News Walt Disney Company plans to spend $17 billion at Walt Disney World over the next ten years

[GhostHost1000]

Could fix Disco Yeti with some of that

I hate to say it, but I suspect the yeti will never be fixed to its original moving state.

 

[JusticeDisney]

Yes.

I'm also convinced that Bob Iger could give that money to you personally and you would still not be happy.

And I'm further convinced that many of your messages attempt to be too clever by half and that you should just directly state your point more often.

Great post! I’m pretty sure that not even he understands half of the unintelligible crap that he posts.

 

[Tha Realest]

Call me negative all you want, but I'm not overly excited for this til I hear plans with it. It needs significant additions, not just replacements. Yeah, Disney has put out some very good rides. BUT, they also are a net negative in number of rides at I believe 2 or maybe 3 of the parks last time I checked. It's not enough to make great rides, they need to make MORE rides.

As for the 13,000 cast members. How far off their needed cast member numbers are they currently? I thought I had read at one time as a company they were down like 30,000 employees since their height. 13,000 would mean a lot of expansion if they were full already. But if 10,000 are needed just to get the resort fully operational again, that's a lot less for expansion. Sorry, I'm just very pessimistic at this point.

Yeah, I think the incongruence comes from 1) a lack of specifics as to what that $17bn constitutes, 2) how much of that amount would’ve been expected as an ongoing annual expenses vs new capex, and 3) using the platform of a shareholders meeting and vague numbers to undergird an implicit message in opposition to the state of Florida.

Have they ever broadcast a specific ten year budget outlay solely for WDW before?

 

[Drdcm]

Could fix Disco Yeti with some of that

It’s estimated the cost to replace the yeti falls somewhere between 17.2 and 19 billion dollars lol

 

[ToTBellHop]

It’s estimated the cost to replace the yeti falls somewhere between 17.2 and 19 billion dollars lol

Bummer. Maybe next decade.

 

[Tha Realest]

Bummer. Maybe next decade.

A Yeti that dances is considered a performing CM, and we know they’re trying to cut those wherever possible

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yeah, I think the incongruence comes from 1) a lack of specifics as to what that $17bn constitutes, 2) how much of that amount would’ve been expected as an ongoing annual expenses vs new capex, and 3) using the platform of a shareholders meeting and vague numbers to undergird an implicit message in opposition to the state of Florida.

Have they ever broadcast a specific ten year budget outlay solely for WDW before?

Another - I know, “not happy” - thing to consider is that they can spin it as a lot of that money being needed for infrastructure due to “inconsistency” of developments regarding reedy creek.
It’s completely legit…while at the same time completely BS.

It’s good to be king Bob.

But back to post #1. This is a PR move and it makes sense. So without any specifics it’s fun to speculate…but there’s no “there” there as it stands.

 

[flyerjab]

This is my basic take. If they really to invest $17B in the next decade, they should match or even somewhat exceed the builds of the past decade. And I for one have been happy with what they done in recent years. Just keep up that same pace.

(And do more additions compared to replacements)

I’ve always felt that you and I were very much in lock step with our opinions regarding WDW. After reading this post I see we still are

My year after year travels to WDW started in 2011. In that time I have seen the addition of New Fantasy Land, DTD transform into Disney Springs (huge personal fan of this), additions to Discovery Island and the addition of arguably one of the more impressive lands to any WDW park - Pandora, the overhaul of the back half of DHS, multiple DVC additions, Gran Destino, Riviera, Skyliner, and so on. I feel bad for Epcot because I still believe had the pandemic not happened, the original festival center, Mary Poppins, SSE overhaul and the Play Pavilion would have happened. Unfortunately, I feel that the pandemic gave Chapek the perfect excuse to do what he does best - cut spending.

As far as this announcement, I only look at it positively. Can I imagine Chapek publicly making that statement? Nope. His public proclamations were condescending and absolutely devoid of any sort of hope. My hope is that this money is used to expand the parks and modernize/refurb certain areas. Do I wish Iger would make some grand proclamation like the Disney Decade? Yes. I don’t think he will though as it is too big of a commitment statement. Iger isn’t a bold visionary…he is a measured quasi-politician in his approach. Cautious expansion to keep shareholders content, but expanding just enough to keep park goers happy.

