Why Walt Disney World Needs a 5th Theme Park By 2025

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
Disney needs a all out Adventure them park with thrill rides to keep families from doing split stays at Disney and Universal. Keep the folks in house.

Disney's Florida Adventure 7-8 thrill roller coasters, Cars land and other rides.

They’ll never do that...because it’s not about who’s on the rides...it’s about the $45 character breakfasts and repetitive swag sales. That’s where the money is made
 

Myth Maker

Active Member
From everything I have heard Disney Seas is an amazing theme park that would make a great 5th gate. Personally I would of rather seen a Star Wars theme park, but it appears that ship has already sailed.
 

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
yeah.. I don't believe it. . that the star wars ship has sailed.. ONE BIG MOVIE.. and there is one coming up.. and it will correct the listing ship.. and then some.. plus , from what I understand.. unless you have money falling out on the floor from your pockets, you aren't staying in the star wars hotel for close to 4 to 5 years after it opens.. because its already booked 3 years out.. James Bond and Star Trek are the same thing.. now and then there is a bad one.. Don't worry..they will make another and it will be a grand slam home run..

Ummm...there’s a certain denial with Star Wars growing that is hard to ignore. It’s version 2.0 of the lucas denial after the prequels. Now it’s joined forces with disneyfandom...to rule the galaxy as never seen before.

Not to hijack...but the franchise is in a much more precarious place than the fandom of Disney boards are admitting. It was always a powder keg if they made any missteps...because the prequel missteps were a deep blow to the core fandom. That’s “synergy” in the negative -1

Abrams didn’t make a great movie...he made a safe one that had an improvement in visual quality...and reaped the box office based on pent up frustration and event type hype. Now we see where it’s going...which is to say nowhere from a story angle and the thrill may be fading from the popcorn crowd.

Ok...Just wondering why you think that it’s in a position to even enter into this “5th gate” discussion? Have to do some repair work on screen and maybe more than any of realize.
 

mikejs78

Premium Member
Indeed, more attractions attract more visitors. And then you have the problem of infrastructure: getting people through the gate and transportation to and from the gate; enough restaurants and bathrooms; walkways become gridlocked; etc...

Sure, MK will always be the most visited, but if each of the other parks had a full suite of rides, then instead of a week of: MK/MK/MK/Ep/DHS/DAK; guests might be willing to switch one of their extra MK days to another park.
It needs both - more at the other 3 parks + more at MK to absorb crowds.

At the other 3, I think if they got the attraction count to ~12-15 per park (exluding shows) and augmented with shows, entertainment, parades, etc, that would draw a lot more out of MK.

They also need to add more to MK, but without the new attractions drawing more people in. So what they really need is more shows (the theater would have been good), and more C/D level attractions - things to add to capacity that may not have the headliner value that attracts massive crowds.

Looking at the other 3 parks with what's currently planned before 2021:

Epcot: 11 rides, 4 movies, one AA stageshow, one show-attraction (Turtle talk) - not bad when you add all there is to do in WS. If they do add Poppins and do something with WoL, Epcot will be in decent shape.

DHS: 9 rides, numerous shows. Still needs more, but will draw a lot b/c Star Wars. The romored Indy Ride plus a couple more would put this park in very good shape.

AK:. 8 rides. Several shows, numerous animal exhibits. This park, despite it's surge, still needs more. Hopefully there is a new land coming and an additional attraction here and there.

Regarding MK, an E ticket in Adventureland and more C/D ticketa in AL/FL would be good to help add capacity and draw from the FL/TL side of the park.

As for a 5th gate, I really don't think it makes sense, except as others have said, either a) once the above is done and capacity is maxed at all 4 parks, or b) Universal's new gates put competitive pressure on Disney.
 

BlakeW39

Well-Known Member
I think a 5th gate would only make it harder on Epcot, DHS, and DAK - MK wouldn't be touched unless they find away to get another near-identical castle park in, and that'd be extremely redundant. Also the parks we have pretty much run the thematic gauntlet, and I think a 5th would have a theme that already fits in another park.

