Disney Springs Plans: What do they mean?

[Captain Neo]

This post is a fail. I mean, after all, aren't we supposed to believe nobody will flock to a glorified TDO inspired outdoor mall?

We need a face palm smiley as simple sarcasm just does not cut it.

dude do you ever run out of gas?

 

[flynnibus]

In fairness, isn't the pedstrian bridge contained solely within Universal property? Any kind of direct access from I-4 to DTD is going to have a positive effect on the I-4/535 area, which is easily the biggest traffic problem on the west side of the county. I-4 itself gets backed up because 535 can't handle its traffic. I think a better argument can be made for ponying up some taxpayer money.

The other post was a pathetic attempt at tying the two situations together - when they are actually completely different due to the source of the money and how the money was earmarked for use.

 

[jt04]

dude do you ever run out of gas?

I am nowhere near as prolific as a certain spirit. Perhaps you posted in error.

 

[Captain Neo]

I am nowhere near as prolific as a certain spirit. Perhaps you posted in error.

nope. I've seen you attacking spirit, inflating optimistic rumors, defending Disney's poor decisions, and talking nonsense for years now

 

[wdwmagic]

The announcement will be tomorrow!

Downtown Disney's huge expansion to be announced tomorrow

 

[Cody5242]

Has Disney set up a press conference for it?

 

[SirLink]

The announcement will be tomorrow!

Downtown Disney's huge expansion to be announced tomorrow

Haven't people being saying that the last few events though?

 

[Genie of the Lamp]

So I'm guessing George and Keith will present this project to the media at this media event (Around the World presentation)? Any idea what time this will be announced at and where? Just curious.

 

[monothingie]

Finally!

The announcement will be tomorrow!

Downtown Disney's huge expansion to be announced tomorrow

Finally a nexgen Avatar based shopping experience!

 

[TravisMT81]

Well Tom is in town as well, if that means anything.

 

[Figments Friend]

Let us see if anything substantial will be revealed.
Bring on the concept art !

 

[GoofGoof]

Per caps are likely much, much higher for families, and WDW's push has seemed to aim squarely on the family with young children and multi-generational family demos.

Something else to think about - as standards in show quality, food quality, and overall experience have declined, they seem to have adjusted their marketing focus onto less discerning groups.

Agreed.

You can't please everyone all of the time. They tried PI which was great but focused on a limited demographic. They are now marketing to a different crowd. I was a frequent visitor to Las Vegas before kids (2 or 3 trips a year at least). There was a period in the late 90s when Vegas decided to market to families. MGM Grand had a large amusement park in the back, places like Excalibur and Treasure Island had family friendly outdoor shows and attractions and a bunch of casinos added large arcades. The plan completely flopped. Whatever gains came from adding families with kids were offset by losses from adults looking for "sin city". The amusement park was closed and replaced with a tower of condos, the Pirate ship battle at TI was stripped of its family friendly theme and replaced with half naked dancers and most of the arcades were either shrunk or removed completely. I don't think the PI experiment was a failure economically, but they wouldn't have shut down a proven money maker unless they thought it hurt the overall image. The ironic thing is that by adding 3rd party vendors to replace Disney owned clubs they lose some of the control over the content. I know they still impose strict rules on vendors, but you can't completely stop them from conducting their business.

 

[jrh1985]

Quick Question, has this Around The World Event been planned for a while??? I haven't seen anything about it before tonight. Are we expecting anything else other than DTD/DS??????

 

[Genie of the Lamp]

Quick Question, has this Around The World Event been planned for a while??? I haven't seen anything about it before tonight. Are we expecting anything else other than DTD/DS??????

This was first rumored on Februrary 5th on Screamscape. So my guess is since it's a yearly event, it was probably planned a while back. I believe the only thing we will hear announced is the DTD revamp as that will be the only focus and delay the DHS/Carsland minus Luigi's announcement until the D23 Expo this August 9th-11th in Anaheim Convention Center. Now that Burbank is running this event, maybe something big will happen/be announced.

