TiggerFan452 writes in to say:
Hey Jim,
Just wondering if you’ve heard anything about these focus groups that Disney World has been recruiting people for. If you take part, you’re apparently shown a preview video for something called “Disney’s Night Kingdom”. Any idea what this project is about and if Disney’s actually going to build the thing?
Dear TiggerFan452
“Disney’s Night Kingdom” is the Mouse’s long overdue response to SeaWorld‘s Discovery Cove. And — yes — the Mouse is actually going to build this $520 million project. Current plans call for this niche park to officially throw open its doors in October of 2011, just in time for the start of Walt Disney World’s 40th anniversary celebration.
“Why did you call ‘Disney’s Night Kingdom’ a niche park?,” you ask. Well, because — just like Discovery Cove (Which only allows in a thousand visitors each day) — DNK will be restricting the number of guests that can enter this park every afternoon. Only 2000 people will be allowed into WDW’s 5th theme park at any one time.
Copyright 2002 Busch Entertainment Corporation
And — yes — I said “afternoon.” Disney’s Night Kingdom’s operating hours will be 4 p.m. to midnight (5 p.m. to 1 a.m. during daylight savings time).
Okay. I know. DNK already sounds unlike any Disney theme park that’s currently operating on the planet. But there’s a reason for that. The Imagineers want your Disney’s Night Kingdom experience to be distinctly different. Something that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
How so? Well, let’s first start with the extraordinary guest service that you’ll experience as you enter DNK. Current plans call for Disney’s Night Kingdom to be staffed by 4000 cast members. That means that — for every guest that visits this theme park — there’ll be two cast members to take care of their every need. So expect to receive a lot of personalized attention & pampering once you arrive on site.
Speaking of arriving … Guests will enter DNK through a new, super-sized version of the Adventurers Club at Pleasure Island. As you & your family are registering for that night’s activities, the club’s members will entertain as well as offer hints about the extraordinary adventures that await you.
After you’ve finished checking in, there’s a whole new world to explore. Have you ever dreamed of acting like Indiana Jones and riding a zip line over a pool full of hungry crocodiles? Or hand-feeding a hippopotamus? Well, here you can.
Mind you, Disney’s Night Kingdom will have no traditional theme park rides per se. But you’ll still be able to get your fill of excitement & adventure as you strap on a pair of night vision goggles and then wander out into a pitch-black African savanna. Where you’ll then be able to observe up-close lions & hyenas as they go through their nocturnal hunting routines.
You’ll also be able to try your hand at spelunking as you explore a cave full of bats. Or — if you’re not a big fan of bats — how about rock climbing? Does that sound too much like work? Then why don’t you head on over to that South American-themed enclosure where you can frolic with some penguins?
As for the look of Disney’s Night Kingdom … Well, this theme park’s horticultural budget will be just about as big as WDW’s Typhoon Lagoon is. So expect DNK to look pretty lush.
And once you’ve had your fill of adventures, why not grab a gourmet meal at one of the park’s two highly themed eateries? Or — better yet — find a seat inside of Night Kingdom’s centrally located main theater. Where you’ll then be dazzled by a state-of-the-art stage show which will be produced by Disney Theatrical and feature top Broadway talent.
I know, I know. A lot of you may have trouble wrapping your heads around a Disney theme park that’s as distinctly different as DNK is going to be. That’s why the business plan that the Walt Disney Company has drawn up for this project calls for Disney’s Night Kingdom to operate at only 60% capacity during its first year of operation and then only 80% capacity during Year 2. Starting in Year 3 … Well, by then, Disney hopes to have all of the bugs worked out (not to mention finally having a handle on the marketing of WDW’s newest theme park). Which is why they then plan on Disney’s Night Kingdom operating at 100% capacity during its third year of operation.
As for future plans for the park … Well, DNK’s blueprints do include spots for two new hotels. But these resorts will only be built in response to guest need.
Speaking of hotels … The Mouse expects that Disney World’s higher end resorts (i.e. The Contemporary, the Polynesian, the Grand Flo, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Yacht & Beach Club, the Boardwalk as well as the Dolphin & the Swan) will be the primary feeders for Disney’s Night Kingdom. With DNK drawing most of its visitors from these pricier on-property hotels.
“And why is that?,” you query. Because just like Discovery Cove (which charges $269 – $289 for a one day adventure that also includes a week’s worth of free admission to either SeaWorld Orlando or Busch Gardens Africa), admission to DNK is going to be pricey. Right now, Mickey’s leaning toward charging guests $250 – $300 per person in order to gain entry to DNK.
Now keep in mind that this admission fee will also cover the cost of the gourmet meal that you’ll be consuming while you visit Disney’s Night Kingdom. Plus any non-alcoholic beverages that you quaff over the course of that evening. More importantly, that your admission fee to WDW’s newest theme park will be considerably lower should you purchase it as part of a Disney World vacation package.
Another thing that you need to be aware of here is that the Mouse also plans on making DNK available to convention groups. So WDW’s newest theme park could wind up being sold out for weeks, if not months in advance. Which is why — if you really want to visit Disney’s Night Kingdom — advance reservations will definitely be recommended.
As to when the Walt Disney Company will be revealing that this project is actually in the works … Next month’s annual shareholder meeting in Albuquerque is a possibility. Though it’s far more likely that Mickey will wait ’til the fall. So that Disney’s Night Kingdom can then be announced as part of WDW’s annual press event.
So there you have it, folks. Disney World’s next theme park will NOT be Villains themed and/or loaded with lots of coasters. But — rather — it will be an intimate, natural environment that then offers you the chance to have lots of personalized, hands-on, once-in-a-lifetime adventures.
So now the big question is … Come 2011, will you actually be willing to pay $250 – $300 to experience something like this while vacationing at Walt Disney World?
Your thoughts?