Rumored 5th Park for WDW

[NJGIRL]

It's a special My Disney Experience Park with Fast Past Platinum. You have to reserve what time you arrive at the park 180 days in advance.

At 90 days out you have to reserve all your bathroom breaks. Don't forget! Bathroom Fast Passes are limited.

At 60 days they will open up snack reservations (all choices must be made at this time). Also at 60 you'll have to reserve the ability to SKIP the afternoon parade. Otherwise, you are required to find the spot that beeps with your Magic Bands at 1:45 for the 3 p.m. parade.

At 45 days out you must register any articles you will be bringing into the park including cameras, phones, watches, bags and prosthetic limbs.

Also at 45 days out you will be required to register for six theme park souvenir purchases. At this time you may also choose your park exit time.

You must have a prearranged park exit Fast Pass to exit the park. If you do not have a Fast Pass or if you miss your Fast Pass exit window you will immediately be sent to the All Star Movies resort food court and must purchase a meal and then find an open table for a family of four during the breakfast rush.

At 30 days out, if you have not complied with all of the above, upon visiting the park you will be blindfolded and escorted to the hub's Labyrinth. Once inside the labyrinth you will have four hours to find your way out or you will have to pay a $92 extraction fee. At that time you will be put into a standby line for exit.

Guests without Fast Pass arrangements made in advance will be asked to wait in the entrance standby line, which circles the park but never enters it. Admission is required.

This is great.

[Buttercup]

Don't tease. If that happened your husband and I would spend two weeks there dressed as Han and Chewie and riding every single ride ten times while quoting the movies non-stop.

Awww that would be so cute to watch! You two need to have a play date.

[natedog24]

By 2021, this doesn't seem THAT unreasonable...

I'm not sure a Star Wars themed park would be in the cards. Sure, Star Wars is very popular, but it's also very specific and IMHO, limits any potential future expansion to only Star Wars specific attractions. I can see a Star Wars land in a park, but not an entire park based on Star Wars. Something like that would not appeal at all to non-Star Wars fans (yes, they are out there) and I don't see that happening.

The powers that be would likely keep the overall theme more generic to appeal to everyone and allow for future expansion. They already have Movies and Animals... Maybe Music? Maybe Animation? Maybe America-Land, where each land themed as a region of the county... Anything is possible...

I don't know, but they do need to do something to respond to Universal doing so well. They're fools if they don't see that Universal is eating their lunch.

[mickeyman42]

I don't think they should build a 5th park until they get the current 4 straightened out, that said, they need to add some major thrill attractions to compete with Universal. I'm sick of hearing from families with teens that they're not going to Disney because their kids are too old, and that Disney needs to get some roller-coasters. IMHO Universal isn't killing Disney in that market (teens, young adults) because they have major franchises with extremely loyal fan-bases (although they do, HP, Simpsons), its because they have added quality, cutting edge rides that people want to ride again and again, regardless of the theme of the attraction. if Gringotts was called "Battleship: Alien Blast" but was the same ride setup do you think anyone would care? conversely, if Disney builds a star-wars land but only has a giftshop, an Ewok treehouse set to explore, and the "Jar-Jar Binks space spinner" dumbo ride what kind of outrage will there be?
Disney has all of the characters and movies and ideas required to do whatever they want, be it, renovate current rides, build new lands or even a new park, they just need to spend the money up front and build it in a reasonable amount of time, like universal has done the past 5 years.

[NJGIRL]

Universal isn't killing Disney in that market (teens, young adults) because they have major franchises with extremely loyal fan-bases (although they do, HP, Simpsons), its because they have added quality, cutting edge rides that people want to ride again and again, regardless of the theme of the attraction. if Gringotts was called "Battleship: Alien Blast" but was the same ride setup do you think anyone would care?

they just need to spend the money up front and build it in a reasonable amount of time, like universal has done the past 5 years.

I agree with you, although the HP theming is excellent and may have convinced first time visitor to come, it is the quality of the attractions that keep people coming back.


Universal also does a great job of making an announcement and getting the attraction done quickly without dragging it on forever.

[SandmanGStefani24]

I don't think they should build a 5th park until they get the current 4 straightened out

Well said!

I feel like there is so much that could be done with Tomorrowland, the World Showcase, Future World, and Animal Kingdom (which is a half day park at best). For example, I've always thought COP should spread out the time jumps. Instead of 1900,1920,1940, 2014, maybe take out the 20s and make a 60's spot. And let's not even get started on Universe of Energy and what can be done to fix that...Maybe another country for the WS, or more dark rides or experiences at AK. And on and on...I love all the parks, I just think they all could use some sprucing up here and there.

