Where should the next Disney resort be located?

[AndyLL]

My son is building one in Colorado when he's 26. I think he spent more time designing it then they did DCA. He's gonna give me a job there so maybe I can be CM #1:

Alex's New Disney Park

[SoCalbma]

my backyard.

[RandySavage]

This may sound totally off-the-wall to some people but my pick would be a new U.S. park in Maine of all places. Hear me out........

A few years ago, LL Bean had floated the idea for an "Adventure Park" on about 400 acres that they own near their flagship store in Freeport, Maine. This land is right off I-95 about 20 minutes North of Portland, 2 hours North of Boston, 4 hours North of NYC......all accessible soon by Amtrak as well as an expanded Portland Jetport. The park would have included a hotel/resort with a golf course as well as attractions that would have revolved around the "outdoors". Unfortuantely, the concept was never fully explained and faded away with no further news after the economy tanked.

I think that this location along with a partnership with LL Bean would be a great concept for Disney's Wilderness Adventure Resort. A high-bred resort/theme park based around the Great Outdoors........maybe a Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Indoor/Outdoor Waterpark, Campground, golf, restaurants and Disney themed "adventures" co-sponsored by LL Bean (think kayaking courses, fly fishing, rock climbing, etc, etc)........along with a New England village "Main Street" type concept and possible mini-theme park (seasonal May-Oct).

Obviously, the investment and attendance would be smaller than existing parks/resorts........but I think that a cold weather Disney attraction is much needed somewhere in the U.S. I think that it would be a very different concept for Disney that may actually attract "new" fans to the Disney family of parks and resorts.

On a side note, it should be noted that LL Bean's flagship store attracts 3.5 million visitors annually, many of them high income tourists from the Boston to Washington DC belt.

Cool idea. LLBean is a great company. My earlier predictions were for major resorts but boutique resorts (like Aulani) could pop up anywhere. Disney owns undeveloped land in D.C., so that could get an American-themed resort. But these (Aulani) are really just hotels... I'd prefer something like what you describe, which is reminiscent of Disney's Mineral King project: something with an associated mini-park or attractions. There is some artwork on ex-WDI VP Tim Delaney's website of a project for the White Mountains (of NH)... so Disney did express some interest in the region:

[MarkTwain]

^ Those boutique resorts are what I think we're going to see the most of for the next few decades... especially if Aulani goes over well. There's that plot in DC they'll probably develop, but who knows where resorts might pop up in the future. I personally would love to see a mountain/ski resort in Colorado, a California beach resort, maybe a resort in the Bahamas somewhere (Castaway Cay maybe?), or even a resort in Paris or Spain. It would also be interesting how Disney changes the design of its resorts to reflect the places they're in, as they adapted Aulani to native Hawaiian architecture.

[APJ1127]

I like the boutique resort idea.
I'd also like to see them get back into sports. They could buy a Football team, theme the stadium, and add a Dave & Busters-like facility.
They could also create smaller, regional venues or restaurants. Consider Rainforest Cafe but with a Mickey theme.
Maybe a House of Blues type place to showcase local and Disney national talent.

But I think there are enough parks as is.

[loveberri87]

Personally I'd prefer if they don't build any more resorts. I'm not really excited about the Shanghai resort as it is, no need to add more.

[Gregor]

Well, if they're going after the biggest bang for their buck, India has the largest population after China...

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Not should, but will, be located:

Odds:

100-1: Australia: Market is too small and region (including Australia) already served by HKDL.

20-1: Dubai/Abu Dhabi: Dreams for the Emirates to become the Las Vegas/Orlando of the World evaporated with the 2008 crash... region is volatile with anti-American (Disney) factions nearby.

12-1: South Korea: WDI has been developing plans for a park there for some time (concept art has leaked). Universal & Paramount had planned theme parks there which are now stalling.

5-1: Rio: For: Growing economy, sizable market, Western-pop-culture friendly. Against: stability issues, big WDW visitors.

2-1: Mumbai: my money is on Mumbai for the exact same reason Shanghai is going forward: India's burgeoning 300,000,000+ middle class. Iger has repeatedly stated that the aim of Shanghai DL is to create another platform to introduce Disney media to a massive, untapped market. India would seemingly be more welcoming to Disney than China - a political democracy, pro-American, most Middle Class are English-speaking, Disney Channel already has a presence.

I'd bet on a Mumbai resort around 2020-2025

This is exactly right, I couldn't have said it better myself.

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Well, if they're going after the biggest bang for their buck, India has the largest population after China...

Exactly, that's the only reason to build a Disneyland resort, to make a profit, not another huge money pit.

Which is too bad, because I've had my own blueprint for SYDNEY DISNEYLAND since 1993.

[sleepyjeff]

Well, if they're going after the biggest bang for their buck, India has the largest population after China...

I agree, but we can't just say "India". India is a rather large country with deserts, fertile valleys, mountain ranges, a long coastline, etc.

Where in India should we put it?

I vote for Shimla.

Shimla - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Mickey Mouse Jr]

Sacramento! Because, that's where I live, and I wish for a DLR near-er to me... sorry, that was terrible suggestment, but not to me... I'll just stop posting now...

[calsig31]

If they open one in India, wouldn't they have to take out all references to Temple of Doom from any Indiana Jones ride that they may put in the park? I believe that people over there were offended by their portrayal in that movie.

Banned Films Around the World | BusinessWeek

[noleafclover1980]

If they open one in India, wouldn't they have to take out all references to Temple of Doom from any Indiana Jones ride that they may put in the park? I believe that people over there were offended by their portrayal in that movie.

Banned Films Around the World | BusinessWeek

Well, considering our Indy ride has no real Temple of Doom references anyway, I'd say we're ok in that respect. Most of the references in IJA came from Raiders of the Lost Arc, and they filled the rest on with all new stuff.

[TreoFred]

If they open one in India, wouldn't they have to take out all references to Temple of Doom from any Indiana Jones ride that they may put in the park? I believe that people over there were offended by their portrayal in that movie.

Banned Films Around the World | BusinessWeek

And look at IJA in Tokyo Disney Sea: instead of being based on Mara (and Asia) it is based on a a Crystal Skull (and South America). And it predates the 4th Indy movie.

yet, it is the same ride

[calsig31]

Well, considering our Indy ride has no real Temple of Doom references anyway, I'd say we're ok in that respect. Most of the references in IJA came from Raiders of the Lost Arc, and they filled the rest on with all new stuff.

Kind of, I mean you do have the rope bridge. The one in Paris is supposed to be a mine car ride similar to Temple of Doom. Even these references would have to be cut out so as not to offend the locals.