Was Disney planning to someday build a theme park in Hawaii?

[DodgerGirl]

Before the Aulani resort was opened in Hawaii I often wondered if Disney considered building a theme park in Hawaii? Because with Hawaii known for being a great vacation destination I think a Disney theme park would've been nice in Hawaii. But since Disney never thought about building a theme park in Hawaii they ended up building the Aulani resort instead

 

[Cfabar1]

Could be it was thought about. I am unaware of any serious discussions about an Hawaiian theme park.

 

[OKW Lover]

I've never heard about any serious intent by Disney to build a theme park in Hawaii. I have no doubt that somewhere, somebody, sometime at Disney had that idea but it would only have been a flight of fantasy.

Disney's decision to build the Aulani resort is a curious one. I suspect they got a great offer for the land Aulani sits on by the developer of the whole Ko Olina area. The developer no doubt was hoping to attract more people to vacation in the area and having the Disney name attached to it was a big plus.

 

[Narcoossee11]

Land in Hawaii would make this impossible.
The cost would be crazy, the amount and quality of land that you would need is limited.
Biggest reason, is the Polynesian culture would NEVER let this happen.

 

[OKW Lover]

Biggest reason, is the Polynesian culture would NEVER let this happen.

Is this the same Polynesian culture that let Waikiki get built?

 

[BrianL]

I don't think Hawaii is a good location for a full-scale theme park. People don't go there for that. Thye'd rather take the original Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride - surfing! Something like Aulani was a perfect choice for Disney to serve the market, but with a different kind of offering. It seems popular enough too. They had played with things like that before - like a lodge in the midwest where the Country Bears were originally going to go. I think what they are doing works.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Hawaii has long been an expensive place to visit - airfare, hotel, meals, etc. There’s no way Disney would’ve considered building a theme park there, as it would be of little interest to all but a faction of diehard Disney fans. It would’ve been too charging to acquire enough land, build the infrastructure, etc.

Aulani was built because DVC is a very profitable thing for Disney. Before its construction, the lack of a Hawaii property was a key reason many affluent travelers weren’t buying into the program.