New Disney World

[tigger2692000]

I have heard that they are going to build a new Disney World in Foley Alabama. Is this true or is it just crap?

 

[WDWHound]

It seems extremely unlikely, but thanks for posting the rumor here. Welcome to the DIS!

 

[grinningghost]

Alabama? That's a new one for me.

 

[tink2]

I wouldn't think so- Alabama is a neighboring state to Florida! Besides, and I am a resident, Alabama would probably find a way to mess it up completely.

 

[Bstanley]

Alas (I live nearby), this is just a VERY old rumor.

As I heard it - years ago when the concept of WDW was being first investigated - the Foley Alabama area was considered a possiblity.

It has the climate, nearby beaches - the Redneck Riviera starts here and goes on down to the Big Bend of Florida, the land was available at a decent price, and it is midway between Pensacola and Mobile (airports) and along I-10.

I've heard various reasons why Orlando got the nod - the one that makes the most sense is that the Foley area is within a handful of miles from the Gulf and get's a hurricane every 10-15 years or so. All it would have taken is one Cat 5 storm coming up Mobile Bay to ruin the place - it was just too risky a location.

 

[dfuent01]

I heard someday it will be built somewhere in Texas

 

[neosnightmare]

alabama? are you kidding me? it makes NO sense to build it there. the visitor rating would be nowhere near that of WDW or even DCA. people would travel the extra few hours or so to go to the original disney. i no i would

 

[scauzilloc]

If a Disney theme park was to be built in Ala then I think the end of the world is coming. What would the rides be like? Instead of Space Mountain we could have Junk Mountain. You ride a wheel barrel through old cars, toilets, bath tubs etc.. You can add a new land, call it the KKK Adventure Land. Trees with ropes swinging, you could visit Bubba's Tree House, or instead of PoC, you could have Rednecks of Mobile. The jungle cruise could be The Trailer Park Cruise. And one last one, The shooting Gallery and Bubba's Island wouldn't use air guns, but real guns.

I could go on for hours since my wife escaped the clutches of Mobile but I will save it for another time.

 

[neosnightmare]

LMAO!! thats disturbing and halrious at the same time. my parents friend once suggested that its a good idea to move to alabama. i sed, "r u insane?" there is no way that i coud survive out there...just too different for me. im moving back to south florida tho.

 

[tigger2692000]

Originally posted by scauzilloc
If a Disney theme park was to be built in Ala then I think the end of the world is coming. What would the rides be like? Instead of Space Mountain we could have Junk Mountain. You ride a wheel barrel through old cars, toilets, bath tubs etc.. You can add a new land, call it the KKK Adventure Land. Trees with ropes swinging, you could visit Bubba's Tree House, or instead of PoC, you could have Rednecks of Mobile. The jungle cruise could be The Trailer Park Cruise. And one last one, The shooting Gallery and Bubba's Island wouldn't use air guns, but real guns.

I could go on for hours since my wife escaped the clutches of Mobile but I will save it for another time.

I notice on your profile that you list your occupation as a teacher. I would just like to say that I'm really glad you don't teach my child. Not everyone here lives in a trailor, shoots guns, or has junk in their yard. You are obviously oblivous to the fact that it is the year 2004 and that contrary to popular belief we don't live on plantations and plant cotton here anymore. Also I would like to invite you to Birmingham Alabama so that you can experience life outside of your delusions. If your up to the challange your welcome to respond tigger2692000@yahoo.com

 

[tigger2692000]

Originally posted by Bstanley
Alas (I live nearby), this is just a VERY old rumor.

As I heard it - years ago when the concept of WDW was being first investigated - the Foley Alabama area was considered a possiblity.

It has the climate, nearby beaches - the Redneck Riviera starts here and goes on down to the Big Bend of Florida, the land was available at a decent price, and it is midway between Pensacola and Mobile (airports) and along I-10.

I've heard various reasons why Orlando got the nod - the one that makes the most sense is that the Foley area is within a handful of miles from the Gulf and get's a hurricane every 10-15 years or so. All it would have taken is one Cat 5 storm coming up Mobile Bay to ruin the place - it was just too risky a location.

Again...Thank you for such an adult responce to my question. We do have friends in the area of Foley and Pensacola who had not said anything. I didn't think that it would make much since to do it myself because with only a few more hours your in Orlando. Thanks again,
Tigger

 

[Bstanley]

You're welcome.

IMHO it's the difference between being 'reared' and being 'raised'.

Or maybe it's just that Yankees spend so much of their time in the Cold that they start Flame Wars to survive.

