3rd gate ideas?

[No Name]

Also, I think waterparks are hitting their peak and will start declining as 1) the population continues to age (most people reach a point where waterslides just aren’t interesting anymore)

Well as people age they tend to create new people! The mean age of Americans is rising largely because old people are living longer, not because there are less young people, so I don’t think that’s an issue.

I hope water parks stay popular.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Interesting that Disney owns Conodos off Walnut. Could you please elaborate on what properties they own and what it means for relocation use? Thanks!

That the company purchased a few condos in the large complex to offer senior managers, mainly WDW folks who either came for a few months or relocating to Anaheim. It was cheaper than placing in a Hotel, and some folks preferred it.

I have no idea if they still own any of them. But it was disclosed to the city a couple of years ago in a filing requirement. The same filing stated that Disney had no other holdings or investments in the City of Anaheim under the Disney name, or any undisclosed companies.

 

[Rich T]

Well as people age they tend to create new people! The mean age of Americans is rising largely because old people are living longer, not because there are less young people, so I don’t think that’s an issue.

I hope water parks stay popular.

I’m probably being overly pessimistic about it, but I do think we’re living in the Golden Age for water parks. The great ones will probably survive and adapt to cultural changes.

 

[Darkbeer1]

I think I remember the back story on the Walnut Street Condos.

A few Senior DLR CM's that lived in the condos got called to move to WDW as part of the Disney Parks formation quite a few years ago, and some complained they didn't want to move.

So during the deal making, TWDC offered to buy the Condos at a somewhat high price from the CM's. So Disney didn't want to sell at a loss, so hanged onto them.

That is third party info, so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[October82]

Ok so for arguments sake assume it costs $2-3b minimum to build this new gate. Where is the payback? Fill Disneyland hotel rooms? What Disneyland hotel rooms? It’s not really a resort destination like WDW

Well, one presumes that this new gate would also come with an awful lot of hotel rooms. If one looks back at the plans for the Disneyland Resort before DCA, there were several new hotels planned. Most of that land is still there and underutilized.

Sell more tickets ? How many more tickets? Prior to Covid DL was pretty close to busting at the seams with attendance. Sell more APs at higher prices? Disney already invested a huge sum on SWGE without any noticeable attendance burst - why on earth would they take another chance like that... I don’t see where the capital investment works

I don't know that Disney views SWGE as a failure because there hasn't been an attendance boost. Disney views their investments in the parks as strengthening the overall brand. The idea is that if you visit Galaxy's Edge, you might buy a souvenir or two, then go home and sign up for Disney+ to watch The Mandalorian, then go see the new trilogy film. While you're doing those things, you're planning your next cruise on a DCL ship where you can do a meet & greet with Darth Vader. Disneyland and DCA don't have many large expansion pads remaining, which means that for Disney to continue this model while meeting the existing demand, they will probably have to spend on expansion at some point. It is interesting that Disney has focused on expanding existing parks rather than building new ones, but there's lots of reason to think investment on this scale isn't out of the question. I've brought up Fantasy Springs at TDS a few times, but that is a $2-3 billion investment in both attractions and hotel rooms. There are other examples of ~$1 billion expenditures in single lands. If a new park is "only" a few billion, it seems like there will be appetite for that sort of thing at some point.

 

[smooch]

I know a 3rd gate is extremely extremely unlikely to ever be made but honestly I wish they would just make a 3rd gate for all the IP specific lands to get thrown in instead of going into the other 2 parks. Galaxy's Edge has absolutely no land being an entire IP land inside of Disneyland, it just shouldn't be there. It's not as bad in Hollywood Studios but it is ridiculous to see lands themed to eras / ideas and then just Star Wars. The Avengers Campus should have been something larger and cooler than a college campus land thrown into DCA right next to the Hollywood area. Those two places could have gone into a third gate with any other IP specific land they want like Toy Story Land in HS or even Cars Land. I think Cars Land is the only IP specific land that fits extremely well in DLR (Pandora in WDW is a pretty good fit as well) due to the fact that car culture is a very Californian thing and especially since the land started as a Car Land without the Cars IP but it happened to line up with the timing of the making of Cars. I'm not sure what other IPs could get thrown in there. Maybe a Zootopia land like I've seen as a "rumor" for Animal Kingdom in WDW for a while. I know that land would be an absolute nightmare of IP land upon IP land with what would seem like no rhyme or reason and would probably transition awkwardly, but I'd rather have it all in a 3rd gate that can be ignored or kinda just overlooked and kept these places out of DLR and DCA.