Most of all, the 4 parks they have need a TON of attention before they think about cranking out another, because all of them could get higher attendance if they were updated more, especially the latter 3 but MK also certainly included.
 

MisterPenguin

President of Animal Kingdom
Premium Member
Regarding MK, an E ticket in Adventureland and more C/D tickets in AL/FL would be good to help add capacity and draw from the FL/TL side of the park.

It would help with capacity in regards to having more things for guests to do who are already in the park.

It would hurt in that it would draw more people into the park with an infrastructure is already strained. You just made the case the MK should add things that don't draw in extra crowds. An E-Ticket draws in extra crowds (see Flight of Passage).

I get why people's answer to MKs crowding is "more stuff to do", but that just draws in more people to the park.

I would advocate a moratorium to any updates to MK until the other 3 parks are upgraded to the point that they can entice people away from MK. I want a family with just 3 days for WDW to consider skipping MK because the other 3 parks are just that good. When that happens, the overcrowding at MK will take care of itself and then they can think about adding new stuff to MK.
 

mikejs78

Premium Member
It would help with capacity in regards to having more things for guests to do who are already in the park.

It would hurt in that it would draw more people into the park with an infrastructure is already strained. You just made the case the MK should add things that don't draw in extra crowds. An E-Ticket draws in extra crowds (see Flight of Passage).

I get why people's answer to MKs crowding is "more stuff to do", but that just draws in more people to the park.

I would advocate a moratorium to any updates to MK until the other 3 parks are upgraded to the point that they can entice people away from MK. I want a family with just 3 days for WDW to consider skipping MK because the other 3 parks are just that good. When that happens, the overcrowding at MK will take care of itself and then they can think about adding new stuff to MK.
Sure, and maybe the e-ticket is too much. But a few lower tier attractions may help in the short term. I would have preferred that than Tron, for example.

But in general I agree with you, the other parks need to be so expansive and compelling as to easily require two days to see it all. And that should be top priority.
 

mikejs78

Premium Member
Ummm...there’s a certain denial with Star Wars growing that is hard to ignore. It’s version 2.0 of the lucas denial after the prequels. Now it’s joined forces with disneyfandom...to rule the galaxy as never seen before.

Not to hijack...but the franchise is in a much more precarious place than the fandom of Disney boards are admitting. It was always a powder keg if they made any missteps...because the prequel missteps were a deep blow to the core fandom. That’s “synergy” in the negative -1

Abrams didn’t make a great movie...he made a safe one that had an improvement in visual quality...and reaped the box office based on pent up frustration and event type hype. Now we see where it’s going...which is to say nowhere from a story angle and the thrill may be fading from the popcorn crowd.

Ok...Just wondering why you think that it’s in a position to even enter into this “5th gate” discussion? Have to do some repair work on screen and maybe more than any of realize.
Your opinion. I happen to think Star Wars is fine. But 2019 will tell which of us is right with the release of Episode IX and the opening of Galaxy's Edge.
 

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
Your opinion. I happen to think Star Wars is fine. But 2019 will tell which of us is right with the release of Episode IX and the opening of Galaxy's Edge.

Exactly...my opinion...and a valid one. Backed up by recent events/trends.

But to deny the concept is silly...even though I’m not gonna legislate (again). I believe my comments from last December proved to be more true than I ever would have guessed. We’ll see how it plays.

To use “galaxys edge” (god I hate that cheesy punt of a name) as a proof is not really true really either way, however. Both Disney park compounds in the us are horribly overrun. They’ll be packed no matter how good or not so good the lands maybe. We have proof over in animal kingdom. Avatar is very good, but small...but ultimately is doesn’t look like anyone would care. They’re packed like sardines looking for something shiny in the distance...it doesn’t matter if it’s an oasis or a mirage.

The movies will play out...they need a reversal in leadership and organization at LFL and I believe it is coming. Iger will not let mixed reviews and poison darts be tossed at one of his acquisitions. After the Fox dust settles. The house will cover all bets there...I’ll let @Phicinfan pick my avatar if I’m off on this 🧐
 
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eliza61nyc

Well-Known Member
Exactly...my opinion...and a valid one. Backed up by recent events/trends.

