Downtown Disney: Hyperion Wharf is Gone Forever
Many reading the headline will certainly think in their heads: "Wow, did it take them this long to realize that Hyperion Wharf (the proposed new area that was going to replace Pleasure Island) is dead?" Well, actually we are aware that the concept was actually abandoned many months ago, but nothing official really came from Disney. The only thing they ever stated was that the project was currently being reviewed and ameliorated.
Today, though, we have a concrete proof that Hyperion Wharf is NEVER coming back in any form. In fact, we received an e-mail update from the trademark company that Disney uses to secure their new names and logos, and... guess what action was recently taken by the Walt Disney Company? This:
Abandonment Notice! On Monday, December 3, 2012, status on the HYPERION WHARF trademark changed to ABANDONED - NO STATEMENT OF USE FILED.
The name "Hyperion Wharf" was originally registered on Thursday, November 18, 2010 by Disney Enterprises, Inc. Now that the name - and everything related to it - has been officially abandoned, we know that they are not going back to this concept. This, of course, opens up a very important questions: "What is the current concept for Pleasure Island's replacement, and when will it be made public?" As always, let's wait and see what happens.
...meanwhile Universal Studios continues to build more and more.
ReplyDelete...meanwhile another asinine comment...
ReplyDeleteHow was the comment from Anonymous extremely foolish?! Universal are continuing to develop at an incredible rate while Disney aren't doing the same in a way that excites the public. If you ask if people would rather have Fastpass Plus ($1 billion +) or a Transformers ride & area, Simpsons area, Harry Potter huge expansion, expansion & addition to the entertainment complex... which do you think they'd prefer? I'm guessing the huge array of rides, attractions & expansion areas. Disney can offer up Fantasyland, but they don't offer up a continuous expansion plan with any visual signs of progress. I know they are doing so, but the comment from Anonymous was a reflection of how people feel, not an asinine foolish one.
ReplyDeleteThere's a huge difference between Universal and Disney. Part of it is that Disney has to spread its improvements over 4 parks, rather than 2. Believe me, I'm not beyond seeing the major changes that need to be made, particularly in Studios and Epcot.
ReplyDeleteHowever, while I've never thought twice about renewing my annual pass to Disney, after a year of Universal (that ran out shortly before the Spiderman revamp was announced), I knew I wasn't going back until huge additions were made. Disney can rest on its laurels for now, but I do agree that they'll have some catching up to do if they continue like that for another year.
I'd also like to take the opportunity to say that Universal's lines and food are still lightyears behind Disney's...
Tin Toy is really wound up today...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/hyperion-wharf.htm
ReplyDeleteThe link is still active for those longing to miss something they knew nothing of.
@ Anonymous #4
ReplyDeleteLOL! Clever :)
As for the matter at hand: I have to agree with Anonymous #3 about Disney's vast slate. Disney has 11 theme parks to focus on, with a 12th one already under way. Not to mention that four of those parks are in one very place. They have a reason not to go construction crazy at every park at the same time. However, I hope Disney doesn't completely abandon the Hyperion Wharf plan. After all, good ideas never die at Disney.
We are spoiled. 2 new ships, Avatar Land, new fantasy land, (another site is reporting) a cars land announcement as early as this week. Not to mention a bunch of little stuff. Redo of test track comes to mind. Universal has to be constantly developing and re-developing because fewer of their properties are timeless. There are some obvious holes, but you will have that in a park as large as they are.
ReplyDelete4 theme parks, 4 times as much money.
ReplyDeleteYet they don't make as much as Universal to build as much as them?
Yeah Disney has a lot more land, but they also earn a alot more money from it.
What does Pleasure Island/Hyperion Wharf have to do with Universal? If this was a clue that Disney was never going to build a new attraction at Epcot, then that's worth complaining about. This is Pleasure Island, which no one cares about.
ReplyDeleteDisney probably went through the budget and figured the money would be better off spent in their parks, not in a non-ticketed entertainment area.
It's sad Disney ripped out a huge part of Pleasure Island and stopped.
ReplyDeleteThe concept art of Hyperion Wharf looked wonderful. The place now looks empty.
The whole discusion about Disney beeing bigger and can invest less it stupid. Disney parks earn a lot more then Universal or Sea World. They have a lot of hotels on property and much more guests, so they should have enough money to maintain and upgrade all their parks. But they don't because they don't need to. People keep comming to their parks and spend money so why should they? I don't think it's a good thing, and I think they are slowly loosing customers due to the amazing expansions at Universal and Sea World and lets hope they start to take action soon.
Hyperon Wharf was an elusive concept that never materialized. In fact, Hyperon Wharf was in some respects, a lesser version of Buena Vista Street in DCA. I would much rather they bring back the positive aspects of Pleasure Island, like the Adventurer's Club, Mannequins, etc., and upgrade the rest in to another nighttime venue, than the Hyperion Wharf theme, which seemed like a knockoff of CityWalk (or the West Side, for that matter). It would also be nice for Disney to pay homage and respect to Florida, for once, instead of always looking to it's past in California. At least Pleasure Island had a "Florida" vibe.
ReplyDeleteThe Hyperion Wharf concept was axed because hotels, shops and restaurants at the Boardwalk complained that Hyperion Wharf was a copy of the Boardwalk's already existing theme. Did WDW need two of them? Whatever does replace Pleasure Island is likely to be much the same as what was announced for Hyperion Wharf but just themed differently.
ReplyDelete