Disney Quest to close in July 2017

[PorterRedkey]

From the Disney Parks Blog:
https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...isneyquest-at-disney-springs-to-close-july-3/

 

[TylerFG]

There goes one of the last references to the Mighty Ducks TV show

And Alien Encounter! :/

 

[EthanMagicBands]

Here's the part from the Disney Parks Blog post today that I found the most interesting (in bold):

"Today, we wanted to share an update that to make way for this basketball-themed experience, the West Side area will be undergoing changes – beginning with the closure of DisneyQuest on July 3, 2017."

 

[montyz81]

I'm a DQ fan. Not a NBA fan, so I shall pass!

I am too. I personally love the Blizzards, especially with M&M's in them. I'm sorry guys, I just couldn't resist!

 

[deeevo]

This will be an epic failure.

 

[tissandtully]

I give it a year before it's rebranded or it's selling remote controlled cars on the ground floor with a mostly empty building.

 

[Red Sox]

What an underwhelming replacement!

 

[GhostHost1000]

is it too early to create a new discussion called "NBA Experience to close"

 

[tissandtully]

is it too early to create a new discussion called "NBA Experience to close"

Never too early!

 

[KBLovedDisney]

 

[Rinx]

I feel like The NBA Experience will appeal to lots of foreigners. Maybe even more so than Americans.

 

[bhg469]

is it too early to create a new discussion called "NBA Experience to close"

I sort of surprised it hasn't been created already..

The first time it was announced, idea seemed to die right away and the feedback seemed mostly underwhelming. I simply cannot see this coming through or lasting more than a few years.

 

[wdwfan22]

NBA couldn't even make a restaurant work at City Walk, what makes them think this will work at Disney Springs. This will be an epic failure.

 

[biggy H]

I feel like The NBA Experience will appeal to lots of foreigners. Maybe even more so than Americans.

It doesn't appeal to this non-American..... NBA doesn't have that much following over on this side of the pond.
They would have been better off having something based on football..(soccer to the uninitiated). Regardless, we won't be visiting it (basketball or football based),
Disney Quest was only really popular with Brits as it was included in the Ultimate tickets.

 

[Biff215]

Personally I would have preferred an ESPN Zone, but Disney bailed on that concept a while back and clearly wants this to be third party like most of Disney Springs. I'm not ready to call this a failure yet, in part because it hasn't opened, but also because it could be a draw if done well. Outside of ESPN Club, WDW lacks many good options for catching a game. Even though the focus will clearly be basketball, I'd imagine there will be enough screens to also show other sports. The interactive element could also be a hit, as that tends to be a strength of concepts like this.

I seem to remember hearing that Universal didn't renew the NBA's lease. Not that it's a good sign of success, but that would be a different story than others are suggesting here. Please correct me if I'm wrong, I don't have any direct info.

I certainly understand that many are sad to see DQ go, but like ESPN Zone, the concept was abandoned and allowed to essentially rot. Disney has made it clear it doesn't want to invest in offerings like this, so there was little hope of DQ ever getting the updates it needed. Even though this concept may not appeal to everyone (how many truly do?), I think it's a bit early to predict its demise. Basketball is a very popular international sport with some of the biggest celebrities as both players and fans. I'm interested to see what they do with this space.

 

[tribbleorlfl]

NBA couldn't even make a restaurant work at City Walk, what makes them think this will work at Disney Springs. This will be an epic failure.

To be fair, NBA City was open for 16 years, so I think it's a bit of stretch to say it didn't work.

That being said, that was a themed restaurant. This is supposed to be an interactive experience. Not sure how much they can stretch the NBA experience to fill a whole building. There are only so many times one can shoot some arcade baskets. I'm not expecting great things.

 

[CJR]

If it fails, Disney can easily convert it to an ESPN concept. If it doesn't fail, the space is off their hands. Either way, the execs probably view this move as a win. It's a big loss though, for all non-NBA fans, myself included. Such a big missed opportunity here.

 

[jakeman]

Unsure on that, but there were apparently also a lot of creative differences.

Like the debate whether this is a bad idea or a terrible idea?

 

[tissandtully]

I just hate what happened to DQ. There was so much potential to keep updating it, but as others have said, it was left to rot. I will probably head out to it one last time, as a local it was what I liked to do on the weekends while in high school and college, that was 17 years ago, and it's still basically the same, lol.

 

[doctornick]

Bummer. I was hoping DQ could last until August, as we are likely planning a trip then and I was hoping to visit for one last hurrah (we are probably going to get WP&M tickets so it wouldn't have been any added).