Disney Considering Building Several Small Parks

Good point, Gonch. I should have clarified that my post was more responding to FS's idea of Disney buying CLP. Buying parks was indeed the business model from the *old* SF. Indeed, my post was poorly constructed and confusing...even for me! :)

If "the new SF" really wants to do this Disney-fication thing, they'd better hurry up and CLAIM some markets before the REAL Disney comes in...nobody beats Disney at their own game...

SF already has a park to *model* their other parks after...it's that SWEET park in San Antonio... ;)

*** Edited 2/10/2007 3:40:55 AM UTC by rollergator***

Maybe Disney can buy Great Adventure from six flags.

Great adventure can be turned to a disney park easily. Dont flame me, I can post how it could be.

But thats just a dream that I have. The land is there and everything :)

Disney never does anything small. And as far as the part about getting families that wouldn't/couldn't go to the bigger Disney parks, that's probably not gonna happen, either. Families expect a Disney park to be big and overblown, with tons of stuff to keep the little kids happy while they enjoy the grown-up parts of the experience.

Hmmm...

Snyder buys PKS (now SIX) and wants lots of $$$.
Snyder/Shapiro say regional alternative to Disney.
Snyder/Shapiro run into brick wall of debt from previous owners.
Disney say regional alternative to Disney but has no parks that fit the description.
Mention again Snyder wants to turn a lot of $$$.

Am I sensing a Disney buyout / Snyder sellout? The infrastructure is there, and Disney can easily ditch DC/looney toones to bring in the Disney characters (or even keep it to diversify from the florfornia Disney experiences, but work their bigger-budget Disney Magic)

And before you say no, keep in mind I was one of the first to say CF would buy Paramount from nothing other than a personal hunch. ;)

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Coasterkid200 said:
get over it, i havent said any thing. And you guys say what i say makes no sence.

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But that sentence comes close to making no sense... or sence ;)

It always amazes me how much the people running Disney don't understand Disneyland. How are those mini-parks called Paris MGM Studios or Hong Kong Disneyland doing?

So they're going to dilute the Disney brand even more because some people can't/won't go to Disney World every year?

If Disney wants to bring more people in LOWER THE PRICES!!!!! I descibe Disney as a "People trap run by a mouse" Granted is fun, but still...

I don't think Disney will be lowering any prices. I think the past two years were record years (in terms of attendance) at Walt Disney World. Disney is just trying to get the people that come to Disney to stay longer and not go anywhere else.

Also, back in the early 90's there were reports of Disney looking for a lot of land around Toledo, OH for a park, but I never heard anything else.

Disney doesn't need to lower prices. People will flock there even if they doubled prices. Disney parks seem to be affected by other things, like increases in airfare.

Cory, there have been rumors of Disney purchasing property throughout the country- Coney Island, Texas, New Jersey, Las Vegas, etc. I'm not saying you're lying, but take any of those rumors with a grain of salt, perhaps even two.

I think Disney IS involved in real-estate *investing*. Does NOT mean they're building a park in every location where they own a few acres....

Allthough I dont think Disney will lower the admission price, they have to take notice of what Universal studios is doing with there admission prices. *** Edited 2/12/2007 5:40:59 PM UTC by crazy horse***

What is Universal doing? I haven't been keeping up.

If they are lowering prices, keep in mind that Universal nickels and dimes their guests around every turn. Meal plans, unlimited Express Pass things... you could easily send the price of a daily ticket over a hundred dollars!

Why exactly is Michigan's Adventure picked on so much in these forums lately? It is a nice regional park that is being well run. It was one of a handful of CF parks that was recently listed as having a good 2006 season. The way people make fun of it, you would think that it is the smallest park in the world and a complete failure. It seems to me that, at the moment Geauga Lake, deserves this teasing a lot more than Michigan's Adventure.

It has nothing to do with the park, but more the actions of an over-zealous fan of the park who thought everything was going to MiA.

If disney buys a park it should be great adventure in NJ.

that park is setup to be a disney park . You have a water park, a possible animal kingdom and a magic kingdom all in one park.

Mainstreet and a castle can easaily be built without too much construction since its sort of there already.

They also have the lake for fireworks and stuff.

But Disney would rather spend money to make totally new parks.

Six Flags managemment is stupid and doesnt realise if they beef up theming and dark rides at great adventure it has amazing potential.

Maybe disney will see that. They could use it to compete with universals Islands of adventure.

It would be Disneys Great Adventure :)

I hear a lot of talk about Disney ticket prices but it seems to me that the ticket price actually has little effect. Take a look at Cedar Fair they lowered their ticket prices at most if not all of their parks and 2006 did not see attendance gains. Look at Universal Studios they keep running amazing deals (but raise the gate price) and the attendance keeps falling. Disney has raised its ticket price several times in the last 2 years and its attendance is going up.

Since people are asking Universals current standard online ticket is now a 7 day ticket for $85. Last year they had buy an adult ticket get a childrens ticket free. Also last summer there was a deal where you purchase a preferred annual pass and you get the second year free. Not sure when it started or is going to end but there is a deal where you purchase 4 tickets and get the 5th free if you use a Mastercard but its 5 day tickets and ends up costing $80 a ticket so you don't save much over the $85 ticket.

Because of the huge attendance gains at Disney World and the events during the off season its hard to find a true slow season anymore. I was there the first week in December and just about everything at Universal was a walk on and over at Disney there were hour long waits on some attractions. The busiest time of the year is the week between Christmas and New Years but last year was the first time they had to close the gates at 3 of the 4 parks all at once because of the crowds (Epcot was the only one which did not close). To be honest I am happy there are no big ticket deals if there were I am not sure who it would even be possible to do anything at Disney World. This is not to say Disney does not run deals they are just normally tied to hotel stays in some way because thats where all the money really is. For example the last two years at least (maybe longer I don't remember) there has been a deal starting around August running for a few months where by paying full price for a room and getting park tickets you would get the dinning plan for free.

^^ I can see your point. Great Adventure would probably make a nice Disney resort on a smaller scale. Upgrade the park and waterpark to Disney standards, add a few lakeside hotels, golf courses and an entertainment district and they'd be onto something. The park owns a ton of land and with few people living in Jackson, there probably wouldn't be too many NIMBYs to worry about.

But that is beyond the point, because I don't see Disney ever buying an existing park.

I don't see a mini-Disney experience succeeding around the country. Maybe I'm wrong. Now, I wouldn't be surprised if they expanded their timeshare business around the country and that might be where land buying rumors would start.

Is there anyone else here who gets a little sidetracked by the True girl?

Right. Disney seems to work as a destination. And I'm actually a little surprised that Disney would want to spread their stuff around the country because I would think that would turn some people away from the resorts. Unless they thing people will get a taste and want to experience the whole meal?

The Disney Vacation Club is one of the most successful aspects of the Walt Disney Company. They do well at Hilton Head and in Vero Beach too.

Disney does recognize that not everyone wants to take every single vacation to WDW. But, they might want to go on a Disney-ish vacation to Aspen, the Smokies, the Keys, etc.