The Down Under Disney Resort (Updated Jan. 29th)
Well, I have decided to start my own Magic Kingdom in nowhere else but Australia, along the Gold Coast. I started this idea with RollerCoaster Tycoon, but alas, I lost the park and my interest died, so I chose to write this out in words. I will be taking this park throught at least it's 50th Annversary in 2063. I plan for the Phase 1 of this mega resort to include a Magic Kingdom and Hotels and a Downtown Disney district. It will be funded by my imaginary company called the Gold Coast Land Company or the (GCLC). This would be a privately funded project, so expect me to go all out. Expect a whole resort like none other. Here's the first press release.
Also here is a fact sheet on what is currently planned.
So, what do ya'll think. I'll release press releases every so often as I complete a land, with renderings and such. So, any comments, complaints, etc? - The WeirdOne
Well, I have decided to start my own Magic Kingdom in nowhere else but Australia, along the Gold Coast. I started this idea with RollerCoaster Tycoon, but alas, I lost the park and my interest died, so I chose to write this out in words. I will be taking this park throught at least it's 50th Annversary in 2063. I plan for the Phase 1 of this mega resort to include a Magic Kingdom and Hotels and a Downtown Disney district. It will be funded by my imaginary company called the Gold Coast Land Company or the (GCLC). This would be a privately funded project, so expect me to go all out. Expect a whole resort like none other. Here's the first press release.
Disney Begins Preliminary Work on Theme Park Site To Mobilize for Construction Beginning in January 2010.
-- Hiring for operations of Down Under Resort castmembers and the tendering process for the theme park construction are underway --
GOLD COAST (November 21, 2009) – Down Under Resort executives provided an update on the progress of the project and a first look at the preparation and plans for the construction and operations of the 56 square mile site between Brisbane and Sydney that will become to the Down Under Resort, Disney’s sixth resort destination in the world.
During the media briefing two of the Down Under Resort's top executives, Brian DeLoera, Group Managing Director, responsible for operations of the Down Under Resort and Mr. Jake, Managing Director, Walt Disney Imagineering Australia in charge of construction, walked the media through the steps necessary to create a world-class Disney theme park including staff recruitment, contractor procurement and construction planning for this highly complex theme park resort explaining what the first phase is to contain.
Resort Phase 1
The first phase of the Down Under Resort is to include the Magic Kingdom, a kingdom of dreams and fantasy, Downtown Disney, a nighttime resort district, and the Official Disney Hotels, a set of hotels and resorts across the property.
The Magic Kingdom, opening sometime in March 2013, is set to open with 7 themed lands: Main Street U.S.A., a turn of the century American town where you can explore the good old days. Come ride in a classic Fire Engine, or eat in "Walt's - An American Experience." Visit Edison Square and meet Thomas Edison or take a carriage ride to the Hub. Across from Main Street U.S.A. rises the majestic Snow White's Castle. This spectacular fantasy castle seems to rise out of the rock that surrounds it. To the right of Main Street U.S.A. is Tomorrowland. Come explore the future with the Timekeeper in The Visionarium or hop aboard a pair of rockets and blast off to the moon on Space Mountain. Come eat in the Astronomer's Club or enjoy shopping at Star Traders. If you continue counter clockwise, you'll encouter Toontown! It's where all of the characters live and play. Run wild with Roger Rabbit on a car chase, or visit Mickey in his home. Enjoy fine shopping such as the Celebrity 5 and 10. Next to Toontown is Fantasyland, where fnatasy lives and wakes. Visit Snow White's Castle or see a live show in the Castle Stage or the Fantasyland Stage. Get scared with Snow White's Scary Adventures or laugh along with It's A Small World. Next to Fantasyland is Critter Country, which will not open with the park, but about 5 months later. Come ride with Brer Rabbit in Splash Mountain or shop in the Brair Patch. Next to Critter Country is Frontierland. Hop aboard a runaway mine train or on the Mark Twain Riverboat for a tour around the Rivers of America. Climb and jump in Tom Sawyer's Island or catch the daily nightshow "Fantasmic!". Can Mickey use his imagination to defeat the forces of evil? You're about to find out! Enjoy plenty of live entertainment and fine dining and shopping. Next to Frontierland is the famous Adventureland where you can climb aboard the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse or ride the imfamous Jungle Cruise and tour the rivers of the Jungle. Catch fine entertinament like "Mickey's Adventureland Mardi Gras" or shop along Royal Street and hop along Pirates Of The Carribean. If you want to leave, just go across Royal Street, and right into Main Street you'll be, because Main Street blends into Adventureland. Daily entertainment and parades are to be performed.
Along with the Magic Kingdom will be Downtown Disney, a nighttime resort area with hot places like Planet Hollywood or the House of Blues. Or stay comfortable in a Disney Hotel. On opening day, there will be 3 hotels. The Disneyland Hotel, Fort Wilderness, and Disney's Ambassador Hotel.
