Conference koolit::disney

322.0. "Disney in Branson Missouri - From USENET" by SALEM::BERUBE_C (Where do you think you are? WDW!!) Fri Oct 09 1992 10:44

Article 9205 of rec.arts.disney:
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From: Rich_Koster@agwbbs.new-orleans.LA.US (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Disney Branson
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <Rich_Koster.0u9d@agwbbs.new-orleans.LA.US>
Date: 8 Oct 92 21:40:01 CST
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.
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Okay, time for us to start some speculation here!
 
I'm going to make some observations and guesses assuming that the
news of Disney buying land in Branson, Missouri is true (and we
all know what happens when you assume... ;-)
 
If it is true, then we are some of the first to hear about it, as
there has been nothing reported about it yet in the Wall Street
Journal, USA Today, or our local paper.  It would be like hearing
about Disney World in Orlando before that project was announced
and while they were still trying to keep it secret while they
bought up land.
 
In addition to what Paul Harvey reported yesterday (that Disney is
buying land in Branson, Missouri but *not* for another theme park
but for *something Disney*), someone at work today told me she had
heard a radio news report yesterday that said Disney *was* making
a theme park there.  This report went on to say that since the
opening months of EuroDisney have been more successful than the
opening months of the other Disney parks, and that in addition to
EuroDisney that there are successful parks in Tokyo and on the East
& West coasts of the U.S., that now they felt it was time to make a
park in the middle of the country.
 
You might have seen the report on 60 Minutes last year about Branson.
It is the new Nashville of country music entertainment showplaces,
since so many country music artists have built their own nightclubs
there and perform there.  It is about 35 miles South of Springfield,
Missouri.  It is in a great location in between two areas which are
protected as part of the Mark Twain National Forest, and is close to
the Mincy public hunting area.  It is in between Table Rock Lake and
Bull Shoals Lake, and Branson is on a river that (according to a map
I have) feeds into both of these lakes.  So, no doubt the area is
picturesque, and since so much of the surrounding land is protected
in one form or another it will probably stay that way.
 
When Disney World was built the transportation system was good, but
not as good as it is today.  At the Disneyana convention they told
us of the horrible traffic jams they would get until the road system
leading to the property was improved.  Well, the 60 Minutes report
showed that Branson is already suffering congestion problems due to
the success of its new tourism, and if Disney does build there it
will surely need even more road improvement.
 
Branson is not on any interstate, but is located on U.S. 65 which
goes between Interstate 44 (I-44) at Springfield, Missouri and
interstates at Little Rock, Arkansas.  I'd imagine that eventually
I-45 will have to be built between these two cities, and going
North to Kansas City.  I-45 currently can be found going from
Galveston to Houston and Dallas, but there is no North-South
interstate near Branson closer than I-35 at Oklahoma City to the
West, and I-55 between St. Louis and Madisonville to the East.
That's why if a new interstate was to be built I think they'd
call it I-45. There is an I-44 which currently travels Northeast
between Oklahoma City and St. Louis.  Having an I-45 between
Kansas City and Little Rock would be perfect as it would go
right near the Disney property in Branson as well as efficiently
connecting it to the existing interstate system.  As you can see
from the list in this paragraph, the area around Branson is
already served very well by many interstates -- there just needs
to be an improvement to Branson itself.
 
Branson's location means it can draw vacationers from many nearby
cities to a Disney park within an easy driving distance: Chicago,
St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Nashville, Memphis,
Jackson, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Houston, Dallas-Ft.
Worth, Little Rock, Oklahoma City, Wichita, Topeka, Kansas City,
Des Moines, and Springfield.
 
It is a good move to have a Disney theme park in Middle America.
Who better to enjoy Disney's middle America family values and
entertainment?  Besides, nearby St. Louis was one of the cities
being considered for Disney World before Orlando was picked.
 
Word had previously leaked out that a music theme park was being
planned for Walt Disney World.  I'll speculate that this music-
related park will open at Branson, possibly in addition to WDW.
I would think that eventually Branson would also have their own
Magic Kingdom -- maybe even many years down the road Branson
would have an Epcot -- like Disneyland is working on getting a
Westcot (in Branson it might be Midcot??!) and perhaps a Disney
Studios (with or without MGM) since even EuroDisney is getting
the Studios park.  BTW, I picked up a "Walt Disney Studios"
license plate at the Disney-MGM Studios last month, and it did
*not* have MGM or the lion logo on it -- but it did have the
Mickey clapboard logo.
 
