Walt Disney was seldom a man of singular tastes. From his characters to his animation, he produced one or first-of-its-kind creations. This characteristic is even carried forward to Disney’s various theme parks worldwide. One of the first such parks was opened back in 1971, the theme park had its name taken directly from Walt Disney’s vision and design inspiration – The Magic Kingdom.
As per Milesopedia, Walt Disney World is the company’s largest theme park, featuring four main parks: Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and the Animal Kingdom. How many of the Disney theme parks have you visited yet? Well, studies have at least found that the Magic Kingdom continues to remain the most visited amusement park worldwide.
In 2023 alone, it welcomed around 17.7 million visitors from all corners of the world. Disney’s theme parks may seem just about fun, magic, and stardust but a part of their enchantment has to do with the layout. This may be something we only think about when our feet are aching at the end of the day and resting seems like the best ride ever. However, others use Disney’s model for imitation purposes.
It is almost a scenario where one sows and another reaps but ultimately, both rejoice. In other words, Disney pioneers in the world of theme parks, driving the ‘design once, build twice (or more)’ mindset. In this article, we will discuss how and which parks are directly inspired by Disney.
Walt Disney’s Original Vision for Disney Theme Parks
Upon visiting any of Disney’s theme parks, we can understand that fun and entertainment were undoubtedly on Walt Disney’s mind. However, that would simply be a small part of the great visionary’s ideas. He essentially wanted his characters to come alive. For that to happen, it was crucial to establish a theme and set the backdrop.
All of Disney’s movies and characters feature ethereal charm and awe-inspiring aura. Without an immersive experience where children and adults could vicariously live through the characters, it would be impossible to capture Disney’s essence. The only practical solution was a theme park that made its visitors feel like they’d stepped inside a Disney movie.
Walt Disney relied heavily on his childhood experiences involving visits to carnivals and zoos. Of all the parks he had visited, the Tivoli Gardens of Copenhagen, Denmark, was the ideal amusement park. His personal touch would involve fantasy and adventures that took place in clean and safe regions.
The original idea lay dormant in Disney’s mind for years. Before materializing his vision, Disney was inspired by a few classic amusement parks, besides the Tivoli Gardens, including –
- Beverly Park in Los Angeles
- Coney Island in New York
- Children’s Fairyland in Oakland
- Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park
- Palisades Park in New Jersey
- Madurodam in Hague, Netherlands
- Chicago Railroad Fair in Chicago
- Long Beach Pike in Long Beach
- Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum in Michigan
Key Points About Copying Disney’s Theme Park Model
Let’s start by putting aside the most important question – do other theme parks try to imitate Disney on purpose or otherwise? Yes, because Disney has set the bar so high that even if one desires to outperform the company, emulation is the way to go.
For that to happen, we need to understand the key points about copying Disney’s model. Let’s look at the factors imitators consider to create a Disney-like theme park.
- Foundational principles – Disney’s prime focus is to offer its guests a magical experience that brings its movies to life. Theme parks designed on similar principles also exude mystical vibes.
- Land structure – All of Disney’s parks are based on distinct themes. It may be a ‘Tomorrowland,’ ‘Fantasyland,’ or an ‘Adventureland.’ Other parks may copy this land structure with different thematic interpretations.
- Immersive storytelling – Disney’s attention to detail is mindblowing. All of its theme parks’ environments and attractions are woven through with a narrative. This is definitely a key aspect that other parks try to emulate.
- Character interactions and parades – The company always tries to incorporate beloved characters from its franchises for parades and meet-and-greet events. It is exciting for visitors to have an opportunity to interact with characters they may only be used to seeing on screen.
- Family-friendly appeal – Disney theme parks are places the entire family can visit without any member getting bored. This is because there is something for every age group.
The Smart Use of Creativity to Eliminate Homogenization
One thing a lot of folks worry about is whether imitation would breed monotony and homogenization. In other words, would not the ‘sameness’ among different theme parks make them all boring? That would only be true if Disney’s theme park model is copied just as it is. There is nothing new under the sun they say and it is true.
If something seems novel and captivating, one can be sure that a personal touch has been added to the imitation model. Similarly, theme park designers may use Disney as their archetype but they must ditch artistic lethargy. Thinking outside the box is the need of the hour and the following theme parks make good use of it.
Universal Studios
Universal Studios Florida is a theme park that opened up in Orlando, Florida back in June 1990. Operated by NBCUniversal, there are umpteen number of attractions, live shows, and rides for visitors to enjoy.
Given how the park draws its theme from different television shows, movies, and other forms of entertainment, it is primarily based on the model of Disney. Some of its top rides or attractions are based on Harry Potter, The Simpsons, Men in Black, and Despicable Me.
Today, a fourth such park is about to be erected by 2025, known as Universal Epic Universe. The Universal Studios Florida attracted more than 9.75 million tourists in 2023.
Negev Park
Did you know that Disney has no theme parks yet in the Middle East? Perhaps that is about to change even if Disney may not be the one to do it. Plans are underway to develop the largest amusement park in Israel at Beersheba, as announced by the country’s Ministry of Tourism.
The Negev Park is being called the Disneyland of the Middle East, which means it will draw inspiration mainly from Disney’s theme parks. The twist would be to incorporate Biblical environments and characters and demonstrate the story of each.
This park is expected to improve the economy of Beersheba by attracting investments for hotels, shopping complexes, recreation centers, and more. That may not happen immediately after the theme park is opened. The closest developed city would be Jerusalem, around 1 hour 15 minutes away.
Tourists can reside in the area rife with luxury resorts and hotels for a comfortable long stay. As per Isrotel, advanced bookings can be made online for discounts, transparent pricing, and a better check-in experience.
What’s more, is that an entire day can be dedicated to enjoying the vast desert land area of Beersheba, including the upcoming theme park. This area is already home to the aviation center and racing track. The second phase of its construction is currently underway, set to be completed soon.
Israel also plans on opening a nearby airport to position the park as a major tourist attraction for overseas visitors. It is expected to attract at least 10 million tourists a year.
Europa Park
This park, located in Germany, was opened in 1975. From the time of its construction and over the years, it has drawn inspiration from Disney’s theme parks. Attracting six million visitors in 2023, it featured over 100 rides out of which 13 were roller coasters.
There are six adventure hotels also located within the park’s premises. Its rides, vast food options, and structure appear to be more or less like Disney World. However, a first-timer’s perspective would write the Europa Park off as the greener of the two. With a tepee village and a camping site in its boundaries, it will most appeal to the senses of the nature lover.
From the imitations we have discussed in this article, it is clear that Disney’s influence over the theme park world is extremely strong. Visitors of such parks can expect to embark on one jaw-dropping adventure after another.
Even Disney itself has prepared a robust five-year construction plan. It has planned to expand its existing locations besides opening new parks. The company’s future plans include the Walt Disney Animatronic Show (2025), Stark Flight Lab (2027), and Avatar Expansion (2028). Based on what’s ahead, it seems others must gear up for some tough competition!
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