| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 159.1 | Disneyland Decade Story | USCTR2::TOMYL | Joel R. Tomyl DTN 297-3188 | Thu Jan 25 1990 01:24 | 105 |
| New, $1 Billion Attraction Slated for Southern Calif.
By Linda Deckard
Anaheim - A second Disney park in Southern California and a major rehab
of the 25-year-old Disneyland here are just a few of the projects
costing "slightly less than the national debt" slated for the '90s.
Michael Eisner, chairman and CEO of Walt Disney Co., preferred to be
flippant rather than specific on the cost, but he gave a few
fascinating details about the content of plans for Disney during the
mega-media week, Jan. 11-14. It culminated on the West Coast with a
Jan. 12 news conference, followed by similar doing in Lake Buena Vista,
Fla., site of Walt Disney World.
The new park, he said, would cost more than $1 billion and construction
will begin this decade, if certain conditions can be met. Those
conditions pit two municipalities against each other - Long Beach and
Anaheim - both potential sites for the new gated attraction.
The company insists on assistance from city government before it will
commit to build a new theme park. "Traffic and Parking," Eisner
enumerated. "Our problems are their problems. We are looking to both
cities in a positive way."
This project is "not about undeveloped land in a wilderness area. We
have problems of infrastructure and traffic congestion that are
tremendous in Anaheim. Long Beach doesn't have as many problems. The
Long Beach Freeway is the least utilized."
Bottom line, though, makes it a matter of "which community wants us
more," Eisner said. The project is "over $1 billion without the
infrastructure."
Disney has been talking with Long Beach for a year about an
ocean-themed park which would be build near the Spruce Goose/ Queen
Mary. Disney bought those properties when it acquired the Wrather
Corp., a move that also included the Disneyland Hotel. That hotel will
undergo a $40 million renovation over the next several years.
Disney holds a lease of 55 acres in Long Beach, some of which used to
be Long Beach Pike Amusement Park, and has an option on another 256
acres, now underwater, that would be landfill. It has 66 acres
available in Anaheim.
NEW LANDS, MAJOR REHABS
Eisner announced the most ambitious expansion ever for the company's
original theme park, plans that include two new themed areas along with
a near total rehab of Tomorrowland. The latter involves a network of
skyways which allows for a second story on Tomorrowland. It's a
creative way to deal with limited space.
The changes are to take a decade, newly-named the "Disney Decade" by
Eisner. By the end of that decade, with parks here, in Florida and in
Tokyo, and with the $2.5 billion Euro Disneyland to open in 1992 in
Paris, "we will draw over 100 million guests annually at Disney
properties."
The decade kicks off with a celebration of Disney's 35th birthday,
including a working Dream Machine which will give away a Geo car or
truck a day to a lucky patron and 400,000 other fine gifts, ranging
from $1,000 to trips on Delta Airlines to a Mickey Mouse watch. A new
Party Gras parade features inflatable character four stories high, lots
of confetti and colorful costumes and a Mardis Gras theme.
Disney made similar hoopla with its 30th birthday here and Eisner, when
outlining plans year by year, slipped past 1995 except to say the 40th
birthday party would be the biggest yet. "We'll probably give away a
theme park a day," he joked.
The new lands are Mickey's Starland, where Disney can solve the problem
of 40,000 kids wanting to meet one Mickey Mouse by sneaking in a few
extras, and Hollywoodland, which comes complete with a tall,
white-lettered sign on a hillside. Shows, simulators, themed rides and
animation are on the boards at Disney's creative headquarters,
Imagineering.
Movies play a major role in almost all of the themes, as per tradition,
but there are a few departures from the norm. A Dick Tracy movie
featuring Warren Beatty and Madonna premieres this summer and even the
advance publicity on this movie touts the new live stage show to debut
at Disneyland at the same time.
That's a result of certainty the movie will be a smash, said Dick
Nunis, Disney attraction president. The show debuts in Videopolis and
will run fives times a day.
"We'll promote the live extravaganza and the movie day and
date...That's never been done before," Eisner said.
George Lucas and Steven Spielberg are names dropped in collaboration
with Disney's upcoming projects. The Muppets, the Little Mermaid,
Young Indiana Jones, Roger Rabbit and Tracy join Mickey and Minnie
Mouse as Disney regulars.
But whatever the movie, the attraction or one man's dream, there is an
acid test, Eisner insists. Anything built by Disney must meet "the
Disney-required return on investment(ROI)."
Asked what the best ROI in the Disney repertoire is, Eisner didn't
hesitate a moment - "Fantasyland - a $17 million investment called
Disneyland is our greatest return on investment ever."
|
| 159.2 | Disneyland Decade Schedule | USCTR2::TOMYL | Joel R. Tomyl DTN 297-3188 | Thu Jan 25 1990 01:27 | 71 |
| Disneyland in the '90s
1990: The Dream Machine will award a new Geo car or truck a day to a
lucky guest. Another 400,000 gifts will be given out during the 35th
anniversary celebration.
o Party Gras, a new parade combining Broadway shows and Mardis Gras
elements, runs every day. Floats are four stories tall.
o Dick Tracy live stage show, coinciding with summer debut of the movie
starring Warren Beaty and Madonna in theaters nationwide.
1991: "Here Come The Muppets" stage show and the Magnificent Muppet
All-Star Motorcade parade, with the Electric Mayhem Band and Muppet
Tour Bus.
o The Young Indiana Jones Adventure Spectacular, like the stunt
spectacular at Disney-MGM in Florida.
1993: Mickey's Starland opens for Mickey's 65th birthday celebration.
The 4.5 acres site will be headquarters for birthday parties, chance to
meet Mickey personally.
o Kermit & Friends 3-D Muppet Adventure, to be shown at Mickey's
Starland Theater.
o Little Mermaid ride opens as part of Mickey's Starland.
1994: Alien Encounter ride, part of redo of Tomorrowland, which would
keep Space Mountain and Star Tours.
o "Plectu's Fantastic Galactic Revue," and audio-animatronic musical
variety show.
o A second George Lucas 3-D film fantasy, which would join the existing
Captain EO.
o Second-Story skywalks crisscrossing Tomorrowland.
o Circle Vision 360 show themed the Wonders of Western Civilization
with audio-animatronics sponsored by Delta Airlines.
1995: Fortieth anniversary celebration, guaranteed to be a big
promotion, although officials were short on detail.
1996: Dick Tracy's Crime Stoppers attraction, including simulation,
audio-animatronics and sound and special effects. Patrons act in the
show. Coincides with sequel to original movie.
1999: Hollywoodland, major new section of park, to have boulevards
from '30s and '40s, shops and restaurants.
o Toontown Trolley, a simulator ride piloted by Roger Rabbit, being
built in collaboration with Steven Speilberg.
o Baby Herman's Runaway Baby Buggy Ride, a bumpy adventure which will
crash through hospital doors, etc.
o Great move ride with re-creation of great films and Disney's best and
newest animatronic figures, similar to one ad Disney-MGM Studios in
Florida.
o Superstar Television Theater where participant will be selected from
the audience.
BEFORE THE END OF THE DECADE
o New $1 billion theme park in Anaheim or Long Beach to break ground.
o Completion of $40 million in improvements to Disneyland Hotel.
|
| 159.3 | Disney World Decade Story | USCTR2::TOMYL | Joel R. Tomyl DTN 297-3188 | Sun Jan 28 1990 00:42 | 115 |
| New Hotels and Attractions Slated for Disney World
By Tim O'Brien
Lake Buena Vista, FL. - Three days after announcing big plans and big
capital expenditures for their Disneyland property, Walt Disney Co.
officials came to Florida and announced an additional $1 billion-plus
grand plan for Walt Disney World.
Disney CEO Michael Eisner outlined the Florida version of his "Disney
Decade" expansion program to 2.000 journalists and travel professionals
here for the dedication of Disney World's Swan Hotel and Star Tours
attraction.
In his Disney World presentation, Eisner outlined plans for the next 10
years that includes seven new hotels, 29 new shows and attractions and
a fourth separate theme park on the 45 square miles the company owns in
Central Florida.
"In the next 10 years we're going to do nothing less than reinvent the
Disney theme park and resort experience," Eisner said. "We're on the
threshold of our company's greatest creative efforts."
As usual, Disney officials released no dollar figures for this decade
of development, but industry and entertainment sources say the hotels
and attractions will cost a minimum of $1 billion. A fourth theme park
could easily cost that much again.
In response to financial questioning, Eisner said that "we haven't
actually added it all up yet, but it would make a headline that we
wouldn't want to see." He added that financing will be through various
means, and that a great deal of it will be from internal sources.
"Much of what we announced will be included in our annual capital
budget," he added. "As usual, we will expect each project to stand on
its own and to bring our required 20 percent return on investment".
Mentioning the 20 percent, he added that the company works on a plan
they call 20-20. They expect a 20- percent return on investment and a
20 percent annual growth. The new hotels will be built to accommodate
that projected 20 percent in growth.
"We don't want to take hotel guests away from other properties," Eisner
said. "We are only building the hotels to accommodate our new
demands."
NEW THEME PARK
Eisner would not divulge further details about plans to build a new
park.
"We are getting real close to announcing what we think the new park
will be," he said. "But right now, we're not totally sure of the plans
ourselves. In fact, I'm going to sit back and read about all the
speculations of what the park will be and those might be more
interesting than what we are thinking and we could change our minds."
The most popular speculation at this point is that the new park will be
an animal park of some kind. Eisner has mentioned several times during
his reign at Disney that he wants to do something that includes
animals.
"Believe me, if we do something with animals, it won't be a typical
zoo. It will be something you've new see before," once official told
AB.
The Disney/MGM Studios Theme Park will get the most attention as the
Disney Decade gets underway. In all, that park will get more than half
the shows and attractions planned.
The first of those came during the gala Jan. 12-14 weekend. Star
Tours, the space adventure, premiered to long lines and guest reviews.