 

[jmminarik]

Sorta on topic....whatever happened to VisionLand? For those who don't know, it's (was) an amusement park near B'ham that can politely be described as Disneyland for Southern Baptists. We took my niece and her cousin a number of years back when visiting with the 'southern inlaws'.

As far as flame wars, it's not personal. We get tired of picking on people from New Jersey...gotta spread the ire ya' know!

-Joe

 

[WDSearcher]

Visionland Grabs for the Gold Ring

BESSEMER, Ala. (Birmingham Business Journal) – The one-time amusement park boondoggle known as Visionland is working to build on last year's slight profit, only the Bessemer attraction's second since opening in 1998. Now, Southland Entertainment LLC, which in late 2002 purchased Visionland from the 11-city agency that launched the park to great fanfare and eventual failure, is considering ways to bolster attendance this year. Plans under consideration, says Southland president and chief executive Kent Lemasters, include a recreational vehicle park and/or campground on the Visionland property. Additionally, he expects to announce sometime in the next month a deal to bring live entertainment to the amusement park. Also on the table: The sale of some of Visionland's 290 acres to a hotel development firm, and Southland is working to develop a hotel, restaurant, shopping and park package to encourage visitors to spend more time in the Magic City – and inside the amusement complex, which now has separate entrances, allowing the company to offer varied admissions. In so doing, says Gary Slade, publisher and editor-in-chief of the trade publication Amusement Today, "they created a better pricing structure. It's more appealing to a broader demographic." Visionland drew "right at" 500,000 visitors last year, Lemasters says, and "we're expecting a 20% increase in attendance and revenue this year," or an additional 100,000 visitors beyond last year's total.

Visionland came into being under the auspices of the 11-city West Jefferson Amusement and Public Park Authority, led by former Fairfield Mayor Larry Langford, who now is the president of the Jefferson County Commission. The authority in March 1997 issued $60 million in bonds to finance Visionland and a year later borrowed another $5 million to complete the park. The additional borrowing was a harbinger of financial woes to come. Visionland opened on May 23, 1998, and, that day, drew fewer than half of the 10,000 visitors the authority anticipated for the much publicized grand opening. Still, at the end of the park's first season, the government agency reported a slight profit for the year. The park failed to repeat that modest success and quickly found itself in trouble, losing a reported $4 million its second season. Eventually, a number of vendors filed suit against the authority, which also repeatedly defaulted on its bond interest payments. Visionland in June 2002 filed for bankruptcy protection and the rides temporarily screeched to a halt. The authority hoped to sell the failed amusement park for $25 million, and several national operators bid on the property. None of the bids came remotely close to the asking price. Southland, a partnership between Team Pro Parks LLC and Southbrook Entertainment LLC, both based in Southern California, won with a cash bid of $5.25 million. After paying the authority's outstanding debt of about $400,000 to Alabama Power Co.; buying several pieces of previously leased equipment; and investing an additional $6 million in improvements, Southland in November 2002 took ownership with a total investment of about $14 million. Southland's "strategy is to find parks that are either financially distressed or in bankruptcy where we see an opportunity to turn around," Lemasters says. Southland, Lemasters says, does not disclose park revenue, but, he allows, "last year we were a little above break even," something the operator expects to build on when the theme park – Magic Adventure – opens April 10. The accompanying Splash Beach opens to visitors May 15.

 

[stemikger]

I don't think so. But I would love one closer to my house. I live in Staten Island, New York and the there is a six flags in Jackson, New Jersey but it is terrible. I once had a dream that EPCOT came to where I live and it was awesome. When I woke up I was so pissed.

LOL.

 

[neosnightmare]

Originally posted by stemikger
I don't think so. But I would love one closer to my house. I live in Staten Island, New York and the there is a six flags in Jackson, New Jersey but it is terrible. I once had a dream that EPCOT came to where I live and it was awesome. When I woke up I was so pissed.

LOL.

yea. the six flags in jackson, NJ sucks. i hate it there.

 

[liquidsky88]

I agree. Six flags is a filth hole. I've been to Busch Gardens in Virginia and WDW more times than I've been to Six Flags Great Adventure....and I only live 45 min. away! Great Adventure would be a much nicer park if they figured out how to run it and how to attract families intstead of animals.

 

[CheekyMonkeysDad]

I have had a season pass to Great Adventure every year since it opened. It is not what it was when I was a kid. They make too many mistakes to list here. It is a good trip for an hour or two to hit the coasters or safari. The garbage and upkeep and unforgivable.

I do remember that there was a story a few years back about a historic themed disney park planned in Virginia that got nixed because of battlegrounds that would be paved over.