Wait, Could Tomorrowland Be Moving To EPCOT? Earth-Shattering Implications...

[Coaster Lover]

Well, you also have to consider that the Contemporary was built to tie in with overall theme of TomorrowLand as you can see the Contemporary from TommorowLand. If Disney had any integrity (which I hope they still do), they would have to tie any replacement of TomorrowLand with the overall look of the Contemporary which would significantly limit any possible replacement of TomorrowLand. But, stranger things have happened...

 

[LAKid53]

You're right, and I think the biggest argument for Star Wars at Hollywood would be to draw traffic there and away from the other parks. And it's where my rumor falls most.

However, the big piece I've speculated on involves making future world into "Tomorrowland". This makes so much sense to me, now that they're doing this film and have a new coherent narrative for the land. Future world is much more consistent with what Tomorrowland is supposed to be. Plus the film's idea of making this Tomorrowland world sort of like Walt's E.P.C.O.T. Future world's replacement, then, masquerades as an actual futuristic community of innovators, making the park's theme much more in line with the original EPCOT vision.

The only problem is what to do with the old tomorrowland at MK. This crazy shuffling idea is just my effort to sort that out.

I know many of us think TDO makes some boneheaded decisions, but to yank an entire LAND of out the MK and move it to EPCOT is insane. And what would you put in the empty space that was once Tomorrowland? It will cost Disney, as PhotoDave said, millions, if not billions, for a MAJOR rework of 2-3 parks. And I am sure the BOD would be skeptical of any such plan, not to mention major shareholders. Your are talking about MAJOR disruptions to several parks that will affect attendance, no way around it. Look how long it is taking for the Hub redo. And how long it took for NFL. Disney would be better served spending money of that amount on a 5th gate.

 

[ItlngrlBella]

Where can they make more $...

A. Using Innoventions space as special event space where they upcharge guest for food/wine events, special events/experiences and lavish corporate events?

B. Tomorrowland (costs more $ to move/develop) or some other guest-centric attraction/s.

As much as we hate it... I'd put my money on answer A.

 

[tman2000]

Yeah, my thought exactly. Imagine deconstructing all the major rides in Tomorrowland - Astro (which Disney just renovated), Space Mountain, People Mover, etc. (I would NOT move Speedway unless the plans included bringing it up to the 21st century) - and then rebuilding them somewhere in EPCOT. Is the space at Innoventions large enough to house Astro, Space and the other major rides in Tomorrowland? Disney just spent major bucks redesigning the Hub in MK, which included new pathways to alleviate the crush between Tomorrowland and Main Street. I cannot see them moving all of Tomorrowland to EPCOT. Someone in Glendale would have had to have lost their minds to agree to this.

And Iger has already talked about the hoped for expansion of Star Wars at DHS.

If they're serious about Star Wars, it means a huge investment somewhere. Being the franchise that it is, would they seriously spend more on Avatar or Belle's story time than Star Wars? Making a Mos Eisley Cantina is cute, but it's sort of underwhelming.

The idea that Disney would spend huge bucks and make a brand new Star Wars area of the park as the biggest project they have going on makes a lot of sense. If anything, I think they'll probably wait and see how much traction the new film gets. Star Wars is potentially huge, but everything ebbs and flows. I think they want it to be as big as it seems like it ought to be. Star Wars could potentially sustain it's own gate, honestly.

That being said, moving a couple of tomorrowland assets to EPCOT and repainting future world doesn't seem like much in comparison. They probably want to see how the new film does as well.

Keep in mind that the new film would define what tomorrowland is, not our expectations about the theme park area has been like for the last 20 years. Astro Orbiter can be converted to TIEs vs. X-Wings.

So, we're not moving Space mountain to EPCOT, we're rebranding both future world and T-land.

 

[tman2000]

I know many of us think TDO makes some boneheaded decisions, but to yank an entire LAND of out the MK and move it to EPCOT is insane. And what would you put in the empty space that was once Tomorrowland? It will cost Disney, as PhotoDave said, millions, if not billions, for a MAJOR rework of 2-3 parks. And I am sure the BOD would be skeptical of any such plan, not to mention major shareholders. Your are talking about MAJOR disruptions to several parks that will affect attendance, no way around it. Look how long it is taking for the Hub redo. And how long it took for NFL. Disney would be better served spending money of that amount on a 5th gate.

Good point. It all depends on what they want to do with Star Wars. Nevertheless, I'm not sure we'll see a 5th gate anytime soon. 10 years before AK, DHS are where they need to be at least. By that time you'll need a T-land update not to mention a future world overhaul.

So, I imagine this as "in lieu of" a 5th gate. A major reworking of existing parks to make them new/better places to visit as if they were investing in the equivalent of a 5th gate.

 

[wm49rs]

Do you have any concept of costs? Because you seem to think everythin. At Walt Disney World would cost BILLIONS.

