Water Park Wars.

[DGracey]

The spotlight often shines brightly on Walt Disney World's four main gates, with good reason.

But often under discussed is the gem of its water parks. Disney has amazing water parks. Based on attendance figures, Typhoon is still the area's top dog when it comes to soaking up the Florida sun at a water park.

But down the road from Disney, it's arch-nemesis Universal is quietly building a huge new water park of their own. And from the rumours (we love rumours!), it is going to be impressive. Immersive theming and exhilarating attractions galore. Construction permits filed with Orange Country show the park will be located just south of Universal's new Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Rumours point to the park themed around a massive Volcano (which will house a water ride) and the park's possible name of "WonderSea." Construction permits expire in 5 years but the targeted opening is spring 2017. Land clearing has already begun. No word yet on what will happen to Universal's current splashy offering Wet N' Wild.

With the Potter explosion, growth in their hotels, and now a possible second water park - Universal is going hardball in the "play, stay and don't leave our resort" sand box.

Does Disney respond to the water park war? Do they need to do anything to counter this?

Will Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach get additional attractions, or will we get a third water park at Walt Disney World?

 

[Sped2424]

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/forums/universal-orlando.20/


Edit: I see that you are new here, so WELCOME TO WDW MAGIC. That being said we have devoted areas to these kinds of topics. And anything for universal goes in the thread area I have posted As for Disney responding there isn't any immediate plans and seeing as how this has been common knowledge for some time I guess they aren't all that worried.

 

[JediMasterMatt]

Does Disney respond to the water park war? Do they need to do anything to counter this?

Will Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach get additional attractions, or will we get a third water park at Walt Disney World?

Has Disney responded to WWoHP - Hogsmeade, Simpsons, Transformers, WWoHP - Diagon Alley?

Nope, nope, nope, & nope.

TDO Disney going to do what TDO Disney going to do.

Now, if the ever growing list of onsite resorts at Uni keeps going and they are able to make a dent into occupancy at WDW... things may be forced to change.

Until then, if the MK's gates are still overflowing... status quo.

The sheep will continue to graze in the new FP+ pastures that WDW makes.

 

[Nick Wilde]

Has Disney responded to WWoHP - Hogsmeade, Simpsons, Transformers, WWoHP - Diagon Alley?

Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes. Star Wars Land, (for WWoHP), Avatar Land (for the Simpsons), and Frozen @Norway for Transformers.

 

[Tony Perkis]

Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes. Star Wars Land, (for WWoHP), Avatar Land (for the Simpsons), and Frozen @Norway for Transformers.

Avatarland is a response to WWoHP, hence its announcement years back.

It's a pretty hysterical response as well, considering nobody really cares for the franchise at all.

 

[danpam1024]

Avatarland is a response to WWoHP, hence its announcement years back.

It's a pretty hysterical response as well, considering nobody really cares for the franchise at all.

I tried to watch it 3 times and fell asleep every time. Disney's "responses" are pitiful and they should be ashamed of the current state of the parks. It breaks my heart.

 

[JediMasterMatt]

Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes. Star Wars Land, (for WWoHP), Avatar Land (for the Simpsons), and Frozen @Norway for Transformers.

Avatarland is a response to WWoHP, hence its announcement years back.

It's a pretty hysterical response as well, considering nobody really cares for the franchise at all.

Star Wars land for Hogsmede??? An as yet, unannounced blue sky project that doesn't even have a start date let alone a completion date?

Avatar for Simpsons or even WWoHP?? Announced, but, opening in 2017. Hardly a response to any action taken by Universal. This action was taken because of the internal need to do something to keep guests longer in a park that is well known to send the stampede <pun intended> out of the gate and towards other destinations (mostly Magic Kingdom) before the sun even starts to set.

Frozen for Transformers??? Announced, but, opening in 2016. Transformers will have already served it's dual purpose of giving the resort a nice bump in attendance during its opening year and more importantly - giving the park its in some capacity to please the Diagon Alley crowds. Frozen wasn't built to combat any transmorphing robots. Frozen is being done because, Frozen was going to happen somewhere at the resort, EPCOT had a pavilion that Disney couldn't strong arm the sponsor country into plussing so they decided to give EPCOT a new attraction that it could certainly use; but, doesn't really fit the theme of the park.

None of these things are done because of anything happening anywhere external to Reedy Creek's own needs. Maybe Star Wars will get the budget to go along with the hopes and dreams of Disney fans; but, TDO has done nothing in recent years to demonstrate they have the ambition to earn our blanketed trust yet to say that finally there will be a TRUE response to Hogsmeade. As of now, the only response worthy of the initial salvo from Universal has been Diagon Alley in Orlando.

All of the listed "responses" from Disney are still under construction, under Imagineering, and hate to say it - likely going to be underfunded to be true responses to what is already open and satisfying the masses at Universal.

