Next Disneyworld being built in nowhereville, Oklahoma......

[OG Goat Holder]

Here's why American Heartland Theme Park can be the Midwest's 'anchor tourist destination'

As good as the Magic Kingdom? Disneyland? A theme park planned on Route 66 near Grand Lake in Vinita, Oklahoma, has ties to top entertainment.

www.usatoday.com

$2-billion theme park, similar to Disneyland, planned for Vinita

The American Heartland Theme Park and Resort will be a 1,000-acre development with a 125-acre theme park, comparable to the size of Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom.

tulsaworld.com

Only reason it may work is because Tulsa is in close proximity, like Orlando was to Disney. Tulsa is bigger than Orlando was at the time, and it's less hot.

Seems like some Branson muscle is behind it too. I've never really been to Branson. This sort of thing probably isn't my bag of potatoes, but interesting nonetheless.

 

[dorndawg]

Wonder why they didn't just build near Branson? Already a known commodity plus has plenty infrastructure in place.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

The first major project is an RV park.

On Route 66.

How much work will have to be done to upgrade the highway?

Going into Yesteryears and Good ol’ Times stuff.

Sounds Awesome?

 

[NashLA]

Read elsewhere that Epcot cost as much as 1.4 billion to build back in mid-80's. I'm not sure 2 bill is going to rival Disneyland today.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Wonder why they didn't just build near Branson? Already a known commodity plus has plenty infrastructure in place.

Size I guess. That's what Walt Disney said back in the day about DW. And flat cheap land.

On Route 66.

How much work will have to be done to upgrade the highway?

Rt 66 is another reason I think it might actually work.

On the infrastructure, if there's one thing I've learned over the past few years, it's to NEVER say "such and such will never happen". Enough politicians and pork get involved and things do happen.

 

[NWADog]

Pretty good spot. An hour from 600-700k in the northwest Arkansas metro area, Tulsa 45 minutes, right next to Grand Lake which is a very popular place for visitors already, beautiful area through there and about 30 minutes from a massive Downstream casino and resort.

 

[NWADog]

They’ll need something that sets them apart from Silver Dollar City and what Branson has to offer though because they’ll be trying to pull from the same area to get visitors. Not sure what their plans are specifically. Gonna be interesting

 

[HotMop]

They most likely bought up all the realty via proxies, Disney can build anywhere and the people will come.

 

[57stratdawg]

Orlando’s airport is surprisingly busy. A quick Google search shows it #10 nationally ahead of places like Houston (Bush), Phoenix, Boston & Seattle.

That’ll be incredibly tough to replicate in rural Oklahoma.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Orlando’s airport is surprisingly busy. A quick Google search shows it #10 nationally ahead of places like Houston (Bush), Phoenix, Boston & Seattle.

That’ll be incredibly tough to replicate in rural Oklahoma.

Exactly.

Only reason it may work is because Tulsa is in close proximity, like Orlando was to Disney. Tulsa is bigger than Orlando was at the time, and it's less hot.

Yes & No.

Look at Orlando:

It’s warmer during the winter months and a lot of people like to get away during that time.

Holidays.



Now Tulsa:

Cold during the winter.

They’re going to have spend money to attract people to Oklahoma when it’s colder in December and January.

And Tulsa is warmer than Orlando in July.



____

TLDR - That Oklahoma site doesn’t have an entirely favorable climate setup compared to Orlando.

So I doubt it’ll be anything to threaten Disney/Universal.

But what if Branson wants to be the next Six Flags and have parks across America?

That’s a better angle.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

What made Disney so popular with associations of movies snd entertainment. Coupled with children's entertainment. Also add in Florida corridor right there with all of the beaches. Now you got universal and all this other infrastructure of entertainment. I don't see Orlando lake buena vista and Tampa being rivaled any time soon

 

[Wesson Bulldog]

Sounds a good bit like the Yellowstone series

 

[AstroDog]

Tulsa would have to be a 9 month annual operation, maybe 10. January and February can be brutal cold even worse than in N. Miss. Maybe they operate 9 months, then do their annual maintenance, hiring/training, and add product during Jan-March. Open up April 1 similar to like MLB, and go gangbusters for 9 months.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Tulsa would have to be a 9 month annual operation, maybe 10. January and February can be brutal cold even worse than in N. Miss. Maybe they operate 9 months, then do their annual maintenance, hiring/training, and add product during Jan-March. Open up April 1 like MLB and go gangbusters for 9 months.

