Effect of Hong Kong Deal on Walt Disney World?

[Walter Yensid]

I would also like to bring up a point for discussion.

This expansion makes the Magic Kingdom, the park that is supposed to be the crown jewel for the Disney Park's empire, the worst Disneyland-style park in the world.

Just throwing that out there.

SirGoofy,

I do agree with you. Even after what I said above, I still agree that they need to add an E ticket to MK. The problem with WDW is they have the set of 4 parks unlike the rest of the world and that certainly makes it a little more difficult to get projects greenlit for all parks. Unfortunately, we know they view it as a WDW budget, not a budget for MK or DHS or DAK or Epcot. But, 20 years definitely earns MK a big one...of course, they sometimes struggle with capacity now, so not sure if that is a problem an E ticket would bring...EE brought over 2 million more people to DAK the year it opened...I am scared to see any increase to MK.

I really do not think they need much in MK because there is a great amount to do. But, an outstanding E ticket would really complete a necessary circle. And at this point, FL and TL are the only places to put it considering the other lands have received plenty of love recently.

 

[DVCOwner]

I just got back two weeks ago from a trip to HKDL and I can tell you this for sure. If they do not expand the park and soon, it will die and close for good. I was told the park was small, but I found it to be so small that I could have seen everything in a half of day. Due to the millions of people that live so close to this park, with this expansion it should become a cash cow for Disney over the next 10 to 20 years.

 

[SirGoofy]

SirGoofy,

I do agree with you. Even after what I said above, I still agree that they need to add an E ticket to MK. The problem with WDW is they have the set of 4 parks unlike the rest of the world and that certainly makes it a little more difficult to get projects greenlit for all parks. Unfortunately, we know they view it as a WDW budget, not a budget for MK or DHS or DAK or Epcot. But, 20 years definitely earns MK a big one...of course, they sometimes struggle with capacity now, so not sure if that is a problem an E ticket would bring...EE brought over 2 million more people to DAK the year it opened...I am scared to see any increase to MK.

I really do not think they need much in MK because there is a great amount to do. But, an outstanding E ticket would really complete a necessary circle. And at this point, FL and TL are the only places to put it considering the other lands have received plenty of love recently.

I've started a thread about this over in General Discussion if you would like to talk about this some more.:wave:

 

[The Conundrum]

I'm pretty sure we'll continue to get the short end of the stick for the next few years.

But but but the SHERIF!


In all seriousness the best way to get investment into WDW is for everyone to stop going. The reason HKDL and DCA are getting investments is because both parks are failures and nobody hardly visits those parks. Its absurd but thats the only way to get Disney to build new stuff. Also filing tons of complaints might get there attention.

 

[marni1971]

At least one half of the original Thunder Mesa / Western River Expedition show building is finally being built....

 

[Buried20KLeague]

But but but the SHERIF!


In all seriousness the best way to get investment into WDW is for everyone to stop going. The reason HKDL and DCA are getting investments is because both parks are failures and nobody hardly visits those parks. Its absurd but thats the only way to get Disney to build new stuff. Also filing tons of complaints might get there attention.

That's a good point that shouldn't be overlooked.

The squeaky wheels are getting the grease.

WDW continues to plow ahead, regardless of new offerings, or lack thereof. It allows TWDC to pour money into the parks that need it due to sagging attendance, and keep milking the parks that don't have the attenance problem.

On one hand, I completely can't blame them. On the other hand, good LORD it bugs me.

 

[SirGoofy]

That's a good point that shouldn't be overlooked.

The squeaky wheels are getting the grease.

WDW continues to plow ahead, regardless of new offerings, or lack thereof. It allows TWDC to pour money into the parks that need it due to sagging attendance, and keep milking the parks that don't have the attenance problem.

On one hand, I completely can't blame them. On the other hand, good LORD it bugs me.

You can only rest on your laurels for so long.

 

[Walter Yensid]

You can only rest on your laurels for so long.

I agree and this is why I think Harry Potter is good for all of us who love Disney if Universal pulls off what they are planning. Now, please do not let this spiral into a Harry Potter debate because all I am saying is competition is a very good thing for everyone.

I still do not feel Harry Potter is some giant-killer or that Disney will see some dramatic attendance impact (I still do not hear many people say, 'Hey, I am going on vacation to Orlando...to Universal'...maybe HP will change that). But, even a day taken out of the Disney parks is something that will draw notice from the execs in their reports and dollars.

Disney is all about competitive rivlary. Universal spurred MGM, SeaWorld/Busch Garden success probably spurred AK, all the local hotels outside of Disney prop spurred the addition of Disney hotels (Remember, Marriott was going to build and own all of them except Contemporary and Polynesian for not a last second breach of contract). So, competition is good and let's hope Universal does not screw up...even if I am not a big Uni fan, I see it as good for Disney lovers.

 

[SirGoofy]

I agree and this is why I think Harry Potter is good for all of us who love Disney if Universal pulls off what they are planning. Now, please do not let this spiral into a Harry Potter debate because all I am saying is competition is a very good thing for everyone.

I still do not feel Harry Potter is some giant-killer or that Disney will see some dramatic attendance impact (I still do not hear many people say, 'Hey, I am going on vacation to Orlando...to Universal'...maybe HP will change that). But, even a day taken out of the Disney parks is something that will draw notice from the execs in their reports and dollars.

Disney is all about competitive rivlary. Universal spurred MGM, SeaWorld/Busch Garden success probably spurred AK, all the local hotels outside of Disney prop spurred the addition of Disney hotels (Remember, Marriott was going to build and own all of them except Contemporary and Polynesian for not a last second breach of contract). So, competition is good and let's hope Universal does not screw up...even if I am not a big Uni fan, I see it as good for Disney lovers.

