Originally Posted By mousermerf Just a quick look at the history of the "World" as we know it.. 2009 - Kim Possible 2007 - Canada, Grand Fiesta, American Adventure 2003 - Reflections of China 1999 - World Showplace aka: Millenium Village 1993 - American Adventure / American Gardens (opened 1994) 1990 - International Gateway 1988 - Norway 1984 - Morocco So they usually open something significant every 3-4 years, or at least make serious capital expenditures somewhere along those lines. Also - lots of folks believe that the countries are paid for by their hosts.. many aren't anymore. Norway invested $30million, Disney added another $15million, and the pavilion was built. The private investors of the initial $30 million sold it back to Disney in 1992. And then was still sponsored by the country itself until 1997. It hasn't been since then. (Helly Hansen now sponsors the pavilion/shops, but to what degree is unknown.) The contract was in 5 year increments. Adjusting for inflation that's about $80million needed for a new pavilion, of which Disney should contribute about $27 million while the host country private investors should pick up roughly $53 million - at least going by the Norway deal. Food for thought..
Originally Posted By MPierce With the world economy being like it is, I doubt if to many countries or corporate sponsors are willing to up front that kind of money. It would be very difficult to promote as a necessity to build tourism within a country. It's also way to much money for a mere goodwill jesture.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Well, then with all sponsorships sliding, what about Disney taking more of the investment themselves? Mermaid is supposed to cost around $100 million to build. No sponsor there.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Even assuming they only budgeted for the 30% investment - after not doing major expansion since Millennium Village they should be look at having roughly enough budget in 2011-2012 allocated to build a pavilion on their own.
Originally Posted By MPierce I think Disney is stacking all of their eggs in one basket now, Fantasyland. I would love to see an expansion in Epcot, but I just don't think it's going to happen. Without sponsors I think Epcot will remain stagnant. More than anything I think WDW is waiting to see how TWWOHP stacks up against the Mouse.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Fantasyland opens in 2012, no? They have to do something after that.. Soarin' opened after being quietly built out of guest view for a good long time and with little to-do prior to it's opening. Epcot is not trending up dramatically enough in attendance to really warrant the expansions in dining they're adding right now. The 2002-2003 and 2007 dining expansions (Mexico, carts, Fife and Drum) are in line with attendance growth. These two new eateries that increase their table service capacity are not. They've got a plan
Originally Posted By mousermerf And to some more perspective.. M:S opened October 9th, 2003. Soarin' was announced October 10th, though construction had started in September. It's not beyond the mouse to do things this way.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Certainly hope so. I wonder if IllumiNations will gets it's refresh before we see a attraction built..
Originally Posted By mousermerf Eh, it's still popular. I could see some modifications or 2.0 before the show is completely redone. Reflections of Earth and Fantasmic are both showing staying power.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer That's what I was referring to. It would be great so see RoE retooled with new lights, and pyro effects.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Reinstated or rather just retimed. Most of it remains, or the actual product has just changed.
Originally Posted By mousermerf They make some funny substitutions - mt favorite is when the smiley faces show up.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer The smilie shells from Wishes!? Really? I have never seen that! Cool, but bad show!
Originally Posted By mousermerf I think it's during the celebration part, they replace the specialty color bursts with them or the "Cubes" or some other 'special' shell if they're out of a given color.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Right, that's what I was thinking, only logical spot to see it. When did you see this, though? recently?
Originally Posted By mousermerf I haven't been to WDW in a while, so not recently. But I've seen it a few times, more then twice, less then 10.. ya know?
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Gotcha. Cool stuff...I wouldn't mind on seeing that. Thanks, Merf.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Found this tidbit today: ---- FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT DISNEY WORLD S EPCOT - PAGE 2 BUSINESS Swiss Approve Epcot Pavilion 'Matterhorn' Would Be Included By Adam Yeomans of The Sentinel Staff | May 4, 1989 A model of Switzerland's most famous mountain may be built as part of a new pavilion at Disney World's Epcot Center under a proposal tentatively approved Wednesday by the Swiss government.The construction of a 164-foot-high reproduction of the 14,700-foot-high Matterhorn is part of the Swiss government's plan to build a pavilion at Epcot. It would be the 12th nation represented in Epcot's World Showcase.Cabinet members meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, agreed that the Swiss government would pay $10 million toward the cost of a new Epcot pavilion if the nation's private sector matched the government funding, according to Swiss vice chancellor Achille Casanova. --- So by 89 they were already looking to have investors put in less then they had asked for to get Norway, but still get the Swiss pavilion with a ride.