[Buttercup]

Instead of 1900,1920,1940, 2014, maybe take out the 20s and make a 60's spot.

Okay let's be honest, that last scene is not 2014. Virtual reality video games? The mom's gigantic laptop? Trish's ski boots? Their 90's kitchen appliances? Definitely not from this millenium. I would say they should make that last scene back to the original last scene around the 60's and that's it. It's called "Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress" -- take it back to the way it was when Walt made it because you'll never be able to keep the final scene modern enough.

[SandmanGStefani24]

Sigh...

You know what I meant...lol

I think we all know a Sony wega television isn't 2014s latest model. But it's a far jump from the 40s...

[Boost]

If the goal is indeed to appeal more to teens who are attracted to Universal's more intense attractions, what are your thoughts on creating a park geared towards that demo?

Could be called Disney's Florida Adventure, Disney Legacy, Disney Dreams, etc.

Have some elements to tie in Florida if the direction is a Florida Adventure theme (i.e., Orange Bird, maybe an everglades-type thrill ride on airboats. Roller coasters and some hyper-immersive environments.

I get that a lot of the hype that Universal is enjoying right now is due to the Harry Potter stuff, but eventually the patina of it will wear off a bit.

I know that WDW cannot rest of its laurels, but having spent time in Universal and Disney, the level of service at WDW trumps Universal's on any given day. Yes, there might be some areas that could use some TLC in the existing parks, but they are still fun to visit!

[RavsRuleDisney!]

I speak here as a long time WDW fan/Guest who will continue to visit this magical, diverse, crowded, sad to aging little place....

I think it is inevitable that we will see a 5th park in/around the timeframe being discussed. WDW is and will continue to be a cash cow. There is still mui untapped acreage at the company's disposal. They will figure out what the theme will be; i.e. what theme will generate the most $$$$ with merchandising, movie/TV/music tie-ins, appropriate characters (gotta sell more of those autograph books....and pens), etc. etc. etc. And then build it they will. Guests will flock to the new park because hey, its a NEW PARK!! Oh, by bus not monorail of course. New patrons will arrive to check it out, repeat visitors will come to check it out, I will check it out, crowds will be a little more spread out....all will be well at The World.

Ahh, but they won't bother fixing all that ails the existing, aging parks. Why bother? As long as the turnstiles keep on turnstiling(?) and with a spanking brand new park the "suits" will not blink an eye. Or fix a Yeti. And then, over time, the 5th park will start to show its age, the Jabba the Hut will stop working (just speculatin') , and then....well then we will have five parks in disrepair.

Uggh. How do I get to Gatorland....

[Janmac]

Okay let's be honest, that last scene is not 2014. Virtual reality video games? The mom's gigantic laptop? Trish's ski boots? Their 90's kitchen appliances? Definitely not from this millenium. I would say they should make that last scene back to the original last scene around the 60's and that's it. It's called "Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress" -- take it back to the way it was when Walt made it because you'll never be able to keep the final scene modern enough.

I agree in part. When Tomorrowland got its makeover it was the future that should have been or something like that. The Buck Rogers future, so to speak. That way Tomorrowland could seem futuristic without being outdated. CoP could do that for the 1960s. What the future was thought to be when we were in the 1960s. Because they won't be able to keep the final scene modern enough.

I speak here as a long time WDW fan/Guest who will continue to visit this magical, diverse, crowded, sad to aging little place....

I think it is inevitable that we will see a 5th park in/around the timeframe being discussed. WDW is and will continue to be a cash cow. There is still mui untapped acreage at the company's disposal. They will figure out what the theme will be; i.e. what theme will generate the most $$$$ with merchandising, movie/TV/music tie-ins, appropriate characters (gotta sell more of those autograph books....and pens), etc. etc. etc. And then build it they will. Guests will flock to the new park because hey, its a NEW PARK!! Oh, by bus not monorail of course. New patrons will arrive to check it out, repeat visitors will come to check it out, I will check it out, crowds will be a little more spread out....all will be well at The World.

Ahh, but they won't bother fixing all that ails the existing, aging parks. Why bother? As long as the turnstiles keep on turnstiling(?) and with a spanking brand new park the "suits" will not blink an eye. Or fix a Yeti. And then, over time, the 5th park will start to show its age, the Jabba the Hut will stop working (just speculatin') , and then....well then we will have five parks in disrepair.

