5th Gate Announced for 50th Anniversary?

[kadybat]

Coming from the perspective of Disneyland being my home park, a word of advice - waiting to see what a new gate might be and praying for exciting expansions is a surefire recipe for disappointment. I remember the months and months of speculation with regard to the mystery plot of land that everyone swore was going to be a waterpark and now it's panned out to be a parking lot that may not even get built.

Just, be patient. I know telling a room full of Disney fans to chill out on speculation is like trying to tell Microsoft to stop making Windows, but if I've learned anything from watching Disneyland expansion plans, it's to expect disappointment. And really, given WestCOT, and Beastly Kingdom, and Epcot Discoveryland, even credible exciting expansions can turn into... well, Camp Minnie Mickey. I was at DCA in February 2001, I know what disappointment feels like

Expect nothing, and allow yourself to be surprised if something does appear. There's a long way to the 50th and we've got plenty of other stuff to discuss.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Build out first 4 parks to capacity and then talk to me about 5th gate. We have about 15-20 more BRAND NEW attractions that could be built at the existing 4 parks.

 

[Amidala]

I definitely enjoy speculating about what a fifth gate would be if it ever did happen, but agree w/ what people have said already: I would prefer WDW focus on its existing parks (especially DHS and Epcot) because they need the attention. It wouldn't sit right with me if a fifth gate opened while Future World remained in disrepair, and DHS remained thematically incoherent (with whole areas like Animation Courtyard practically empty and shows like BATB and TLM that are desperately in need of replacement). I would even prioritize expansion and upkeep to MK's lands (especially Tomorrowland) over a fifth gate. They don't even have a nighttime parade at this point, which is...just depressing.

The recent announcements are a step in the right direction, but I would love to see more new attractions announced to flesh out existing areas of the parks. I'm hoping for more announcements on all of these things at the 2019 D23 and leading up to the anniversary.

I wouldn't rule out a fifth gate entirely, but think it would be a very long way off. I will say, I've heard the villains concept batted around for years and can't bring myself to care. I like the idea of a villain-based attraction, but an entire park based on this feels like overkill to me and doesn't leave much room for future growth. Would love for TDO to come out of left field and surprise us with a completely different concept. But...as people have pointed out, it's hard to imagine how a fifth gate would look and feel since the post-WWOHP rise of "immersive" lands, attractions and entertainment. I definitely worry that the overall theme of the park would be chosen as a means to showcase certain IPs, and that the theme would be secondary to IP-based areas.

But who knows...at the very least, I don't think we'll see a fifth gate under Iger, so maybe the approach would be different?

 

[Tavernacle12]

I definitely enjoy speculating about what a fifth gate would be if it ever did happen, but agree w/ what people have said already: I would prefer WDW focus on its existing parks (especially DHS and Epcot) because they need the attention. It wouldn't sit right with me if a fifth gate opened while Future World remained in disrepair, and DHS remained thematically incoherent (with whole areas like Animation Courtyard practically empty and shows like BATB and TLM that are desperately in need of replacement). I would even prioritize expansion and upkeep to MK's lands (especially Tomorrowland) over a fifth gate. They don't even have a nighttime parade at this point, which is...just depressing.

The recent announcements are a step in the right direction, but I would love to see more new attractions announced to flesh out existing areas of the parks. I'm hoping for more announcements on all of these things at the 2019 D23 and leading up to the anniversary.

I wouldn't rule out a fifth gate entirely, but think it would be a very long way off. I will say, I've heard the villains concept batted around for years and can't bring myself to care. I like the idea of a villain-based attraction, but an entire park based on this feels like overkill to me and doesn't leave much room for future growth. Would love for TDO to come out of left field and surprise us with a completely different concept. But...as people have pointed out, it's hard to imagine how a fifth gate would look and feel since the post-WWOHP rise of "immersive" lands, attractions and entertainment. I definitely worry that the overall theme of the park would be chosen as a means to showcase certain IPs, and that the theme would be secondary to IP-based areas.

