Disney, Epcot and Oklahoma

[Jesseda]

the old GM plant makes sense like anything else, I hear they will have
a monerrail go over interstate 240 to the connected parks, you the Oklahoma Prairie Adventure, and Disneyland mid-america. 3rd park I believe will be built off eastern between I-240 and 89th street, also the dumps in that area will turn into a resort of some type that will overlook all the parks, crossroads will also be bought to turn it into a year round water park by disney, now this is all just rumors

[SoonerDave]

Rumors of mid-America Disney parks have made the rounds for years.

I don't know about the "problems" Disney is having with its parks, although it seems a 2nd grader could have told you the California Adventure concept was a loser from the word go.

I'm not sure where a previous poster was coming from in terms of problems at Disney parks, because Disney theme park revenues/sales were up 7% for 2007, just after a 4% increase in 2006, which was just a bit below the growth levels the previous year. Three straight years of growth and profitability hardly sounds like trouble to me. What Disney is finding, however, is that per-capita in-park spending is going down, eg trinkets, souvenirs, things like that.

Now, if you want to argue that any one or two parks aren't setting the world on fire, that's a different story. California Adventure is undergoing an overhaul so extensive that they may rename it. So long as it doesn't have anything "Disneyesque" to make it a destination attraction a la Disneyland or DisneyWorld, I think it will continue to fail for being "just another amusement park" in the heavily tourist-oriented area around Anaheim...

[Jesseda]

I ook my kids to disneyland 3 weeks ago, we went one day to the disney california adventure, the toy story mania construction walls where still up but the park has improved a whole lot from 4 years ago. they have the ariel grotto which is a restaurant you eat with the disney princesses, it is really something to do if you havea little girl, also the bugs life play area is fun, and in the hollywood area they have the talk to crush and the muppet show that was fun, I can not wait until 2012 because they are adding a cars themed land to it, this isnt rumor it is fact disney announced it, plus they are making and moving the entrance into the park.. I think when it is all done it will be really something, also most of the characters not all but a large part will be pixar movies like toy story, bugs life, cars, etc

[mmonroe]

OK, no BS, no Rumors, this is very true, I didn't believe it, and I questioned it.

But before I tell you, i'll let you know this, "Do I think Disney would build a park here?", the Answer, probably not.

But this is what I was told, a friend of mine, named Jessica, her grandparents who own tons of land NE of Jones sold a huge amount of their land to Disney. I didn't believe it until I got to see the paper work. But it's only a land investment. It doesn't have anything to do with building a park, just sound investment. Now, why the jones area.. I don't know.

[SoonerDave]

OK, no BS, no Rumors, this is very true, I didn't believe it, and I questioned it.

But before I tell you, i'll let you know this, "Do I think Disney would build a park here?", the Answer, probably not.

But this is what I was told, a friend of mine, named Jessica, her grandparents who own tons of land NE of Jones sold a huge amount of their land to Disney. I didn't believe it until I got to see the paper work. But it's only a land investment. It doesn't have anything to do with building a park, just sound investment. Now, why the jones area.. I don't know.

When Walt Disney built Disneyland, he became frustrated at how the commercial area immediately east of the park became a really trashy area full of cheap motels and such. He didn't have much control over that development, because he didn't own it. He decided he wasn't going to make the same mistake with his next big park.

When Disney greenlit the Florida project, it was top secret, and dozens of "shell" companies were created to buy up chunks of swampland in virtual anonymity. The majority of the land Disney needed for Disney World was already purchased by the time a Florida newspaper started noticing these oddball, largely inexplicable acqusitions of swamp land, started doing the research, and found that all those companies led right back to Disney. The story broke in time for the prices on those final few parcels of land to jump, and a few owners made a small fortune for land they knew Disney had to have.

It wouldn't be at all surprising for me to see Disney buy land in various areas of the country for no ostensible purpose, but if at some point they chose to build some new presence somewhere, they'd probably be within a certain radius of at least some property they had already purchased. I, frankly, don't see Disney building a mid-America park anytime soon, if for no other reason than it takes away potential customers from either of their "coastal" parks...