The ride is already a success at Disneyland and at Tokyo Disneyland.
Star Wars creator George Lucas developed the simulator ride with Walt
Disney Imagineers.
The weekend activity also saw the official dedication of the new
758-room Walt Disney World Swan Hotel and announcement of a Muppet Live
Show planned to premiere this summer and a Muppet 3-D file,. set for
1991. Both Muppet attractions and a Muppet parade will be a part of
the expansion at the studios theme park.
Additional plans for the studios are listed in the accompanying chart.
MAGIC KINGDOM ADDITIONS
Plans for the 18-year-old Magic Kingdom area of the Disney behemoth
call for several new shows and the renaming of Mickey's Birthdayland to
Mickey's Starland. In 1993, Splash Mountain will open near the Thunder
Mountain Railway. The ride opened in Disneyland last summer and has
been a huge success.
The Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland will be completely redesigned in 1996
as an intergalactic spaceport for arriving aliens. One new adventure
will be produced in collaboration with George Lucas. Also in store for
the Magic Kingdom is the first addition to Fantasyland since the park's
opening in 1971. The "Little Mermaid" adventure will spin guests
around and down into the musical undersea world of mermaid Ariel and
her family.
The highlights of the decade here include two new pavilions in the
World Showcase area. A Soviet Union pavilion is the most requested by
visitors and, according to Eisner, Disney officials are in the final
stages of negotiating with the Soviet about building such a showcase.
Joining it will be a Switzerland pavilion, featuring a Matterhorn
Mountain and bobsled ride.
In the Future World section of Epcot, a Journey in Space will present
guests with a space travel ride.
In addition to the United State Disney Decade program, Eisner outlined
additions to Tokyo Disneyland and reiterated that Euro Disneyland will
open on time in 1992. A Disney/MGM Studios Theme Park will be added
there in 1996.
|
| 159.4 | Disney World Decade Schedule | USCTR2::TOMYL | Joel R. Tomyl DTN 297-3188 | Sun Jan 28 1990 00:45 | 108 |
| Walt Disney World in the '90s
DISNEY/MGM STUDIOS THEME PARK
Jan 12, 1990: Star Tours opens. A sixth simulator will be added by
May, increasing capacity to about 2,200 per hour.
May 1990: The studio's first regular daily parade will feature Jim
Henson's Muppet characters in "The Magnificent Muppet All-Star Parade."
Mid-Summer, 1990: "Here Come the Muppets," a live variety show
featuring the Muppets.
Mid-Summer, 1990: "Dick Tracy Musical Revue" will be staged five times
daily. Inspired by the forthcoming Walt Disney Picture film, the show
will feature music from the film, scored by Stephen Sondheim.
Mid-Summer, 1990: The revival of a television game show classic, "Let's
Make a Deal" will be produced at the studios. Contestants for the Dick
Clark Productions show will be chosen from guests at the studio.
Late Summer, 1990: A new type of audience participation show at the
studios, called Disney Channel Auditions, will give guests a chance to
perform, with a shot at appearing on the Disney Channel.
Christmas, 1990: A "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" zone will be developed
where small guest scramble through a world filled with 20-foot tall
blades of grass, giant lawn sprinklers and monstrous insects.
1991: A new land called the Muppet Studios will begin development.
The first attraction to open will be "Kermit the Frog Presents Muppet
Vision 3-D," created by Jim Henson and Disney Imagineers.
1992: "Noah's Ark," a nighttime show by Andrew Lloyd Webber will be
show nightly on the waterway. Disney officials are calling the
production and the original symphonic score "the most ambitious
nighttime spectacle in Disney theme park history."
1993: The second attraction of The Muppet Studios will be unveiled.
"The Muppets' Movie Ride" will take guests on a "misguided tour through
movie history."
1994: Sunset Boulevard, an entirely new section of the park will open
and feature:
o Roger Rabbit's Hollywood will feature a simulator ride aboard a
Toontown Trolley, piloted by Roger himself; a "Baby Herman's Runaway
Baby Buggy Ride," and a "Benny the Cab Ride."
o Mickey's Movieland will feature a replica of the original Hyperion
Ave. Disney Studios, where guests will be able to "live out their own
motion picture-producing fantasies."
o At the Dick Tracy's Crime Stoppers attraction, guest will ride in
speeding patrol cars through darkened Chicago gangland sets, firing
their own Tommy-guns.
o Three additional unnamed attractions will also be added to the
Sunset Boulevard area at this time. No further details given.
THE MAGIC KINGDOM
Mid-Summer, 1990: "Mouseketeer Music Blast," a live stage show in
Tomorrowland, will feature music of The New Mickey Mouse Club.
Mid-Summer, 1990: "The Disney Afternoon," a character show based on
the critters from the television block of Disney shows by the same
name, will premiere in Mickey's Starland, Formerly Mickey's
Birthdayland.
1991: Walt Disney Worlds's 20th anniversary, and the premiere of "One
Man's Dream," a salute to 65 years of musical highlights from Disney
films.
1992: A new Circle-Vision 360 film on cultures of Western
Civilization will feature audio Animatronic characters which come in
and out of the filmed presentation.
1993: Splash Mountain will premiere. Featuring a five-story high
plunge, the theme of the ride is based on the "Song of the South," a
Disney film classic.
1994: The Little Mermaid ride will open in Fantasyland. Based on the
film, the ride will be the first addition to this land since the park
opened in 1971.
1996: A new Tomorrowland will be created by redesigning the area into
a series of intergalactic adventures. It will feature two new
attractions, including Alien Encounter and "Plectu's Fantastic Galactic
Revue," an outer-space musical variety show.
EPCOT CENTER
1992: Various unspecified enhancements and additions will be made to
most of the attraction in the Future World area in time for the park's
10th anniversary celebration.
1994: A new 3-D musical move by Star Wars creator George Lucas.
Late 1990s: Swiss Pavilion featuring a Matterhorn Mountain bobsled
thrill ride.
Late 1990s: Soviet Pavilion, the most requested addition to Epcot,,
will be built. Final negotiations with the Soviets are now underway.
Late 1990s: "Journeys In Space" pavilion will provide guests with an
"outer-space experience."
|
| 159.5 | RESERVATIONS FOR 2000 ANYONE?? | STRATA::ROBROSE | | Mon Jan 29 1990 10:03 | 11 |
|
Well, I guess I will have to call up to make my October, 2000
reservations.
This is quite a grand plan, I hope some of the new hotels will
be along the same line as the CBR, (price wise I mean).
I sure hope they can pull this off.
|
| 159.6 | don't wait, go when you can afford it. | ATE012::BERUBE | I'm Thumping on a Green-Flagged.. | Mon Jan 29 1990 11:09 | 33 |
| Rep to <<< Note 159.5 by STRATA::ROBROSE >>>
>Well, I guess I will have to call up to make my October, 2000 reservations.
>This is quite a grand plan, I hope some of the new hotels will
>be along the same line as the CBR, (price wise I mean).
My advise is figure out when you can afford it and go then, like DEC,
WDW has suffered from the Engineering slip syndrome from time to time.
With exception to MGM/Disney Studios, and Star Tours, the rest of the
latest construction in the past few years, Pleasure Island, Typhoon
Lagoon, Grand Floridian, Living Seas, and others where late if you go
by the original published dates when announced.
> I sure hope they can pull this off.
Me too, I would hate to see the financing of all this bring Disney
down, cousing them to lose quality etc.
My main question, since there appears to be a labor shortage in the
area today, what it's going to be like in ten years?.
What are the crowds going to be like in 10 years?
I sure miss the sweet old WDW of the late 70's early 80's when it was
still word of mouth advertising (not this media blitz that been going
on for the last few years), when going on April vacation wasn't bad.
My last trip in April '87 was reaching the limits of my nerves in
relation to crowds, felt like cattle on some days!
Claude
BTW, my brother and I are still planning a spring '92 trip, unless that
damn bug gets me again ;^).
|
| 159.7 | Life is not a bed of roses for Orlando Politics | USCTR2::TOMYL | Joel R. Tomyl DTN 297-3188 | Fri Feb 02 1990 14:23 | 8 |
| I received my AB this week and there was an article about the local
politicians being upset with Disney. Plus, I just received a copy
of the same topic from a friend who clipped it out of the Orlanda
Sentinal.
When I get a chance, I will post them.
Joel
|
| 159.8 | One "NO" vote on the LRP... | COOKIE::SEAGLE | Disneyland junkie! | Mon Feb 05 1990 23:18 | 48 |
| I, for one, am VERY upset with Eisner's grand plan.
By the turn of the century, assuming everything is completed as
specified, there will be virtually no differences between Disneyland
and WDW, and the Disney theme parks will finally be reduced to a
pseudo-cookie-cutter pabulum equal in stature to a second-rate
hamburger chain.
As we all know, Walt stated back in the '60s that WDW would be similar
but never identical to Disneyland, and that both parks would always
have rides/attractions which were unique to any given park. This,
in turn, would ensure that each park maintained its own personality
and character. Walt also stated that both parks would continue to grow
and change (so I have no problem with changing things) because
Disneyland/WDW were to be places to learn as well as to have fun.
With the current plans and thinking there will be virtually nothing
unique about either place! The last straw, for me, was this "let's
build a Switzerland pavilion in EPCOT and put a Matterhorn in it"
crap. For 30+ years now the Matterhorn has been Disneyland's landmark
yet Eisner & Co. *insist* on putting it in EPCOT. Why? Will they be
placing a Spaceship Earth in Disneyland's newly remodeled Tomorrowland?
It is bad enough that MGM now has a Star Tours, but this is too much!
I think that greed and Eisner's ego have reached unprecedented heights.
Gone is the vision. The dream has died. Disney is becoming a
"Corporation" with all the negative connotations that implies.
