Third park

[kinhops]

I was on a morning power walk through the Grand Californian while staying at the Grand Californian resort and our guide told us about a third park they were planning on building on the overflow parking they have on the other side of Harbor when the parking complex is full. I did not think much about it because I figured it was already out there but I am starting to realize not many people have heard about this. He seemed to be very well informed as he told us a lot about all the expansion plans in the Grand Californian and the rides, so I was wondering has anyone else gotten more information about this third park? I remember him telling us Disney is going to put a lot of money over the next 10 years into the Disneyland resort.

 

[Sherry E]

I was on a morning power walk through the Grand Californian while staying at the Grand Californian resort and our guide told us about a third park they were planning on building on the overflow parking they have on the other side of Harbor when the parking complex is full. I did not think much about it because I figured it was already out there but I am starting to realize not many people have heard about this. He seemed to be very well informed as he told us a lot about all the expansion plans in the Grand Californian and the rides, so I was wondering has anyone else gotten more information about this third park? I remember him telling us Disney is going to put a lot of money over the next 10 years into the Disneyland resort.

There have been rumors about a third park for a while, but no one has any clue as to what it may be. The big mystery lies mainly in the fact that there is very limited space for expansion in terms of a third park. So we would not be able to have an Animal Kingdom or a DisneySea or anything. I remember hearing about a possible SoCal version of Epcot called Westcot back in the early '80s, and that seems like it would be a great idea, but that never came to fruition for various reasons. It has been debated here as to what Park 3 would be, and I think most of us agreed that we hope the space will not be wasted on something like a water park (when there is another water park not far away) or an all-roller coaster park. I hope Disney comes up with something magical and exclusive to SoCal, but no one seems to have any idea what it will be or how long it will take to build it.

 

[Kiann3]

I was on a morning power walk through the Grand Californian while staying at the Grand Californian resort and our guide told us about a third park they were planning on building on the overflow parking they have on the other side of Harbor when the parking complex is full. I did not think much about it because I figured it was already out there but I am starting to realize not many people have heard about this. He seemed to be very well informed as he told us a lot about all the expansion plans in the Grand Californian and the rides, so I was wondering has anyone else gotten more information about this third park? I remember him telling us Disney is going to put a lot of money over the next 10 years into the Disneyland resort.

I was told it was CARS type theme park, a person was on the elevator explaining it to a group of people as we were going on the glass elevator at the PPH. This was the first week of November this year that I heard it. He was pointing just the other side of the park. He was wearing an official uniform and seem to know what he was talking about and said it was starting construction now and would be done in 2015.

 

[LavenderPeach]

It has been debated here as to what Park 3 would be, and I think most of us agreed that we hope the space will not be wasted on something like a water park (when there is another water park not far away) or an all-roller coaster park. I hope Disney comes up with something magical and exclusive to SoCal, but no one seems to have any idea what it will be or how long it will take to build it.

Oh Sherry! Don't say bad things about a water park! I thought all water parks were the same until we went to WDW and tried out one of their water parks. It was actually one of the highlights of our trip! You know how DLR is SO much better than a regular theme park? Well, they've done the same thing with their water parks (or at least the one we went to). But, a water park would be a magnet for locals and i'm sure it would be too crowded to really enjoy so I agree that a water park in Anaheim might not be a good idea for that reason.

I was told it was CARS type theme park, a person was on the elevator explaining it to a group of people as we were going on the glass elevator at the PPH. This was the first week of November this year that I heard it. He was pointing just the other side of the park. He was wearing an official uniform and seem to know what he was talking about and said it was starting construction now and would be done in 2015.

That's actually not a separate park but will be the new Carsland at DCA. I can't wait to see it!

 

[Sherry E]

Oh Sherry! Don't say bad things about a water park! I thought all water parks were the same until we went to WDW and tried out one of their water parks. It was actually one of the highlights of our trip! You know how DLR is SO much better than a regular theme park? Well, they've done the same thing with their water parks (or at least the one we went to). But, a water park would be a magnet for locals and i'm sure it would be too crowded to really enjoy so I agree that a water park in Anaheim might not be a good idea for that reason.

That's actually not a separate park but will be the new Carsland at DCA. I can't wait to see it!

I was going to say the same thing to the PP about Cars - it's Carsland inside of DCA, not a separate Cars-themed park...unless the game plan has changed? Now that would be very silly - to waste space on making a whole Carsland in one park as well as a whole new, separate Cars park as Park #3, when they could do something else for a new park and leave Carsland as is. But Carsland is supposed to be up and running way before 2015, unlike what the PP heard. It is scheduled for 2012, right, Lavender Peach (because World of Color is 2010, Little Mermaid and the Toy Story Musical are due for 2011 and Carsland comes after that, right?)?? So perhaps there is a new park in the works for 2015, or maybe they will start building Park #3 in 2015? Now, maybe a Pixar-themed park in general would make more sense, but Pixar already has a strong presence in DCA and in DL, so I don't know if a whole separate park devoted to it would detract or add to that presence.

I have not been to WDW to assess their water parks, but I can imagine that theirs are better than others (heck, they have PhotoPass photographers at their water parks!!) because they have to meet that Disney quality standard. But I would LOVE to see something really unique as Park #3. Knott's has Soak City and then there is also the one over near Six Flags. Disney has the opportunity to create a unique piece of magic with a third park, exclusive to SoCal. There will probably never be a fourth park in California. So I really want them to knock it out of the park, so to speak, and bowl us over with a third park concept, and leave us all saying, "Wow! That is a fantastic idea!" Even though we all like DCA now, at first it was not met with a warm welcome. I don't want that for Park #3. I want them to knock our socks off right from the start, and I don't think a water park will be the thing to do that. Honestly, to me, Westcot has been the best idea I have heard so far, but I think they faced too many space limitations to really do it justice and it was scrapped a long time ago.

