5th Park at WDW

[zapper]

I just returned from a job interview yesterday in California. The postion was senior technical architect. The news is that the job would be designing and implementing a major network upgrade at all US Disney theme parks (with the exception of CA since the company has already implemented the higher bandwidth solution there).

First on the list was EPCOT (2002, FL) , then DisneyLand (2003, FL, then DisneyWorld (2003-2004, FL). However, what was most interesting was the follow-on projects listed only as theme park 1 (2004, FL), theme park 2 (2005, FL) and theme park 3 (2005 to 2006/7, FL).

If you read this correctly, the above indicates a probably 5th park at DisneyWorld with completion date of sometime in 2006 or 07.

Unfortunately, the money they are offering would represent a 25 percent cut in my salary, along with 75 percent travel (my 11 year-old son wouldn't appreciate this).

I also can't pass on resumes due to the insider nature of the contact.

 

[Al]

sounds interesting! So what will be happening at epcot in 2002? im confused!

 

[DisJosh]

Al, I think you may be confused..........this isnt the thread for the new Epcot attraction........thats down a couple more

 

[zapper]

upgrade

It is my understanding that most of the network systems at the parks are either Token Ring or 10/100 Ethernet (max capability 5MB/Sec). The upgrade is the replacement of the network by Gigabit or G2 Ethernet which increases bandwidth and performance by a factor of 10 to 30. The projects at the existing parks are to the upgrade the networks, consolidate operations into one NOC (network operations center) at each park, with failover capability at another parks NOC (I.E. if EPCOT's NOC failed MGM's NOC would take over operations), and provide a more modular system for upgrades. According to the person I interviewed with, Disney's network has evolved rather then been designed, and as such they are running several different networks at each park. He made a comment that some of the older attractions are controlled via simple telephone wire.

I believe I read an article a while ago on the consolidated network being implemented at DisneySea, but don't remember much about it.

 

[MickeyMoose15]

A 5th WDW theme park would be a little premature at this point in time since Animal Kingdom attendance is really dropping per year. They will concentrate on getting attendance up before a 5th park is planned.

 

[DisJosh]

Originally posted by MickeyMoose15
A 5th WDW theme park would be a little premature at this point in time since Animal Kingdom attendance is really dropping per year. They will concentrate on getting attendance up before a 5th park is planned.

Well with the drop in attendance at WDW I would think they would be looking at lots of diferent ways to get more ppl there including building a new park.

 

[MickeyMoose15]

Yes but let's stick to the park that is losing attendance. If they build a 5th Theme park everybody will be heading to the new park and less likely to visit Animal Kingdom because the 5th park will probly have more thrill rides then AK.

 

[DisJosh]

I think EPCOT has lost more attendanc than AK!

 

[DisJosh]

Also there was an article in this forum about the dropping attendance at WDW as a whole.......so check it out and see what I mean.

 

[MickeyMoose15]

More are visiting Epcot then Animal Kingdom. Last Year, Animal Kingdom brought in 6 million people and is expected to bring in 5 million this year. Epcot has brought in 8 million and is expected to bring in 7 million this year.

 

[WDW-Imagineer]

Animal Kingdom is losing attendance because the thrill-seekers don't see it for what it is. AK is about learning & appreciating nature & wildlife. All these people want to do is go on roller coasters.

Keeping this is mind... if Disney builds Beastly Kingdom, it will most likely have thrill rides and therefore boost AK's attendance. So, I think Disney is gonna worry about building AK up before the go build another theme park. Although Disney is having a Resort-Wide attendance problem at WDW, I cannot see the logic in building another park when all its gonna do is take attendance away from AK. Disney has plenty of "tricks" up its sleves to boost attendance... and I don't think building another theme park is one of them.

 

[JAY-ROD]

Originally posted by WDW-Imagineer
Animal Kingdom is losing attendance because the thrill-seekers don't see it for what it is. AK is about learning & appreciating nature & wildlife. All these people want to do is go on roller coasters.