I would be happy to see expansion like what I have seen over the last ten years. Maybe a bit more aggressive. I don’t expect a new park or an expansion of the monorail (lol, that ship sailed so long ago it fell off the edge of the Earth). I agree with many people on the threads that the 3 non-MK parks need to be fully fleshed out.

 

[ToTBellHop]

A Yeti that dances is considered a performing CM, and we know they’re trying to cut those wherever possible

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

This is my basic take. If they really to invest $17B in the next decade, they should match or even somewhat exceed the builds of the past decade. And I for one have been happy with what they done in recent years. Just keep up that same pace.

(And do more additions compared to replacements)

I’ve always felt that you and I were very much in lock step with our opinions regarding WDW. After reading this post I see we still are

My year after year travels to WDW started in 2011. In that time I have seen the addition of New Fantasy Land, DTD transform into Disney Springs (huge personal fan of this), additions to Discovery Island and the addition of arguably one of the more impressive lands to any WDW park - Pandora, the overhaul of the back half of DHS, multiple DVC additions, Gran Destino, Riviera, Skyliner, and so on. I feel bad for Epcot because I still believe had the pandemic not happened, the original festival center, Mary Poppins, SSE overhaul and the Play Pavilion would have happened. Unfortunately, I feel that the pandemic gave Chapek the perfect excuse to do what he does best - cut spending.

As far as this announcement, I only look at it positively. Can I imagine Chapek publicly making that statement? Nope. His public proclamations were condescending and absolutely devoid of any sort of hope. My hope is that this money is used to expand the parks and modernize/refurb certain areas. Do I wish Iger would make some grand proclamation like the Disney Decade? Yes. I don’t think he will though as it is too big of a commitment statement. Iger isn’t a bold visionary…he is a measured quasi-politician in his approach. Cautious expansion to keep shareholders content, but expanding just enough to keep park goers happy.

I would be happy to see expansion like what I have seen over the last ten years. Maybe a bit more aggressive. I don’t expect a new park or an expansion of the monorail (lol, that ship sailed so long ago it fell off the edge of the Earth). I agree with many people on the threads that the 3 non-MK parks need to be fully fleshed out.

They actually have to at least produce as much. Because they were fighting park stagnation to begin with…

But they have essentially nothing of value under construction - or even announced - right now. Which means they are 5 years behind.

Iger. Everyone lauded this “strategy”…but it was never a good one.

 

[Coaster Lover]

What would Central Florida's economy be if Disney hadn't decided to open a theme park there and had chosen somewhere else? All it really was before Disney's arrival was a wintering spot for 'Snowbirds'.

Hotel prices for Villian-Con would be much more affordable, that's for sure...

 

[flyerjab]

It comes up a good bit…

I was on with everything working…and though I loved the technical merits (I’m a wonk for that)…it just was less than the sum of its parts. That’s pretty emblematic of all Disney Star Wars efforts with few exceptions. It lacks “soul”. The great rides have some.

Now…I did love yeti in A mode. It was pretty cool - if brief. A rollercoaster covers mechanical warts better due to Isaac Newton being in control.

My main criticism of the SW rides - other than they need to retheme for longevity- is it’s “lightly used” at this point and already is mechanically ineffective.
I’ve got that “uh oh” test track feeling.

