Disney Interested in Coney Island?

NBC news just did a segment on how Disney is taking a look at Coney Island for possible development. Mayor Bloomberg said he welcomes the interest in Coney Island but he knows that it can not be turned into a Disney Land because of space issues. Personally, I think this could do wonders for NY's economy if Disney were to turn Coney Island into a small Disney Park.

Yeah, but i dont think they will be able to get the necessary land. And why would they build in the ghetto?

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Track Record: 111 and counting.....

Patman, remember how Times sqaure was about 10-15 years ago and see the difference it made when Disney bought it out

That would be very cool. I would imagine that it would be a little different than Disneyland or Magic Kingdom. I would guess them to turn it into more of a CA Adventure type park.

Of course it is all just speculation until anything is announced and I really don't see it happening. 'Would be cool though. "Disney's Coney Island"

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-KoRn is the Millennium Force of ROCK-

Yeah, I watched a show on the History Channel about Times Square. From the 20's to the 60's the place was full of life, entertainment, and fun, but the 70's and 80's had every other building as a porno thearte. But Disney and NYC did a lot of stuff like zoning and putting money where it was needed and they changed the whole place. I think it would be incredable if Disney helped transform Coney Island into a place like it was in the 20's. Full of life, and not of crime.

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Tim Schroll
gocubs7@hotmail.com
Whizzer (1976-2002) Farewell my Friend

The great park period of Coney was 1897-1911.

The nickel/dime empires that Disney hated were the 1920s.

That would be cool,but you have to think times sq was just an area that had great potential,but about 1 or 2 blocks from astroland are the "projects" (puplic housing), you can get rid of that, so they could build all the things they want,but it will be one great thing to get that area up like they did to Time sq, there is no way you could replace as many familys who live in those homes elsewhere,unless they are given a good buy out, and its not just the houseing its also residental areas right next to the park. Plus parking etc,and to be onest I have a freind who use to live in that area,and he told me his freinds the local muggers looked foward to seeing the torist travel down there with there wallets stuffed, as bad as it sounds is as bad as it is over there,and maybe they can change that area into somthing nice,and that would be great!,becuase there was many houseing areas in manhatten which where made into somthing nicer,and more exspensive,but dont get me wrong to me that area isent too bad as long as you go there before a certan time.

Wolf said:
The great park period of Coney was 1897-1911.
The nickel/dime empires that Disney hated were the 1920s.

I just said 20's because of the Cyclone being built, the Thunderbolt, and maybe the Tornado too. But anyway, there were doing a good business too. You're right about the 1897-1911 though. But I'm not really too smart as far as Coney facts.

P.S. Isn't Tornado the name of the coaster that burnt down in 1977?

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Tim Schroll
gocubs7@hotmail.com
Willard's Whizzer (1976-2002) Farewell my Friend

First off, while the parks at Coney from 1898 - 1911 were truely amazing. If you were wanting coasters (amazing coasters at that), the prime period would have been late 1920's into the 1950's where there were at least 7-10 coasters operating during that time period.

Secondly, while I would welcome Disney to Coney Island, I really don't think it will happen in the near future. The two available lots of land that back into the boardwalk are owned by Horace Bullard. These two plots sandwich the new baseball stadium. He also owns the Shore Hotel/Tilyou Theater building across from Nathans. Disney (supposedly) made him an offer of $7mil for the Thunderbolt and it's lot about 5 years ago, which he turned around and doubled - so they dropped it. Astroland owns their lot outright and has a long-term lease with the city for the Cyclone. The Tornado lot is owned outright by an Indian family that owns the batting cages, gokarts, bumperboats, and the SBNO Jumbo Jet. And Deno's also owns their plots outright. It would be a very expensive venture to try to buy any of these people out.

Also, the city is currently in a huge lawsuit over the Thunderbolt with Bullard and I don't see any end to that soon. I've thought that they could take away Bullard's property through eminent domain laws, but again it would take a long time.

Lastly, what are often thought of projects on the former Luna Park site (behind the subway tracks) are not. These are senior citizen and city-built co-op housing.

Just my 2 cents,

Jim 'jimvid' McDonnell

Disney at Coney Island....It would definately be different.

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Drive It Like You Stole It!

Ride It Like You Own It!

The Boardwalk area of WDW is modeled after the Atlantic City boardwalks and Coney Island of yesteryear. I would imagine that they would do some retro styling to it and restore it to its glory days of the early 20th century.

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No love for the whiners

I think Disney should leave Coney Island alone. I think Disney would ruin it.

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Sean

News...

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