A group from Baker Leisure Group, a themed design consultancy who has worked with pretty much everyone in Orlando at one time or another, is proposing to bring a new amusement park to the International Drive area of Orlando. The park would focus on big roller coasters and other thrill rides. It would be located near the Prime Outlets, essentially right across the I-4 freeway from Universal Studios.
According to this story on WFTV, some of the coasters would be tall enough to require an FAA waiver (above 200 ft, I believe). As the 70-acre property is near some residential areas, it must still pass a few hurdles, but it sounds like city planners would be behind the project.
A theme park like this has long been rumored for Walt Disney World. It would be mostly roller coasters and themed to some of the most famous villains from the Disney pantheon. With the acquisition of Marvel entertainment, Disney has even more stories to draw from for such a theme park. Part of me wonders if this isn’t a move by Baker Leisure Group to either preempt a move by Disney or get Disney to bite on some other project they have in mind. More power to Baker Leisure Group for seeking to build a new park in Orlando when the other players have balked.
I’m all for more tourist destination attractions in Central Florida. Disney will continue to monopolize those who plan to visit for just a few days, but many international guests want to stay two weeks or longer. Plus a theme park for thrill seekers will draw from one of Orlando’s under represented market segments, teens and twenty somethings.
New Roller Coaster Amusement Park planned for Orlando! Guess who's behind it? http://bit.ly/9gVhx3 Not who you think.
Would you rather have a new Disney Villains coaster park or this idea for Int'l Drive in Orlando? http://bit.ly/9gVhx3
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I think this would be great. I would love to see a new park that may be closer in attractions to Cedar Point, that is if that is the direction they are planning.
New Roller Coaster Amusement Park planned for Orlando! Guess who's behind it? http://bit.ly/9gVhx3 Someone with a long history in Florida.
Great idea. Not only will it brings jobs, but the north end of I-Drive is rather depressed and needs a shot in the arm. I bet the price to get in will be cheaper the $80.00+ a pop at the other parks.
The same geniuses behind:
1. Cypress Gardens Adventure Park
2. Freestyle Music Park
3. Ron Jon Surf Park (proposed for the same area)
Yup, there’s a real string of successes.
To be fair, Cypress Gardens Adventure Park was mostly having to do with debt issues, then the economy struck. Freestyle Music Park suffered from the poor planning of the previous Hard Rock theme and, again, the poor economy. Many smaller attractions have survived in Myrtle Beach, but the traffic that was expected to come to that destination never materialized after the recession began. Just bad timing for both those.
I actually think something like this would make Disney a little MORE likely to build a big thrills park to keep any potential Disney/thrill fans on property, much the same way Universal prompted Disney/MGM Studios and competition from Busch Gardens lead to Animal Kingdom.
Thrilling Amusement Park Proposed for Orlando http://bit.ly/9m2vPG
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