Miss Fortune Falls is coming and Shark Reef is going

[Whatsthegoodword]

No doubt but these water parks aren't supposed to be the destination they are just an added thing to keep you on property and a way to cool off on your summer vacation.

Obviously. ...and I continue be disappointed in Disney for treating them that way. Why not make them the "Fifth Gate?" Schlitterbahn has shown that there is plenty to do at a water park that hasn't been done yet, and Disney has the money to take it to the next level. Dark rides, roller coasters, shows for the family - all from the comfort of your inner tube. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

 

[WDWRook]

Any idea when the Shark Reef will close? We were planning to go to TL Sept 12 but if the Shark Reef is closed we may consider switching to BB.

 

[Dfan79]

I have no idea when it is going to close. I think Disney's doing the right thing though. It seems like it's a lawsuit waiting to happen.

 

[rteetz]

I have no idea when it is going to close. I think Disney's doing the right thing though. It seems like it's a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Lawsuit? The shark feed has been open for over 10 years.

 

[Josh Hendy]

Obviously. ...and I continue be disappointed in Disney for treating them that way. Why not make them the "Fifth Gate?" Schlitterbahn has shown that there is plenty to do at a water park that hasn't been done yet, and Disney has the money to take it to the next level. Dark rides, roller coasters, shows for the family - all from the comfort of your inner tube. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Disney is stuck in the rut of "discounted week long tickets" as a way of locking people into the property. The discounted ticket model inevitably means discounted experiences. That is why you see such a sharp drop-off in the scale and quality of parks with MK at the top end all the way down to DisneyQuest at the bottom end.

To offer a truly "destination" experience for another park would mean that half or more of their customers would be able to enjoy it for 1/4 to 1/2 price which I assume would not be financially acceptable.

I think that is why when you look at all of the announced and rumored updates at WDW, it adds up to merely nibbling away at the stepsister parks' deficiencies and more or less balancing the experience by taking away one thing and adding another.

Hence, minus Shark Reef, plus Miss Fortune.

 

[Dfan79]

Lawsuit? The shark feed has been open for over 10 years.

...and the lakes have been near Magic since it opened in 71. One little nibble on a youngin and Disney will have a more bad publicity at their doorstep.

 

[rteetz]

...and the lakes have been near Magic since it opened in 71. One little nibble on a youngin and Disney will have a more bad publicity at their doorstep.

This has nothing to do with lawsuits. Shark reef is very costly to operate.

 

[Dfan79]

This has nothing to do with lawsuits. Shark reef is very costly to operate.

I agree that it is costly, but lawsuits and also the size of it has to play at least a small role in why its being axed.

 

[rteetz]

I agree that it is costly, but lawsuits and the immense footprint in the park has to play keyrole in why its being axed.

Not from what I've heard. Also if lawsuits were the problem it would've closed long ago. Just because of the alligator thing now isn't what's making them close this. They have wanted to close shark reef since at least 2014 due to costs.

 

[Dfan79]

Not from what I've heard. Also if lawsuits were the problem it would've closed long ago. Just because of the alligator thing now isn't what's making them close this. They have wanted to close shark reef since at least 2014 due to costs.

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. I believe all three played a factor (money, lawsuits and size). However I do agree that it feels like Scrooge Mcduck is running the company nowdays. Why else would they want to take the handles off of our mugs?

 

[rteetz]

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. I believe all three played a factor (money, lawsuits and size). However I do agree that it feels like Scrooge Mcduck is running the company nowdays. Why else would they want to take the handles off of cups?

You can't bring lawsuits into this just because of the alligator attack bought up lawsuits. Disney has wanted to close this for a long time now due to costs.

 

[Dfan79]

You can't bring lawsuits into this just because of the alligator attack bought up lawsuits. Disney has wanted to close this for a long time now due to costs.

... I can and I did. Disney is doing what they do best (well 2nd best, their theme parks are pretty amazing) and that's cover their own bottoms. They aren't taking anymore chances especially if it effects their wallet.

 

[boscfan]

I've never done the Shark Reef, so I'm glad it's going. I always thought it was a waste of space. Not everyone wants to go scuba diving with sharks.

 

[rteetz]

I've never done the Shark Reef, so I'm glad it's going. I always thought it was a waste of space. Not everyone wants to go scuba diving with sharks.

But not everyone wants to ride big family raft rides either. You didn't have to do shark reef if you didn't want to it was just an option in case you did. Just like you don't have to ride space mountain either but it's an option.

 

[boscfan]

But not everyone wants to ride big family raft rides either. You didn't have to do shark reef if you didn't want to it was just an option in case you did. Just like you don't have to ride space mountain either but it's an option.

Yeah, that's true. But if enough people don't want to do something then they will go to a different water park.

 

[rteetz]

Yeah, that's true. But if enough people don't want to do something then they will go to a different water park.

Shark reef was popular though. It not being popular is not why it's leaving its leaving because it's too costly to run.

 

[Madonna3]

This is an expansion of the park. I'm sure it won't be like the other family raft ride or they wouldn't. They are doing this because of volcano bay.

Adding a family raft ride when there is already an existing one isn't what I would call an "expansion" of the park. I would consider an "expansion" to expand to another area and include multiple attractions.

 

[rteetz]

Adding a family raft ride when there is already an existing one isn't what I would call an "expansion" of the park. I would consider an "expansion" to expand to another area and include multiple attractions.

It increases capacity which it technically an expansion. Like I've said before this is the first addition to the water parks in a decade and is in response to volcano bay.

 

[Madonna3]

It increases capacity which it technically an expansion. Like I've said before this is the first addition to the water parks in a decade and is in response to volcano bay.

I get that. Didn't need to reiterate. While you may want to squabble over technicalities, I'm not ready to roll out my Disney pom-poms just yet. I find the response to Volcano Bay underwhelming. Hence, my opinion of "meh".

 

[rteetz]

I get that. Didn't need to reiterate. While you may want to squabble over technicalities, I'm not ready to roll out my Disney pom-poms just yet. I find the response to Volcano Bay underwhelming. Hence, my opinion of "meh".

Disney didn't have to do anything though. We can at least be happy that they are.