Part 2: If you were WDW boss, what would you do? (Property Clean-Up)

[JimboJones123]

Let's say you applied and got the job as Chief Decision Maker for Walt Disney World (yes, I do indeed realize that there is no such title or job description).

Today's order of business.

Walt Disney World has been evolving for 3 and a half decades now. The experience continues to get bigger and better as the years go by. Guest continue to praise the changes.

But one thing that causes complaints from guests its WDW abandoning projects and attractions and leaving them to rot without restoring the area.

Which WDW "Eyesore" should be priority #1 to clean up or replace.


The abandoned River Country: This entire water park continues to sit on the side of the lake and I don't see water slides designed to withstand thousands of riders a day breaking down on their own.

Discovery Island: When boating on the lakes, you can see the nets still up from the aviary area. As well as the run down dock.

The Oddessy at Epcot: Although still used for special events, this location is prime for expansion or could even be demolished for a garden like the rose walkway on the other side.

Skyway Towers: One houses a bathroom. The other a stroller parking lot. Need I say more?

Pop Century '00-'40s: **** or get off the pot. Are these buildings even salvagable at this point? If not -- clean it up. If so, at least make it presentable.

Gotta a worse "eyesore": What is it?


How would you Clean-Up your vote as well? Would you just plant trees and be done? Or would you "re-imagineer" a replacement?

 

[DisneyJoe]

The Oddessy at Epcot: Although still used for special events, this location is prime for expansion or could even be demolished for a garden like the rose walkway on the other side.

More than just special events, the Odyssey is used for the Grand Gathering International Dinner & Illuminations Dessert Reception.

Granted it is only twice a week, but if you demolish it, they would either need to stop this event or relocate it.

It does bring in some revenue - $59.99 (ages 10 and up) $29.99 (ages 3 - 9)...

 

[TurboCaroline]

Gotta go with Pop Century...I think it is a lot more visible by guests than the other ones. My second choice would be the Skyway towers. At least they are decent looking BUT they really don't have a purpose.

 

[Captain Hank]

Top priority would be Pop Century. It just looks bad sitting there.

Next on the list would be Discovery Island/River Country. Both should be taken care of in some way, but are not as pressing of a show situation.

The skyway towers aren't as vital. Unless something were planned for those areas, I say leave 'em.

Oddessy's very extensive backstage area is used as Epcot's primary Cast cafeteria. It is also Epcot's custodial base, not to mention Guest first aid. It'd be nice to get the guest restaraunt going (goodness knows that Future World East needs a food option), but again, not vital.

 

[Chape19714]

While I agree with the Points on Pop Centry, I voted for Oddessy Center. It needs to be made into a restraunt agian, with crowded counter-service meals and booked solid table service meals, Epcot needs some more food.

Pop Should come 2nd to that.

Skyway houses are next on my list.

Main Street Expo. Hall would become the new home of One Man's Dream, with the MGM building becoming Alien Encounter 2.0

Then, River Country as a pool for Fort Wilderness (kinda a storm along bay idea)

Discovery Island I could care less about, it's a bird santuary, and that works for me.

 

[MichWolv]

You don't have on your list another "leftover" that bothers me -- the building in World Showcase leftover from the Millenium Celebration. It isn't exactly "in your face", but it is visible, and annoying.

And another pet peeve of mine is the unfinished "Walk Around the World". I'd finish it ASAP.

But the Pop buildings would be the first to clean up, if the priority is eliminating eyesores. I'd eventually get to the others, except Discovery Island, which I would leave as is. A little mystery and scenery is OK with me there.

 

[PhilharMagician]

I voted for POP because of its visibility.

One thing that is not mentioned is the old Tree House Villa's. They are still being used for Cast, but are in need of cleaning up. It looks like slums as you pass by in a boat, much like River Country.

 

[BRER STITCH]

The unfinished POP buildings are a very visible eyesore that need to be completed. They need to be finished to complete the POP property and make it an even more attractive place to stay. Imagine POP at twice its size!

From there, I'd tackle the Odyssey over at Epcot. Either eliminate it, or retool it for daily use. If it's good enough to be used for "special events", then it can certainly be used for something on a daily basis besides an employee lunch room. Any special events can be moved to new locations in order to bring this building back into daily use. It's an example of poor planning/facilities management to have that big ugly thing sitting empty in the middle of Epcot for all to see.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Oddesy has a prime spot for a new pavillion for Future World.

Horizons 2.0 any one?

 

[MichWolv]

Oddesy has a prime spot for a new pavillion for Future World.

Horizons 2.0 any one?

Odyssey is too small for an entire pavilion the scale of the stuff in future world. It'd make a real nice art or history gallery, though. Perhaps move the 25th anniversary gallery there.

 

[JimboJones123]

Odyssey is too small for an entire pavilion the scale of the stuff in future world. It'd make a real nice art or history gallery, though. Perhaps move the 25th anniversary gallery there.

Is it any smaller than the Nemo ride?

