Rumor from a Monorail worker.

[WDWFanatic]

I dont know how wise it would be but any way of shortening bus lines would make guests happy. I'd like to see it done.
I thought i saw a rumor on here a long time ago about plyon bases that had been put in place at the studios when it was built. Prob no truth to it but why not throw it out there.

 

[Clever Name]

Agreed.

But, Disney has TONS of cash - and access to WAY more than that via credit - but that's not really the question. They had over 4 billion in cash-equivalent assets in their last filing. But just having the cash on hand at the mothership level doesn't make it ready for spending at a division. That liquidity is part of the health of the organization.

It's never been a question of 'does Disney have the money to do it' - it's a matter of 'do we think its wise to spend that money on that..' and how much investing they think they should be spending in the P&R division on that type of stuff.

They should invest some of that cash in Comcast stock.

 

[DocMcHulk]

When they built Epcot, they probably weren't even thinking about parks 3 or 4, and it was essentially a "given" that there would be a monorail between parks.

Maybe I understand the story wrong, but wasnt Disney-MGM Studios essentially a rushed park to try and counter act Universal Orlando?

 

[marni1971]

Maybe I understand the story wrong, but wasnt Disney-MGM Studios essentially a rushed park to try and counter act Universal Orlando?

It was.

 

[Tom]

Maybe I understand the story wrong, but wasnt Disney-MGM Studios essentially a rushed park to try and counter act Universal Orlando?

Yup. Eisner and company knew Uni was looking to build, so they scrambled, opened first (with almost nothing in the park to do), but were able to boast that they were the first "movie" park in Florida, making Uni look like a copycat.

 

[unkadug]

You mean 4 billion....

You are 10 times the amount. It was $4 billion, not 40.

Thanks for pointing out the typo. You are both real troopers

However...in the the average man's life...is there a really a difference?

 

[GoofGoof]

Yup. Eisner and company knew Uni was looking to build, so they scrambled, opened first (with almost nothing in the park to do), but were able to boast that they were the first "movie" park in Florida, making Uni look like a copycat.

I think at one point Universal approached Eisner when he was at Paramount Pictures about partnering with them to build a studio park in Orlando. He declined to invest for Paramount, but when he took over at Disney he knew what was in the works at Universal.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I think at one point Universal approached Eisner when he was at Paramount Pictures about partnering with them to build a studio park in Orlando. He declined to invest for Paramount, but when he took over at Disney he knew what was in the works at Universal.

In the middle there, knowing what Eisner knew (although he denies being present at the meeting between Paramount and Universal), Universal tried to get Disney to consider a Disney-Universal Studios theme park and production facility.

 

[GoofGoof]

In the middle there, knowing what Eisner knew (although he denies being present at the meeting between Paramount and Universal), Universal tried to get Disney to consider a Disney-Universal Studios theme park and production facility.

It's amazing to think that if Eisner said yes we would not have both DHS and the Universal properties in FL. Who knows if the parks would be nearly as good without the competition. Eisner passed on a number of big things including Survivor and CSI for ABC and the Lord of the Rings movies to name a few, but he was smart to pass on AOL's offer to buy Disney. The Time Warner/AOL merger was a complete disaster for Time Warner.

 

[ULPO46]

Maybe I understand the story wrong, but wasnt Disney-MGM Studios essentially a rushed park to try and counter act Universal Orlando?

Universal Orlando opened in 1990 MGM opened in 1989. They wanted to build MGM because according to Disney history, the imagineers worked on the EPCOT pavillions and said, Hey if we can build a movie set type of pavillion, why not build an entire motion picture theme park.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Universal Orlando opened in 1990 MGM opened in 1989. They wanted to build MGM because according to Disney history, the imagineers worked on the EPCOT pavillions and said, Hey if we can build a movie set type of pavillion, why not build an entire motion picture theme park.

Nice summary of the Disney approved account...

 

[GLaDOS]

Universal Orlando opened in 1990 MGM opened in 1989. They wanted to build MGM because according to Disney history, the imagineers worked on the EPCOT pavillions and said, Hey if we can build a movie set type of pavillion, why not build an entire motion picture theme park.

Uh, no. MGM was rushed through production and construction to beat Universal Studios Florida to opening.

 

[ULPO46]

Uh, no. MGM was rushed through production and construction to beat Universal Studios Florida to opening.

thats why it has the worst theme park layout of the 4.

 

[flynnibus]

Universal Orlando opened in 1990 MGM opened in 1989. They wanted to build MGM because according to Disney history, the imagineers worked on the EPCOT pavillions and said, Hey if we can build a movie set type of pavillion, why not build an entire motion picture theme park.

More like.. Eisner saw attraction concepts... knew Universal was looking to build in Florida.. he wanted to beat them to the punch.. and took those concepts as the starting point to build DMGM.

You have tidbits correct - but the motivations wrong. That's typical when you get your information from the scrubbed, biased, source. Expand your horizons beyond the company generated 'history'...

 

[wm49rs]

That's typical when you get your information from the scrubbed, biased, source. Expand your horizons beyond the company generated 'history'...

I think his firewall blocks that....

 

[lazyboy97o]

thats why it has the worst theme park layout of the 4.

It also was not designed to be a theme park. Disney and Universal were hoping Florida would provide them and other studios an escape from the costs of Hollywood.

 

[marni1971]

It also was not designed to be a theme park. Disney and Universal were hoping Florida would provide them and other studios an escape from the costs of Hollywood.

The studios was always going to have a small theme park as part of it. That was a given.

Btw, Eisner knew of Universals Orlando aspirations back as far as 1983 from Paramount. He said he didn't recall. Funny that!

 

[lazyboy97o]

The studios was always going to have a small theme park as part of it. That was a given.

I was not doubting that, but much of the issues with the park's current layout relate to now utilizing areas not intended to be used as a theme park, but a production facility.

 

[Bolt]

Giving directions involves using tons of landmarks as reference points - frustrating process to explain how to find things. Like - walk down the street, get to the Big Hat, you'll see a DHS sign on the right, go under, take a left at Ariel, look for the Pixar and keep walking under it, walk past the Coke Bottle and past a food court and the playground will be tucked away on the left.

 

[Darth Sidious]

The studios was always going to have a small theme park as part of it. That was a given.

Btw, Eisner knew of Universals Orlando aspirations back as far as 1983 from Paramount. He said he didn't recall. Funny that!

I've also heard that Universal wanted a joint project with Disney.