 

[LavenderPeach]

I was going to say the same thing to the PP about Cars - it's Carsland inside of DCA, not a separate Cars-themed park...unless the game plan has changed? Now that would be very silly - to waste space on making a whole Carsland in one park as well as a whole new, separate Cars park as Park #3, when they could do something else for a new park and leave Carsland as is. But Carsland is supposed to be up and running way before 2015, unlike what the PP heard. It is scheduled for 2012, right, Lavender Peach (because World of Color is 2010, Little Mermaid and the Toy Story Musical are due for 2011 and Carsland comes after that, right?)?? So perhaps there is a new park in the works for 2015, or maybe they will start building Park #3 in 2015? Now, maybe a Pixar-themed park in general would make more sense, but Pixar already has a strong presence in DCA and in DL, so I don't know if a whole separate park devoted to it would detract or add to that presence.

I have not been to WDW to assess their water parks, but I can imagine that theirs are better than others (heck, they have PhotoPass photographers at their water parks!!) because they have to meet that Disney quality standard. But I would LOVE to see something really unique as Park #3. Knott's has Soak City and then there is also the one over near Six Flags. Disney has the opportunity to create a unique piece of magic with a third park, exclusive to SoCal. There will probably never be a fourth park in California. So I really want them to knock it out of the park, so to speak, and bowl us over with a third park concept, and leave us all saying, "Wow! That is a fantastic idea!" Even though we all like DCA now, at first it was not met with a warm welcome. I don't want that for Park #3. I want them to knock our socks off right from the start, and I don't think a water park will be the thing to do that. Honestly, to me, Westcot has been the best idea I have heard so far, but I think they faced too many space limitations to really do it justice and it was scrapped a long time ago.

Yes, I was also thinking Carsland was going to be finished in 2012. I don't think I've heard any dates past 2012 for anything.

I agree, it would be awesome if they could come up with an idea for a park that would be really great from the beginning and not something that needs to be completely redone after a few years. I love DCA but, like you were saying, it doesn't have that wow factor like DL has. Sherry, you need to go tell the imagineers all your ideas!

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

The simple fact is there are currently no plans to build a third park at this time. That doesn't mean there won't be a third park but there are currently no immediate plans. While the Disneyland Resort has openly said they are interested in further expansion of the resort, the current focus is on finishing up the DCA expansion. How quick we get a third park is going to be largely dependent on how successful the expansion at DCA is. Some people suggest that if the expansion does poorly that will cause them to accelerate building a third park but some think it could have the opposite effect, so we shall see.

Also it should be noted that the new overflow parking lot is being constructed on the land that is the proposed location for the third park, this means the construction of a third park is even further away unfortunately. Disneyland did say the addition of the new parking lot on this land however does not discount nor enhance any plans for further expansion of the Disneyland Resort on this land.

Disclaimer: This my opinion and does not represent the views or opinions of the Disneyland Resort

 

[Dizneydaz]

Oh Sherry, don't even mention Disney's water parks in the same breath (or paragraph) as Soak City! Just kidding, of couse. Except about the Disney water parks. One of the reasons we go to WDW is to go the BB and TL. In Sept. we went 3 times, usually we go twice.

We all love the waterparks and I only wish we could have one here. Unfortunately (from what I've heard) it's our weather that keeps them from building one.

As far as Soak City goes, Yuck!!! After doing Disney I can't stand them. The overall theming is concrete. They have too many rules. You can't go in the lazy river without a tube. They limit when you can enter the river, and it's really small. More like a lazy creek (or gutter). And don't get me started on the food-it is so disgusting and high priced. They don't allow you to bring in your own of course.

Not many attractions to fill up a day. When we go to the ones in WDW we get there at opening and stay until closing.

Not being a slender person I used to worry about walking around all day in my bathing suit. After going to the waterparks, I don't anymore. I look pretty
good, plus I don't know any of these people anyway.

We've been to the one in Palm Springs and Buena Park. Haven't done Carlsbad but it's probably the same.

I would love it if we got a 3rd park. But if we do, it'll be years.

 

[Captain Redbeard]

If we get a 3rd park I would LOVE a "Westcot"! We just got back from a week at WDW and forgot how fun the world showcase is. The only thing is that they should represent different areas not represented at epcot, like greece, russia, etc. Although, I wouldnt mind Japan here too!

 

[glendalais]

If we get a 3rd park I would LOVE a "Westcot"! We just got back from a week at WDW and forgot how fun the world showcase is. The only thing is that they should represent different areas not represented at epcot, like greece, russia, etc. Although, I wouldnt mind Japan here too!

Actually, "WESTCOT Center" was one of the core concepts when Walt Disney Attractions (now Walt Disney Parks and Resorts) first proposed the Disneyland Resort back in the early 1990s. Yesterland is running an interesting article on the subject. It would basically been based off the concepts which had already been shown to be successful at EPCOT Center (now Epcot) at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Basically, it fell through partially because of the difficulties that were incurred with the opening of Euro Disney Resort (now Disneyland Paris) in France, as well as opposition from Anaheim residents, many of whom were concerned with the idea of waking up to a 300 ft. gold sphere on a daily basis.