The 5 Biggest Needs at Walt Disney World

[7thton]

This was posted at the Disney Blog and I thought it might be fun to discuss here.

http://thedisneyblog.com/2010/07/05/the-five-biggest-needs-at-walt-disney-world/

With all the new DVC Resorts, what does WDW need to do?

A few weeks ago during a quarterly results call Disney CEO Bob Iger seemed to imply that once the Magic Kingdom’s new Fantasyland is done and California Adventure’s remake is complete that will be the end of major projects for the parks, at least for a while. I’m not sure he’s taking into account the long list of work that needs to be done.

The list of small projects that could make a trip to Walt Disney World better for the guest is nearly endless. It ranges from little things that could be done better (parking guests at the back of the parking lot when whole sections closer to the gate are still open, bringing back the Country Bear Holiday Show) to large projects (building that bowling alley at ESPN WWOS, a new country or two at EPCOT). But I wanted to focus on the largest needs, those that would make the biggest difference in guest experience.

So follow me below the jump for five suggestions I think WDW should commit to:

1. Something to make guests want to stay in Disney’s Animal Kingdom after 4-5pm.


Many fans think Disney’s Animal Kingdom jumped the shark with Dinoland

This has always been a problem for DAK. They’ve made some in roads with Expedition Everest, but that ride has it’s own problems. SeaWorld (also an animal heavy park) manages to make it work at night. They do it mostly through the addition of some special night time shows. I believe that DAK is the most likely candidate for a water show that uses World of color technology, which would be one part of an answer. But I’d also like to see them add either Australia (a mini-SeaWorld with dolphins, killer whales, and shows) or a new themed land (whatever their replacement for Beastly Kingdom would be).

2. An answer to Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Forget about losing guests to Universal, this is just to show WDI is still the best team at theme park design. Right now that honor belongs to Universal in Central Florida with the WWoHP. Imagineering needs to show they can take a world that exists only in books or the movies and make it real for its fans. There is one obvious choice for this – Star Wars.

One of the most delicious rumors I’ve heard would be the addition of a Star Wars land to DHS. Indiana Jones Stunt show would get re-themed to Star Wars. Backlot Express would receive a Cantina makeover. Then the area behind the restaurant and Star Tours would get one or two new attractions (one themed to Speeder Bikes based on a design WDI did for Disneyland’s Tomorrowland). All this with the type of detail that makes guests actually believe they’re in the world of Star Wars that George Lucas created.

3. Help for back half of Disney’s Hollywood Studios


Help for marketing too apparently?

Excepting the twice a day showing of Lights, Motors, Action there is no reason to visit the back portion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The backlot tram is a pale shadow of its former self and the Premiere theatre sits empty most of the year. When LMA’s not running other than to walk the Streets of New York (pardon me) America, there is nothing to do for a full 1/3rd of the park. I think the rumored Star Wars Land is a great idea for DHS, but really that area would be served best by an expansion of Pixar Land. This all depends on how well the new Carsland is received at California Adventure.

4. A new vision for Tomorrowland, one that includes an actual vision of tomorrow.

Disney Imagineers have all but given up on the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland. They’ve allowed the future to be invaded by cartoon characters and abandoned any attempt at a cohesive theme for the land. Truth is, this has been a continual challenge for WDI since the 1967 remake of Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. It’s not that they don’t have the talent to come up with a vision, it’s just that the future is always in flux, so the land has to change frequently to keep up with new realities.

It was actually a hard to choose between Tomorrowland and Adventureland, they’ve both suffered from neglect and injudicial application of cartoon characters. WDW might have an easier time breathing life back into Adventureland. Perhaps with that addition of a new thrill ride and upgrades to Jungle Cruise, Tiki Room, and some cultural elements.

For item number five it was another difficult decision. It came down to more affordable rooms versus better transportation options around the resort. Since they’ve announced the Art of Animation Resort (aka the Legendary Years), I’ll give transportation the win.

5. A transit system that inspires and works.

Three elements have conspired to make the roads of Walt Disney World busier than ever before. First, the last decade has seen a huge expansion in hotel rooms at Walt Disney World, mostly in the form of Disney Vacation club resorts. Second, the last few years Disney has also added the Disney’s Magical Express offering free shuttle service to and from Orlando International Airport. Third, the change in the economy has made Walt Disney World more of a ‘driving destination’ than ever before. One result of these three changes has meant that that there really is no slow season any more, just less busy times.

