Announced attractions and facilities that were never built

[speck76]

I found this.....was published in the Orlando Sentinel in May 1995

With the promise of bringing the world's best concert performers to
Central Florida, Osceola county has announced plans to construct a 30,000
seat amphitheater in the northwest corner of the county.

The theater will be built just south of Hwy 192, west of Interstate 4, on
an 85 acre site to be provided by WDW. Primary access will be via a
planned extension of World Drive. The facility is scheduled to be open in
time for WDW's 25th Anniversary celebration, beginning in 1996.

Current plans call for a 7,500 seat covered and climate controlled
seating area, and a 22,500 seat "open-air" seating area. Productions
planned for the facility will include major "name" concerts, stage
productions, major community events and nationally televised specials.

The facility will be operated by the Nederlander Organization, the
internationally renowned amphitheater developer and operator, who will also
be contributing five million dollars toward the design and construction of
the project. Examples of Nederlander's current concert offerings include
Elton John, Jimmy Buffet, Reba McIntyre, The Beach Boys, Tom Petty, Yanni,
R.E.M., Anita Baker, Vince Gill, Santana and James Taylor.

Disney, in addition to providing the land for the project (estimated
market value of 17 million), will contribute an additional 5.3 million for
access road construction and will assist in booking off-season events.

The remainder of the costs will be provided by Osceola county, through
issue of public revenue bonds of approximately 34 million dollars. The
bonds will be repaid from ticket surcharge fees, revenue from food and
beverage sales and from other revenue generated by the facility. The
facility will be constructed and owned by Osceola county.

Central Florida is currently one of the largest markets in the U.S.
without an amphitheater, and has no theatrical venues capable of seating
more than 5.000.

 

[tirian]

I remember these plans. Believe it or not, Disney was considering U2 to headline this theater! I've moved to several cities since then, but I still have the announcement in a box somewhere.

Times change.

EDIT: The U2 announcement is in the same shareholder report that announced "Hercules." Since that movie was released in 1997, I'm assuming that the report was from '96. I can't find the book right now. Incidentally, this is the same report that featured Animal Kingdom and had images of a "Fantasy-Animal Land."

 

[Pongo]

Doesn't Disney own the amphitheater on Lake Eola? I saw A Midsummer Night's Dream there. How many people does it hold?

 

[speck76]

Doesn't Disney own the amphitheater on Lake Eola? I saw A Midsummer Night's Dream there. How many people does it hold?

No....it was named for Walt Disney as the company donated money way back when to fix up the park.

It is more of a bandshell.....with bleacher seats for 500-1000

 

[MKCP 1985]

I remember when Pleasure Island was first announced, the announced plans called for a bar featuring ghosts like those from the haunted mansion. I don't remember anything like that ever being part of what eventually opened, but I think the Adventurer's Club is what it may have evolved into. *shrug*

Oh, nice find there, Speck.

 

[Madison]

There are, of course, the myriad attractions announced at the outset of the Disney Decade that never saw fruition -- things like Roger Rabbit at the Studios and ________ Tracy.

Others include Equitorial Africa and, though I can't recall precisely which, I know that several other Showcase countries appeared on guide maps, at the very least, though none ever opened.

 

[hedy]

Wasn't there going to be a park in Virginia in like 1992/3?

 

[mousermerf]

There are, of course, the myriad attractions announced at the outset of the Disney Decade that never saw fruition -- things like Rogger Rabbit at the Studios and ________ Tracy.

Others include Equitorial Africa and, though I can't recall precisely which, I know that several other Showcase countries appeared on guide maps, at the very least, though none ever opened.

Also, the Germany ride and the original concept for the Living Seas were published as well. I suppose we can add Pop Century Legendary Years in there too.

 

[mayoki]

Don't forget the three Monorail hotels that were never built...

Asian Resort-Where grand floridian is now
Venetian Resort-Between contemporary and TTC
Persian Resort-Off the spur line that goes to the maint bldg

 

[Madison]

There is, of course, Disney's America as mentioned above.

Did Disney ever formally announce their intention to build the DisneySea park at Long Beach, CA?

Mineral King Ski Resort is another one that never materialized.

There was a DisneyQuest planned for Philadelphia, also.

This is kinda fun

 

[fngoofy]

EPCOT:
Equatorial Africa
Israel

 

[loriwdunn]

There is, of course, Disney's America as mentioned above.

Did Disney ever formally announce their intention to build the DisneySea park at Long Beach, CA?

Mineral King Ski Resort is another one that never materialized.

There was a DisneyQuest planned for Philadelphia, also.

This is kinda fun

Press release for Disney's America
http://www.chotank.com/reledisn.html

 

[unkadug]

Don't forget the three Monorail hotels that were never built...

Asian Resort-Where grand floridian is now
Venetian Resort-Between contemporary and TTC
Persian Resort-Off the spur line that goes to the maint bldg

I wish they had been, I remember seeing them on an artists rendering of the WDW back in the 70's.

The Persian was really impressive looking with its onion dome turrets.

 

[Captain Hank]

Don't forget David Copperfield's Magic Underground. I remember seeing billboards for that at MGM.

 

[mkt]

It is more of a bandshell.....with bleacher seats for 500-1000

I didn't think you could fit 1000 people there... I've seen too much Shakespeare by the lake there, and if there were 1000 people, I'd be in shock

 

[Buford]

Oooo neat thread! How about E.P.C.O.T., the city?

 

[mkt]

Madisons Dive, a quirky club at Pleasure Island themed after the movie Mermaid. The ship in the bottle effect at the Adventurers Club came from that

 

[Merlin]

I was really disappointed when they scrapped plans to build David Copperfield's Magic Underground. That was a really cool concept.

 

[unkadug]

I was really disappointed when they scrapped plans to build David Copperfield's Magic Underground. That was a really cool concept.

As a fan of all things Magical, I too was diappointed. First the Magic Shop in Magic Kingdom, then this!

Maybe they could revive it in the "NEW" Pleasure Island?

 

[speck76]

As a fan of all things Magical, I too was diappointed. First the Magic Shop in Magic Kingdom, then this!

Maybe they could revive it in the "NEW" Pleasure Island?

doubtful.....it was a financial mess (it was supposed to be one of two or more locations)

In 1996, David Copperfield announced plans for an interactive, magic-themed restaurant, Copperfield Magic Underground, to be located in Times Square in New York and at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, and those are just the beginning. Unlike theme restaurants of the 90s, Copperfield Magic Underground will take patrons on a magical adventure where they will actually experience the magic as they dine.