New Parks?

[stemikger]

Forgive me for being a newbie again, but I have been a way for a nice amount of time and feel like I'm getting my second wind in life and my love for Disney has resurfaced.

I was thinking about the Fantasyland expansion, the new AOA Resort and the new land coming to Animal Kingdom in 2015 and feel good about the future with Disney putting so much into the parks and then started thinking how much Florida land they have and how little they are actually using.

In my lifetime which at 48 I plan to be around for as long as possible, but let's say a good 30 years, do you think we will actually see another seperate park built in Disney World Resorts.

I would love to hear your thoughts.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I won't say never, but unlikely will another park be built.

 

[fannatic]

This is from MiceChat boards last year. I have no idea about its accuracy.:
There is some really awesome (but preliminary) blue sky work done on a 5th gate theme park (which could also be built in Anaheim if they had the space, or elsewhere), which involves some pretty amazing blend of theming and technology that would create a sort of sister park for Disneyland in a new level of detail and scope, called "Disney's Enchanted Kingdom", of course the name could change. If D23 is still around in five years, or seven years time, then they might decide to do it and announce it there, so folks just need to have patience.

 

[doconeill]

I'm sure they've drawn up many blue sky plans on a fifth gate. And I'm sure the long term master plan has one in it. However, I've seen many long-term master plans that say "we'll do this in 10 years", and two years later, it still says, "We'll do this in 10 years..."

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Disney IS planning new parks. Problem is, they are all in the Orient where they expect future growth.

Current projects have suffered scalebacks as Fellow Castmember Bob tightens purse strings.

Once they finish fixing DCA, I suspect more growth outside the US.

 

[stemikger]

Cool comments.

Hey, I'm just glad they finally did something with what was originally supposed to be The Legendary Years. I can't believe it took that long, but I'm glad AOA is finally a reality.

 

[Figment632]

Never

 

[Michael623]

Every time I see these "blue sky" plans it just smacks of some fanboy art project to me.

 

[skier_pete]

I think the chances of a fifth gate (or truly a 7th gate) in the next 20 years is extremely slim.

This issue, most vacationers only have 7-10 days for a trip. Disney build DHS and DAK to expand WDW to be a full vacation experience, so instead of people spending 2-4 days of their vacation at WDW, they spend all seven. They did that to make people's stay LONGER - not to get more people. However, by adding another gate, they wouldn't be able to really get people to stay on property even longer. That along with the extreme expense of a new gate it just will not make sense anytime soon. (DAK was $1 billion in 1999, nowadays we would be probably talking $2 billion.)

Since they can't go LONGER, they are much better off from a spending point of view focusing on MORE. By expanding the existing parks and increasing capacity, this is the best way to do it. They are in the middle of an MK expansion, and after that the planned Pandora/DAK expansion. Beyond that I think you will see Epcot get some love next.

But as far as new parks - nope, don't count on it in our lifetime. You'll see a park in Brazil first.

 

[OldsDr]

My prediction the next new park will be in India.


My gut says nothing in North America in my lifetime. Maybe, just maybe, if a tornado or other natural disater wiped Future World, MGM, AK or CA clean you might see a new theme in the existing location. But from my limited economics knowledge this is the only scenerio that makes sense to me seeing new themed thempark in North america. I don't think there is enough economic upside for a South American Park(s), plus would a park in Brazil make enogh money to offset the toursits that would no longer travel from Brazil to Orlando? . Plus

India is up and comming, My money is on them.

 

[vandy]

You'll see a park in Brazil first.

Then we can take tour groups down there during our winter breaks!

 

[fannatic]

Iger had mentioned recently that they are looking at Brazil for a future park. I think I've heard they're thinking about around Rio. It sounds nice.

 

[coloneldebugger]

My prediction the next new park will be in India.


My gut says nothing in North America in my lifetime. Maybe, just maybe, if a tornado or other natural disater wiped Future World, MGM, AK or CA clean you might see a new theme in the existing location. But from my limited economics knowledge this is the only scenerio that makes sense to me seeing new themed thempark in North america. I don't think there is enough economic upside for a South American Park(s), plus would a park in Brazil make enogh money to offset the toursits that would no longer travel from Brazil to Orlando? . Plus

India is up and comming, My money is on them.

Not sure I see much of a reason to put a park in India when so many from that country have already moved here.

The Indians with money are here.

