Disney Irish
Premium Member
That had been part of the Eastern Gateway project so that is a pretty good bet since they are adding that as part of the Forward plan.
-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
DisneylandForward
- Thread starter flutas
- Start date
Disney Irish
Premium Member
Unless the ideas have changed, I always thought it would be a replacement for DTD basically a true Disney Springs West.
Nirya
Well-Known Member
The Toy Story Lot has always been listed as a future theme park expansion on various plans. That said, I'm thinking at this point it's mostly just a bargaining chip for the company to use in negotiations (we always heard how much the city wants to extend Gene Autry Way despite how stupid the idea is, and that would run right through the TSL, for example).
That said, the lot isn't that much smaller than what DCA is currently at, so they could do something in that spot if they really wanted to (especially if they actually spent the money to buy some of the nearby apartments).
That said, the lot isn't that much smaller than what DCA is currently at, so they could do something in that spot if they really wanted to (especially if they actually spent the money to buy some of the nearby apartments).
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
The whole point is that it can be almost anything. Disney isn’t looking for specific approval. They’re looking for a general approval to do any variety of entertainment/hospitality projects whenever the time comes.
truecoat
Well-Known Member
For anyone who needs a refresher or is new here, here's what moving the transit dropoff point over would look like along with the bridge and entry into the esplanade. This is based on the old plan and will change if/when it is finally approved. I didn't include the parking garages planned south of the new drop-off.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
I wonder how security proposed to go west of Harbor Blvd and in the current Bus transpo area impacts the old plan to expand DCA into that area?
Last edited:
Nirya
Well-Known Member
I don't think it would change much. The tents would remain where they're at, and you'd still have the current bus drop-off area for expansion.
DrAlice
Well-Known Member
I may be misinterpreting your question, but I'll put this here:
David @FreshBaked said he asked specifically about the bridge over Harbor Blvd. and security. He was told that security would stay where it is, making the bridge "outside the bubble". This satisfies the problem of getting people across the busy street safely while not cutting off foot-traffic to the businesses on Harbor.
If this is true, I think we have to assume that expansion of DCA into the esplanade is off the table, right? At least in any sense that we have discussed on here over the last few years.... It will be interesting to watch this play out.
Disney Irish
Premium Member
My opinion based on what I've seen from vids with summary of the event, with security staying on-property very little would be able to be used for expansion. You might be able to get a bit from the current Toy Story bus drop-off area, but that is about it. Its not going to be the bigger area that would have been attained by having security on Harbor before the bridge.
I guess they could reconfigure the ramp from the bridge to end at a different place closer to Harbor and place security right there. Not sure what that would do with congestion, ie backing guests waiting for security check on to the bridge. Maybe that'll add more area to reclaim for expansion, dunno.
It'll be interesting to see the proposals they submit starting next year.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Possibly but not necessarily. They could just have a modest path up until the security tents leaving the rest the majority of that area for DCA expansion. The path couldn’t be too small obviously as people would end up backing into the bridge/ parking structure.
DrAlice
Well-Known Member
But don't they need that area for tram loading and unloading (if they actually add a tram)?
Unless they smoosh onto the bridge as @Disney Irish just suggested....
Disney Irish
Premium Member
All the drop off would be on the Harbor side as part of the Gateway, that was part of the whole point of the project.
DrAlice
Well-Known Member
Ahhh..... you're saying they do what they originally planned, except without moving security. Is that what they are saying in the new plans? If so, I guess I missed that point.
Disney Irish
Premium Member
Correct, everything else with the project would be the same. The whole sticking point with the local business community was that by forcing all to go through security on Harbor side before the bridge through a specific walkway would bypass all the Harbor businesses losing all the foot traffic.
So with everything else being the same with the exception of adding additional entry points to the bridge, and just keeping security on-property, that would alleviate the complaint of losing foot traffic to Harbor businesses.
DrAlice
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I remember the McDonald's owner losing his mind over that (rightfully so, to be fair). As a guest, I didn't relish the idea of staying in a hotel across the street from the entrance and having to walk all the way around the block to get to the security area.
This is not a bad compromise. Frankly, they should've come back with this proposal during the original negotiations. It could've been built by now. Stubborn execs.
Disney Irish
Premium Member
Well Disney did try to compromise by offering to pay for cut-through entrances to the Gateway pathway at the back of each business so guests wouldn't have to walk all the way around to Disney Way to enter the Gateway pathway.
But by that point all the Harbor businesses were against the project and it would have been DOA had it been submitted for City approval. So the way they are doing it now, while cutting some needed expansion area, is to get community buy-in including approval from all Harbor businesses. Something they should have done from the beginning.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Oh that picture above is confusing. It has the 5 butted up against the bus transpo area so I’m not sure if I was looking at something accurate. I haven’t seen any vids. I just assumed that if they wanted they could still use the majority of that bus transpo area if they kept just a modest bridge/path to security on the far north side of said area that then just opens up a bit towards security. Still would be decent chunk of land to add to the Hollywood backstages land even if the security tents stayed put. Just invest in those metal detectors Disney and get those guests flowing. But I agree. It doesn’t seem like a DCA expansion there is in the plan anymore.
Last edited:
Consumer
Well-Known Member
I always loved the core infrastructure of this original plan, although the aesthetic elements I felt were rather bare. I know the pedestrian corridor did not have a lot of room for visual interest, but even just simply winding the pathway instead of giving it a straight line, then placing planters full of flowers and statues would have served it well, rather than simply putting awnings with Mickey Mouse shaped holes overhead of the guests. Still, it's great to see this plan is potentially back on. The Resort can benefit from expanding its footprint and providing more parking.