So budget is similar to DCA 2.0? That COULD be good news if handled right and not squandered on bullcrap, but we'll see. From what I have read online, DCA 2.0 cost around $1.1 billion. Insiders here can correct me if that's not accurate. I'm also not sure what specific attractions this entire budget encompassed, but from 2007-2012 DCA got the following substantial ride or attraction additions- Toy Story Mania, World of Color, The Little Mermaid, the entirety of Cars Land and all the less major cosmetic alterations the park got as well. I don't know if all of these were included in the supposed $1.1 billion budget.
TWDC played with that budget too. The figure they widely circulated was $1.2 billion, BUT that didn't include TSMM, WoC, the new Pixar Parade, all those night fests etc. The figure most in the business use when all of that is factored in is somewhere north of $1.6 billion.
Individually, a lot of the cloned stuff theoretically shouldn't be as expensive as the original versions, especially regarding the already unimpressive carnie attractions in the first place. A clone of Toy Story Playland shouldn't eat into the budget TOO much, don't know how much TSMM's expansion will cost but I also can't imagine it being massively expensive either. Cars and Star Wars are probably going to cost the most if they're getting the "big rides", and we don't know what level of ambition they're being built on. Assuming there's a fully realized clone of Radiator Springs Racers, its cost (while still pricey) should theoretically cost at least somewhat less than the original due to much of the design work already done. That is assuming they don't give a downgraded version.
Take this as an opinion, not a fact. But I am 95% certain that RSRs is not coming. Different attraction, different ride system.
It is however very important to note that Disney is becoming increasingly wasteful with their budgets, even moreso since DCA 2.0. I would imagine even the same budget wouldn't yield as much content as it did back when DCA's overhaul started. And Cars Land had Lasseter supervising to ensure a top quality product, I'm unaware whether DHS' redo will have anyone like Lasseter in charge to ensure it's done properly and the bean counters don't get their grubby hands all over it to ruin things.
Well, we all know the social media spectacle when JL was seen at WDW last month. But the facts are he has so many pies dealing with WDFA and PIxar and DLR that I find it very hard to believe he'll have much oversight here at all. He's also got SDL (with an entire TS themed resort) and a new version of TSMM next up for HKDL. Kathy Mangum is talented, but there's realistically only so much she can do. And then there's Trowbridge overseeing the SW work. How that will work as far as reporting goes, I am not sure.
In your opinion 74, does anything you've heard about the DHS overhaul interest or please you? We kind of know to expect carnie rides out of Toy Story (probably the playland and TSMM expansion), but it's rather vague as to what "Cars" could mean (could mean something as good as Cars Land at DCA, or as pathetic as the embarrassing Cars ride at the Studios Disneyland Paris, or even something in between). What we know about Star Wars if also pretty vague at this point. So it would be nice to hear your early opinion about certain elements of this project.
I need to hear more, BUT I am excited by the possibilities in sort of a distant way (you know, like some men sat and watched the Olsen twins for years kind of hoping and wishing for possibilities!)
They are spending. But they always spend. NGE makes UNI's work look like it was done on the cheap because WDW wastes money ... you know, while cutting the quality of meat they buy or the amount of turkey they place on a sandwich or making sure no one steals soda (BTW, found a great way to almost do the same. Thanks to the friend who clued me in as I used it last night at dinner!)
Amazing how they spend so poorly, but Wall Street loves Iger ... Wall Street wants to collectively get on its knees in front of him (insert the fanboi/Imagineer joke of your choice here).
BTW, kind of unrelated and feel free to ignore this if you like, but do you have anything new to share about the work being done to Animal Kingdom (regarding Avatar, Rivers of Light, or anything else)?
Only that a blue alien se-x kitty wearing mouse ears at HHNs said that ''Avatar would be coming to a theme park near you around 2075'' ... I know that RoL had major budget cuts but that's old news at this point. It should open in early spring 2016. Avatar should start opening in late 2017.