Furthermore, I see some (if not most) of the bullets on the long range
plan as nothing more than self-aggrandizing money grubbing with no
spiritual backing (for want of a better description). In other words,
they are getting carried away for the sake of getting carried away and
no one has a "real" plan with any "dreams/soul" as Walt and Roy Disney
once had when they started this whole mess.
Finally, please spare me the "but Disney will do a *great* job with it,
Dave" analysis. I think THAT is dying too (evidence the Swan and
Dolphin hotels which, to my knowledge, everyone has panned for not
being sculpted into the World in the traditional manner, and for being
lackluster in its implementation). In fact, I must second the concern
for the overall quality decline this will inevitably catalyze.
I will stop now to avoid babbling, but I wanted to see how others felt
about what I perceive as an insidious plot to destroy the foundation
upon which the Disney parks were originally built.
Hurrmmph,
David.
|
| 159.9 | | ATE012::BERUBE | I'm Thumping on a Green-Flagged.. | Tue Feb 06 1990 12:21 | 30 |
| Rep to <<< Note 159.8 by COOKIE::SEAGLE "Disneyland junkie!" >>>
Dave,
As I stated in .6 I have my concerns as well, and even though some
others might think this is blasphemous coming from one of the mod's,
I'm pretty much in agreement with you.
One of the reasons I like WDW (never been to Disneyland or Tokyo), is
the way the hotels (Disney's that is), parks etc. were fairly secluded
from each other. Even though you could see them from one another, they
were far away and tended to blend in as it were. Now with the new 7 or
is it 9 hotels still to be constructed/opened, I hope it doens't turn
out to be another I-drive or 192 atmosphere.
I sure hate to see what it'll cost by the year 2000 to go there.
Mike Eisner has in a way been a God-send in reviving the Disney
spirit/Image of late, but I too am feeling they are crossing the line,
and becoming a huge corporation who is only interest in $'s, and less
in keeping the Spirit of Walt alive. After watching the 35th
aniversary party for Disneyland last night (tape delay) I just didn't
feel comfortable watching the Muppet's, granted I like them very much,
I equate them to Henson and not to Disney and it seemed out of place to
me.
Claude
|
| 159.10 | Disney heading to Di$ney | COEM::SCOPA | The Major | Tue Feb 06 1990 13:02 | 24 |
| I'm in full agreement with Dave. I always noted to myself that one of
the draws to WDW was it's seclusion from the real world. In WDW you can
forget most, if not all, your cares and really enjoy a true vacation.
It gives everyone a chance to forget "Corporate America".
The SWAN/DOLPHIN complex will surely stick out like a sore thumb and I
too don't like the idea of having the hotels so close as to be visable
from the theme parks.
I've noted in other parts of this conference how I feel about the
muppets inclusion into the Disney image.
Maybe I'm wrong but am I alone in thinking that WDW had just as much
magic back in the 70's when places like EPCOT, MGM, TGF, CBR, S/D, and
Typhoon Lagoon were only sketches on some artist's drawing board?
I remembr the first time going (1975) and remarked how secluded the
Magic Kingdom was to everything.
After all Mr. Eisner, once you've become a
millionaire/billionaire...what's left?
Mike_who's_glad_he's_going_in_152_days_instead_of_1520_days
|
| 159.11 | I wont cry doom
| NITMOI::WITHERS | Another Hallmark Moment. -Al Bundy | Tue Feb 06 1990 13:46 | 105 |
| RE: .8 by COOKIE::SEAGLE (David)
I am a little wary but not to this extent. I agree that the skads of new
hotels is a little much. From the start of construction of the Dolphin and
Swan my sister and I (both WDW enthuisists and attendees of all five year
anniversarys at WDW) commented how you could actually *see* them from Epcot
and how that didn't settle well. Some of the expansion though I actuall have
little problem with.
> By the turn of the century, assuming everything is completed as
> specified, there will be virtually no differences between Disneyland
> and WDW, and the Disney theme parks will finally be reduced to a
> pseudo-cookie-cutter pabulum equal in stature to a second-rate
> hamburger chain.
A hamburger chain? That goes a litle harsh. Disneyland and Disney World will
never be identical. That doesn't have to go into attractions it comes from the
actual places. I have been to Disney World numerous times. I went to
Disneyland once (during ACM Siggraph '87) and found it simply magical because
it was different! Not different because of Star Tours, or the Matterhorn, or
what-have-you.. simply subtley different in ways its difficult to describe.
> As we all know, Walt stated back in the '60s that WDW would be similar
> but never identical to Disneyland, and that both parks would always
> have rides/attractions which were unique to any given park.
One problem I have with this is hotels vs attractions. I *envied* Disneyland
(which I find nigh-impossible to visit) because they kept (keep?) getting new
attractions! Splash Mountain, Star Tours! Where WDW kept getting new hotels!
CBR, GF, Swan, Dolphin, et al. I (selfishly, I admit) want a Star Tours at
the WDW so I can go on it! I want to ride Splash Mountain and cant get to
California to do it...solution...I (flame me if you must..) want them to build
one at WDW.
I'm not saying they are not building attractions at WDW. I also understand
that this is one-sided as Disneyland hasn't (and probably never will have) the
land needed to make it dupe WDW. There wont be a Journey into Imagination,
or a World Showcase, etc. But remeber as long as there are people like me
(see above paragraph) then they are fulfilling *somebodys* desire by building
copies of attractions from DL at WDW.
> This in turn, would ensure that each park maintained its own personality
> and character.
Again, I think they still *do* maintain character without crudely breaking it
down to a list of attractions.
> The last straw, for me, was this "let's
> build a Switzerland pavilion in EPCOT and put a Matterhorn in it"
> crap. For 30+ years now the Matterhorn has been Disneyland's landmark
I have to agree here. Disneyland has an unwritten trademark based on the
Matterhorn (actually written if you remember the logo on DL soft drink cups
(Sleeping Beauty Castle with Matterhorn behind it)). This actually looks
like a thinly-veiled "thrill attractions to bring teenagers into Epcot and
the World Showcase". Preceded by the Norway pavillion having a more
adventerous ride than is standard in World Showcase.
> It is bad enough that MGM now has a Star Tours, but this is too much!
Star Tours I do draw a line at. It is simply too *good* to not have available
elsewhere. Further I actually find it fitting that it is in MGM, a park about
film, movies, et al.
> Disney is becoming a
> "Corporation" with all the negative connotations that implies.
> Furthermore, I see some (if not most) of the bullets on the long range
> plan as nothing more than self-aggrandizing money grubbing
Well..they *are* a corporation. And if they can continue to make money, if
ten-thousand new visitors enter the park a month because of the addition of
a "Splash Mountain" then that is most likely what will come to pass. As long
as quality is maintained, as artistic direction remains alive, I'm willing to
accept that they will have no scrupples when it comes to making money. Thats
there job.
If we said "We will never sell our computers through the Sears Catalog." and
someone could *promise* we would make 1 million in profit by doing it..would
you berate Ken Olsen for doubling back on his statement? Yes..its the same
thing because Disney *is* a company!
> Finally, please spare me the "but Disney will do a *great* job with it,
> Dave" analysis. I think THAT is dying too (evidence the Swan and
> Dolphin hotels
Another point where I agree with you. From my own quote "artisitic direction"
was not served by this. It broke the princepal that nothing "in-congrous"
would be visible and the hotels look like ... well ... like hotels! Which is
something that should be reserved for Internation Drive and the Disney Village.
All I can say is that *usually* do a great job. This latest evidence against
is not refutable but how many blunders can you point to in the astethics of t
the parks?
> Hurrmmph,
> David.
Well.. I have hopes for the future. I want to see ALL Disney parks grow and
prosper. I hope that quality doesn't take a back seat and don't think it will
in a large way. The parks are changing but I will reserve judgement as to
if that is bad until I see it.
Hopeful for the future,
George
|
| 159.12 | Magic was there and still is | NITMOI::WITHERS | Another Hallmark Moment. -Al Bundy | Tue Feb 06 1990 13:51 | 15 |
| RE: .10
My first trip to WDW was early too when all that was there was the MK and it
did hold magic. But it still does to an extent. It is much more hustle and
movement (I remember my first four day passport was for *just* the Magic
Kingdom!) but still holds the magic alive.
As I said .11, I agree wholeheart about the Swan and Dolphin complex. They
look the city of Orlando encrouching on the World. I recall when you drove
for what felt like hours (remember I was a child... :-)) after enterering
Disney property before you could "see" anything.
But again, I still like the current state and have hope for the future.
George
|
| 159.13 | This is not your father's disneyland | TOHOKU::TAYLOR | | Tue Feb 06 1990 16:33 | 18 |
| re: .9 parks etc. were fairly secluded
One of the special things Walt Disney wanted, according Disney PR
legend, was a separation between the outside world and the park. Therefore
there was long ride from the highway to the TTC and then a monorail or
ferry boat ride to the magic kingdom. Currently under construction at
the front gate to the MK is a bus stop to allow buses to drive directly
up to the new ticket booths also at the gate. So much for the "magic".
Also under construction is another hotel on the seven seas lagoon
between the Contemporary hotel and the TTC.
The plans on the wall in Epcot show the monorail extending from Epcot
pass the Swan and Dolphin out to the highway. The terminus is probably
the transportation center mentioned earlier and could connect with the
proposed Orlando Airport railway.
mike
|
| 159.14 | Dow Jones Article | INDMKT::GOLDBERG | Len, Back From the World | Tue Feb 06 1990 19:13 | 44 |
| [This is from the Industry News Service Infobase. Please observe the
Internal Use Only restriction.]
