So it was, what, ten years from MK to Epcot, seven years from Epcot to HS, and I believe about ten years from HS to AK. It's been fifteen years this time.
From what I understand, DW has plenty of room to build a new park. Do you think we will see one within the next, say, ten years? And if so, what would be your guess at the theme?
I agree with PP in that Disney should concentrate their money on improving what they already have - through adding on to existing parks and also refurbishing those things that have either been dormant for too long or are just so antiquated that they need to be brought up to date.
While there is plenty of room, it makes sense to maybe expand existing parks that making a fifth gate. Less cost to build, less overhead to add additional staff at an existing park vs. have to completely staff a stand alone setting.
Hollywood Studios can certainly use some refurbishment on attractions like Backlot Tour, The Great Movie Ride - expand Star Wars there, expand on the Cars/Planes/Pixar angle. You could also add in the X-Men and/or Marvel aspect here as well but I don't think most people think of Disney when they hear Marvel. Leave it alone and use what people already know.
Epcot needs more rides to keep the kids, teens, young adults interested in going. While my kids love Epcot, I've heard many people say you could really skip this park with the exception of 1 or 2 attractions - Test Track, Mission Space, Soarin. I've heard talk of trying to add in or overhaul Norway with a Frozen theme. In reality Epcot is more adult based with a couple of attractions thrown in to appease the younger crowd. It has always been a wander, walk at a slower pace park in comparison to the other 3.
As for water parks. They don't need to add another waterpark as they already have 1 abandoned water park sitting idle and wasting away. If they needed one due to high volume, they already have a base to repair and reopen.
Animal Kingdom is a relative baby in the family of WDW Orlando. They have some great options and have continued to grow it with the addition of Everest. So WDW is listening in that they are adding on some more "thrilling" rides. The addition of Avatar makes sense to keep with the animal theme but I don't know how captive they will hold their audience as the movie has gone by the wayside - they better have some great special effects, good rides to overcome that. I know people who never saw the movie and would be puzzled by the tie in.... in opinion, use Disney themed movies that they could tie into the whole nature, animal theme.... Not sure who owns the rights to but thinking along the lines of King Kong, Godzilla, Planet of the Apes, Tarzan, Lion King - stories that most people don't even have to see to "get it" or are Disney so most people there have seen it.
Another thing that was always speculated, hinted at, talked about that would FANTASTIC is to complete the monorail loop to include more hotels and ALL 4 existing parks. This to me would be huge in bringing the 4 parks "together" while maintaining their own worlds and is a ride unto itself.
While I know profit margins & the allmighty dollar rule the roost, I don't think WDW has had a CEO that has the same "vision" that WDW was originally built with. Walt Disney had a way of looking into the future and seeing something that was special, too many top execs are too busy looking at the money aspect and not what the people want - to step away from their everyday worlds to enter a world all of its own - one that is total fantasy (Dumbo) and one that is sometimes imaginable (Tower of Terror).
