Ethan

The govt revealed: The theme park was due to open in 2003 on 90 hectares of land donated by the government and was expected to attract up to four million visitors a year. 90 hectares is the size of the LA park (88 hectares) so that was a pretty substantial park. So Disney clearly DID want to build a park of that size, and they did not stop because of fears of visitor numbers, they stopped because of funding shortfalls from the govt. But for that the park would be here today. I hazard to guess that any current proposal would be a similar size (though a smaller parker is certainly possible and Disney could be trending this way), but I would reject the notion that a full size park is not possible in Australia because the evidence clearly shows this was contemplated quite recently and was OKed by Disney. Obviously that may be impacted nowadays by HK Disney and Shanghai, but still, I would not write it off by any means. Funnily enough, on the subject of DisneySea, well I'm not sure but I think DisneySea was at one time proposed for the coast as well, I agree it would suit the location very well.

Hope not, the whole country is already themed Australia! I want to go to a park to escape to somewhere different!

I think Avalon is a bad location, and evidently so did Disney. I mean seriously, windswept and barren, it's not exactly ideal. In any case, it's a moot point.

I'm saying that's why it should be built on the Gold Coast. Anyway, it's not being built in Avalon, Disney flew down their once at the request of Lindsay Fox in 2005, didn't like the site and haven't been back since. Lindsay Fox even said it was a dead idea (which the fact he is talking about it evidences anyway given confidentiality clauses stop you saying anything). So it's good, this way you take one flight to the GC (or drive) and do all the parks, rather than flying. It's all hypothetical anyway:P

I think the parks will benefit, because if you flew up to the GC, you wouldn't just do Disneyland, you do a few of your fav parks. When I went to Disney in Los Angeles, I still went to Universal and the other parks, I mean Disney is good and all but most ppl still see other stuff.

Yep, don't forget in 2000 the QLD govt got into trouble for even mentioning negotiations. So just cos you don't hear anything, don't mean nothing is happening: ...He said Beattie leaked details of negotiations with Star Land, a company set up to work on attracting Walt Disney Attractions Inc to the state. "Under my government, what was under the coalition a closely guarded secret, has been the talk of the town under Labor," Borbidge told parliament. "They breached confidentiality and gave enormous disrespect to the sensitivities of the Disney organisation." Out of interest the plan back then was: ...The document showed the Walt Disney Company was given a A$1.4 million loan by the Queensland government to facilitate a Disneyland project in the state's south east. The theme park was due to open in 2003 on 90 hectares of land donated by the government and was expected to attract up to four million visitors a year. The document, tabled in parliament today, also revealed former Premier Rob Borbidge had promised at least A$155 million government assistance to set up the park at Coomera on the Gold Coast. "The Queensland government has indicated its unreserved support for this project," the document said. "The Queensland government has undertaken to ensure that the Gate (stage one of the project) will be completed with no financial risk to the Walt Disney Company." So if Disney are still interested, well that's a good sign, cos they weren't messing about in the past.

Well I think that is the key, getting a fair deal with Disney, because the Queensland govt has walked away before when the deal was too expensive for tax payers. So this is not whimsical thinking, this could have already happened. But it has to be a mutually agreeable relationship. Hong Kong is built, Shanghai is in the works, I'd say the next park will be CG Australia (maybe India, but I would say Australia).

I think the point is, there is a train line nearby and an 8 lane freeway right between two booming cities. This makes it an attractive location (well that's obvious given the parks already in this region).

Not my pic, but you know, you gotta visualise the goal;)

Well it will be interesting to see what comes from that. I am curious also why 'www worker', brought up the 2 year old SEQ Disneyland thread below recently with this comment: is that based on goss or just a random post? The timing stuck me as interesting. Site Prediction:

Well sounds intriguing all the same. I'd love SEQ to get a big new park, preferably Universal but I wouldn't say no to Disney or any other big operator. With the Disney rumours, well they are rumours for a reason, so could be true, could be not. I will say this though, the Bizzy Bits column in the Bulletin is surprisingly good at picking up some property industry gossip that is meant to be below the radar, so I would say there is truth to the talk of Disney at least being interested, but interested, whether that amounts to more... guess we'll see, it would certainly be nice.

That's interesting, any hints who it could be? Would love to see something like Universal Studios!

