Walt Disney World Construction & Projects

[Stevanovic]

I can not wait to wisit Disney's world with my family!

[FLAWDA-FELLA]

The largest expansion in the Magic Kingdom's 41-year history officially opens.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/...est-restaurant

[jzquince69]

The Four Seasons is topped off. I think they bought both golf courses as well (but the neighborhood is a separate entity).

Once opened, this will be Orlando's upper end chain-hotel inventory: *Four Seasons; JW Marriott; Ritz Carlton; Waldorf. Perhaps the Grand Bohemian here as well?

[starbuc jupiter]

There is a rumor floating around that an east-west monorail route may finally get built from LBV to animal kingdom, with a connection to existing line at Epcot. Anybody know anything?

[jzquince69]

Originally Posted by starbuc jupiter

There is a rumor floating around that an east-west monorail route may finally get built from LBV to animal kingdom, with a connection to existing line at Epcot. Anybody know anything?

if true, it would be the best thing to happen to AK since Everest. That's part of Disney's flair; the interconnectivity ala the monorail system. If they do expand it, I think they would have to expand it to AK and the AK Lodge. In fact, I would expand it to include Coronado Springs and Blizzard beach if possible (maybe BB would be a bad idea with wet guests and all). Maybe they should consider a giant loop that also includes Wide World. dunno.

[SkyDiveJunkee]

Where is this rumoring floating around?

Monorail is expensive to build and operate. This is why Disney never connected Downtown Disney or Disney Hollywood Studios to the monorail, let along AK at a much further distance. Buses are cheaper and more frequent.

[Lumbergo]

it's expensive - but I mean come on! how long would it take them to pay off something like that? it's fucking disney we're talking about.

[starbuc jupiter]

I used to work at Disney and a friend of mine has said there has been some survey work done east west across the parking lot at epcot ant that an area in the LBV has been surveyed for a new transportation connection plan. but nobody will talk about it.

the buses use fuel, a new monorail expansion could use solar power an imagine the PR boost that the would get from doing that. It not like they are running out of money.

[jzquince69]

Buying an Accord hybrid costs about 1/3 more. they say by the time you break even on the fuel saved by going hybrid, you need to be driving it for a decade.

How much fuel would they save with a Monorail versus buses ala the cost of building track? Last I heard, it was something like $$$millions/mile. But, maybe not at WDW since they own all of the land and easement is not a concern. But, back in 1990 or so, there was a study that elevated track was about $1M/mile notwithstanding easement costs.

I hope they do it.

[jzquince69]

Pre-official statement about "Disney Springs" redo of Downtown Disney:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/...own-disney.htm

[alex7677]

Although it isn't officially announced, in this Daily City article many stores and restaurants are highlighted in a slide, and if they being serious about these stores (most of which that will not only be new to the Orlando area, but some to the state, Southeast region, the country and even the Americas). Some of them include:
-Uni-Qlo
-TopShop TopMan
-Bershka
-Superdry
-Paul Frank
-Free People
-Havaianas
-and supposedly a World of Coca-Cola style attraction

In terms of Restaurants and entertainment rumored establishments include:
-Shake Shack
-Walt's Place (a fine dining restaurants in Disneyland Paris)
-Argo Tea
-Morimoto
-Apparently a strong presence from the Food Network
-The Edison Nightclub from Los Angeles.

The same architects ( http://www.elkus-manfredi.com/ ) who designed The Grove in Los Angeles, Pacific Place in Seattle and The Shops at Columbus Circle to name a few, are the rumored firm working on this Disney Springs Project.

If this is all does come to reality, which although sounds nice but still too early and things could certainly change, would drastically change the dynamic of shopping and entertainment in Orlando. I enjoy seeing this competition between shopping centers here in Orlando, it has brought great shopping, fashion and newer ideas in a relatively short amount of time. I wouldn't be surprised to see areas along international drive or the major malls like Millenia and Florida malls doing even bigger changes sooner rather than later if this entire Disney Springs project does come to life. Now we play the waiting game

http://www.thedailycity.com/2013/03/...into.html#more

[SkyDiveJunkee]

Disney Springs was officially announced today: http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/...springs/nWrpB/

[jzquince69]

and you can be rest assured that Universal is studying this expansion so they can plan any of their own future improvements to Citywalk...