With more cars and busses on the roads than ever before, this has put a stress on the WDW Transportation System resulting in longer waits and and longer drives before you reach your destination. Some even attribute the rash of accidents and incidents to these new stresses. The missing piece of the formula will be a High Speed Rail Station set to open between WWOS and Pop Century.

This creates a huge opportunity for WDW to re-think how transportation is done at the resort and to put some excitement back into the idea of mass transit and green technology solutions. There have been a ton of ideas on how this could be accomplished. Disney even has a taskforce dedicated to the challenges.

So those are my big five. Where Disney goes from here says a lot about how they want to be thought of in the future. Are they content as being seen as static by the general public and risk losing market share or do they want to continue to be the recognized leader in theme parks and retain that ‘must see’ status?

Am I missing any big needs? What else would you like to see on this list?

 

[7thton]

I think the author of this article is especially right about having something to keep people at AK in the evenings and that a World of Color type show would be a great fit.

The author is also right about beefing up DHS. It is one of my favorite parks, but it is somewhat underdeveloped.

 

[W.E.D.]

1. I don't know that guests were ever expected to stay at AK in the evening. Wasn't the idea that they got people out early so the animals didn't get too stressed? IMO, that is fine. I would prefer it be more of a sanctuary for the animals instead of a dawn to dusk theme park.
2. Boy! That would be spectacular! I would love, love, love it if they added a Star Wars area to DHS. It would make DHS, for my family anyway, more than a half-day sort of park.
3. I used to enjoy the full backstage tour. Then they gutted it. I don't know if it was too time consuming, or what, but it's sorely missed. I'm not sure what to put there, but I agree there isn't any real draw to that area anymore.
4. I think this hits the nail on the head. The "future" is becoming the "present" at such an alarming rate anymore that I think TL would need a yearly update (at least) to just keep up with the present. I liked when they went Jules Verne with things. Almost like they were saying "we can't keep up". I think they could take that even further and go totally space-opera. FW at Epcot really has a hold on the technological aspects, so why not go totally fiction with TL?
5. I'm not down there enough to really comment on this. I've never had an issue, but when you only visit every couple of years you probably don't see all the issues with transportation.

 

[tawasdave]

I think one of the things that frustrate people the most is waiting in line..I know it sure annoys me!! I think Universal does a better job of having misters while standing in line..and while Disney has some they need these on EVERY ride that has any kind of line...also in that same regard Disney has to realize that people hate standing in line...now we know lines may be necessary, but there are some very cheap ways of entertaining us in line. For example Disney, do you notice how people waiting for Lights Motors Action get into the trivia questions? Why not use that same technology while we wait in line? Heaven knows you could have Disney Movie/Character trivia questions. You know, we might not even mind if you showed a couple new souveniers in the park stores, or features at DTD...could pay for itself. Anything to get our minds off being in line...

 

[daisyyy]

I don't really agree with any of the OP's list.... that's just me. I think AK is fine closing early.... We are not star wars people... so it wouldn't matter to us one way or the other... but, if they did expand it.. that would be fine with us too... but we would prefer more Pixar additions.. (more Disney themeD)... The tomorowland is never going to be "tomorrow..it would always be under refirbishment, so I think keeping classic is cool... and having better transporation would be ok I guess, but we never really had issues with it. Maybe it's the time of year where they can't keep up with the crowds is when it's a problem. For me .. personally... we would like to see more resort options for larger families. We think they miss the boat completely on that. I think if you had 100 people in a room, you would have 100 different priorities. I think Universal missed the mark on what they intended as well... think about the people who were turned away because they didn't fit on the ride. No ones' perfect, and each park will continue to evolve. Disney has a sense of HIstory that they also need to be true to. They are sensitive to adding and removing attractions, since everytime they do something people either love it or hate it, and have made mistakes in the past, but one thing's for certain, they know they need to continue to modify / change and add, to keep the people coming back. Again.. we personally have no interest in Harry Potter, and are glad if it pulls some of the crowds away from Disney.

Oh.. and I think they could get rid of the Einsteins character meal, and add either Toy Story character meal, or a Phineaus and Ferb Character meal!!

