Will Disney ever build a resort in America’s second largest state Texas?

[larryz]

I have been hearing it my whole life, but it just does not make since when there is no where in Texas where a theme park could be open 365 days a year.

Harlingen, Texas - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[2bornot2be]

Texas is very big and has a very wide variety of climates within the state. I’m sure Disney would not have a problem finding a place for a Disney Resort.
With this said, I don’t think we will ever see this. I believe Disney is having enough problem with the parks they have.

 

[Maelstrom Troll]

I’m still hoping that someday Disney realizes that a park in St Louis would work. Walt thought so at least until A-B insulted him over alcohol sales at his parks. I guess we know who eventually won that war...

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Nope

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Ironically, Walt had considered the land now occupied by Canada's Wonderland as the location of his second resort. I guess someone reminded him about Toronto-area winters.

EDIT: And if you Google "Disney Resort Toronto", the first hit will likely be an April Fools Day gag article about Disney's plans to develop the Toronto Islands into their next theme park.

Yeah, it was a "funny" Facebook gag. We Canadians saw it and for a second loved the idea. I live near Toronto, so the idea of a Disney resort on Toronto Island was out of this world. I factor in the winters up here too. Canada's Wonderland is only open on weekends after August. It is a May-October thing and even then in October it is mainly used for the Halloween Haunt. In November there usually isn't much snow, if any, but still no one wants to visit a theme park in Canadian weather in November. Not even Canadians.

If the Disney Company ever wants to revisit Walt's 1960s idea of owning a ski resort, may I suggest Jay Peak and Burke Mountain up here in Vermont? The previous owner scammed his investors and now the properties are held in receivership. Disney could buy them both for pennies on the dollar.

Wow.............Jay Peak. That takes me back to my days going to the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont. Yes, lovely skiing up there. Just gorgeous.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

I was just thinking, if they ever build a third location in the U.S. the best place might be Pigeon Forge, Tennessee or Branson, Missouri. They both have a classic theme park there already (Dollywood and Silver Dollar City) and those parks stay open for about 9 months of the year as it is. Maybe Disney could stay open for 12 months if they felt it was feasible. They are already tourist traps as it is with lots to do around there.

However, I like them just being on the two coasts. There is still lots of land in Florida to play with.

 

[RScottyL]

I know Florida and California will always be home
to 2 popular Disney resorts but in the future going forward do you ever see a themed Disney resort coming to the lone star state where would it go also Houston, Dallas, Austin or San Antonio. I know this is not very likely but everything is bigger in Texas as they say so I would think the state does have a lot of room and good infrastructure to work with to bring a 3rd Walt Disney resort to the United States one day not anytime soon.

Unfortunately, this exact topic has been discussed on here many times.

Although, I would love to see it happen because I live in Texas, not sure it would ever happen! The current two parks are getting pretty crowded most of the time!

Texas is centrally located in the south, and would have the available space large enough to build it. I would see it as being built in central Texas, maybe around Waco or somewhere! It would want to be close enough to a major airport.

 

[RScottyL]

They got 2 Six Flags parks there lets just leave it to that....

LOL, but I would GLADLY give up both of those parks for a Disney Park!

 

[RScottyL]

I was just thinking, if they ever build a third location in the U.S. the best place might be Pigeon Forge, Tennessee or Branson, Missouri. They both have a classic theme park there already (Dollywood and Silver Dollar City) and those parks stay open for about 9 months of the year as it is. Maybe Disney could stay open for 12 months if they felt it was feasible. They are already tourist traps as it is with lots to do around there.

However, I like them just being on the two coasts. There is still lots of land in Florida to play with.

I wouldn't see it happening there, as they would want it opened year round, and TN gets a good amount of snow

 

[Moka]

Uhh.. I'd say no.

Remember all these replies saying no, so then if it happens many years from now you can totally prove everyone wrong.

 

[RScottyL]

Just for the sake of argument - what are the average temps in Texas (as well as the highs and lows) vs Anaheim and Orlando?

Whenever I talk to someone who lives in Texas, all I hear is how hot it is and how hardly anyone goes outside....please correct me if I am wrong.

It will depend, as Texas it big enough that it has different climates!

A place like Amarillo would be too cold as it gets snow/ice in the winter, but the further south you go, you would have more ideal temps!

 

[PixarPerfect]

A place like Amarillo would be too cold as it gets snow/ice in the winter, but the further south you go, you would have more ideal temps!

Define "ideal," . As a person who spent almost 2 decades in various parts of Texas, I can say no place in Texas within a short drive of a major airport (yes, I know Texans think 2 hours is short, lol), has temperatures short of h*** 90% of the year. Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, etc. All HOT. Too many connecting flights to get to Waco.

 

[WinnieBear]

No and here's why from Disney themselves.

a North Texas Disney park would draw visitors away from the company's two other parks -- Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California, according to market research.
That wouldn't make good business sense given the cost to build a new theme park, he said.

So yeah, I don't see it happening anytime soon. Besides, it's probably best that Disney puts their focus on their two existing US resorts as opposed to making a new US resort entirely.

 

[Heppenheimer]

It will depend, as Texas it big enough that it has different climates!

A place like Amarillo would be too cold as it gets snow/ice in the winter, but the further south you go, you would have more ideal temps!

I don't see why occassional snow should rule a location out. After all, 3 of the 4 overseas Disney resorts are located in temperate climates (although Shanghai is a very warm temperate). These locations all experience at least some snow every winter.

 

[jloucks]

I know Florida and California will always be home
to 2 popular Disney resorts but in the future going forward do you ever see a themed Disney resort coming to the lone star state where would it go also Houston, Dallas, Austin or San Antonio. I know this is not very likely but everything is bigger in Texas as they say so I would think the state does have a lot of room and good infrastructure to work with to bring a 3rd Walt Disney resort to the United States one day not anytime soon.

Texas too hot and we have multiple Six Flags amusement parks.

I was at Six Flags Over Texas just last Saturday. They are doing something right, the park was boat-packed,

...probably the myriad of different themed haunted houses.

 

[Tay]

They need to build a 3rd gate in Anaheim and build out the 4 parks in Orlando before they build anymore parks in different markets.

Now building a hotel or 2 in Texas and buying land for a potential park decades from now is something they should do.

 

[KeithVH]

You know, it's funny how this subject gets another thread every couple of years. It's amazing how times this has been discussed. Ignoring that north Texas is proly slightly more comfortable than the coast and Dallas doesn't see that many tornadoes, still there are issues. Straight line winds and hail. Those of you who have replaced more than one roof in the last 20 years know what I'm talking about. Or even the dust storms that blow in from the panhandle (and from OK too).

Even my family's native-born Texans who love their homeland know this is a foolish question . . .

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Canada's Wonderland is only open on weekends after August. It is a May-October thing and even then in October it is mainly used for the Halloween Haunt. In November there usually isn't much snow, if any, but still no one wants to visit a theme park in Canadian weather in November. Not even Canadians.

This is the first year of WinterFest at Canada's Wonderland. The park will be open on select days between November 22 and December 31.

We'll see if their gamble pays off.

 

[macefamily]

I don't think Disney will want to water down its brand by building another southern park. They have both coasts covered and people are willing to travel from all over the world to each of them.

 

[Heppenheimer]

This is the first year of WinterFest at Canada's Wonderland. The park will be open on select days between November 22 and December 31.

We'll see if their gamble pays off.

My impression of Canadians (at least partly based on my experiences being married to one) is that it takes extremely severe weather to keep them inside. Give them something to do outside and they'll be there.

I'll contrast this with the summer I spent in San Antonio, where I don't think I saw a single kid playing outside.