Uggh. How do I get to Gatorland....

If you don't know how to fix an aging park, build another. And won't we have transportation issues.

Jan

[Ian]

They can't find nearly enough quality cast to staff the parks and resorts they have. I can't fathom how they would staff a 5th park.

[Tearin_it_up]

I don't know what it would take, but video games make a ton of money, that would be the market i'd gun for. How about a Halo attraction riding around in a wharthog?

[Tekneek]

There is only one park that is reasonably complete at the moment (MK) and even it has a section that is in a bad state (Tomorrowland). Epcot is less than what it was a couple decades ago, AK has been in an unfinished state from day 1 (although they are working on something, time will tell if it works or not), and DHS is in dire need of some redesign (instead of band-aids). There are way too many problems at WDW to greenlight a whole new park...

Actually, that is probably why they would do it. Easier to halfway do a new park than fix what you've put a lot of effort into breaking.

[Butters]

A new park will attract more people than "we fixed what we already have".

Best example, would you pay to go to the theatre and watch the "remastered" Snow White or are you more likely to spend your admission ticket on the next new release?

[PopPhan]

Best example, would you pay to go to the theatre and watch the "remastered" Snow White or are you more likely to spend your admission ticket on the next new release?

That depends.....They could do a Retro WDW park that had all the rides that people have clamored for them to bring back -- Horizons, Mr. Toad, etc. All they would need to do is update the behind the scenes technology, they already have the plans for the attractions. I guarantee you that this park would be jam packed.

Once they had this new park up and running, it would be a good time to take one of the other parks down, at least partially, to revamp, renew, upgrade and/or update while still having enough attractions to keep queues down.

[yankeesfan123]

That depends.....They could do a Retro WDW park that had all the rides that people have clamored for them to bring back -- Horizons, Mr. Toad, etc. All they would need to do is update the behind the scenes technology, they already have the plans for the attractions. I guarantee you that this park would be jam packed.

Once they had this new park up and running, it would be a good time to take one of the other parks down, at least partially, to revamp, renew, upgrade and/or update while still having enough attractions to keep queues down.

A retro park will NEVER exist.

Whether the hardcore fans miss them or not, there is a REASON they are gone.

[Tekneek]

Best example, would you pay to go to the theatre and watch the "remastered" Snow White or are you more likely to spend your admission ticket on the next new release?

A remastered movie is not the same as bringing your number of attractions in a park to what it was a decade ago. Not the same as filling empty space left from closed attractions, either.

[Butters]

A remastered movie is not the same as bringing your number of attractions in a park to what it was a decade ago. Not the same as filling empty space left from closed attractions, either.

Depends what they were to do with the old park... Yes new attractions would have a draw, but dumping a ton of money on upkeep while necessary will not bring new guests through the gate. Investing in New Fantasyland brought people to the MK to see what it was all about and experience something they haven't seen before. A 5th gate would do this on a larger scale. If they were to dump a millions into fixing the yeti I would argue that the attendance jump would be negligible. You won't see a commercial advertising to come to WDW and see our fixed Yeti. They are reactive and will not invest in major upkeep efforts until attendance numbers force them to address it.

[Tekneek]

Depends what they were to do with the old park... Yes new attractions would have a draw, but dumping a ton of money on upkeep while necessary will not bring new guests through the gate. Investing in New Fantasyland brought people to the MK to see what it was all about and experience something they haven't seen before. A 5th gate would do this on a larger scale.

True. The reason to build a new park is for the marketing. I won't argue that point.

I'm arguing against it because they could already do better with what they currently have. Even the lone jewel, MK, has significant room for improvement outside of Fantasyland (with Tomorrowland the most in need). The rest of the parks don't really draw a lot of traffic on their own. They are ancillary to MK, giving people with multi-day tickets somewhere else to spend some of their time and don't draw a tremendous amount of people that aren't also attending MK on some other day. MK will get people that do not attend any other Disney park. Those other 3 parks have been in a declining (or with AK, obviously unfinished) state for many years. With all of this knowledge, building a new park seems ridiculous.

Having said that, I know too well that the vast majority are people who are barely conscious of the problems with the parks. They are content to pass their time there and seem mostly oblivious to failing animatronics, design/crowd-flow issues, CM staffing/quality concerns, maintenance blemishes, etc.