Would Disney buy Busch Entertainment? Walt Disney World (WDW) Rumors Discuss Would Disney buy Busch Entertainment? in the News & Rumors forums; A-B Inbev. has been reportedly planning to sell the 10 Busch Entertainment Parks for over a year, but it seems like talks are getting more serious. The company is looking ...

[Linnette Alissa]

A-B Inbev. has been reportedly planning to sell the 10 Busch Entertainment Parks for over a year, but it seems like talks are getting more serious. The company is looking for ways to repay its short term debt from the $52 billion merger of Anheuser Busch and Belgium's InBev.
Selling SeaWorld, Busch Gardens: Could InBev Do It If It Wanted To?
Revenue falls at SeaWorld and other Anheuser-Busch InBev theme parks -- OrlandoSentinel.com

This article suggests that Disney could buy all 10 parks for less than the price of building a new park in Shanghai.
Is InBev Getting Closer To Selling Busch Gardens?

I think the idea is pretty far fetched and if at all possible, a long way off given the state of the economy. I also didn't think I would ever cringe at the thought of more Disney parks, but 10 would make the Disney Resorts much less exclusive and sought.
Opinions?

[ohiodisneydad]

We had a thread on this earlier and the opinions were varied. I say they could purchase these parks because for the infrastructure would already be in place. It was either that old thread or the one about Disney building near Dollywood but the debate got a little heavy. I always enjoy these debates myself!

[Linnette Alissa]

Oh. Oops haha I searched the forum and couldn't find the topic anywhere so I figured it hadn't been posted. Sorry for the repeat

[ohiodisneydad]

Originally Posted by Linnette Alissa

Oh. Oops haha I searched the forum and couldn't find the topic anywhere so I figured it hadn't been posted. Sorry for the repeat

No big deal at all. The archives here at WDWRadio.com, previously known as Disneyworldtrivia.com, are pretty large and you can spend weeks reading through old posts. I know cause I did it! And besides I don't mind re-sharing my opinions on the matter at all! In my humble opinion, I think Disney would benefit greatly from buying the Virginia Busch Gardens and start working on Disney's America Park!

[Disney2000]

Wow.... I'm not sure, I think disney could benefit from 1 more US park (maybe Disney's America so i could get an annual pass?) but I don't think that Disney is gonna build 10 more parks, especially not until the parks they have are all extremely successful (DCA, DSP) What other possibilities are there for those speces besides theme parks? any good ideas?

[NC_WDW_Daddy]

Adding 10 more parks would be a huge undertaking to get it right. Not only from the financial aspects, but just the pure growth and maintaining the Disney quality would be difficult. I think it would take an Eisner - Wells type of team with ambition to pull it off. I know a lot of people like to attack Michael Eisner, but he sure knew how to run and grow a business.

[ERich2010]

i say do it. its not like theyre building anything. its just buying it. and for less than a park in shanghai...

[elvistelth]

After reading the OP's post I have one thought: NO MORE FREE BEER AT BUSCH GARDENS!!! I hate globalization!

[DisneyGuy87]

I just don't think it would be Disney, and they would have to build because they wouldnt likely keep a single ride at any of those parks. Disney would have built rides like those long ago if they had any desire to do such a thing. Disney's about the story, u know?

[ohiodisneydad]

Disney is about the story but you also have to look at the fact that these parks already have the infrastructure built. Power lines, parking lots buildings etc. I think Disney could sell off what ever rides they couldn't mold into their own attractions and be successful. Only problem is that I don't think they would want to buy Busch gardens-Tampa and compete with themselves in Florida. But the VA park would be an attractive purchase.

[clion]

The benefit of BG-Williamsburg is that it's like a smaller version of Epcot's World Showcase with some thrill rides mixed in. The problem is that there practically is NO story at BGW, aside from the whole concept of being in Europe (and Canada - "New France").

BGW tried, at one point, to put more back story in their rides like the Big Bad Wolf and the Loch Ness Monster, but it didn't work. Now some of those story elements are still there, but they're not really referenced. The newer rides essentially have no story at all, aside from "ride this and scream your head off."