The Rumor / Crazy Idea Superthread

[ginzo]

^Now if they could just get OzCat running again! I'm kind of holding off on visiting the Branson area in the hope that they might work that out somehow.

[Cameron]

OzCat certainly is a freaking awesome coaster, but I wouldn't skip a visit there. Silver Dollar City is so great, really, I actually prefer it a lot over Dollywood. Besides if you go now (well summer 2010), then you have an awesome excuse to return when the OzCat is running again

 

Cameron.

[ginzo]

^A Legoland could also be a pretty darn nice reason to go back out that way!

[Shavethewhales]

^Now if they could just get OzCat running again! I'm kind of holding off on visiting the Branson area in the hope that they might work that out somehow.

 

OzCat ain't coming back. CC is being broken apart and prepared for sale as we speak. At least SDC will have a world-class splash battle in 2010, and hopefully something a lot bigger in 2011.

[ginzo]

^Weak!

[larrygator]

Having a Legoland, SFSTl, Silver Dollar City and the St. Louis City Museum all within a few hours of each other will really make that a great and diverse region.

 

Imagine how much different it would be if Walt had built his little park there instead of Florida.

[jjb297]

Why do parks continue to look into the region? I am from STL, so I think its great, but our market already has a park, two more parks only three hours away (Beech Bend and Holiday World) and three parks four hours away (SFKK, WOF, SDC). I understand the only other parks that really draw from the area are HW and SDC, but its still surprising parks keep looking to build a park in places like Pinckneyville, IL (nowheresville). I don't think these parks will be built and will get any farther than opening discussions.

[Airtime&Gravity]

It looks like Shanghai Disneyland is just waiting for the official announcement. Hopefully Disney realizes their mistakes from Hong Kong Disneyland and builds a complete Magic Kingdom.

 

SHANGHAI/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - With President Barack Obama due to visit China next month, speculation is swirling Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) may finally be about to announce a long-awaited deal to build a theme park in Shanghai.

 

Disney and the Shanghai government have been waiting since January for Beijing's approval to move forward with what would be the country's second Disneyland, after a Hong Kong park opened in 2005 to a string of operational problems and lackluster attendance.

 

"Beijing has approved the project. Now it's up to Shanghai and Disney to work out the plan and make this thing happen," a Shanghai government source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Wednesday.

 

The source asked not to be identified before a deal was made public, while spokespeople from Disney and the Shanghai government said they had nothing to announce at this time.

 

By building in Shanghai, the company that brought Mickey Mouse and Toy Story to the big screen would be tapping a huge consumer market and growing personal wealth in one the country's modern, Western-influenced cities.

 

Media reports have placed the cost of the park around $3.6 billion.

 

Disney would also aim to grab mainland money-making chances that have tended to elude it in Hong Kong, where its fifth resort was built in 2005.

 

Anticipation is riding high that good news on Disney will be timed to coincide with Obama's visit to China from November 15 to 18 -- granting Disney its decade-old wish to locate a theme park on the mainland of the world's most populous country.

 

Analysts said a Disney agreement could be a feel-good bilateral story, highlighting U.S. cultural influence and an investment that does not entail U.S. job losses in the manufacturing sector.

 

China would get a boost to its leisure sector and to domestic demand as it tries to trim its dependence on exports, which left it vulnerable during the financial crisis, wrote Gong Weisong, an editor at the state-run Shanghai Securities News.

 

"For a big country, besides GDP, soft power is also very important, and developing a culture industry has great commercial value," he wrote in a front-page commentary on Wednesday that said the time was right to go ahead with the Disney project.

 

China could also underscore its commitment to protecting the Disney brand to counter widespread U.S. complaints that its protection of intellectual property rights is still lax.

 

'DISNEY-CONCEPT' STOCKS

 

Under a plan agreed upon by Disney and the Shanghai government in January, Disney would own a 43 percent equity stake in the new theme park and a local government-owned joint venture holding company would own 57 percent.

 

The plan calls for a large theme park and hotel complex to open in 2013 in the southern outskirts of Shanghai's Pudong district. Media reports have placed the cost of the park around $3.6 billion.

 

A spokesman for the Shanghai government said it had no information to release at this moment on the Disney project, while a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles-based media conglomerate said it had not been told of any approval.

