
One of Walt Disney’s biggest obsessions was the idea of progress and the inherent hope that comes with the world of tomorrow.
After all, he named an entire theme park area after this concept (Tomorrowland in Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom). Not only that, but the original concept behind Walt Disney World’s EPCOT theme park comes from this idea of a perpetual hope for tomorrow.
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That’s one of the biggest reasons why the Walt Disney Company continues to push the limits in everything it produces. From theme park attractions to movie releases, the Walt Disney Company always strives to go above and beyond, dazzling audiences and bringing the Disney magic to life!
So, it’s no surprise to hear that the Walt Disney Company recently announced many expansions for its arsenal of theme parks. The Destination D23 event was held earlier this month, revealing some of Disney’s most extensive plans.
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Some of the most notable announcements include the replacement of Animal Kingdom’s DinoLand, U.S.A., Magic Kingdom receiving the infamous Hatbox Ghost, and the addition of groundbreaking new attractions in Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.
Earlier this year, Disney CEO Bob Iger also revealed that Disneyland Resort would be receiving its own version of Animal Kingdom’s Pandora – The World of Avatar.
In short, some significant changes are coming. But we recently discovered that these changes are just the tip of the iceberg…
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CEO Bob Iger and Chairman Josh D’Amaro recently met with Wall Street analysts and investors to discuss the Walt Disney Company’s plans. During this meeting, it was revealed that Disney plans on nearly doubling its spending in the next ten years, focusing entirely on expanding its wide array of theme parks and the Disney Cruise Line.
But this decision has one major drawback: the most popular Disney vacation destination of all may not be receiving these expansions. At least, not anytime soon.
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Walt Disney World is the largest Disney vacation destination, both in terms of size and popularity.
The Resort boasts four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT), two water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon), the Disney Springs shopping center, and dozens of resort hotels. With such vast operations, it comes as no surprise to hear that Walt Disney World’s yearly attendance easily trumps other Disney Resorts.
Still, the Walt Disney Company knows it has a gold mine with this vacation destination and plans to continue expanding. But those plans have hit a roadblock or two.
Disney’s Feud With DeSantis Continues to Haunt the Company…
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The infamous feud between the Walt Disney Company and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis may feel like old news at this point, but the truth is that the rivalry has only just begun.
For a brief rundown, Disney openly criticized one of DeSantis’s education laws (colloquially referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill), and the Florida Governor retaliated by ending the company’s rights to self-govern Walt Disney World Resort. Now, Disney and the state of Florida are caught in multiple legal battles.
From a recent New York Times report:
“We want to keep growing and investing and have ambitious plans in Florida,” Mr. D’Amaro said. “For the benefit of our guests, our cast members and the economy of central Florida, we hope the conditions will be there for us to do so.” He declined to comment further.
As a result of this feud, some of Disney World’s planned expansions may have to wait. One of the biggest reasons is expenses; legal feuds are lengthy and pricey. To make matters worse, Disney is paying for both sides of the fight in at least one of these legal feuds, making it doubly expensive for the company behind the Most Magical Place on Earth.
So, what does this mean for Walt Disney World? It means that while some amazing plans are in store for guests, it may take way longer than usual for them to come to fruition.
It seems like it may take longer for Disney World’s ‘Happily Ever After’ to come true than originally planned in this case. As a Disney World fan, what does your personal ‘Happily Ever After’ look like in amidst this feud?