These may be old old rumors, but...

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

I just heard them and thought maybe someone could clear up whether or not this guy was telling the truth.

What he told me was that there are currently several new Disney properties in the works. The first to open will be a small theme park that will be connected to Blizzard Beach and centers around the same Alpine skiing theme...it is to be located at the end of the road where Blizzard Beach is.

He also told me that Disney has stepped up its coaster production and will introduce a total of 4 new coasters over the next few years.

All the new properties that will open will be smaller parks centered around a specific theme and will be located on current Disney properties.

He also said that Roy Disney plans to try and fill 6 of the Disney Board positions with Disney family members to bring the theme parks back to their original grandeur.

Anyone know of these rumors?

 

[disneyholic family]

I just heard them and thought maybe someone could clear up whether or not this guy was telling the truth.

What he told me was that there are currently several new Disney properties in the works. The first to open will be a small theme park that will be connected to Blizzard Beach and centers around the same Alpine skiing theme...it is to be located at the end of the road where Blizzard Beach is.

He also told me that Disney has stepped up its coaster production and will introduce a total of 4 new coasters over the next few years.

All the new properties that will open will be smaller parks centered around a specific theme and will be located on current Disney properties.

He also said that Roy Disney plans to try and fill 6 of the Disney Board positions with Disney family members to bring the theme parks back to their original grandeur.

Anyone know of these rumors?

the last one sounds like a crock...a publicly held company would never have so many positions held by one family....

 

[WDWHound]

These are interesting rumors. While I doubt any one of them is completely true, they all seem to contain a bit of truth.

1) New Disney properties, the first being tie in to Blizzard beach. I haven't seen any rumors of any new parks in the US (even small ones), but Disney has shown a decided interest in expanding its water parks (Typhoon Lagoon was just expanded this year). Water parks are cheaper than traditional theme parks, and this may explain Disney's interest in expansion in that category.

2. Stepped up coaster production. Its no secret that Disney is going after the teen market, which means more thrill rides. While I know of no new coasters in the pipeline after Expedition Everest, you can expect many more thrill rides to come, which almost certainly includes some new coasters at some time. The rumor of a new coaster in EPCOT has been very persiastant.

3) Smaller parks withing existing parks. Hmmm. sounds like the existing "land" concept (as in Adventur"land" or Tomorrow"land") to me. Not sure what to think of this one.

4) More Disney members on board. Roy may very well be planning this, but I also think he would not be able to pull it off.

 

[mitros]

Cripes, I just hope the coaster rumor is not true. Gimme a break with the thrill rides already!

 

[DisFlan]

1) Nice try, but I doubt Roy swings that amount of power.

2) PTHTHTHT to the coasters, if true. You can ride coasters anywhere. I'd much rather see a few more classic, well-imagineered Disney-type rides.


DisFlan

 

[mitros]

Well said! I also doubt that Roy, although it would be nice, would be able to pull that off. Mmmm, on second thought, maybe Roy gave up Save Disney rather quickly, for.....?

 

[dbm20th]

Roy has a lot more influence than we are giving him here, but that last one does seem like a stretch. These families members would need to already have standing within the company, or a competeing company, to even ave a shot with this.

I agree that mreo "lands" will pop up. Disney has had a lot of success in EPCOT by adding thrill rides. That can happen at MGM and AK as well, certainly within the "land" concept.

 

[Chuck S]

I think both MGM and AK need substantial expansion "lands", and I hope they concentrate on before trying to add new, smaller free standing parks. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a new water coaster-type attraction in the works for a Blizzard Beach expansion...but we'll see.

As far as Roy putting Disney family on the board...doubtful...remember he lead the charge to hire Eisner and oust Ron Miller (Walt's Son-in-Law, Diane's husband). And Roy's kids seem to have little interest in the inner workings of the Company.

 

[mrp4352]

1) 2) PTHTHTHT to the coasters, if true. You can ride coasters anywhere. I'd much rather see a few more classic, well-imagineered Disney-type rides.

I don't know - could you image what Disney could do if they went with a Mummy or Spiderman type of ride? To me, that would be the best of both worlds! I mean, could you imagine it? A suspended coaster through the doors of Monsters, Inc with places to stop and help Sully and Mike out; or bouncing with Dory through the Jelly Fish field, then helping to whisk her to safety...