 

[JimboJones123]

Oddesy has a prime spot for a new pavillion for Future World.

Horizons 2.0 any one?

I'd much rather have a hybred SSE. I really really don't like SSE as is. I'm VERY MUCH looking forward to the new version. Please have robot butler!!!!

 

[JimboJones123]

While I agree with the Points on Pop Centry, I voted for Oddessy Center. It needs to be made into a restraunt agian, with crowded counter-service meals and booked solid table service meals, Epcot needs some more food.

Pop Should come 2nd to that.

Skyway houses are next on my list.

Main Street Expo. Hall would become the new home of One Man's Dream, with the MGM building becoming Alien Encounter 2.0

Then, River Country as a pool for Fort Wilderness (kinda a storm along bay idea)

Discovery Island I could care less about, it's a bird santuary, and that works for me.

Didn't all of that relocate to DAK? Now it's abandoned nets. It's no more a birs santuary than the wooded area next to any of the resorts. I like the idea of a pirates themed special event like a dinner show that's been talked about, including cruise over and show or exploration. I'm not sure where the supply/demand curve would rank on this, and what it would do to the other dinner shows/dining options. The current dinner shows run around 2 hrs. If you add a 15 minute cruise each way, will this then turn into a 3+ hr event. That would keep guests from spending elsewhere. Do you then make it a $75 event? More? Is it too much at that point that guests will cancel 2-3 of their other big dinners to fit it in?

 

[Chape19714]

I don't know about a Dinner show...sounds interesting, as long as it's not pirates.

It is still a bird santuary, based on some CM's I've spoken to recently.

 

[Foolish1]

Let's see, I think I'd have to go with first, finish Pop Century finally!!

Second, I'd go with the parking lots. Strange, huh? Why? Well, to me that is the first thing most guests see (unless you are staying in a hotel on property). For a while, the parking lots looked dreadful. While that has improved, the parking lot for DAK has never really looked like it was finished. All of the other parking lots look inviting and finished. DAK's does not. Looks like they were about done with DAK and all of a sudden somebody said "Oh, geez! We forgot to build a parking lot. Get those bulldozers going out there. We have 24 hours to get the parking in!"

Third, the skyway buildings need to be removed. The one in Tomorrowland should be of higher priority than the one in Fantasyland only because the one in Fantasyland has decent theming to it. But they both should go. I'm sorry, but having empty buildings that look like they should having something in them (because at one point they did!), is a bad show.

Fourth, turn the Odyssey back into a real restaurant! Future World does need one like that one once was.

Fifth either remove or completely redo the docs at DAK that were used for the boats that went around the island.

Remove Millennium Village entirely. I'd rather have it be an empty lot than what it is now. (On the bright side, at least Disney nicely landscapes most empty lots. :sohappy

How about stop construction on the DVC tower next to Contemporary Resort? :drevil: If that plans for a 15 story building are correct, then that truly is a mistake. Just like the hotels you see from World Showcase.:brick::zipit:
Yes, they are decent hotels, just not built in the right location.

How about replacing some of the rundown parking trams? Or how about replacing the diesel engines with something a bit more friendly. (Anything that isn't as noisy or produce as much pollution/fumes, would be a step forward.)

 

[JimboJones123]

Let's see, I think I'd have to go with first, finish Pop Century finally!!

Second, I'd go with the parking lots. Strange, huh? Why? Well, to me that is the first thing most guests see (unless you are staying in a hotel on property). For a while, the parking lots looked dreadful. While that has improved, the parking lot for DAK has never really looked like it was finished. All of the other parking lots look inviting and finished. DAK's does not. Looks like they were about done with DAK and all of a sudden somebody said "Oh, geez! We forgot to build a parking lot. Get those bulldozers going out there. We have 24 hours to get the parking in!"

Third, the skyway buildings need to be removed. The one in Tomorrowland should be of higher priority than the one in Fantasyland only because the one in Fantasyland has decent theming to it. But they both should go. I'm sorry, but having empty buildings that look like they should having something in them (because at one point they did!), is a bad show.

Fourth, turn the Odyssey back into a real restaurant! Future World does need one like that one once was.

Fifth either remove or completely redo the docs at DAK that were used for the boats that went around the island.

Remove Millennium Village entirely. I'd rather have it be an empty lot than what it is now. (On the bright side, at least Disney nicely landscapes most empty lots. :sohappy

How about stop construction on the DVC tower next to Contemporary Resort? :drevil: If that plans for a 15 story building are correct, then that truly is a mistake. Just like the hotels you see from World Showcase.:brick::zipit:
Yes, they are decent hotels, just not built in the right location.

How about replacing some of the rundown parking trams? Or how about replacing the diesel engines with something a bit more friendly. (Anything that isn't as noisy or produce as much pollution/fumes, would be a step forward.)

Reminds me of the fake Magic Kingdom in Japan, I think it was called dreamland or something that featured the magical stairway to nothing. I'm sure somebody can find the pic. I still laugh about that one.