WDW in a frigid place??? What would you do?.....

[WDWmazprty]

With all the cold weather hitting all over the nation lately, I got to thinking what if WDW, instead of being in Florida where its mostly hot all the time, was actually in a place where it was mostly cold all the time?

Instead of wearing the usual shorts, short sleeves, sandals, etc. It would be common to see guests in parkas, hats, boots,long sleeves, etc.

The real question is what rides would you change to accomodate the cold weather? (i.e. Splash Mountain) or what new rides would you create for the cold climate?

 

[WDWmazprty]

This

 

[kcnole]

Yep, see DL Paris for an example of how a park would work in cold weather.

 

[Andrew54]

Kali and Splash Mountain would be miserable. lol

 

[WDWmazprty]

Kali and Splash Mountain would be miserable. lol

I think I would make Splash Mountain a sled run :lookaroun

 

[wendysue]

I think I would make Splash Mountain a sled run :lookaroun

That would be fun.....:lol:

 

[NYwdwfan]

It's been insanely cold the past two days - today I had on two pairs of socks and (no joke) SIX shirts, hat, gloves and hoodie and was STILL cold. You would rthink rhe busses would run more but NO. It's been rough.

 

[yensid67]

Kali and Splash Mountain would be miserable. lol

Istead of seeing them as MISERABLE attractions, think of them as ICE instead of water, with a few updates to make it ride on ice instead of water!

 

[Wilt Dasney]

I think it was Walt's intention to avoid exactly that scenario, and that's why he chose southern California and Florida for his parks.

I'm fuzzy on the details, but I think Walt's only plans for cold weather complexes involved an indoor park of some sort in St. Louis which would have been designed to avoid cold weather... and of course, the Mineral King Ski Lodge where the snow would be part of the appeal and not a seasonal hassle.

Just looking at those plans, it seems fair to assume he wanted to avoid locations where cold weather could ruin the enjoyment of his guests on a regular basis. Maybe it traces back to all his icy mornings delivering newspapers in Kansas City as a boy? We'll never know for sure...but it's fun to speculate.

 

[photoflight]

Frigid? About 90 minutes left in tonight's Very Merry Christmas Party and it's 36° at the park.

Cold happens in Florida. Sometimes. Not often enough for me, but sometimes. :ROFLOL:

 

[bgraham34]

Frigid? About 90 minutes left in tonight's Very Merry Christmas Party and it's 36° at the park.

Cold happens in Florida. Sometimes. Not often enough for me, but sometimes. :ROFLOL:

You are aware its a Christmas Party and it snows on Main Street so why wouldn't it be cold.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

This

I am pretty sure that this picture is the reason that DLP doens't have a splash mountain or any other water related rides.

 

[pumpkin7]

and it's probably why the UK doesn't have a DL. either that or because it would get vandalised lol.

 

[fosse76]

I think it was Walt's intention to avoid exactly that scenario, and that's why he chose southern California and Florida for his parks.

I'm fuzzy on the details, but I think Walt's only plans for cold weather complexes involved an indoor park of some sort in St. Louis which would have been designed to avoid cold weather... and of course, the Mineral King Ski Lodge where the snow would be part of the appeal and not a seasonal hassle.

Just looking at those plans, it seems fair to assume he wanted to avoid locations where cold weather could ruin the enjoyment of his guests on a regular basis. Maybe it traces back to all his icy mornings delivering newspapers in Kansas City as a boy? We'll never know for sure...but it's fun to speculate.

Actually, sites for Disney World included St. Louis and Niagara Falls. I think Niagara Falls was nixed because of weather, and St. Louis because a local politician insulted Walt for not wanting to serve alcohol in the park. They didn't start looking at Florida until after they cancelled St. Louis.

 

[marni1971]

I am pretty sure that this picture is the reason that DLP doens't have a splash mountain or any other water related rides.

Long story, but no.

Tokyo does have its Splash Mountain. The water levels and splashes are regulated depending on the weather. The final drop can run with no splash (enhanced or otherwise) if needs be.

 

[WDITrent]

There are plenty of times when snow has hit the TDR, and they have a Splash Mountain, as Martin said.

 

[worldfanatic]

Actually, sites for Disney World included St. Louis and Niagara Falls. I think Niagara Falls was nixed because of weather, and St. Louis because a local politician insulted Walt for not wanting to serve alcohol in the park. They didn't start looking at Florida until after they cancelled St. Louis.

St. Louis was never seriously considered as a site for WDW.
Walt had loyalty to his Missouri, but he wasn't stupid.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

The details of the St. Louis story are hard to pin down. Here's a link: http://www.theledger.com/article/20080802/COLUMNISTS/808030319

The accounts in that one story differ on whether the planned attraction was supposed to be the second Disneyland, or an indoor attraction like I said earlier. In his biography of Walt, Neal Gabler writes at some length about the project and goes into some detail about its conception as an INDOOR project, which is probably what I was remembering earlier.

But honestly, the whole thing has a whiff of urban legend to me anyway. The idea that Walt would abandon a project over an insult from a local business leader makes for a nice story, but it seems inconsistent with what we know about Walt. He was ridiculed mercilessly on the wisdom of everything from Snow White to Disneyland. Being doubted just seemed to spur him on, not make him run away.

Again, we'll probably never know the true story!

 

[photoflight]

You are aware its a Christmas Party and it snows on Main Street so why wouldn't it be cold.

That's true, but I think it might have actually STUCK last night! :ROFLOL:

 

[Jeff456]

Long story, but no.

Tokyo does have its Splash Mountain. The water levels and splashes are regulated depending on the weather. The final drop can run with no splash (enhanced or otherwise) if needs be.

Wow, that's interesting never knew that! Presumed it was just because of the cold.