At today's grand opening for Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said that the city expects Universal Studios Hollywood to drive nearly half the expected gain in annual visitors to the City of Los Angeles over the next six years, from more than 42 million visitors to LA last year to 50 million in 2020. Given that Universal Studios Hollywood drew an estimated 5.9 million visitors in 2012, all these expansions at USH would need to nearly double the park's attendance to hit LA's tourism goals.
Those would be Disney-like numbers. But companies such as NBCUniversal don't invest billions of dollars to remain comfortably in second place. Both in Hollywood and Orlando, Universal's rolling out attraction after new attraction to challenge market leaders Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Sure, Universal's investing in expansion. But Disney didn't get to be the world's leader in theme parks without its own effort and investment. Let's keep the focus on the west coast today. What should Disneyland do next, to respond to the challenge from Universal?
Remember that Disneyland can add Marvel attractions whenever it wants, unlike Walt Disney World, which is barred from using Marvel characters in its theme parks due to Marvel's old exclusivity deal with Universal Orlando. Disney's announced no plans to bring Magic Bands to the Disneyland Resort, so that's another variable that designers wouldn't have to deal with in bringing a new attraction concept to the west coast. Sure, there's less room to work with in Anaheim, but that also provides sharper focus, as there are fewer sites to consider for any potential new rides and shows.
So let's look at the options. The quickest might be to copy some of the plans for Walt Disney World's Avatar land and to bring a version of that to Anaheim. Or, Disney's done some "blue sky" work on Star Wars and Marvel lands for Disneyland. How about those? We've also talked about Frozen as a potential new property for the Disneyland Resort. Finally, how about an Imagineering-driven franchise and bringing the Society of Explorers and Adventurers across the Pacific?
Let's consider which franchise would offer the most enticing combination of being easy to develop, fitting well thematically with surrounding attractions on an available site, and drawing new and return visitors to the Resort... while keeping those potential visitors away from Harry Potter, Butterbeer, Minions, and Krusty Burgers at Universal Studios Hollywood up the road in LA.
As a west coast resident, I'm looking forward to the next few years at our local parks. What would you like to see, to help make Southern California an even more attractive location for theme park fans?
I also like the idea of a "Star Wars Land." They should put it in Tomorrowland, in which the ideas that were rumored this past year would be a great addition to the park.
Another great idea would be "Marvel Land." They could put the Iron Man a Ride that is currently being built in Hong Kong Disneyland. That would be a nice addition to Disneyland or California Adventure Park. Or thru could create a Captain America ride, since the new movie is very popular.
To be honest, you know what would be cool and classic? If they made a Mickey and Friends ride at Disneyland. They could make it a dark ride, similar to Peter Pan and Snow White. They could have Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald, etc... They could create some type of story about Mickey and the characters. That would be such a classic ride.
While Disney does not need a SoCal response, the company does need to keep moving forward. And utilizing Star Wars, Marvel, and Frozen to further enhance the Disneyland Resort is the way to go. Avatar should remain unique to Animal Kingdom just like Cars Land should remain unique to DCA.
As for the Society of Adventurers and Explorers, it needs to go to Epcot.
Third Gate.
Open a Heroes and Villains park on that area of land they own southeast of the others with some infrastructure joining the two plots (not buses).
Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, Tron. So much great IP to chose from. Have a hero side of the park mirrored by the villains on the other side. Could be awesome.
On another note I'd love to see Disney introduce SEA to its US parks, with the idea that each park has a unique attraction related to their own member of SEA, with Tokyo and Hong Kong already having theirs. Rather than importing mystic manor, I think they should develop an Up themed ride because I'm sure that with his Zeppelin that Carl Fredrickson would join the illustrious society (or maybe Charles Muntz was a fallen member).
Tying them in together with other SEA rides would provide further incentive to see the other unique rides around the world and could possibly provide a new franchise opportunity for Disney, cause they obviously need more.........
Now, if the Disney brass saw the opportunity to maximize revenues and make the Disneyland Resort more of a destination resort than it already is by adding a third gate, I would love to see a park that uses some of the attractions and lands from Tokyo DisneySea with additional areas devoted to Marvel and Star Wars. That would be totally awesome.
Disneyland will probably get Frozen bathrooms with a inspiring "Let it Go" soundtrack and ice in the toilets. End winter and your constipation.
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