What Do Superheroes, Droids, and Archeologists Have in Common? A Bright Future

With Disney's recent buy-out of Paramount to put Iron Man 3 and The Avengers under the Disney label, it's obvious the company doesn't want to sit and wait for deals to expire to make good use of it's 2009 purchase of Marvel. Is it possible Disney won't hold back much longer on theme park tie-ins? While Universal Orlando has an entire island at Islands of Adventure dedicated to Marvel, it's no secret that they are actively looking at how to drop those Disney owned franchises as soon as possible. Once Universal pulls the trigger on removing the Marvel characters and attractions, what will Disney do? Will they mix Iron Man, Spider Man, and the Incredible Hulk with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy? While I would fully expect Disney to build Marvel attractions as soon as possible, I wouldn't expect to see the comic book heroes at the Magic Kingdom. Management at Disneyland Paris has already hinted that concepts for a third Disney theme park in Europe revolve solely around the Marvel franchises. Can we expect the same in Orlando? Only time will tell, but rest assured you will see Marvel in the Disney Parks as soon as it is legally possible. Marvel isn't the only franchise Disney will be cashing in on during the next decade.

"Star Tours: The Adventures Continue" Coming 2011

Star Wars has been a popular franchise for the Disney Theme Parks since they struck their first deal with George Lucas in the mid-80's. As many of you are probably aware, the 20-plus year old Star Tours attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios is currently receiving a multi-million dollar refurbishment to bring it into the 21st century. The talk of random ride sequences sending guests to multiple planets in the Star Wars universe (all in 3-D and High Definition might I add) has guests excited for the re-opening of the attraction in 2011. With the current popularity of the Star Wars franchise leading from a hit animated series, upcoming 3-D release of the six feature films, and talk of a live action television show in the works, is it crazy to think Disney will want to work with Lucas to have more than a single Star Wars attraction in Orlando? Probably not. It's a smart bet to make that we'll see another ride through the "galaxy far, far away" before too long.

"The Indiana Jones Adventure" at Disneyland

Let's also not forget that the talks with Lucas include another important franchise, "Indiana Jones". Guests who visit Disneyland in California have be treated to an amazing attraction called the "Indiana Jones Adventure" since 1995. In Florida, guests only get to see their favorite collector of rare antiquities in a 20 year old stage show and a short scene in the aging Great Movie Ride. Guests have been begging for an attraction half as amazing as the "Indiana Jones Adventure" in Florida, and with any luck we'll be riding along with Indy at Disney's Hollywood Studios someday.

Fantasyland Expansion Plans Getting a Makeover

Nobody likes losing, especially the Disney company. For over 88 years they have been the leaders in movies, television, and theme parks. Walt Disney World isn't losing any competition in Orlando, but the success of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has Disney rethinking many unannounced projects and one huge one that is already under construction.

Model of earlier plans for the Fantasyland Expansion at the Magic Kingdom

When the Fantasyland Expansion for the Magic Kingdom was announced at the inaugral D23 Expo in September 2009, we were warned plans would change, but we would still be in store for the largest construction project in the history of Walt Disney World's first theme park. The announced plans included realms where guests could enter the worlds of "Beauty and the Beast", "The Little Mermaid", "Cinderella", "Sleeping Beauty", "Dumbo", and "Tinker Bell". After these plans were disclosed, many complained that the additions were too girl-centric and offered little, if anything, for male visitors. As a 22-year-old male, it isn't easy for me to admit I was pretty excited about everything in those plans. I think these movies that would have attraction based upon them are all timeless not because girls like them, but because they have mass appeal. I'm pretty sure there are men of all ages that have seen and enjoyed at least of a few of those movies. Regardless, Disney has decided to change plans around based on these complaints and the success of Harry Potter down the road.

While nothing is official just yet, it seems that the "Cinderella", "Sleeping Beauty", and "Tinker Bell" realms are history. Rumors indicate that the once planned "Snow White and the Sevenn Dwarfs" mine-train roller-coaster will fill the plot where the homes of Princesses Cinderella and Aurora would have been. The addition of a small thrill ride is certainly welcome, but it does have its reprecussions. The "Snow White's Scary Adventure" ride that had been in the park since it opened in 1971 is now on the chopping block. Witht the loss of new meet-and-greet experiences in what is the Fantasyland Forest, rumors have the attraction being gutted for a home for the Disney Princesses. I have to admit that while it is not my favorite ride, I'll miss Snow White for the historical signifigance more than anything else.

construction has begun on "Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid"

Still, none of these plans are etched in stone. Things are still shifting and changing, but you'll be happy to know that construction on a new facade and interactive queue for "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh", a new roof for "The Mad Tea Party", the new "Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid" attraction, and the Beauty amd the Beast inspired "Be Our Guest" Restaurant has begun, so we know these projects have made it through the transition period. No matter what ends uop making the final product of the Fantasyland Forest, I think Orlando visitors and locals will be very happy with the widespread changes and additions.

For a recent look at the Fantasyland Construction, here's a video from WDWNTube:

Are Simple Thrills Enough For Another Orlando Theme Park?

If Central Florida didn't have enough thrill rides, a whole park full of them should do the trick. The Baker Leisure Group is helping a group of investors create what may be known as “The Orlando Thrill Park”, a proposed 70 acres of roller coasters located along International Drive. Does Orlando need this thrill-only park, or is this too much of too little?

"The Incredible Hulk" at Universal's Islands of Adventure

Roller coasters built purely for thrill are not even mentioned as top attractions in Orlando, it takes a sensory experience unlike anything guests have ever seen before to make it in this town. If people want to ride some un-themed, generic scream machines, they can head to their local Six Flags or hometown amusement park. Extreme thrill rides already open in Orlando like "The Incredible Hulk", "Mission:SPACE", and "Dragon Challenge" are a lot of fun, but fall short of the most popular attractions in the area and this is when a respected company such as Disney or Universal are at the helm. Imagine if a budget-conscious company decided to build a coaster-only park. We could see something worse than a Six Flags sitting on International Drive.


From a business stand-point, this is a horrible idea. How could a park with far less to offer than what visitors can see close to home or right down the road (in any direction) succeed in Central Florida? It can't. Everyone who wants to vacation in Orlando is there for Disney World and will only extend their trips so long to include Universal Orlando, Sea World, and Busch Gardens. Visitors will not stay an extra day for a few rather plain roller-coasters. Locals will visit, but their annual passes to the established parks will be far more inviting. Never-mind if you don't like thrill rides, then you'll never find yourself visiting a one-dimensional park like this. Variety is key, and if a park doesn't offer something for everyone, than everyone doesn't go.


Regardless, I can't wait to watch this park fail. If you can't compete with the lower tier parks in Orlando, you shouldn't even be there. This is a tourist trap that will fade just like the rest if the investors even get the money together to make this thing happen. I hope they don't....