Disney's Hollywood Studios (General Discussion)

[Milla4Prez66]

If they go into the parking lot for Star Wars they are going to have to build additional parking elsewhere. I remember barely being able to find a spot when I went to Star Wars Weekends this year. I think just getting rid of a good chunk of spaces could hurt on busy periods.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Does anyone know when Disney announces the closing of Muppet Vision 3D..???

The fate of the attraction is still in the air. Star Wars and TSL doesn't touch that land last I heard.

 

[Nick]

If they go into the parking lot for Star Wars they are going to have to build additional parking elsewhere. I remember barely being able to find a spot when I went to Star Wars Weekends this year. I think just getting rid of a good chunk of spaces could hurt on busy periods.

If they were to go into the parking lot, a parking garage would be built. One might get built either way actually.

 

[tielo]

But Disney is still working on the parking garage at Downtown Disney! It'll take forever before they can build patchwork land.

 

[Cheezbat]

A parking garage seems to be the plan already. DHS has been known to have parking problems. They often make cast members park over at Epcot because of it, and they do the same with guests on really busy days. This park was not thought out well when it first opened...a lot of that has to do with Eisner rushing them to get it built before Universal Studios opened.

 

[s8film40]

But Disney is still working on the parking garage at Downtown Disney! It'll take forever before they can build patchwork land.

Actually Disney isn't building that garage.

There isn't necessarily a need for a parking garage, and I doubt Disney would ever pay to build a parking garage of that size. I've heard before but don't remember if it was speculation or a rumor that they would expand the lot east and move the second entrance from BVD to Victory way. They could even have a separate road/ramp to lead right on to Osceola Pkwy. This would make a lot of sense and could maybe even help with traffic flow.

 

[WAJAS]

Its already been built and is being used at Downtown Disney (Disney Springs) today. If you are referring to the second one, groundwork has already begun and I believe they will be going vertical within a month.

 

[s8film40]

Its already been built and is being used at Downtown Disney (Disney Springs) today. If you are referring to the second one, groundwork has already begun and I believe they will be going vertical within a month.

I am aware of the garages. The point I am making is those aren't owned or constructed by Disney so they aren't a good reference to Disney's willingness to build garages or the pace of construction of something they would fund.

 

[darkridelover]

I am aware of the garages. The point I am making is those aren't owned or constructed by Disney so they aren't a good reference to Disney's willingness to build garages or the pace of construction of something they would fund.

Ummmmmm.......what?

 

[s8film40]

Ummmmmm.......what?

Downtown Disney parking garages: Disney to save millions by having Reedy Creek Improvement District build two parking garages for its Downtown Disney expansion - tribunedigital-orlandosentinel

 

[sjago13]

But disney essentially does pay for it but just using reedy creek as a front to save on taxes.

 

[s8film40]

But disney essentially does pay for it but just using reedy creek as a front to save on taxes.

It's fully funded by RCID, Disney does pay for it in the form of taxes just like Universal does for things that Orlando builds but of course taxes are a constant expected expense. So a large construction project doesn't represent a large cost for them that could affect quarterly reports. RCID is also operating the garage you will see RCID employees in the garage and signage, this is also why there is no Disney names for the garage and instead just generic things like the "Orange Garage". In any case the main point is this set up could not as easily be used for Hollywood Studios since admission is charged and therefore the park isn't freely open to the general public.

 

[Nick]

Its already been built and is being used at Downtown Disney (Disney Springs) today. If you are referring to the second one, groundwork has already begun and I believe they will be going vertical within a month.

The second one is well underway and going up to the 4th floor already....

 

[WAJAS]

It's fully funded by RCID, Disney does pay for it in the form of taxes just like Universal does for things that Orlando builds but of course taxes are a constant expected expense. So a large construction project doesn't represent a large cost for them that could affect quarterly reports. RCID is also operating the garage you will see RCID employees in the garage and signage, this is also why there is no Disney names for the garage and instead just generic things like the "Orange Garage". In any case the main point is this set up could not as easily be used for Hollywood Studios since admission is charged and therefore the park isn't freely open to the general public.

Umm what...? I don't even know what to say in response to this. This is not how things have worked or do work at Disney or at RCID or at both.

Also, Universal seems to be able to use a parking garage with paid admission pretty well. I don't know what that has to do with anything other than that the garages would be constructed slightly differently due to the different traffic situations each gives.

 

[s8film40]

Umm what...? I don't even know what to say in response to this. This is not how things have worked or do work at Disney or at RCID or at both.

Also, Universal seems to be able to use a parking garage with paid admission pretty well. I don't know what that has to do with anything other than that the garages would be constructed slightly differently due to the different traffic situations each gives.

I can assure you I am VERY familiar with how things work at WDW and RCID. I have had the opportunity to work with and talk with employees from just about every department of RCID, I have visited almost all RCID facilities, I have worked with and talked with Bay Lake Ct. residents and Disney executives. While RCID is often portrayed as just a formality to allow Disney to do extra things they are indeed a legal public government and are held to the same standards as any other public government. They work well with Disney but absolutely operate separately.

