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3rd Gate at DLP

Haymarket

Haymarket

Well-Known Member
In predicting what they'll do, at this point, you have to think: maximum cynicism, zero interest in theme, minimal risk and expense. The stock price is the guiding star.

Concepts that exist, that aren't at the Disneyland Paris resort
  1. EPCOT
  2. Animal Kingdom
  3. California Adventure
  4. DisneySea
Do you really think they're going to build any of these as the third park? Animal Kingdom and DisneySea are too expensive, and the other two have been a pain to keep updated/rehabilitate.

Theming an entire park to one franchise is too risky. There's absolutely no way. Show me one successful first-tier (i.e., globally recognized) park based on a single franchise: there's none.

It's obvious what it's going to be, if anything: it's going to be an IP park Epic Universe (immersive lands based on IP completely separate from each other).

A "portals park."

That's the one type of park that's proved hugely, globally popular that they haven't concertedly and overtly built yet (as opposed to their studios parks, etc. growing into IP parks). There'll be only the vaguest baseline theming in the front and/or center ("lighthouse!" "celestial wonder!"), and then off to different IP lands. It's the cheapest and easiest to handle: no more griping about whole-park thematic consistency from parks fans, and when a franchise gets truly stale, and any attempts at reviving it fail, you can wait a couple decades after it becomes stale and then demolish it and replace it with some other huge franchise.

Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar. It doesn't matter if they're in the other Paris parks: they're going to use them across same-resort parks like Harry Potter in the Universal parks. If they use anything Disney, it'll be heavy on the contemporary biggies, e.g., the Disney Princesses franchise and ... I'm not sure what else. The stuff that's moved literally billions of dollars in merchandise in the other parks.

Maybe they'll have something like an "action/adventure franchise land" with a mix of things like Indiana Jones and Pirates of the Caribbean. Or maybe they'll have that villains land, with original rides (doubt it: too much risk).

There might be some rides in the central area/spine of the park themed to Mickey and the other four so it has the core of the Disney brand on some level.

Whatever IP lands and rides they have that aren't in the other two parks will be thrown-in where possible, with a little tweaking maybe - e.g., Smuggler's Run, but in an original trilogy land, and maybe Zootopia from Shanghai if that proves hugely successful.
 
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LittleMerman

LittleMerman

Well-Known Member
Haymarket said:
In predicting what they'll do, at this point, you have to think: maximum cynicism, zero interest in theme, minimal risk and expense. The stock price is the guiding star.

Concepts that exist, that aren't at the Disneyland Paris resort
  1. EPCOT
  2. Animal Kingdom
  3. California Adventure
  4. DisneySea
Do you really think they're going to build any of these as the third park? Animal Kingdom and DisneySea are too expensive, and the other two have been a pain to keep updated/rehabilitate.

Theming an entire park to one franchise is too risky. There's absolutely no way. Show me one successful first-tier (i.e., globally recognized) park based on a single franchise: there's none.

It's obvious what it's going to be, if anything: it's going to be an IP park like Universal Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe. There'll be only the vaguest baseline theming in the front and/or center ("lighthouse!" "celestial wonder!"), and then off to different IP lands. It's the cheapest and easiest to handle: no more griping about whole-park thematic consistency from parks fans, and when a franchise gets truly stale, and any attempts at reviving it fail, you can wait a couple decades after it becomes stale and then demolish it and replace it with some other huge franchise.

Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar. It doesn't matter if they're in the other Paris parks: they're going to use them across same-resort parks like Harry Potter in the Universal parks. If they use anything Disney, it'll be heavy on the contemporary biggies, e.g., the Disney Princesses franchise and ... I'm not sure what else. The stuff that's moved literally billions of dollars in merchandise in the other parks.

Maybe they'll have something like an "action/adventure franchise land" with a mix of things like Indiana Jones and Pirates of the Caribbean.

There might be some rides in the central area/spine of the park themed to Mickey and the other four so it has the core of the Disney brand on some level.