Magic Kingdom Australia Construction
Preliminary work is underway on the Magic Kingdom theme park site, as Disney’s team mobilizes to officially begin construction in January 2010. The GCLC will be paying a total of 7 billion for the first phase of this resort project with the Walt Disney Company adding in 700 million. The park and resort will be continuously expanded. The Magic Kingdom park is partially built over a bay with the rest of the resort across the bay in order for the Magic Kingdom to be the centerpoint, and the most expandable into the surrounding area. Over the next two months, The GCLC will be finalizing their work on the reclamation and preliminary infrastructure work to officially turn over the site to Disney to begin building the theme park resort project.
“Over the last 18 months, the GCLC has built one of the most spectacular sites for any Disney theme park in the world,” said DeLoera. “It is now Disney’s job to bring this beautiful site to life by creating a flagship Disney theme park for the people of the Gold Coast.”
The development for the Down Under Resort will include a theme park, three hotels, back-of-house support facilities, infrastructure, parking and one of the largest landscape projects in the Gold Coast area. The project scope and details are unlike any development project ever built in Australia. The structures average less than three stories with the exception of the Park icons like Sleeping Beauty Castle, Space Mountain and the three hotels, which range from five to twelve-story buildings.
Contractors working on this theme park project are sure to have a one-of-a-kind experience to help build elaborate shows and attractions elements such as a river, treehouse, quaking temple ruins, erupting geysers, extensive rock work, village huts, flying elephants, as well as an Intergalactic Spaceport and many more exciting elements that make up the the Down Under Resort experience.
Walt Disney Imagineers have been working on the theme park for the past two years with preliminary designs taking place at Imagineering’s headquarters in California. The design work has been supported by local Australian architectural firms and has recently been transferred to the Gold Coast in preparation for the construction. The tendering process has been underway for several months and three construction contracts have already been secured with the remainder to be awarded over the next 18 months. In total, the project will award 15 to 35 contracts for large-scale and specialty work that will result in significant job opportunities in the construction industry throughout the two-year theme park construction process.
“We are relying on the Gold Coast construction industry to build the Down Under Resort,” said DeLoera. “At the peak of construction approximately 10,000 workers will be on site to help build the theme park resort and this does not even begin to account for the thousands of jobs created industry-wide to support the logistics and production of this large-scale development project.”
The size and remote location of the project add to the complexity as Disney and the Government must create new infrastructure, roads and support systems at the early stages of construction to accommodate the thousands of workers and activity taking place on site. To create the theme park resort project, the site will have 57 kilometers (35 miles) of pipeline, 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) of cable, 1,000 manholes, and 2 million cubic meters (2.5 million cubic yards) of topsoil created solely to support the extensive landscaping on the site.
Walt Disney Imagineering is the master planning, creative development, design, engineering, production, project management and research and development arm of The Walt Disney Company. Its talented corps of Imagineers is responsible for the creation — from concept initiation through installation — of all Disney resorts, theme parks and attractions, real estate developments and regional entertainment venues. It is headquartered in Glendale, California.
The Down Under Resort project was announced in November 2009 as a venture between The Walt Disney Company and the GCLC. Currently under reclamation by the GCLC, Disney is targeted to begin construction in early 2010 with the project scheduled to open in March 2013. The opening day program for Hong Kong Disneyland will include a 15 million annual visitor Disneyland-style theme park, three hotels and retail, dining and entertainment uses. The project is estimated to create 25,000 new jobs at opening both Disney and other employment, growing to 40,000 once the first park reaches build-out. At the completion of Phase I, the project will include a 15 million annual visitor Disneyland-style theme park, 3,500 hotel rooms, and a giant district of retail, dining and entertainment.
***
Also here is a fact sheet on what is currently planned.
Down Under Resort Fact Sheet
Project Name: Down Under Disney Resort
Location: Overlooking the water at Disney's Bay, and on a main transit route from the new Gold Coast International Airport, the project will position the Gold Coast as a world-class tourist destination. The Disney resort site will take advantage of the location's easy access by rail, highway and ferry to attract guests to the park. It is located 10 minutes from the new airport and 1 hour from downtown Brisbane.
Size: 56 square miles
Concept: Currently in the conceptual design phase, the Down Under Resort will be designed to transport guests into a world of imagination, fantasy and adventure. The park will bring together the best of the rides, shows and attractions from Disney Parks around the world to create a mix of new and traditional Disney entertainment experiences.
Opening Day: Disney is expected to begin construction in early 2010, with opening targeted for March 2013.
Opening day program includes a Disneyland-style theme park, 3 hotels and retail, dining and entertainment.
Phase l Build-Out: The Phase I build-out includes a 15 million annual visitor Disneyland-based theme park, 3, 500 hotel rooms and a gaint retail, dining and entertainment complex.
Status: The project site is currently under reclamation by the GCLC targeted to be completed in December 2009.
Benefits: The project is estimated to create 25,000 new jobs at opening, growing to 40,000 once the first park reaches build-out.
The Down Under Resort will join the many current Gold Coast theme parks and will be scheduled to be completed around March 2013.
So, what do ya'll think. I'll release press releases every so often as I complete a land, with renderings and such. So, any comments, complaints, etc? - The WeirdOne
