WDW in Branson?

[belsayre]

I live just north of Branson and I so wish this was true............. but I have been hearing this rumor since I was a kid ~ and I am 32 now and still no Disney in MO . It would be GREAT but I wont hold my breath

 

[belsayre]

I forgot they did just open a Disney STORE at the Landing in Branson and have a Disney outlet ~ maybe the sign was for the new Disney store

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I work in Branson, never have seen a sign. As much as I'd LOVE a nearby Disney park, I doubt it would happen here, since everything closes down in January & Feb!

 

[siugoalie78]

I was in Branson around the 4th of July last summer. While I was waiting in line to get into a restaurant with my wife and her family, some guy was trying to sell us a timeshare. He saw I was wearing a Disneyland t-shirt, and started talking about how Disney was building a park in Branson, really soon, and his timeshares would be really close to it. I don't remember the specifics, but I asked him some very general, easy, Disney-related questions and he had no idea what i was talking about. After that we never hear another peep our whole trip there about Disney building anything there. Pretty much led me to beleive that Disney in Branson is a rumor perpetuated by these folks trying to get people to buy timeshares there.

 

[bigthundermountain]

what a weird place to put a major Disney park... Silver Dollar City will always be the most popular park around those parts i think

 

[notnothin]

I can't see this happening.

 

[Temair]

Living just 2 hours from branson I've heard all the stories. From what I have actually tracked down as truth, here is the real story.

Several years ago, a gentleman, who worked for disney, bought a large parcel of land. He bought the land for himself and not disney. But rumors then started that is was Disney that bought the land.

Now it may be possible that Disney has bought land in missouri. That is where walt was from and Disney is like any other real estate company in that they speculate as to where growth is going to happen. And growth has been booming in that corner of missouri, and arkansas. I'm sure if you look at all the differnt companies that form the disney empire you will find several hotel chains, etc.

Now if Disney did want to move into that area, I would see them buying our SDC and updating the park to disney themeing. This year SDC even opened thier own version of the tea cup ride. When I saw the add for SDC I thought it was a disney add.

Temair

 

[mking624]

Why not? Because all the cities you listed are fairly near the coasts. Branson is much more central and would be a much better driving destination than any of the cities you listed. And it really is a family place. Their business really picked up after 9/11 when people were avoiding flights. I think the weather is the biggest reason Branson would not work, not the town itself. Although their would need to be major changes to the road systems. It is hot, humid, and buggy in the summer, and nasty and icey in the winter. Not to mention all those hills. Hmmm... maybe they should build in CO instead, lol! We have more sunny days than any other state, and it is rarely too hot or too cold.

I've lived near your neck of the woods (Southern NH), and love the city of Boston (ONLY large city I like, btw) but there is a massive difference between the midwest or south vs the east coast. TX would be ok if it wasn't for the heat, but if they ever built in the North East, they would have to ship all their cast members from other areas of the country, or they would loose their reputation quickly!

You are right that there is a massive difference betwen regions of the country. However I grew up in the midwest (Chicago) and I can tell you there's a massive difference between Chicago and Branson. It just goes to show you that even regions in and of themselves have huge differences when traveling between cities within them.

I agree that the midwest is a very central location. A good number of people live in the midwest and it's a good "center" for anyone driving. However, we've also seen that a "central" location isn't the highest priority for Disney...being that there's a park in California...and one in Florida. Both spots are not at all central locations and yet millions of people flock to it every year. The greatest advantage these two locations have is the fact they can be open year round. Walt Disney first went to St. Louis as a location for Disney World...a comment that offended him turned him away from it and I really believe it was for the better. I highly doubt it would have thrived there as it does in Orlando...because you could only cater to people for a limited time during the year.

I partly agree and partly disagree with Red Sox Idiot on attracting certain tourists. I do believe there are people who visit places like Branson and also go to large cities and WDW. But, there are also people who visit Branson (and Gatlinburg and the Dells) who would never dare enter a large city. Some of my inlaws are like that. Going to Chicago or NYC...or even WDW is out of the question for them but they would gladly travel to Branson or Gatlinburg.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Our lake house in on Table Rock Lake. While I love everything Disney, I would not really want them to take over Silver Dollar City. SDC is a very special place in its own right and I would not want it to change. I would doubt very much that Disney would want to move into Branson either. The infrustructure is not there and it being in the "hills" would make it hard to develop for an international destination. I consider that part of the charm for our vacation home!

 

[Shubunk]

I think building one in Branson is too close to the one in florida, i dont think they will do it.