Whatever IP lands and rides they have that aren't in the other two parks will be thrown-in where possible, with a little tweaking maybe - e.g., Smuggler's Run, but in an original trilogy land, and maybe Zootopia from Shanghai if that proves hugely successful.
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I've been saying for a while that Disney should move to more loosely themed areas where they can inject IPs if they are having a hard time justifying putting IPs into overly-themed areas where they don't "belong," similar to Epic Universe. Then people on here won't have as many meltdowns lol.
 
Jordan dby

Jordan dby

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't be averse to a waterpark as the 3rd gate. Indoor or even a seasonal one considering the climate, it could be operational May to October where the parks are currently crowded. We certainly don't need a 3rd park in Jan or Feb, and would rather see the existing 2 expanded before we add a 3rd park to the resort. If I'm going to spend more than 3 days there then a waterpark rather than another theme park would add variety to the holiday
 
Rush

Rush

Well-Known Member
I don't think a third park has to be similar to anything we've seen before. The way I see it, current Disney management is much more likely to build a generic park without an overarching theme and promote it using the IP's within it. And if there's a theme, it would be something very generic and on brand like "magic" or "enchanted something".
 
Sir_Cliff

Sir_Cliff

Well-Known Member
Rush said:
I don't think a third park has to be similar to anything we've seen before. The way I see it, current Disney management is much more likely to build a generic park without an overarching theme and promote it using the IP's within it. And if there's a theme, it would be something very generic and on brand like "magic" or "enchanted something".
Click to expand...
Basically the same idea as Epic Universe. This is part of the reason I'd kind of prefer Disney held off building new parks for the time being until there's some change in creative direction.
 
Robbiem

Robbiem

Well-Known Member
I’m not sure Disney would build a new Animal Kingdom, especially in Europe. People’s views on conservation and keeping animals in captivity have changed a lot since the 90s and it would generate a lot of criticism in the media

As per some of the comments above I could see a new park being like epic universe with a series of IP areas connected in some way, basically another adventure world with different IPs
 
N

Nickm2022

Well-Known Member
My pitch is instead of an animal park do a nature themed park. An area of water like Nemo, moana, lil mer, and more. An area of sky like up or Aladdin, and an area of land like Brave, or B&tB
 
Haymarket

Haymarket

Well-Known Member
I’m not sure Disney would build a new Animal Kingdom, especially in Europe. People’s views on conservation and keeping animals in captivity have changed a lot since the 90s and it would generate a lot of criticism in the media
Click to expand...

I was just curious what modifications might hypothetically be made if Disney tried to do a DAK at DLP (I'm pretty sure it would never happen) -- as in, "How would that even work?"

Just for fun, here's what DeepSeek said (any formatting errors are my fault):

Q: What would a theme park like Disney's Animal Kingdom be like if built in Paris, given the different weather compared to Orlando, Florida?

A: Building a park like Disney's Animal Kingdom in Paris would require a fundamental reimagining due to the significant climate differences. While the core philosophy of celebrating animals and nature would remain, the execution would be vastly different from the Orlando version.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of what "Disney's Animal Kingdom Park Paris" [might] be like.

1. Core Concept Shift: From "Eden" to "Sanctuary"
  • Orlando's Theme: "A park dedicated to the relationship between humans and the natural world." It feels like a lush, idealized, and eternal summer.
  • Paris's New Theme: "A global sanctuary for animals, celebrating life in all seasons." The park wouldn't fight the climate but would embrace it. The story would be about protection, conservation, and the beauty of nature's changing cycles. The icon might not be a "Tree of Life" [...] but perhaps a "Mountain of Continents" or a grand "Conservatory of Worlds" symbolizing global stewardship.
2. Major Architectural and Design Changes

The most obvious change would be the extensive use of indoor, climate-controlled environments.
  • The Grand Conservatory: A massive, beautifully themed glass and steel structure would be the heart of the park, akin to Epcot's biomes but on a grander scale. This would house:
    • The Tropical Realm: A steamy, indoor land replicating Asia and Africa, with a major boat ride (like Na'vi River Journey or Jungle Cruise) and walk-through paths.
    • The Arid Realm: A hot, dry environment for desert animals (meerkats, fennec foxes, reptiles).
    • Primate House & Aviary: Indoor, expansive habitats.
  • Seasonal Outdoor Areas: The outdoor pathways would connect these large pavilions. They would be designed with European gardens, heated pathways for winter, and plenty of sheltered areas. The outdoor animal habitats would be for species thriving in a European climate.
  • Rides are Mostly Indoors: Major E-Ticket attractions would be housed inside show buildings to guarantee operation year-round. Think more like Rise of the Resistance and less like Expedition Everest (which would be impractical with ice and snow).