But who knows...at the very least, I don't think we'll see a fifth gate under Iger, so maybe the approach would be different?

I agree. There's a LOT that needs to be done to fix up AK, HS, and Epcot before they can justify a fifth gate. AK and HS need two more large additions beyond what we already have, and Epcot needs its redo. I'd hope by the 50th we'd hear what's next for AK and HS and Epcot would be on it's way towards a refresh.

I liked the villain rumor, but I also like the idea of a 'Heroes Versus Villains' park, instead of straight up villains. The center could be Elsa's mountain on one side and Bald Mountain on the other or one side to split the park. It's a broad category and tailor made for IP which may help save whatever's left of the other parks once it's open.

 

[elcheapo]

I agree. There's a LOT that needs to be done to fix up AK, HS, and Epcot before they can justify a fifth gate. AK and HS need two more large additions beyond what we already have, and Epcot needs its redo. I'd hope by the 50th we'd hear what's next for AK and HS and Epcot would be on it's way towards a refresh.

I liked the villain rumor, but I also like the idea of a 'Heroes Versus Villains' park, instead of straight up villains. The center could be Elsa's mountain on one side and Bald Mountain on the other or one side to split the park. It's a broad category and tailor made for IP which may help save whatever's left of the other parks once it's open.

If they open a 5th gate MK hours will be cut to 3:00pm

 

[po1998]

You think Comcast/Universal is buying over 1000 acres across from the convention center to not build a theme park? This property will be over twice the size of their existing resort. Large enough for 2 theme parks, a water park, resorts, CityWalk 2.0, and a 4 star NBC/Golf Channel Resort with a state of the art 18 hole golf course. All within walking distance of the 2nd largest convention center in the U.S.

If they did all that, they would have 5 theme parks and 2 water parks. Anyone still think Universal hasn't gotten Disney's attention?

And as far as saving Nintendo for the south campus. One word, Pokemon. I expect our editions to actually be something like Super Nintendoland: Mushroom Kingdom at USF. Super Nintendoland: Legend of Zelda at IOA. And Pokeman in the south campus.

Is there a map of the land UNI has already purhased, and also the land they are trying to acquire?

 

[Amidala]

For me, though, this raises the same issue...With both parks' increased focus on IP-themed lands and attractions (although I guess you could argue this is nothing new for Universal)...how will these new parks even be themed? I'm not saying it's not possible, just very curious about the balance Universal will strike on this if it actually goes forward.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

For me, though, this raises the same issue...With both parks' increased focus on IP-themed lands and attractions (although I guess you could argue this is nothing new for Universal)...how will these new parks even be themed? I'm not saying it's not possible, just very curious about the balance Universal will strike on this if it actually goes forward.

I'm pretty sure we are running out of "land" worthy IPs. Next comes mini-"lands". I can see IPs like How to Train Your Dragon and Kung Fu Panda getting large mini-"lands". But nothing on the scale of Potter and Star Wars. More like World Showcase Pavilions.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Is there a map of the land UNI has already purhased, and also the land they are trying to acquire?

The purple is what they own. The green is what they are trying to get.
https://m.imgur.com/bauRJdL

 

[po1998]

The purple is what they own. The green is what they are trying to get.
https://m.imgur.com/bauRJdL

Thanks!

