News Disneyland Working on Future Master Plan- includes Theme Park Expansions, Retail/Entertainment Space, and More!

[mickEblu]

A third gate is a terrible idea. There, I’ve said it.

If I had the choice, the same investment can go to the existing two. I think the fan fallacy that more gates equals more investment never really tracks. WDW should be three and all the other resorts two. DCA needs more and DLR doesn’t deserve to be sidelined like the MK often is.

I’m not sure it’s a terrible idea (other than the priority being wrong) but I’m more than Ok with them expanding DCA and building some kind of Disney Springs situation at the Toy Story lot. I agree DCA could really use an expansion and between the Simba lot / around Paradise Pier hotel and the eastern gateway expansion it would definitely turn into a full day park. Perhaps even 1.5 days. Not sure how I feel about the Disneyland expansion as it could have major ramifications on NOS (which is a perfect land in my book) and maybe even the monorail.

 

[britain]

Here's my Blue Sky idea if they wanted to do a third gate as opposed to expanding the existing two parks. This also would require the ability to tear down PPH which we know can't happen right now....hence, Blue Sky.

View attachment 542859

My idea is to tear down both the PPH and DLH and build a large resort hotel on the north side of the property to cover the number of rooms and restaurants we'd lose. The north side of the hotel would connect to the existing bridge across Magic Way as a means for the hotel guests to take the tram to the DL and DCA gates. Then on the south side of the hotel would be a direct entrance to the third park.

The third park gates would be at the area of ESPN Zone and RFC, and the monorail station would be just outside the gate as a quick way to get from DL to the third park. Another alternative could be to put Monorail stations in all three parks and only allow park-hoppers and APs to ride it with the downside of single park visitors not being able to ride the Monorail (though it can be an incentive to upgrade to park-hoppers).

They COULD do this while keeping the PPH up for now and build around it, then when the time comes that they can demolish it they could expand the park into that area. The drawback of that is the hotel would be unavoidable as an eyesore while it stands...but not forever.

nice, but in truth the existing parks need the space more. Heck, even if just to provide additional ways out of the parks at the end of the day. I don’t know what order they may open this stuff (if they do it at all) but that’s one of the top things I’m hoping happens first.

 

[Brer Oswald]

I’m not sure it’s a terrible idea (other than the priority being wrong) but I’m more than Ok with them expanding DCA and building some kind of Disney Springs situation at the Toy Story lot. DCA could really use an expansion and between the Simba lot / around Paradise Pier hotel and the eastern gateway expansion it would definitely turn into a full day park. Perhaps even 1.5 days. Not sure how I feel about the Disneyland expansion as it could have major ramifications on NOS (which is a perfect land in my book) and maybe even the monorail.

It also really wrecks Disneyland’s wheel and spokes design. I get that it isn’t perfect and symmetric nowadays, but it still basically looks how it is supposed to.

 

[mickEblu]

It also really wrecks Disneyland’s wheel and spokes design. I get that it isn’t perfect and symmetric nowadays, but it still basically looks how it is supposed to.

Yeah If we didn’t like the shape of the park after Galaxies Edge ....

 

[BrianLo]

I’m not sure it’s a terrible idea (other than the priority being wrong) but I’m more than Ok with them expanding DCA and building some kind of Disney Springs situation at the Toy Story lot. I agree DCA could really use an expansion and between the Simba lot / around Paradise Pier hotel and the eastern gateway expansion it would definitely turn into a full day park. Perhaps even 1.5 days. Not sure how I feel about the Disneyland expansion as it could have major ramifications on NOS (which is a perfect land in my book) and maybe even the monorail.

I should clarify that it’s a terrible idea when it’s strictly being proposed at the expense of the other parks to add a meaningless statistic. If truly the parks were out of room, then by all means use the Toy Story lot. All this does is rope ofwhat could be for the other parks, decreases guest ease of flow (one corridor instead of three) and gives them an excuse to charge way more. Not that they need that.

It doesn’t achieve anything, but fans think gate count matters more.

Greater caveat, both proposals are equally unlikely and currently non existent.

