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

[Robo]

The link that ChrisFL meant to post is this:
http://www.g4tv.com/attackoftheshow/videos/20422/The_Daily_Feed_with_Joel_Gourdin_022208.html

The short Disney segment begins at the 1:08 point. But it's so far off the mark of what the rumor actually says that it's hardly worth viewing.

The rumor in the video link talks about the "Villains Park" as the "adult night-time park."

These "announcements" are just silly.

Very few people know just what Disney is planning on doing, and the ones that DO know, ain't tellin' yet.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Moved this over to the Rumors Board..

Thanks,

Knox

 

[Janet2k]

I have been reading literally hundreds of comments spawned by Jim Hills article on Disney's Night Kingdom. I was quite surprised on how negative everyone has been. Yes, none of the details so far sound that exciting, but then again, I am sure Disney wants to keep some things from us until any official announcement as to not give any ideas to the competitors.

The concept is actually quite interesting if the imagineers come up with some good details. If a project like this is green lighted, I am confident they will find ways to amaze us.

For those who are finding this hard to imagine, I came up with a fictitious Trip Report just for fun...

Global-Mouse, I saw your fictitious trip report posted over on Jim Hill's website the other day. I'm glad to see that you posted it on the Dis, too. I found it quite interesting and want to thank you for taking the time to write it and share it with us.

I like the premise that's being bandied about. My family has been fortunate to have experienced some really unique things in both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. We've seen firsthand a little bit of the magic that Disney's Cast Members are capable of creating. It will be fun to see if something comes of the "nighttime theme park experience" rumor.

 

[Another Voice]

The concept is actually quite interesting if the imagineers come up with some good details. If a project like this is green lighted, I am confident they will find ways to amaze us.

So, have you been to California Adventure yet?

 

[global-mouse]

So, have you been to California Adventure yet?

Hi Another Voice, I actually have not been there, but intend to go when they have fixed their mistakes. What i am excited about, is that current Disney management acknowledges they made a mistake with CA and now they are going to invest heavily in fixing it. This bodes well to how I think they will do with adding something like DNK. I think they learned their lesson, and besides, Eisner is gone!

I actually heard a podcast with Jim Hill further talking about this, and he made it sound much more interesting than his first article.

http://podcast.magicaldefinition.com

It would be interesting to see how people feel after hearing a bit more...

 

[jenseib]

I have never benn to CA and never even heard of it till about a year or so ago...What is the problems with it?

 

[daannzzz]

"What's wrong with it"

In my opinion it is a kind of bland theme that was excicuted in a bad manner. There are some really good things there but over all it is underwhelming for a Disney Theme park. It celebrates the here and now of today's California. It doesn't take you any where imaginative, other countries, outer space, exotic places etc. They added a kiddie area about bug's life but the rides are for really small kids.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitaltrav/40222199/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moacirdsp/487202500/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dtrigger05/354076472/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/masteryofmaps/1161596988/

http://www.visionsfantastic.com/visions/dlr/dca/pp/IMG_0062.jpg

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I think they learned their lesson, and besides, Eisner is gone!

By the time Iger is done Disney fans will be wishing that Eisner had stayed.

 

[Another Voice]

I actually have not been there, but intend to go when they have fixed their mistakes.

So why do you think the alleged 'Night Kingdom' plans are going to work out any better? Are you willing to wait over a decade for them to "fix" that park before you go too?

As for learning from their mistakes, Disney has opened both Disney Studios Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland after they "learned their lesson" from DCA - and both have been nearly as big failures as California Adventure.

Current Disney management has had no exposure to theme parks. It's a completely unknown business to them. And even based on Iger's experience running ABC for more than a decade, I think their ability to judge what the public wants and expects is highly questionable.

They don't have the gut feel to build a theme park.

The only feedback Disney is going to get is from the fans. The more we dismiss, the more we ignore, the more we excuse away bad products - the more that Disney continues down the wrong path. The vast majority of people saw the plans for California Adventure and saw that they were bad. Few people spoke out, and Disney refused to listen even to people within their own organization. The result has been billions of dollars in losses and additional expeditures.

If people are underwhelmed by what they hear about 'Night Kingdom', they should say so. If they like what they hear, they should say that as well. But Disney needs a bit of guidence these days...and that's not going to happen if opinions are muted.

 

[ChrisFL]

By the time Iger is done Disney fans will be wishing that Eisner had stayed.