Date Published: 15 JAN 1990
Source: DOW JONES NEWS
Title:
Walt DISNEY Plans Expansion Of Florida, Calif. Theme Parks
Walt Disney Co. announced plans for what would amount to a multibillion
dollar expansion of its theme parks and resorts in Florida and California
over the next decade, including new separate-admission parks in both
states. At media extravaganzas yesterday at Walt Disney World near
Orlando, Fla., and Friday at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., Disney Chairman
Michael Eisner, touting what he called the "Disney Decade," announced plans
for 49 new attractions and shows and a long-awaited "second gate" somewhere
in southern California. In Florida, the Burbank, Calif.-based company will
build a fourth separate-admission park, seven new moderately-priced to
deluxe resort hotels with a total of 5,500 rooms and Disney's first
time-share vacation condominiums. The company also expects to announce
within two months a major regional shopping center and possibly a nearby
residential community, Eisner indicated.
Eisner declined to specify costs, but he said he expects most of the
expansion to be financed by Disney's healthy internal cash flow. But based
on current costs, the ambitious expansion program could well exceed several
billion dollars. The most intriguing part of the presentations was what
Eisner wouldn't say about the new gated attractions in both states. He was
evasive about when Walt Disney Co. would declare its intentions on where it
would build a second gated park in California. Disney has drawn up plans
for another park in Anaheim on 66 undeveloped acres it owns there, or a
marine-oriented theme park in Long Beach, 20 miles west, where Disney owns
the Queen Mary. "We'll do only one, not both," Eisner said. "It depends
on which community wants us more." Disney is in talks with officials of
both cities about traffic and parking problems, monorail possibilities and
what Eisner called "infrastructure" issues.
As for Florida, Eisner would say only that construction will begin on a
fourth theme park before the end of the decade. "We've been studying
intensively one particular project...and we're getting very close to an
announcement," he said. Eisner wouldn't respond directly to speculation
that the new attraction will be some sort of animal park.
(c) Dow Jones News -- FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
|
| 159.15 | I still think we're in DEEP trouble... | COOKIE::SEAGLE | Disneyland junkie! | Tue Feb 06 1990 22:48 | 71 |
| RE: .11 specifically, and the last few generally...
Just a couple of additional comments and an anecdote.
How many of you have a copy of "WDW (or Disneyland): A Pictorial
Souvenir"? This book is typically available at several locations in the
parks and sells for something like $1 to $2. It contains dozens of
"action photos" and is invaluable to those who have forgotten their
cameras.
Do you know the history behind this little gem?
Walt Disney thought it up decades ago to serve two purposes. First, and
foremost, Walt wanted something that kids could afford which was heavy
on pictures and light on prose to take with them after they left the
park. Secondly, this item would not only remind the kids that they
needed to *return* to "The Magic Kingdom" soon to have more fun, but
typically the book would be left on people's coffee tables enticing
their *friends* to look at it too. This, in turn, generated more
business meaning that the ROI on the book was tremendous, albeit
intangible.
Originally this book cost $0.24 to make and sold for $0.25. Today, of
course, that profit margin has escalated somewhat, but it still is
surprisingly cheap; all things considered.
Now, contrast *that* approach and mind set with the mind set of building
a Matterhorn at EPCOT solely to appease people such as yourself who want
to ride The Matterhorn Bobsleds but cannot/will not go to Disneyland to
do so. Your statement...
> Well..they *are* a corporation. And if they can continue to make money, if
> ten-thousand new visitors enter the park a month because of the addition of
> a "Splash Mountain" then that is most likely what will come to pass.
...while a truism, is STILL a violation of the original Disney vision
(as *I* see it). After all, millions of visitors *still* visited WDW/MK
and WDW/EPCOT over the past 19 years *without* a Matterhorn, or a Splash
Mountain, or a Star Tours! Therefore, I see this as pure GREED and
NOT a visionary action. That is my bone of contention.
As far as "Disneyland and DisneyWorld will never be identical", I think
you either misinterpreted my message or oversimplified it somewhat. I
realize that, physically, the two will never be the same. I also
concede that the charm and character of the parks is not exclusively
defined by the list of attractions or hotels at the parks. However, by
removing the uniqueness of the attractions and/or hotels you dilute the
"charm-factor" and "uniqueness-factor" of each park! The last thing I
want to see at Disneyland is "Hollywoodland" so that they can stick "The
Great Movie Ride" into Disneyland (the entire concept of Hollywoodland,
I maintain, is against the precepts upon which Disneyland was built, but
that is another discussion).
Finally, I stand by my reference to the Disney empire turning into a
high-class hamburger chain. When you go into a McDonald's you always
get that pre-packaged-styrofoamed-plastic-smile feeling; don't you?
Right now I DO NOT get that feeling at a Disney park. I claim that
someday Disney will become a McDonald's in many respects; sleaze is not
one of them but the "plastic-ness factor" is.
I would like to see a Disney parks LRP which states that the parks will
NOT copy one another, and that the only additions to the parks will be
land upgrades. For example, the last re-build of Disneyland's
Tomorrowland was completed circa 1968 so now it has become "Todayland".
Fine...upgrade it (as they have stated they will do). But DO NOT ADD
SOMETHING HOKEY AND CONTRIVED LIKE HOLLYWOODLAND JUST SO YOU CAN XEROX A
RIDE! If you do, you denigrate BOTH parks.
I'll get off my soapbox now.
David.
|
| 159.16 | Maybe we ARE in Trouble..but still.. | NITMOI::WITHERS | Another Hallmark Moment. -Al Bundy | Wed Feb 07 1990 13:00 | 67 |
| RE: .15
> But DO NOT ADD
> SOMETHING HOKEY AND CONTRIVED LIKE HOLLYWOODLAND JUST SO YOU CAN XEROX A
> RIDE! If you do, you denigrate BOTH parks.
I'm still hopeful but *do* agree (and I thought I did so clearly, alas).. that
adding an excuse to copy a ride is not satisfactory. The clean example of a
Switzerland/Matterhorn I concede to 100%. I still cling to _Star Tours_ as a
ride that fits into the MGM/Disney Studios.
> The last thing I
> want to see at Disneyland is "Hollywoodland" so that they can stick "The
> Great Movie Ride" into Disneyland (the entire concept of Hollywoodland,
The second reference to "Hollywoodland" begs the question.. is this actually
a plan in the works? [do not read this as an attack..it is a simple question
born of ignorance (probably the answer is 2-3 notes back but I'm too busy to
take the time to research it)]. As stated above .. again I agree this also
sounds like "a ride without a land...so we'll build a land!" philosophy.
>> Well..they *are* a corporation. And if they can continue to make money, if
>> ten-thousand new visitors enter the park a month because of the addition of
>> a "Splash Mountain" then that is most likely what will come to pass.
>
> ...while a truism, is STILL a violation of the original Disney vision
> (as *I* see it). After all, millions of visitors *still* visited WDW/MK
> and WDW/EPCOT over the past 19 years *without* a Matterhorn, or a Splash
> Mountain, or a Star Tours! Therefore, I see this as pure GREED and
> NOT a visionary action. That is my bone of contention.
I still think they have to allow for growth. Perhaps they are taking that
growth a bit too fast at this point but they still should grow. If they wish
to duplicate a ride from one park to the other *my* contention is still that
that is fine AS LONG AS THE RIDE FITS WHERE IT IS GOING.
> a Matterhorn at EPCOT solely to appease people such as yourself who want
> to ride The Matterhorn Bobsleds but cannot/will not go to Disneyland to
Lets try to not to dress me up as TOO evil.. First off some people (myself
unfortunatly among them) must emphasize the CANNOT in the above. Secondly,
I made the statement because I have to admit there is some truth in it but
I think your implying that I would see Disney slide into a "carny" world of
maladjusted rides sitting side-by-side. In my article I also emphasized
things done with artistic feel and consistency (much like that which was
ignored in the Swan/Dolphin construction).
Now looking at the Dow Jones article (.14) maybe we are in some trouble after
all but I still can't see damning everything until it gets to a point to
deserve it. Disney condos, seven MORE hotels, a new un-named/un-themed park,
40+ new attractions...yes thats a bit much. More hotels doesn't strike me
as a requirement, the new theme park ... well an aquatic park in Long Beach
might work ... without more info I couldn't see how the idea could be panned.
There is more than a little greed at work here. But if it is done with
style.. who does it affect?
So, they build a 4th Florida, gated attraction...Muppet/Fragle World say...
that doesn't require that you can't simply go and stay in a familar hotel
(like the Polynesian) go to the parks you enjoy (like Epcot and the Magic
Kingdom) and ignore the rest. With Typhoon Lagoon open some people are still
simply foregoing it and going to River Country.
Now when they allow the new to interfere, asethically with the old that is
when we have serious trouble. So, maybe your swaying me more to the side of
pessimism but I still think we have some "waiting-and-seeing" to do.
George
|
| 159.17 | mea culpa! | COOKIE::SEAGLE | Disneyland junkie! | Thu Feb 08 1990 02:17 | 10 |
| RE: .16
OOPPSS! Sorry, George. After re-reading my previous reply I can see
that you (and others) may have interpreted several statements as
attacks upon your person. Perish the thought! The statements were
intended in a "you in the third person" vein, but I entered the reply
with such haste that I fear it did not present itself that way.
David.
|
| 159.18 | Hope...and fear for the future | DECXPS::DEDRICK | | Thu Feb 08 1990 11:49 | 29 |
| As I read the stories on the expansion plans, I start to get the
itch to go back again (Just came back in Sept). On the other hand,
I too am worried about the effects of overexpansion in WDW.
When I first visited WDW in 1985, I was intrigued not only by the
World itself, but by the laid back, uncluttered feeling one gets
when visiting the Orlando/Tampa area. The lines were long (April
Vacation) but tolerable.
My second trip, in Sept '86, only reinforced this feeling. The lines
were shorter then, but the future plans for WDW created the addicitive
feeling one gets for Disney.
This past Sept was my first trip with my daughter. We loved MGM
and Typhoon Lagoon, but the presence of the Dolphin and Swan, Beach
Resorts, and Pleasure Island, along with Universal Studio's and
other planned Orlando expansions created some doubts about the future.
