Volcano Bay Expansion?

[UniversalRBLX]

Disney water parks aren't as popular as they were in the past, with only one open often, and free entry giveaways for WDW hotel guests on their first day.
Universal would probably be in the same situation, only worse, if they built a second water park.

I don't necessarily think it's an issue with water parks not being popular, just saturation (no pun intended) in the market. Not only did Volcano Bay/Aquatica reduce interest at WDW's parks, but Island H20 become a cheap alternative. Not to mention that resorts like Gaylord Palms, Westgate, etc., have improved their pools with slides and lazy rivers to make spending admission on a water park unnecessary.

Also, Disney making their own dry parks/hotels more expensive made the water parks the first item to cut when budgeting a trip.

And like Joe mentioned, they've cut transportation to make it an annoyance to visit the water parks. Imagine paying top dollar for Grand Floridian, only to have to take a 30+ minute wait/travel time bus to Animal Kingdom, and then another 15-20 minute wait/travel time to Blizzard Beach.

Yeah I'm honestly shocked we haven't seen Disney permanently close one of their water parks.

With the new Western Way improvements revealed a few weeks back, it'd be easier to convert Blizzard Beach into a water park resort hotel if they wanted to eventually. Those are very popular, with Cedar Point adding one recently.

 

[Mad Dog]

Is that due to a lack of interest or Disney's decisions backfiring on them? I'd give you the water park boom of the late 80s into the 90s, when the parks were built, is long gone. But what if Disney's lack of investment in the water parks, the water parks' aging slide styles, and a bus system that makes going to anything but the four main parks a major PITA is more of an issue?

Probably all of the above.

 

[OrlLover]

just saturation (no pun intended) in the market. Not only did Volcano Bay/Aquatica reduce interest at WDW's parks, but Island H20 become a cheap alternative.

Exactly.

The Orlando market is completely saturated with options and WDW knows that so that’s why one is always closed half the year.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

I never realized the bus system is different for the water parks - how is it handled?

 

[Jake S]

I never realized the bus system is different for the water parks - how is it handled?

This is the first i’m hearing of this, too. That’s bonkers.

 

[tommyhawkins]

Seeing images from google earth, it looks like they have no more space to expand... I wonder if there has been any talks about just a new waterpark? I mean Disney has 2 of them already...

3.5 acres which is plenty for expansion of this park

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Probably all of the above.

I wonder where we'd be if the water parks received consistent updates and upgrades.

I never realized the bus system is different for the water parks - how is it handled?

This is the first i’m hearing of this, too. That’s bonkers.

MK, Epcot, DHS, DAK is directly from the hotel to the park, but for several years now I've seen having to transfer at Disney Springs or use a multi-stop bus.

 

[GAcoaster]

Staffing a single watepark PLUS all the other lifeguard positions on property is already a challenge with one park, they won't build a second any time soon.

Much of why Disney has had only one at a time open is because of the scarcity of lifeguards in the area. Between Disney/Universal/SeaWorld and all the pools and other attractions in the area requiring lifeguards there is a shortage unless everyone starts paying a LOT more money.

 

[Chumpieboy]

I never realized the bus system is different for the water parks - how is it handled?

There aren’t dedicated busses going from the WDW hotels to the water parks like there are with the 4 dry parks. To get to one of the open water parks you need to take a bus to either DAK or Springs then transfer again to a water park bus.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

There aren’t dedicated busses going from the WDW hotels to the water parks like there are with the 4 dry parks. To get to one of the open water parks you need to take a bus to either DAK or Springs then transfer again to a water park bus.

Had a family member staying at Pop Century a few weeks ago. Traveled with the DAK opening pack in the morning, only to then transfer over to Blizzard. Approx. 40 minutes.

On the way out of the park, the Blizzard Beach roads were congested thanks to all the Horizon Westerners congesting the Western Way exit, effectively resulting in another 45 minute journey back to your hotel.

I think closing BB, giving Typhoon a massive overhaul and expansion effort, and then having more efficient transportation can ultimately help them out. But the need for 2 water parks has obviously become too much for them.

 

[jarmor]

I wonder where we'd be if the water parks received consistent updates and upgrades.

In debt probably lol.