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Major Mickey Makeover
Big news from the Mouse House. Fantasyland is undergoing a major expansion with new rides, attractions and restaurants planned. Work is expected to be completed in 2013.
http://www.wesh.com/themeparks/26529986/detail.html http://www.clickorlando.com/entertai...01/detail.html http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-d...,4303622.story |
Disney World has so much land around them.. I don't understand why they didn't expand further upwards behind the castle, even past the train tracks?.. instead, they are tearing down and building. Snow White Scary Adventures could have stayed.. I heard that they are salvaging Mickey and Minnie's house and moving it towards the original Fantasyland.
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If they expand past fantasy land beyond the train tracks, they will be expanding toward the contemporary resort and/or the TTC/parking lot.
Everything in the MK is mostly surrounded by other buildings - they have just fooled you into thinking they are in the middle of empty land. They use paint called "go away green" to help with that illusion. |
Originally Posted by Mary2e
(Post 15689500)
If they expand past fantasy land beyond the train tracks, they will be expanding toward the contemporary resort and/or the TTC/parking lot.
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It's the same general area. There does appear to be land, but it's water :)
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With the major land mass Disney World is sitting on.. seems like some became real estate and some became bogs just waiting to be developed. I would have personally liked to see Magic Kingdom double in size as demand goes up.. after all according to www.themeparkinsiders.com, Magic Kingdom is the most popular and most visited theme park in the world.
Tearing down and infilling new attractions is a bit of a waste.. I heard fantasy land used to have a ride called a thousand leagues under the sea.. would have been neat to ride that classic. |
The land around Fantasyland and Toontown is being used for backstage purposes, especially ToonTown. I believe they aren't expanding further that way to ensure the park is keeping with the magic.
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I agree a plan and flow in place is good.. and I'm glad they are adding a full service/quick service restaurant "Be our Guest" in keeping with Beauty and the Beast. It's frustrating to think that only 100,000 people is capacity at Magic Kingdom, and they've got enough land within proximity to fit potentially millions of spectators at one time.
If any theme park needs a restaurant add-on, its Magic Kingdom. |
Originally Posted by Ancien Maestro
(Post 15687047)
Disney World has so much land around them.. I don't understand why they didn't expand further upwards behind the castle, even past the train tracks?.. instead, they are tearing down and building. Snow White Scary Adventures could have stayed.. I heard that they are salvaging Mickey and Minnie's house and moving it towards the original Fantasyland.
Also worth mentioning is that there is 7,500 acres(~1/4 of WDW) of land that is dedicated to conservation and can never be developed so every project that requires developing fresh grounds is carefully thought out. The area where Fantasyland is expanding is on land that was cleared a long time ago so it won't be any acreage lost.
Originally Posted by Ancien Maestro
(Post 15694993)
With the major land mass Disney World is sitting on.. seems like some became real estate and some became bogs just waiting to be developed. I would have personally liked to see Magic Kingdom double in size as demand goes up.. after all according to www.themeparkinsiders.com, Magic Kingdom is the most popular and most visited theme park in the world.
Tearing down and infilling new attractions is a bit of a waste.. I heard fantasy land used to have a ride called a thousand leagues under the sea.. would have been neat to ride that classic. |
Originally Posted by EmSeeOhMike
(Post 15758445)
First let me say I love the classics. ...That said 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea IMHO was bar none one of the worst attractions they have ever had.
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Originally Posted by hhoope01
(Post 15761129)
And yet that was one of the rides that I loved the most as a child and would love to have had a chance to ride again.
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Originally Posted by EmSeeOhMike
(Post 15758445)
Short response is it'll never happen. While it looks like wide open spaces, MK is actually shoved almost to the northern most part of what is Disney property. To expand, especially behind Fantasyland, would involve moving too much infrastructure to be worth it. Not to mention having nowhere else relocate said infrastructure at that end of the property. Just working to the north you have the main cast member and freight entrance to the tunnel, train tracks, fireworks bunker, fire house, monorail/steam engine shop, water treatment facility, chiller plant, holiday storage warehouse, Disney University, waste transfer station, main cast parking for MK, and a whole bunch of things that make up the north service area. I believe that we will continue to see small expansions at the existing park and addition of all new parks over the years on the parts of property that can spare the land.