Hi guys, I started that post on Ozcoasters, it's not as farfetched as you think... Here is a chronology for you that explains the SEQ park a bit... 2000 - Pre-Disneyland Hong Kong - Queensland Park was planned As some may know, the Beattie government initially said no to Disney around 2000: http://hk-imail.singtao.com/news_detail.as...;d_str=20050916 If ever there was a succinct definition of a sweet deal, surely this is it. It may be recalled that before Disney signed its contract with the Hong Kong government it attempted to reach agreement with the Queensland state government for an Australian park. Negotiations ended when the government turned down Disney's demands for subsidies, land grants and tax breaks worth just over US$500 million. The Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said, "only Goofy would have picked up such a deal." 2005 - Disney Execs tour Gold Coast, then Sydney and Avalon Cut to five years later HK Disney is almost done and Disney are back. Door open to House of Mouse Disney for Coast rumours 24 June 2005 - The Gold Coast Bulletin THE Gold Coast could be in line for another major theme park after rumours emerged the State Government was negotiating with the global entertainment giant Disney. While a spokeswomen for the Department of State Development made no comment, it is believed the department has undertaken an assessment of possible sites that would suit a park. Sites include Boondall near Brisbane and the Gold Coast. However, a new theme park would not come cheap for the global brand, with top of the line rollercoasters costing up to $26 million. Dreamworld's recently opened Claw ride is at the lower end of the cost spectrum at $9 million. It is not the first time Queensland has flirted with the House of Mouse, with Rob Borbidge's coalition government opening negotiations with Disney in 1998 on the possibility of a theme park in the state. Mr Borbidge said the plan had been to bid for Expo 2002, which would have been based on land at Coomera. "Mick Veivers was in the US as sports minister and he met with Disney's head officials," he said. "They indicated they were keen but wanted to complete their new park in Hong Kong first," said Mr Borbidge. <<Now finished! Still keen I bet;) However, the state missed out on Expo by one vote and the park fell off he map. "To the extent it is being revisited by the Beattie Government is great news," said Mr Borbidge. A spokeswoman for Disney said the company was evaluating various markets around the world but it was unlikely anything would be considered before September, when Disney opened an amusement park in Hong Kong. Dreamworld chief Stephen Gregg said while any new theme park was speculation at the moment, a competitive market was a good market and Dreamworld would welcome Disneyland if it set up on the Gold Coast. "At the moment I'd say Disney is focusing on their September opening in Hong Kong so whether it happens or not, we're certainly a few years away from Mickey Mouse in the Sunshine State." <<Here we are a few years down the track;)[/ Early 2006 - Avalon drops out Here is confirmation that Avalon dropped out of the competition in 2006 (IMO never a serious option), from an article titled: "Avalon chief vows to pursue retail hub `Give DFO a go'" from 2006. "...But don't expect Disneyland to figure in that (Avalon) plan, despite confirmation that Mr Fox held informal talks with key Disney personnel about an Avalon-based theme park. He said there was no commitment from Disney and no current plans for the idea to go ahead." Late 2006 - South East Queensland firms up as location for park Out of interest here is an article from a year ago, perhaps it's been in the work for a while. In fact I'm led to believe Disney have probably been keen for some time. Some rumours says they went to HK after some GC negotiations feel through previously, but I guess the idea might live on. Even this 2006 article post dates the Avalon and Sydney talk by a year even at that stage, so it's clear that SEQ has been the target for the last 2 years whilst the others have gone quiet (in fact I doubt they were ever serious options, especially avalon): Team Beattie quiet on queuing for Disney ride 19 September 2006 The Gold Coast Bulletin THE Government is playing its cards close to the chest over renewed speculation Australia's first Disneyland may be heading for the Gold Coast. The Disney organisation, the world's premier theme-park operator, has been the target of regular speculation about heading for Queensland. In the mid-90s, the Borbidge Government was schmoozed by the Disney people about the prospect of a suitable Queensland site including Coomera. Disney sites in the US are backed by others internationally including Eurodisney in France and its latest venture in Hong Kong. Pre-election there was plenty of industry talk that Disney executives were keen to sit down for a serious chat with Premier Mid-Late 2007 - Coomera location firms up In the Bulletin: Since then: Noticed on a Financial Planning site a note about Disney: Great news about Disneyland coming to town (Coomera) which has sent everyone ballistic. Lucky we have plenty of stock available soon that we have land banked for all these years ... Just some more rumours, this one from the Disney Blog: Just for all you who are wondering,it has been known for some months now that Disney have bought a lot of land on the Gold Coast. The new Disney site will be very close to Dreamworld. Posted by: disney princess | September 23, 2007 at 10:50 PM And from SkyscraperLife, post by SoulVision: Looks like our slogan "Brisneyland" might not be a bad saying after all... This is from a friend who spoke to another guy (who probably got it from another guy) lol. So don't hold me accountable, this is just a rumour. He said that "Disney" will be releasing something soon, and to buy property in the Coomera area. It's going to create around 5000 jobs. Who knows, it could be anything from Disneyland to a Disney store... lol but that's what I heard! tell you what though, that would be the icing on the amazing cake in South East Queensland! fantastic stuff. ... so it's all rumours, but bear in mind Disney plays its card very close to its chest, so maybe it all means nothing... or maybe it doesn't;)