Bob Iger at WDW now ... BoD to Follow?

[mahnamahna101]

I don't know that there IS a number specifically for Pandora. To my knowledge, relocating FotLK, the Harambe expansion, converting existing infrastructure to be nighttime-compatible, and Pandora itself are all lumped into one overall project. Something in my memory banks says "between $0.5B and $1B."

As you can see in many of the permits that @danlb_2000 has shared, the project is referred to as "DAK Expansion" (code name Morpho), not "Avatarland" or anything specific.

Don't forget the River of Lights show and Kilimanjaro getting a nighttime edition... kinda sad fixing Everest isn't part of getting Animal Kingdom ready for Pandora's grand opening.

All of that should easily equal DCA's redo cost ($1.25 billion)

 

[SYRIK2000]

I don't think that's the primary goal. I think their #1 concern is to break the perception of DAK and DHS as half-day parks. If they can the average family's itinerary to a full day at DAK, a full day at DHS, and two days each at MK and Epcot, they can patch up some of the cracks in the bubble that were created by Potter. Room nights are the ultimate name of the game.

The goal is definitely to keep people on property. The spending is a bi-product of that. Star Wars will be used as the WOW factor. Similar to Uni's HP areas. This may also draw some of the crowds out of MK. Which is another goal.

 

[Horizons '83]

I don't think that's the primary goal. I think their #1 concern is to break the perception of DAK and DHS as half-day parks. If they can the average family's itinerary to a full day at DAK, a full day at DHS, and two days each at MK and Epcot, they can patch up some of the cracks in the bubble that were created by Potter. Room nights are the ultimate name of the game.

I agree. With Avatarland I think Disney can truly make AK a full day (plus a full day there is roughly 8 to 10 hours anyway). They have a ton of capital they need to put into DHS if they want that to be a full day park. Right now its not even a half day for me.

 

[The Tuna]

Cars Land, Mermaid, TSMM and WoC were 75% of the $1.25 billion DCA got. The rest was Buena Vista Street and some placemaking for Paradise Pier.

Keep in mind... my idea of what might happen involves keeping Indy/Muppets

I would think $2 billion could get:
TSPL ($80 million)
Pizza Planet relocation ($25 million)
Great Movie Ride upgrade ($70 million) - $150 million
Fantasmic revamp ($50 million) - $200 million
New daytime/nighttime parade ($50 million) - $250 million
Cars dark ride ($100 million) - $350 million
Monsters Inc dark ride ($100 million) - $475 million
relocated Laugh Floor ($50 million) - $525 million
reskin of HITSK for Up/Bug's Life ($25 million) - $550 million
One Man's Dream moved to Main Street, USA... replaced by Pixar Story ($25 million) - $575 million
B&TB replacement along with an additional theater ($75 million) - $650 million
Mermaid replacement ($50 million) - $700 million
Disney Junior upgrade ($25 million) - $725 million
Incredibles E-ticket using Twister ride system ($250 million) - $975 million
Gusteau's TS ($50 million) - $1.025 billion
Mos Eisley Cantina TS ($50 million) - $1.075 billion
Star Wars theming ($75 million) - $1.115 billion
Star Wars speedbike coaster ($175 million) - $1.29 billion
X-Wing/TIE spinners ($50 million) - $1.34 billion
Millenium Falcon walkthrough/M&G ($75 million) - $1.415 billion
Star Tours facade upgrade ($25 million) - $1.44 billion
Indy upgrade/revamp ($50 million) - $1.49 billion
MuppetVision upgrade ($35 million) - $1.525 billion
Muppets C-ticket dark ride ($50 million) - $1.575 billion
Muppet Mobile Labs/Electric Mayhem Streetmosphere ($20 million) - $1.595 billion
Swedish Chef/Gonzo reskins for Mama Melrose's/old Pizza Planet ($50 mlilion) - $1.645 billion
Sunset/Animation placemaking ($55 million) - $1.7 billion
New parking garages/reworked backstage ($300 million) - $2 billion

While I'd love to see a Mystic Manor clone added to Sunset, Toontown where Animation Courtyard/the space by RnRC is, and some theming upgrades for RnRC... those aren't essential.

Giving the park some thematically distinct areas (Star Wars/Indy, Muppets, Pixar, Disney Animation/Toontown, Old Hollywood) without the 'you're on a movie set' pretense would do wonders for making DHS a worthwhile park.

If New Fantasyland cost $425 million and Pandora cost $500 million, surely all of that could happen for roughly $2 billion. Especially if Backlot Tour and LMA being demolished isn't included in the cost.

Well that is a list and a half. Nice job. One thing I dont see is a Star Wars immersive dark ride. That one Ride that will knock everyone's socks off. Ground breaking technology, great story, AA's that are the greatest of all time. however I'm sure if there are plans they will be held close to the vest, but This is what SW needs and deserves. One of the biggest franchises of all time should be represented so.