 

[cgorn]

Great thread! I like some of the suggestions. Here are some comments/observations:

1. I read here once that AK was initially supposed to have a land devoted to mythical creatures (apparently, there's a unicorn in the parking lot, I think as one of the area markers). I do understand, though, that the park needs to close early for the animals, but if they felt an expansion was necessary, this could be off the beaten path (like how Fantasmic is in DHS).

2. The new Fantasyland should rival HP, but a Star Wars themed area would certainly be a comparable undertaking with comparable buzz and potential. And it would certainly help make DHS a more popular park. Star Wars has stood the test of time in a way that HP hasn't yet. In twenty years, are we going to care about HP as much as we do today? There will always be SW freaks!

3. Skipping ahead to transportation: If major cities can have rail-based transportation systems, why not WDW? You probably can't build a subway in the marshland, but could the monorail (assuming it's safe) can be expanded to the rest of the resort, with multiple routes and stops? But would you take a monorail to AKL if it stopped at the All Star resorts, Blizzard Beach, Coronado Springs, and AK on the way? One the one hand, it sounds nuts. But on the other hand, you can get from one end of Manhattan to the other fairly quickly with many stops.

Additional wishes:

4. More play areas for the 5 and under set, especially now that Pooh's Playful Spot is gone. Keep it simple: slides, tunnels, water spouts, etc. Little kids need to burn energy, and going from sit-down ride to stroller to sit-down ride doesn't do it. I live near Sesame Place, and they have some incredibly simple but effective little kid attractions that keep my DD2 busy and active for a while.

5. Covered stroller parking: This is a need. Last year, we wasted a rainy trip to DHS because we would not park the stroller outside in the rain, so we had to wander the stores. And the big stroller areas in the other parks are not covered, either.

 

[cgorn]

I think Universal does a better job of having misters while standing in line..

When I first read this, I thought you meant a bunch of guys hanging out (misters, as opposed to misses or missuses).

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I think one of the things that frustrate people the most is waiting in line..I know it sure annoys me!! I think Universal does a better job of having misters while standing in line..and while Disney has some they need these on EVERY ride that has any kind of line...also in that same regard Disney has to realize that people hate standing in line...now we know lines may be necessary, but there are some very cheap ways of entertaining us in line. For example Disney, do you notice how people waiting for Lights Motors Action get into the trivia questions? Why not use that same technology while we wait in line? Heaven knows you could have Disney Movie/Character trivia questions. You know, we might not even mind if you showed a couple new souveniers in the park stores, or features at DTD...could pay for itself. Anything to get our minds off being in line...

There are many ways to avoid waiting in line, try FP, a good strategy, arriving early, etc. And what line are outside in the hot sun that need misters? I am thinking of only a handful in all the parks, Disney's lines are strategicaly placed indoors when possible with lots of ice cold A/C going.


1. Ok I can see that I guess. But I like that AK is slow in the afternoon, its more relaxed and it gives a good excuse to hop somewhere else and if you are not a hopper then head to DTD or one of the resorts and relax.

2. I couldn't disagree more. Universal did nothing ground shattering with WWOHP. Hello disneys has made books and movies come to life for decades. Puh-lease, thats ridiculous like Universal is so far out ahead b/c they can make a book come alive, come to Dollywood they made vegtables talk.
I will say that my kids and DH would love SW land but after experiencing SWW I think it would be a nightmare for the first few years fighting off the twenty and thirty somethings to get your kids near any of the attractions.

3. I couldn't agree more. The Backlot tour is pitiful, almost an embarrassment for Disney to have at this stage in the game. That whole area needs something to even out the crowds in the park. Even next month it will be slower as the Power Ranger are heading out of town so no need to go over there at all except for LMA.

4. I love Tomorrowland how it is, I can see how some woudl want to update it, but the nostalgia of the tomorrow that never was works for me. But I wouldn't be totally against some updates, maybe do something with that waste of space Totoally Tomorrowland stage??

5. We also never have issues with transportation. Been giong 8 years done busses every trip, car only a few times on the last day twice this year but other than that we bus it and do just fine. I think the problem people have with transportation is the 'instant gratification' we have built in this society has made people intolerable of waiting. I want it my way, right away. But I can't say I would object to expanding the monorail route either, even if just to the other parks or some of the other Deluxe hotels.

