Vote Closed!
The Winning Plan said:
[X] Plan Arabian Nights
-[X] Give Steve the go ahead to open up a Disney Store, complete JAN-FEB-MAR 1986. Board Approval based on success.
-[X] Free With a Park Ticket. This is slightly more profitable, and gives a solid benefit for people visiting the parks.
-[X] Just After Midnight. This is a good middle ground for the monorail to be a primary service for the Disney Marketplace. People coming out of the movies or a late night at the Hard Rock Cafe would appreciate being able to catch a monorail back into the city if they were from Orlando, although this makes it easier for guests on property to spend the night out at Orlando. Set at 1am.
[X] RED
--[X]Virgin Megastore
--[X] Hard Rock Cafe
[X] ORANGE
--[X] Orlando Monorail Line
---[X] Sound proof as much as possible so that the sound doesn't disturb customers in the World of Disney.
--[X] World of Disney
---[X]Have the monorail run through the World of Disney store.
-[X] BLUE
--[X] Outdoor Food Court
---[X] Make it Disney themed of course. Have a few interactive art pieces here and there to keep people entertained while eating.
-[X] PURPLE
--[X] Mini Legoland
--[X] Miniature Golf Course
--[X] AMC Theaters
---[X] Negotiate with AMC to potentially have a rotating schedule of filling at minimum one showing slot with a different old Disney Movie every week. People loved it when we opened the vault, they should love it if we bring them back to the theatre, even if only at one location and only for a week. Once we run out of old films, then simply keep them on rotation.
You're back at the contemporary resort, getting ready to give the press conference on the new expansion to the Walt Disney World Village. Or rather, The Disney Marketplace, as it's going to be called. Some of the people you're working with on the expansion are here with you, or have sent representatives, but it'll still be you leading the presentation. It hardly feels like any time at all before you're back up in front of the press, cameras rolling with the presentation screens on either side of you.
The crowd goes silent as you begin talking, with the Walt Disney World Village logo on the screens. "So, the last time we were all here, I mentioned that a monorail line would be built out to the Walt Disney World Village." There are some murmurs as the screens switch over to showing the planned monorail line. "This time, I'm here to talk about the plans we have for the area based on the increased accessibility that the monorail will bring."
There's plenty of interest on display as the screens switch to the image of the new logo. "The Disney Marketplace." You say. "A full revitalization of the area, bringing new shops, dining, and experiences to the district." You continue as a broad overview of the expansion shows, before zooming in on the western edge. "The monorail line on property will connect to the west side, with a large open air food court for guests to enjoy on the waterfront. The perfect place to grab a bite to eat before heading back to the parks." Concept art goes up, to appreciative whispers. "There will be various characters walking around, and plenty of interactive elements for guests to enjoy."
You take a few moments for that to sink in before moving on. "To cover the area between the monorail and the current area of shops, we've worked closely with Lego and AMC to provide an experience that you won't be able to find anywhere else." This time, it actually takes several minutes for the crowd to quiet down enough for you to continue. "We're pleased to announce that the Legoland portion of Lego is working with us." Several of the pre-built models are put on display. "There's going to be a walkthrough area with each of the current four Disney parks lovingly depicted in Lego bricks, as well as a miniature golf course built out of Lego and based on the parks as well." Some more concept art goes up. "Just be careful on the EPCOT course's back nine, the World Showcase Lagoon makes for one heck of a water hazard." There's a good amount of chuckling. "On top of that, we've reached a deal with Lego to start production on some Disney based sets. If you ever wanted a chance to build Cinderella Castle out of Lego, now you'll have that chance." The completed version of the model is shown on screen, with you and Kjeld shaking hands in the background.
You let that image sink in for a bit, then move on. "Of course, that's not the only planned expansion we have in that area." The AMC theater logo pops up. "We're going to have a complete set of theaters in the area as well, with the occasional rotation of classic Disney films being available." There's a smattering of applause for this, as the concept art for theaters is shown. They're all classical style theaters, throwing back to the fifties.