 

[mahnamahna101]

The goal is definitely to keep people on property. The spending is a bi-product of that. Star Wars will be used as the WOW factor. Similar to Uni's HP areas. This may also draw some of the crowds out of MK. Which is another goal.

Once the crowds are drawn out of MK and towards the other 3 parks, they can start doing some revitalization of Frontierland/Adventureland/Tomorrowland and increase Peter Pan's current capacity.

TDO's goal for annual non-parkhopper attendance at each park (once capacity is maximized should be)
MK - 24 million/year (after fixing the other 3, then serious work can begin here)
Epcot - 21 million/year (if every expansion pad was filled and the existing areas revamped, Epcot could definitely hold this many comfortably)
AK - 17 million/year (if every expansion pad is filled)
DHS - 16 million/year (if every expansion pad is filled)

 

[SYRIK2000]

Well that is a list and a half. Nice job. One thing I dont see is a Star Wars immersive dark ride. That one Ride that will knock everyone's socks off. Ground breaking technology, great story, AA's that are the greatest of all time. however I'm sure if there are plans they will be held close to the vest, but This is what SW needs and deserves. One of the biggest franchises of all time should be represented so.

I just hope they lean on their Imagineers. They have to the talent to make it work. Use them, don't dictate from the top.

 

[The Tuna]

I just hope they lean on their Imagineers. They have to the talent to make it work. Use them, don't dictate from the top.

Open up Scrooge McDuck's vault for this ride.

 

[mahnamahna101]

Well that is a list and a half. Nice job. One thing I dont see is a Star Wars immersive dark ride. That one Ride that will knock everyone's socks off. Ground breaking technology, great story, AA's that are the greatest of all time. however I'm sure if there are plans they will be held close to the vest, but This is what SW needs and deserves. One of the biggest franchises of all time should be represented so.

They could always cut the Speedbike coaster for a dark ride. DHS is pretty thrill-oriented already. I wouldn't mind a Death Star Omnimover/EMV hybrid.. laid out like SSE but rides like Indiana Jones Adventure. I said the Speedbike coaster mostly because it would be cheap than an E-ticket dark ride with sets/AAs. I want to see as much of DHS fixed as possible.

If the budget really is $1.75 billion-$2 billion, I don't just see how we only get a Star Wars E, Mos Eisley Cantina, a permanent Jedi arena, TSPL and some new parking garages.

 

[SYRIK2000]

Once the crowds are drawn out of MK and towards the other 3 parks, they can start doing some revitalization of Frontierland/Adventureland/Tomorrowland and increase Peter Pan's current capacity.

TDO's goal for annual non-parkhopper attendance at each park (once capacity is maximized should be)
MK - 24 million/year (after fixing the other 3, then serious work can begin here)
Epcot - 21 million/year (if every expansion pad was filled and the existing areas revamped, Epcot could definitely hold this many comfortably)
AK - 17 million/year (if every expansion pad is filled)
DHS - 16 million/year (if every expansion pad is filled)

We need a projected capacity chart Dave.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

One thing I dont see is a Star Wars immersive dark ride.

I'm not sure we want one. Star Wars is about speed, thrill, excitement, etc. I don't think a dark ride (in our current understanding of the term) would feel quite right for SW.

 

[CJR]

I don't think that's the primary goal. I think their #1 concern is to break the perception of DAK and DHS as half-day parks. If they can the average family's itinerary to a full day at DAK, a full day at DHS, and two days each at MK and Epcot, they can patch up some of the cracks in the bubble that were created by Potter. Room nights are the ultimate name of the game.

That's always the primary goal, but that doesn't mean they're not looking to add new shops and restaurants to the park. Think about it for a moment. How many rides and attractions have closed at DHS in the past two years? Now, how many shops and restaurants (of any kind) have closed? It's about $$.

More rides and attractions will come too (they have to), I'm just saying that guest spending is what Disney's after. More nights at hotels, more people eating at restaurants, more people shopping; they will want the best ROI.

 

[The Tuna]

They could always cut the Speedbike coaster for a dark ride. DHS is pretty thrill-oriented already. I wouldn't mind a Death Star Omnimover/EMV hybrid.. laid out like SSE but rides like Indiana Jones Adventure. I said the Speedbike coaster mostly because it would be cheap than an E-ticket dark ride with sets/AAs. I want to see as much of DHS fixed as possible.

If the budget really is $1.75 billion-$2 billion, I don't just see how we only get a Star Wars E, Mos Eisley Cantina, a permanent Jedi arena, TSPL and some new parking garages.

Hopefully the parking lot money isnt included in the in park budget. They aren't cheap to build. I guess August will tell us a bit more. Hopefully

 

[SYRIK2000]

I'm not sure we want one. Star Wars is about speed, thrill, excitement, etc. I don't think a dark ride (in our current understanding of the term) would feel quite right for SW.