I am really excited about the "Decade", but I'm afraid that the
charm of the place will fade as the crowds, noise, traffic, congestion,
and most of all, the innocence goes away as the result of
over?expansion.
I think I going to write Micheal a letter, for what it's worth.
I wish him all the luck in the world, but I hope when all is said
and done that his place in history is not the guy who took the charm
out of Disney.
Walter
|
| 159.19 | Clutter | NITMOI::WITHERS | Another Hallmark Moment. -Al Bundy | Thu Feb 08 1990 17:04 | 20 |
| First, RE: .17 no problem I just wanted to re-emphasize that I wasn't putting
forth a justification to add rides everywhere (carny-style) but am forced to
honestly admit I like having some of the new rides available.
As to the cluttering.. again it is all in how it is done. The Swan and
Dolphin are the first major mistake I can see. They are the first point
where a cluttered feeling comes over me. The other expansions, Pleasure
Island, Typhoon Lagoon, MGM, CBR, GF, etc. all fit in thier locations without
compromising anything that already exists there.
Now, a fourth hotel on the MK monorail "hub" I can't picture existing without
giving the Seven Seas Lagoon a more "cluttered" look. But another theme
park nesteled off across the street from MGM or somewhere would fit fine. The
key is not to allow a new construction to encrouch on an existing structure.
Also, as I said once before as it all gets larger just start to picture more
of it as optional and the feeling of all-encompassing clutter will probably
vanish.
George
|
| 159.20 | More than mere money...DEMOGRAPHICS! | USCTR2::TOMYL | Joel R. Tomyl DTN 297-3188 | Thu Feb 08 1990 22:45 | 23 |
| One of the reason that Disney is putting the Matterhorn in EPCOT
Center has to do with demographics. EPCOT Center is more adult.
More of the kids don't like to go there because there are no "thrill"
rides. So, Disney puts in The Malestrom, a flume ride, and then
Body Wars, a simulator thrill ride and now they put in the Materhorn,
another thill ride. Back in 1986, I was given that statistic from
Disney management that the average age in EPCOT was 34 and the Magic
Kingdowm was 25, if my memory serves me correctly.
The idea of putting the Matterhorn at EPCOT Center is not new.
When I worked there in 1986, there were rumors then that Disney
was going to announce Switzerland. Instead it turned out to be
Norway, but the rumors still persisted that eventually they would
put up Switzerland with the Matterhorn as the centerpiece of the
pavillion. Now that rumor is becoming a reality.
Disney saw a need and the Matterhorn filled that need. That is
what business planners do. Unfortunately there are other consequences
that have to be taken into account and in this case, they may not
have taken the duplication or the response to the duplication in
to account.
Joel
|
| 159.21 | Maybe they are thinking too? | STRATA::ROBROSE | | Fri Feb 09 1990 03:15 | 13 |
|
When I was at WDW in June, I was surprised at the size and location
of the Swan/Dolphin complex. I wonder if we maybe jumping the gun
with our initial reactions. It could be that the EPCOT expansion
plans will somehow remove part of the resort complex from view.
If the swiss pavillion is constructed in this section the
Matterhorn Mountain might accomplish the task of hiding the Hotels.
Just a thought...
-Rob
|
| 159.22 | | ATE012::BERUBE | I'm Thumping on a Green-Flagged.. | Fri Feb 09 1990 11:38 | 13 |
| Rep to <<< Note 159.21 by STRATA::ROBROSE >>>
Rob,
> It could be that the EPCOT expansion
> plans will somehow remove part of the resort complex from view.
> If the swiss pavillion is constructed in this section the
> Matterhorn Mountain might accomplish the task of hiding the Hotels.
Well the Dolphin is something like 14 (or is it 17?) stories tall, so
it would have to be some mountain to hide the Dolphin from view.
Claude
|
| 159.23 | Still lots of open space | NRADM3::BROUILLET | Undeveloped photographic memory | Fri Feb 09 1990 15:30 | 12 |
| > <<< Note 159.19 by NITMOI::WITHERS "Another Hallmark Moment. -Al Bundy" >>>
> -< Clutter >-
>
>Now, a fourth hotel on the MK monorail "hub" I can't picture existing without
>giving the Seven Seas Lagoon a more "cluttered" look.
I've frequently thought, while riding the monorail loop in past years,
"there's room for another good sized resort in here". If I remember
right, there's quite an open space between the GF and the contemporary.
I'll have to look again to make sure, 9 days from now ;^)
|
| 159.24 | between TTC and Contemporary? | ATE012::BERUBE | I'm Thumping on a Green-Flagged.. | Fri Feb 09 1990 16:05 | 18 |
| Rep to <<< Note 159.23 by NRADM3::BROUILLET "Undeveloped photographic memory" >>>
> If I remember
> right, there's quite an open space between the GF and the contemporary.
Yeah it's called the MK ;^). Isn't the canal used for storage of the
water craft for Seven Seas Lagon (Water Pageant boats etc) to the right
of the GF, and to the right of that was the backstage area for the
parade and an entrance for the tunnels for the MK (right Joel T.?), of
course this is hidden due to the trees, but you'd be surprised what you
can notice late at night on the WDW Railroad, and lights from vehicles
suddenly disappear.
The biggest open space I remember where a hotel on the TTC/MK monorail
could now go is between the Contemporay and the TTC, but if I remember
correctly there was tall grass/swamp there?
Claude
|
| 159.25 | lots of bulldozers | TOHOKU::TAYLOR | | Fri Feb 09 1990 19:13 | 3 |
| re: there was tall grass/swamp there?
not any more
|
| 159.26 | | INDMKT::GOLDBERG | Len, Back From the World | Mon Feb 12 1990 14:16 | 22 |
|
re: .24
> Isn't the canal used for storage of the water craft for Seven Seas
> Lagoon (Water Pageant boats etc.) to the right of the GF.
There is a canal between the GF and the MK. I think there may be a
fuel depot there, and perhaps storage for the pageant boats. The
launches and the like, however, are stored at a dry dock at the north
end of Bay Lake.
Maybe someone would like to explore on a water sprite and report back.
It has also been noted in this conference that there is a sandy beach
on the shore of Seven Seas Lagoon between the MK and the canal with no
guest areas nearby. Could this be the site of a future resort?
There is a lot of construction going on across the street from the
Contemporary Resort for the MK bus terminal that is due to open this
spring. I didn't notice any construction in the swamp area between the
Contemporary and the TTC.
|
| 159.27 | | RUTILE::WYNFORD | Captain Loon: Stardate Gibble | Mon Feb 19 1990 11:46 | 10 |
| Quite a few people have mentioned the increase in the number of thrill
rides, present and future. Am I the only who resents their incursion
into EPCOT? I would rather retain the fun, educational aspect of the park
and then let the thrill-seekers go to another park than see the whole dragged
down to the level of, say, Boardwalk and Baseball/Seven Flags/etc..
BTW, I actually love the MK, too, so I'm not really a teenager-hating
fuddy-duddy...
Gavin
|
| 159.39 | Rebutal to The Disney Decade Expansion | USCTR2::TOMYL | Joel R. Tomyl DTN 297-3188 | Sun Feb 25 1990 23:33 | 9 |
| The next two replies are the articles that I promised in 159.6.
They talk about the Florida lawmaker's reaction to the expansion
plan of Walt Disney World, also known as The Disney Decade.
The first is from the 29-Jan-1990 Amusement Business. The story
can be found on page 30 and is reprinted without permission
The second is from the 21-Jan-1990 Orlando Sentinel and was on the
front page. This too is reprinted without permission.
|
| 159.40 | Amusement Business Article | USCTR2::TOMYL | Joel R. Tomyl DTN 297-3188 | Sun Feb 25 1990 23:39 | 102 |
| Road Improvements, Impact Fees Key Points
DISNEY WORLD'S EXPANSION PLANS ANGER COUNTY, STATE LEGISLATORS
By Thom McMenemy
Orlando - The just-unveiled multibillion-dollar, seven-hotel,
29-attraction expansion of Disney World may be about to become part of
Fantasyland.
The plan has generated unprecedented opposition from local officials in
Orange and Osceola Counties. Legislators faced with up to $1 billion
in new roads and infrastructure improvements have drawn a line and
dared Disney to cross it.
Walt Disney Co., which operates in Florida through its own autonomous
planning commission (Reedy Creek Improvement District) has heretofore
denied any obligation for contributing toward road improvements
required by the 30 million annual visitors to its three theme parks.
Since 1967, when Florida politicos, eager for Disney's promise of jobs
and tourists, the Disney property has been, in effect, a 68th county of
the state. Reedy creek Commission members are selected by Disney and
voted for by a small group of Disney employees.
Florida officials may have found the hook they have been looking for to
weaken Disney's power. A state law mandated that each state
improvement district submit a plan, updating plans submitted in 1985,
by December 1990, detailing expansion and the means to provide
necessary infrastructure. Disney has yet to publicly discuss its plan
or a timetable for submitting it.
Disney has 27,978 acres in Central Florida. About 6,000 acres are
developed, with another 8,000 set aside for conservation.
County politicians, annoyed at the way the expansion plan was
announced, were doubly angered since expansion seem to violate a recent
compromise between Disney and the counties. Under a negotiated
settlement Disney had agreed in November to pay $13.8 million towards
road improvements. In return, the counties agreed not to challenge
Disney's special status for a period of seven years. That is the same
time-frame being used for the expansion.
"We don't' want to stick it to Disney. It's been okay up to now," said
State Representative Frank Stone. "I'd like to see Disney and the
counties get together and talk about the company paying for more of
this growth."
Other politicos aren't quite so understanding. Representative Tom
Drage is an example. "Disney can get quite a bit done in seven years.
The county assumed a negotiating stance of threatening a lawsuit and
then accepted a pittance in return," Drange said.