Also worth mentioning is that there is 7,500 acres(~1/4 of WDW) of land that is dedicated to conservation and can never be developed so every project that requires developing fresh grounds is carefully thought out. The area where Fantasyland is expanding is on land that was cleared a long time ago so it won't be any acreage lost. First let me say I love the classics. When I visit the parks it isn't to do all the latest and greatest things but rather escape the real world for my childhood and do the things that have remained unchanged my entire life. That said 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea IMHO was bar none one of the worst attractions they have ever had. A while back they actually gave it full renovation and update but it still wasn't worth the land it sat on. Thats' dumb that WDW didn't have the foresight to see that expansion could happen with Magic Kingdom. I would estimate higher crowds with a Bigger Magic Kingdom.. I wish the Imagineers had the foresight to see that Magic Kingdom would be the most popular theme park in the world.. instead, in order to keep up with the quality, WDW has to wreck attractions to put up new ones.. when they have dead land laying around.. was one big miscalculation imho. |
Originally Posted by Ancien Maestro
(Post 15763662)
Something I love about the concept of Disney World is their conservation.. good to know they reserved 25% of the land for this purpose. Vasts arrays of transportation and expanse of land make it so attractive to stay at Disney World, and visit theme parks weeks on end. Nature aspect is a plus at WDW.
Thats' dumb that WDW didn't have the foresight to see that expansion could happen with Magic Kingdom. I would estimate higher crowds with a Bigger Magic Kingdom.. I wish the Imagineers had the foresight to see that Magic Kingdom would be the most popular theme park in the world.. instead, in order to keep up with the quality, WDW has to wreck attractions to put up new ones.. when they have dead land laying around.. was one big miscalculation imho. Hollywood Studios is pinned against World Drive with the parking lot to the east where there would've been space to expand. Expansion to south is possible with the relocation of the entry road to the parking lot but would've been set up much better if the parking lot was put where the park is and the park where the parking lot is. Epcot is surrounded. I guess no lessons learned from where they placed the Magic Kingdom. Buena Vista Drive to the south, Epcot Center Drive to the north and east, and the Epcot Resort Area to the west. There's the potential of small expansions to the NE and NW but IMO poorly thought out with the land available. Looking at all of the parks it seems like the Magic Kingdom is actually the least likely to receive any major expansion with its current setup which is too bad because I agree with you that it would most likely benefit from any additions. If Disney builds it, they will come. Hopefully as the years go by they will slowly be able to add on. |
Well, maybe just for argument's sake I'll disagree and say I'm happy with the parks the sizes they are already.
I'll start with EPCOT, since I think it's an easier case to make. First off, that park is huge to begin with. It easily swallows crowds the other parks would have difficulty absorbing. And there is pre-planned room for additional pavilions to be added if there is need. Yesterland has a great article, focused on World Showcase, that shows how easily additional countries could be (and have been planned to be) added. For the Magic Kingdom, I think the fact is that they don't NEED to expand it. As pointed out, it is the most popular theme park in the world. Even so, it rarely runs at capacity. Adding physical space and additional attractions would not necessarily draw significant additional guest counts. To me, it's like some 700hp supercar. Sure, the manufacturer could change the engine in the next model year to put out 750hp, but would anyone really care or be willing to pay a significant premium for it? Added to that, increasing the square footage or the attraction count results in definite, concrete additional operating expenses. They have to hire more cast members, put in additional bathrooms, use more electricity, etc. So from a purely financial perspective (and as much as I hate to admit this, Disney is a business and needs to think of some things in profit and loss terms) it does not make sense to expand the Magic Kingdom. It DOES make sense to demolish old, unpopular attractions and replace them with new, crowd-drawing ones. After the initial capital outlay, their ongoing expenses remain fixed. |
I find criticism of Disney's planning amusing. They are likely some of the best planners in the world. DJ has hit all the points I would have hit.