Not if he allows Lasseter to do what he wants with new WDI projects

 

[global-mouse]

I guess I am a hopeless optimist. Looking at how Disney is finally investing quite a bit in the Theme Park / Resort areas, my hopes are high. They have decided to put more money into CA, they are investing in DCL in a big way, they are expanding resorts to Hawaii, etc... I actually think Iger realizes that this division of the company is the cash cow, and needs to be nurtured and grown. I also think the difference with Iger is that he might allow people like Lasseter to do their jobs and actually let the creative people be creative.

I say give it a try. I can't wait to see what they come up with (I am sure none of us know what they are really thinking of....)

OK, OK.... hopeless optimist here...

 

[catycatcat4]

ohhh if it realy does happen its subpost to open in October of 2011 i graduate that year (hopefully) that be awesome to go there XD maybe i could get a job there.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Not if he allows Lasseter to do what he wants with new WDI projects

No offense but has it happened yet? Why not? What's the hold up?

Iger's a slug. I thought he'd have learned something during his (prison) term as Eisner's lackey but truly all he was doing was biding his time so he too could be king.

Eisner at least thought he understood and was part of the imaginative process (for better or worse) but Iger doesn't even care. He's a tv guy and singularly responsible for greenlighting 'Caveman' ... 'nuff said?

 

[ChrisFL]

I'd like to mention that it also seems that Iger & Co. are able to mend bridges that Eisner burned (notably George Lucas)

 

[Another Voice]

(notably George Lucas)

As in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is being released by Disney?

Is The Clone Wars being shown on ABC Family?

Will California Adventures get a giant E-Ticket Willow ride?

The only relationship Iger patched up is with Apple. And it happened by giving seven billion dollars to Steve Jobs and a seat on the board. Hell, for seven billion dollars I'd patch up even my relationship with Bob Iger.

 

[SandraVB79]

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.

I paid $199 in October for the Backstage Magic Tour, and will do it again a next time, although it isn't THAT exciting.
We went on the cruise, and each day there were multiple activities to do like swimming with dolphins that were sold out each and every day. It easily costed $199 for 2 hours, and yet people were willing to pay for that!
I don't really like spelunking or rock climbing, however, if there are adventurous things to be done that I think I will like, I see myself digging up that money to go to that park.
I can understand not everyone is interested in it, and not everyone ha sto be interested in it, because it can only accomodate 2000 people. I myself have no interest at all in Hoop Dee Doo or O'Hanas, but I don't see that as a reason to close them since other people love it.
I absolutely don't like Epcot, and yet so many people love it.

If this nightly kingdom will ever happen, I see it as AK being open at night. 2CMs per guest is not the same as 2 CMs following each guest around. You need cooks, waiters, CMs taking care of the animals, etc etc etc etc.

So, have you been to California Adventure yet?

I have been multiple times to DCA and I love it. I can however understand why the locals don't like it. They thought they were getting Westcot and got DCA. It wasn't a perfect park. But I don't think Disneyland was so perfect when it opened.

And how do you want people get their rumours right when they can't even get their FACTS right: it isn't Disney World Europe, but Disneyland Paris. Unless there are rumours about a new park

Walt Disney Studios at Paris didn't do too well in the beginning, but the last times I was there, there were lots of people! The Cars ride, Crush's Coaster and ToT have gotten many people interested to spend lots of time there (lots of time waiting in line, lol) and a Stitch attraction will be opened in the near future.

 

[ChrisFL]

I have been multiple times to DCA and I love it. I can however understand why the locals don't like it. They thought they were getting Westcot and got DCA. It wasn't a perfect park. But I don't think Disneyland was so perfect when it opened.

No, they got a glorified six flags except without the thrilling rides

 

[Brian Shepherd]

So, almost a year and a half later, is this rumour full steam ahead, or has it fizzled out?

 

[wishdisney]

i just read that article and i loled.
if they closed pleasure island for a stupid reason, they wouldn't build a theme park with night activities. if they wanted that, they should've kept the turnstiles at PI.

plus, disney doesn't even have the money for that.

 

[fannatic]

Disney has enough money for several more theme parks, if there was a need. We're talking about a company that made $30 billion dollars on consumer products alone last year. As far as I know, the Night Kingdom/Jungle Trek thing is dead... thank goodness. I have heard a rumor about the Pleasure Island buildings being turned into theme park attractions, but I really doubt it. There's not enough room there for crowd control. However, I have heard that Disney is working on a 5th park for some time in the future. According to Matt Hart at July171955.com, they are planning a real park, not a $300 dollar a ticket exclusive park like Night Kingdom/Jungle Trek. He also mentioned that it wouldn't be the Villains park. So, let the guessing begin.