[spenser1058]

Originally Posted by SkyDiveJunkee

Disney Springs was officially announced today: http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/...springs/nWrpB/

Jim Hill is not always the most reliable of the Disney bloggers, but I think he has some interesting thoughts on the DTD upgrade, especially regarding the parking issue. I also am interested in his comments on the supposed direct access from I4. For years, FDOT and most transportation types I know have regularly bemoaned I4's issue of waaaaaay too many exits. Like Jim, I can see how this might have caused the delay in the rollout (especially since it seemed quite odd how they handled it.)

http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_ch...x#.UUN_Fxw_9M4

[SkyDiveJunkee]

We can surmise that the DTD issue and delay was multi-layered.

1) Parking has been a huge issue at DTD since the West Side expansion and the addition of resorts to the Lake Buena Vista resort area. The LBV Drive / 535 Intersection cannot handle the growth in this corridor. What surprises me is that there is not a proposal to upgrade the Epcot Center Drive I-4 Exit to have an offshoot to DTD. This would kill 2 birds, 1 stone. It would please FDOT for not including an additional exit from I-4, and it would provide direct access to DTD (the offshoot could easily be manipulated to cross over to DTD behind the Casting Center.

2) Pleasure Island was not profitable (but it was fun). Hyperion Wharf wasn't a terrible plan, but it was rather uninspired like most of what Team Disney Orlando has come up with over the last 20 years, since Eisner stepped down. It simply did not fill the void left behind when PI closed. To Disney's defense, I don't think they truly realized the impact of closing down PI, and the backlash they received as a result of the loss of Adventurer's Club, Mannequins, and 8traks. Tourists and locals alike went out of their way to frequent these venues, so in the long run it seems terribly shortsighted that they closed down PI in one fell swoop. There are websites dedicated to the legacy of the Adventurer's Club. Those who once sang Disney's praises were suddenly giving the resort negative press in the blogsphere, and in significant volume. Don't think for a minute that Disney is ignoring the blogs.

3) Times are a'changin

When Disney first opened DTD, ala the Lake Buena Vista Village, their direct competitor was Church Street Station (those who remember...those were the days!). Yes, there was a time when Downtown Orlando competed, and did so very, very well, with Orlando's juggernauts. Pleasure Island was an answer to CSS. Then Citywalk came along. I can let history tell the rest of that story.

When the Westside opened in the 90s, it was clear that Disney was catering to families; this worked very well. Bring in the brand name destination venues (HOB, Virgin, Cirque du Soleil, Wolfgang, Bongos). PI suddenly looked shabby in comparison -- Disney effectively severed the head of their own brand (PI).

But that was then, and this is now. Suddenly the Westside is look very, well...90s. Meanwhile and in comparison, Orlando was changing around Disney. The Mall at Millenia had opened bringing in high end retail more accustomed to a city with 3-4 million more people. The outlets went luxury. Merlin got in the game, promising to lure those conventioneers to a more adult experience right on I-Drive. Universal is in the game. This town was suddenly no longer a one trick pony.

4) Central Floridians actually went "local".

A not so well kept secret to Disney's success has been the local consumer. Disney relies on a steady stream of Floridians to its parks and attractions. This worked out well for Disney in the short-term (the last 30 years). As the local population surged, and people moved to Orlando from the Northeast and Midwest, they came here with their own ties and traditions, none of which involved Orlando or environs. They had no ties to this region, and couldn't care less about it. They came here for the sun, the attractions, the beach.

This has started to shift. More and more, small business owners have taken over Orlando. Instead of the fast food chain dominance, local ethnic food stores and restaurants have taken hold. Downtown Orlando has once again reclaimed some of its former glory (with the local population) and local upscale establishments are popping up everywhere. An "Orlando" style has emerged. The natural aspects of the region, its lakes, springs, swamps, forests, rivers, have seen a huge increase in local and tourist interest.

Bring in "Disney Springs". The most blatant attempt Disney has ever made to showcase their Central Florida ties. This is the Disney of Florida, not the Disney of California. I suspect this is only the beginning.

That's all for now.