Exactly.

That’s why I’m thinking it’s going to be more of a Six Flags competitor.

 

[PhredPhantom]

There’sa pretty good theme park just east of Evansville, Indiana named Holiday World. It has different sections themed on holiday seasons like Christmas, Thanksgiving, July 4th, etc. it’s a fairly large park and has lots of really good roller coasters but they’re not the main attraction. I went a couple of years ago with some of my children and grandchildren. It is a good time, especially for children. I would go again. It’s closed in the winter due to snow and cold weather. I would recommend it.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

There’sa pretty good theme park just east of Evansville, Indiana named Holiday World. It has different sections themed on holiday seasons like Christmas, Thanksgiving, July 4th, etc. it’s a fairly large park and has lots of really good roller coasters but they’re not the main attraction. I went a couple of years ago with some of my children and grandchildren. It is a good time, especially for children. I would go again. It’s closed in the winter due to snow and cold weather. I would recommend it.

Yep.

That town it’s in is Santa Claus, Indiana.

Maybe the most recognizable person from there is Jay Cutler.

There’s also a craft brewery not far from there in Ferdinand— St. Benedict’s— on the grounds of a monastery. They make good beer.

 

[GloryDawg]

Disney World has this mass machine called NASA about 60 miles away keeping Hurricanes away. What are they going to have to keep Tornado's away? ********

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Orlando’s airport is surprisingly busy. A quick Google search shows it #10 nationally ahead of places like Houston (Bush), Phoenix, Boston & Seattle.

That’ll be incredibly tough to replicate in rural Oklahoma.

Airports grow. Happens all the time.

But good points anyway in this thread. And I doubt it’ll compete with DW anytime soon.

 

[ZombieKissinger]

Stick a Buc’ees next to it, and you have a goldmine

 

[HotMop]

Orlando’s airport is surprisingly busy. A quick Google search shows it #10 nationally ahead of places like Houston (Bush), Phoenix, Boston & Seattle.

That’ll be incredibly tough to replicate in rural Oklahoma.

It won't be rural for long.

17 me, I didn't read the article, thought this was a Disney property. Fake news bitches, this will fail.

 

[johnson86-1]

Orlando’s airport is surprisingly busy. A quick Google search shows it #10 nationally ahead of places like Houston (Bush), Phoenix, Boston & Seattle.

That’ll be incredibly tough to replicate in rural Oklahoma.

I don’t expect anything can rival Disney without some entertainment tie-in, but I doubt Orlando airport looked super impressive before Disney world made it a destination.
As has been mentioned, if you assume there is going to be a Disney like investment, the weather is probably its biggest challenge. As hot as Disney is in the summer, it’s still packed. I think people will brave the heat much more readily than the cold for theme parks.

 

[Perd Hapley]

As someone who already has absolutely zero desire to take my family to actual Disney World unless I’m being held at gunpoint, the thought of pursuing a similar experience in mother17ing Oklahoma is enough to make me dust-bowl dry heave just a little bit.

 

[NWADawg]

Exactly.

That’s why I’m thinking it’s going to be more of a Six Flags competitor.

Silver dollar city in Branson (colder than Tulsa) is packed with people during December with Christmas lights, shows, parades, and other festivities.That won't work if it's a ride only park but if it's got other experience attractions, it can still make $$ almost all year.

 

[AstroDog]

Orlando’s airport is surprisingly busy. A quick Google search shows it #10 nationally ahead of places like Houston (Bush), Phoenix, Boston & Seattle.

That’ll be incredibly tough to replicate in rural Oklahoma.

I flew into Orlando and drove to Tampa for the ReliaQuest Bowl game on Jan. 2. Traffic in Tampa was ok, but when you get anywhere near Orlando Airport/Disney area it gets real congested real fast. State of Florida is playing catchup everywhere you go. Civil engineering in Florida should be a good gig for young and upcoming engineers. With 23 million and heading towards 25 million real soon, Florida is not a place I'd really want to live. Traffic would get on my nerves. Memphis can be as bad at times, but it's not full time busy like Orlando. Disney is a large part of Orlando's traffic issues though.

 

[mstateglfr]

I guess if I had to choose between Branson and Oklahoma, I might pick Oklahoma. Tough options there- picking which is less worse.

I went to Disney as an adult 6 years ago and that is the last time I plan to go in my lifetime. It was fine, but hardly special. Spending that exact amount of money on a Central American vacation would be 10x cooler.
You know what isn't on my radar? Spending that money in Rural 17ing OK.


