Imagineering a Disney Mountain Resort

[Heppenheimer]

Fuse this open area with a semi-enclosed stadium, like the old Olympic Stadium at Garmisch-Partenkirchen:

We would, of course design our stadium in the fantasy Alpine style (this would be a good place for some Disney-themed murals), and not the fascist aesthetics of the original, which was built for the 1936 Winter Olympics in Germany.

Like GaP, you could also have the ski jump here.

Use this space also for nightime shows:

Or maybe even host snow polo matches, like at St. Moritz.

 

[Heppenheimer]

Perhaps when nothing else is going on, we could scatter this open space with some lounging chairs and removable fire pits.

And add in some character meet and greets:

And, use every fresh snowfall to Disney's full advantage:

 

[Heppenheimer]

Next, we need a bobsled/luge track.

Maybe have two separate tracks. One, for international competition. There wouldn't need to be anything here that would distinguish it from any other boblsed run throughout the world.

But perhaps Disney could build a second, much less fast and more highly themed track for non-competing guests who just want to try it out. And we already have a time-tested theme, from this Disney icon:

Of course, to make a real ice bobsledding experience even remotely safe for untrained riders, Disney would probably need to Imagineer a system of remote controlled braking and turning. It might prove quite a technical challenge to build in the real world, but it works great in my imagination!

 

[Miru]

The Matterhorn area could be multipurpose with a basketball court, a walking trail, etc. And that bobsled System is a challenge worth pursuing.

 

[Heppenheimer]

The Matterhorn area could be multipurpose with a basketball court, a walking trail, etc. And that bobsled System is a challenge worth pursuing.

Plenty of walking trails for our resort coming up, both for winter and summer. But putting a small, seemingly out of place basketball court at the top of Matterhorn-themed bobsled run would nicely reference the original attraction.

Next up, an in-door/out-door ice skating complex.

 

[Heppenheimer]

Our skating center should be big enough to fit a full size speed skating track. Like this one in Heerenveen, Netherlands.

Plus, a few smaller, but regulation sized rinks for ice hockey tournaments:

Figure skating:

Short track speed skating

And maybe even curling.

When not in use for competitions, the rinks could be open for indoor public skating.

And maybe even Disney on Ice performances!

 

[Heppenheimer]

My mental model for our Disney ice facility is the Wayne Gretzky Centre in Brandford, Ontario.

This facility has multiple ice rinks that cover most skating disciplines, except long track speed skating, which would be the centerpiece of our Disney facility. And of course, we would want to stay consistent with our general fantasy Alpine theme, rather than the bare-bones modern construction of the Gretzky Centre.

 

[Heppenheimer]

The final special feature of our Disney ice center would be a scenic outdoor rink, that has a direct ice connection to one of the indoor rinks. So, weather permitting, guests can skate through an "ice tunnel" that links the indoor and outdoor portions. The outdoor portion would be suitably scenic and decorated.

 

[Heppenheimer]

Moving on to Nordic skiing, I have an idea that could provide guests with a unique interactive experience, maybe even one that use one of Disney's more popular IPs.

Our resort should have a biathlon course capable of hosting top-level competition.

When not in use for competition, however, the biathlon track could be open to other guests who want to try the combination of nordic skiing and target shooting. But to make it safe (it probably isn't practical to provide everyone a rifle and live ammunition!), perhaps Disney could imagineer a functional light gun that serves the same purpose. And to make it more fun, add a Star Wars overlay, specifically the Battle of Hoth.

Make it an on-going, daily competition. Guests strap on their cross-country skis and a cast member issues them a specially-designed a light gun. Just like a real biathlon, the clock starts as soon as each participant passes the starting line. Their mission is to help the rebels hold off the imperial forces long enough to allow Princess Leia and the other prominent rebels to escape. After negotiating the course, guests ski up to the target range, which displays a mock-up fleet of imperial walkers.

As in the actual biathlon, participants have a limited number of shots to hit 5 different targets. Each target they fail to hit results in a time penalty.

The best time each day (broken up into age groups), would receive some kind of prize.

 

[Heppenheimer]

For those who want a more sedate Nordic experience, our resort can offer an open, more casual cross country course (perhaps this same piece of land could double as a golf course in the summer).

Adding some Disney touches, there could be little scenic dioramas, background atmosphere music and perhaps colorful lighting effects at night.

 

[Heppenheimer]

Rounding out our options for winter-time activities, our Disney mountain resort will offer guided snow-shoeing and winter walking tours up and around the mountain.

 

[Heppenheimer]

Sleigh rides.

Dog sledding.

Fat tire biking.

And, all-weather horseback riding, from the Tri-Cirle North Star Ranch.

 

[Heppenheimer]

Finally, add opportunities for a nice long sledge run:

And/or snowtubing.

 

[Heppenheimer]

And with that, I'm out of ideas for winter activities at our Disney Mountain Resort. Anyone have any other suggestions?

Next, although the primary emphasis of the resort will be winter activities, it will also appropriate recreation for the summer months as well (and also the early fall). Summer won't be the main focus, but it will still offer plenty of fun.

 

[Evilgidgit]

Uhhhh...how to learn to yodel?

 

[Heppenheimer]

Uhhhh...how to learn to yodel?

How could I forget that cartoon? It was one of my favorite appearances of Sport Goofy.

The hockey arena could also reference this classic:

 

[Heppenheimer]

A winter resort with this many bells and whistles would probably need to attract a substantial number of visitors in the off-season to remain economically viable, like many other large ski resorts. I have some ideas, all of which are taken directly from existing resorts, plus expanding on some of the infrastructure that I previously described. For example, the indoor waterpark could operate 365 days a year, and in the warmer months, also open up more outdoor sections (like Therme Erding and Tropical Islands Resort, both in Germany).

 

[Miru]

And with that, I'm out of ideas for winter activities at our Disney Mountain Resort. Anyone have any other suggestions?

Next, although the primary emphasis of the resort will be winter activities, it will also appropriate recreation for the summer months as well (and also the early fall). Summer won't be the main focus, but it will still offer plenty of fun.

Ice-cream making tutorials? Making more exotic frozen desserts? Campfire stories? Slushy’s Snowball fight arena!

 

[Heppenheimer]

More and more ski resorts offer thrill attractions in the summer months, and our Disney resort will feature similar attractions, with thematic overlays where appropriate.

First and foremost, a Sommerrodelbahn:

Disney would have no trouble finding an appropriate theme, I'm sure.

 

[Evilgidgit]

More and more ski resorts offer thrill attractions in the summer months, and our Disney resort will feature similar attractions, with thematic overlays where appropriate.

First and foremost, a Sommerrodelbahn:

View attachment 424163View attachment 424164

Disney would have no trouble finding an appropriate theme, I'm sure.

Ooh! Cool Runnings!