Disney is still arrogant enough to believe (and rightfully so) that a very high percentage of guests that plan a visit to Orlando to experience any Universal expansion will likely fall into the Honey Trap <again, pun intended> that is the Magic Kingdom and the rest of the Also Appearing Cast of Theme Parks at WDW.

When the water park comes to Uni, Disney will likely do nothing. At most maybe add a magnetic hydro coaster at one or both of their water parks.

*Want to start talking about the Disney response to Kong... and no, the Tangled restrooms don't count.

 

[danpam1024]

pretty excited to see the new I drive offerings, Madame Tussaud's, The Eye, the Aquarium. It is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING Disney sits still while the town is booming.

 

[Funmeister]

Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes. Star Wars Land, (for WWoHP), Avatar Land (for the Simpsons), and Frozen @Norway for Transformers.

Ummm...you mentioned three projects that are not even built yet (one not even announced). Pretty lame attempt at a comparison. Please tell me what it is about the Frozen attraction that you like more than the Simpsons? Is the the pretty hues they used to paint the construction walls?

Tell me how the traffic flow of people through Star Wars land compares to WWoHP?

Take the blinders off and step away from the Dole Whip....you are Disney Whipped my friend! Sad.

 

[Mike C]

Here's a map of what was put up for for the South Florida Water Management District, it shows the water park taking up nearly all the space. It's about 1 and a half times as large as Typhoon Lagoon, for comparison. Since it's just showing drainage/water plans, its light on detail, but it shows hints of the volcano in the middle with some slides/rivers coming out of it, and the park entrance in the northeast corner.

It's south of Cabana bay, bordered by I-4 on one side, and turkey lake rd on the other. It'll be VERY visible from I-4.

These other two drawings may be a bit out of date or incorrect, but they were found on a brazillian travel site:

 

[Disneyhead'71]

pretty excited to see the new I drive offerings, Madame Tussaud's, The Eye, the Aquarium. It is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING Disney sits still while the town is booming.

The I-Drive 360 complex is actually quite nice. South I Drive is no longer a tourist trap.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Here's a map of what was put up for for the South Florida Water Management District, it shows the water park taking up nearly all the space. It's about 1 and a half times as large as Typhoon Lagoon, for comparison. Since it's just showing drainage/water plans, its light on detail, but it shows hints of the volcano in the middle with some slides/rivers coming out of it, and the park entrance in the northeast corner.

It's south of Cabana bay, bordered by I-4 on one side, and turkey lake rd on the other. It'll be VERY visible from I-4.
View attachment 82981
These other two drawings may be a bit out of date, but they were found on a brazillian travel site:

View attachment 82983
View attachment 82984

Those last two images are for never built water park for EuroDisney.

 

[cheezbat]

The EuroDisney Waterpark looked like a souped up better version of Typhoon Lagoon.

Of course, Wondersea is probably going to be even better!

 

[Nick Wilde]

Ummm...you mentioned three projects that are not even built yet (one not even announced). Pretty lame attempt at a comparison. Please tell me what it is about the Frozen attraction that you like more than the Simpsons? Is the the pretty hues they used to paint the construction walls?

Tell me how the traffic flow of people through Star Wars land compares to WWoHP?

Take the blinders off and step away from the Dole Whip....you are Disney Whipped my friend! Sad.

I didn't say I liked any of them, or said that they're better. They're just Disney's "responses." Just because they aren't built yet doesn't mean they are not "responses."

 

[Funmeister]

I didn't say I liked any of them, or said that they're better. They're just Disney's "responses." Just because they aren't built yet doesn't mean they are not "responses."

Sorry...those are not "responses" to anything.

 

[Nick Wilde]

Sorry...those are not "responses" to anything.

How would you know what the big wigs are thinking? You really think that they haven't seen what Uni has been doing, and aren't building these in response? That's quite an arrogant post.

 

[lazyboy97o]

How would you know what the big wigs are thinking? You really think that they haven't seen what Uni has been doing, and aren't building these in response? That's quite an arrogant post.

So you do know what they're thinking? Correlation is not causation.

 

[Funmeister]

So you do know what they're thinking? Correlation is not causation.

Pretty much my point exactly.

 

[Funmeister]

How would you know what the big wigs are thinking? You really think that they haven't seen what Uni has been doing, and aren't building these in response? That's quite an arrogant post.

I admit I do not know everything. I can also tell you I know a lot more than you when it comes to this subject. I have no reason to give you my resume or what I have done for the company. Nor do I care what you think. Moving on.

 

[TubaGeek]

My prediction: they will build a water park that, while not as big as Disney's offerings, provides a higher quality product with a focus on innovation. It will not do much to take away from Disney's parks, but will do more than well enough to justify the investment, continuing Uni's amazing climb.

Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes. Star Wars Land, (for WWoHP), Avatar Land (for the Simpsons), and Frozen @Norway for Transformers.

Adorable.