WALT DISNEY WORLD
5th GATE PROJECT
Before we all get started, I wanted to give some background information for all the participates. In order to try and make this competition as authentic as possible, we are going to use the official Reedy Creek Improvement District Comprehensive Plan:
(More info:
http://www.rcid.org/Portals/0/Documents/Comprehensive_Plan/Introduction.pdf)
The RCID Comprehensive Plan details the extent to which land can be build in Walt Disney World.
Green = unstainable land. Yellow = semi-sustainable land. Red = sustainable land.
Where this competition is going to focus is on the sustainable land to the right of the Richard Petty Driving Experience (also where the number 13 is)
I did some measurements. The Magic Kingdom has a perimeter (including maintenance areas/ride facilities/transportation hubs) That fits within the sustainable land that I've singled out above. Here's a better look at it in Google Earth...
View attachment 82506
The only component of the MK that does not fit in this area is the parking at the TTC. Parking is something we have to consider when building our park because for every area of land you build, you have to have enough parking to accommodate it. If you notice on the RCID plan there are sustainable areas to the sides of the theme park area outlined in the Google Earth image, so you all can get creative with where you place the parking.
TIME AND CONSTRUCTION COST
EPCOT took 3 years to complete, and at the time (1979) was the largest construction project on Earth. It cost approximately 1.4 Billion dollars (in the late 70s) so today I would guess the cost would be well over 3 Billion. Since EPCOT is about twice the size of our plot, I'm going to give each contestant a budget of:
$1.5 BILLION DOLLARS
As I said in the opening post, parks are not built all at once. They build over the years to what they are today. Take a look at the Magic Kingdom opening day map in 1971.
About 43 years later, here's what it looks like:
Your park will change over time and evolve. It won't have a bunch of rides to begin with. Disney MGM Studios opened with 2 rides. So it's not implausible to say that your first round in this competition will only have maybe 5 rides.
And that's how I want this to go. Each Phase of our friendly competition will be 5 years later in your park's history. It will show what has changed in the parks, have you replaced anything, added anything? Maybe changed the layout a bit? Any transportation updates? How about restaurants?
But since I would like this to try and be realistic, there are costs to everything.
Here's a rundown of some of the most expensive attractions that have been built just for perspective:
Test Track: 300 Million
Tower of Terror (Paris): 240 Million
Radiator Springs Racers: 200 Million
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: 150 Million
Tower of Terror: 140 Million
So when we are budgeting our $1.5 Billion Dollars here's a few TIPS to keep in mind:
1) Infrastructure is expensive. Figure at least $400-600 Million for transportation, roads, parking, maintenance workers, employee salary.
2) You need an icon..which could be a ride or structure or both...either way the higher the building the higher the cost.
3) For the sake of this competition, here are a couple average costs: Average costs for a restaurant (20-40 million). Average cost per shop (20 million). Average cost per restroom (10 million) Average cost per quick service (20 million). Average cost per Firework show (20-30 million) Average cost per parade (50 million) Anything else you all want an average price on let me know.
4) Guest Surveys - so this is where I thought we'd get creative. Each one of you will send out a guest survey to the other contestants. Ranking what rides you like, what lands are best, where to improve. From those answers, each contestant could design their park expansions based on these guest surveys. Also, the answers to the guest surveys will determine the expansion budget I give out to each contestant. If guest surveys are high, you get a lower budget. If guests surveys are lower, you'll get more money to expand. Just like in the real world. Why did DCA get rebuilt? Guests complained.
5) Let's stick to the circumstances we have, such as... NO MARVEL. It cannot be built in Florida therefore it won't be built here. But...maybe in 20 years something in the competition might change!
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PHASE 1 - OPENING DAY 2018
1) Design your park using the $1.5 Billion Dollar Budget in the allocated area
2) Show how much you spent for: Infrastructure, Rides, Restaurants/Shops, Entertainment
3) An aerial view of your park (other images/videos/audio are good too!)
Alrighty then...Any questions please feel free to respond. Thanks and enjoy!
.