 

"No deal has been agreed to, no project has been approved," said Disney spokeswoman Leslie Goodman.

 

Nevertheless, talk of the deal was widespread in Chinese financial markets, pushing up the shares of so-called "Disney-concept" stocks such as Shanghai Lujiazui Finance & Trade Zone Development and Shanghai Jielong Group Industry, which are expected to be participants in the project.

 

Lujiazui Finance (600663.SS) rose 4 percent on Tuesday to its highest since mid-August, after Chinese media reported a deal could be near. Jielong Group (600836.SS) soared its 10 percent daily limit, on a day the benchmark Shanghai composite index .SSEC fell nearly 3 percent.

 

The Securities Times, one of China's three official financial newspapers, reported on Tuesday that policy makers had approved the project earlier this month.

 

"Currently, it is going through the final administrative process, with a formal announcement likely to be made to the public this week," the newspaper said.

 

Talks were stalled by a Shanghai government scandal in 2006 and Disney's need to focus on Hong Kong Disneyland.

 

Link

[jray21]

I really hope that Disney doesn't pull a Hong Kong. I still can't believe they opened that park with barely anything in it. Ok, I can. Hey maybe they will build Robb a Hong Kong style Animal Kingdom! Not only will it be Robb's favorite park, but it will have 1/4 the rides, so in other words, the parking tram will be the only ride, 1 show, and 4 animals!

[SharkTums]

Most of us left Shanghai with a very negative feeling. I don't want them to build a Disney there, but I fear they will. It's hard to explain, but there just seemed to be a large anti-Westerner sentiment in such a 'western friendly' city. Also, there were large unfinished projects everywhere, along with new projects. They seemed to be building just for building sake. And I'm not even talking about all of the World Expo projects which is a whole other story!

[Jerrykoala2112]

They probably are building for building sakes. People need jobs. That is probably the only reason the parks are there, no one visits them...

[jedimaster1227]

We have exciting news tonight. The Walt Disney Company has released information concerning the Shanghai theme park project and we wanted to share it with you first on The Disney Parks Blog. Here’s the news release:

THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY REACHES ANOTHER MAJOR MILESTONE

ON SHANGHAI THEME PARK PROJECT

BURBANK, Calif. – November 3, 2009 – The Walt Disney Company today announced that the Project Application Report (PAR) for a Disney theme park in the Pudong district of Shanghai has received approval from the relevant authorities of the central government of China.

“China is one of the most dynamic, exciting and important countries in the world, and this approval marks a very significant milestone for The Walt Disney Company in mainland China,” said Robert A. Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company.

The PAR approval will enable Disney and its Shanghai partners to move forward toward a final agreement to build and operate the park and begin preliminary development work. Upon completion of the final agreement, the project’s initial phase would include a Magic Kingdom-style theme park with characteristics tailored to the Shanghai region and other amenities consistent with Disney’s destination resorts worldwide.

 

About The Walt Disney Company China

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a diversified international family entertainment enterprise with five business segments and is a Dow 30 company with revenues of nearly $38 billion in its most recently reported fiscal year. Our first animation screened in China in the 1930s and today our long association continues with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou with over 600 employees.

About Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts are where families experience and enjoy the magic of Disney’s beloved characters and where dreams come true. More than 50 years ago, Walt Disney created a new kind of entertainment families could experience together, immersed in detailed atmospheres and vibrant storytelling. His vision now includes a collection of five of the world’s leading family vacation destinations – Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, Calif.; Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; Tokyo Disney Resort, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan; Disneyland Paris, Marne-la-Vallée, France; and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, located on Lantau Island. In addition, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts includes the world-class Disney Cruise Line; Disney Vacation Club, with 10 resorts and more than 400,000 members; Adventures by Disney, a guided group vacation experience to some of the world’s most popular destinations; and Walt Disney Imagineering, which creates and designs all Disney parks, resorts and attractions.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2009/11/disney-shanghai-theme-park-project-update/

 

Disney officially acknowledges its efforts in Shanghai, on of all places, its blog. Let me just say that I'm amazed they are publicizing the project this way, but I guess its exciting to see a new park in the works...

