Originally Posted By ksargen I guess my take on the property is that the land around there is never going to be a whole lot cheaper. And everywhere you look, there's something they'd have to tear down to build something else. The strawberry field is the really rare exception. They have very limited space to move in, with the freeway so close, as well as the stadium, the convention center, etc. So, if they think the land worth the long term investment, they ought to buy it. Think how long it took for them to buy the hotels. It would have been far more cost effective to buy them earlier, at a lower price, but they didn't feel the need.
Originally Posted By Daannzzz That would be better than what is there. It was one of the most charmless new constructions I have visited.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <I guess my take on the property is that the land around there is never going to be a whole lot cheaper.> I'd agree with that.
Originally Posted By tashajilek Im sure if they bought garden walk and revamped it people staying at the DLR would visit. DTD in florida is a way's away from the parks yet people go. If there was easy transportation it could do pretty good. I really hope the cheesecake factory stays! i like cheesecake lol.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Throw in a peoplover to shuttle people to the Esplanade<< Now that sounds like my kind of transportation!
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Anaheim seems to have a lot of trouble attracting Disney tourists to visit other nearby attractions. The town has consistently stuck out for broad appeal beyond DLR and the Convention Center: <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/news/theater-335116-battle-dance.html" target="_blank">http://www.ocregister.com/news...nce.html</a>
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance People who save up to go to the DLR don't have any extra money to do anything else. My co-worker is considering going to the DLR this year. She was asking me about what it would cost them to go. When I told her it would be $766 for 3 days in the parks for her family she about fell out of her chair.
Originally Posted By TP2000 Thanks for the link Hans. I had driven by that Battle of the Dance theater last summer on a weekend night, and the place had like a dozen cars in the parking lot. You never hear anyone talk about it, and it's obvious it fell flat on its face upon opening. I give it until St. Patricks Day before it closes for good. And just a few steps away from Garden Grove's World Famous InternationalWEST Resort!?! How could that not be a huge hit in that prime location??? ;-)
Originally Posted By crapshoot <<Anaheim seems to have a lot of trouble attracting Disney tourists to visit other nearby attractions.>> That venue is in a strategic location. Adjacent to Anaheim Stadium, down the street from the Honda Center and the Stadium Theater complex. But who is going to take their family to see Battle of the Bands nextdoor to Hooters. The young family's staying at DLR don't spend their evenings at House of Blues either, and people wonder why these families don't visit Battle of the Bands?
Originally Posted By tashajilek The only reason i have ever been to Garden walk is because we had a car and wanted to eat somewhere. i have never been in any of their shops.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>When I told her it would be $766 for 3 days in the parks for her family she about fell out of her chair<< As much as I love going to DLR or WDW, cost has been an issue lately. We don't like to pinch pennies when on vacation, and I've found that a week long to SoCal can easily set us back $3000-4000, even if we drive there from Colorado. That isn't chicken feed.
Originally Posted By tashajilek Yea, Disney can be very expensive. I have been a mega penny pincher when it comes to this. I am a huge travel site checker and i always make sure to get the best price for everything. i always priceline most of my hotels and car rentals which saves a lot. Going to Disney a lot too i have little need to buy anything to take home. I can see it being really expensive with kid's especially when they want everything. When i was at WDW it cost a family of 6 almost $40 for ice cream and a few drinks.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance I know, everything you have to buy, you buy for four and before you know it you've spent $50 for a drink and snack for everyone. My kids don't get a lot of souvenirs, but I like them to get a couple things they pick out, but still it's getting harder and harder to fund a yearly trip there.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>...who is going to take their family to see Battle of the Bands ... people wonder why these families don't visit Battle of the Bands?<< It's Battle of the Dance. Battle of the Bands might have done better, actually. Anyone else remember the Tinseltown Studios? <a href="http://www.seeing-stars.com/ShowBiz/Tinseltown.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.seeing-stars.com/Sh...wn.shtml</a> That was ANOTHER big themed show, just down Katella from Disneyland. It opened in 2000 and failed a few months later. It's gone through two other identities. And that one is right next to Anaheim Stadium.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox I never got to see Tinseltown Studios, but I suspect the price combined with non-walking distance from the DLR is what killed it. Battle of the Dance is closer, but again, not quite close enough. It's been stated before, by myself and several others on these boards, but I'll state it again: The one sure-fire 'themed show' that would work in close proximity to the DLR would be Adventurer's Club. Ditching AC in Orlando's DtD, IMHO, was a shortsighted, short-term cost-saving mistake. And if Disney were smart, they'd resurrect the AC in Anaheim, in a bigger building with additional 'rooms' and updated animatronics. The resort needs something like this for folks who've already seen WoC and/or don't want to fight the park crowds, who'd rather have a quieter form of entertainment instead of a dance party venue like GlowFest or Mad T Party. AC would fit the bill nicely. And given the success of Trader Sam's, it doesn't take a genius to see that AC would be just as successful. Anaheim is long overdue for a nighttime venue like AC.
Originally Posted By CDF2 Agree with those that feel that GW only has value to Disney if the 3rd gate becomes a reality and/or they can get the place for a bargain price. Seems like GW was build on a "Blue-sky" business plan that resort guests would be bored out of their minds during a week's vacation after spending 3-4 days in the parks and need something to do or another place to eat during the next couple of days. Sure, Angels Stadium and Honda Center are just up the street but already there has grown a number of places more convenient for those facilities for people attending events to park, meet and eat within walking distance to those venues. And for anybody attending the DLR with a car, there are the other obvious choices of Knotts or Universal or even Sea World/San Diego Zoo and Animal park should they want to fill extra days (in fact, is there not some kind of package deal for a combination of parks for SoCal visitors?) Seems like GW might be the odd player out except for the occasional tourist or locals that want to try one of the restaurants there.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Seems like GW might be the odd player out except for the occasional tourist or locals that want to try one of the restaurants there.<< Maybe they could put a "Penny" AA in the cheese factory, where she's waiting on a table where Lenard, Sheldon, Howard and Raj are seated. ;-)
Originally Posted By ImTempest I took a look on the Google Map as someone suggested earlier. The possibilities are astounding when you see it from above. Disney could build another parking structure like Mickey and Friends for an amazing number of cars (parked under cover and shaded for the most part, which I like a lot), and all that room currently used for parking (Toy Story lot?) would make an awesome third park.