 

[DancingBear]

Roy not only does not have the power to get himself or any other Disney family members on the board, he and Gold agreed that for at least 5 years they will not put forth any opposing slate of directors for the Company.

 

[YoHo]

Isn't Roy the largest Shareholder though besides Eisner? and the rest of the family has interest too. it certainly could be suggested by him strenuously. And having Disney's on the board makes as much Sense as Sidney Poiter. Whoever said they'd need to be a businessman or high profile in Disney hasn't been paying attention.

That said, He's not exactly redeemed in the eye's of Walt's family anyway.


As for more coasters. There is a lot of talk of California Screamin....deathtrapcoaster being torn down and replaced ASAP. That might be fueling the coaster rumors.

 

[Peter Pirate]

That's the first I've heard of the CS Yoho. Where'd this come from? Has anyone actually ever been hurt on this coaster as of yet?

 

[jimmiej]

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a new water coaster-type attraction in the works for a Blizzard Beach expansion...but we'll see.

Something similiar to Master Blaster at Sclitterbahn would be awesome!

http://www.schlitterbahn.com/nb/attractions-masterblaster.asp

 

[Chuck S]

Something similiar to Master Blaster at Sclitterbahn would be awesome!

http://www.schlitterbahn.com/nb/attractions-masterblaster.asp

NBGS/Schlitterbahn just built a similar ride at Typhoon Lagoon.

Crush N Gusher http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/attractionDetail?id=TLCrushnGusherAttractionPage

 

[Planogirl]

As for more coasters. There is a lot of talk of California Screamin....deathtrapcoaster being torn down and replaced ASAP. That might be fueling the coaster rumors.

What would they put in its place except another coaster though? The site is long but narrow.

 

[DisFlan]

I don't know - could you image what Disney could do if they went with a Mummy or Spiderman type of ride? To me, that would be the best of both worlds! I mean, could you imagine it? A suspended coaster through the doors of Monsters, Inc with places to stop and help Sully and Mike out; or bouncing with Dory through the Jelly Fish field, then helping to whisk her to safety...

Well, yes, I can imagine it. But what about Disney? And are they willing to pay for a first-rate, heavily-imagineered thrill ride? After what they've put into Everest, it's more likely that they'll just stick up a run-of-the-mill thrill coaster and slap some "theme" name on it. Disney is kidding themselves if they think this will steal IOA's thunder. They should stick with what they do best - the type of Disney rides people can't get at Universal.

DisFlan

 

[DancingBear]

Isn't Roy the largest Shareholder though besides Eisner?

Perhaps, but Eisner has just 1.7% himself.

it certainly could be suggested by him strenuously.

I assume you mean suggested to the board--do you really think anyone there would be listening?

 

[jimmiej]

NBGS/Schlitterbahn just built a similar ride at Typhoon Lagoon.

Crush N Gusher http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/attractionDetail?id=TLCrushnGusherAttractionPage

You know, now that you mention it, I remember that. Totally slipped my mind before.

I don't get over here to the Rumors board much. Thanks for the correction.

 

[YoHo]

Perhaps, but Eisner has just 1.7% himself.

I assume you mean suggested to the board--do you really think anyone there would be listening?

Given the finality with which Eisner was given the boot (which shocked much of hollywood so I've heard) I wouldn't be surprised if they did listen. Or at least listened more then we might have previously thought.


As for the Rollercoasters. Peter, I'll cop to some Hyperbole on my California screamin comment, but the ride has never worked right and then it had that whole smashing into another train problem. Rumblings out of TDA are that it is going to be replaced ASAP. Problem is, in a park with little to do, shutting down an admittedly oft shut down E-Ticket will only make things worse.


Of course, the bigger rumor is that They're at the point in the company where they are willing to admit DCA is a gigantic failure and when they do, more radical steps can betaken to fix things, like making it free with DL ticket or just making it 1 superthemepark instead of two.


And Planogirl, I believe the intention is to replace it with another rollercoaster. Didn't mean to imply otherwise.

 

[DancingBear]

Given the finality with which Eisner was given the boot (which shocked much of hollywood so I've heard) I wouldn't be surprised if they did listen. Or at least listened more then we might have previously thought.

Yeah, but this is still the board that Roy sued and called corrupt right up until he was given the emeritus status.