BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 From WDW News Today... RUMOR: 5th Walt Disney World Theme Park To Be Built Before 2021, Located Near Flamingo Crossings? A 5th Walt Disney World theme park has been a dream for many since Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened in 1998. We are currently living through the longest drought without a new theme park at Walt Disney World in the resort’s history: 16.5 years. As Walt Disney World reached its 40th anniversary in 2011, a new ten year plan for the growth of the resort was laid out, culminating in the 50th anniversary in 2021, which is sure to be viewed as the pinnacle theme park celebration in the company’s history. Sure, Disneyland is the original and Walt’s baby, but Walt Disney World was his last dream and has always been favored by management in the company for being the resort destination with the highest profits. This reasoning made it easy to believe rumors that a 5th theme park was one of the end goals of the ten year plan management devised for Orlando. So, just a few days ago we told you about the groundbreaking finally taking place at Flamingo Crossings and why that seems to be important and indicative of larger plans for Walt Disney World in the next 8-10 years. Well, it seems it might be a good sign that a 5th park is coming, especially with some recent land purchases made by Disney in the surrounding area (hat tip to Screamscape to putting together some pieces of the story). Disney owns 3000 total acres of land that are put aside for Flamingo Crossings project, located just outside of the colorful character borders of the Walt Disney World Resort on Western Way. 300 acres of this land seem to be getting some special attentions, a plot just behind the largest development pads for Flamingo Crossings. This plot may be home to Walt Disney World’s 5th theme park. Why does this plot make sense? A lot of the reasons are those we presented for Flamingo Crossings: 429 is empty and the other side of WDW property is overburdened. Also, building the 5th park here would entice more companies to get involved in Flamingo Crossings. Disney has had trouble selling the plots until recently, but maybe the recent hotel development deal with Marriott was struck because they know something we don’t. One would assume Marriott was privy to this information before finally agreeing to build two hotels that will be the first tenants for the project. If Disney is telling possible investors that there will be a 5th park that their business can be steps away from, they are probably going to be much more likely to open up shop between Western Way and 429. A lot of this is speculation at this point, but any big projects getting underway currently at Disney’s Hollywood Studios would be completed by 2017-18 and we know that all of the additions to Disney Springs, Epcot (Frozen attraction), and Animal Kingdom will be opening between 2016 and 2017, so the Disney World construction calendar is pretty wide open for the 3 years leading up to the 50th anniversary. Does all of this mean a 5th gate? Will the park be located in Flamingo Crossings? Will the borders of the Walt Disney World Resort expand west? There are certainly a lot of questions to answer… and we’re not even getting into what the 5th park would be yet… http://wdwnt.com/blog/2014/10/rumor-5th-walt-disney-world-theme-park-to-be-built-before-2021-located-near-flamingo-crossings/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WannaBeImagineer 98 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 I'm not going to speculate on a park just yet but... It just so happens I discovered a permit application yesterday (it was submitted over the summer) where WDW was modifying their Environmental Permit. It talked about various properties they have purchased around WDW including this one. The main push was they are wanting to remove the wetland delineation from existing WDW property to make it available for development. To do this they are creating a wetland mitigation area adjacent to their existing WDW wildlife preserve or whatever its called. This is a huge deal and not easy the mitigation bank has to be maintained forever. On another note I have seen a lot of projects applications for Flamingo Crossing but never look at them because I thought it was just some commercial strip mall. I guess I should start looking at them. I'll post a pic of the map shortly. WBI BradyBzLyn...Mo 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 This is an interesting rumor, but I'm not buying it. Why stick a 5th park way over there? It would create a transportation nightmare. On the other hand, I understand how it could be a quick money grab for Disney. They could go against everything Walt dreamed WDW would be and sell parcels of land adjacent to the new park to 3rd parties for big dollars. That kind of thinking seems to be in line with the current management's philosophy. Who cares about tomorrow?-grab as much cash as you can today! TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WannaBeImagineer 98 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 The permit modification application is over 900 pages long but here's a couple maps showing the property. Other than these its not too exciting. WBI BradyBzLyn...Mo 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 Reading the comments were interesting on the article. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 About the author of that article, Tom Corless. "Tom has been regularly visiting the Walt Disney World® Resort from the time he was 4 months old. While he has made countless visits in the last 25 years, he did not become a truly active member in the Disney fan community until the summer of 2007, when he decided to launch the WDW News Today website and podcast. Tom has since become an Orlando-local and is a published author on Walt Disney World." Wow, I'm impressed.Are we supposed to give this guy credibility after becoming a Disney fan only seven years ago. Around here, we call someone like that a newbie. Hey Tom, instead of making up rumors just so you have something to post on your ridiculous online rag, go mow your parents lawn instead. And don't trip over those comic books or video games. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Katman1356...Jason 1,140 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 About the author of that article, Tom Corless. "Tom has been regularly visiting the Walt Disney World® Resort from the time he was 4 months old. While he has made countless visits in the last 25 years, he did not become a truly active member in the Disney fan community until the summer of 2007, when he decided to launch the WDW News Today website and podcast. Tom has since become an Orlando-local and is a published author on Walt Disney World." Wow, I'm impressed.Are we supposed to give this guy credibility after becoming a Disney fan only seven years ago. Around here, we call someone like that a newbie. Hey Tom, instead of making up rumors just so you have something to post on your ridiculous online rag, go mow your parents lawn instead. And don't trip over those comic books or video games. Lou you forgot to tell him to stay off you lawn. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 Lou you forgot to tell him to stay off your lawn. Maybe he could mow my lawn too? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Katman1356...Jason 1,140 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 Maybe he could mow my lawn too? haha Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AC in A2......Aaron 693 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 From the author's article about Flamingo Crossings:Really, we need more chain hotels because of the huge influx of Avatar and Rivers of Light fans? I would tend to doubt it.A Star Wars DHS expansion? Sure. But isn't occupancy low in Disney hotels already? That's why they keep converting rooms to DVC.http://wdwnt.com/blog/2014/10/flamingo-crossings-construction-finally-begins-with-2-new-hotels-as-wdw-prepares-for-massive-expansion/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 I was just wondering the other day if anything was happening at Flamingo Crossings. That project started with a bang, and then a dud. Glad to hear something is happening. Hey, maybe the Flamingo will be purple?? :) BradyBzLyn...Mo 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted October 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 Good stuff, WBI - thanks for sharing! FWIW the article gives a nod to Screamscape. I didn't go digging, but it may be that's where this is originating. Screamscape is infamous for their rumors. It's kind of the ol' "throw enough stuff at the wall and some of it is bound to stick" theory. (think Jim Hill) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WannaBeImagineer 98 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 I just realized I posted the same graphic twice, the other one shows the locations of all the new property they bought. One parcel is south of Animal Kingdom and has existing buildings on it, maybe an old hotel. WBI BradyBzLyn...Mo 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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