 

[1HAPPYGHOSTHOST]

Yeah If we didn’t like the shape of the park after Galaxies Edge ....

The way I look at it is Galaxy's Bland is not part of Disneyland. Its just some area in the back. Disneyland proper is what Walt created with Toon Town thrown in because its so unoffensive and fits. any thing else they tack on is not really Disneyland to me because it can't be. it wont have the heart, charm. or warmth of what is in the park. Disneyland , real Disneyland fits inside the berm with an exception to Toon Town because it is sooo charming it fits in with the rest of the park. Star Wars Town minus real Star Wars characters does not fit or belong in Disneyland. Does not match it in tone, design, feel, etc. Its its own park. I will view this new extension as its own park broken into 2 halves, but it wont and will never be Disneyland no matter how they label it. You can't duplicate Disneyland.

 

[Miru]

Yeah If we didn’t like the shape of the park after Galaxies Edge ....

Critter Country and Toontown were already pushing it by being located slightly outside the wheel, whereas GE ate a chunk out of the wheel, and not a nice symmetrical one like NOS did with the remains of holidayland. I think enclosing GE fully in a hemisphere-type structure and then placing theming on the top (with a handful of subtle SW nods, perhaps?) would be a nice solution, we could then add a skybox to make the land feel even more immersive than ever.

 

[mickEblu]

I should clarify that it’s a terrible idea when it’s strictly being proposed at the expense of the other parks to add a meaningless statistic. If truly the parks were out of room, then by all means use the Toy Story lot. All this does is rope ofwhat could be for the other parks, decreases guest ease of flow (one corridor instead of three) and gives them an excuse to charge way more. Not that they need that.

It doesn’t achieve anything, but fans think gate count matters more.

Greater caveat, both proposals are equally unlikely and currently non existent.

I agree they should expand DCA before a third park. Like I said earlier, I wouldn’t prioritize a DL expansion before a third park. Id say it goes ..

1. DCA expansion
2. Third Gate
3. DL expansion.

DL doesn’t really need an expansion and thats just me be trying to be objective based off the amount of attractions it has and how many people already enter those gates everyday for what was built there in its first 4 decades. That’s not even getting into my fear of what the ramifications of that expansion may be.

Anyway, a third gate and and it’s priority amongst other expansions may be irrelevant as Disney doesn’t seem to be interested in even going there. In addition, it doesn’t even appear they have the space to build one. Certainly wouldn’t be enough room or make sense where the DCA/ DL expansions are going. The Toy Story lot is enough room for a small park but then again the city has other plans for that land.

 

[mickEblu]

The way I look at it is Galaxy's Bland is not part of Disneyland. Its just some area in the back. Disneyland proper is what Walt created with Toon Town thrown in because its so unoffensive and fits. any thing else they tack on is not really Disneyland to me because it can't be. it wont have the heart, charm. or warmth of what is in the park. Disneyland , real Disneyland fits inside the berm with an exception to Toon Town because it is sooo charming it fits in with the rest of the park. Star Wars Town minus real Star Wars characters does not fit or belong in Disneyland. Does not match it in tone, design, feel, etc. Its its own park. I will view this new extension as its own park broken into 2 halves, but it wont and will never be Disneyland no matter how they label it. You can't duplicate Disneyland.

I agree. And there’s no telling what this expansion would do to the feel of the west side of the park which is damn near perfect. The hell with what it looks like on a park map. I’m more concerned what it will do to the ambiance and layout of that side of the park. Can’t wait to ruin NOS for a path to Zootopia land.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

I'm glad for a third park if that happens. I think DCA is moving away from a direction I really like after 2012. So, a new park with a new theme would be great.

 

[1HAPPYGHOSTHOST]

I agree. And there’s no telling what this expansion would do to the feel of the west side of the park which is damn near perfect. The hell with what it looks like on a park map. I’m more concerned what it will do to the ambiance and layout of that side of the park. Can’t wait to ruin NOS for a path to Zootopia land.

I don't think anything can ruin new orleans square to be honest. it is perfect. I doubt I will go to the new area one it opens. i will do what i did when dca opened, just stay in Disneyland proper and enjoy low crowd levels as others go to the new areas. it will be years if ever if i go to the new areas because to me, It's not Disneyland.