I would guess that just like EuroDisneyland, guests at Disney Branson
would be able to go between the attractions through heated areas
due to the cold climate (and air-conditioned in the summer).  Outdoor
walkways would still be an option, of course.  At EuroDisneyland you
can walk from the enclosed ticket gate located *under* the Euro
Disneyland hotel all the way to the Pirates of the Caribbean without
going outside if you don't want to.
 
Some Northerners will prefer the Missouri climate to the weather in
Anaheim or Orlando -- I know my brother in New York will!  Northerners
are used to the winter chill, although it won't be as severe a winter
as in New York.  The summers at Disney Branson should be a lot cooler
and less humid than at Orlando.
 
Even if none of this comes true, it is fun to speculate!

-- Via DLG Pro v0.992

Internet: rich_koster@agwbbs.new-orleans.LA.US
    UUCP: rex!agwbbs!rich_koster

    	If this is true I would think that Disney would be planning
    something on a smaller scale than a new theme park.  Given the lukewarm
    reception of EuroDisney and the fact that Disney would need vast
    infrastructure improvements to make a park viable it seems unlikely.
    Most likely Disney wants to cash in on the Country Music theme of
    the area instead.  The other reason that it seems unlikely is that
    most people are not going to want to go to Missouri for vacation as
    they would go to Anaheim, Orlando, or Paris for instance.  Besides
    the country music attractions there is not much in that area to keep
    visitors coming, but then again, Orlando was the same way a while
    back ;^).  I also wonder if the population in the area is enough to
    really support a large theme park, out in that part of te country the
    population density is much different than in either coast where parks
    are now located.
    
    Tom

    
    	More to the point, Disney -- for quite some time now -- has talked
    about taking their " Pleasure Island " concept on the road. Given that
    one of the few truly successful clubs in that Disney-created nightclub
    complex is the country-flavored " Neon Armadillo, " Disney's probably
    looking more toward a smallish night-time entertainment area with a
    heavy C & W feel to it.
    	Interesting idea, though. Any chance we could get the newspaper
    articles and/or a transcript of what Paul Harvey said in here to take a
    look at ?

    I'm with  Jim on this one, most likely a C&W flavor of Pleasure Island,
    since that is what Branson is being made famous for of late.  Unless of
    course Disney is planing  there  version of Opreland hmm now that would
    be neat.
    
    Claude

Article 9286 of rec.arts.disney:
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From: Rich_Koster@agwbbs.new-orleans.LA.US (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Branson In Newspaper
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <Rich_Koster.0uis@agwbbs.new-orleans.LA.US>
Date: 12 Oct 92 21:55:32 CST
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.
Lines: 34

The following was first posted by Karen Richmond (1:123/43.1) in the
Disney echo of Fidonet on Oct. 11, 1992:
 
(Quoting)
 
Hello All!
 
from THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL
Memphis,TN
Friday, Oct.8,1992
 
DISNEY EYES BRANSON SPOT
 
Springfield, MO (AP)--The town of Branson's sudden status as a country
music mecca has caught the eye of Walt Disney Co., which is considering
a new development there.
 
Disney Chief Executive Officer Michael Eisner and Vice Chairman Roy
Disney confirmed company officials visited the Branson area in late
September.  They were investigating the recreational potential of the
area around Branson.
 
********************************************************************
 
well that's all it said.....
 
Karen
 
(End of text)

-- Via DLG Pro v0.992

Internet: rich_koster@agwbbs.new-orleans.LA.US
    UUCP: rex!agwbbs!rich_koster

    Hi,
    
       There was a article in last weeks Orlando Sentinel about a trip by
     Disney Exec's to Branson.  They official Disney line is that the trip 
     was a fact finding tour.  The Disney spokesperson said that Disney
     often visits popular places to see if there is anything that could be 
     adapted to be included into WDW.  They denied the purchasing or 
     interest in purchasing any land in Branson.
    
                                              Hope this helps,
                                                             -Rob