3. Reimagined "Lands" for a Parisian Climate [reformatted chart]

... [skipped an Avatar idea]

  • Orlando's Land: Africa & Asia
  • Paris Equivalent: The African Savannah & Asian Forests
    • Key Differences: These are now primarily indoors within the Grand Conservatory. The Kilimanjaro Safaris is replaced by an indoor, guided "Conservation Rover" journey through meticulously created, climate-controlled savannah and rainforest biomes. The story is about a wildlife sanctuary, not an open-range tour.
... [skipped a DinoLand U.S.A. idea]
  • Orlando's Land: Discovery Island
  • Paris Equivalent: The Sanctuary Gardens
    • Key Differences: The central hub, featuring the park's icon. Outdoor animal habitats here would feature European animals (deer, boar, birds of prey) and hardy species from similar climates (e.g., Takin from the Himalayas).
4. Animal Exhibits and Conservation
  • Focus on Climate-Appropriate Species: Outdoor exhibits would highlight species from temperate regions: European bison, wolves, red pandas, reindeer, lynx, otters, and a strong focus on birds of prey.
  • Year-Round Animal Welfare: This is paramount. The design ensures animals always have access to spacious, temperature-controlled indoor habitats. Guest viewing would be from inside these habitats during cold or wet weather.
  • Seasonal Events: The park would lean into the seasons, not hide from them.
    • Spring: "Festival of Bloom" celebrating animal births and new plant life.
    • Summer: "Savannah Nights" with extended hours in the indoor areas.
    • Autumn: "Harvest of the Wild" focusing on preparation for winter.
    • Winter: "A Luminescent Sanctuary" - The entire park would be decorated with beautiful, animal-themed light installations, making the cold, dark evenings magical. The snow would become part of the theme.
5. Practical Considerations
  • Operating Calendar: It would likely be a seasonal park, closing on the very worst winter days (e.g., January-February weekdays) for maintenance, much like some European parks. This is unlike Florida's 365-day operation.
  • Guest Comfort: Heated queues, abundant indoor dining and retail spaces, and covered walkways would be essential. The park would feel more like a series of interconnected, themed "worlds" under cover.
  • Cost: The construction cost would be astronomically higher than the Florida original due to the immense amount of enclosed, climate-controlled space.

Conclusion

A Parisian Animal Kingdom would be less of an "open-air adventure" and more of a "world's fair of ecosystems under glass." It would trade the sprawling, sun-drenched savannahs of Florida for the awe-inspiring engineering of contained, perfect environments. The focus would shift from a romanticized version of adventure to a more direct message of conservation, sanctuary, and humanity's role as a protector of nature in a challenging world. It would be a stunning, technologically miraculous park, but with a fundamentally different personality—one shaped by, and respectful of, the four distinct seasons of Europe.
Click to expand...
 
The Empress Lilly

The Empress Lilly

Well-Known Member
Haymarket said:
Theming an entire park to one franchise is too risky. There's absolutely no way. Show me one successful first-tier (i.e., globally recognized) park based on a single franchise: there's none.
Click to expand...
Parc Astérix. Just one IP, a comic book series that may or may not be well-known depending on where you're from.

Legoland, if you count those.

Both are top 10 European parks.
 
Robbiem

Robbiem

Well-Known Member
Haymarket said:
I was just curious what modifications might hypothetically be made if Disney tried to do a DAK at DLP (I'm pretty sure it would never happen) -- as in, "How would that even work?"

Just for fun, here's what DeepSeek said (any formatting errors are my fault):
Click to expand...
Interesting- sounds like the eden project here in the UK, or a park based on living with the land!

It sounds like something Eisner would have built in his first decade
 

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