"Minnie" Theme Parks May Be Coming

Instead of Walt Disney World or Disneyland, how about Disney Village? For a company that generally thinks in big, bold strokes, the Walt Disney Company is thinking small--as in small theme parks. According to Reuters, Jay Rasulo, chairman of Disney's Parks and Resorts, said that the Mouse House is kicking around the idea of developing smaller, more immersive parks that would charge a premium price. While Rasulo didn't offer any more details, perhaps the company is considering projects along the lines of the tony Discovery Cove dolphin interaction adjacent to SeaWorld Orlando. By limiting the number of guests and providing an experience that resembles a posh resort more than an amusement park, Disovery Cove has been a hit, despite its hefty admission fee. Rasulo also said that the Walt Disney Company might bring some of its legendary hospitality to other areas by building hotels away from its theme parks. It might also develop retail-dining-entertainment centers, modeled after its Downtown Disney complexes at Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort, to new locales. With its failed DisneyQuest indoor interactive theme parks and Disney Stores, the company has had a difficult time duplicating the success of its core theme parks away from their Florida and California bases. Rasulo mentioned that Disney might expand its water parks as well. He didn't say whether this referred to new parks at the existing theme park resorts or standalone water parks in new locations. With the boom in indoor water park resorts, I wouldn't be surprised if Disney was thinking of testing the waters.

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