Disney Missouri park rumor reignited

[BoRJoYZeE]

A request for road improvements for a $1.1 billion theme park in Newton County has led to new speculation about the Walt Disney Co.'s interest in southwest Missouri. Rumors that a Disney attraction was coming to Branson were rampant in the mid-1990s. Now, Newton County Commissioners are investigating whether Disney could be linked to a theme park proposal made earlier this month.

Jerry Carter, Newton County Presiding Commissioner, said the notion arose after Todd Marshall, who said he represented a Springfield company called ARM Risk, attended the April 12 commissioners' meeting. Carter asked about changes on county roads leading to the location the company is considering for a theme park.

A list of specifications Marshall gave the commissioners included first-phase construction costs of $1.1 billion, land purchases of 1,000 acres with the park taking 100 acres, six hotels, 95 shops, 27 rides, 12 stages and 18 restaurants.

A possible Disney connection was raised when commissioners checked the company owners. The owners are Michael Hill of Wilmington, Del.; Robert Brown, who lists his address as 500 South Buena Vista St., Burbank, Calif.; and Jason Johnson, who lists his address as Corporate Office, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Burbank address is corporate headquarters of the Walt Disney Co. Lake Buena Vista, Fla., is headquarters of Walt Disney World Resort.

Officials at Disney headquarters in Burbank said the company would not comment on the matter.


Article Here (http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007704210360)

Sounds interesting to me. I wonder where this is going? Hmm....

[Brock]

I don't believe it. Like the article stated, rumors of Disney establishing a resort in Branson have been around since the 90's. It may just be the land owners wanting their 15 minutes of fame.

[Harpo]

100 acres is a rather small park. I don't see such a park size supporting 6 hotels, unless they are very small hotels. If it were Disney, I'd expect them to be thinking bigger.

[The Ghost]

Eh, it's no Disney park.

You know what I think? I think that Silver Dollar City has bought that land for a 3rd park and a few hotels. Now, I don't know if they're trying to make a resort empire like WDW, but it seems to be that way after what Silver Doller City has been doing lately.

[Squid2]

However, this does track with a couple of other comments from Disney. In particular, the one about wanting to expand their offerings out from their resorts, and to making them smaller. Not to mention that Disney was recently considering building the Western River Expedition ride from so long ago. (I could easily see them making that the centerpiece of a new park.) And we do know that Disney is now looking at building new parks, besides the mainland one proposed in China.

But a $1.1 billion dollar theme park? That could only be Disneyor Universal, if it's an established player. No one else has the capital to build such a park. Herschel doesn't have that kind of money. Six Flags? Get real. Tussards? Their first park in the states is in Missouri?!?! Cedar Fair? Not after their major purchase, not to mention none of their parks cost that much.

Read the article... it could be someone pulling everyone's leg. But I think there's a good chance it's legit.

Squid2

[The Ghost]

It could also be Disney's America?

[BoRJoYZeE]

Yeah, I heard it over the radio this morning. I was like "what"? So I checked it out and this is what I got from it.

[kc_rc_fan]

OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH!! Okay I'll stop being spastic. If Disney was building a resort in Branson that would be awesome! I live 2 hours away and whoo that's exciting!! I don't think Silver Dollar City has 1.1 billion dollars to spend. They already have 3 parks in Branson (SLC, Celebration City, White Water) plus a couple of small activities in Branson. If it is Disney I'll be one of the most happy people!! Well sorry for going crazy.

[TheSkipper]

100 acres is a rather small park. I don't see such a park size supporting 6 hotels, unless they are very small hotels. If it were Disney, I'd expect them to be thinking bigger.

It's 1,000 acres, 100 acres for the park alone. Eveyting else would be on the other 900 acres.

[BoRJoYZeE]

Indeed. Now from what I heard, Worlds of Fun is 120 acres.

