Disney Considers White Bay in Sydney

[churros]

I was listening to the Lou Mongello's "WDW Radioshow" podcast this morning and he received an email from an Australian listener who said they worked for the government and suggested that the talks circulated around a virtual theme park and entertainment district and not a traditional theme park. He referred to Sega World which used to be at Darling Harbour. May be it will be like Disney Quest in WDW Downtown Disney.

[churros]

Thought I'd spark up this little gem again! I heard a podcast today that discussed an US resort called Great Wolf Lodge.
http://spare.greatwolf.com/dells/lodge
The podcaster "Skipper ben" discussed that this is a resort that Disney referred to in their plans for similar projects with the Disney touch. It includes accommodation and an indoor/outdoor waterpark that only guests can use. Sound very interesting! Apparently these type of resorts are popping up across the country and are a huge success. Maybe this is the sort of thing Disney is considering for Sydney! You can hear a review on episode 172 of "Inside the magic"

(You don't need an ipod to listen to podcasts. You can listen to them on your computer)

[sandie]

We spent 3 days at Castaway Bay last year - it was the most fun place we have ever ever stayed!!!

look at http://www.castawaybay.com

We initailly looked at Great Wolf Lodge but Castaway was much better. There is another we visited just to have a look around - http://kalahariresort.com/oh/Default.aspx that also is cool.

The water parks have wave pools, slides and water coasters just like Typhoon Lagoon. They scan your wrist ticket when you go in and the kdis can not leave without a matching adults wrist so we didn't have to worry too much about them being abducted which is also pleasant!!

Sandie

[churros]

Wow

[sandie]

I will post my layouts this weekend - they are a bit dark but you can stuill see how much fun the place is

Sandie

[Mel]

That would be very cool. I really hope they do SOMETHING down here just so us Disney tragics can get a fix without spending thousands and thousands of dollars.

[mushu mama]

Yep, having some Disney closer to home would be wonderful...

although, rather than tragics... I prefer... 'enlightened ones'....

Lisa.

[Mel]

although, rather than tragics... I prefer... 'enlightened ones'....

Lisa.

Much more fitting

[ajp]

Yep, having some Disney closer to home would be wonderful...

I've just finished something on this topic. It'll be with you soon Sandie!

[calisota]

although, rather than tragics... I prefer... 'enlightened ones'.... Lisa.

I think I would have to go with tragics myself, at least in my case. How many other grown men do you know with a Beauty and the Beast poster in their living rooms?

Actually I've always liked the idea of referring to ourselves as duds.

Greg

[mushu mama]

I think I would have to go with tragics myself, at least in my case. How many other grown men do you know with a Beauty and the Beast poster in their living rooms?

I guess thats only tragic if you don't like Beauty and the Beast.

Actually I've always liked the idea of referring to ourselves as duds.Greg

Yeah. I can live with that - used in the right context.

Lisa. -/

[KeithS]

Here is an old thread from a few years ago, but it is worth resurrecting as in today's Sydney Morning Herald, they have a bit more of the story of the Disney White Bay park.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/walt-disney-c ... 30nfk.html

The article describes pretty much what we knew back in 2008, although it does mention quite a few more theme park elements than just a DVC resort like in Hawaii - it would have had characters and a number of rides like Dumbo and Peter Pan. Also a Downtown Disney shopping district and a residential component.

We basically predicted that there would be a residential backlash (both from the site's neighbours in Balmain/Glebe area, and from the rest of the state as Disney wanted the state government to pay the cost of infrastructure like new roads and a railway line) - so the project was scuttled before it even went public. Funny enough - it probably would have been completed by now if they went ahead - instead, White Bay remains a dead part of Sydney, earning virtually no money for the state.

[ajp]

As usual the minority NIMBYs get their way. It is a shame this was scuttled.

[churros]

Very interesting!