{not hatin', just an observation}

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Not sure I see much of a reason to put a park in India when so many from that country have already moved here.

The Indians with money are here.

{not hatin', just an observation}

Very bias statement, I know you're not hating, but very misinformed, it's a whole new "China" in Indai, but a hard market to enter in as an outside company, similar to China.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Very bias statement, I know you're not hating, but very misinformed, it's a whole new "China" in Indai, but a hard market to enter in as an outside company, similar to China.

that's not biased...it's true...

i heard the same thing at a tea party rally

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I would say that the only realistic chance for more parks in orlando is if they scrap one of the existing....

which they can't do because the corporate ego would never allow it.


The correct course of action is heavy reinvestment and expansion in their existing parks...in this order:

1. Animal Kingdom
2. Tie Epcot/Studios
3. Magic Kingdom

and the development of perhaps new entertainment areas or limited scope/ high yield profit parks such as discovery cove.

the media market, economics in regards to recreation opportunity, and travel business are undergoing rapid changes...

and not to sound doom and gloom: but if disney rests on its stock price for too long in florida...i can see where the once unthinkable could happen: that places such as WDW will become marginalized and the high overhead will make their operation pointless...and they will close with a bang.

the tree of life needs refreshed now more than ever...literally and figuratively.

 

[stemikger]

I would say that the only realistic chance for more parks in orlando is if they scrap one of the existing....

which they can't do because the corporate ego would never allow it.


The correct course of action is heavy reinvestment and expansion in their existing parks...in this order:

1. Animal Kingdom
2. Tie Epcot/Studios
3. Magic Kingdom

and the development of perhaps new entertainment areas or limited scope/ high yield profit parks such as discovery cove.

the media market, economics in regards to recreation opportunity, and travel business are undergoing rapid changes...

and not to sound doom and gloom: but if disney rests on its stock price for too long in florida...i can see where the once unthinkable could happen: that places such as WDW will become marginalized and the high overhead will make their operation pointless...and they will close with a bang.

the tree of life needs refreshed now more than ever...literally and figuratively.

I found your post very interesting. I agree with everything except Disney ever shutting down in Florida. If that happens, I think we will be in such uncharted territory we will be bartering for items instead of using money.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I found your post very interesting. I agree with everything except Disney ever shutting down in Florida. If that happens, I think we will be in such uncharted territory we will be bartering for items instead of using money.

i'm not talking about people being "over disney"...i'm talking about them being over amusement parks as a whole.

as digital technology evolves...the need to travel to get thrills may go away...it is a possibility

 

[stemikger]

i'm not talking about people being "over disney"...i'm talking about them being over amusement parks as a whole.

as digital technology evolves...the need to travel to get thrills may go away...it is a possibility

Really? How depressing. You mean stay home and play with video games instead of going to Disney. LOL.
How does that replace going to the restaurants in EPCOT and walking around those beautiful resorts at night.

Besides, Disney is not in the amusement park business, they are in the memories business.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Disney is not in the amusement park business, they are in the memories business.

can you give me the origin and department codes off your ID card?


in all seriousness...don't believe the hype.

If the culture evolves beyond disney...which is possible when you factor in technology and economic factors....nobody is going to lay the kind of money that they want on "memories".

If they maintain the property and adapt to the evolution of the market place and make people feel that WDW is still unique or "one of a kind"...i guess you can classify that as "memories"...then they'll always be fine.

If they don't or other factors well beyond the importance of travel and amusement enterprises...then they are just as vulnerable. They are NOT vulnerable to the competitors in orlando - by and large - but that's not what i'm getting at.

Disney is...as Roy e. Disney said in 1984: "A motion picture company that also is in the theme park business"

Now its a media conglomerate that uses all the business tactics at its disposal to push volume of PRODUCT....primarily off the chinese assembly line but also in travel, media, and intellectual property content.

There's your memories...carefully calculated to make you buy more.

All mention of "wishes, dreams, and memories" are the PR curtain to gain what they want at parks: revenue, operating income, and recurring business (more revenue).

These are the facts of the case...and they are indisputable.


I have fantastic memories (on many levels) at WDW...but that sure as heck isn't why i keep going. It's to do more. That's not memory...its the opposite.
How many people you know say "i went for the memories and loved it!"
Not many...and if the scheme works right...they take their memories (and their visa) and book another trip.
And that's what TWDC wants...and they are good at getting it...because they use the psychology of memory to get what they want.