As this relates to the topic at hand RCID purchased the land from Disney and is constructing the parking garages and will operate and maintain them over their lifetime. Disney is not paying anything at all directly for the garages. The garages are public property meaning the public has a right to use them, in other words even if WDW trespasses someone from WDW property they will still have a right to park in the garages. The garages at Universal were paid for and built by Universal they are their garages. The reason this would be an issue at HS is it is a gated theme park and is restricted to only paying guests. A parking garage there would not serve the general public and it would be far more difficult for RCID to justify spending tax dollars to construct it. If a garage was built at HS Disney would have to pay for it and build it.

 

[darkridelover]

I can assure you I am VERY familiar with how things work at WDW and RCID. I have had the opportunity to work with and talk with employees from just about every department of RCID, I have visited almost all RCID facilities, I have worked with and talked with Bay Lake Ct. residents and Disney executives. While RCID is often portrayed as just a formality to allow Disney to do extra things they are indeed a legal public government and are held to the same standards as any other public government. They work well with Disney but absolutely operate separately.

As this relates to the topic at hand RCID purchased the land from Disney and is constructing the parking garages and will operate and maintain them over their lifetime. Disney is not paying anything at all directly for the garages. The garages are public property meaning the public has a right to use them, in other words even if WDW trespasses someone from WDW property they will still have a right to park in the garages. The garages at Universal were paid for and built by Universal they are their garages. The reason this would be an issue at HS is it is a gated theme park and is restricted to only paying guests. A parking garage there would not serve the general public and it would be far more difficult for RCID to justify spending tax dollars to construct it. If a garage was built at HS Disney would have to pay for it and build it.

1. Reedy Creek is a front for Disney
2. Almost all money used for Reedy Creek comes from Disney
3. Disney selects Reedy Creek residences to specially vote in their favor on every issue. If you don't vote the way Disney wants they kick you out.
4. Yes RCID technically operates independently but it was set up by the state so Disney can do what they want.
5. What's to say that RCID doesn't just turn around and sell the land and the garages right back to Disney as soon as construction is over.

 

[s8film40]

1. Reedy Creek is a front for Disney
2. Almost all money used for Reedy Creek comes from Disney
3. Disney selects Reedy Creek residences to specially vote in their favor on every issue. If you don't vote the way Disney wants they kick you out.
4. Yes RCID technically operates independently but it was set up by the state so Disney can do what they want.
5. What's to say that RCID doesn't just turn around and sell the land and the garages right back to Disney as soon as construction is over.

1. Well yes, this is basically the definition of local government, they are a front to the community they represent to handle municipal issues. In Disney's case they are the majority resident.
2. True, of course their ability to issue bonds helps and was used to fund the parking garages. Disney pays taxes wether RCID builds a parking garage or not.
3. True, this only really affects the two city governments though not really RCID. The city governments turn of their municipal powers to RCID.
4. Yes it was set up for Disney but it is still a public government and there are duties and responsibilities that come with that not just to the landowners (Disney) but to the "transient residents" as RCID refers to the guests who pass through the district. For example RCID recently purchased the I-4 ROW, this doesn't mean that Disney can do whatever they want with I-4.
5. They certainly could. I'm not sure they would want to spend all that money though for something that's already there and operating. I took a tour of the first garage before it opened and talked with several people working on the project both Disney and RCID, I certainly got the impression that RCID will own and operate the garage indefinitely. You never know what the future holds though I guess.

Most importantly though, while it's fun to discuss the intricacies of the WDW RCID relationships absolutely none of the is relevant to the point I was making and why this was brought up in the first place. A parking garage at HS would not be able to use the justification of public use that this one does meaning Disney would have to pay for the construction. Given that choice I don't think Disney would build a garage and their need to pace capital expenditures over multiple quarters would certainly mean a slower construction process.

 

[sjago13]

idk why you are acting like disney can't afford a parking garage... If they are going to displace some of their current lot for construction then that will have to be compensated for somehow... either building the lot further out on the other side or going vertical in the space they have. If they went the garage route they can just pivot the crew after building the second garage to here. They can politely ask Reedy creek for the contact info for those currently constructing the garages.

 

[s8film40]

I think there's plenty of room to build a ground lot. Parking garages are nice but are extremely expensive compared to a standard ground lot. If anything the route they went with DTD only serves to prove they're not interested in paying for a parking garage. Parking garages are almost always built out of necessity due to lack of space there is no lack of space near HS.

 

[Teebin]

idk why you are acting like disney can't afford a parking garage...

It's not that, it is their satisfaction in using the land and plowing it all under. If Disney built a 1000 car lot at each of their parks, I would be most impressed. It would be better for the guests and the environment. Plant the rest in with Slash pine and Saw Palmetto and call it a day.