"Hey kids, let's to go a knockoff Disney in rural Oklahoma for spring break! Pack your winter coats, it may drop down into the 30s!"

 

[BulldogBlitz]

1 quick tornado and there will be questions.

 

[Ranchdawg]

I guess if I had to choose between Branson and Oklahoma, I might pick Oklahoma. Tough options there- picking which is less worse.

I went to Disney as an adult 6 years ago and that is the last time I plan to go in my lifetime. It was fine, but hardly special. Spending that exact amount of money on a Central American vacation would be 10x cooler.
You know what isn't on my radar? Spending that money in Rural 17ing OK.


"Hey kids, let's to go a knockoff Disney in rural Oklahoma for spring break! Pack your winter coats, it may drop down into the 30s!"

I'm with you on this! I guess it comes with age too. We lived in Florida and when friends and family visited we were requested to attend the visit to the parks in Orlando. Our last visit was with friends from NC on the 4th of July years ago. It was horrible. We were lucky we didn't lose a child that day. We were chest to chest with people in the park and the kids only got to ride 3 rides. I swore that day it was my last trip to Disney world.

I've never been big on theme parks anyway. I would much rather go to Grand Canyon, Snowbird in Utah, the gulf coast for fishing or Venice for St. Marks square.

 

[mstateglfr]

I'm with you on this! I guess it comes with age too. We lived in Florida and when friends and family visited we were requested to attend the visit to the parks in Orlando. Our last visit was with friends from NC on the 4th of July years ago. It was horrible. We were lucky we didn't lose a child that day. We were chest to chest with people in the park and the kids only got to ride 3 rides. I swore that day it was my last trip to Disney world.

I've never been big on theme parks anyway. I would much rather go to Grand Canyon, Snowbird in Utah, the gulf coast for fishing or Venice for St. Marks square.

I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and swear that we only ever went into the city when family/friends came to visit. My parents always viewed it as just part of whats expected- you have people in town, you accept a trip into the city will happen. They never looked forward to it- the cost, the walking, the chaos and coordination, etc. Cant imagine doing all that but having the destination be Disney day trips!

Funny enough, my kids go into Chicago more often now, living 350mi away, than I did growing up 25mi from the Loop.

 

[johnson86-1]

I'm with you on this! I guess it comes with age too. We lived in Florida and when friends and family visited we were requested to attend the visit to the parks in Orlando. Our last visit was with friends from NC on the 4th of July years ago. It was horrible. We were lucky we didn't lose a child that day. We were chest to chest with people in the park and the kids only got to ride 3 rides. I swore that day it was my last trip to Disney world.

I've never been big on theme parks anyway. I would much rather go to Grand Canyon, Snowbird in Utah, the gulf coast for fishing or Venice for St. Marks square.

Disney with young kids that are wowed by the characters and into the movies is fun (or at least it was; haven't been since they basically make you pay for the ticket and then pay for Genie and have the hassle of scheduling rides first thing every morning). There are a lot of hassles to it that can make it not worth it, but still a fun experience to look back on.

Once you're past that point, I just can't imagine how much money and time you have to spend on vacations to make Disney worth it. I think I'd still be perfectly happy to go with older kids if money was no object, but it would just be so far down the list of choices that I can't imagine most people actually making it that far down the list. I'm guessing Disney is now $150-$175 per day per family member if you get Genie+ (which I can't imagine going being worth it if you don't get any short lines) just to go to the park. That can go a long way on just about any vacation.

 

[Seinfeld]

Disney with young kids that are wowed by the characters and into the movies is fun (or at least it was; haven't been since they basically make you pay for the ticket and then pay for Genie and have the hassle of scheduling rides first thing every morning). There are a lot of hassles to it that can make it not worth it, but still a fun experience to look back on.

Once you're past that point, I just can't imagine how much money and time you have to spend on vacations to make Disney worth it. I think I'd still be perfectly happy to go with older kids if money was no object, but it would just be so far down the list of choices that I can't imagine most people actually making it that far down the list. I'm guessing Disney is now $150-$175 per day per family member if you get Genie+ (which I can't imagine going being worth it if you don't get any short lines) just to go to the park. That can go a long way on just about any vacation.

