The Official 5th Disney Park Discussion

[MikePat]

We saw Disney's "idea" of a "boutique experience" with the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, and we all saw how that turned out.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Except in the context of how much cash WDW generates, there’s no market for those things. Everything other than “let’s crank a ton of people through our theme parks and give them places to stay that makes that easier” has been a loser. Discovery Island, the golf courses, Disney Quest, Disney Institute… they aren’t bad ideas, they just end up being a drop in the bucket and not worth it. Discovery Cove would be a drop in the bucket to WDW - it is not a drop in the bucket to a smaller regional park like SeaWorld.

Right, the revenue that could be generated from a small boutique park would be immaterial to the larger Disney company and far less than a major theme park... but if your an executive looking for YoY revenue growth, and your parks have reached a price ceiling, you're going to be looking for any other alternative if you can't generate.

I'd obviously prefer their resources to go to the main parks themselves, but a boutique experience, in my opinion, can compliment that.

A fifth gate may prove problematic, but I’m of the mind Disney could keep expanding its existing theme parks and have a lot more success by increasing capacity (and as such, ticket sales and time in park) than by trying another boutique experience.

A fifth gate is just not realistically feasible at the time. Even if they wanted to, they'll struggle to staff up properly. I agree with you, it's more beneficial (and profitable for the company) if they just "max out" the current parks instead of running into issues with a 5th gate.

We saw Disney's "idea" of a "boutique experience" with the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, and we all saw how that turned out.

That's different though. Spending $5K for 2 nights is a tougher pill to swallow than a $200-300 one-day experience if it includes food.

 

[saint.piss]

 

[Tyc00n96]

This is from today's CNN article that Alicia was in. I know this subject has been beaten to death, but I have such a hard time seeing them actually doing this.

 

[Tbad556]

This is from today's CNN article that Alicia was in. I know this subject has been beaten to death, but I have such a hard time seeing them actually doing this.

Do I think it makes logistical sense to do this right now? Not at all.

Do I want it simply to chase the high I got from experiencing Epic for the first time?

 

[saint.piss]

This is from today's CNN article that Alicia was in. I know this subject has been beaten to death, but I have such a hard time seeing them actually doing this.

The best way Disney can combat Epic is by improving their current parks. Start building those lands: Villains, Cars, Monsters Inc, Encanto, etc... that's the way to do it. But knowing Disney they'll probably try to do both and fall on their faces. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

This is from today's CNN article that Alicia was in. I know this subject has been beaten to death, but I have such a hard time seeing them actually doing this.

I just want to point out that Disney's Animal Kingdom saw a 3% decrease in attendance between 2022 and 2023 (2024 data not out yet) and is down 37% compared to it's pre-Covid high of 13.9M guests.

For reference, 2023 to 2019 comparisons:

• MK - down 16%
• EP - down 4%
• DHS - down 10%
• USF - down 11%
• IOA - down 4%

I'm sure we'll see the Orlando market get back to pre-Covid numbers within the next 3-5 years as experiences are added (assuming no economic turmoil) but we are years from a 5th gate (if at all). It took Disney 5 years to get both water parks operating at the same time.

While I'd love to see Disney's take on a new theme park build, I actually think they will benefit more from overhauls of their existing parks.

Vacations are not getting longer, and a 5th Disney theme park will only be a substitute of an existing one, not an incremental gain.

 

[saint.piss]

I am curious how the current leadership would handle a 5th park though... Disney IP City. They'll probably just copy the portals concept too because why not.

 

[Tyc00n96]

I will never endorse a 5th park for all the reasons mentioned above and before. We need improvements across all parks before they even start kicking around the idea of another gate. I know many things are coming by 2030 but still.

 

[Mad Dog]

I just want to point out that Disney's Animal Kingdom saw a 3% decrease in attendance between 2022 and 2023 (2024 data not out yet) and is down 37% compared to it's pre-Covid high of 13.9M guests.

For reference, 2023 to 2019 comparisons:

• MK - down 16%
• EP - down 4%
• DHS - down 10%
• USF - down 11%
• IOA - down 4%

I'm sure we'll see the Orlando market get back to pre-Covid numbers within the next 3-5 years as experiences are added (assuming no economic turmoil) but we are years from a 5th gate (if at all). It took Disney 5 years to get both water parks operating at the same time.

