News 'Beyond Big Thunder Mountain' Blue Sky concept revealed for Magic Kingdom

[PREMiERdrum]

I posted this in the DHS thread, but it belongs here as well:

We're at a very interesting confluence of timelines here.

The resort has been subject to both under investment and mis-investment for nearly two decades. Iger's "Blue Ocean" strategy has proven to be a failure. Years of trading fewer onsite guests for higher cost per guest have crashed the hotel business, with ancillary damage to the convention, group events, and food services arms. Formidable competition just up the road, for the first time with the prospect of a legit weeklong resort experience.

Even with all that, TWDC leadership needed TWO major external factors to push them to this:

- A real, honest threat against their control of the company, and
- An "excuse" to move forward with site investment, afforded by the negotiated settlement with the state government.

In any event... much of these plans are still in flux, though the lion's share of it is funded and - generally speaking - plots and properties have been settled.

Buckle up.

 

[PREMiERdrum]

Hearing Soarin 3.0 is an option north of BTMRR

Anchoring this expansion with an indoor ride system makes the whole thing much more doable from a design perspective. There are a ton of offstage facilities that will still need to be in that general area - if not their current footprint - and controlling exposure like this will help it work.

 

[fgmnt]

Take a look at the infrastructure required to build back there, I say longer and long after Bob is gone. The times they are a changin' but not fast and not that fast

One of the reasons I thought this would never get off the ground is because Bob the Elder would have to take the financial hit on all of the infra work but likely would not be around to cut the ribbon. Maybe he thinks it’s that important or maybe he really does plan to die in the chair at this point.

 

[fgmnt]

In any event... much of these plans are still in flux, though the lion's share of it is funded and - generally speaking - plots and properties have been settled.

Buckle up.

I’m pretty cynical of the company’s capital commitment to domestic parks over the last 25 years to the point where I would not count on a new attraction happening until the ride building goes vertical. That being said, submitting, getting approval for, and acting on this kind of infrastructure work in MK is a close second. This is a massive financial commitment they will have to turn into productive real estate.

 

[jpinkc]

I’m pretty cynical of the company’s capital commitment to domestic parks over the last 25 years to the point where I would not count on a new attraction happening until the ride building goes vertical. That being said, submitting, getting approval for, and acting on this kind of infrastructure work in MK is a close second. This is a massive financial commitment they will have to turn into productive real estate.

Dont forget to consider what they show us and what they actually do........

 

[fgmnt]

Dont forget to consider what they show us and what they actually do........

Right, keep in mind we are not even at that “close second” point yet. We’re at best 6 months from anyone staking down any runoff barriers or buoys on this project.

Also, this has been iterated a lot, but unlike the deliberate slow walking of capital projects the last 5 years, this one can only go so fast no matter how much money you throw at it.

 

[monothingie]

I posted this in the DHS thread, but it belongs here as well:

We're at a very interesting confluence of timelines here.

The resort has been subject to both under investment and mis-investment for nearly two decades. Iger's "Blue Ocean" strategy has proven to be a failure. Years of trading fewer onsite guests for higher cost per guest have crashed the hotel business, with ancillary damage to the convention, group events, and food services arms. Formidable competition just up the road, for the first time with the prospect of a legit weeklong resort

I don't think they're changing their strategy with this anytime soon though. Everything indicates that they are still trying to squeeze as much as possible out of guests.

experience.

Even with all that, TWDC leadership needed TWO major external factors to push them to this:

- A real, honest threat against their control of the company, and
- An "excuse" to move forward with site investment, afforded by the negotiated settlement with the state government.

In any event... much of these plans are still in flux, though the lion's share of it is funded and - generally speaking - plots and properties have been settled.

Buckle up.

Disney can be very fast with Announcements because they are quick and easy.
Construction on the other hand....

Are we looking at 2030ish before this is ready?

 

[PREMiERdrum]

Are we looking at 2030ish before this is ready?

