What does the Fox acquisition mean for the theme parks?

[Liljo22]

I would be very excited to see some of Fox's animated characters appear in the park. Anastasia, Fern Gully, Pagemaster, Ice Age, Rio, Epic, The Book of Life - these are all movies Disney will likely have the rights to, unless Blue Sky needs to be divested for monopoly reasons. I would be very excited to see them start popping up more than they currently do (which is pretty much just Netflix and Target), even if that is just some merchandise rather than getting the full Disney treatment Pixar characters have gotten.

With WDA and Pixar, Disney will likely sell off Blue Sky. Ice Age is their big draw but the box office for the last few sequels have been on the decline. Saw Ferdinand last night and thought it was very good but they are predicting the box office to fall short of projections. May be beat by Coco this weekend.

 

[TomServo27]

The Simpson’s are interesting to me such a big IP. I don’t see a land a ride but I can see the merchandise making into the parks. But if they did actually want to do something with them in the parks they could easily plop something into the muppet theater.

I definatley see the X-Men though. Once they are brought into Disney’s marvel universe only makes sense with the restrictions on so much the marvel stuff they would leverage what they could in Orlando.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

If anything please make a fifth gate and stick FOX IP there away from Disney’s.

 

[GAN]

If anything please make a fifth gate and stick FOX IP there away from Disney’s.

I couldn't agree more, and I'm pretty sure that would be the general consensus at Disney.....

 

[Liljo22]

If anything please make a fifth gate and stick FOX IP there away from Disney’s.

Meh...none of their IPs scream future ride to me. They only distributed How to Train Your Dragon or else that might be a cool ride.

 

[Andyman100385]

Pete recently brought up his belief that Disney Springs is kind of a 5th gate. In its war with Universal, I would think the Fox properties could be used to create a more "mature" theme park. Has there been any discussion/speculation on this? I would THINK it could be perfect in that it will take long while for the deal to completely close, giving Disney plenty of time to revamp the parks currently in need. This could be a perfect 10 year plan. But I have not heard even one mention of it which very much surprises me.

 

[Lee Matthews]

I just don't see a Fox being in the parks. I think it's purely for the streaming service they are launching the more IP to bolster that.

 

[jknezek]

Most of us believe, for a huge variety of reasons, that fifth gate simply isn't in the cards. The capital expenditure, the ongoing labor expenditure, the difficulty with labor in general, the average length of a vacation, the struggle with current infrastructure... there simply isn't a compelling business case. A fifth park would cost a fortune, cannibalize the current guests as there is already too much to do to fit in a typical 7 day American vacation, and create significant and long lasting ongoing infrastructure and investment needs when it is clear Disney is just starting to get back to investing in WDW.

I believe the focus will be on in-filling the current parks and resort investment and strategy.

 

[onetoescape]

I am of the belief that they either need a 5th gate or expand the existing parks (which they are doing). On more and more days Disneyworld (no matter the park) isnt an enjoyable place to visit due to the queues which has knock on effects. Expanding the parks or a 5th gate will help thin out the crowds. So while the business case may say cannibalize sales buy not investing in the parks it may result in less. Being from the UK our Disneyworld holiday is normally 2 weeks to the American 1 week. The trend for us has been to increase are time spent in other parks rather than spending it in Disney. Last time it was around 50 % Disney and 50% other parks. Our next one in April (Star Wars Run disney races) we will be playing it by ear and if the queues are bad again we will be spending more time in Universal. I would love it then start introducing some Fox IPs into the parks just to mix things up a bit but I can't see them doing it for the foreseeable future. A couple of more "adult" rides / events using Fox Ips would be good as well again unlikely. Anyway what I do like now they have options and Universal are making them do things. Competition is great!

 

[DisFanDad]

Most of us believe, for a huge variety of reasons, that fifth gate simply isn't in the cards. The capital expenditure, the ongoing labor expenditure, the difficulty with labor in general, the average length of a vacation, the struggle with current infrastructure... there simply isn't a compelling business case. A fifth park would cost a fortune, cannibalize the current guests as there is already too much to do to fit in a typical 7 day American vacation, and create significant and long lasting ongoing infrastructure and investment needs when it is clear Disney is just starting to get back to investing in WDW.

I believe the focus will be on in-filling the current parks and resort investment and strategy.