[disneylanddork50]

ToonTown is slowly fading out of the scene. Most of the land is faded, and just not what it was back in the 90's. So, with all this hype of Tinkerbell, why not change Toontown, to Neverland? Note, I said NEVERLAND, not Pixie Hollow. There's too much controversy of Disney making boys land, and girls land, so, I'm doing something no one's thought of, COMBINING the two! Utilizing the buildings currently there, Neverland will contain the following, as noted by color.

Red Area - Lost Boys Dark Ride/coaster. This will be an indoor/outdoor ride, going through all the expeditions of the lost boys.

Tan Circle - The Hideout Area. This will be similar to Tom Sawyer's Island, with walkways, waterfalls, and Pan's Hideout, all tucked throughout the rollercoaster section of the Lost Boy's Ride.

Pink Area - What is now the rumored Tinkerbell dark ride. Move the potential ride from the Motorboat area, to Neverland, and use the motorboat area now, for an addition to Autopia, or another Dark ride later on.

Blue Circle - Pixie Hollow. Move the Pixie Hollow by TL to here, change Pixie Hollow to a nice wooded area with benches and interactive fountains already there. DL is lacking these areas.

Lime Green Area - Move Peter Pan's Flight to where Roger Rabbit's Cartoon spin is, and add a Sleeping Beauty Dark ride where Peter Pan currently is.

Yellow Area - Sit down restaurant themed to the Indian Camp scene in the movie Peter pan.

Dark Green area- toontown train station - retheme to classic london train station.

Not noted - the location where Donald Ducks boat is now, retheme to Jolly Roger, interactive areas, and a Peter Pan/Smee/Hook/Wendy meet and greet.

That's all for now, I'll post more when I get home tonight, since I'm in study hall doing this ....

[the ghost]

These are actually pretty good ideas. Except sleeping beauty would go inside Fantasyland. My ony issue is that I love Roger Rabbit, but these are pretty clever ideas. Also, Neverland is not too trendy right now due to Michael Jackson, but at the same time this would take a while to complete. Very original ideas, though.

[BelizeIt]

I like your ideas, though ToonTown is the area I visit the least when I'm at Disneyland.(I don't have any RugRats)

 

But, looking at your satellite photo what I do see is tremendous amount of space for a new E-Ticket attraction. When I see some of the unique attractions that Disney has built (or is currently imagineering) I can only hope that Disneyland will at some point actually get a new E-Ticket.

 

Sadly, I seems that the Disney Corp feels that they don't have to do anything to Disneyland. I would also like to see a major redo/facelift for Tomorrowland.(Which doesn't seem very futuristic anymore)

 

I realise that Disney has allocated a lot of resources to DCA, but they shouldn't lose site of the original park that started it all. But, either way I'll keep renewing my annual pass every year, and hold out hope for the future.

[disneylanddork50]

Wow....it took people awhile to respond! lol anyhow, I do agree that the Neverland theme is "down" due to Michael. And I will post pictures of what it could look like. And I also agree, Roger Rabbit is one of my preferred attractions as well, and I'm actually going to post a new thread with a COMPLETE list of everything I want to change at the resort, and will also include what will change as well with DL, and DCA. Getting back to it, Roger Rabbit could move to the Hollywood Studios portion of Hollywood Pictures Backlot, and get some major updates with the move. There's some ideas that have been tossed around on Micechat, and I am going to talk to the poster and see if I can use some of his ideas in my list.

[disneylanddork50]

Ok, I've added to the list of what *should* or *could* be changed.

 

Tan Circle - The Hideout Area. This will be similar to Tom Sawyer's Island, with walkways, waterfalls, and Pan's Hideout, all tucked throughout the rollercoaster section of the Lost Boy's Ride.

 

Pink Area - What is now the rumored Tinkerbell dark ride. Move the potential ride from the Motorboat area, to Neverland, and use the motorboat area now, for an addition to Autopia, or another Dark ride later on.

 

Blue Circle - Pixie Hollow. Move the Pixie Hollow by TL to here, change Pixie Hollow to a nice wooded area with benches and interactive fountains already there. DL is lacking these areas.

 

Lime Green Area - Move Peter Pan's Flight to where Roger Rabbit's Cartoon spin is, and add a Sleeping Beauty Dark ride where Peter Pan currently is.