Yeah, we’re in the middle of planning a trip right now because our youngest is reaching the last of his years where he’s gonna be Wowed, and trust me… there’s no possible way to plan a family week at either Disney location in the US for under $7k if you have to fly. It eases the pain a little if you pay chunks as you go throughout the year, but you’re going to cough it up one way or another

 

[johnson86-1]

Yeah, we’re in the middle of planning a trip right now because our youngest is reaching the last of his years where he’s gonna be Wowed, and trust me… there’s no possible way to plan a family week at either Disney location in the US for under $7k if you have to fly. It eases the pain a little if you pay chunks as you go throughout the year, but you’re going to cough it up one way or another

I believe this. If you have to fly, I'm not sure it's even worth it even when they're young.

 

[615dawg]

One of my favorite Mississippi stories is the one where an out-of-state hustler almost got the Madison County Board of Supervisors to hand over the land that would eventually become Lake Caroline to build a theme park to compete with Six Flags and Disney.

Everyone wanted to just sign it over. Mary Hawkins Butler did some basic due diligence and found out that the corporate address of this hustler was a run down Motel in St. Louis.

 

[jxndawg]

I believe this. If you have to fly, I'm not sure it's even worth it even when they're young.

In Dec. of 2019, I booked a family DW trip for May of 2020. Then Covid hit, and everything (incl. DW) got shut down. Long story short, DW let me reschedule the trip, and I moved it to the first week of October, 2020. The park was limited to 25% capacity, and it was glorious - there were only 2 or 3 rides with long wait times, and by that I mean 30-60 minutes. Some rides we literally got off of, noticed as we were leaving that there was no line, and decided to ride it again. Plus, the week we were there was Orlando's 30 minutes of fall - some of the days were no humidity with highs in the mid 70s. Only downsides were a decent amount of the restaurants were closed, and they didn't do anything that drew a crowd (scheduled parades, the fireworks show, etc.).

But you're right in terms of the cost - it was me and my two kids, we flew down there, and stayed in a nicer on-site hotel, and I stopped counting when I hit $9k.

 

[ChE1997]

I don’t expect anything can rival Disney without some entertainment tie-in, but I doubt Orlando airport looked super impressive before Disney world made it a destination.
As has been mentioned, if you assume there is going to be a Disney like investment, the weather is probably its biggest challenge. As hot as Disney is in the summer, it’s still packed. I think people will brave the heat much more readily than the cold for theme parks.

Since Disneyworld opened in 1971, and was selected because there was a WWI era SAC base within 10 miles, you'd only be half right...

this is the Orlando Airport in 1947. with 3 runways.

Vs Tulsa today with 3...

 

[ChE1997]

Yeah, we’re in the middle of planning a trip right now because our youngest is reaching the last of his years where he’s gonna be Wowed, and trust me… there’s no possible way to plan a family week at either Disney location in the US for under $7k if you have to fly. It eases the pain a little if you pay chunks as you go throughout the year, but you’re going to cough it up one way or another

if at all possible, go in the August to October or January - February off season.

Not for less expensive. But it's less crowded and more enjoyable.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

Disney with young kids that are wowed by the characters and into the movies is fun (or at least it was; haven't been since they basically make you pay for the ticket and then pay for Genie and have the hassle of scheduling rides first thing every morning). There are a lot of hassles to it that can make it not worth it, but still a fun experience to look back on.

Once you're past that point, I just can't imagine how much money and time you have to spend on vacations to make Disney worth it. I think I'd still be perfectly happy to go with older kids if money was no object, but it would just be so far down the list of choices that I can't imagine most people actually making it that far down the list. I'm guessing Disney is now $150-$175 per day per family member if you get Genie+ (which I can't imagine going being worth it if you don't get any short lines) just to go to the park. That can go a long way on just about any vacation.

We go a lot and yes it's just gotten too expensive and too much of a haste. My sister in law wants us to go with them next fall to act as their guides since we have gone so much, but hell I looked at prices for dvc and normal prices. It's up a 100 bucks from when we just went. Quite the jump in year. Looking at being 2500 for the week for just one studio room and price for moder room is just under. That's not including food, gas, dog boarding, hotel on the way, tickets all the other crap.

that's one of the biggest reasons it's been smaller crowds this summer. Too dang hot. Too dang expensive. And im sure some of it is political. But hell it's a 6-7k vacation just for a family of 4 for a week. If you are lucky and don't have kids that love to eat big meals. My wife and I could used to go alone for around 2500-3k and stay at moderate resort, park hopper tickets, and nice dinners every night. Not any more