 

[cwestbrook]

Great thread! I like some of the suggestions. Here are some comments/observations:

4. More play areas for the 5 and under set, especially now that Pooh's Playful Spot is gone. Keep it simple: slides, tunnels, water spouts, etc. Little kids need to burn energy, and going from sit-down ride to stroller to sit-down ride doesn't do it. I live near Sesame Place, and they have some incredibly simple but effective little kid attractions that keep my DD2 busy and active for a while.

My nephew enjoyed the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground more than just about any of the rides at DHS. I could see where kids (and parents) would enjoy something like that at MK also.

 

[BuenaVistaBound]

I like the idea of a more retro tomorrowland. Space Mountain is great, love the Astro Orbiter, People Mover, Carousel of Progress is a classic, Buzz can stay. But the exhuast-spewing race cars have no place in a world of tomorrow, and we could all skip Stitch's Great Escape. A more robust 1950's vision of the future would be a lot of fun.

I've often thought that Disney is missing the boat by failing to capitalize more on the Pixar characters. When I walked out of the movie theater in 2001 after Monsters Inc., dazzled by the chase on the factory doors, I thought, "there's the next great theme park ride." Never happened. The partnership with Lucasfilm is great, my kids love Star Wars and Indiana Jones. But why not invest more in properties they own? Where's the "Syndrome's Hideaway," splash-mountain style? Where is the "Nemo's East Australian Current" roller coaster? Or the "Rogue Robots Axiom Adventure" motion sim (in 3D, natch)?

I'm okay with Animal Kingdom, it is what it is. I'm a big fan of Epcot and there's certainly a lot more they could do with the countries (not to mention adding a few). There are enough Brazilian tour groups to man a whole pavilion -- set up an Ipanema and hand out the bikinis! Seriously, though, one more thrill ride, like the original vision of a Matterhorn at the Germany pavilion, would draw more crowds to the rear of the park and alleviate some of the congestion at Soarin and Test Track.

Cool thread, can't wait to read more ideas.

 

[sabrecmc]

I'd love the Star Wars land. That is one fandom that has really stood the test of time, and I would expect to continue to see that universe expand, whether there are more movies or not. Would be nice to have something more boy-ish (though girls love SW too!). Just seems that with all the Princesses and Pixies, they boys are getting a bit shafted. On that note, I'd love to see a Toy Story themed character meal and/or turn Sci-Fi into a "Cars" themed restaurant. Some meal for the boys would be nice!

The Pixar land seems like a good idea as well. They have that at Disneyland Paris and aren't they working on it at Disneyland? We rode Crush's Coaster at DLRP and loved it. They had a toy soldier parachute drop and other neat rides based on Pixar films. I'd love to see more of that.

I actually don't have an issue with the WDW transportation, but hey, if anyone can come up with something better to move people around, then Disney probably can.

 

[Praying Colonel]

I would change #3 to read "Help for Disney’s Hollywood Studios." DHS has really become a half-day park for us, similar to AK. They've gutted the Backlot Tour, Indiana Jones is long in the tooth, in-park dining was never great to begin with and IMHO has taken a turn for the worse in the last couple of years (especially QS dining), and Fantasmic is no longer an every-night attraction. This park needs a serious upgrade in several different areas to make it worth hanging around past 3-4 p.m., IMHO.

 

[KellyNY]

I personally very upset that Universal won Harry Potter rights, not Disney. I did not visit yet but according to what I saw it is really a different world, exactly Disney principal. I do not understand why some people here try to make WOHP look like not a big deal, it is huge and they did a great job. I absolutely agree that Disney needs to answer this call.

 

[kaligal]

1. Cleaner bathrooms in the parks, cleaner hotels rooms...clean the place up.

2. Enough with characters on screens. El Rio del Tiempo turned into riding past characters on screens. Nemo opens up and we're riding past characters on screens. I can watch characters on screens at home.

3. Enough with the princesses and girly stuff.

4. Put back some of the stuff they took away...like the Christmas Country Bears. And all the little stuff they figure nobody will miss...put it back, please.

5. Stop yelling at us after the parade in the MK. I swear, nothing in the history of Disney has irked me as much as these people and the way they bark their orders at us. We can get in and out of the park (and around in it) without them and certainly without their barking.

HM: Do something with DHS.

 

[DisneyChristian]

With the purchase of Marvel Comics, it would be nice to see Disney use that somewhere in the parks also maybe Hollywood Studios? I know with the current contract with Universal that Disney is unable to use the characters that Universal is using but they could use other Marvel characters and the contract with Universal has to end someday doesn't it?

