From: Rich_Koster@agwbbs.new-orleans.LA.US (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Disney Branson
Date: 9 Oct 92 03:40:01 GMT
Article-I.D.: agwbbs.Rich_Koster.0u9d
Distribution: world
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.

Okay, time for us to start some speculation here!
 
I'm going to make some observations and guesses assuming that the
news of Disney buying land in Branson, Missouri is true (and we
all know what happens when you assume... ;-)
 
If it is true, then we are some of the first to hear about it, as
there has been nothing reported about it yet in the Wall Street
Journal, USA Today, or our local paper.  It would be like hearing
about Disney World in Orlando before that project was announced
and while they were still trying to keep it secret while they
bought up land.
 
In addition to what Paul Harvey reported yesterday (that Disney is
buying land in Branson, Missouri but *not* for another theme park
but for *something Disney*), someone at work today told me she had
heard a radio news report yesterday that said Disney *was* making
a theme park there.  This report went on to say that since the
opening months of EuroDisney have been more successful than the
opening months of the other Disney parks, and that in addition to
EuroDisney that there are successful parks in Tokyo and on the East
& West coasts of the U.S., that now they felt it was time to make a
park in the middle of the country.
 
You might have seen the report on 60 Minutes last year about Branson.
It is the new Nashville of country music entertainment showplaces,
since so many country music artists have built their own nightclubs
there and perform there.  It is about 35 miles South of Springfield,
Missouri.  It is in a great location in between two areas which are
protected as part of the Mark Twain National Forest, and is close to
the Mincy public hunting area.  It is in between Table Rock Lake and
Bull Shoals Lake, and Branson is on a river that (according to a map
I have) feeds into both of these lakes.  So, no doubt the area is
picturesque, and since so much of the surrounding land is protected
in one form or another it will probably stay that way.
 
When Disney World was built the transportation system was good, but
not as good as it is today.  At the Disneyana convention they told
us of the horrible traffic jams they would get until the road system
leading to the property was improved.  Well, the 60 Minutes report
showed that Branson is already suffering congestion problems due to
the success of its new tourism, and if Disney does build there it
will surely need even more road improvement.
 
Branson is not on any interstate, but is located on U.S. 65 which
goes between Interstate 44 (I-44) at Springfield, Missouri and
interstates at Little Rock, Arkansas.  I'd imagine that eventually
I-45 will have to be built between these two cities, and going
North to Kansas City.  I-45 currently can be found going from
Galveston to Houston and Dallas, but there is no North-South
interstate near Branson closer than I-35 at Oklahoma City to the
West, and I-55 between St. Louis and Madisonville to the East.
That's why if a new interstate was to be built I think they'd
call it I-45. There is an I-44 which currently travels Northeast
between Oklahoma City and St. Louis.  Having an I-45 between
Kansas City and Little Rock would be perfect as it would go
right near the Disney property in Branson as well as efficiently
connecting it to the existing interstate system.  As you can see
from the list in this paragraph, the area around Branson is
already served very well by many interstates -- there just needs
to be an improvement to Branson itself.
 
Branson's location means it can draw vacationers from many nearby
cities to a Disney park within an easy driving distance: Chicago,
St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Nashville, Memphis,
Jackson, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Houston, Dallas-Ft.
Worth, Little Rock, Oklahoma City, Wichita, Topeka, Kansas City,
Des Moines, and Springfield.
 
It is a good move to have a Disney theme park in Middle America.
Who better to enjoy Disney's middle America family values and
entertainment?  Besides, nearby St. Louis was one of the cities
being considered for Disney World before Orlando was picked.
 
Word had previously leaked out that a music theme park was being
planned for Walt Disney World.  I'll speculate that this music-
related park will open at Branson, possibly in addition to WDW.
I would think that eventually Branson would also have their own
Magic Kingdom -- maybe even many years down the road Branson
would have an Epcot -- like Disneyland is working on getting a
Westcot (in Branson it might be Midcot??!) and perhaps a Disney
Studios (with or without MGM) since even EuroDisney is getting
the Studios park.  BTW, I picked up a "Walt Disney Studios"
license plate at the Disney-MGM Studios last month, and it did
*not* have MGM or the lion logo on it -- but it did have the
Mickey clapboard logo.
 
I would guess that just like EuroDisneyland, guests at Disney Branson
would be able to go between the attractions through heated areas
due to the cold climate (and air-conditioned in the summer).  Outdoor
walkways would still be an option, of course.  At EuroDisneyland you
can walk from the enclosed ticket gate located *under* the Euro
Disneyland hotel all the way to the Pirates of the Caribbean without
going outside if you don't want to.
 
Some Northerners will prefer the Missouri climate to the weather in
Anaheim or Orlando -- I know my brother in New York will!  Northerners
are used to the winter chill, although it won't be as severe a winter
as in New York.  The summers at Disney Branson should be a lot cooler
and less humid than at Orlando.
 
Even if none of this comes true, it is fun to speculate!

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