Indeed, I thought for a time perhaps something to compete with Universals' "Thrill" rides. But with the addition of FOP, and the announcement of Tron, and Guardians, Star Wars and "more to come" ... I don't think this anymore. I think they are trying to offer a bit of that in their current parks and really ride some of their popular IP as an attraction against Universal.

 

[BrianL]

I don't necessarily think a 5th gate will never happen, but I think it's still a long way off. They need to get the current parks in order first, and they are doing that. Once all of that is done, and attendance is up, then they will maybe start thinking about it. I don't think they would pigeonhole it to the Fox brand items though, especially considering that some of that stuff is already in other parks (Avatar, kinda Star Wars).

 

[StrawberryChan]

if i'm being honest the only fox properties that really have potential for theme park areas have already been done. disney has avatar, star wars, and marvel in every park besides japan and florida. universal has marvel in the parks disney doesn't and also has the simpsons. the only other fox property i can see that has that kind of potential is alien, which was done spiritually by alien encounter and got a segment in the great movie ride, so it's possible they'd want to revisit it

 

[DanBoris]

Pete recently brought up his belief that Disney Springs is kind of a 5th gate. In its war with Universal, I would think the Fox properties could be used to create a more "mature" theme park. Has there been any discussion/speculation on this? I would THINK it could be perfect in that it will take long while for the deal to completely close, giving Disney plenty of time to revamp the parks currently in need. This could be a perfect 10 year plan. But I have not heard even one mention of it which very much surprises me.

I don't think you will see a big push to use the Fox properties in the parks. Look at Marvel. The acquisition happened over 8 years ago, and although we have seen some Marvel stuff in the parks we haven't seen a huge use of Marvel yet, even it the parks where it can be used, despite the fact that Marvel is of the most popular IP's in the world at the moment. Fox doesn't really have anything that is on that level so I think there will be even less incentive to work the IP's into the parks.

 

[Phicinfan]

Personally, before they do a 5th gate at WDW, I wish instead they would expand to a new area in the States - like the Revolutionary War idea they had for Virginia, if that was real or not I am not sure, but that would have been a blast to see and do Disney more often than I do now.

 

[jknezek]

Personally, before they do a 5th gate at WDW, I wish instead they would expand to a new area in the States - like the Revolutionary War idea they had for Virginia, if that was real or not I am not sure, but that would have been a blast to see and do Disney more often than I do now.

Oh it was real. A group of local landowners put up a huge stink and made it so that Disney couldn't win and the project was shut down. I don't think Disney will open a new park in a new area. Airfare is cheap (relatively speaking) so why open somewhere else. The most discounted tickets are those for locals or annual passes for locals. You want people to have to make it an event. Fly in, stay for a week, have no kitchen so you need to eat at the restaurants, live in the bubble. That's how you make money. Not by locals coming 25+ times a year on a single AP.

The world was different in the late 80s and early 90s when they were looking at VA. I expect we will see more Disney themed hotels in places around the country, it works well with their timeshare concept, but a new park? I just don't think there is a business case.

 

[STLstone]

Oh it was real. A group of local landowners put up a huge stink and made it so that Disney couldn't win and the project was shut down. I don't think Disney will open a new park in a new area. Airfare is cheap (relatively speaking) so why open somewhere else. The most discounted tickets are those for locals or annual passes for locals. You want people to have to make it an event. Fly in, stay for a week, have no kitchen so you need to eat at the restaurants, live in the bubble. That's how you make money. Not by locals coming 25+ times a year on a single AP.

The world was different in the late 80s and early 90s when they were looking at VA. I expect we will see more Disney themed hotels in places around the country, it works well with their timeshare concept, but a new park? I just don't think there is a business case.

They could do an indoor water park hotel with themed rooms like Great Wolf Lodge - only I presume Disney would do it even better.

 

[jknezek]

The Star Wars franchise could have easily carried a 5th park.

They could do an indoor water park hotel with themed rooms like Great Wolf Lodge - only I presume Disney would do it even better.

