Disney Analyst
Well-Known Member
Last night in the city.
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The Miscellaneous Thought Thread
- Thread starter mickEblu
- Start date
Last night in the city.
truecoat
Well-Known Member
So that bought them one E Ticket (Frozen), two D's (Peter Pan and Rapunzel), and a spinner (Tinkerbell). Or is the Peter Pan thing considered an E? Or is Frozen considered a D?
Regardless, and I'll have to see when I watch the ride-thru's on the big screen, it bought them 4 rides. Four.
Something to think about with DisneylandForward spending around the same over the next 10 years or so.
I was underwhelmed.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Me too. But then I'm not the target audience for these Fantasyland-style rides, so I had to temper my thoughts a bit.
It appears that the Frozen ride would be considered an E Ticket, if only just barely because the boats have lapbars for the mild Pirates-style drops. Tokyo's version looks clearly superior to the Norway Pavilion version in Florida.
I would classify Peter Pan and the Rapunzel rides as solid D Tickets. Some impressive and nifty technology on both, but then it's 2024 and in this future year we were supposed to have flying cars and Pan Am flying us to the moon, so the least we can expect is a visually impressive D Ticket ride.
The Tinkerbell spinning outdoor thing was interesting. It reminded me of a better version of Heimlich's Chew Chew Train if TDA actually spent some money on it.
Overall though, I was most impressed by the queues for all four rides and their aesthetics. You could only do that in Japan though, where their monolithic culture allows them that luxury. If they built a queue like that in the USA, it would be tagged up and vandalized faster than you can say "8th Grade Field Trip".
But it's telling that is what $2 Billion in park expansion just bought them. I wonder if the YouTube crowd is going to be disappointed when they see what $2 Billion buys Anaheim spread over 10 years as part of DisneylandForward. They'll probably still claim it's all AMAAAAAZING, but I think some folks are going to be underwhelmed by what shows up in Anaheim's two parks by 2035.
truecoat
Well-Known Member
Me too. But then I'm not the target audience for these Fantasyland-style rides, so I had to temper my thoughts a bit.
It appears that the Frozen ride would be considered an E Ticket, if only just barely because the boats have lapbars for the mild Pirates-style drops. Tokyo's version looks clearly superior to the Norway Pavilion version in Florida.
I would classify Peter Pan and the Rapunzel rides as solid D Tickets. Some impressive and nifty technology on both, but then it's 2024 and in this future year we were supposed to have flying cars and Pan Am flying us to the moon, so the least we can expect is a visually impressive D Ticket ride.
The Tinkerbell spinning outdoor thing was interesting. It reminded me of a better version of Heimlich's Chew Chew Train if TDA actually spent some money on it.
Overall though, I was most impressed by the queues for all four rides and their aesthetics. You could only do that in Japan though, where their monolithic culture allows them that luxury. If they built a queue like that in the USA, it would be tagged up and vandalized faster than you can say "8th Grade Field Trip".
But it's telling that is what $2 Billion in park expansion just bought them. I wonder if the YouTube crowd is going to be disappointed when they see what $2 Billion buys Anaheim spread over 10 years as part of DisneylandForward. They'll probably still claim it's all AMAAAAAZING, but I think some folks are going to be underwhelmed by what shows up in Anaheim's two parks by 2035.
Having 3 of the 4 be boat rides is great for capacity but they feel so similar. I would have liked to see a variety but it doesn't matter to me as I'll probably never go.
eddie104
Well-Known Member
I don’t believe Tokyo has any more expansion space?
So they had a good idea to build people eaters with decent capacity to help eat up crowds.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Yes, exactly my thought! When I was watching the incredible HD video ride-thrus and it got to the Rapunzel loading area and... Oh, hell! It's another boat ride?!?
Oh, you should go! Especially currently where the exchange rates are so favorable to Americans and our greenbacks. You might be surprised how easy a week's trip to Tokyo can be. My thrice-cancelled Japan trips from 2020-2022 has now morphed into a 2025 trip for the World's Fair in Osaka, and I've got a few other trips planned for this July-October, but it's sooooo tempting when you see what the exchange rates and costs are like now in Japan in '24.
Rich T
Well-Known Member
As a life-time fan of the story of Peter Pan (The book, the Disney Classic, the evergreen stage play and even the hilarious “Peter Pan Goes Wong”), I just realized why the Fantasy Springs Peter Pan ride is not something I’d want in the U.S. parks.
The magic of the classic story comes from the journey from everyday London to Neverland and back. To this day, the moment on Peter Pan’s Flight when you fly out the window and out over London rooftops remains one of the greatest ride moments in all of theme park-dom.
Take away London as the starting point and you’re left with an island full of loud, eternal brats and adults who act like children. Ewww. The whole point of Peter Pan is Wendy realizing that, while dreams are to be cherished, the reality is that Neverland kinda sucks, and the place is wayyy more enchanting when viewed from afar.
I love Mary Blair’s design style in the classic film. I don’t think the new ride conveys much of the film’s charm at all. Since when did The Lost Boys—and things they cobble together— become something worth building an entire E-ticket adventure around? Yuck. And then the ride system turns out to be very much like The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman—minus the thrills and urgency. I’m sure most of it probably looks impressive in 3D… but the “story” is a huge, noisy nothing.
And then comes the brief 3D movie flight TO London… which is nowhere near as magical a story moment as going the other direction.. and then at the finish you’re deposited back in the Lost Boys’ hideout—The last place anyone would want to be left.
