During the recent JP Morgan Global Technology, Media & Communications Conference Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro spoke on the boundaries of two domestic parks. Disneyland in Anaheim and Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World were both included in his discussion.
D’Amaro commented on the current ability of both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom to increase capacity including expanding the borders of the parks themselves.
According to D’Amaro, the parks management teams and Imagineers have been working diligently, not only to improve the guest experience at the resorts but to include additional space in a number of ways.
Tron and Mickey
One of the primary ways Disney increases capacity at the parks is by adding attractions, D’Amaro shared. Recently, Tron: Lightcycle / Run was added outside the “berm” or border boundary of Magic Kingdom, thus increasing the park’s actual space and adding capacity with an additional attraction.
With the addition of a new ride or show, many visitors spend more time waiting in line or experiencing the attraction itself, which in turn allows more people to navigate the rest of the park comfortably. In January, Disneyland added Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and also the reimagining of Toontown opened recently, increasing the park’s current capacity.
Disney Parks have expanded in the past adding both Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the Mickey & Minnie Runaway Railway attraction at Disneyland were added beyond the park’s former boundaries.
“Disney has historically used parks’ berms to increase capacity, and D’Amaro states they will continue this trend. We have both internal opportunities to grow capacity and create new experiences and opportunities outside of the berm to essentially expand the size of these theme parks.”
Possibly this means that Disney is moving forward with Beyond Big Thunder, the “Blue Sky” concept for several lands in Magic Kingdom announced at D23 last year.
Excited about the possibility of expansion for Disney Parks?