 

[mlayton144]

Interesting take October, so I think you are saying “synergies” onto the other divisions would pay back the investment. I just don’t see it , I think if you have that kind of coin to invest wouldn’t it be better to build out some new place in the middle of the country where land and labor are cheaper, and hit that untapped demand where you have to travel 1500 miles east or west to visit a Disney theme park? You could build a much more impressive park and resorts for the same money , tap into a new metro area (maybe somewhere in Texas with large cities, highways, and airports close by). Walt Disney knew 60 years ago that the investing in SoCal reached a tipping point, I could only imagine the situation is exponentially worse now. Either way now with that $70 billion FOX disaster , studios and theme parks hemorrhaging cash , it’s gonna be a while IMO

 

[BasiltheBatLord]

I feel like the best outcome for SWL at DLR would’ve been to build it as a separate “mini-gate” somewhere with separate, cheaper admission.

 

[HongKongFooy]

We have the world's best beaches and a lot of homes have pools.

Malibu, Huntington and the like the best in the world???
Ya, they're high quality no doubt. I give them solid marks but "best".... no, no way whatsoever. The world has likely 30 or more that would rip So Cal's a new one. So Cal may not even be top 50 globally. Thailand, Philippines, Brazil, Australia, Micronesia, Caribbean region, Indonesia and more. Dare I even say Florida's vast beaches as better.



As for home pools well that's not a fair comparable to themed out things like Blizzard Beach and Typhoon.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Maybe a whole third park dedicated to Star Wars and Princesses, but especially Star Wars. Clearly, the demand is there. They can have a Rose and Laura Dern meet and greet, as these great characters are so beloved. They can have more stores to sell all the unsold SW merchandise and an entire Baby Yoda store.

 

[Phroobar]

As for home pools well that's not a fair comparable to themed out things like Blizzard Beach and Typhoon.

You should see some of my neighbor's pools. They make those places look like dumps.

 

[mlayton144]

Malibu, Huntington and the like the best in the world???
Ya, they're high quality no doubt. I give them solid marks but "best".... no, no way whatsoever. The world has likely 30 or more that would rip So Cal's a new one. So Cal may not even be top 50 globally. Thailand, Philippines, Brazil, Australia, Micronesia, Caribbean region, Indonesia and more. Dare I even say Florida's vast beaches as better.

Any beach where you need to wear a wetsuit to be comfortable in the water is automatically disqualified

 

[Darkbeer1]

Any beach where you need to wear a wetsuit to be comfortable in the water is automatically disqualified

Most Water Park attractions use unheated water.

Another reason why SoCal Water Parks operate May through September. The water is COLD most of the year.

Forgot to mention the LEGOLAND California Water Park

And Aquatica San Diego/Chula Vista

20+ Water Parks in Southern California

Are you looking for a great place to escape the heat in SoCal? Here is a list of 20+ Water Parks in Southern California to spend the day with friends.

socalfieldtrips.com

 

[Phroobar]

Any beach where you need to wear a swimsuit in the water is automatically disqualified

Fixed that for you.

 

[HongKongFooy]

Any beach where you need to wear a wetsuit to be comfortable in the water is automatically disqualified

Absolutely......that was on my mind when I challenged the notion of best beach. When I rate the "beach", and maybe I'm being unfair, but I include ocean water clarity and temperature. I want to be able to swim with a mask without the need for extra layers to stay warm. In all basics I associate beach with water activity.......they go hand -in-hand to me. If we're just talking about beach as in dry land/sand only then of course So Cal moves up the ladder a bit.

 

[Phroobar]

Laura Dern meet and greet...

I wouldn't mind a Laura Dern meet and greet if she were from Wild at Heart or Jurassic Park.

 

[J4546]

its too late for this now, but if not a waterpark, a disney studios park would have been great for all the star wars/marvel land stuff

 

[Phroobar]

its too late for this now, but if not a waterpark, a disney studios park would have been great for all the star wars/marvel land stuff

We have Universal Studios for that. What we need is Port Disney down in Long Beach.

 

[DLR92]

We have Universal Studios for that. What we need is Port Disney down in Long Beach.

Oh man, Port Disney would be amazing. It too bad the Coastal Commission governing the ocean around there never budge for Disney proposal. It sounds like Long Beach show little interest in Disney proposal too. Probably because the reaction from citizens. No one wanted the resort citing more damage to the ocean and no one want more traffic.

 

[DLR92]

Malibu, Huntington and the like the best in the world???
Ya, they're high quality no doubt. I give them solid marks but "best".... no, no way whatsoever. The world has likely 30 or more that would rip So Cal's a new one. So Cal may not even be top 50 globally. Thailand, Philippines, Brazil, Australia, Micronesia, Caribbean region, Indonesia and more. Dare I even say Florida's vast beaches as better.



As for home pools well that's not a fair comparable to themed out things like Blizzard Beach and Typhoon.

I think Laguna Beach is only CA best beach. California has some very good rivers to see and soak in. I rather go take a day at a river in CA than spend $$$ money for a water park full of thousand of people. I am too turn off to visit water parks.

I rather be in my own pool too! If in had one. lol
Most tropical beach are way better with clarity of water and the serenity that come with it. Their a beach I would love it go visit on a remote island off of Indian Ocean.