 

[Donut23]

This was posted at the Disney Blog and I thought it might be fun to discuss here.

http://thedisneyblog.com/2010/07/05/the-five-biggest-needs-at-walt-disney-world/

With all the new DVC Resorts, what does WDW need to do?

A few weeks ago during a quarterly results call Disney CEO Bob Iger seemed to imply that once the Magic Kingdom’s new Fantasyland is done and California Adventure’s remake is complete that will be the end of major projects for the parks, at least for a while. I’m not sure he’s taking into account the long list of work that needs to be done.

The list of small projects that could make a trip to Walt Disney World better for the guest is nearly endless. It ranges from little things that could be done better (parking guests at the back of the parking lot when whole sections closer to the gate are still open, bringing back the Country Bear Holiday Show) to large projects (building that bowling alley at ESPN WWOS, a new country or two at EPCOT). But I wanted to focus on the largest needs, those that would make the biggest difference in guest experience.

So follow me below the jump for five suggestions I think WDW should commit to:

1. Something to make guests want to stay in Disney’s Animal Kingdom after 4-5pm.


Many fans think Disney’s Animal Kingdom jumped the shark with Dinoland

This has always been a problem for DAK. They’ve made some in roads with Expedition Everest, but that ride has it’s own problems. SeaWorld (also an animal heavy park) manages to make it work at night. They do it mostly through the addition of some special night time shows. I believe that DAK is the most likely candidate for a water show that uses World of color technology, which would be one part of an answer. But I’d also like to see them add either Australia (a mini-SeaWorld with dolphins, killer whales, and shows) or a new themed land (whatever their replacement for Beastly Kingdom would be).

2. An answer to Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Forget about losing guests to Universal, this is just to show WDI is still the best team at theme park design. Right now that honor belongs to Universal in Central Florida with the WWoHP. Imagineering needs to show they can take a world that exists only in books or the movies and make it real for its fans. There is one obvious choice for this – Star Wars.

One of the most delicious rumors I’ve heard would be the addition of a Star Wars land to DHS. Indiana Jones Stunt show would get re-themed to Star Wars. Backlot Express would receive a Cantina makeover. Then the area behind the restaurant and Star Tours would get one or two new attractions (one themed to Speeder Bikes based on a design WDI did for Disneyland’s Tomorrowland). All this with the type of detail that makes guests actually believe they’re in the world of Star Wars that George Lucas created.

3. Help for back half of Disney’s Hollywood Studios


Help for marketing too apparently?

Excepting the twice a day showing of Lights, Motors, Action there is no reason to visit the back portion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The backlot tram is a pale shadow of its former self and the Premiere theatre sits empty most of the year. When LMA’s not running other than to walk the Streets of New York (pardon me) America, there is nothing to do for a full 1/3rd of the park. I think the rumored Star Wars Land is a great idea for DHS, but really that area would be served best by an expansion of Pixar Land. This all depends on how well the new Carsland is received at California Adventure.

4. A new vision for Tomorrowland, one that includes an actual vision of tomorrow.

Disney Imagineers have all but given up on the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland. They’ve allowed the future to be invaded by cartoon characters and abandoned any attempt at a cohesive theme for the land. Truth is, this has been a continual challenge for WDI since the 1967 remake of Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. It’s not that they don’t have the talent to come up with a vision, it’s just that the future is always in flux, so the land has to change frequently to keep up with new realities.

It was actually a hard to choose between Tomorrowland and Adventureland, they’ve both suffered from neglect and injudicial application of cartoon characters. WDW might have an easier time breathing life back into Adventureland. Perhaps with that addition of a new thrill ride and upgrades to Jungle Cruise, Tiki Room, and some cultural elements.

For item number five it was another difficult decision. It came down to more affordable rooms versus better transportation options around the resort. Since they’ve announced the Art of Animation Resort (aka the Legendary Years), I’ll give transportation the win.

5. A transit system that inspires and works.

Three elements have conspired to make the roads of Walt Disney World busier than ever before. First, the last decade has seen a huge expansion in hotel rooms at Walt Disney World, mostly in the form of Disney Vacation club resorts. Second, the last few years Disney has also added the Disney’s Magical Express offering free shuttle service to and from Orlando International Airport. Third, the change in the economy has made Walt Disney World more of a ‘driving destination’ than ever before. One result of these three changes has meant that that there really is no slow season any more, just less busy times.