But to deny the concept is silly...even though I’m not gonna legislate (again). I believe my comments from last December proved to be more true than I ever would have guessed. We’ll see how it plays.

To use “galaxys edge” (god I hate that cheesy punt of a name) as a proof is not really true really either way, however. Both Disney park compounds in the us are horribly overrun. They’ll be packed no matter how good or not so good the lands maybe. We have proof over in animal kingdom. Avatar is very good, but small...but ultimately is doesn’t look like anyone would care. They’re packed like sardines looking for something shiny in the distance...it doesn’t matter if it’s an oasis or a mirage.

The movies will play out...they need a reversal in leadership and organization at LFL and I believe it is coming. Iger will not let mixed reviews and poison darts be tossed at one of his acquisitions. After the Fox dust settles. The house will cover all bets there...I’ll let @Phicinfan pick my avatar if I’m off on this 🧐


lol this made me giggle Sir. I think what many folks here kind of forget (AND FOLKS THIS IS JUST MY THOUGHTS, they won't get you a ride on the NYC subway)is exactly what you said. The masses probably don't care. Now I totally admit that I am one of those masses. I simply am not into theme park "quality" like it seems many here are. what I mean is I don't get the E, A, C ticket thing, I don't care if the tracks are outside or inside, I'm not into whether or not the rides is an "IP" or "original imagineering". Avatar imo is really good, I like both rides, of course FOP floats my boat more the Navi river. Do I stress that disney could have made it "more" or that 7DMT was supposed to be twice as large?? not really.

I really wish we could find out if the vast majority of guest care about these issues. It's interesting because all the people who I work with who've come back from Disney, love the new TSL, they really enjoy it. when I tell them that all the folks here do is complain about it, and say how lousy it is, they really are baffled.

so you're right when galaxy edge opens it will be packed.
 

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
lol this made me giggle Sir. I think what many folks here kind of forget (AND FOLKS THIS IS JUST MY THOUGHTS, they won't get you a ride on the NYC subway)is exactly what you said. The masses probably don't care. Now I totally admit that I am one of those masses. I simply am not into theme park "quality" like it seems many here are. what I mean is I don't get the E, A, C ticket thing, I don't care if the tracks are outside or inside, I'm not into whether or not the rides is an "IP" or "original imagineering". Avatar imo is really good, I like both rides, of course FOP floats my boat more the Navi river. Do I stress that disney could have made it "more" or that 7DMT was supposed to be twice as large?? not really.

I really wish we could find out if the vast majority of guest care about these issues. It's interesting because all the people who I work with who've come back from Disney, love the new TSL, they really enjoy it. when I tell them that all the folks here do is complain about it, and say how lousy it is, they really are baffled.

so you're right when galaxy edge opens it will be packed.

Disney spends tons of time and effort collecting and analyzing that data to see what they can do with it.

What fanboards often fail to realize (collectively...can’t completely judge a boat based on its anchors)...is that they may go the opposite way from what appears to be common sense with that data. Eisner did it at times...tending to push forward on things maybe not advisable completely (all over WDW and in France)...while Cast Member Bob to go rogue in a completely different method.

It’s interesting to watch over the years...but still can’t tell anyone how magical port is 🤪
 
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Dunston

Well-Known Member
If Eisner was still in charge, you can bet your "tookus" that a fifth gate would be opening soon. He called for MGM because Universal was opening. He greenlit Animal Kingdom because Busch Gardens was opening. With a third (fourth if you're a wand-waver) Universal Gate is opening in the near future, we would definitely have some kind of 5th park on the way. I bet that any competitive drive Iger has against Comcast/NBC/Universal has been satiated for now by beating them in the bidding war for Fox.

Also, even if The Last Jedi was the greatest film ever made, and Solo made Avatar money, making a 5th Gate the Star Wars Park would be a horrible idea.
 

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