 

[choco choco]

A third gate is a terrible idea. There, I’ve said it.

If I had the choice, the same investment can go to the existing two. I think the fan fallacy that more gates equals more investment never really tracks. WDW should be three and all the other resorts two. DCA needs more and DLR doesn’t deserve to be sidelined like the MK often is.

A third gate is a terrible idea because the core question is, "How many days out of their Southern California vacation are tourists willing to give to Disney?" In my experience, the answer is always either one or two and very, very rarely more than that (three is the absolute max I'd ever even heard an out-of-towner really be down for). In all those cases (1-3 days), what's there right now is really enough and always will be. Since the overall vacation days of Americans (or anyone really) is never going to increase, that 1-2 days is never going to rise. Southern California is not Orlando, people come for the other stuff. Even in Orlando, they've found another park isn't feasible because people will not lengthen their vacations for an extra park.

There's obviously no business case for building a third park for locals. They flock to the park regardless how many times they've been before. A third park will not entice more people to buy an AP (and it's even debatable whether there ever again will be an AP), they've liked it enough as it is now.

 

[mickEblu]

I don't think anything can ruin new orleans square to be honest. it is perfect. I doubt I will go to the new area one it opens. i will do what i did when dca opened, just stay in Disneyland proper and enjoy low crowd levels as others go to the new areas. it will be years if ever if i go to the new areas because to me, It's not Disneyland.

Not sure what you mean by nothing can ruin NOS. There’s a million things the company could do to ruin NOS. If you don’t THINK they would do those things that’s a different story.

 

[mickEblu]

A third gate is a terrible idea because the core question is, "How many days out of their Southern California vacation are tourists willing to give to Disney?" In my experience, the answer is always either one or two and very, very rarely more than that (three is the absolute max I'd ever even heard an out-of-towner really be down for). In all those cases (1-3 days), what's there right now is really enough and always will be. Since the overall vacation days of Americans (or anyone really) is never going to increase, that 1-2 days is never going to rise. Southern California is not Orlando, people come for the other stuff. Even in Orlando, they've found another park isn't feasible because people will not lengthen their vacations for an extra park.

There's obviously no business case for building a third park for locals. They flock to the park regardless how many times they've been before. A third park will not entice more people to buy an AP (and it's even debatable whether there ever again will be an AP), they've liked it enough as it is now.

I think there is a business case. First the old adage “build and they ll come.” Second it will spread out the crowds and higher guests satisfaction can = more money. They can bring back the AP system without worrying about the crowds effecting guest satisfaction. With that said, I don’t think a third gate in Anaheim is all that urgent for Disney as we can see by all their concept art they released.

 

[Miru]

Speaking of interchangeable rides, why’d they forget TSM and it’s seasonal overlay plans?

 

[mickEblu]

Speaking of interchangeable rides, why’d they forget TSM and it’s seasonal overlay plans?

Good question. Probably because it still sees 45 minute - to one hour waits even with dim screens because they re too cheap or don’t care enough to change the bulbs.

 

[1HAPPYGHOSTHOST]

Not sure what you mean by nothing can ruin NOS. There’s a million things the company could do to ruin NOS. If you don’t THINK they would do those things that’s a different story.

To me, I can't see what they could do that would ruin that area of the park for me. its soo beautiful and perfect. I can't in my mind, picture anything that can ruin it unless they demolish a good chunk of it.

 

[Little Green Men]

Hmmm, I’ve never heard the Disneyland Hotel referred to as “decrepit” before. Stayed there in 2014 and it was the nicest Disney Hotel I’ve ever slept in. It was recently renovated at the time, the pool area was beautiful, the lobbies were both well themed and classy, and the rooms comfortably accommodated more than one person (a rarity for a “Deluxe” Disney Hotel).

I stayed in DLH in 2017, it was nice but nothing really special to me. GCH and the WDW resorts are more detailed and have a lot more to do.

 

[J4546]

id just hope theyde fix/redo the nemo subs/autopia/tomorrowland area before all of this.

 

[truecoat]