I suppose. I don't really see that as really a Fifth Gate concept nor as the point of the resort. Gates are huge, massively themed parks. Disney doesn't consider the two WDW waterparks as extra gates, and they are two of the best waterparks in the country. They are just fun alternatives that allow them to upsell tickets. Could they do something like that in a cold weather part of the U.S. and make it indoor? I suppose. But you have to remember the point of Aulani, Myrtle Beach, Vero Beach... these are all timeshare properties primarily for DVC purposes. They make DVC more attractive by giving Disney alternative destinations to WDW for timeshare owners. So if you are bored of the Parks one year, or like to take years off, there is still something to do with your points besides rent them to someone else. But they exist in areas that people want to visit. That's why there are proposals for a ski resort. Maybe you attach an indoor water park to the ski resort, but I just don't see them calling it a Fifth gate. It would just be an attraction for the resort. And I certainly don't see an indoor waterpark outside of say... Chicago... having any kind of business case as a standalone property.

No. I think we'll see the ski resort sooner than later. I think you might see a resort on the Texas coast. Maybe something in Mexico or the Caribbean eventually. But I think the point will be the resort is somewhere you want to be, not that they draw you there with some kind of waterpark or half sized gate.

 

[STLstone]

I suppose. I don't really see that as really a Fifth Gate concept nor as the point of the resort. Gates are huge, massively themed parks. Disney doesn't consider the two WDW waterparks as extra gates, and they are two of the best waterparks in the country. They are just fun alternatives that allow them to upsell tickets. Could they do something like that in a cold weather part of the U.S. and make it indoor? I suppose. But you have to remember the point of Aulani, Myrtle Beach, Vero Beach... these are all timeshare properties primarily for DVC purposes. They make DVC more attractive by giving Disney alternative destinations to WDW for timeshare owners. So if you are bored of the Parks one year, or like to take years off, there is still something to do with your points besides rent them to someone else. But they exist in areas that people want to visit. That's why there are proposals for a ski resort. Maybe you attach an indoor water park to the ski resort, but I just don't see them calling it a Fifth gate. It would just be an attraction for the resort. And I certainly don't see an indoor waterpark outside of say... Chicago... having any kind of business case as a standalone property.

No. I think we'll see the ski resort sooner than later. I think you might see a resort on the Texas coast. Maybe something in Mexico or the Caribbean eventually. But I think the point will be the resort is somewhere you want to be, not that they draw you there with some kind of waterpark or half sized gate.

I apologize, my Star Wars comment was a remnant from an earlier post I started but didn't finish. I'm editing that out, now. Earlier, I was going to say (to no one in particular) if they didn't build a 5th park for star wars, they probably wouldn't build it for anything.

My response to you was just meant as a variation of your "Disney themed hotels" suggestion - not anything to do with Star Wars.

 

[sachilles]

Being a ski resort industry veteran, I don't think any Disney accountant will ever think that is a good idea, at least not in the US. The insurance and workers comp rates make it barely a break even scenario for most ski resorts. If anything they'd go stand alone at an already popular resort, and just do non ski activities. That being said, any place good enough, will have property prices too high to make a wise investment.

I think they will have to fully hash out the 4 gates, expand them, and still suffer from overcrowding 10 months of the year before they expand to a fifth gate.

I could see expansion at Disney Springs with pay per ride attractions, to bring in more foot traffic for the shops and restaurants, but that's about it.

 

[jknezek]

Being a ski resort industry veteran, I don't think any Disney accountant will ever think that is a good idea, at least not in the US. The insurance and workers comp rates make it barely a break even scenario for most ski resorts. If anything they'd go stand alone at an already popular resort, and just do non ski activities. That being said, any place good enough, will have property prices too high to make a wise investment.

I think they will have to fully hash out the 4 gates, expand them, and still suffer from overcrowding 10 months of the year before they expand to a fifth gate.

I could see expansion at Disney Springs with pay per ride attractions, to bring in more foot traffic for the shops and restaurants, but that's about it.

http://dailyhive.com/calgary/disney-ski-resort-squamish-vancouver-Canada

It's well on it's way to existence. It's not about the single resort, it's about selling DVC. The more alternative Disney flavored options they can provide, the more the points are attractive to less serious park-goers. You can still do the Parks, but you don't have to do them every year. To be fair to your point, this isn't in the U.S.... it is north of the border.

Just don't read to the end!


EDIT.... having read my response, and in the interests of not furthering rumors... I'll put here that this was announced as an April Fool's Day Joke. I don't want to just leave a blank post, but I probably shouldn't have gone this route with a silly response.