Orange County Attorney Harry Stewart, who negotiated the compromise,
had a different outlook. "Disney had been building and building since
1972. In all that time they had not paid one dime in impact fees," he
said, adding that parts of the expansion plan were discussed during the
negotiations.
When contacted, Disney officials declined to comment either on the
negotiated settlement or the opposition to expansion.
MUCH TO LOSE
Disney risks much through this opposition. Reedy Creek's plans will be
reviewed and incorporated into the county's own plans. Several
opponents will have, in effect, some veto power over Disney.
Other legislators believe that the continual haggling over impact fees
should be addressed through a revamping of Disney's original charter
from the State of Florida. Disney critics have complained since 1967
that Florida gave away the store in the rush to lure Disney World.
Disney was exempted in 1967 from time-consuming submittals of building
plans to regional planning agencies. It was also absolved of paying
impact fees. At that time, impact fees were not the issue that are
today. Sewers, roads, and waterways are built within Reedy Creek to
suit Disney's needs.
The surrounding roads, Interstate 4 and state roads 192 and 535 are
virtual parking lots during Disney's peak periods now, and there are no
state plans to expand those highways during Disney's decade of
expansion.
A secondary consideration for Disney's expansion submission is the
requirement that it provide low-income housing for some of its
30,000-plus employees. Housing officials have long complained that the
wages paid at Disney qualified few employees for purchasing a home.
The result has been a heavy demand for apartments.
Disney has proposed building 3,087 apartments on property it owns near
Orange County. The plan calls for the land to be annexed into that
county, thereby eliminating placing eligible voters within Reedy Creek.
The big question at this point is will the state and counties move to
change the 24-year agreement with Disney? Representative Irlo Bronson
of nearby Kissimmee said, "It is time to look again, but not this
session. It's too late in the game this year."
State Senator Bud Gardner claims that Disney hasn't gone too far yet to
work something out. But, he point out, "I don't know how far the
elastic band will stretch before it snaps back."
|
| 159.41 | Orlando Sentinel Article | USCTR2::TOMYL | Joel R. Tomyl DTN 297-3188 | Sun Feb 25 1990 23:45 | 196 |
| NATIVES GETTING RESTLESS
Growth Causes Talks About Disney's Status
By Michael Griffin of the SENTINEL Staff
In the feverish three weeks it took to create Walt Disney World, state
Sen. Ben Hill Griffin Jr. grew tired of his colleagues' pointed
questions.
After all, the 400-page law they passed would simply help Disney put an
amusement park and a futuristic "city of tomorrow" in sleepy little
Central Florida.
"We're not creating a colossus there," Griffin, D-Frostproof, said
during that 1967 debate. "Were just passing a little old bill or two."
During the next two decades, the colossus came: Three theme parks, a
movie studio, an adult entertainment complex with six nightclubs, two
water parks, seven hotels, and four more under construction. Last week
Disney Chairman Michael Eisner revealed more: a $1 billion expansion
plan to include a fourth theme park, 29 new attractions and seven more
hotels.
The announcement came as Orange and Osceola counties continued to
struggle against the effects of Disney's success -- clogged roads,
crowded schools and a large population who cannot afford to buy homes.
Many county and state officials say Disney has taken unfair advantage
of its special status that allows it to grow with virtually no
government controls. In 1967 legislators created the Reedy Creek
Improvement District -- Disney's government. That virtually created
Florida's 68th county, responsible for providing its own water, sewer,
utility, and trash services.
Unlike other developers, Disney does not have to worry about paying
development impact fees or undergoing costly, time consuming reviews by
regional planners. Reedy Creek is regulated by building codes drafted
with Disney's help. Roads, waterways, utilities and sewer systems are
built to suit Disney's needs, and the district is governed by a ruling
body handpicked by Disney officials.
That means that Disney can build $1 billion in attractions and not pay
a dime in impact fees for the roads that growth will require.
With Disney's latest announcement, there is some talk that local
governments should get tougher to preserve the quality of life that
Disney helped create.
But no one -- from county commissioners to legislators -- is willing
to take the lead in that fight. The reason: Disney's incredible power
and what it means to Florida's economy
"We don't want to stick it to Disney. It's been OK up to now, but this
is an incredible expansion," said state Rep. Frank Stone,
R-Casselberry. "I'd like to see the counties and Disney get together
and talk about the company pay for more of this growth.
THE IMPORTANCE OF DISNEY
"If that doesn't happen, then I think the Legislature needs to
re-examine the whole thing," Stone said. "The company has changed...It
is not the same Disney that came here in the 1960s."
Elected officials do not deny that Disney is the engine that drives
Orange County's economy. The millions of visitors Disney brings to
Florida eat in restaurants, stay in hotels and pay sales, gasoline and
resort taxes.
Disney does not have to pay the same fees that other developers do for
road, fire and police protection. But the company paid $27 million in
property taxes last year -- 5 percent of Orange Countys total
collections. Company spokesman Charles Ridgway said those tax dollars
support services that Disney does not use because it provides its own.
More than two-thirds of the $49 million Orange County collected in
resort taxes can be traced to Disney visitors.
"We have accomplished all we promised," Ridgway said. "If you doubt
that, ask yourself whether Orlando and Orange County would have a
first-rate airport, a beautiful arena, a top-notch civic center or a
revitalized downtown Orlando" without Disney's presence.
Orange and Osceola county officials are not worried about paying for an
airport or a civic center. They are concerned about roads outside
Disney, like State Road 535, that is forced to carry thousands more
cars each day than it was designed to handle. They see southwest
Orange County and North Osceola Country popping at the seams with
crowded schools, poor sewage capacity and crammed roads, thanks, in
part, to Disney's success. And they see the company paying to solve
none of those problems.
Last year, Orange County began talking tough. Commissioners threatened
to sue Disney, revoke its powers and start treating it like every other
large development. But commissioners backed down.
Instead, Orange County Attorney Harry Stewart negotiated an agreement
with Disney for $13.8 million in road improvements. In exchange,
Disney got the county's promise not to challenge its special status for
seven years -- time enough to complete half of the improvement Eisner
announced last week.
"Disney can get a lot done in seven years, and the county is powerless
to stop it," said Rep. Tom Drage, R-Maitland, and a candidate for
Orange County mayor. "The county assumed a negotiating stance of
threatening a lawsuit and then accepted a pittance in return."
Commissioner Bill Donegan, who joined Commissioner Vera Carter in
opposing Stewart's agreement, said Orange County got too little and
gave up too much. In short, he said the county got "snookered."
"I though it was a bad deal then, and now I think it is worse," Donegan
said. "What person in their right mind would give up their right to
sue? This just said to Disney, 'Come on in, boys!'
"They came out of those negotiations with a free ride."
CRITICISM RILES STEWART
Stewart bristled at the criticism. He said Disney revealed some of its
expansion plans during negotiations.
Disney officials told Stewart they planned four new hotels by 1996.
Though Stewart said he suspected more was coming, he took the money.
"Disney has been building and building and building since 1972,"
Stewart said. "In all that time they did not pay one dime in impact
fees. Orange County is the only government to ever get them to pay
anything."
The $13.8 million, to be paid out over five years for improvements to
west Orange county roads, is almost as much as all the impact fees the
county collected last year. "This deal doesn't look any worse to me
today than it did when I proposed it to the board," Stewart said.
Osceola County Commission Chairman Charles Owen plans to meet with
Disney officials in the next month to discuss a similar agreement. But
there will be an important difference, he said.
"Disney gave Orange County a pittance, and I think we can use that as a
backdrop to our negotiation," Owen said. "Their impact to Osceola is
twice as harsh as it is in Orange county because we don't have the
large tax base."
Owen wants the agreement to address more than improving a few roads.
He wants Disney to build in Osceola county, something the company has
never done. Although Disney pays Orange County millions of dollars in
property taxes, Osceola Country gets about $400,000 a year.
Though none of the expansion announced last week is scheduled for
Osceola, Owen expects Disney to build a shopping mall and time-share
apartments in the largely rural county. Many Disney employees live in
Osceola County because they cannot afford to live in higher-priced
Orange County.
Disney's announcement did more than revive old controversies in the two
counties. It started finger pointing. Legislators said it is up to
the counties to work out their problems with Disney. County officials
say legislators are quick to criticize but slow to help solve the
problem they created in 1967.
"Orange County's board of commissioners are the only elected officials
to ever challenge Disney's special status," said Commissioner Linda
Chapi, a county mayor candidate. "We challenged it even though we
don't have the power to revoke it. It was the Legislature that gave it
to them, and I've never heard a legislator breathe a word about it.
And they've certainly had plenty of opportunities."
Legislators see it as a local issue. They say lawmakers in Miami or
Tampa don't care if Orlando roads are crowded. Lawmakers in other
parts of the state just see that 43 percent of all tourists who visit
the state come, in part, to see Disney.
LAW MAY BE RE-EXAMINED
With Disney's latest announcements, some Central Florida lawmakers say
they might re-examine the 1967 law that gives Disney so much
protection. But at this point, no one is taking the lead.
State Rep. Bob Sindler, D-Apopka: "It's time to visit with them
[Disney] and talk. We need to see that the county's needs are funded
adequately."
Rep. Bruce McEwan, R-Orlando: "Sure, we should always take a second
look, but once you make a deal, you make a deal. Disney does a pretty
good job out there."
Rep. Irlo Bronson, D-Kissimmee: "It's time to look at it again, but
not this session. It's too late in the game for that this year."
State Sen. Bud Gardner, D-Titusville, said Disney hasn't gone too far
yet, but it has attracted legislators' attention.
"I don't know how far the elastic band will stretch before it snaps
back," Gardner said. "We may be getting very close to the end."
|
| 159.42 | Trouble In Paradise? | USMFG::MOUELLETTE | | Wed Feb 28 1990 15:20 | 18 |
|
Good reading Joel, thanks for putting it in.
Very interesting, I guess Disney really is a world unto itself.