[Harpo]

The combination of Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun is on 350 acres. (I don't have a breakdown for each part of the property.) The smallest of the Cedar Fair parks are Knott's Berry Farm and Valleyfair, both on 160 acres. So, for the park alone, 100 acres is small.

On the other hand, California Adventure claims to be very small, at 55 acres. Disney's MGM Studios is 135 acres.

Skipper, I did understand that the hotels, etc, would be on the other 900 acres. My point is that a 100 acre park seems to be quite small to justify having 6 hotels on the property -- I question if the park's capacity would be sufficient to keep 6 hotels at or near full occupancy.

[The Ghost]

Skipper, I did understand that the hotels, etc, would be on the other 900 acres. My point is that a 100 acre park seems to be quite small to justify having 6 hotels on the property -- I question if the park's capacity would be sufficient to keep 6 hotels at or near full occupancy.

MK's only 106 acres and it had quite alot of hotels even before Epcot opened.

This better not be a Disney park though, unless it was something that was never built before *cough* Disney's America *cough*. If it was another MK though, it would just be a waste of money, and DLR and WDW will lose attendance with this new addition to the chain.

[Albert Caine]

^Those parks would loose attendance but Disney will still be making money. The attendance will be better spread out across the country. I think Magic Kingdom gets way too crowded and a new US. park would help to make MK more enjoyable but I know Disney dosent think that way so most likely the park will be a different style than MK. Maybe Disney's America but that is also rumored to be WDW's 5th gate. Who knows what will happen.

[kc_rc_fan]

I really hope a Disney park comes to Missouri!! I hope it isn't another Magic Kingdom though. A Disney America would be nice. But then there would always be a competition between Silver Dollar City and Disney America. No park can match the southern homie feel of Silver Dollar City NO park. I'm sure Disney has something up their sleeve for a new park though..

[El Toro]

No park can match the southern homie feel of Silver Dollar City NO park. I'm sure Disney has something up their sleeve for a new park though..

Umm I'm sure Dollywood can! :D

[kc_rc_fan]

Nah.... But since their owned by the same company.....Nah....

[tinaalsgirl5]

Umm I'm sure Dollywood can! :D

Only because Dollywood used to be "Silver Dollar City Tennessee". But SDC's the parent park, despite the fact that Dollywood seems to be a bit more visible amongst the general public, and from everything I've seen of DW, SDC has the edge over it.

But, since they're both owned by HFEC, it doesn't really matter.

And thankfully, this whole Disney thing is apparently a sham:

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070424/NEWS01/704240365

I'd like to see SDC remain the Disney of the Midwest (well, it's better than Disney, IMHO, but whatever).

Joy

[El Toro]

Nah.... But since their owned by the same company.....Nah....

Nah..... I still think it is. :)

But you have your opinion and I have mine. :heart:

[TheSkipper]

Mid 1990's to late 2000's 2007 seems a long time for Disney to keep things under wraps. The ONLY time they tried it was when bying the land for WDW in Fla. Otherwise, they just buy, plan, and build. It's not financially feasible anymore to hold things over 10 years, it's too costly, even for them.

[kc_rc_fan]

Only because Dollywood used to be "Silver Dollar City Tennessee". But SDC's the parent park, despite the fact that Dollywood seems to be a bit more visible amongst the general public, and from everything I've seen of DW, SDC has the edge over it.

But, since they're both owned by HFEC, it doesn't really matter.

And thankfully, this whole Disney thing is apparently a sham:

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070424/NEWS01/704240365

I'd like to see SDC remain the Disney of the Midwest (well, it's better than Disney, IMHO, but whatever).

Joy
Well it may or may not be true. I'll just wait and see. I wish Disney was building a Missouri park though. Maybe it would make Silver Dollar City even better. I guess we'll see what happens. Also Branson is in Christian County. Joplin is in Newton County. So this rumored land is actually closer to Joplin than Branson.

[tinaalsgirl5]

It may be closer to Joplin, but it's still within the same state and an even shorter drive between it and SDC than, say, WoF and SDC or Six Flags and SDC.

