RUMOR : WDW 5th Theme Park - "Disney's Night Kingdom"

[branv]

Actually I posted about this about a week or so ago. A friend of mine received the survey about Night Kingdom. It involved a whole video presentation from...oh crud, the name fails me..you know, the AK guy with the long feathery earring thing? They surveyed figures like $150-$400'ish, buffet vs. plated meals, alch. drinks included in the price or not, discounts if you're staying on site or if you have purchased another ticket pkg for the other parks.

It talked about numerous lands like the south pacific, Asia, jungles of south america (with a drawing of someone take a zip line past a chichen itza type temple), riding a basket type lift through a cave of bats, mingling with capybaras, etc.

After we talked about it, we both kind of assumed since the timing was mentioned as occurring after 4 or 5 pm, and some of the lands were similar to AK, that they would just add on to AK. Didn't even occur to us that it would be a whole separate park.

 

[duffthor]

Robo-- you had me at:
"C) Sounds like another weak Jim Hill rumor."

 

[boomhauer]

Actually I posted about this about a week or so ago. A friend of mine received the survey about Night Kingdom. It involved a whole video presentation from...oh crud, the name fails me..you know, the AK guy with the long feathery earring thing?

I think that's Joe Rhode.

Hey - I'm all for the idea. 2,000 less people per night at the Magic Kingdom? No problem with me.

 

[TisBit]

As I said, they can do anything at Disney that they want (who better to do the "unusual?")

My main point was that it is spectacularly UN-appealing to me, and sounded so much like the previous Disney venture of similar ilk that was also of no interest to me, the Disney Institute.

When I'm at Disney, I love that I am INVISIBLE.
By this I mean I'm just one of the masses floating through enjoying all there is to do.
I don't want to join in a "classroom group" atmosphere to do things like hand-feed a hippo.
If this sounds appealing to some, that's spiffy.
But I wouldn't pay $5 extra to do it if they had a sign to that effect at DAK right now.

It smacks of those corporate retreats where everyone from the office has to fall backwards into each others arms, slide down a zip-rope, let out a primal scream and then sing Cumbya. Its just not my thing.

So if they can make a go of this high-dollar extra (its really not that expensive, by any means) it would be another way to keep some families an extra day at WDW.

I WILL be interested to watch and see if and when it takes off.




.

I'm just trying to figure out how they are going to get a Hippo to be hand fed by 2000 people! That must be on BIG hippo!

 

[mickeyfan2]

There must be a lot more to it than what was mentioned. $300 per person to climb a rock, look at animals with night vision goggles and play with a hippo?

My DH would pay $300 just to play with a hippo.

I heard the same talk about DC when it was planned to open. DH and I have been twice now and will be going back again.

I think it will be part of AK and I would pay to go. Not every trip, but then again for a 10 day trip only 20K could enter, so not likely to happen every trip.

 

[labattblue]

IF this is ever built(with "if" being the key word), unless there is much more than meets the eye, I don't think I would spend $50 for this let alone $250-300 and I don't care what the ratio of staff to guests is.

I wonder what they could do with $500 mil to build up DHS and AK?

 

[SplashMountainMama]

It smacks of those corporate retreats where everyone from the office has to fall backwards into each others arms, slide down a zip-rope, let out a primal scream and then sing Cumbya. Its just not my thing.
.

 

[RllngRckBrw]

It sounds really cool but I doubt I could never afford an evening there. I am pretty intrested about the new beefed up Adventurers Club though

 

[jkh1978]

I'm just trying to figure out how they are going to get a Hippo to be hand fed by 2000 people! That must be on BIG hippo!

Those are some hungry, hungry hippos!

 

[RussellDisney]

Well, to each his own. This ain't my thing either, but IF they build it, people will come. People will most definately come.

As for how it would be built, I have to agree that at $520mil it would probably be a sub-park in AK. The price tag isn't enough to do from scratch what they are planning.