With more cars and busses on the roads than ever before, this has put a stress on the WDW Transportation System resulting in longer waits and and longer drives before you reach your destination. Some even attribute the rash of accidents and incidents to these new stresses. The missing piece of the formula will be a High Speed Rail Station set to open between WWOS and Pop Century.

This creates a huge opportunity for WDW to re-think how transportation is done at the resort and to put some excitement back into the idea of mass transit and green technology solutions. There have been a ton of ideas on how this could be accomplished. Disney even has a taskforce dedicated to the challenges.

So those are my big five. Where Disney goes from here says a lot about how they want to be thought of in the future. Are they content as being seen as static by the general public and risk losing market share or do they want to continue to be the recognized leader in theme parks and retain that ‘must see’ status?

Am I missing any big needs? What else would you like to see on this list?

I congratulate you on a thoughtful post.


Step up the maintenance a wee bit. We know that the standards have dropped a lower than acceptable over the last few years of cutbacks. They coast and hope we don't complain.

Long story short - step it up one level. They don't have to bring it all the way back to real Disney standards...just keep the place cleaner and a little better maintained.


I forgot to add agreement with your comments on WWOHP. Disney has just rolled over on it's back to give up....but maybe it's for the best this summer. I don't see Disney investing the time or $$ needed to create anything like this little world of magic over there. The attention to detail at WWOHP is what Disney USED to do....so opening something (like fantasyland) this summer.....disney would probably suffer in comparison.

Nobody's going to stand in line 5 or 6 ours waiting to get in on opening day of Fantasyland.....the appeal is too narrow so opening that another year was the perfect choice.....less comparison.

On the OTHER side of the coin.....there are lots of people who are making their first trip to Orlando specifically to see WWOHP who may give Disney the scraps of their trip for a day or so. New blood for Disney even if it's through the back door.

Disney is smart enough to know US, SW and all the other Orlando attractions bring people into the area. Not everyone is as dedicated a Disney guest as we are. For those tempted to Orlando for the Space Center, beach or orcas at Seaworld.....Disney still has a chance to see new people - even if only for one day.

Now the challenge is....are they still doing it well enough to make them come back on their NEXT trip. If they find the parks dirty or rides stale (who on earth would come back for Stitch or the Tiki Birds -change the birds back!).....if they find the parks stale.....they will take their $$ elsewhere?

There are nowhere near enough Dis'ers to support WDW. They NEED others....and they need to freshen things up.

 

[7thton]

I don't think AK needs to close early for the animals. I think that they don't have a night show because those usually involve fireworks, which would scare the animals. A water show wouldn't have this problem.

 

[chartle]

3. Skipping ahead to transportation: If major cities can have rail-based transportation systems, why not WDW? You probably can't build a subway in the marshland, but could the monorail (assuming it's safe) can be expanded to the rest of the resort, with multiple routes and stops? But would you take a monorail to AKL if it stopped at the All Star resorts, Blizzard Beach, Coronado Springs, and AK on the way? One the one hand, it sounds nuts. But on the other hand, you can get from one end of Manhattan to the other fairly quickly with many stops.

Promised myself I wasn't going to get into another monorail expansion thread but I can't stop myself.

If you have multiple routes does that mean that your AKL, All Star, Blizzard Beach, Coronado Springs, and AK route goes directly to the MK or Epcot or where? Everyone wants the monorail expanded to all the hotels but where will the other end be?

People have posted that this route could go to Epcot where you would transfer if you wanted to go to the MK. So you would have to transfer twice to go from AKL to the MK which could add 40 minutes to your trip. Getting to early morning ADR's would mean that you would have to leave not at 6:30 but 5:30.

And don't even think that you could switch lines like a train can.

Also how would you handle Downtown Disney and the hotels around them?

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

For Potter fans (of which I am not one) it is probably a good thing Universal obtained the rights. Disney would probably have gone a cheaper, less immersive route.

About the article cited in the OP:
First, it is sad that Iger thinks major projects are done after DCA and WDW-Fl jobs are finished. It sounds like the DCA makeover will be very good. But for all the money and hoopla of the WDW Fantasyland project when you get right down to it, it is a monstrous pile of money spent for princess meet-n-greets, a couple new dining options, one new attraction, and a couple fancy refurbs.

