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The Gravitational Pull of October 1, 2021

October 1, 2021 will mark the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World.

From TH Creative
Posted February 1, 2013 at 8:54 PM
I would suggest that the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World will be a noteworthy occurance in the firmament. There is the potential expansion of theme park presence of the Muppets, Star Wars andother licensed properties that will assure a MASSIVE presence of theme park development banking on what I call ORLANDO 50. Your thoughts?


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From TH Creative
Posted February 1, 2013 at 8:25 PM
Sea World and Universal MUST realize that 10-01-21 will welcome millions and millions to Central Florida .... That may well be a golden age.

From Andrew Dougherty
Posted February 1, 2013 at 8:41 PM
Probably why everyone is cranking out rides do fast.

From TH Creative
Posted February 1, 2013 at 8:53 PM
Yesterday, I was standing on the 15th floor of the Four Seasons (under construction). I was in the northwest corner of the building ... gazing acrosss at the Magic Kingdom and wondering "My God .... On October 1, 2021 ... What will be the value of this hotel room?

From TH Creative
Posted February 8, 2013 at 5:58 PM
How much time is there between the annoucement of an Olympic host and the commencement of the games?

From Flavio de Souza
Posted February 13, 2013 at 6:06 AM
8 years

From Ashleigh Noad
Posted February 13, 2013 at 5:52 PM
Going by London, 7 years. They were announced July 2005.

From Phil B.
Posted February 16, 2013 at 2:55 PM
I thought the 40th would make for some real newsworthy opportunities and resort expansion, but I guess the real objective has always been zeroing in on the 50th. By 2016 I'm hopeful that TDO will be putting the full court press on the resort and turning out gate crashing attractions on a scale comparable to what Universal has been doing the last couple of years.

From William Clark
Posted April 27, 2013 at 1:03 PM
Well I was at Magic Kingdom on Oct 1, 2011 for the 40th anniversary and I was comped a nice blue Magic Kingdom 40th anniversary button. They did of course have a separate store selling such merchandise. I'm wondering if the 50th anniversary will be much like the 40th.

From TH Creative
Posted April 29, 2013 at 7:01 PM
I think there's a lot more focus on 2021 than may be public. Consider the scenario: The fiftieth anniversary of what is (inarguably) one of the top vacation destinations on the planet.

The event will receive an extraordinary level of municipal and state support. In 2021 the Magic Kingdom could reach 20 million admissions -- a milestone that could very well place it second behind Disney Shanghai (which REALLY says something about the company's future).

One thing I am sure of: TPICON 2021 is going to be OFF the chain.

From TH Creative
Posted April 29, 2013 at 6:33 PM
And by the way ... This is the most substantive PUBLIC conversation regarding this topic ... to date.

Are you paying attention ORLANDO SENTINEL?

From TH Creative
Posted April 30, 2013 at 8:17 AM
Of course the impact of 2021 is not limited to Disney. Certainly all attractions, hotels, resorts and retail outlets are now or will soon be aware of the event to take place and will design marketing development strategies accordingly.

Meaning the promotion of Central Florida tourism would be across the board -- attracting guest who with different tastes -- from steel coasters to new parades.

From TH Creative
Posted April 30, 2013 at 8:35 AM
As the time line goes (and please amend and correct):

2013
Universal - Transformers
Sea World - Empire of the Penguin
Magic Kingdom - Pirates Adventure (Treasure of the Seven Seas)

2014
WDW - Four Seasons Resort
Universal - Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Universal - Harry Potter (Rumored)
Magic Kingdom - Dwarf Mine Train
Magic Kingdom - New Parade

2015
WDW - Disney Spring's development

2016
Disney's Animal Kingdom - Avatar
Disney's Animal Kingdom - Festival of the Lion King (Re-Open)

From William Clark
Posted April 30, 2013 at 1:28 PM
Actually Harry Potter for 2014 is not a rumor. Construction is underway now and PCL, the general contractor, is under deadline to have it ready to go by next summer. In fact they have a countdown clock in their trailer. Last I saw it, about 2 weeks ago, said 414 days to completion.

From Bryce McGibeny
Posted April 30, 2013 at 3:19 PM
Also, for 2013 Universal will be opening Springfield.

And I think it's fair to say that the Jurassic Park Expansion is pretty much gonna happen (according to HateToFly and other sources), so 2014 Universal - Jurassic Park

From TH Creative
Posted April 30, 2013 at 5:18 PM
Mr. Clark: Please understand, I'll use the word "rumor" until it's confirmed by a formal announcement. Not denying it's Potter, just following a protocol.

Mr. McGibeny: I have no doubt that the arrival of Jurassic Park 4 in movie theaters will ignite a symbiotic action at IOA. However, I can honestly say as someone working in Central Florida commercial construction, I've heard absolutely nothing about the major, marquee attraction (expansion) that Mr. "Hate To Fly" is claiming will drop in 2014.

Still waiting on official announcements about his "Lagoon Show."

From Jack Partridge
Posted May 2, 2013 at 6:15 AM
Mr Holland, I feel that you are over estimating the effect of WDW's 50th Anniversary. I won't go into too many specifics but the 2020's will be radically different for WDW - just not specifically catering to their 50th. I would love to go into detail on this, but I'll save that for a post over Summer. Equally, I feel that management will substantially shift somewhere "spellbinding" up the I4 in a few years time. Add both of these things - however vague right now - as well as factoring in the SeaWorld IPO, it makes strategic sense that these Theme Park companies are building new attractions and sprucing up their parks NOW and not in a couple of years time.

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