Obviously nothing that high, but amounts in the tens of millions wouldn't be unreasonable, which makes this little more than an Imagineering thread....

 

[LAKid53]

Do you have any concept of costs? Because you seem to think everythin. At Walt Disney World would cost BILLIONS.

Given the cost of labor, permitting, materials, etc., a price tag close to a billion is not unreasonable. It cost $400M to build the Magic Kingdom - in today's dollars, I would imagine close to $1B. And as I previously said, you are moving an entire land to another park after tearing down a large portion of that park.

Diagon Alley cost Comcast about $250M. But given the area they tore down - already had water, wasn't as dense an area as Tomorrowland, etc. - that was probably a much easier project. Other than figuring out how to get a train from one park to another.

This is major. And as I said, would probably affect attendance at the parks involved. Don't see how it wouldn't.

 

[tman2000]

Where can they make more $...

A. Using Innoventions space as special event space where they upcharge guest for food/wine events, special events/experiences and lavish corporate events?

B. Tomorrowland (costs more $ to move/develop) or some other guest-centric attraction/s.

As much as we hate it... I'd put my money on answer A.

Well, yeah, that pretty much is the point everyone is making and it's valid.

The only counter-argument is "Harry Potter World". Which may or may not have the teeth it gets credit for. (The theory that competition from Universal is enough to force disney to make significant investments to keep up)

 

[tman2000]

Obviously nothing that high, but amounts in the tens of millions wouldn't be unreasonable, which makes this little more than an Imagineering thread....

Right, so, back to the rumor mill:

1) Could we see Tomorrowland movie presence in future world? Could that be a direction for future world, fusing Tomorrowland and a fantasy version of Walt's EPCOT concept as a theme for the derelict part of EPCOT park?

2) Could Star Wars end up anywhere other than Hollywood Studios?

This is my rumor discussion.

 

[LAKid53]

Obviously nothing that high, but amounts in the tens of millions wouldn't be unreasonable, which makes this little more than an Imagineering thread....

Oh, I think in the hundreds of millions. Comcast spent almost $250M on Diagon Alley. I would imagine what the OP is suggesting, if you include both WDW and DLR, would be more than that.

And this board would light up! How many pages did the BAH topic end up to be? Imagine something like this.

 

[DisneyGentleman]

This is not News or a Rumor. General Discussion at best.

Hah! A rumored rumor (twice removed) and with an absurd price tag to boot.

C'mon everybody - sing with me...

"Hallucination, hallucination.
A wild idea that's far from true
With just one spark, crack dreams for you."

 

[wm49rs]

Right, so, back to the rumor mill:

1) Could we see Tomorrowland movie presence in future world? Could that be a direction for future world, fusing Tomorrowland and a fantasy version of Walt's EPCOT concept as a theme for the derelict part of EPCOT park?

2) Could Star Wars end up anywhere other than Hollywood Studios?

This is my rumor discussion.

This isn't a rumor discussion, it's your "crazy idea." There's been no rumors of anything but (for the umpteenth time) CoP moving to EP. Which was likewise too expensive (or so it was claimed) to come to fruition....

 

[DDLand]

I don't like this conjecture for the following reasons:
1) Tomorrowland Movie is unproven. Disney learned its lesson about banking on movie based attractions before they're IP is proven successful from Mission Space. It didn't end well... You wonder why there was no Frozen attraction in the works before that movie came out? Because the risk is enourmous.

Now let's say it is successful as I hope it will be, there's still:
2) In order to create this level of continuity across all of Future World, attraction removal would take place on rides such as Nemo, UOE, MS, Soarin' (which is being updated) to make way for massive Tomorrowland tie ins. Unless you want to be the one explaining why George Cloony is riding a hang glider... This would also force Disney's hand on recreating much of the architecture in FW. Let's just say The Land Pavillion doesn't look like any of the teaser trailers released for TL. The massive updates would be costly, and would break the pavilions individuality (which may or may not be a good thing).

3) So you've given Future World a story (which I think is not needed) what about world showcase? That stands out like a sore thumb next to Bird's world. Would a World Showcase movie sequel be forthcoming? Edit: Actually Epcot already has a story. What I meant to say was a movie based story.

4) DHS has the potential to be a true MK companion park like DCA is to DL. Having its Pixar based Fantasyland would be big, but it needs more. Star Wars fits the bill. The power of of SW mixed with Pixar would be huge.

5)MK is in a situation where the question "if it ain't broke why fix it" can be asked. (That doesn't include over crowding) Why take offline multiple beloved attractions that are creating a draw, and jettison them? Then only to replace them with attractions that will only crowd the area further? Part of the appeal of improving the other three Parks is spreading the crowds out more evenly. This would do the opposite, by using Star Wars to move a glut of people into the already heavily trafficked Tomorrowland. Ops is going to love that.

6) As discussed this would be expensive, and would destroy existing attractions. You thought NF was a bad trade? This is worse. Instead of getting all sorts of new rides at DHS we'd just be moving around the same number to different parks.