 

[jrh1985]

This was first rumored on Februrary 5th on Screamscape, so my guess is since it's a yearly event, it was probably planned a while back. I believe the only thing we will hear announced is the DTD revamp as that will be the only focus and postpone the DHS/Carsland minus Luigi's announcement until the D23 Expo this August 9th-11th in Anaheim Convention Center.

Thanks! I must have missed it on screamscape everything is moving so fast tonight!

 

[LOSTllama]

Long are they days when they promoted the classy Disney resorts to empty-nester couples and promotional images showed nicely dressed folks eating in restaurants with strolling musicians.

Nowadays, I think they are going after rubes (credit due to WDW74) who are not well traveled and perhaps less savvy about the actual value of the product they are spending their money on. The touristy "Rizzos", if you will (credit to Kevin Yee).

Yet at the same time the prices of deluxe resorts are at the point that only a 1 percenter could afford them, and they are building the Four Seasons and Golden Oak for a perhaps more discerning crowd. Its certainly interesting.

By the way, any insiders know how sales are going at Golden Oak? Aside from promoting the first family that bought in, and of course the big home to be purchased by George K. and Andy, are houses selling? I personally don't see the market for it, but am curious if that project is moving along.

Oaks is going pretty well.... Phase two is already starting development...

 

[jt04]

nope. I've seen you attacking spirit, inflating optimistic rumors, defending Disney's poor decisions, and talking nonsense for years now

You attack me and 33 minutes later Disney breaks the news through Steve. My optimism is not without cause.

So let that be a lesson to you and those who think as you do.

Now if you will excuse me I am off to celebrate in VindicationLand.

OK, that is my gloat of the week. Heh.

PS- Hi certain spirit.

 

[maxairmike]

@Lee, @WDW1974, and @wdwmagic, thoughts I just had today regarding I-4 access and a second garage, also addressing the tendency to want to park as close to Marketplace as possible.

I remember having several back-and-forths/conversations on here with @raven about the I-4 exit solution to DTD, and I think @Lee chimed in on those as well. If I recall correctly, the consensus seemed to be that I-4 access would be into DTD only, and would be via the current 536/Epcot ramp with a third branch running to the BVD intersection at entrance #2, running between TDO and Typhoon. At that time we were discussing access from I-4 into a DTD without garages, or at least one on that side. With two garages, this second one can be fed directly from I-4 via the new branch off the existing exit using a flyover (with an intersection option ramp, I would think). Depending on the location of the second garage, they could possibly "link" the two if they design the traffic flow correctly to encourage parking in the other by making it feel more like one large garage. Regardless of that, though, the direct access from I-4 not only helps reduce congestion on 535 and BVD, but would also provide a potential boost to the West Side tenants with direct "natural" traffic, instead of "forced" traffic that parks down there now, also making those units more lucrative.

Is what I've laid out above similar to what is in the plans, or am I completely off the mark on how they plan to handle it?

 

[articos]

So I'm guessing George and Keith will present this project to the media at this media event (Around the World presentation)? Any idea what time this will be announced at and where? Just curious.

George, Tom, Tom and Keith should all be there.

 

[WDW1974]

In fairness, isn't the pedstrian bridge contained solely within Universal property? Any kind of direct access from I-4 to DTD is going to have a positive effect on the I-4/535 area, which is easily the biggest traffic problem on the west side of the county. I-4 itself gets backed up because 535 can't handle its traffic. I think a better argument can be made for ponying up some taxpayer money.

I think an argument for public money can be made, but I wouldn't want to make it in this economy with TWDC basking in record profits and an allt-time stock high. The traffic is caused by their development and they really should just pay for the whole thing ... WDW may be doing well, but Central Florida is in no way recovered from the economic slide that began in 2007. Public money should not go to multi-billion corporations that want a more convenient way for guests to bypass outside businesses and come right into their new parking garages.