Keeping this is mind... if Disney builds Beastly Kingdom, it will most likely have thrill rides and therefore boost AK's attendance. So, I think Disney is gonna worry about building AK up before the go build another theme park. Although Disney is having a Resort-Wide attendance problem at WDW, I cannot see the logic in building another park when all its gonna do is take attendance away from AK. Disney has plenty of "tricks" up its sleves to boost attendance... and I don't think building another theme park is one of them.

You hit it right on the money.

 

[wdwmagic]

Originally posted by MickeyMoose15
More are visiting Epcot then Animal Kingdom. Last Year, Animal Kingdom brought in 6 million people and is expected to bring in 5 million this year. Epcot has brought in 8 million and is expected to bring in 7 million this year.

Your figures are a little off here. AK brought in 8.3million last year, and Epcot brought in over 10millions last year.

SUMMARY ATTENDANCE

Year 2000

In the USA

MK at WDW was No. 1 with an estimated 15.4 million.

Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., was No. 2 with an estimated 13.9 million visitors

Epcot at Walt Disney World was No. 3 with an estimated 10.6 million visitors

Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World was No. 4 with an estimated 8.9 million visitors

Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World was No. 5 with an estimated 8.3 million visitors.

 

[MickeyMoose15]

It was a guess but the fact is that Animal Kingdom attendance is dropping a lot ever since its opening in April 1998.

 

[bobaloo000]

Originally posted by WDW-Imagineer
Animal Kingdom is losing attendance because the thrill-seekers don't see it for what it is. AK is about learning & appreciating nature & wildlife. All these people want to do is go on roller coasters.

I do not consider myself a thrill-seeker, and my wife will not go on any roller coasters. I can tell you we both find AK lacking. We went to WDW in August for 11 days and planned to spend a good chunk of two days in AK. We left after the first day and decided to never go back. We went swimming instead.

It was hot, it felt crowded (what this place would be like at full capacity is scary) and there was just not enough to do. If the weather was cooler maybe we would have spent more time exploring, but in 95 degree heat this place had very little to offer to help cool you down.

Case in point the Lion King show. Great show, but there is limited shade in queue area, and it was stifling inside.

 

[<SRH>]

I agree that AK should get more rides. I also think they should put some more films in the park. One of the biggest complaints is there is not enough to do. Second, the park is hot. I agree, putting in some decent films about animals would boost the attraction count up more, also provide a welcome respite from the heat. Also, I am surprised that Disney has not come up with other kinds of themed shows utilizing technology from the "American Adventure".

 

[Herbie53]

I'm not sure about the 2006 date on the 5th park, but I'm sure they have something in mind already. These parks spend years on the drawing board after all.

Rumors about the 5th park may only mean that Beastly Kingdom is closer than we think. It's not unthinkable for Disney to begin a new park AND add to AK. It could be a sort of one two punch. There were a lot of projects going on when AK opened. They were even trying to get the cruise line off the ground. So we know they don't have to freeze all other development while they work on a new park.

There is also the possibility (though I don't think this is the case) that AK is hopeless as it sits. Maybe there is something inherently wrong with AK that will forever keep people away. The point is, if AK is a failure, they can't avoid expansion to preserve meager attendance numbers at a bad park. (but I would like to note that I really like Animal Kingdom)

 

[Seano846]

Animal Kingdom Sucks
Enough Said

 

[Crockett]

sounds interesting! So what will be happening at epcot in 2002? im confused!

I'm hoping for some sort of replacment for the now empt W.O.L. building. That facility has sat empty for too long, and is in need of a new D or E ticket attraction.
Also a refurb of Ellen's Energy Adventure & Imagination would be nice.

 

[SyracuseOrange]

I'm hoping for some sort of replacment for the now empt W.O.L. building. That facility has sat empty for too long, and is in need of a new D or E ticket attraction.
Also a refurb of Ellen's Energy Adventure & Imagination would be nice.

Please stop.