Originally Posted By Blufusion12 They need to add Star Wars land at the Studios. That will bring them in and yes the do need to add more exciting rides at all of WDW.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<DL's version of Winnie the Pooh opened in 2003, Buzz Lightyear opened in 2005 (or was it 04?), a rather extensive pirate-themed redo of Tom Sawyer Island in 2007, and the castle walkthrough in 2009. Since 2003, they've also seen 3 new parades, with Parade of Dreams, Celebrate! A Street Party, and Soundsational. And that's not to mention all of the smaller entertainment offerings (seasonal or yearround) that have popped up in that time to help keep things fresh.>> I was thinking of more major attractions. During that period if I were are including minor attractions, WDW has opened Mickey's Philharmagic, Stitch and Monster's Laugh Floor. Not exactly great attractions, though there weren't any really great ones on your list either. The PeopleMover also received a nice update during that time. And of course WDW has the very major Fantasyland Expansion in progress which will be very significant and so far is getting good reviews. I will grant that DL does a much better job with street entertainment, but that is at least partly due to the nature of guests each park attracts. WDW attracts more "Theme Park Commandos" who rush from one ride to the next trying to pack everything at WDW into a 5-day vacation. DL has more repeat visitor who take the time to enjoy the various entertainment offerings. Yes, DLR has done a fantastic job with the DCA renovation, but I was speaking more specifically about the MK because everyone mentions that as the WDW park needing the most help.
Originally Posted By Blufusion12 Road Trip I agree with you. I haven't been to the MK in a few yrs. Mostly Epcot and the Studios for us. I went to AK in 2002 was there 20 mins and had a heart attack. I think Disney made a mistake in that undertaking. It was a great Ideal. But Disney has kinda forgotten about how to do it right and they never ever had to deal with live animals before as well.Busch Gardens is no AK. But I liked it. Im a roller coaster guy and I like RNR and TOT and all. But after having done that so many times. They need to add more of that to the MK and the Studios. I have said here before I believe that Avatar will never be built. Disney needs to add SW land and work on MK as well as EPCOT CENTER. I love the WDW but as I get older in body and mind I starting to think about what I want to spend my hard earned money on and where. Next yr. will be my last visit to Orlando and all the attractions that Disney and Universal and Sea World offer. I have been going to Orlando for over 31 yrs. now over 15 trips in those yrs. And my health is getting worse I want to do those one more time. before I can't or decide they aren't worth it. If they do build a SW land that I would go for and see after next year.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "But is there anything other than that?" Fantasy Faire opens next week: <a href="http://www.insidethemagic.net/2013/03/inside-fantasy-faire-as-disneyland-unfurls-new-princess-meet-and-greets-and-storytelling-surrounded-by-delightful-detail/" target="_blank">http://www.insidethemagic.net/...-detail/</a>
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Yes, DLR has done a fantastic job with the DCA renovation, but I was speaking more specifically about the MK because everyone mentions that as the WDW park needing the most help.>> Maintenance wise, maybe. And in regards to live entertainment. But I think MK is in by far the best position at WDW. DHS, DAK, and EPCOT are all in pretty dire straights and in need of additions, IMO.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Hokie, while I agree that the MK is probably the most complete park, it's last MAJOR addition was Splash Mountain back in 1992. Since that time DHS has added both Tower of Terror and Rockin Roller Coaster, Epcot has added Test Track, Mission Space and Soarin', and the Entire Animal Kingdom was opened. So when it comes to new major attractions, the other WDW parks have done better than the MK. I agree that both Epcot and the Studios seem stale and need work. Animal Kingdom is what it is... a great park if you enjoy the zoo aspect and the great theming. It isn't much of a "rides" park, and I don't think it ever will be.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>I will grant that DL does a much better job with street entertainment, but that is at least partly due to the nature of guests each park attracts. WDW attracts more "Theme Park Commandos" who rush from one ride to the next trying to pack everything at WDW into a 5-day vacation. DL has more repeat visitor who take the time to enjoy the various entertainment offerings.<< See, I think I actually disagree here. DL has more of the small-scale shows (think Dapper Dans-type stuff), but I think that WDW's street entertainment is more successful. They put a lot more emphasis on the streetmosphere, like the citizens of Hollywood and Main Street. DCA recently got into the act with some folks on Buena Vista Street, but they're definitely an exception to the rule at DLR. I also think that WDW guests are much mroe likely to stop for a show than DLR guests. At DLR, most guests have 2-3 days at most, which means they'll try to cram everything they can into their annual(ish) visit. Folks at WDW know that they can't keep up the commando pace for 5-6 days straight, and are more willing to take a moment to sit back and relax; just look at the number of table service restaurants in the parks in WDW in comparison to DLR. Yes, DL has the APers who pop in for a few hours on the weekends and are excited for any entertainment line-up, but I think that the average DLR vacationer is very different than that.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Hokie, while I agree that the MK is probably the most complete park, it's last MAJOR addition was Splash Mountain back in 1992. Since that time DHS has added both Tower of Terror and Rockin Roller Coaster, Epcot has added Test Track, Mission Space and Soarin', and the Entire Animal Kingdom was opened. So when it comes to new major attractions, the other WDW parks have done better than the MK. >> I think that also comes with the territory, though. It's the oldest park, and was always the most complete. It could probably use an Indiana Jones Adventure-type of addition in Adventureland, but other than that, the other parks need major and minor additions. <<I agree that both Epcot and the Studios seem stale and need work. >> For me, EPCOT is staler than any park I've been to in the past 5 years, mostly because the things that have change recently are either terrible or skipable. DHS and DAK just really need additions.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 The problem is that we look at it as individual parks and the company looks at WDW as one large experience. So any addition in any park is an addition that will make most guests very happy. I honestly do not believe we will see any major additions to WDW for several years. The parks are fairly busy, occupancy is holding in the hotels and there really isn't any reason to invest millions of dollars on Disney's end. Though I am not a huge fan of the Fantasyland expansion (to me it is more about style over substance) I expect that the expansion has pretty much taken care of any more additions to the MK for a decade or more. I would love to see Disney do something with the AK (I'm not convinced that Avatar will happen) to flesh out the park some, I think the Studios could use some major work. It is the least cohesive park in my opinion. And EPCOT could use another World Showcase pavillion that includes a nice thrill ride attached to it. I don't expect we will see any of that though.
