News Disney plans to accelerate Parks investment to $60 billion over 10 years

[DCLcruiser]

D23 is certainly watched by, or attended by, investors and Wall St. analysts. The information is built into their price assumptions. So, anything that is said there is material public information and can impact the stock. That is why they have to be clear that it is blue sky.

 

[LSLS]

What we see here doesn't matter in any type of business sense. The people who are on this, and other, message board/fan boards for Disney are fanatics so at the margin of the overall Disney customer base that any reaction here can't and shouldn't be considered. The General Public doesn't see or know what goes on at D23, or any special leaks. The general public doesn't talk about E Ticket rides, or how many animatronics were on the old splash vs the new Tianna. They don't engage in hours of discussion on the return of the Disney Magical Express, and if a new Moana ride fits better in AK or MK. The general public books trips to Disney because its where Mickey and Minnie are. Its where they went as a kid, and where they kids can go see Anna and Elsa. The general public gets their "news", to the extent information about an amusement park can be considered news, when there is a Sunday night prime time special on ABC. Or when there is a special segment announcing a new ride/park during the NBA playoffs.

To your point, the general public is not googling headlines for Disney news. Hell given how much AI analytics drive what we are shown on the web, most people who are not already Disney obsessed are not getting Disney centric blogs/posts in their feeds.

Could be. But, if people want any news on Disney, Disney Food Blog is a big one they end up at, and they discuss what a villains land would look like after it was announced. 3 paragraphs down they say it may never happen, but if you read the headline only, it's about a Villain expansion. CNN has discussed the investment including Beyond Big Thunder. So has Entertainment Weekly and Business Insider. You could be right, and it could just be our small group here that really knew about it. My point is I don't understand what you gain taking the risk that it blows up and isn't just our group.

I'll point out again, I think Disney did everything they could to point out it is nothing close to concrete (again, I'm not saying there's anything nefarious on their part), I just think the chances of it getting picked up as something coming was too great for a company who had recently cancelled a BUNCH of projects. Anyways, this is probably the wrong thread for this discussion on how well they follow through, so I'll leave my thoughts at this.

 

[Tha Realest]

Everything announced and cancelled since 2009 (When D23 Expo & Disney Parks Blog began)

• 2009 - Pixie Hollow and Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty meet and greet attractions for New Fantasyland for Magic Kingdom
• 2010 - Hyperion Wharf for Downtown Disney
• 2015 - Scandinavia and Alice in Wonderland attraction at Tokyo Disneyland
• 2017 -
  • Main Street Theater at Magic Kingdom
  • 4th hotel for Disneyland Resort
• 2018 -
  • Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney Studios Park
  • Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge @ Fort Wilderness (Covid Cancel)
• 2019 -
  • PLAY! Pavilion at Epcot (Unsure if Covid Cancel as it's only just been removed from Disney's press releases this year)
  • Wondrous China at Epcot
  • Festival Pavilion at Epcot (Covid Cancel)
  • Mary Poppins attraction at Epcot (Covid Cancel)
  • Spaceship Earth update at Epcot (Covid Cancel)
  • Avengers Quinject attraction at Epcot
• 2020 - Harmonious daytime fountain show at Epcot

I’m personally grateful none of those 2019 things came about.

 

[Starship824]

Everything announced and cancelled since 2009 (When D23 Expo & Disney Parks Blog began)

• 2009 - Pixie Hollow and Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty meet and greet attractions for New Fantasyland for Magic Kingdom
• 2010 - Hyperion Wharf for Downtown Disney
• 2015 - Scandinavia and Alice in Wonderland attraction at Tokyo Disneyland
• 2017 -
  • Main Street Theater at Magic Kingdom
  • 4th hotel for Disneyland Resort
• 2018 -
  • Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney Studios Park
  • Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge @ Fort Wilderness (Covid Cancel)
• 2019 -
  • PLAY! Pavilion at Epcot (Unsure if Covid Cancel as it's only just been removed from Disney's press releases this year)
  • Wondrous China at Epcot
  • Festival Pavilion at Epcot (Covid Cancel)
  • Mary Poppins attraction at Epcot (Covid Cancel)
  • Spaceship Earth update at Epcot (Covid Cancel)
  • Avengers Quinject attraction at Epcot
• 2020 - Harmonious daytime fountain show at Epcot

Am I the only one happy that festival pavilion didn't happen? All it would have done was add a paid Harmonious viewing location and block the view of SSE from world showcase. Also "Avengers Quuinjet Attraction at Epcot" lol.

 

[James Alucobond]

Am I the only one happy that festival pavilion didn't happen? All it would have done was add a paid Harmonious viewing location and block the view of SSE from world showcase. Also "Avengers Quuinjet Attraction at Epcot" lol.

I'm happy it didn't happen, but CommuniCore Hall feels really unambitious if I'm judging it based on what I can see of it thus far.

 

[Starship824]

I'm happy it didn't happen, but CommuniCore Hall feels really unambitious if I'm judging it based on what I can see of it thus far.

Yeah, the lighting looks nice but otherwise there isn't much else too it from I can tell.

 

[Surferboy567]

I’m personally grateful none of those 2019 things came about.

Mary Poppins really stings…even though it could of been so much more.

Spaceship Earth also had promise.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Indeed they did.

And the blue sky for DAK was a Moana water ride which was changed out to Tropical America. And that Moana ride is, according to insiders, still happening as being behind PotC.

And the BBTMR blue sky is replaced by some other project, maybe...

Stuff is happening as they announced, but it all shifted. As blue sky is wont to do, by definition of "blue sky."

The only announced thing that seems to have dropped off the radar is Zootopia for Tree of Life.

