Mission: Space - New Horizons?
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New Horizons?
Everyone has their own favourite Disney theme park. The rich diversity of
themes, style, presentation and entertainment ensure that even the four Magic
Kingdoms all have a different feel to them. My favourite has always been EPCOT.
That is, ever since I caught my first glimpse of that gigantic silver golfball,
from the window of the monorail in 1982. It's imposing size and precise
construction still mesmerises me, and that geosphere symbolises everything I
love about EPCOT; from the innovative architecture of the pavilions to the
"edu-tainment� stories of Future World to the painstaking detail of the World
Showcase reconstructions. However, something is not quite right with EPCOT
during its third decade; attendance is slipping, operating hours are shrinking
and Walt Disney Parks & Resorts have instigated the largest "blue sky� project
in their history. That poses a chilling challenge; to find a way out.
The Stagnant Kingdom?
The Magic Kingdom continues to be the cash-cow of the Florida empire. Guests
continue to select the original park as the one they visit the most. Visitors
with only a day or so to kill, are more likely to choose the Magic Kingdom over
its three baby sisters. Plus that is irrespective of any special celebration or
event. Park management have recently realised that they need minimal capital
expenditure in order to attract guests. Over the past decade, the park has added
only four sub E-ticket new attractions; Alien Encounter, The Many Adventures of
Winnie the Pooh, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and the Magic Carpets of
Aladdin. During the same period, the park has debut just three daytime parades
and one night-time offering in SpectroMagic. Entertainment productions have been
sporadic in their appearance. There is nothing substantial on the horizon, as the
Magic Kingdom continues to trade off of its prestigious name. Mickey's
PhilharMagic is the one bright star in this fading Kingdom.
Alien Encounter Warning Board, Magic Kingdom, 1994
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The park is not as reliant on low-spending, high-demanding Annual Passholders like Disneyland and therefore has no need to expand its offerings annually. Events like Haunted Mansion Holiday have been mooted for years, but will fail to attract vacation-makers in their droves and therefore would be cost-ineffective. Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris continue to provide extensive Christmas special events from shows, parades and park decorations. Florida offers an ancient parade and the premium-ticketed Christmas parties.
The Golden Age of Movies
Every since the debut of the Disney-MGM Studios park on May 1 1989, park
management has being acutely aware of the similarities in their theming as
Universal. This multi-million dollar competition to be Florida's most attended
studios-based theme park has always driven investment at Walt Disney World.
Whilst the Magic Kingdom settles for unoriginal dark rides, MGM has unveiling
the most popular attraction ever built by Disney, the Twilight Zone: Tower of
Terror, the adrenaline rush that is Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster and the night-time
draw of Fantasmic! that has been critical in keeping guests in the park (and
arriving in their masses to park hop before show time) throughout the night,
spending more on food, drink and souvenirs.
Building the Hat, Disney-MGM Studios, 2001
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And that's not all. The future of the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular looks numbered as land clearing continues at a great pace for the American debut of a modified Moteurs, Action! stunt show (the first Parisian original to transfer to the U.S. parks) on the site of the redundant Residential Street (how many kids and tourists have ever heard of Empty Nest or Blossom?). The park also hosted the successful 100 Years of Magic celebration, despite offering little else new when compared to its siblings. The Stars and Motors Cars parade was the weakest of the four "new� parades and the giant Sorcerer Hat has been left to its own devices, with no purpose whatsoever.
The crucial point is that MGM continues to attract more guests than Universal, particularly thanks to the 4 Park Hopper Passes that drive guest spend at the resort. MGM has plenty more up it sleeve, and the scope is virtually limitless as our passion for all forms of entertainment continues to grow.
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