Yeah, I don't like it.

As some others have said TT is now in Disney's sights for construction to commence on... Star Wars Land.

 

[LAKid53]

If they're serious about Star Wars, it means a huge investment somewhere. Being the franchise that it is, would they seriously spend more on Avatar or Belle's story time than Star Wars? Making a Mos Eisley Cantina is cute, but it's sort of underwhelming.

The idea that Disney would spend huge bucks and make a brand new Star Wars area of the park as the biggest project they have going on makes a lot of sense. If anything, I think they'll probably wait and see how much traction the new film gets. Star Wars is potentially huge, but everything ebbs and flows. I think they want it to be as big as it seems like it ought to be. Star Wars could potentially sustain it's own gate, honestly.

That being said, moving a couple of tomorrowland assets to EPCOT and repainting future world doesn't seem like much in comparison. They probably want to see how the new film does as well.

Keep in mind that the new film would define what tomorrowland is, not our expectations about the theme park area has been like for the last 20 years. Astro Orbiter can be converted to TIEs vs. X-Wings.

So, we're not moving Space mountain to EPCOT, we're rebranding both future world and T-land.

To counter your argument, SW already has a presence in a park - a well known presence. And it would make no sense to pick up Star Tours and move it to another park when it is apparent that there will be space at DHS to expand Star Wars. Personally, I'd like to see a 5th gate Star Wars land that would exceed in size and scope what is going on in DAK for Avatar. Unfortunately, I'm not in a decision making position at TDC nor am I a major stockholder or my last name is Disney.

 

[Bolt]

Do you have any concept of costs? Because you seem to think everythin. At Walt Disney World would cost BILLIONS.

Ahhhhh @PhotoDave219 - he be calling you out! But in all seriousness, he does have a 'concept of costs'.

 

[DoTheImpossible]

Not trying to pile on here...but this is ridiculous. Even beyond the cost of it all. I can't think of anything farther out of left field than speculating that Beastly Kingdom is coming to Disney's River Country. Epcot is showing Tomorrowland because it loosely fits the idea of Future World and they have theater space. Really simple.

 

[LAKid53]

You know, I think if Iger presented this to the BOD, they would ask for him to speed up his retirement, like yesterday! Yes, EPCOT and DHS need major overhauls. But to move rides from one park to another, especially as DDLand mentioned, take an extremely popular ride and move it to a very congested park, is sheer lunacy on the part of TDC if that is going to be corporate's way of solving the problems with some of the parks.

 

[tman2000]

I don't like this conjecture for the following reasons:
As some others have said TT is now in Disney's sights for construction to commence on... Star Wars Land.

Yes, this seems to be the most current news. They did consider taking part of Tomorrowland at one time. And this is why I feel like they've considered doing the same for Orlando. The only reason it didn't "work" for me is that I have a hard time seeing Luke Skywalker in the background of Tinkerbell's flight. But, I've realized that Disney's strategy might involved creating a theme for Star Wars where this makes more sense. Space fantasy, if you will.

The Brad Bird film does set the stage for a future world rebrand, which makes sense on paper. I do think future world needs something like this to reinvigorate it. I doubt the film will do exceedingly well, but if it generates a sequel we could see its themes brought into the park.

I don't think Disney will move on anything big now. I imagine Star Wars, like you do, as deserving of it's own gate. Why put millions into a miniature land in DHS, and then be stuck wanting to do more. Well, I guess there is space there for expansion. Still, we have to see exactly how well new Star Wars is received (how many toys are purchased, how long the meet Chewbacca lines become).

Which is why I think we have yet to hear any details about Star Wars expansion in the parks as of yet.

The news of the Brad Bird film's presence in EPCOT is a huge clue to me that Disney might be considering this kind of realignment. But I would agree that any such idea would be wishful thinking on the part of executives about the success of various franchises.

As for DHS, leaving Star Wars out of it makes room for Marvel (Big Hero 6) and other properties.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Ahhhhh @PhotoDave219 - he be calling you out! But in all seriousness, he does have a 'concept of costs'.

That's nice. He doesn't get the attention.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Given the cost of labor, permitting, materials, etc., a price tag close to a billion is not unreasonable. It cost $400M to build the Magic Kingdom - in today's dollars, I would imagine close to $1B. And as I previously said, you are moving an entire land to another park after tearing down a large portion of that park.

Diagon Alley cost Comcast about $250M. But given the area they tore down - already had water, wasn't as dense an area as Tomorrowland, etc. - that was probably a much easier project. Other than figuring out how to get a train from one park to another.

This is major. And as I said, would probably affect attendance at the parks involved. Don't see how it wouldn't.

I see nothing about rebuilding Tomorrowland. The original poster is looking at old Disneyland rumors and thinking they would apply to the Magic a Kingdom as well. Renaming Future World to Tomorrowland is not costly, nor does giving it a sense of unity have to involve tearing everything down.