Agreed on the Star Wars point. Galaxy’s Edge is huge, but it it absolutely soulless. In comparison, the Imagineer - that you clearly have a “thing” about (no need to debate as we are clearly on opposite sides of this discussion )- took a 10 year old IP that “no one cared about”, and arguably made one of the most incredible lands I have had the pleasure of walking through. And the most emotional experience I have ever had on a ride was when I rode FoP. No kidding, that ride from the cave sequence onward is chilling. It is a shame to me that I get none of that in Galaxy’s Edge. Had they used characters from the original trilogy I think that the nostalgia for many people would have given that land more of the emotional “punch” that it is sorely missing. And yes, it is funny how cannons not moving can take away from that moment, especially having ridden RotR when everything was working perfectly.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Agreed on the Star Wars point. Galaxy’s Edge is huge, but it it absolutely soulless. In comparison, the Imagineer - that you clearly have a “thing” about (no need to debate as we are clearly on opposite sides of this discussion )- took a 10 year old IP that “no one cared about”, and arguably made one of the most incredible lands I have had the pleasure of walking through. And the most emotional experience I have ever had on a ride was when I rode FoP. No kidding, that ride from the cave sequence onward is chilling. It is a shame to me that I get none of that in Galaxy’s Edge. Had they used characters from the original trilogy I think that the nostalgia for many people would have given that land more of the emotional “punch” that it is sorely missing. And yes, it is funny how cannons not moving can take away from that moment, especially having ridden RotR when everything was working perfectly.

My criticism for Joe wasn’t his ideas or what he produced…it was that it was so cost inefficient that they literally changed how they viewed all park projects.
The sad reality is parks have less actual things in them than they would have IF WDI could have found more “balance”

That didn’t matter when DAK opened…but the fallout is clear today

 

[flyerjab]

My criticism for Joe wasn’t his ideas or what he produced…it was that it was so cost inefficient that they literally changed how they viewed all park projects.
The sad reality is parks have less actual things in them than they would have IF WDI could have found more “balance”

That didn’t matter when DAK opened…but the fallout is clear today.

Oh, no worries. I know that I am an unabashed Joe Rohde fan girl…and proud of it.

 

[HauntedPirate]

I think getting a skyliner pathway to disney springs would be a big deal as well. If they could connect the 3 non MK parks and both waterparks and the disney springs with skyliners....that would be chill

And then you invite thousands of people every day to try and park for free at the Springs instead of in the parks parking lots. Genius idea.

 

[Chi84]

Great post! I’m pretty sure that not even he understands half of the unintelligible crap that he posts.

Instead of all the attention, why not use “ignore?” It will stop the personal attacks, and I promise to let you know if you miss anything substantive.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Instead of all the attention, why not use “ignore?” It will stop the personal attacks, and I promise to let you know if you miss anything substantive.

I’ve been saying that for weeks. Non-stop trolling and self-inflicted embarrassment to I guess “prove” something?

The difference is my “negativity” is an assessment of issues pertaining mostly too wdw…it’s not personal.

It’s really not that hard. Just ignore me. Won’t be the first…or probably the last. But I’ll gladly go if we’re not allowed to think and talk…as humans are designed to do.

 

[erasure fan1]

I'm also convinced that Bob Iger could give that money to you personally and you would still not be happy.

Well I can't really blame him for being sceptical. Are you really that confident in what Disney will do? I'm at a point where the benefit of the doubt is gone. It's now show me. Put the money where the mouth is. Will they actually add capacity in the form of rides? Or will it be more nonsense next gen experience garbage. Or maybe just more killing one ride to build something else. If it's anything but the first option, that's a disappointment and what a lot people are afraid of.

 

[GhostHost1000]

The difference is my “negativity” is an assessment of issues pertaining mostly to wdw…it’s not personal.

You and I both have to stop being so negative and remember with Disney…

 

[Disstevefan1]

I’ve been saying that for weeks. Non-stop trolling and self-inflicted embarrassment to I guess “prove” something?

The difference is my “negativity” is an assessment of issues pertaining mostly too wdw…it’s not personal.

It’s really not that hard. Just ignore me. Won’t be the first…or probably the last. But I’ll gladly go if we’re not allowed to think and talk…as humans are designed to do.

I would never block @Sirwalterraleigh, your commentary is way too interesting even when its salty to me.

Folks forget these discussions are all in fun and nothing we say here will change what TWDC does.

Folks will split hairs over how many animatronics Splash Mountain had, does Tiana's back story make sense, one of my favorites, what constitutes a lie etc. Keep doing it, it's fun.

I am ready to get flamed now