Originally Posted By Blufusion12 Just a question for all of you? I am obvisouly a SW fan. And I know that Disney has spent a lot of money in other places. Can anyone tell me outside of time to develop such a place as SW land in the studios and do it correctly . Do you see them not developing Avatar and putting forth the effort of doing so after the next SW movie. Basically what do you think they're thinking is. I would think after spending all that money for such a IP . They would take a full front effort and take what is basically already laid out in far a stories and the worlds of Sw instead of doing Avatar. Avatar I saw once and I and like it but it was basically another James Cameron use of a decent story to do his CGi spectulars just because he can.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>Do you see them not developing Avatar and putting forth the effort of doing so after the next SW movie.<< Not really. I don't see Avatar as being very likely, but I also don't think that they'll see Star Wars as an adequate substitute. They need to add something of substance to DAK, and SW is an even worse fit than Avatar. Plus, they're unlikely to commit to a Star Wars plan until after they have a chance to see how successful the movies are; that means that they won't be able to get it built and open until the end of the decade. I'm not saying that a Star Wars land/expansion won't happen, but I wouldn't count on it being complete in the next couple years.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I can't imagine that Disney won't do something with Star Wars at its theme parks. My concern for those of you who are big SW fans is that there it's likely that it may not happen at DL or WDW. Unless Tomorrowland is recast as Star Wars Land I expect that whatever they do large scale with the franchise will be in either China or France.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>I expect that whatever they do large scale with the franchise will be in either China or France.<<< Rumours say that DLP is getting a Star Wars Land in Discoveryland, but I don't know how true it is. Philippe Gas, Euro Disney SCA CEO, denied these rumours last week at the shareholder meeting, while I read on another board that it is still under developing. So who knows.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 Out of the two franchises, I think Star Wars is a better way to go for Disney then Avatar. I expect that in Florida you may see an expansion of Star Wars but I also don't think you will see it for many years. I just don't believe that you are going to see any major attractions at WDW for a long time. Even if Disney was to announce a major attraction today it would be at least 2 years before it opens.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>I just don't believe that you are going to see any major attractions at WDW for a long time. Even if Disney was to announce a major attraction today it would be at least 2 years before it opens.<<< Two years aren't bad for big attractions, like Carsland, but in Paris it takes also two years to build Ratatouille, which is a lot smaller. I guess that's due to European fire codes so that buildings have to be made with concrete.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Construction in California also takes longer, due to the additional building and labor codes. I think they actually broke ground for the first portions of Carsland in 2007 or 2008, and it didn't open until 2012. It seems like even the smallest projects take forever (Paradise Gardens and Fantasy Faire, I'm looking at you!) with all the additional beaurocracy in that state. WDW could probably build things the fastest of any Disney park, simply due to the state's codes and regulations (and this has nothing to do with the whole Reedy Creek thing). Something like Carsland would still be very difficult to do in 2 years, simply because there are so many different things going on in the same area, that it's very difficult to coordinate schedules; no matter how hard you try, you can't pour a foundation until the grading crews have gone through first. I didn't know about the fire restrictions in Europe, but that makes sense. I was wondering why the building looked so sturdy, since it most of it was essentially just a facade. They have similar concrete structures in HKDL, due to the 'black rain', when it rains over 70mm in an hour (which is also why that park has a series of covered areas for shelter).
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>I didn't know about the fire restrictions in Europe, but that makes sense. I was wondering why the building looked so sturdy, since it most of it was essentially just a facade. They have similar concrete structures in HKDL, due to the 'black rain', when it rains over 70mm in an hour (which is also why that park has a series of covered areas for shelter).<<< While the US versions of the Tower of Terror are built with steel, the one in France is completely made with concrete. And I read somewhere that the reason was the European fire code.
Originally Posted By dagobert I just read on WDWMagic that an announcement of the DTD expansion is planned for today, but might be delayed due to bad weather.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Here's what was given to the cast today from WDWMagic: -The name of the new Downtown Disney will be Disney Springs. -The theming will be that of a beautiful lush, old Florida feel, featuring lots of new water ways, water features, and shade. -Two parking garages will be constructed, one on the Marketplace side, and one on the West Side near Cirque du Soleil. This will free up space taken by the existing ground level parking to be used for new restaurants and shops. -World of Disney will be expanded. -Many new restaurants and shops will be added as part of the expansion, with most being new to the Orlando area. No specific vendors have been confirmed so far. -A walkway bridge will be constructed from the Rainforest Cafe to the TREX area to improve guest flow. -Captain Jacks Restaurant will be closing, but all cast will be relocated to other restaurants.