[RabidRed]

When Walt Disney built Disneyland, he became frustrated at how the commercial area immediately east of the park became a really trashy area full of cheap motels and such. He didn't have much control over that development, because he didn't own it. He decided he wasn't going to make the same mistake with his next big park.

When Disney greenlit the Florida project, it was top secret, and dozens of "shell" companies were created to buy up chunks of swampland in virtual anonymity. The majority of the land Disney needed for Disney World was already purchased by the time a Florida newspaper started noticing these oddball, largely inexplicable acqusitions of swamp land, started doing the research, and found that all those companies led right back to Disney. The story broke in time for the prices on those final few parcels of land to jump, and a few owners made a small fortune for land they knew Disney had to have.

It wouldn't be at all surprising for me to see Disney buy land in various areas of the country for no ostensible purpose, but if at some point they chose to build some new presence somewhere, they'd probably be within a certain radius of at least some property they had already purchased. I, frankly, don't see Disney building a mid-America park anytime soon, if for no other reason than it takes away potential customers from either of their "coastal" parks...

On the other hand, if cost to travel becomes a big issue, I can see them wanting to have a park easy to get to from both coasts. Close down the coast parks and just have one in the middle of the country. Oklahoma is about as middle as you can get.

[jbrown84]

Cool Epcot pics- will that exhibit be there this summer or was it a one time thing? We will be there in August.

I don't know for sure, Karrie, but I doubt it will still be there.

[Taggart]

That display was only during the Epcot Food and Wine festival in fall of 2007. It will not be there this year.


As for Disney in Oklahoma -

I work for Disney, in the department that would be designing this. And no, there is no way Disney will ever build another US venture like WDW. They can't even afford to expand the current monorail system in place in Florida. When oil increases, you'll see major cutbacks at the current US parks. And plus, Disney is more focused on big expansions to Disneyland and a huge new addition to WDW as well as expanding in foreign markets that are Disney-starved.

The closest Disney would ever come to Oklahoma would be a theme hotel in Dallas if they decide to put on there, but that's a looong way away.

[traxx]

That display was only during the Epcot Food and Wine festival in fall of 2007. It will not be there this year.


As for Disney in Oklahoma -

I work for Disney, in the department that would be designing this. And no, there is no way Disney will ever build another US venture like WDW. They can't even afford to expand the current monorail system in place in Florida. When oil increases, you'll see major cutbacks at the current US parks. And plus, Disney is more focused on big expansions to Disneyland and a huge new addition to WDW as well as expanding in foreign markets that are Disney-starved.

The closest Disney would ever come to Oklahoma would be a theme hotel in Dallas if they decide to put on there, but that's a looong way away.

So, just out of curiosity, what would be the purpose of Disney buying land by Jones, OK? I'm not questioning you're authority on the matter, I really am just curious. Or are you calling BS on what mmonroe said above.

@mmonroe - how much, exactly, is tons of land and how much of those tons did Disney buy?

[sroberts24]

maybe they want to do something like Celebration, Florida????

[Taggart]

Knowing what I do know, I'd have to say it's pretty unlikely that it's true. Disney has hundreds of subsidiaries they would buy that land under before they'd put the name Disney on anything. IF and that's a big IF they did buy that land, it would be for a warehouse or for a distrobution center or something along the like. But then again, this rumor pops up all over the midwest, but it's only that. A rumor.

Most people don't realize that WDW was only built to support Walt's vision for an experimental city of the future. He didn't really care to build a park there, but Roy, his brother, advised that it would be good to have to pay the bills. Walt died before construction really began so it just became a mega-resort since they already had the land. Any purchase like that would be almost impossible today with the cost of land. WDW's land was swamp-land that was bought for pennies.

Celebration was another test of the concept but results wern't what they were hoping for. I doubt they'd try that again.

[mmonroe]

I'm sure as to how much land, but the it was listed as Disney with something like a DBA attached to it.

[Karried]

I work for Disney, in the department that would be designing this.

Taggert, you are my new best friend...lol, please tell me the best way to NOT drop approx $1,400 bucks on Park Hopper Passes for 5 days for a family of 4?

