Is Walt Disney World Getting a Fifth Gate?
It's the question everyone has been asking lately: Is a fifth theme park coming to Walt Disney World?
Over the past decade, the question has just been a reflection of the dreams and wishes of all Walt Disney World fans. With no real evidence to back up our requests for a fifth theme park, this question reflected our hopes and dreams. But now, an announcement from Bob Iger has stirred the pot.
That announcement, which actually came in the late Fall of 2023 with Disney's financial reporting, but is gaining traction in media now, is that the Disney company will be doubling their investment in the theme parks division over the next 10 years, to the tune of $60 billion. This would be the largest investment in the theme parks division in decades.
But, hold on, come back down to Earth for a second.
First, the theme parks division is HUGE. It includes Walt Disney World, yes, but also Disneyland California and California Adventure, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney and Disney SEA, Shanghai Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disneyland and all the rides and land expansions within them. It ALSO includes the Disney Cruise line, which we know has already been growing rapidly.
And we're talking about over 10 years. So that's really about $6 billion per year.
"Hold your horses," says the realist in us. But...
Reasons to get excited...
Also while trying to come back to Earth, we asked ourselves "How much does it cost to build a theme park?"
A little research can answer that. The last theme park to be built in Florida was Disney's Animal Kingdom. While the actual construction of the park cost around $400-600 million, when you add all the contingent expenses, it was closer to $1 billion to build. And that was before Pandora. Pandora alone cost another $500 million to build. So, altogether, that's $1.5 billion... in 1998 dollars. To get to today's dollars, you have to multiply by 1.9, which gets us to just under $3 billion.
That's right. It would cost $3 billion to build Animal Kingdom WITH Pandora today.
And Disney is dedicated twice that per year to theme park and cruise developments.
The beauty of Pandora at night - could all be yours for about three billion dollars!
Okay, NOW we're onto something. Even so, Disney is being pretty hush about what that expansion might be. The most concrete spoilers, as they pertain to Walt Disney World are the following, in order of likelihood:
Most likely speculation: Dinoland is going to be redone. We know it will. Disney has admitted as much. And now Lin-Manuel Miranda himself, composer of the Encanto soundtrack, is walking around saying that some Imagineer somewhere must know what the inside of the casita is like. Leaks, leaks, leaks galore. We're thinking we're getting an Encanto land, or a Zootopia land (Disney already knows how to build this since it exists in Shanghai), or both.
Second most likely speculation: Expansion of Magic Kingdom beyond Big Thunder Mountain. Disney has been teasing the question "What's beyond Big Thunder?" a lot lately, and they don't tease if they don't mean it. We have a feeling the answer may not remain "Um... the railroad?"
Possible speculation: Disney fans have been asking for a Villains land for some time. The question is, will it be a land (perhaps beyond Big Thunder?) or will it warrant an entire park? Either way, even if Disney is currently planning on a Villains land, the voices of Disney fans are getting louder and at some point, we think Disney is going to listen.
Early concept art for what might go in place of Dinoland
But that's JUST Walt Disney World. Here's what else might happen, either instead of, or in addition to, what we've listed as possibly likely. We have no idea if these things are likely, and this is pure speculation.
The money will go to other parks. Not Walt Disney World. It's possible. It could even go to the cruise line to compete with Icon of the Seas and the like, or add itineraries.
Disney may break ground in another country or state. Disney Australia? Disney Texas?
Avenger's Campus comes to Walt Disney World. Actually.... we'd really like this, and think it should happen.
The money goes into ride refreshes, such as Splash Mountain becoming Tiana's Bayou Adventure. Several rides out there could use a refresh.
More ships (and private islands?). Each cruise ship costs about $1 billion for Disney to build. And private islands have cost Disney anywhere from $25 million (Castaway Cay) to $400 million (Lighthouse Point).
Still. $60 billion is a LOT of money. Maybe Disney plans to buy Florida. Just kidding. We think. Maybe it's ON like Donkey Kong.
What do YOU think Disney is going to do with $60 billion over the next ten years in the theme parks division? Tell us over on our Facebook page by commenting on our most recent post. You can also follow us there to see when new articles are posted each week. Until next time...
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