No idea what's going on with Zootopia but I imagine they'll want it open before Dino closes. They need a new family-friendly attraction in the park before TriceraTop Spin and Dig Site are closed.

 

[Starship824]

Spaceship Earth also had promise.

I'm so sad we didn't get Spaceship earth
Inspired By Moana



For those who cannot tell this is a joke.

 

[danlb_2000]

Am I the only one happy that festival pavilion didn't happen? All it would have done was add a paid Harmonious viewing location and block the view of SSE from world showcase. Also "Avengers Quuinjet Attraction at Epcot" lol.

I am disappointed it wasn't built, it had a really cool futuristic design that fits in well with Epcot. I don't know how much of the view it would have actually blocked since it was off center from where Spaceship Earth is.

 

[DCLcruiser]

I am disappointed it wasn't built, it had a really cool futuristic design that fits in well with Epcot. I don't know how much of the view it would have actually blocked since it was off center from where Spaceship Earth is.

+1 it was ambitious. The actual renovation is pedestrian.

 

[doctornick]

Spaceship Earth also had promise.

I want to see the ride get the refurb it needs, but I am absolutely petrified about what they will do in terms of the content/story and would prefer they just keep it as is over trying to "modernize". I have zero faith in the current crop of WDI folks making a ride that is appropriate for the space given other things they have done.

 

[DCLcruiser]

Are there any really creative WDI people left? Artists. Or did Chapy run them all off? I know Rohde is apparently back in an advisory capacity.

 

[BrianLo]

But I think this goes to the real issue with the Blue Sky announcements. People don't take it as a look behind the scenes at things being thrown against a wall that have yet to be worked out (and most likely won't happen), they are taking these as things that are coming.

Hard disagree. This forum took it the totally opposite direction. As fake projects that were never going to happen and empty promises.

The Bluesky sessions was extremely, extremely sign posted and labeled in the keynote as such. How are we honestly in a worse place today having experienced it? By all means get mad at the things they actually announced and never carried through with. Don't get annoyed with the blue sky session.

I like the early look at projects and having had the opportunity to watch them evolve. Particularly since it seems like they evolved for the better. I'm sorry you all want your relationship to the company to be one of media press releases months before opening projects.

This is literally the antithesis of this sub-forums entire reason to exist. I want a look behind the curtain and I'm so confused why there's a contingent who argues so strongly against it? Not talking about anything wasn't going to change the endpoint. But it does change the journey.

I understand it is frustrating that the company is not seemingly opening things of merit in the 2025/2026 window. But pretending they didn't have a big project in the works for 2027 wasn't going to change that calculus. It would just make fan sentiment worse.

 

[Tha Realest]

I want to see the ride get the refurb it needs, but I am absolutely petrified about what they will do in terms of the content/story and would prefer they just keep it as is over trying to "modernize". I have zero faith in the current crop of WDI folks making a ride that is appropriate for the space given other things they have done.

I have no doubt many in the company were (are?) licking their lips at the prospect of replacing entire sequences of this attraction.

 

[bwr827]

I want to see the ride get the refurb it needs, but I am absolutely petrified about what they will do in terms of the content/story and would prefer they just keep it as is over trying to "modernize". I have zero faith in the current crop of WDI folks making a ride that is appropriate for the space given other things they have done.

It’s in major need of overhaul. The icon of the park, and so cool to think there’s a ride in there! And then you ride it. It’s quaint, I guess.

 

[Jrb1979]

Hard disagree. This forum took it the totally opposite direction. As fake projects that were never going to happen and empty promises.

The Bluesky sessions was extremely, extremely sign posted and labeled in the keynote as such. How are we honestly in a worse place today having experienced it? By all means get mad at the things they actually announced and never carried through with. Don't get annoyed with the blue sky session.

I like the early look at projects and having had the opportunity to watch them evolve. Particularly since it seems like they evolved for the better. I'm sorry you all want your relationship to the company to be one of media press releases months before opening projects.

This is literally the antithesis of this sub-forums entire reason to exist. I want a look behind the curtain and I'm so confused why there's a contingent who argues so strongly against it? Not talking about anything wasn't going to change the endpoint. But it does change the journey.

I understand it is frustrating that the company is not seemingly opening things of merit in the 2025/2026 window. But pretending they didn't have a big project in the works for 2027 wasn't going to change that calculus. It would just make fan sentiment worse.

I am the opposite. I feel Disney should follow the steps of Universal and regional parks. Don't say anything til construction starts. I feel it builds even more hype with people guessing at what's coming.

 

[doctornick]

It’s in major need of overhaul. The icon of the park, and so cool to think there’s a ride in there! And then you ride it. It’s quaint, I guess.

Do you mean you think there’s a problem with the ride story/experience? If so I greatly disagree - SSE is fantastic (though the descent could be fixed) and that’s my main concern. The awesome history lessons with beautiful scenes and an inspiring concept would get swapped out for some silly IP driven concept they they are allowed to replace the ride.

Just rehab the vehicles and add a new descent.

 

[UNCgolf]

It’s in major need of overhaul. The icon of the park, and so cool to think there’s a ride in there! And then you ride it. It’s quaint, I guess.

It's still the best ride at EPCOT right now (not that there's a ton of competition; the EPCOT ride lineup is significantly weaker than it used to be).

 

[bwr827]

It's still the best ride at EPCOT right now (not that there's a ton of competition; the EPCOT ride lineup is significantly weaker than it used to be).

Best? Very debatable. My family’s ranking would go Cosmic Rewind, Ratatouille, Frozen Ever After, Soarin, Test Track, then maybe Spaceship Earth lumped in with the remainder.