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I too think the parks are fine the size they are. Right now anyway. My response has to do with the fact that no one knows what will happen in the next 10, 20, or 50 years. With a little foresight the possibility would have been there for them to add on but they have put themselves in a position that limits their options in that regard. Personally, I would want the parks to remain unchanged forever. I love being able to see things as they were when I was a child. However they are a business, and as such, things are going to change to stay current. As site planning is a big part of what I do for a living, I personally find it odd they wouldn't keep their options open for expansion, especially since they have mastered seemingly every other aspect of site planning. Oh well, more new parks for us in the future!!!... I hope :)
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I can see the imagineers vision when planning Walt Disney World.. We'll create this park (Magic Kingdom), another park (Epcot), then another park (Hollywood Studios), then another park (Animal Kingdom), then maybe another part of the park (DT Disney), then maybe throw a twist (Bunch of Golf Courses), maybe throw in that (MacDonalds on the Corner), then a bunch of this (Resorts), in the future another park (Night Kingdom potentially).. The point is they always thought that could create something, not necessarily expand what is already there. So instead of 4 theme parks, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 theme parks? But the trend is to renovate, expand and improve what is there. And if something is as popular as Magic Kingdom which everyone is wanting to get into during special holidays, then my point really is that missed the vision and potential what Magic Kingdom could be area wise.. Magic Kingdom could add a few, three more lands.
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Originally Posted by DJ_Iceman
(Post 15771225)
After the initial capital outlay, their ongoing expenses remain fixed.
Operating costs can be optimized and added, if the attractions draw more crowds to the park. If the park can fit more people then added operating costs will become less of a factor, build it and they will come. |
I was at WDW a few days ago and...
it was tedious to be truthfull.
In chronological order - $15 to park is ridiculous. $82 for a day pass is a joke It takes a while to get in from the parking - having to use either the boat or monorail skillfully wastes a load more time and both options include lots of walking from your parked car. Lots of rides closed and whole chunks of the park closed off for redevelopment mean the few adult rides that are open are subject to long queues and lots of walking. Ok its not the summer season but the entrance price doesnt change... I've been 3 times before and did'nt really enjoy this visit, it badly needs new rides and more of them imho if it is to stay at no.1 Still got a magic aura about it but disney needs to invest more I think. Just my 2 penn'orth.. |
I was at WDW a few days ago and...
.......
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Originally Posted by Markieg
(Post 15810470)
it was tedious to be truthfull.
In chronological order - $15 to park is ridiculous. $82 for a day pass is a joke It takes a while to get in from the parking - having to use either the boat or monorail skillfully wastes a load more time and both options include lots of walking from your parked car. Lots of rides closed and whole chunks of the park closed off for redevelopment mean the few adult rides that are open are subject to long queues and lots of walking. Ok its not the summer season but the entrance price doesnt change... I've been 3 times before and did'nt really enjoy this visit, it badly needs new rides and more of them imho if it is to stay at no.1 Still got a magic aura about it but disney needs to invest more I think. Just my 2 penn'orth.. Interesting to hear that they upped the parking charge to $15.. or is that just a typo? |
Well, the prices for parking and park entry are simple supply and demand. If you don't feel you're getting your money's worth, don't go.
And having more rides than usual shut down is common during slower times of the year. They have to do maintenance sometime, and wouldn't you agree it makes sense to do it when it inconveniences the lowest number of people? On the other hand, the crowds are FAR smaller, meaning you can enjoy a lot more of the experience than during busier times of year. Things like the monorail and the ferryboat are considered by many to be an integral part of the Disney magic--a symbolic transition from the worries of the real world into the fantasy world of the Disney parks. If you're just trying to maximize time to ride roller coasters, then those experiences could indeed be frustrating. But then again, maybe Disney isn't the right place for those with that attitude... |
IMO.. irritating to go during low season when some major attractions are shut down.. why not go high season? If planned correctly, minimal disruptions, and maximum times on the rides we found.
For us 20 days in a row to Disney World was awesome and will probably do it again.. The nice thing is that Mickey is out of my son's system.. he's asking to go back in a couple years same time. Disney Land is probably next on the list for us if we're in the SoCal area. |
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