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

[doctornick]

nah... just floating the statement to remind everyone they put a huge amount of resources into Florida... money the public benefits from too... so 'remember, we're the good guys' PR messaging.

while i agree, investing ~$1.7B a year - even assuming that was all going to CapEx - wouldn't really be anything crazy for WDW even if future value of money/inflation is accounted for. That would probably allow for something in the realm of 1-2 attractions a year over that time which is basically what they have been doing in recent years, which still a bunch of the money going to the resorts and infrastructure.

 

[flynnibus]

while i agree, investing ~$1.7B a year - even assuming that was all going to CapEx

And even that’s a tall assumption….

wouldn't really be anything crazy for WDW even if future value of money/inflation is accounted for. That would probably allow for something in the realm of 1-2 attractions a year over that time which is basically what they have been doing in recent years, which still a bunch of the money going to the resorts and infrastructure.

Yes - this is all about stroking the public… here’s a really big number!!!!

It was not a statement to try to convince analysts or the like about future growth or investment.

And this is going exactly as planned… the gen pop is drooling about 17bil gets them… all while Disney didn’t actually commit to anything of substance

 

[Tha Realest]

The 1990's is an era I work to forget existed. It simply took the worst of the 1980's covered it in pastels and integrated technology that tried to do more than it was really capable of at the time.

Evidence: pink-castle.jpg

I would take just about every aspect of 90’s popular culture - with the exception of current era of television - over what we get now. Music, films, books, all far superior.

 

[Tom P.]

I would take just about every aspect of 90’s popular culture - with the exception of current era of television - over what we get now. Music, films, books, all far superior.

As a Star Trek fan, I wholeheartedly disagree with you about current vs. 90's television. For that matter, as a Disney fan who grew up partially in the 90's, I would take the 90's-era Disney Channel programming over the crap they air now any day.

 

[Naplesgolfer]

There is a reasonable hope that Disney increases Capex in WDW based on Wall Street's current view that the parks division is the more consistent earner and warrants more investment. What that increased level actually equals is anyone's guess.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

At the speed Disney builds I don’t think it’s possible for them to spend that much on new rides in a decade so most of it must be earmarked for renovating existing rides and resorts.

It’s enough money they could theoretically add a couple dozen new E-tickets (6 per park) but it would take Disney 40 years to build them.

 

[Elijah Abrams]

I kinda wish they'd spend some money fixing what's already in the parks rather than expanding. Epcot needs spaceship earth remodeled and 2 more attractions in world showcase along with updates in sea base (Nemo needs an update) and living with the land (needs a first floor entry). Animal Kingdom needs Dinoland USA completely remodeled or replaced. Hollywood studios needs replacements for what's been abandoned in the former Animation Courtyard along with plumbing infrastructure replacement by the tower of terror bathrooms and Magic Kingdom still needs stitch's great escape replaced, Tom Sawyer Island remodeled and the Swiss Family treehouse replaced with something ADA compliant. Finally, while the water parks are in good condition, Typhoon Lagoon is 34 years old and can't compete with Volcano Bay without a major investment. It would also be cool to see Blizzard Beach have a stronger tie into Frozen's IP as a way to make that park more appealing to modern tourists.

DinoLand should be remodeled, while its Dinorama section can go.

 

[celluloid]

while i agree, investing ~$1.7B a year - even assuming that was all going to CapEx - wouldn't really be anything crazy for WDW even if future value of money/inflation is accounted for. That would probably allow for something in the realm of 1-2 attractions a year over that time which is basically what they have been doing in recent years, which still a bunch of the money going to the resorts and infrastructure.

Exactly. It is so digustingly below average when you consider E Tickets cost nearly 500 million apiece these days and the biggest investment are always into resorts and DVC units. And 1.7 billion is not likely to go much further in six years from now let alone 10. If this was them getting away with building a theme park for a couple billion than we could be excited. We are back to getting one new large scale attraction every 4 years from all four theme parks.

 

[Indy_UK]

Does anyone think that Disney are leaving the Animation courtyard area alone in the hope that long term, they do gain the Marvel theme park rights back because other than opening as part of a new park, there isn’t anywhere else the land could go?

 

[roj2323]

Does anyone think that Disney are leaving the Animation courtyard area alone in the hope that long term, they do gain the Marvel theme park rights back because other than opening as part of a new park, there isn’t anywhere else the land could go?

no. There's acres of expansion areas they haven't yet used and retheming of Rockin rollercoaster is going to happen at some point so that along with the Cars theater would make more sense for a marvel overlay realistically speaking. Also it's been long rumored that Indy and the whole central area to the left of the theater is going to get redone at some point too so really it's anyone's guess as to what they are going to do with it. If I had to guess I'd bet on something Pixar related personally.