 

Yellow Area - Sit down restaurant themed to the Indian Camp scene in the movie Peter pan.

 

Dark Green area- toontown train station - retheme to classic london train station.

 

Not noted - the location where Donald Ducks boat is now, retheme to Jolly Roger, interactive areas, and a Peter Pan/Smee/Hook/Wendy meet and greetOk, I've added to the list of what *should* or *could* be changed.

 

ToonTown

 

Tan Circle - The Hideout Area. This will be similar to Tom Sawyer's Island, with walkways, waterfalls, and Pan's Hideout, all tucked throughout the rollercoaster section of the Lost Boy's Ride.

 

Pink Area - What is now the rumored Tinkerbell dark ride. Move the potential ride from the Motorboat area, to Neverland, and use the motorboat area now, for an addition to Autopia, or another Dark ride later on.

 

Blue Circle - Pixie Hollow. Move the Pixie Hollow by TL to here, change Pixie Hollow to a nice wooded area with benches and interactive fountains already there. DL is lacking these areas.

 

Lime Green Area - Move Peter Pan's Flight to where Roger Rabbit's Cartoon spin is, and add a Sleeping Beauty Dark ride where Peter Pan currently is.

 

Yellow Area - Sit down restaurant themed to the Indian Camp scene in the movie Peter pan.

 

Dark Green area- toontown train station - retheme to classic london train station.

 

Light Blue oval - Fantasyland Theater - Remove, add a Beauty and the Beast dark ride, and quick service station, with sit down seating. Dark Ride will be housed in the Beast's castle, and ride will be underground.

 

Not noted - the location where Donald Ducks boat is now, retheme to Jolly Roger, interactive areas, and a Peter Pan/Smee/Hook/Wendy meet and greet.

 

Tomorrowland - We all know that this land is in need of a severe makeover. I don't want attractions like Monster's inc Laugh Floor, and Stitch's great escape. I'd like to see the combined idea of exploration (Discoveryland in DLP) and then the "retro, but futuristic" look of WDW's TL. We'll start at the front of the land.

Red Oval -Add a giant archway, with rotating orbs, and satellites, with neon lit at night, remove the Astro Orbitor.

Teal Box- Star Tours - already announced refurb coming in 2010-2011, have random scene selection (25 beginnings, 25 middles, 25 ends) so it's relatively different each time you ride it.

Dark Blue circle - Use the old PeopleMover queue for the Astro Orbitor, (see peach circle directly below)

Peach Circle - Astro Orbitor returning to the top of the tower, add wrap around queue using the old PM queue.

Yellow Box - Redesign the starcade, bring in the State of the Art video games, bring back the second level, but use the 2nd for a ride simulation (kind of like the Build your own rollercoaster @ DisneyQuest in WDW). Sky Blue box - Magic eye theater is removed - addition of an extraTERRORestrial-like show is added. Space Mountain's beginning queue gets a slight refurb to ease the confusion of guests walking in front of the line for FP's and just sitting there because of the a/c and shade.

Pink Box - Redd Rocket's Pizza Port gets an updated look from the tacky 90's refurb.

Red Circle, Green oval, and orange box - Innoventions - gosh...where to begin...Ok, building may or may not continue to rotate, while the addition of a Mission Space attraction dominates the first floor of the building (which is the green circle. second, the top level, and current exit of the building will house the new PeopleMover station, and queue. Being indoors for most of the queue, will allow guests to stand in line in the A/C during those hot Anaheim days, while waiting for an beloved attraction. The cars will resemble a similar paint job to the new monorails, but in a broader range.

Blue box - Tomorrowland Terrace - total retheme of it all, broader menu, maybe even be an outdoor sit down restaurant. But still utilize the stage.

Green Box - autopia - Massive retheme of the queue, additional new cars being electric, and removal of the Chevron sponsor, addition of a electric sponsor..pg&e, socal edison...etc.

Fantasyland - Red Oval - Motorboat cruise area - addition of a dark ride, not sure what film, or original attraction yet.

 

Frontierland - Green boxes - addition to Big Thunder Mountain - dig a tunnel underneath the walkway, or add an overpass over the walkway, and add a "newly discovered mine" where the old Festival of Fools arena is.

