid

 

[CanadianGuy]

Keeping two stores in a busy tourist location like Branson is good business sense.

If they were going to open an actual park .. which would presumeably have shopping.. why keep two stores paying someone ELSE rent?

Nah.. big time "still just a fantasy/rumor" in my book.

Knox

 

[Disneycrazymom]

I was very surprised to have both the Branson stores stay open. They are fairly far apart, one on the strip and one in the new shopping area in old town. Both opened in the last year. Both of these are busy tourist areas.

 

[ChrisFL]

If you believe all of the rumors, approx. 17 U.S. states will have a Disney theme park by the year 2015

 

[MJMcBride]

If you believe all of the rumors, approx. 17 U.S. states will have a Disney theme park by the year 2015

probably more than that

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I'm from Missouri, and while Branson is indeed a tourist spot, KC and STL are much busier. I realize a year-round theme park in the midwest is tough (my bf is a supervisor at a theme park in MO and I know all about how they can't run the rides at certain temperatures. Opening day it was snowing and only a few of the rides were open). I am curious as to who is buying up all the land!

 

[DisFlan]

I live west of Branson. We've been hearing the same rumor for about 25 years. If Disney wants land, I've got a couple of acres....for the right price.

DisFlan

 

[bookwormde]

It is funny, back in the 70’s (yes I am dating myself) they were close to putting one in SE PA. But in the end it came down to one factor, the weather. Making a theme park practical and profitable in an area where it is below freezing for any significant number of days is difficult (daytime temperatures).

bookwormde

 

[CheriBibi]

Another midwest thread ?

As much as I'd like to see a new kingdom in the US... Logic is against it. Beside, why would they keep Disney stores in a location where a future theme park would include many more ?

I think a major entertainment venue may be projected for this area, but not Disney's. Maybe something going along the Hard Rock theme park, a lot of other major chains have to be considering the possibility to operate or have operate their own theme park.

 

[DisFlan]

I think a major entertainment venue may be projected for this area, but not Disney's. Maybe something going along the Hard Rock theme park, a lot of other major chains have to be considering the possibility to operate or have operate their own theme park.

Branson needs something "big", but I doubt it'll happen. It's become a congested, unattractive hodge-podge of outlet malls, tacky shops, motel rows and condos and a ton of D-list shows. And overpriced 2nd/3rd tier attractions like Titanic and "Butterfly World". Traffic can be a nightmare. The Silver Dollar City owners have a fairly tight control on the theme park venues in the area. They have a considerable say as to what goes on in Branson. This is why I doubt we'll see a major contending theme park or any other "big" attraction any time soon that isn't built or backed by the SDC folks. It's similar to why you don't see a Target store in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas.


DisFlan

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

BIt's become a congested, unattractive hodge-podge of outlet malls, tacky shops, motel rows and condos and a ton of D-list shows. Traffic can be a nightmare.

And that's one reason why the Disney-in-Branson rumor makes no sense.

On top of that, Branson does not have a large local population, nor an airport capable of handling Disney-level passenger traffic.

If Disney ever decides they need a third major presence in the United States, various sites in Texas would make sense based on climate, airports, and the substantial (and ever-growing) population of Texas.

If Disney ever figures out a way to build a compelling all-year park in a location with a Northern climate, then various sites in Ohio would make sense. There's a huge population within an 8-hour drive, including major Midwestern and Eastern cities.

But Branson makes no sense.

 

[DisFlan]

Yup, you nailed it, Horace. It makes no sense. I've never understood why anyone would buy a condo or timeshare there, either. But that's just me. A condo on the lake, yes. But in the middle of Branson? Not a clue. And there's about a gillion of them.


DisFlan

 

[GSDRescuer]

One in Chicagoland would be nice..........

 

[CaptainEO]

One in Chicagoland would be nice..........

I second that Chi-town!

 

[chicagoshannon]

yeah in theory Chicago would be great BUT it's WAY too cold! The park would be open for what 4-5 months out of the year. They already had Diney Quest bomb downtown and that was indoors!

 

[humplepiratequeen]

there was a rumor of a Disneyland, TEXAS.