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

NO. Never ever IMHO...well perhaps with the exception of a Discovery Cove-Style boutique park, but not a 5. full-size theme park! Even with all the announcements there is still a TON of work to do in all four parks, work for at least 20 years (at the present pace, Walt would have done it perhaps in 5-7) and I don't even see the necessity for a fith gate that finally makes it impossible to do WDW in less than a week.
Magic Kingdom is far from being perfect enough to concentrate resources on such a huge task, especially after the FLE turned out to be not exactly a complete dud but still far from what Disney expected. We have an AL that hasn't seen an expansion or even major addition since the Nixon presidency and an increasingly dated E-Ticket (JC). And TL is increasingly becoming a Not-very-tommorrow-TL more every year! Even the Tron coaster will not solve the problem that TL has outdated (TL Speeways, CoP) or misplaced (MILF, what's futuristic about monster comedians?) or highly unpopular (SGE) or increasingly deteriorating (SM) attractions! And I don't consider that Frontierland is as desperately in need of an expansion/refurb as TL but there haven't been any major changes there for more than 25 years by now! There is a LOT to do in the MK, at least in both TL and AL and this is just one park.
I will not do the same for EPCOT but even with the announced changes we still have a terrible JII, to few attractions in WS, no new pavilion since the presidency of Reagan and more, so EPCOT is still a LOT work.
DAK has Avatar now, yes but even with Avatar it is still a park that has to few attractions compared to it's size and an E-Ticket (EE) that is even more in need of a HUGE refurb to get the Yeti out of the disco.
DHS is at the moment the park with the most additions and expansions and I believe when SWL and TSL are complete it will be for the next years the park, that you consider the one least in need of additions.
But that still leaves three parks to do, two of them increasingly desperately.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

I'm pretty sure we are running out of "land" worthy IPs. Next comes mini-"lands". I can see IPs like How to Train Your Dragon and Kung Fu Panda getting large mini-"lands". But nothing on the scale of Potter and Star Wars. More like World Showcase Pavilions.

There is one, that would still attract huge masses: THE LORD OF THE RINGS.

 

[deix15x8]

Disney will not be announcing a 5th gate by 2021. I wouldn't be surprised to see a 3rd gate announced for Disneyland Paris in 2019. Now that the Walt Disney Company owns 100% of Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Walt Disney World they have to consider all three properties and it's highly unlikely two would be getting new parks at the same time. They are required to build a 3rd gate in Disneyland Paris by 2017, but received an extension to 2030. With the Olympics now destined for Paris in 2024 it would be the perfect time to open that 3rd gate. They need a lot more rides in Disneyland and Hollywood Studios is no where near a complete park, but if they have to build a 3rd gate they might as well take advantage of the global media attention. In 2028 the Olympics are then in Los Angeles so Disneyland will need something to grab attention from Universal Studios Hollywood which will be home to the international broadcast center. They will not want to be opening a 5th gate in WDW when they need to be opening attention grabbing investments in the other two resorts. I'd expect an announcement could come in 2028 near the Olympics for a park opening in the early 2030's at the soonest. We have enough time that we could even see the 3rd gate in DLP for 2024, a 3rd gate for DL in 2028, and a 5th gate for WDW in 2032. That would be some mega investments though.

DLP is contractually required to open a 3rd gate. DL is land locked to where it needs a new gate to add more property. WDW has plenty of room to add rides to existing parks. Adding a new park requires the addition of more night time entertainment and a completely new set of transportation infrastructure to support another park. Adding rides to an existing park avoids those extra costs.

 

[Jeff456]

Don't think we'll see a 5th gate anytime soon, still plenty of ways to expand the current parks before that's considered!

 

[jloucks]

They will never build a 5th gate. Never. Their bread-and-butter guest is the American family of 4 and the American family of 4 has a relatively fixed vacation budget and a similarly fixed number of vacation days. A 5th gate would expand WDW beyond what the average family can do in a week but the average family isn't going to stay longer than a week no matter what because they don't have the money or the vacation time. The ROI isn't there because the idea of a "week long vacation" creates diminishing returns when you try to expand beyond that point.

All true, but what about the concept of providing enough content to lure repeat customers? In other words, too much to do in a single week, so come back next year?

I know that would impact me in a way conducive to to return trips.

But, I am not normal.

Hmm,, so the question is, now many people that go to WDW are repeat visitors. How many families are one week a generation visitors.

 

[rk03221]

A fifth gate would be a terrible investment. They need to upkeep their current parks, 3 of which are currently failing (DHS, Epcot, Blizzard Beach). I dont think it will ever happen, they are focused on building more parks around the world than in Florida. I think they need to add more affordable resorts and try to draw in the middle class again.