Originally Posted By Mr X Does anyone think Disney will ever build another Disney resort in America? If so, where? Right now, I can't imagine it, but with the focus on making new resorts lately (Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai, etc...) I wonder. The only place I can imagine where it wouldn't interfere with the 2 resorts already in place would be Texas? Where else could it go? I'm not really talking about a smaller project (DisneyQuest, Disney's America, Disney on the Pier or whatever), but a real Disney resort likely featuring a Magic Kingdom (or MK lite, more likely, like in Hong Kong).
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt The problem with Texas is that, unlike California and Florida, few people want to vacation there. Thus, another U.S. Disney resort will likely never happen. Well, I guess I shouldn't say never, but it is highly unlikely given how saturated the US theme park market is. In any case it I can't imagine Disney, or anyone else, trying to promote Texas as a resort destination. From an investment perspective, I predict that all long-term growth for theme park and resort development will be in foreign markets. Another Disney resort stateside would likely cannibalize the two in Florida and California.
Originally Posted By Disney Joy yeah I doubt it also. I think they will continue to build on what they have...and strongly improve DCA ~ although I like DCA ~ and look forward to its future growth, same with DL.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj I always thought the idea of a Disney ski resort, a la Walt's defunct Mineral King Valley project, would be an interesting concept. I can imagine Disney making a mountain/ski vacation very fun!
Originally Posted By CMM1 With two very fine resorts no more than a 2.5 to 3 hour flight from most anywhere in the continental US, hard to imagine Disney building another resort in the US.
Originally Posted By leemac Disney currently have three Asian projects on the boards so I think WDP&R and WDI will be hard pushed to develop anything for the US right now or anytime in the near future. It looks like at least one of those projects will be signed before year-end and the other two are making ground for an '07 launch. That is a lot of balls in the air especially as none of them are MKs per se.
Originally Posted By Disney Joy Hey the only other Disney resort we need is in Oregon ~ HA HA ~ Right down the street from ME. )) I can dream if I want too.....
Originally Posted By Phantom No more Magic Kingdoms, please. They are not supposed to be like Starbucks or McDonald's. I, too, can't see Disney building another major resort within the U.S. any time soon. If I recall correctly, there was a push to get Disney into Texas, and instead what happened was Fiesta Texas. Hopefully, in addition to expansion outside of the U.S., Disney will look to rebuilding/expanding in the existing U.S. resorts. I know it is tempting to build a new location with a new gate and new hotel rooms ($$$), but if your existing product suffers, the long term result will not be good.
Originally Posted By Park Hopper I think it will be a long time before we see another US Disney theme park -- not because it couldn't work but because Disney is convinced it couldn't work.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I don't think it is completely out of the question that Disney wouldn't purchase an existing park and then do some major renovations/rethemeing. If Anheuser-Busch ever wanted to offload the parks I think Disney would be the most obvious suitor. Williamsburg would make a great location for the Disney's America idea. Owning the Tampa park and Sea World would certainly be a good fit. I'm not saying I want it to happen, but it seems logical. Paramount has their parks up for sale. I could see Disney's America either in Virginia or Cincinnatti but I doubt they are seriously considering it. Texas would also be a good candidate for a "America" park and there is certainly plenty of land in Texas.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I also doubt they'd build a new resort along the lines of either DLR or WDW - they'd just cannibalize themselves. Now something completely different like a ski resort I could see more more readily. Or buying up more islands for their cruise business. But not another MK-anchored complex.
Originally Posted By sherrytodd <<I always thought the idea of a Disney ski resort, a la Walt's defunct Mineral King Valley project, would be an interesting concept. I can imagine Disney making a mountain/ski vacation very fun!>> Yes Yes!! Put it in Colorado near me!!!
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Disney's America was the worst PR nightmare to ever happen. It was botched from the start. The people in that part of VA really missed out on a great opportunity IMHO, ofcourse they probably saved themselves a lot of bad as well.
Originally Posted By BillyBob We texans want Disny here now because those parks are fun. My young ones been wanting a trip for a long time but Las Angeles is to far. Been a long time since me and my wife went so good news for us
Originally Posted By avromark The question with strengthening the current parks though is partly staffing, apparently they already saturated the staffing market. Yes Disney has enough land particularly in WDW for another park, but the question of opening a park. I would like to see a smaller Park such as America (Heck build it here, in the 51st state 10 minutes from my house), expand the theme to North America, so you can include Hudson Bay, Mexican History, and plop it here. The thing is they could start smaller to test the waters so to speak, but have the option to purchase enough land for a larger resort. Now adding to the parks (DCA and AK seem prime candidates imho) that i'm all for, the DL, MK just keep plussing, but expansion at DCA, AK, Studio's is fine.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj I think the amusement/theme park business is on the decline in the U.S. I wouldn't be surprised if you see more parks go belly up in the next few years. None of the park operators are doing all that well financially. They show a profit, but eat it all up in negative cash flow to build new rides. Disney doesn't do much better, except that they have WDW as a vacation destination rather than a day trip experience for local audiences. Disney can only succeed in a vacation oriented market. That's why I think a ski/mountain resort is a good fit. You can pretty much get people into that environment for several days at a time without putting on the hard sell like you have to do in Anaheim/Paris/Tokyo/Hong Kong.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "I think the amusement/theme park business is on the decline in the U.S." I couldn't agree more with this assessment.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I don't know if I am mistaken or what, but I beleived that Disney's America was going to be a huge park. Sure, it wouldn't have had a real resort to surround it, but the park itself was huge. From the concept art that I have seen, there are tons of different areas, and a huge open water area, that would have to be very large. I don't really seem to see it as a "small park" like some of you do, but I could be missing something.
Originally Posted By avromark Time to take more vacations... All we need is the oil companies to give us our money back so we can spend it on neccessities, like food, trips, vacation, mortgages. I do yearn for a new park though.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper "I think the amusement/theme park business is on the decline in the U.S." I couldn't disagree more with this statement. I am a shareholder of Cedar Fair and my dividends have increased every year for the last 10 years. That is not a sign of weakness in my opinion. You may see some independent parks get purchased by the big boys but the amusement park industry will remain strong. Look at indoor waterparks. It is a segment of the industry that has seen explosive growth in the past few years.