Yellow circle - Dark ride to "home on the range"........KIDDING! Actually a add the Hall of Presidents, and a nice sit down park here. This will bring more guests to the back side of the park, and add a great attraction here.

 

Critter Country - PERMANENT REMOVAL of Winnie The Pooh, return of Country Bear Jamboree. 'nuff said.

This is it for my DISNEYLAND ideas, stay tuned for DCA's ideas, despite the billion dollar refurb we're already getting.

[Badgergrrrl]

If money was no object, what kind of thrill ride and/or rollercoaster would you create?

 

I think I would make a duel wooden coaster that would run underground. (well..mostly underground or in the dark) Something simular to the Viper. I would want minimal hesitation and each coaster would have only one train. Would be cool to have the trains run backwards.

 

It also would be pretty cool having a rollercoaster that went through a Haunted House/Fun House. I'd have one of those rotating tunnel things--have the coaster zip through it.

 

Just a question I've been wondering about..thought I'd ask it.

 

ADMIN EDIT: I have merged your original thread with our existing Rumors/Ideas thread. Please remember to do a search in the future to ensure that you aren't creating a shadow thread for a topic already in discussion on another thread.

[Swiminn6]

Hmm.. A really unique indoor steel coaster that did mostly everything, (launch, small hill lift, go backwards, loops, etc.) but had a story along with it. I guess something like the Mummy but like in space! It would be cool to be launched but look like your just flying through stars! Oh and it would have to be very smooth with great air time!

[PriestofSyrinx]

Ninja at SFOG might be reaching the end of its life within the next two years...

[Airtime&Gravity]

Some kind of old, but announced at IAAPA, news is that two of the Happy Valley parks, will build S&S launched coasters.

 

(11/27/09) I've been told that the two new S&S launched coasters going into the Happy Valley parks in 2010 will feature 4 across seating, a first from S&S Power.

(11/18/09) Happy Valley Chenzhen and Beijing are both adding S&S Launched Coasters before the end of 2010. Each one will feature a unique layout, but launch riders out at 140kph (87mph).

 

Screamscape

 

 

Should be good additions to the parks, and hopefully S&S has fewer problems than they are having with Ringracer.

[alpengeist04]

Looks like the B&M Hyper talk has started up again for BGT. Let's hope it happens. ...or how about Intamin.

 

Also, I'm still holding out hope that somehow the Ozark Wildcat ends up at Wild Adventures. While I wouldn't put any money on it, I'm still hoping.

[dragonskeep]

A hyper at BGT would be perfect. They would have a real sweet collection at that point. Just don't get cute and build a Maurer Sohne. I know they had a problem getting clearance to build Sheikra at 200 feet, I would love to see them go higher with this....or launch it to 80 or so and then go up 200. As long as it's a hyper I will be pretty excited.

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

With the Apollo's buying of Cedar Fair, one question I can't help but speculate on (trust me, I really did try to hold my composure) but could this be the very loophole CF could use to further deminish the historic Knott's Ghost Town? We all know it's contractual for Cedar Fair to keep it, but with a new owner, the already vauge guidelines become even more vauge. I wonder.

[oriolat]

Since PortAventura was acquired by Invest Industrial (former owner of Gardaland) in September, many rumours of new rides have appeared. Apparently, the park is bound to receive a new ride in 2011.

 

The park has taken surveys at the end of the day to random guests recently. These surveys are aimed to find out what ride would be most popular among guests. Note that this survey is not open to guests' suggestions. So there are 6 options to choose from and guests are shown a picture of the ride so that they can see what it's like.

 

The options are:

 

- Vekoma Motorbike Coaster (this was rumoured)

- Indoor coaster (something like Mummy - I guess on a lower-scale budget)

- B&M Stand-UP (WTF, wasn't this type like... dead?)

- 4D cinema (or possible overhaul on the existing Sea Odyssey to make it 4D)

- B&M Dive Machine

- Hypercoaster (it was not clear weather they meant B&M or Intamin)

 

So, 6 options, 5 are coasters... let the speculation begin again!

 

Personally, I would rule out the 4D cinema, the Stand Up and quite possibly the Motorbike since they already have Furius Baco...