Possible New Park?

[wallrock]

All of disneys parks have an overall theme. Animal kingdom animals. MK fantasy and adventure, DHS Classic movies, Epcot worlds fair. A new park would have to have an overall theme. They would not build a park based on a couple movies. They could just put those movies into DHS. Star Wars is likely to be put there. Iger says they are waiting because they are going to incorporate the new movies into any Star Wars expansion they do. Expansion of all parks is needed.

The theme concept has been officially eradicated (and gradually going down hill in the years prior to) with the addition of Frozen to World Showcase. I state this not to resurrect the debate about whether or not it deserves to go there, but rather point out that moving forward any addition/expansion will go where it can most easily fit - meaning the least amount of capital investment to get the product up and running. This also more or less defeats the need (not that there ever really was a need) to create a fifth 'theme' park. They've got four plots of land that they can 'plug and play' with for decades to come.

 

[rteetz]

The theme concept has been officially eradicated (and gradually going down hill in the years prior to) with the addition of Frozen to World Showcase. I state this not to resurrect the debate about whether or not it deserves to go there, but rather point out that moving forward any addition/expansion will go where it can most easily fit - meaning the least amount of capital investment to get the product up and running. This also more or less defeats the need (not that there ever really was a need) to create a fifth 'theme' park. They've got four plots of land that they can 'plug and play' with for decades to come.

Well the theme is gone from Epcot there is no doubt about that. I think AK still has a good theme as well as MK and even DHS. I agree that expansion is the best option and not a fifth theme park. We almost had a fifth but then 9/11 happened. Serious plans were in place in about 1999-2000 for a 5th park. They just never came to fruition because of the economy and other factors.

 

[DDLand]

Well the theme is gone from Epcot there is no doubt about that. I think AK still has a good theme as well as MK and even DHS. I agree that expansion is the best option and not a fifth theme park. We almost had a fifth but then 9/11 happened. Serious plans were in place in about 1999-2000 for a 5th park. They just never came to fruition because of the economy and other factors.

I'm not sure if I've seen that before rteetz. Massive buildup of DAK, expansion of Epcot, and new rides at MK were on the docket for that time period, I believe. They were spooked after DAK didn't have the intended impact. Which project was that?

 

[rteetz]

I'm not sure if I've seen that before rteetz. Massive buildup of DAK, expansion of Epcot, and new rides at MK were on the docket for that time period, I believe. They were spooked after DAK didn't have the intended impact. Which project was that?

It had several names one was tragic kingdom many sources had plans for it. Tikiman said that they even started pre building pieces for it and they were stored in a warehouse in California no word of they still exist.

 

[rteetz]

here is the quote from Tikiman on "night kingdom"

"Often only people who know me believe anything I report because they know over the years I will only post what I get from people who are involved in the projects. I do see the point in just reposting rumors from other sites unless you are clear that it is a rumor that came from an unknown source. I totally get where people are skeptical but there are some out there that have good sources (like WDWMagic). Even when you prove over and over to have good info people still wait for Disney to announce it to believe it. That is a good way to be sure but sometimes it is fun to hear what is going on behind the scenes early. Like you said, things often can change and when the plan does change people dismiss it as a false rumor. A good example of that is Disney’s 5th park. Yes I have proof that Night Kingdom existed and was very close to breaking ground but circumstances changed the plan even after they had a warehouse full of stuff for the park. Most people will just think it is a false rumor.
I still remember mentioning DVC coming to the Polynesian back in 2011 but most people dismissed the report until WDWMagic reported on the site balloons a year later and even more people did not believe it until Disney just recently announced it."

This was posted in 2011.

 

[DDLand]

here is the quote from Tikiman on "night kingdom"

"Often only people who know me believe anything I report because they know over the years I will only post what I get from people who are involved in the projects. I do see the point in just reposting rumors from other sites unless you are clear that it is a rumor that came from an unknown source. I totally get where people are skeptical but there are some out there that have good sources (like WDWMagic). Even when you prove over and over to have good info people still wait for Disney to announce it to believe it. That is a good way to be sure but sometimes it is fun to hear what is going on behind the scenes early. Like you said, things often can change and when the plan does change people dismiss it as a false rumor. A good example of that is Disney’s 5th park. Yes I have proof that Night Kingdom existed and was very close to breaking ground but circumstances changed the plan even after they had a warehouse full of stuff for the park. Most people will just think it is a false rumor.
I still remember mentioning DVC coming to the Polynesian back in 2011 but most people dismissed the report until WDWMagic reported on the site balloons a year later and even more people did not believe it until Disney just recently announced it."

This was posted in 2011.

Oh, I see where the misunderstanding was! Night Kingdom was not a late 1990's park, in fact it was being considered for the run up to the late 2000's. Definitly an Iger era project, integrating several components of the now defunct Adventurer's Club. (that cult classic)

Spelunking, Ziplines, a live show, and of course feeding hippos were all on the docket. The recession and doubts about the feasibility of the park killed the plan. Interestingly many of the components of the project ended up in the Animal Kingdom Safari Tour; so in a way Night Kingdom lives on.

As for tragic kingdom, never heard of that or any late 1990's park.

 

[DDLand]

Hey rteetz, what thread did you get that tikiman quote from? I remember seeing it and him offering to DM anyone with further questions. I wonder if it's still a standing offer?