Heavy sigh.. why is everything so freakin expensive lately?

Any tips? or better yet, employee/new best friend discounts?

ha, ha....

[jbrown84]

If Disney ever built a mid-america park, it would make much more sense to build in the Branson area, as it's already very Orlando-like.

[FRISKY]

If Disney ever built a mid-america park, it would make much more sense to build in the Branson area, as it's already very Orlando-like.

Hmm, the traffic in that region is terrible and the infrastructure for visitors is already taxed past the limit. A location between OKC and Tulsa would be better.

[mmonroe]

I was thinking Kansas City, MO being a good spot...

BUT I'D MUCH RATHER HAVE IT IN OKLAHOMA!!!

[Taggart]

Taggert, you are my new best friend...lol, please tell me the best way to NOT drop approx $1,400 bucks on Park Hopper Passes for 5 days for a family of 4?

Heavy sigh.. why is everything so freakin expensive lately?

Any tips? or better yet, employee/new best friend discounts?

ha, ha....

You can save about $400 if you choose NOT to get the "non-expiration" and water parks. Other than that, there really isn't a good way.

You can always try timeshare sales pitches, but those are usually kinda sketchy.

You can save about half off on food if you do the table service restaurants for lunch and counter service for dinner.

Staying on property at the Value resorts really is a better deal than off property when you consider gas, parking, and related hassles and included benefits like extra magic hours.

If I had any hook-ups I'd give them, but unfortunately even for us, the pickens are slim on the benefit chain.

[Karried]

Thanks Taggart, yeah, I've sort of found that there are no discounts on this vacation (we're going on a Cruise for the first 8 days and then DisneyWorld) I've resigned myself to feeding Mickey cash..lol.. it's okay.

I really do embrace the philosophy that life goes by too quickly and my time with my kids and family and friends is too short. We really do only get one chance at this life on earth and I'm making memories with my kids that will last a lifetime..... they are growing up too fast and I only have a few more years before they won't want to vacation with Mom and Dad.. so, it is what it is. When it's over , it's over... and I'll have no regrets.

I'm still responsible about it though... I don't like debt. If I can't pay cash, we're not doing it.

[405Metro]

Disney in Oklahoma makes as much sense as The Mall of America in Minneapolis! I have lived in Minneapolis and it has horribly cold winters, yet it is packed all year round from people around the world.

A Disney here would make a huge impact and be a great success because it is so central, with mild overall winters. This is a City that gave up once upon a time due to the bombing and is trying to become the City it can be. With a NBA team coming and all the money and pride that will bring. OKC is one the rise!!

The only thing that would hurt a Disney here would be traffic and not building a dedicated Expressway. I just moved here from Los Angeles... Traffic is the difference in going to Disney, Sea World,Knotts or Magic Mountain. Traffic & Parking is Key!!! It will make more sense when the Team arrives here and you will notice a huge flux in drive times compared to now.

[djohn]

Aren't land sales and land ownership public information. It seems like it would not be too dificult to find out if this purchase really took place. WDW in Flordia is around 40 square miles.

[traxx]

Aren't land sales and land ownership public information. It seems like it would not be too dificult to find out if this purchase really took place. WDW in Flordia is around 40 square miles.

But if they're doing it under a subsidiary or offshoot name it might be difficult to trace to Disney.

[okcustu]

what are we smoking here Disney will never and I repeat never build a theme park in Oklahoma. Forget about the fact that Dubai is the next world city and China population is increasing let's go to oklahoma. The fact that everybody has heard a different location Disney has too many projects going on to build another park for a while. I mean they are still trying to fix Eisner's "build half a park, charge just as much" strategy with Paris Studios, California Adventure, and Hong Kong Disneyland. The themed hotel is the least crazy idea

[metro]

I can't believe this topic is still being discussed.

[kevinpate]

oh, they took a month off from it, and it's not like the new news is overflowing this morning 8^)

[traxx]

I was a bit surprised that it was brought up again too. I was just trying to answer djohn's question about finding out who bought land. The land for DW was bought using several dummy corporations.

I've just resolved myself that this topic is due to come up again every so often.