 

[DisneyDoctor]

Port Orleans Riverside, French Quarter, and even House of Blues serve some of all of those

And they're delicious!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Exactly. It is so digustingly below average when you consider E Tickets cost nearly 500 million apiece these days and the biggest investment are always into resorts and DVC units. And 1.7 billion is not likely to go much further in six years from now let alone 10. If this was them getting away with building a theme park for a couple billion than we could be excited. We are back to getting one new large scale attraction every 4 years from all four theme parks.

I know on the Disney Dish Len Testa talked about this and did look at the inflation impact and estimate that 17bn over the next 10 years is worth about 14 billion in today's dollars, so about 1.4bn a year - and based on what they have reported spending int he past is similar to what they spent over the past 10 years ... so it isn't like some huge windfall and will definitely be a 5th gate or anything, but also isn't nothing

In the past 10 years we got (off the top of my head):
- the finish of new fantasy land
- Pandora
- Galaxy's Edge
- MMRR, Guardains, Remy, Tron, Frozen Ever After,
- Some new / replacement hotels and DVC (Gran Destino, Riviera, etc)
- The Skyliner
- Disney Springs


So I think we can see that as the scale of the next 10 years

 

[JoeCamel]

I know on the Disney Dish Len Testa talked about this and did look at the inflation impact and estimate that 17bn over the next 10 years is worth about 14 billion in today's dollars, so about 1.4bn a year - and based on what they have reported spending int he past is similar to what they spent over the past 10 years ... so it isn't like some huge windfall and will definitely be a 5th gate or anything, but also isn't nothing

In the past 10 years we got (off the top of my head):
- the finish of new fantasy land
- Pandora
- Galaxy's Edge
- MMRR, Guardains, Remy, Tron, Frozen Ever After,
- Some new / replacement hotels and DVC (Gran Destino, Riviera, etc)
- The Skyliner
- Disney Springs


So I think we can see that as the scale of the next 10 years

Unless they just pack up the whole operation and move to Texas....

 

[drizgirl]

Unless they just pack up the whole operation and move to Texas....

What would you hope to accomplish with that?

 

[bcoachable]

Unless they just pack up the whole operation and move to Texas....

that be one way to “stick it to” the governor

 

[celluloid]

Unless they just pack up the whole operation and move to Texas....

Ha. I don't think they could compete with the two billion or so Universal is already putting there when Iger wants to brag in ten years he may spend 17 billion at WDW.

 

[JoeCamel]

Ha. I don't think they could compete with the two billion or so Universal is already putting there when Iger wants to brag in ten years he may spend 17 billion at WDW.

To be fair he wasn't bragging just reminding

 

[celluloid]

With all due respect, how do you remind someone on what has not occurred yet? He stated this would be 17 billion in the next ten years for WDW and that 13,000 more jobs would result of it. This is why I see it as a bragging promise for the shareholders.

 

[Dan Deesnee]

Anyone see the new Mickey Views video talking about the huge expansions in MK? Would explain a few billion of this 17 billion. What he discussed also makes complete sense with the destruction of Splash.

Basically, Pecos Bill replaced by Tiana's Palace. Frontier Land replaced by New Orleans street. Big Thunder becomes the entrance area to the new Desert Land / New Frontier Land with Coco and Encanto. He then surmised that Villains Land would go sort of next to Desert Land and behind Haunted Mansion.

Wouldn't shock me at all if this is what happens. The positioning of these changes and the changes in general all make a whole lot of sense.

My guess is if this does happen we're getting a new Western style resort that will have direct entrance to this part of MK the same way Grand California does.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Anyone see the new Mickey Views video talking about the huge expansions in MK? Would explain a few billion of this 17 billion. What he discussed also makes complete sense with the destruction of Splash.

Basically, Pecos Bill replaced by Tiana's Palace. Frontier Land replaced by New Orleans street. Big Thunder becomes the entrance area to the new Desert Land / New Frontier Land with Coco and Encanto. He then surmised that Villains Land would go sort of next to Desert Land and behind Haunted Mansion.

Wouldn't shock me at all if this is what happens. The positioning of these changes and the changes in general all make a whole lot of sense.

My guess is if this does happen we're getting a new Western style resort that will have direct entrance to this part of MK the same way Grand California does.

This is being discussed here, in the Beyond Big Thunder thread, and the new thread for this rumor.