 

[rteetz]

Hey rteetz, what thread did you get that tikiman quote from? I remember seeing it and him offering to DM anyone with further questions. I wonder if it's still a standing offer?

I got it from an old thread on wdwmagic.

 

[rteetz]

Oh, I see where the misunderstanding was! Night Kingdom was not a late 1990's park, in fact it was being considered for the run up to the late 2000's. Definitly an Iger era project, integrating several components of the now defunct Adventurer's Club. (that cult classic)

Spelunking, Ziplines, a live show, and of course feeding hippos were all on the docket. The recession and doubts about the feasibility of the park killed the plan. Interestingly many of the components of the project ended up in the Animal Kingdom Safari Tour; so in a way Night Kingdom lives on.

As for tragic kingdom, never heard of that or any late 1990's park.

I got them mixed up but tragic kingdom was concept that really never made it anywhere it was the villains based park that has been talked about many times.

 

[Lee Matthews]

MK is fine? That's the most crowded park of all. While it doesn't necessarily look like it needs more rides it could. But with that said they need to focus on DHS and Epcot.

Is there any space for more rides?

 

[rteetz]

Is there any space for more rides?

Yes plenty. Just look up MK expansion pads and you'll find them.

 

[DDLand]

I got them mixed up but tragic kingdom was concept that really never made it anywhere it was the villains based park that has been talked about many times.

Okay, I'd never seen it's name before. Always referred to as the villians park.

 

[rteetz]

Okay, I'd never seen it's name before. Always referred to as the villians park.

Tragic kingdom or villain kingdom it is referred to a lot

 

[beer dave]

Tragic kingdom or villain kingdom it is referred to a lot

Aren't all three describing concepts for the same thing? Pretty sure.

 

[rteetz]

Aren't all three describing concepts for the same thing? Pretty sure.

Night kingdom was a different concept more of a boutique park

http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_c...e-the-disney-theme-park-going-experience.aspx

 

[schwaa]

In addition to the new theme park, I heard that Body Wars is coming back to EPCOT. It will be called Measles, Mumps & Rubella, and in order to get your FP, you will have to get immunized at the Kiosk. The cost for the immunization is only 2-table service credits from your DDP.

This is hysterical

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Maybe there is not a short term financial reason to build a 5th park, but in the last 5 years crowds have gotten out of control. There used to be slow times at WDW, but not anymore. Yet Disney still managed to make money during those slow times. A 5th park would at least thin out the crowds and make the time spent there more enjoyable for everyone. And if the new park were geared to a new demographic, (ie a thrill oriented park) it could increase attendance much more than DAK did. I don't think this will happen, because like many have said, they don't believe a 5th park will help the bottom line, which is all that matters to them. Just a different way to look at it, and a philosophy I personally would work over a long period of time.

The wdw parks are highly underutilized/attended.

To put it simply: over a 365 day calendar they simply are not crowded. Not nearly enough to justify the huge infrastructure and operational cost to build more guest areas.

The best we can hope
For is adding to what they've got.

The only way you will see a fifth gate is more of a " cult of personality" scenario where they build
Something "just because we're Disney and that's what we want to do"
Some of the later moved under Eisner bordered on that.

But - they all have public stock up the ying yang and every dollar spent affects somebody's golden parachute.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I'm not sure if I've seen that before rteetz. Massive buildup of DAK, expansion of Epcot, and new rides at MK were on the docket for that time period, I believe. They were spooked after DAK didn't have the intended impact. Which project was that?

Eisner wanted to continue with park addition/expansion. That was a company focus at the time and he believed that parks "drove" the other divisions. That basically was Disney history from 84-97...parks and animation put them back on the map.

But there were already cracks in that theory then and while surely they probably had ordered multiple park concepts at WDI at that time...no serious efforts ever appear to be made. It took about 10 years of infrastructure and ground clearing activities around the DAK resort area to get what they opened from 93-98 possible...and they skipped that with the west side and created a bad situation that is only now being corrected...

So to say a "fifth park was coming" is over zealous to say the least.

And now the philosophy is switched... Spend billions on IP acquisition glad handing in beverly hills and then let that "drive" the studios, TV, and parks...so if that parks are the "result", not the "cause" - then You're looking at a totally different approach and park funds will be limited.

It was always about selling tickets and giftshops....but the previous regime tied their profits elsewhere to the parks.
Now, it has to be ENTIRELY about selling tickets and rooms and giftshops. Because the "content" is the driver.
Which means there's no longer a "leap of faith" that if they build something it will be worth it from a variety of angles. It's the "quickbooks" approach now.

 

[HizMinnie2015]

At this point Marvel shouldn't even be a concern... Universal has 95% of the characters locked down. Marvel itself is killing off most of their characters in the next couple of years so it's highly un likely that Disney will see any of that.

 

[Lee Matthews]

The wdw parks are highly underutilized/attended.

To put it simply: over a 365 day calendar they simply are not crowded. Not nearly enough to justify the huge infrastructure and operational cost to build more guest areas.

When i was a Cast Member and visited the parks on my days off, i never found them really crowded that it was impossible to ride anything or think of leaving but that was a few years ago.

On the other hand, i don't recommend Disneyland Paris on a weekend (especially when the kids are not at school) worst mistake of my life and i didnt even attempt to queue for anything