jt04
Well-Known Member
Yes, that news has been around awhile. Even before DG posted it. But it is not very well known outside of places like this. Very much on and off again project.
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Major DTD update
- Thread starter Tim_4
- Start date
Yes, that news has been around awhile. Even before DG posted it. But it is not very well known outside of places like this. Very much on and off again project.
It's definitely "on again". My source was solid and had nothing to do with whatever was circulating before this.
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
Disney may pay (I'm fairly certain they do), but rest assured that taxpayers ALWAYS pay the greater piece of the pie.
Taxpayers used to pay ALL of the big expenditures back in the days when they felt FL couldn't exist without Mickey (I am not sure it could, to be fair!) before people started to get angry and vocal about it and Disney Dollars suddenly were used.
Haha of course. I don't doubt that it's done for PR, but the fact is, it IS getting done. I mean, besides the money DIRECTLY paid for the roads, Disney is THE largest "taxpayer" in the area who would be footing the bill for roads anyways.
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
Sounds like it ... and folks here, including ex-disgruntled (does that mean he is now gruntled?) Imagineer Lee have said the same thing.
While it's great that Tim has heard it because one would assume he has heard it recently and from good sources or else he wouldn't be wanting to post it, the info itself has been going around for many months.
I recall when Merfie's pal Lee showed me some plans relating to this it was cold in SoFla, so that had to be like back in February, I'm thinking.
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
Are you saying this was announced internally as being funded and ON?
And if you feel uncomfortable answering, feel free to PM.
I'm just hoping it's not Disney messing around with the interwebs (no, really
) yet again. Don't pay any attention to the man behind the curtain and whatnot....
HenryMystic
Well-Known Member
A parking garage and a new I-4 exit, that will certainly fill the PI-sized hole in my heart....
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
Now, that is some Emmy-worthy sarcasm there ...
menamechris
Well-Known Member
It seems the Fantasyland budget would be pretty small to try and re-imagine Pleasure Island (I am assuming that is where the focus would be). Unless they are just redecorating and repurposing everything.
I wish I still cared about the DtD situation. But the fact that no one at the top seems to recognize the initial screwup of shutting the place down doesn't make me feel good about it's future.
I wish I still cared about the DtD situation. But the fact that no one at the top seems to recognize the initial screwup of shutting the place down doesn't make me feel good about it's future.
Along with the parking garage and ramp expect new transit options (red trolleys would be a cheap option and a new parking figuration would allow the current route along the eastern side of the complex to be closed to vehicular traffic) connecting/better connecting this whole section of WDW, including the resorts, Typhoon Lagoon, and DTD.
Also expect a few new rides, despite it's current downtime (due to completely other reasons) has been hugely popular. Expect some more 'rides' like this (I'm hoping but highly doubting that this will include a double Ferris wheel near Cirque, which should be getting a new show about the same time as all of this is finishing up). The putt putt golf is out though.
From my understanding the parking redo will actually include both sides of the street, meaning that the TDO parking will be affected and will become, at least partially, garage itself.
All of this begs the question though; Is Disney finally attempting to copy Universal? Heck from what I've been told they've even been out to Fun Spot and Orange Ave downtown (more unofficially than officially), and oddly enough Vegas in search of what to do with DTD.
It's a bit off topic but I heard a bit of an odd rumor, that all of this ramping up and improving around property isn't just to stay relevant but is also part of a long term (read 10-20 years at minimum) of having WDW host some type of major international event (not the Olympics by any means so don't get that in your mind, but something major and international). There was even talk of actually redoing and improving EPCOT to assist in hosting this event/s. But from my understanding all of this is still just chatter and nothing even semi official yet. Just something to chew on.
Also expect a few new rides, despite it's current downtime (due to completely other reasons) has been hugely popular. Expect some more 'rides' like this (I'm hoping but highly doubting that this will include a double Ferris wheel near Cirque, which should be getting a new show about the same time as all of this is finishing up). The putt putt golf is out though.
From my understanding the parking redo will actually include both sides of the street, meaning that the TDO parking will be affected and will become, at least partially, garage itself.
All of this begs the question though; Is Disney finally attempting to copy Universal? Heck from what I've been told they've even been out to Fun Spot and Orange Ave downtown (more unofficially than officially), and oddly enough Vegas in search of what to do with DTD.
It's a bit off topic but I heard a bit of an odd rumor, that all of this ramping up and improving around property isn't just to stay relevant but is also part of a long term (read 10-20 years at minimum) of having WDW host some type of major international event (not the Olympics by any means so don't get that in your mind, but something major and international). There was even talk of actually redoing and improving EPCOT to assist in hosting this event/s. But from my understanding all of this is still just chatter and nothing even semi official yet. Just something to chew on.
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
That type of 'news' seems to come around whenever there is an Olympics or World Cup or other such major international event, it's sorta only second to high speed rail for something that is always chatted about (even by the O-Town powerbrokers over expense account lunches at some of the city's finest watering holes) but it just never leads to anything. I think you'll see the WRE open first!
Taylor
Well-Known Member
You never know a smaller event like the FIBA world championships could come to WDW someday it probably wouldn't push them to do much work though
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
It is hard to get excited when it seems projects for Downtown Disney have been a go for years now, only for each one to fizzle and die.
In
Interestingly though the TD parking garage and new I-4 ramps / transit options have been around since TDO went cheap with PI. The garage and slips were planned as part of the more expensive keep PI option.
jt04
Well-Known Member
Seems to me that a relatively easy way to solve the need for garages and new transportation systems on property is to contract out some of the infrastructure. Companies would be stepping up to not only fund and build such systems but also provide logistical/operational support. All this for a piece of the revenue stream provided by parking fees which over the long term could be quite lucrative I think.
dcibrando
Well-Known Member
I'm starting to think the value of my DVC ownership at Saratoga Springs may go up if these big changes happen. I already enjoy being able to easily walk to DTD now...any additional changes are just icing on the cake (but yes, it does need ALOT more icing in my opinion.
And to think Disney used to own their Community Transport Division....
jt04
Well-Known Member
I hear ya. I don't spend too much time thinking about what might have been. But it could have been awesome right about now.
midwest_mice
Well-Known Member
Still hoping for a zip line at DTD, what are the chances of that happening?