Not completely clear, but I would assume openings to begin by 2028 or so.

 

[Jrb1979]

Not completely clear, but I would assume openings to begin by 2028 or so.

I'd be impressed if that happens. If they wanted to build something quickly they can. The issue is they like to pay for it over multiple quarters to spread costs. For once why not be proactive

 

[monothingie]

Not completely clear, but I would assume openings to begin by 2028 or so.

It took them 3 years for Galaxy's edge and 2 for Toy Story Land. So that would mean around a 2025 start. If permits are imminent that means the design work is mostly done.

 

[fgmnt]

Not completely clear, but I would assume openings to begin by 2028 or so.

I think the Adventureland plot would be then but the stuff north and west? That would be ambitious.

 

[PREMiERdrum]

It took them 3 years for Galaxy's edge and 2 for Toy Story Land. So that would mean around a 2025 start. If permits are imminent that means the design work is mostly done.

I think the Adventureland plot would be then but the stuff north and west? That would be ambitious.

Whatever they do beyond BT would be later.

AL and AK openings then are realistic - they want visible construction happening before next summer. For reasons.

 

[peng]

I can guess said reasons easily (parkgoers seeing a rival company opening a big shiny new park and wondering why there isn't anything new at disney). Disney will probably stretch said construction out as long as possible, because Disney.

 

[JoeCamel]

Is Floridan Way done? It has to complete to route the canal from Central Shops and allow for the canal to be moved to open up the space.

 

[Jrb1979]

Whatever they do beyond BT would be later.

AL and AK openings then are realistic - they want visible construction happening before next summer. For reasons.

Sounds to me like they just realized Epic Universe is coming and they need something for after it opens.

I don't get it. Prior to COVID, they had their problems but they were more proactive and were known as being tops in guest satisfaction. Since they have gone away from all of that.

 

[monothingie]

Whatever they do beyond BT would be later.

AL and AK openings then are realistic - they want visible construction happening before next summer. For reasons.

So then realistically we're looking at 1 addition in the next 5 years to the MK, with a new land to follow in early 2030's?

 

[Teddybearre]

With your user name I feel you'd agree with me and want a Headless Horseman attraction.

Have no idea how they would do that, but a Sleepy Hollow dark ride would be phenomenal.

If they’re gonna bring us Villains land, I want them to go ALL OUT. Give us NBC, give us Headless Horseman, give us Yzma’s factory tour, give us that Ursula spinner that was leaked out for WDS, give us everything they can possibly think of. Villains is a goldmine of a theme, and I don’t want them to skimp out

 

[EvilChameleon]

Bring in the cranes and bulldozers, it's time to build!

 

[MouseEarsMom33]

If they’re gonna bring us Villains land, I want them to go ALL OUT. Give us NBC, give us Headless Horseman, give us Yzma’s factory tour, give us that Ursula spinner that was leaked out for WDS, give us everything they can possibly think of. Villains is a goldmine of a theme, and I don’t want them to skimp out

We'll unfortunately end up with only two rides if it's like Galaxy Edge

 

[Cliff]

Take a look at the infrastructure required to build back there, I say longer and long after Bob is gone. The times they are a changin' but not fast and not that fast

I can only guess that Disney's tactic is to spread the cost through as many years as they can so that it doesnt hurt their annual reports as bad.

If Disney has to spent $1, they try to pay it $.20 cents per year. (Or less based on how bad Disney's finances are hurting for any particular year)

I don't know if other lands like Galaxy's Edge or Toy Story land or even Animal Kingdom or Epcot or MGM Studios were built on finacial restrictions like that???

It seems like Animal Kingdom was built at FULL speed. It seems like Epic Universe is racing at full speed.

Even the new...and VERY simple Epcot coutyard park bench area was spread out across many years. I was there dozens of trips where I saw ZERO construction crews on site. It was just a dead-zone with nobody working behind the walls. Monorail views over the walls showed how empty it was.

So...these new lands "could" be even 6 or 7 years away??