[spenser1058]

First, let me say I agree with you completely about Adventurer's Club. Disney managed a unique gem there, a truly, um, Disney, nightclub, and doing away with it was short-sighted. I suspect that it was a simple corporate decision that, once they decided to get out of the night club business, they threw out the baby with the bathwater.

Pleasure Island as originally conceived happened shortly after Micheal and Frank arrived, and before they recognized the sanctity of The Brand. In the beginning, they set out simply to turn Disney into a money-making machine and assumed all they had to do was run it like all the other studios. (Remember all those very un-Disney movies with stars like Eddie Murphy and Bette Midler?) Fortunately, Roy E. happened to do the one thing about that time which probably kept the Disney legacy intact as we know it: he set out to show (despite misgivings about his talent going back to Walt) that he could not only bring back animation, but do it even better than before. He succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams (at least for a time.) By the time that wave faltered, the folks in Burbank came to realize the Disney brand was in fact special and could make lots of money if you didn't stray too far from the core values. To this day, if you conduct a poll about the major studios, the only one that has wide recognition is Disney (even Trekkies, for God's sake, cannot reliably tell you the Federation belongs to Paramount.)

So, knowing that, Pleasure Island as it started, became an albatross to The Brand not long after it opened. It was also discovered with the opening of Universal's CityWalk and Anaheim's Downtown Disney that there really wasn't any reason for all those nightclubs anyway.

If, in fact, anyone ever planned a trip to WDW based on Pleasure Island, it was the smallest of percentages.

That brings up a point that many forget about, and one which drives the theme park bloggers crazy: Walt Disney World's core business, unlike Disneyland, long ago ceased to be its theme parks. Job One for TDO is putting heads in beds and selling DVC points.

And that is why I think we are seeing the latest iteration of plans for DTD: for some time, keeping occupancy rates for Saratoga Springs and Old Key West at acceptable levels has been a challenge. It won't get easier as more DVC facilities open in the MK area. Given that SS in particular and OKW as well are not particularly close to the theme parks (and access via motorcoach is not short and sweet as spread out as both resorts are,) and given that both properties are by no means inexpensive, who will be the target market and how can you get that market to stay there?

The answer lies in older guests and those families who don't wish to be right in the middle of all the hustle and bustle all the time. For such an audience, fireworks late every night and a lot of night clubs and the whole "urban" frame really wasn't a good fit.
I believe that's why we're seeing the change to the "Disney Springs" idea. I also believe the new upscale, non-Disney properties, from the Waldorf to the Four Seasons to Golden Oak also played into the decision.

As far as the local audience, there can be no doubt the local audience is infinitely larger than it used to be (and it's not just Orlando - South Florida is the largest MSA in the country without a theme park - in effect, WDW is Miami's "local" park.) The local market cannot be ignored but it's still not the bulk of the guests to WDW (again, exactly the opposite of Disneyland.)

I also agree with you that, thankfully, after all these years, WDW is going Florida. Al Weiss was the first Floridian to take the helm, Meg Crofton strengthened the ties to the local community, and now George Kalogridis, who hails from Winter Haven and is so WDW-oriented he is building a house at Golden Oak for he and his partner, is the latest. WDW is now just about as Florida-based as it can be, given that Burbank still has the final say on the purse strings.

[jzquince69]

Fascinating stuff. Personally, I liked PI back at the turn of the decade ('90-'93); I would drive down with friends on Friday night, get in free before 9pm with their pass, go to Mannequin's, etc., then to DT ORL to CSS, then leave town again via the Fla TNPK. It was awesome.

I think Citywalk went far in "killing" PI, which started with opening the gates and getting rid of the general admission to the island and just charging per club. That was bad; it ruined the mystique because EVERYONE could walk through there; it took away the party atmosphere. PI should've stuck to its "guns."

[spenser1058]

SkyDive, looks like you nailed this one:

"•Disney hopes to improve access and the traffic situation by adding a ramp that splits off from the existing Interstate 4 ramp for Epcot Center Drive, creating an overpass over Buena Vista Drive, the street that runs along the Downtown Disney parking lot. There are logistics and government agencies to consider, so stay tuned. Gosh, I hate those Buena Vista Drive signals."

More updates in the Sentinel:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-d...,5810917.story