Agreed on everything said above, except that I am a huge Uni fan. No where near my Disney fanboy status, but I love their parks. And they won't disappoint with Potter.

 

[The Conundrum]

This thread should be changed to Effects of Hong Kong deal on Disneyland because I can see some elements coming to the California park like the AA bears going into the Grizzly peak area.

Im shocked people think WDW is going to benefit at all from any of this. As long as people keep coming in droves they will not invest heavily in the WDW property.

 

[dxwwf3]

I would also like to bring up a point for discussion.

This expansion makes the Magic Kingdom, the park that is supposed to be the crown jewel for the Disney Park's empire, the worst Disneyland-style park in the world.

Just throwing that out there.

This is sad and amazing, but will more than likely be true.

 

[The Conundrum]

At least one half of the original Thunder Mesa / Western River Expedition show building is finally being built....

Well if you want to get technical it was built in the 70s but fleshed out as Big Thunder Mountain.

This new ride looks like its just big thunder mixed with Grizzly River run (DCA). The only thing similar to the original WRE plan is the fact that you ride in little minecarts.

BTW Disney's new concept artist is terrible. I can't figure out if this Grizzly ride will be a true e-ticket or something along the lines of Temple de peril at DLP. He also makes the mystic manor look so lame. Compare that art to the artwork for Phantom Manor its like night and day.

 

[CBOMB]

I would also like to bring up a point for discussion.

This expansion makes the Magic Kingdom, the park that is supposed to be the crown jewel for the Disney Park's empire, the worst Disneyland-style park in the world.

Just throwing that out there.

Jay said he'll consider giving the Jungle Cruise at WDW a rehab if you'll just forget about that statement you made.

 

[Walter Yensid]

This thread should be changed to Effects of Hong Kong deal on Disneyland because I can see some elements coming to the California park like the AA bears going into the Grizzly peak area.

Im shocked people think WDW is going to benefit at all from any of this. As long as people keep coming in droves they will not invest heavily in the WDW property.

I do not think WDW will benefit from the expansion at HKDL per se. I think all the parks benefit from the economies of scale in attraction development/R&D/etc. However, each park still will make their own budgetary decisions on new attractions and I agree WDW is not going to go crazy if attendance is still high.

However, if costs fall due to development costs falling (i.e. WDW gets a clone from another park), then we certainly will have a better chance of getting it with all these parks minimizing the costs than we would without. See, I have never minded getting a clone to my base park (WDW) if it is good. Like Soarin', I do not care it is in CA...it is a great ride and I will be going to CA far, far less than FL.

 

[CBOMB]

Im shocked people think WDW is going to benefit at all from any of this. As long as people keep coming in droves they will not invest heavily in the WDW property.

Past practice has proven your theory correct to this point.

For all the people saying TWDC has been playing it safe at WDW because of the recession, it would seem the recession only effects the Florida Park.

One Billion for DCA, 1/2 Billion for HKDL, and no telling how much for Shanghai China. I'm all for P&R expanding. Just don't forget about your Crown Jewel sitting down in the swamps.

 

[marni1971]

Well if you want to get technical it was built in the 70s but fleshed out as Big Thunder Mountain.

Oh dear. No, I`ll get really technical

Big Thunder Minetrain was the other E Ride of Thunder Mesa, along with WRE. The mine ride was to have been a rollercoaster in and out of the mountain facade, including a reverse section followed by a fast forward finale out of the mountain. Sound familiar?

3 years before Baxter came up with the first BTM design.

 

[wickedfan07]

I'm very intrigued by the exciting new iterations of some of our classic favorites (including the Adventurers Club), but I have to say that I'm a bit bothered by the somewhat haphazard, almost sloppy arrangement the new areas are being placed in. What is Toy Story Land doing as an off-shoot of Adventureland, for example?

Besides mentioning Grizzly Trail and Toy Story Land, where does the article talk about any of this other stuff you and others are mentioning? Did I miss something?

 

[DisneyDellsDude]

Besides mentioning Grizzly Trail and Toy Story Land, where does the article talk about any of this other stuff you and others are mentioning? Did I miss something?

Go to the Disney & More Blog to get the bulleted list that was published by Disney.

 

[The Conundrum]

Oh dear. No, I`ll get really technical

Big Thunder Minetrain was the other E Ride of Thunder Mesa, along with WRE. The mine ride was to have been a rollercoaster in and out of the mountain facade, including a reverse section followed by a fast forward finale out of the mountain. Sound familiar?

3 years before Baxter came up with the first BTM design.

Interesting. My information came from Jim Hill's lengthy WRE article from a few years back. Not sure how accurate it is. I was under the impression that the mine train coaster was a D/E (borderline) ticket attraction that Baxter was assigned to and he basically took it and fully fleshed it out into its own attraction with bigger show scenes and such. Other than the batcave and the basic concept of a mine train through the mountain Baxter is the one who came up with the flooded village, the animals everywhere, the avalanche scene, etc.

Are you saying this Grizzly Coaster will be much closer to the original WRE coaster concept? Thats not how I interpreted the article. It seemed to me to be Grizzly River Rapids looking version of Big Thunder and it almost seemed like WDI threw in the bears to justify the cost of clonning them and putting them in DCA's Grizzly peaks area (Which they wanted to do in the first place and again in the DCA revamp plan).

 

[CaptainMichael]

Im shocked people think WDW is going to benefit at all from any of this. As long as people keep coming in droves they will not invest heavily in the WDW property.

We may get the new Adventurers Club. I'd consider that good if it happens.