While I'd love to see Disney's take on a new theme park build, I actually think they will benefit more from overhauls of their existing parks.

Vacations are not getting longer, and a 5th Disney theme park will only be a substitute of an existing one, not an incremental gain.

and the Spring Break season 2025 looks soft thus far.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I am curious how the current leadership would handle a 5th park though... Disney IP City. They'll probably just copy the portals concept too because why not.

While I believe a 5th gate would be a horrible financial choice, it is fun to think about what concept Disney utilizes for a theoretical 5th park.

Leadership would likely mandate the park to be IP only, and probably use 1 IP from each of their studios... with a DVC resort attached of course.

 

[Brian G.]

While I believe a 5th gate would be a horrible financial choice, it is fun to think about what concept Disney utilizes for a theoretical 5th park.

Leadership would likely mandate the park to be IP only, and probably use 1 IP from each of their studios... with a DVC resort attached of course.

Agreed. Sounds fun, but they gotta get Epcot and AK in better positioning after they take care of the MK Expansion.

But I do believe the next park, whether it be UO or Disney, will be a small, boutique-type park. Epic may be the last great Orlando theme park built for a long time.

 

[rhino4evr]

Villains and cars land , monsters inc , and south americas , is their response to EPIC. I seriously doubt Disney wants to front the cost of a whole new gate , of course I’ve been wrong before.

 

[TheUniC6]

Villains and cars land , monsters inc , and south americas , is their response to EPIC. I seriously doubt Disney wants to front the cost of a whole new gate , of course I’ve been wrong before.

At this rate a fifth WDW gate would only eat into the existing parks.

BTW, there has been some drama over on WDWMagic on whether or not things that haven't broken ground yet will come to fruition due to the ongoing economic situation. Tropical Americas and Avengers Infinity Defense are obviously happening and Monsters Inc is too far along to can. But the posters are really worried about Villains.

 

[Freak]

At this rate a fifth WDW gate would only eat into the existing parks.

BTW, there has been some drama over on WDWMagic on whether or not things that haven't broken ground yet will come to fruition due to the ongoing economic situation. Tropical Americas and Avengers Infinity Defense are obviously happening and Monsters Inc is too far along to can. But the posters are really worried about Villains.

That’s on Disney. This should’ve been further along LONG ago.

 

[rhino4evr]

At this rate a fifth WDW gate would only eat into the existing parks.

BTW, there has been some drama over on WDWMagic on whether or not things that haven't broken ground yet will come to fruition due to the ongoing economic situation. Tropical Americas and Avengers Infinity Defense are obviously happening and Monsters Inc is too far along to can. But the posters are really worried about Villains.

Well … not to get political , but the cost of steel / aluminum is about to sky rocket due to the tariffs. So likely the cost to build will also. Assume Disney didn’t anticipate that. Hopefully , things change…

 

[TheUniC6]

Well … not to get political , but the cost of steel / aluminum is about to sky rocket due to the tariffs. So likely the cost to build will also. Assume Disney didn’t anticipate that. Hopefully , things change…

Fingers crossed the tariffs will get struck down somehow. But at the same time, Universal could have easily axed EU entirely when the pandemic hit but pressed through despite supply chain issues and the economic uncertainty. I don't see why Disney couldn't do the same now. Back then their priority was getting D+ profitable so it made sense to shift resources to that given the circumstances. Now D+ is profitable the focus is back on the parks.

However the second half of the ten years parks plan that would have probably been showed off at D23 2028 will probably have a massive wrench throw into it (meaning either budget cut beyond recognition or scrapped in favor of all blue sky what if concepts) if things don't improve economically.

 

[rhino4evr]

Fingers crossed the tariffs will get struck down somehow. But at the same time, Universal could have easily axed EU entirely when the pandemic hit but pressed through despite supply chain issues and the economic uncertainty. I don't see why Disney couldn't do the same now. Back then their priority was getting D+ profitable so it made sense to shift resources to that given the circumstances. Now D+ is profitable the focus is back on the parks.

However the second half of the ten years parks plan that would have probably been showed off at D23 2028 will probably have a massive wrench throw into it if things don't improve economically.

They definitely took a risk, and to be fair, we don’t know how it will pan out at this point. While the park is obviously a success conceptually, if tourism decreases due to current social, economic, and political factors it could take some time to recoup that investment.