There's no denying how well run Disney is, or the taxes they pay
to the state/county. But it does seem a bit close minded of
Disney to not accept the impact their continual expansion has on
exisiting roads. It seems fair Disney should discuss the problem with
city/county officials and see if some agreements can be reached.
I love Disney World, and it is a beautiful world, but it doesn't
exist in a vacuum, their influence both good and bad extend beyond
their borders.
Gee, if Disney had their own airport, people could literally never
have to leave the park while still on the ground.
Mike
|
| 159.43 | A Small One... | USCTR2::TOMYL | Joel R. Tomyl DTN 297-3188 | Wed Feb 28 1990 18:34 | 15 |
| They don't have a full blow airport, but the do have a small landing
strip "for emergency use." It is located to the right of the road
that takes you from the toll plaza to the hotels near the MK and
from the road to Fort Wilderness, you can take a look down the area
that is on the left as you move from the main toll plaza. If you
come during a peak season, that area is where the park the
transportation cast members and the larger vehicles like motor homes
and trucks.
Also, United Technologies, the sponsor of The Living Seas, has a
helipad at the back of the pavillion. It was a contractual agreement
that Disney had to accept in order to have UT sponsor the pavilion.
Joel
|
| 159.44 | building roads in Disney's best interest | TOHOKU::TAYLOR | | Sat Mar 03 1990 18:09 | 15 |
| That the politicians keep bringing up roads and hotels is interesting.
Since building either reduces pressure for the other. If Disney builds
another 20,000 hotel rooms, here will be 20,000 less cars on the roads.
Add in the Japanese WDW/airport railway and there is even less reason
to improve the roads. Since Disney hotels cost more than other hotels
and Florida collects >10% room tax, it is in Florida's financial
interest to let Disney build hotels. Disney has a strong incentive not
to help with the roads. If you spend an extra hour on the road getting
to the park, you are probably doing it during park operating hours and
therefore are spending one less hour in the park but paying the same.
Do that four days, four hours, and you may have to spend a fifth day to
make up for the traffic. Next time you may pay the extra to sleep on
the property.
mike
|
| 159.45 | working for Disney: the two cast system | TOHOKU::TAYLOR | | Sat Mar 03 1990 19:46 | 75 |
| Note 31.61
DISNEY KEEP 31,000 "CAST MEMBERS" ON HAND "TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE"
Amusement Business 26-FEB-1990 page 23 in a special section
In December 1988, 24,000 people worked for Disney in Florida and
Dickson projects an employment pool of about 45,000 by 1995. How do
they get that many people? "We recruit and we promote how nice it is
to work for Disney."
"We try our best to take care of our people because they are the ones
who take care of our guests," said Dickson.
The current hourly base rate for employees is: Host/hostess $5.05; food
and beverage $5.25; and housekeeping, $5.50. A five-year step
progression take those wages to $7.30 per hour. Those rates change on
April 29 with the low base stating $5.35 and high at $7.75.
Note 170.2
The announcement came as Orange and Osceola counties continued to
struggle against the effects of Disney's success -- clogged roads,
crowded schools and a large population who cannot afford to buy homes.
Many Disney employees live in Osceola County because they cannot afford
to live in higher-priced Orange County.
Note 170.1
A secondary consideration for Disney's expansion submission is the
requirement that it provide low-income housing for some of its
30,000-plus employees. Housing officials have long complained that the
wages paid at Disney qualified few employees for purchasing a home.
Disney has proposed building 3,087 apartments on property it owns near
Orange County. The plan calls for the land to be annexed into that
county, thereby eliminating placing eligible voters within Reedy Creek.
Note 86.0
Mike Eisner, the Head of Disney, made $40,000,000.00+ for last
year. This included pay and stock options. That works out to
a little over $19,000 a hour!!!!!
Note 86.7
Regarding salaries, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Disney pays
about .20/hour more than equivalent positions at local hotels and
restaurants.
Also, a column in the paper was a little put out by Eisner's salary,
saying he's made more than the total of 4000+ other WDW employees
last year!
Note 86.11
Michael Eisner's agent said the $40,000,000 was not the full compensation,
there was another $132 million in yet to be used stock options.
Note 86.19
Frank Wells, president and chief officer of Walt Disney Co made a
profit of 74.2M by selling stock option he exercised 6 months ago. In
January he bought 850,000 shares at $14.36 and sold them in mid July at
$101.60. This is in addition to his annual salary of $400,000 and the
3.7M bonus due to the good year that Disney had.
Note 54.32
> What was the original weekly salary of the original Mousekateers?
$185, which I beleive was the minimum wage for actors at the time.
|
| 159.28 | Water-sprite exploring mission accomplished, sir. | NRADM::BROUILLET | Undeveloped photographic memory | Wed Mar 07 1990 15:24 | 26 |
| Much more will be coming in a trip report as soon as I get a chance to
write it, but this is a quick follow-up on something I wrote here a few
weeks ago...
In some earlier replies here, there was some talk about a 4th hotel on
the monorail loop, and I speculated about the open area after the GF.
After checking it out in detail, there is, as Claude mentioned, quite a
backstage area just after the canal where the water pageant boats are
stored. The area before that (between the GF and the canal) is unused,
but any large development in that area would encroach on the GF too
much.
I thought of this because of the beach that's over there. I asked a
cast member (monorail driver during one of a few up-front rides) about
that, and she said that the beach is used as a to launch the water-skiing
Disney characters. So, nothing there, but...
A 4th hotel is indeed under development on the monorail loop, between
the Contemporary and the TTC. According to another cast member, this
hotel will have a Mediterranean theme, and will simply be called The
Mediterranean [something].
Many more notes, impressions, and comments coming in the trip report.
Stay tuned.
/Don, "vacation is over ALREADY?"
|
| 159.29 | Floats, Boats, and Hotels with Moats | USCTR2::TOMYL | Joel R. Tomyl DTN 297-3188 | Fri Mar 09 1990 16:06 | 54 |
| Ah ha, I finally found this note again...
About the canal...If you look up the canal you can see the boats that
they use for the nightly Electric Water Pagent. The buildings behind
(to the side) of the boats are the float storage. Any float that you
see in the parades is stored back there. They also have rehersal
space, offices, and I believe locker rooms in the building which is
basically owned by the entertainment department. In the same area is
the huge compactor that is fed by the AVAC system, the Pirates of the
Carribean Ride, and mobile trailers that serve as offices.
When I was there, rumors abounded about a 4th hotel along the monorail
loop between the TTC and the Contemporary, to the left of the roadway
as you drove up to the Contemporary and backstage areas. The two
largest rumors were a Mediterranean themed or a character themed hotel.
The Mediterranean was supposed to be a greek architectural style with
marble columns, statues, olive trees, stone arches, and other details
to given you the feeling of being in Greece in the olden days. I
personally thought this might be along the lines of a Ceasar's Palace
type deal.
The character hotel would be totally Character based with the door way
being shaped like the infamous Mouse Ears. Rooms would have murals of
the characters with character sheets, character cups, etc. For those
who had more money, they could rent suites that are totally one
character based such as the Mickey, Donald, or Pluto Suite. When I
heard the rumor, it kind of reminded me about this one short film that
I saw some time ago.
The film was about a gentleman who had everything Mickey/Disney based
from his slippers, bed sheets, tootbrush, cereal bowl, tie, and so on.
He gets up, does the bathroom chores, dresses, eats, and then goes to
work. He thinks he sees Mickey running around and then chases the
Mickey doll and eventurally ends up with a huge parade of the Disney
merchandise. It was live action and stop motion animation. I was
impressed when I saw it.
This is the kind of picture that came to my mind when the concept of a
character based hotel was mentioned to me. Have they actually started
construction on a Mediterranean themed hotel, or was it just the
building of the bus stop to the right of the enterance of the park
where the trams pick up people during the busy times of the year?
The Contemporary and Polynesian were originally designed as extenstions
to the Magic Kingdom. If you look from the sky ride towards
tomorrowland, you see the Contemporary as a backdrop. If you look
towards Adventureland, the Polynesian was its backdrop (I think this
must have been very early on when they didn't have tress and foliage in
the way). The property certainly has changed since then...
Joel
|
| 159.30 | The Mediterranean Resort | IOENG::FEELEY | Growing older but not up... | Fri Mar 09 1990 19:50 | 14 |
|
re: .29
>>Have they actually started
>>construction on a Mediterranean themed hotel, or was it just the
>>building of the bus stop to the right of the enterance of the park
The bus stop is pretty well advanced and should be in operation soon.
They have started clearing the land for the next resort, and from a
couple of different people, I was told it will be called the
Mediterranean Resort.
--Jay
|
| 159.31 | What the early plans showed | TLE::FELDMAN | Digital Designs with PDF | Tue Mar 27 1990 16:17 | 32 |
| 159.32 | It's an old book! | COEM::SCOPA | MAJOR | Wed Mar 28 1990 20:11 | 6 |
| Gary,
Is that the book with the black cover and a hole in the front through
which you can see the Castle?
Mike
|
| 159.33 | | TLE::FELDMAN | Digital Designs with PDF | Wed Mar 28 1990 20:53 | 8 |
| Yes, that it. The right-hand corners of the book, and of the hole, are
curved so that it looks like the D in the Walt Disney World logo (the logo
that reads Walt Disney World; Disney has tons of trademarked logos).
It's obviously old. The copyright is 1971, it doesn't have Space Mountain, it
uses the name Blackbeard's island instead of Discovery Island, and so on.
Gary
|
| 159.34 | I might have an updated edition | VISUAL::SCOPA | MAJOR | Mon Apr 02 1990 13:29 | 6 |
| I bought mine in 1975-76 and I believe it's got space mountain.
Some day when I have time I'll enter some info in here from that book.
What the Disney people did to create WDW is astounding reading.
Mike
|
| 159.46 | "The Tragic Kingdom" on ABC | SENIOR::GOLDBERG | | Fri May 11 1990 14:56 | 26 |
| Last night (10-May-90), Primetime Live on ABC did a fairly long piece
on this issue. It was reported by Chris Wallace, and lead the hour.
