FACTS:
1) AK attendence falls every year with nothing on the near horizon to draw more people to this park
2)MK attendence, while down, is the strongest of the WDW parks and a new Mickey's Philharmagic may boost attendence in 2003
3)Epcot attendence is way down-hope is on Space to bring in new crowds in 2003
Impressions-AK has its highlights and its fans, but many feel that the good that is there is not good enough to make the effort to go just for a few attractions-the addition of C level Dino rides area has not been embraced nor delivered the boost.
PLAN-Move Tiki Birds, Country Bears and Jungle Cruise to AK-thematically all the "animal' based rides should be in this Animal theme park anyway. Plan to move the animals from Living Seas over as well for a better underwater life exhibit...this latter move will require some investment in new Imagineering. A Mermaid attraction could also be added... The absence of Tiki, Bears and JC in MK will hurt MK slightly if at all AND will be accepted since the longterm plan will be to build either a Journey to the Center of the Earth or 20,000 leagues ride or Indiana Jones ride (as in DL) in the WDW Adventureland space currently occupied by JC-(Imagineering already done at Tokyo DisneySeas or DL for those attractions)--The Living Seas in Epcot site could be replaced by a Stormrider attraction-again stolen/borrowed from Tokyo without the need for new Imagineering-
Why this might work--First of all, it is good show, stays true to the themes in the parks...secondly, WDW needs to look to the the next 10 to 20 years to attracting teens and twentysomethings as they are now the second largest bubble in the population (after the 50 + boomers) The addition of 3 new "thrill" rides )Space plus Stormrider + whatever takes JC's place should help. The AK instead of trying to be a small animal/thrill park can position itself more as fuller animal/younger kid/family park- an animal themed complement to the MK-spreading the guests out and in so doing enhancing the experience on property to the point where more guests will come as well...(recent trip reports comment on the huge crowds at MK but fewer guests at other parks)--would AK satisfaction be better with a Living Seas, a JC, Tiki, country Bears and Mermaid addition? MGM and Epcot would continue to appeal to the older kids and adults.
What would it cost? I don't know...but I think it could bring the new business at a cost lower than any other plan I have seen including the proposal to just add a BK coaster to AK (or a unicorn and a coaster)-both of which will require new Imagineering...something they have drastically reduced staff and budget for already...so to make more money they need to attract more guests---
or they can try to make more money by just cutting more expenses and see where that gets them...I wonder which they are planning?
Paul
1) AK attendence falls every year with nothing on the near horizon to draw more people to this park
2)MK attendence, while down, is the strongest of the WDW parks and a new Mickey's Philharmagic may boost attendence in 2003
3)Epcot attendence is way down-hope is on Space to bring in new crowds in 2003
Impressions-AK has its highlights and its fans, but many feel that the good that is there is not good enough to make the effort to go just for a few attractions-the addition of C level Dino rides area has not been embraced nor delivered the boost.
PLAN-Move Tiki Birds, Country Bears and Jungle Cruise to AK-thematically all the "animal' based rides should be in this Animal theme park anyway. Plan to move the animals from Living Seas over as well for a better underwater life exhibit...this latter move will require some investment in new Imagineering. A Mermaid attraction could also be added... The absence of Tiki, Bears and JC in MK will hurt MK slightly if at all AND will be accepted since the longterm plan will be to build either a Journey to the Center of the Earth or 20,000 leagues ride or Indiana Jones ride (as in DL) in the WDW Adventureland space currently occupied by JC-(Imagineering already done at Tokyo DisneySeas or DL for those attractions)--The Living Seas in Epcot site could be replaced by a Stormrider attraction-again stolen/borrowed from Tokyo without the need for new Imagineering-
Why this might work--First of all, it is good show, stays true to the themes in the parks...secondly, WDW needs to look to the the next 10 to 20 years to attracting teens and twentysomethings as they are now the second largest bubble in the population (after the 50 + boomers) The addition of 3 new "thrill" rides )Space plus Stormrider + whatever takes JC's place should help. The AK instead of trying to be a small animal/thrill park can position itself more as fuller animal/younger kid/family park- an animal themed complement to the MK-spreading the guests out and in so doing enhancing the experience on property to the point where more guests will come as well...(recent trip reports comment on the huge crowds at MK but fewer guests at other parks)--would AK satisfaction be better with a Living Seas, a JC, Tiki, country Bears and Mermaid addition? MGM and Epcot would continue to appeal to the older kids and adults.
What would it cost? I don't know...but I think it could bring the new business at a cost lower than any other plan I have seen including the proposal to just add a BK coaster to AK (or a unicorn and a coaster)-both of which will require new Imagineering...something they have drastically reduced staff and budget for already...so to make more money they need to attract more guests---
or they can try to make more money by just cutting more expenses and see where that gets them...I wonder which they are planning?
Paul