To me the area theming is the most important. Feeling like you are in that universe.

 

[The Tuna]

I'm not sure we want one. Star Wars is about speed, thrill, excitement, etc. I don't think a dark ride (in our current understanding of the term) would feel quite right for SW.

I'm thinking along the lines of the Mummy or Forbidden Journey. Something that excites and is in constant motion and incorporates all that you have said, speed, excitement, thrills. maybe a hybrid dark ride thrill ride. Basically I want it to be the best ride that has ever been imagined and built.

Along with all the other additions as well, Cantina, Pixar Place, etc.

 

[216bruce]

gaasp.. what if she is a mommy blogger?

"You sayin that Steve's widow is a bad mommy-blogger?
Shut yo mouth.
But I'm talking 'bout' Steve.
Then we can dig it"

Let's see who 'gets' that one...
A million pazoozas to the winner.

 

[PhotoDave219]

We need a projected capacity chart Dave.

Nah, Armchair imagineering is his domain.....

 

[mahnamahna101]

We need a projected capacity chart Dave.

That was if EVERY single possible expansion pad was filled, ALL prime real estate is maximized and ALL shuttered areas are reopened.

MK

• Pad between Main Street and Buzz (move Philharmagic/OMD here)
• return of Swan Boats
• CoP/Space Mountain area (space between, not to mention building on top of CoP)
• Stitch
• Laugh Floor (if relocated to DHS)
• the Speedway
• the space behind Speedway and Space Mountain
• the space behind Be Our Guest
• the Storybook Circus area minus Dumbo
• it's a small world (if relocated to Epcot)
• Princess Fairytale Hall (replaced with dark ride)
• old Philharmagic theater
• space behind Big Thunder/HM
• Golden Horseshoe
• Polly's
• Davy Crockett canoes
• parts of TSI
• expansion pad behind Jungle Cruise/POTC

Epcot

• the 13 expansion pads in World Showcase
• Wonders of Life
• Second level of Communicore/Innoventions (room was left for a PeopleMover ride)
• Imagination pavillion
• old Kitchen Kabaret theater
• space between Land and Nemo
• Ellen
• Mission Space (only half-finished)
• Test Track (Jr. Autopia rumored to be next to it)
• Odyssey restaurant (put IASW here)

DHS

• Backlot Tour/LMA/all of SoA except Muppets
• Animation Courtyard
• One Man's Dream/Jack Sparrow area
• space on Sunset
• space between RnRC/Animation
• space behind Star Tours/Indy

AK

• Dino-Rama
• space by Dinoland
• return of Discovery River Cruise
• Finding Nemo theater
• space in Asia
• space in Africa
• expansion pad for new continent
• whatever's left over in Pandora (possibly for 1 more attraction based on Avatar sequels)

Hypothetically, the parks should be able to handle those level of crowds if all of those areas were filled up with high-capacity additions.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

That's always the primary goal, but that doesn't mean they're not looking to add new shops and restaurants to the park. Think about it for a moment. How many rides and attractions have closed at DHS in the past two years? Now, how many shops and restaurants (of any kind) have closed? It's about $$.

I think you'd be surprised at the amount of cannibalization that happens in theme park merch / F&B. If I have four shops and close one of them, I'm not going to lose 25% of my merchandise sales. The guy who was going to buy his Mickey t-shirt at shop A will now just buy it at shop B, C, or D. The same is true (perhaps more so) for Food and Beverage. I'm not going to sell more lunches by having more restaurants, because each person is still going to eat one lunch and only one lunch.

The two biggest exceptions are when sit-down dining locations are at capacity (in which case adding capacity adds volume) or when you have some kind of unique offering. That's where Star Wars has a Harry Potter-like opportunity. You might be able to sell Disney Joe a Star Wars t-shirt AND a Mickey t-shirt, rather than just swapping around where he gets the Mickey t-shirt.

 

[mahnamahna101]

Nah, Armchair imagineering is his domain.....

It's more speculation of what could be done with the $1.75 billion-$2 billion budget... and if the parking garages aren't included in the cost...

Considering NFL/Pandora cost $450-500 million, it's clear a lot can be done with that gigantic of a budget if TDO is smart with the money.

Just trying to figure out if we'll see more than just a couple Star Wars/Pixar additions and parking garages. More importantly, if this redo will actually expand capacity/attraction count.

 

[WDF]

Honestly, I wish for once Disney just closed the park for a year and put the pedal to the metal and got the majority of the work done via round the clock construction. I know this will never happen though, there is a better chance Universal gives them the Marvel rights back (aka no chance).

I just want to say thank you for spelling both "pedal" and "metal" right in your comment. It's amazing how often that phrase is used with incorrect spellings of both words!

Now back to regularly scheduled posting.