The story concentrated on two major points:
1. Disney is under the jurisdiction of its own government, the Reedy
Creek Development District. The members of the governing board of the
District are elected by 37 hand picked Disney employees who live on the
WDW property. Since they have only one constituent, WDW, the board's
rulings are always in line with Disney's wishes.
2. In the 25 years since the project began, Disney has never begun to
build the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT) that
Walt promised. The theme park of the same name isn't what they were
talking about. The city was to have housed tens of thousands of people
on a full time basis, and use advanced systems for transportation,
communication, energy, waste management, etc. It was the promise of
this new city, according to the report, that convinced the Florida
state legislature to incorporate Reedy Creek.
There were other minor points made about environmental issues, building
practices, general congestion in the area, and Disney's profit motive.
Overall the report was fairly critical of the "Tragic Kingdom". I
don't think Dick Nunis, (President of WDW Company), did a good job
defending the company.
|
| 159.47 | WDW on "Primetime Live" | USMFG::MOUELLETTE | | Fri May 11 1990 16:07 | 17 |
|
Did anyone see the segment on WDW on Primetime Live last night?
They compared what Walt had envisioned for WDW versus how it turned
out and how its evolving. They also showed a clip of Michael Eisner
giving some kind of speech in France (I think) and getting eggs
thrown at him! It involved Disney opening a park in France, it seems
the French want no part of it.
And they went into how Disney is its own government and how they
make decisions using their own hand-picked board members. There
were accusations of Disney causing water pollution, and other
not-so-nice things. Pretty interesting.
Mike
|
| 159.35 | -< Sounds like what I've been looking for >- | BUSY::TBUTLER | | Fri Aug 17 1990 20:07 | 4 |
| I've been looking for a book like that for quite some time.
Any ideas on where one could be found???
Tom
|
| 159.48 | What the heck. | DELREY::MEUSE_DA | | Tue Aug 21 1990 17:44 | 18 |
| Hey, what the heck. Disneyland is surrounded by smog, congested
freeways, pockets of bad, low income housing, crime and overcrowding.
Why not Disneyworld?
Actually, it is sad, real sad. The utopian dream can never be achieved
based upon our social sturcture of today and our technology, and our
limited resources. They were kidding themselves when they accpeted the
Epcot dream.
They just announced plans for a massive waterpark development in Long
Beach Calif. Amazing, a lot of locals are very upset, but Disney says
it's only in the early stages
Has Eisner flipped out?
Dave
|
| 159.36 | A Few New Tidbits from USENET | FDCV06::GOLDBERG | Len, I'm a friend of Walt D. | Tue Feb 05 1991 13:02 | 120 |
| From: CHRIS@MIAMIU.BITNET (Chris Allison)
Subject: WDW future projects
Date: 31 Jan 91 21:39:02 GMT
Organization: Miami University - Academic Computer Service
If you get the chance spend a few minutes at the EPCOT Outreach
service. This is a library with access to a tremendous amount of WDW
and Disney Corp. information. One of the questions I asked in December
was info on future projects. I found out that the Disney Decade was
being revised and they could not provide me with that information. I
left a business card and just last week received a revised project
list. Some of the interesting things on the list are:
Magic Kingdom
A new Circle-Vision 360 Adventure: In 1994. Sophisticated
Audio-Animatronic characters will disappear into the film at key
points, blurring the line between fantasy and reality.
New Tomorrowland: In 1996. The area will be redesigned as an
intergalactic space port for arriving aliens. There will be two
attractions.'Alien Encounters will put visitors in the midst of a
"teleportation" experiment gone wrong and materialize the most
terrifying being in the universe into their midst.' and 'Plectu's
Fantastic Galactic Revue will be an outer-space musical-variety
featuring a troupe of Audio-Animatronics itinerant alien musicians
whose spaceship has landed in Tomorrowland.'
EPCOT Center
Future World for the '90s: in 1992 during the tenth anniversary of
EPCOT.
New 3-D Musical Movie: in 1994 like Captain EO. (good riddance)
Soviet Union Showcase: in 1999. Onion-domed spires
Matterhorn Mountain and Bobsled Ride: no date. 'It will be the
centerpiece of a picturesque Switzerland showcase'
Journeys in Space: no date. 'New systems and special effects will be
used to give guests an outer-space experience without ever leaving
terra firma'
Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park
The Disney Channel Auditions: no date. 'The winning "screen test" will
be shown on the Disney channel.'
MuppetVision 3-D: Kermit the Frog Presents MuppetVision 3-D: no date.
Already in production combines 3-D film technology with
Audio-Animatronic figures.
Sunset Boulevard Area: Mid 1990. (have started construction)
Roger Rabbit's Hollywood
Toontown Trolley a flight simulator ride
Baby Herman's Runaway Baby Buggy Ride - Guest board oversized buggies
fly down stairs, crash through doors and fly over beds. Inspired
by Tummy Trouble.
Mickey's Movieland - a replica of the original Hyperion avenue Disney
Studios hands-on movie-making equipment.
An unnamed Fourth Theme Park. Construction will begin by the end of the decade
Resort Development
Disney's Boardwalk. date early 1994. 'Designed in the tradition of the
great amusement areas of Atlantic City and Coney Island.' 30 acres
between EPCOT and the Swan.
1. Under the Sea: a 900 seat indoor aquatic diner show featuring
the little Mermaid and Sebastian.
2. Family Reunion: a 300 seat environmental dinner show .. cast sits
with the guests
3. Disney Magic: a possible expansion which incorporates magic with
Disney characters in a dinner show.
Seven new hotels totaling more than 4,800 guest rooms are to be built.
These hotels will have entertainment as the architectural theme.
1. Disney's Mediterranean Resort: 1,000 deluxe rooms, southeast
corner of the Seven Seas Lagoon, styled after resorts of the
Greek Islands, on the monorail.
2. Disney's Fort Wilderness Lodge: 700 full-service rooms, next to
Fort Wilderness Resort, styled after a nation park lodge.
3. Disney's Fort Wilderness Junction: 600 rooms, in the style of a
Wild West town.
4. Kingdom Suites Hotel: 50-75 luxury suites, between the Contemporary
Resort and the Magic Kingdom, in the style of the Contemporary.
5. Boardwalk Resort: 530 suites, EPCOT Resort area, turn-of-the-
century character.
6&7 1000 rooms each located in the EPCOT Resort area, Hollywood
related themes.
There will be 26 separate resort hotel complexes with almost 21,000
rooms by 1995 plus 1,000 campsites.
Two resorts are under construction.
Disney's Port Orleans open May 1991 1,008 rooms.
Disney's Dixie Landings open July 1992 2,048 rooms
Disney Vacation Club: 'A new concept in family vacation planning and
enjoyment, it will offer members the option of vacationing at the new
Disney Vacation Club at the Walt Disney World Resort now being built at
the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course. Memberships will be available July
1991.'
|
| 159.37 | New and improved Discoveryland | ALLVAX::STAATS | todd | Fri Jan 10 1992 15:23 | 5 |
| Does anyone have the latest word as to when both Disneyland and the Magic
Kingdom's Tomorrowland are suppose to close for the major overhaul/renovation?
thanks!
Todd///
|
| 159.38 | DL's Tomorrowland / WDW's Discoveryland update | AKOCOA::HILL | | Wed Jan 15 1992 08:44 | 46 |
|
Originally, Disneyland's Tomorrowland was supposed to be first
to go " under the knife " with WDW's TL getting its own makeover a
year or so later.
But now -- due to the impending construction of Westcot Center
and the Disneyland Resort -- no one's quite sure what's going on in
Anaheim right now. Given that Westcot's " Wonders of Westcot "
section ( AKA EPCOT's " Future World ) and Disneyland's Tomorrowland
both supposedly have a futuristic bent, the Imagineers are having
trouble coming up with concepts for rides, shows and attractions that
don't overlap rides, shows and attractions being considered for the
* OTHER * park.
Mind you, there's a * VERY * vocal group at WDI who are pushing
the Imagineering department heads to abandon the " Tomorrowland "
theming for Disneyland entirely and change this part of the park to
a Jules Verne-ish " Discoveryland. " However -- given the stink
Southern Californians make whenever Disney management considers making
significant changes with the Anaheim park ( If you're looking for an
example, when not check out the notes file entries here when Disney
was considering replacing DL's " Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln "
attraction with a Californian version of " Muppetvision 3D " ? They
offer some real insight to how strongly the locals feel about * THEIR *
park ! Anywho ... ) -- Disney's unlikely to go with the Vernesque
remake of Tomorrowland, but will continue to search for a clever way
to renovate this out-of-date part of the park.
On the other hand, Disney management is now running " Full Speed
Ahead " with its plans to change WDW's Tomorrowland into Discoveryland.
A 1/1000th scale model of Orlando's Magic Kingdom is currently on
display in the exit area of the " Walt Disney Story. " This features
a detailed recreation of what Florida's version of Discoveryland might
look like -- as well as the name and location of the proposed DL
attractions. ( There's no word yet on the official title of the new
3D Omnimax movie George Lucas is creating for Disney's Discoveryland.
However, it's working title is " 4D " -- so expect something pretty
extraordinary ... And -- yes -- this time around, Michael Jackson has
nothing to do with the film ! Hurrah ! )
When is WDW's Tomorrowland rehab supposed to get underway ? Well,
they're still hard at work at the concept and design phase -- but I'm
told they like to begin construction no later than Fall of '94, so that
WDW's Discoveryland will be completed in time for Disney World's 25th
anniversary celebration ... That's the official party line, though WDW
employees claim that -- what with the current slump in Disney theme
park attendance -- Disney management might move the construction dates
up a year or two to give " guests " a good reason to hurry on back down
to Orlando.
Any other questions ?
|