Blue Sky Disney has an interesting article today, speculating about roadmaps for new parks at Disney resort areas worldwide. The bottom line? We won’t see additional “gates” at any of the existing resorts for another decade.
Through the latter part of this decade we’ll look forward to shoring up the state-side parks(DCA in particular), Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland will focus on expanding their current offerings before any plans get approved for more fun factories. Think of it as repairing a fleet of cars that have been abused for a decade before you go out and buy a new series of cars. Lots of refurbishment and expansion ahead of us friends…
The most interesting sentence to me:
When [WDW resort hotels] start approaching Disneyland levels (above 90 percent) then you’ll see the executives in Team Disney Burbank start putting those blue sky plans on the front burner.
Um, about that . . . doesn’t seem to me that’s likely anytime soon, especially if you include DVC (there seems to have been a recent glut of Saratoga Springs rooms on the market lately). And hey, Pop Century Legendary Years, anyone? Apparently occupancy rates at WDW haven’t even been high enough to convince Disney to finish building it.
The article has good analysis and interesting speculations. And don’t miss the comment, there’s some good conversation going on there too.
Broke Hoedown 
Good. I don’t think Disney needs to add another gate when there is so much opportunity for improvement in the existing parks.
You know, I wish I could help Disney with that occupancy rate thing. As in, I wish I could LIVE there. I think Disney needs to keep their mind on improving everything they have, that would make me happiest.
Instead of adding a 5th gate, I would love to see an expansion of the Magic Kingdom.
It is the most visited theme park in the world and is always full of people (much to my dismay).
sigh…
Actually, it’s not the most visited theme park in the world. Tokyo Disneyland is. WDW is the most visited resort in the world, but if you just go by parks Tokyo beats us.
TS Miller, where are you finding that stat? I’m looking at DIS News and seeing MK in the top slot.
Why not make the resorts and the parks more integrated? I’m sure if they made a hotel right next to a park, that hotel would book quickly.
Jon, interesting comment. Disneyland Paris and Disney’s California Adventure both have hotels very well integrated (at Paris, you walk under the hotel as you enter Disneyland). I wonder if their occupancy rates are higher than, say, the Grand Floridian or Contemporary.
I wonder about the occupancy rates are as well.
Both of the hotels that KC mentions are the more expensive hotels. They would compare to the Grand Floridian and Polynesian for prices. close to $350.00 a night.
That, alone, would scare me away!