 

[happygirl]

I live about 45 min from there, I think if they had it would be HUGE news, I havn't seen or heard anything, also they weather isn't right for Branson, it snows they would have to be closed during the winter

 

[icelady]

I was at a timeshare in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach and there was an area that had some surveying spikes in and the seller was trying to tell us it was Disney that was going to put a park in and how the price of that timeshare would increase soo much, trouble was he didn't know he was talking to disney fans and I am sure something maybe a small park was going in but if you know Disney you knew that the area was waaay to small for them and that it was a sell gimmick. He even had newspaper articles that said it was Disney but I feel it was all a scam.. My friend did buy into the timeshare, it was a beautiful location and nice condos but noooo Disney.

 

[Haveamagicalday!]

My aunt just got back from Branson last night and called all excited to tell me they had seen a sign in Branson that says future home of Walt Disney World. She asked someone there about it and the lady said she didn't know much except that the Disney corporation had bought a bunch of land around there and the rumor was that they were going to build a really big park like WDW. Anyone know anything about it or if someone lives in the Branson area can you give us the low down on it?

Just got back from Branson and heared nothing of it. We visit Branson at least 3 times a year. Usually the people spreading those rumors are all time share sales people. We do LOVE Silver Dollar City there though, and the Haygoods!

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

There have been a lot of rumors about Disney buying land and opening a new park here and there, but most what you hear is just that-- rumors. There was a rumor for awhile that Disney was buying a large amount of land in Nirth Mississippi close to Memphis so they could build a theme park. The rumor was false (darn it.)

The only other place I know of that was supposed to get a Disney park was Virginia. Disney had planned to build an American History- themed park there called Disney's America. The plans never went through, and Disney cancelled the idea after a hostile reception from some historians, members of the government, and locals.

There were many Virginia residents who were very excited to have Disney build their historical interpretation. It was the people who run Colonial Williamsburg who were fighting it. They were afraid that Disney would take tourism away from them. And there is some big bucks running through the Williamsburg Foundation. And them big bucks speak loudly in Virginia Politics. So it wasn't really locals, just the politicians and the CW foundation.

 

[Jalva22]

I think building one in Branson is too close to the one in florida, i dont think they will do it.

???? Branson's got to be a 19-20 hour drive from Orlando. I live in central Oklahoma, 4.5 hours SW of Branson and almost 24 hours from Orlando.

It's just my opinion, but with the topography of that area, as has already been stated, the road system would be an absolute nightmare. If Disney truly had any interest in SW Missouri, I think they'd build somewhere outside Springfield. Topography's much better, it's right on I-44, an airport's already in place (though it would have to be greatly expanded). But I also have heard these rumors for years and don't believe a word of it. Wasn't there a rumor a few years ago that Knotts Berry Farm or someone was "for certain" building a theme park in Branson's neighbor, Reeds Spring?

But I'll second the suggestion that Disney come to Oklahoma instead! Build oustide OKC, where I-44, I-35 & I-40 converge. Plus, nobody would have to change our current highway system: we've already got more miles of toll roads on a % basis than any other state in the country!

 

[chigirl]

My goodness, no offense to anyone as Missouri is a lovely state, but Branson is sooo tacky...like Wisconsin Dells on steroids! I cannot see Disney putting anything up there...wasn't Walt upset when Annaheim became all tacky & touristy? If anything, they'd put up DisneyQuest.

BTW, there was a DisneyQuest in Chicago about 7 years ago. I went to the press opening of it and it was nice, but it closed for many reasons, mainly I think the price was a lot, plus it was in a weird area...w/many hot places to eat, but nothing "touristy".

I have had an idea for many years that Disney should open an upscale Chuck E. Cheese birthday place, where kids could get interaction with the characters and maybe there'd be DisneyQuest style games. "The Mickey Mouse Birthday Club" or something like that, for parents to have awesome birthday parties for their kids.

Bibbity Bobbity Boutique would do well in Branson!

 

[RockyMtnMaria]

I have had an idea for many years that Disney should open an upscale Chuck E. Cheese birthday place, where kids could get interaction with the characters and maybe there'd be DisneyQuest style games. "The Mickey Mouse Birthday Club" or something like that, for parents to have awesome birthday parties for their kids.

I think they did! If I am remembering correctly, something like that opened up near the Park Meadows Mall, in a suburb of Denver, several years ago. We moved to NH right after that, and haven't heard anything more about it since moving back to CO.

 

[btmfdr]

I have to be quite honest and speak my mind... Why would Disney want to bring a theme park to Branson? Yes, Branson attracts toursits but the number of toursits they attract doesn't compare to the tourists that go to cities like Houston, Dallas, New York City, Boston, Washington D.C. Id be shocked to see Disney build anything in Branson...

As if Orlando FL was a booming town prior to this theme park they put in.... Go Yanks....

 

[joshsmom]

As if Orlando FL was a booming town prior to this theme park they put in.... Go Yanks....

So true!!! Nothing but swamp land, orange groves and gators!!!

Regardless, I REALLY don't see Disney building in Branson--but stranger things have happened I guess!!