You press on after a moment. "Of course, while we're keeping the current shops in tact, we are expanding on the current shopping district's offerings as well." A map of the current shopping village goes up, with the new combination Hard Rock Cafe and Virgin Megastore marked off. "We've got Hard Rock Cafe coming in, and they've partnered with Virgin Megastore." You can tell some of the press are excited, practically vibrating in their seats. "With an outlook onto the Village Lake, with a stage directly in front, this is going to be the place to congregate for rock for years to come." A couple of artist sketches are shown, with pyrotechnics shooting off the stage into the lake, the building behind them lit up with crowds eagerly watching the concert. "This zone is targeted more towards the older crowd, as we're hoping to expand the offerings Disney has for a more mature audience."
"And on the far eastern end, we're excited to bring to you the World of Disney, a store specifically for Disney merchandise." That gets a lot more of a reaction than you expected, as the proposed store front is put on screen. "If you've ever wanted a place to get official Disney products, all in one place, well…" A new sketch, this time of shelves filled with various Disney merch. "This will be that place." There's a lot of applause for this. "Now, while all these expansions aren't set to be open until September next year, we're also going to be opening up our own chain of stores like the World of Disney. The first of these is scheduled to open in the Glendale Galleria, in California, this February." A wall of noise springs forth as the reporters start to ask questions, and it takes you a good chunk of time to quiet them all down.
"Of course, this expansion will be a major part of the Walt Disney World resort." Some of the reporters look ready to start asking questions again, so you quickly continue. "But we wanted this to be more than just an expansion for the Reedy Creek Improvement District." You gesture towards the representatives from Orlando. "That's why, with the help of Orlando, we're going to be building a monorail line from the eastern edge directly to Orlando." There's silence as the crowd takes this in, so you keep talking before they start making more noise. "The monorail will have trains arriving every fifteen minutes, and run from six in the morning until an hour after midnight." The concept sketches of the World of Disney with a monorail running through it is shown, before more images detailing the actual route of the line are displayed. "The monorail itself will be free with a park ticket to any of the Disney parks, or for a small fee without."
This time, there's no stopping the reporters as they all start asking questions all at once, and you do your best to make sure questions get directed to the appropriate source. All told, it's a massive success for a press conference, and you're confident that the board will be pleased.
+5 Board Approval for press conference, large PR boost. Expansion now underway, will finish construction September of 1986.
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A Mickey Market
Disney has announced massive expansion plans to the current Walt Disney World Village, as well as a renaming of the area to the Disney Marketplace. Among the names they've pulled in for this project are Lego, Hard Rock Cafe, and Virgin Megastore, fueling excitement for the area. Given the recent moves that Disney has made, it's certainly looking like Walt Disney World is going to become a world vacation destination with the likes of Paris or New York City within the decade.
Russians in the Rhine
While nothing concrete has been shown, rumors continue to circulate that the recent setbacks at Disney World were the result of USSR interference in the Rhine River Cruise project. While both Disney and the CIA have refused to comment, sources close to the matter have said that the CIA has offered assistance to Disney should they run into any more such issues. With the other rumors of a planned expansion into Europe by the company…
Continued on page 2, Russians in the Rhine.
Bangor Daily News May 7th 1985 said:
Stars Testify About Emotional Toll of Farm Crisis
Three movie stars who played distressed farm wives offered sometimes tearful testimony to congressional Democrats Monday about the emotional toll being exacted by America's agriculture crisis.
"It is heartbreaking to witness their anguish as they watch their lives being stripped away." Jessica Lange, who starred in the film "Country," said through tears as she spoke to a dozen Democratic congressmen on the party's House farm task force.
AN: The third headline is taken straight from a paper at the time, as the quote block indicates. It's not the entire article, but just the opening statements. You can expect Turn 4 to go up in 24 hours or so.