Targeting the deluxe crowd is smart, given the price tag. I actually enjoy the fact that Disney lets everyone pretty much be who they are. If you are a big spender, you can certainly fork over tons of cash at the World. If you are on a budget, you can still have a wonderful time. Disney seems, to me at least, to do all price points well.

And one last thing, I SO look forward to all of the "It's 180 days out and I need to make my DNK ressies!" threads that will no doubt populate these boards.

 

[CanadianGuy]

And one last thing, I SO look forward to all of the "It's 180 days out and I need to make my DNK ressies!" threads that will no doubt populate these boards.

Oh GREAT! I hadn't even THOUGHT of that..



Knox

 

[Jennasis]

not my cup o' tea either...plus I think the name is lame.

 

[ConcKahuna]

I just don't see this as a "theme park". Maybe a diversion placed at Animal Kingdom.

I agree. Disney got rid of Discovery Island because they wanted everything centered at AK. While it could easily cost them that much to add a few extra experiences to the existing park, and I could see that per person charge for the extra "tour". Just look at the Backstage Magic tour that takes you back stage of the 3 older parks. It's $199.

 

[holcomb-mania]

Wait...the $250-$300 includes sodas?

That changes EVERYTHING!

 

[Missish]

I really hope Disney doesn't do this. It just sounds ... dull. I have no interest in doing any of those things, especially not with that price tag. I don't care how well themed it is, I'd much rather they made the villains park with some new thrill rides. That would work with the nighttime thing, too, if they were really keen on that idea. But rock climbing and feeding a hippo? I'd just go to an outdoor activity centre or a zoo if I wanted to do those things ...

Also, having 2 cast members to 'pamper' me? Ugh, no. I like to be left alone to get on with things, thanks.

 

[boomhauer]

Wait...the $250-$300 includes sodas?

That changes EVERYTHING!

 

[Brian_WDW74]

Actually I posted about this about a week or so ago.

I'm afraid Jim Hill's article may be partially our fault, branv. If you click on the "a preview video" link in that article, the one included in TiggerFan452's initial question, you'll see it takes you to a thread on WDWMagic where I crossposted your post (giving you credit for it, of course). So yes, it looks like the genesis of Jim's article came from us!

 

[Eeyore2142]

"Mind you, Disney's Night Kingdom will have no traditional theme park rides per se. But you'll still be able to get your fill of excitement & adventure as you strap on a pair of night vision goggles and then wander out into a pitch-black African savanna. Where you'll then be able to observe up-close lions & hyenas as they go through their nocturnal hunting routines."

Um...thanks, but I have no interest to wander a pitch black savanna with lions and hyenas

 

[praline3001]

Wait...the $250-$300 includes sodas?

That changes EVERYTHING!

drinks and food

Our family could easily spend $200 bucks on a dinner at Disney

that still isn't near the $1,250 price tag for our family to go to the park
I mean we can only drink so much soday in 1 night

I am not very budget minded when it comes to our trips. We do stay deluxe and we do like spending extra for a special time but SERIOUSLY....

Many families for to Disney and their entire trip cost what 1 night of night kingdom would cost my family

Even the hard ticket events aren't even close to that amount ($250 per person) and with those you get parades, fireworks ... the whole bang up job.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I'm afraid Jim Hill's article may be partially our fault, branv. If you click on the "a preview video" link in that article, the one included in TiggerFan452's initial question, you'll see it takes you to a thread on WDWMagic where I crossposted your post (giving you credit for it, of course). So yes, it looks like the genesis of Jim's article came from us!

Giggle.

Let's try to do it again ...

[sillyjoke]

Did you hear how they are going to totally change course on Pleasure Island and bring it back to its former glory. And that the Jazz Club and Saloon are coming back .. because of course line dancing is on the resurgence! They are going to rebuild the stages in a different location near the lake and Frankie and the Boyz will return nightly... with the New Years Eve fireworks starting in November of 2008? Did you hear that? If you didn't hear it, I can type it again.

[/sillyjoke]

Maybe we can see that on Jim's site next week.

Knox