I just think that a Disney park would offer too high of competition. Not that I'm worried in terms of quality competition, 'cause I've been to DL & WDW and still prefer SDC in terms of quality. No, it's more a matter of who has the more well-known name.

Of course, then again, a midwestern Disney park's main audience will be midwesterners who probably would already know about SDC anyway.

So, I suppose they MIGHT be able to co-exist without one affecting the other negatively.....

Joy

[kc_rc_fan]

It would pose competition yes. But competition is always good. I also think Silver Dollar City is getting more known then it used to be.

[Garfield 06]

Yes, no, yes, no, yes, no! Arrgghh! (sorry) Anyway, I can only say that unfortunately, this seems illogical for a reason. Why on earth would Disney buy one thousand acres for a one hundred acre park. Isn't the point to be bigger and better than the compitition and make enough room to cram as many tourists into the park as possible? There are also rumors that Disney is trying to quietly buy up hotels in California to make room for a third park at the DLR (the infamous "Wescot" idea perhaps).
There are my 2 cents. (sorry to spoil your fun kc_rc_fan, I hope it comes too)

G-06

[~LoveTulie]

Yea.. I think it is WAY to small to be a Disney Park.

[kc_rc_fan]

It is quite small. But hey if it's not true it's not the end of the world.

[Markiemarc]

The reason that SDC bought Celebration city's land is to that Disney wouldn't buy it.

Here is what is going down

Someone is buying land and building there own theme park near branson west it's bught by a former upper management of SDC.

This will give SDC the competition it really needs. SDC isn't what it used to be so a healthy competition.

That is what the word was at sdc last when i worked there.

Hershen's wouldn't let Disney in they pretty much own the town. They have there hands in alot of things. They are what blocked gambling from going to rock away beach.

[GreatGatsby]

This is extremely unlikely (if not impossible) to happen. If anything, Disney is going to further globalize their industry before adding to the country that already has two massive resorts. They will improve them before adding separate properties.

Disney's California Adventure already isn't doing well, and that's in California - one of the most tourist-drawn states in the country. A property in Missouri is corporate suicide.

[kc_rc_fan]

Why do you say that? Just because the one in California isn't doing well? SDC is one of the most popular theme parks in America. (I'm going to get bashed for that one) But it is!

[Markiemarc]

I have talked to alot of people who prefer SDC over Disney and Six Flags because of customer service and the fact that you can ride all the rides in one day.

I have been to at least one of the parks and i prefer SDC

[kc_rc_fan]

I've been to Disney and SDC. SDC a lot more!! I prefer SDC for the customer service and the scenery. It is the best themed park in the country. I prefer Disney, well, just because it's Disney. I'd give Disney the lead but SDC is still very very close to my heart. Six Flags is just a coaster park. I hate those. You have to have a theme and scenery and family oriented ideals. We went to Six Flags St. Louis and kids were cussing and it just ruined the trip. I'll probably never go back to Six Flags again.

[Alpengeist]

If SDC is anything like Dollywood, which I hear it is, then it's a darn good park IMO.:)

[The Fonz]

What is 'SDC' short for?

[Harpo]

SDC is Silver Dollar City, located in Branson, Missouri.

[kc_rc_fan]

SDC is very similar to Dollywood since their owned by the same company.

[KiDFoX]

Disney at Branson would be one more despicable devastating blow to a once beautiful natural area. We used to go to the Branson area a lot when I was young but the massive development and over commercialization of it has totally ruined it in my opinion.

The last time I went to SDC we totally avoided Branson and came up the other side of the "mountain"

Disney in the area would just be trying to further capitalize on an area that lost track of what made it popular in the first place years ago. If Harold Bell Wright walked into the hills today he would keep on walking.

Disney is fine where they are but the last thing the Ozarks needs. The entire area is being destroyed and it is sad to see.