Second, the author did find five areas that sorely need to be addressed.
1) I am in the "AK needs to have more to keep guests there after 5pm" camp. Not to cause the animals stress, but if Disney is charging people $75 a day to get in they need to add more. If I didn't have the hopper option I'd never go to AK. That park needs more -now.

2) Apparently there is no forthcoming answer to WWoHP. I don't believe Fantasyland expansion is it. If it is I'll be the first to come on here and eat crow. Star Wars land might be OK, but I'm in the minority of folks who don't get all excited about SW. Maybe when/if the economy comes out of a nosedive something meaningful will shake loose.

3) Lord, yes! The back half of DHS is a ghost town. Put the backlot tour out of its misery, tear down LMA, and maximize the Pixar presence. Just look at the demand for TSMM. That alone should tell the pointy pencil pushers and imagineers that expansion of Pixar at DHS is overdue.

4) I thought Tomorrowland was really good about 10 years ago. I liked the "tomorrow that never was" or whatever they called it. That land has gone down hill quickly. SGE and MLF are mildly amusing, but it is a mighty slim minority of guests who give a deuce about repeating either attraction. Also, the Space Mountain refurb was a big swing-and-a-miss. To top it all off, the new narration on TTA stinks out loud -ruining what used to be a favorite of mine.

5) Transportation is indeed getting more and more strained. Disney needs to take some cars off the road. Maybe charging resort guests to park at the four gates would be a good short term solution. Not much WDW can do about the high-speed train at this point, but it will be a welcome addition when it comes. Meanwhile, maybe they could revamp the bus system to make it a bit more responsive to guest needs. With scooter and wheelchair usage forever on the increase, maybe a dedicated bus or two at high volume times would help?

 

[Ress76]

Very intelligent, thoughtful posts, everyone!

1.) Agreed, that AK is a half-day park, and completely agree with Zippa...If I didn't have a hopper, I wouldn't even bother. My last trip there, I consoled myself that it only cost me the $3 I spent to go from 5 days to 6.

2. and 3.) DHS has so much potential, but it is really dated. The most popular rides are the only three that have changed/opened in recent memory. GMR has so much potential...and hasn't changed since it opened. I love Indy, but, again, this attraction is exactly the same as it was 15 years ago (no...really. Watch the Full House episode where they go to WDW.) I don't know if Star Wars is the answer to HP, but it would certainly make DHS more than a half day park. Pixar movies are obviously huge for the younger crowd, so I would think any Pixar Place expansion would be a hit as well.

4.) Agreed, Tomorrowland will never really stay futuristic for very long. SGE is awful...Stitch himself is fine, but that ride is the pits. I'd be more than open to a different Stitch themed attraction in it's place. I do like the Jules Verne type idea. Also...the rest of the parkis so bright and colorful and attractive...Tomorrowland just seems to cold and blah in relation.

5.) I think that the ME idea has worked well for Disney-we'll take you right from the airport to your hotel, you don't need a car, and we've got you hostage on our property. However, the more folks without other transportation, the more folks are reliant upon the buses. And the more folks who are reliant upon buses, the more people you have to deal with when you want a bus back to your resort. I think a monorail line from *elsewhere on property* as a direct line to, say, the TTC would be great. I wouldn't start going to specific resorts, but if you could park *elsewhere on property* and monorail it to MK or Epcot or even DHS would be great. As I see it, at this point, the problem is that it would be impossible to do the monorail the "right way", which to me would be a circular route, from any park, to any park. Park at DHS, hop the monorail to MK, end your day at DHS with Fantasmic!. Park at Epcot, park hop all day, finish up with dinner ressies in World Showcase. In the case of people driving themselves instead of relying upon the buses...I have driven all or almost all the time on my recent trips, and found the parking lots and trams to be very reasonable in terms of how long to get to the gates, and how full the lots are. I have never hit any sort of "traffic jam" leaving a Disney parking lot, regardless of the time of day.

My biggest need for WDW? Places to slow down...benches, gardens, someplace in the shade to enjoy a Mickey ice cream bar or a Dole Whip. Every trip, I find fewer and fewer benches around, and it would be great for people to be able to sit and recharge, people watch while the baby naps, or let the toddlers run and climbs and slide...(and then go spend more money!).