I was really looking forward to seeing what a modern take on a Peter Pan Ride could look like. I’m very disappointed. To me, this thing comes across as obnoxious, condescending, and charmless. A massive merch and snack food sales generator? Sure. A ride that captures the magic of the story or characters? Not even close.
The magic of the classic story comes from the journey from everyday London to Neverland and back. To this day, the moment on Peter Pan’s Flight when you fly out the window and out over London rooftops remains one of the greatest ride moments in all of theme park-dom.
Take away London as the starting point and you’re left with an island full of loud, eternal brats and adults who act like children. Ewww. The whole point of Peter Pan is Wendy realizing that, while dreams are to be cherished, the reality is that Neverland kinda sucks, and the place is wayyy more enchanting when viewed from afar.
I love Mary Blair’s design style in the classic film. I don’t think the new ride conveys much of the film’s charm at all. Since when did The Lost Boys—and things they cobble together— become something worth building an entire E-ticket adventure around? Yuck. And then the ride system turns out to be very much like The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman—minus the thrills and urgency. I’m sure most of it probably looks impressive in 3D… but the “story” is a huge, noisy nothing.
And then comes the brief 3D movie flight TO London… which is nowhere near as magical a story moment as going the other direction.. and then at the finish you’re deposited back in the Lost Boys’ hideout—The last place anyone would want to be left.
I was really looking forward to seeing what a modern take on a Peter Pan Ride could look like. I’m very disappointed. To me, this thing comes across as obnoxious, condescending, and charmless. A massive merch and snack food sales generator? Sure. A ride that captures the magic of the story or characters? Not even close.
I agree with most everything you said. Neither version screams Mary Blair but I would say that I get more of her vibes due to it being centered around Neverland and the color palette that goes with it. When I think Mary Blair Peter Pan art it’s always Neverland Jungle colors which is almost completely missing in Peter Pans Flight. It’s funny i agree with nearly everything you said and still think that if both versions of Peter Oan were next to each other with 45 minute waits I’d probably choose the newer one over the Peter Pans Flight most of the time. For my money Peter Pan in Shanghai is still the best Peter Pan ride in the world. I still found the ride charming though. Love that queue. Especially the room with the trees at dusk.
Rich T
Well-Known Member
Good points. It’s all well done, but for me the look comes across as modern generic Disney—Which certainly isn’t awful. I agree that Shanghai’s looks like the #1 ride interpretation, with its emphasis in all the right spots (it’s amazing how a simple thing like seeing the face of the Big Ben clocktower at the end instantly gives that ride a satisfying conclusion that all others lack).
I think that, in a story that transports its characters from the real world to a fantasy realm and back, the real world scenes contain the heart and message of the adventure. When I learned the new Tokyo ride depicted things from the point of view of Peter Pan and crew, I was thinking, “No, no, who the heck is asking for that?” If they were dead set on telling the story from a Neverland viewpoint, I would’ve gone with riding a crocodile in pursuit of Hook.
Good points. It’s all well done, but for me the look comes across as modern generic Disney—Which certainly isn’t awful. I agree that Shanghai’s looks like the #1 ride interpretation, with its emphasis in all the right spots (it’s amazing how a simple thing like seeing the face of the Big Ben clocktower at the end instantly gives that ride a satisfying conclusion that all others lack).
I think that, in a story that transports its characters from the real world to a fantasy realm and back, the real world scenes contain the heart and message of the adventure. When I learned the new Tokyo ride depicted things from the point of view of Peter Pan and crew, I was thinking, “No, no, who the heck is asking for that?” If they were dead set on telling the story from a Neverland viewpoint, I would’ve gone with riding a crocodile in pursuit of Hook.
Yeah the animation gives me Philharmagic vibes but I’m not sure Pan n crew can look better as computer animated characters than they do do on this new attraction, can they?
Rich T
Well-Known Member
I think the animation/design is great, overall, in capturing the look of the characters. Fantastic work, there. There’s just way too *much* animation, all in service of a very bland, one-note checklist of “Must-Do while in Neverland.”
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Here is a list of currently abandoned, shuttered, or unused attractions/facilities at the Disneyland Resort that have no known or announced plan for reopening, in no particular order but roughly north to south;
- Fantasyland Theater
- Motorboat Cruise Lagoon
- Carousel Theater (Innoventions)
- Tomorrowland 3D Theater
- Starcade
- DCA Stage 17
- DCA Stage 12
- Hyperion Theater
Here are my predictions/ desires...
- Fantasyland Theater - I think it sticks around for a while
- Motorboat Cruise Lagoon- What can they really put here without using at least 1/3 of Autopia and do we really want this?
- Carousel Theater (Innoventions)- Needs to be a new attraction or restaurant. I vote for Space 220 on the top floor
- Tomorrowland 3D Theater- For the love of God put something, anything, in here.
- Starcade-?
- DCA Stage 17 - Avatar
- DCA Stage 12- Avatar
- Hyperion Theater- Avatar? Probably not. More Marvel? Probably gets a new show at some point. Maybe DCA's 25th?
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TP2000
Well-Known Member
Good question. Looking at that space and measuring it out, while giving the existing Autopia freeways and the Submarine Lagoon maintenance base nearby some buffer space around those things, it pencils out to about 50,000 square feet of space. There was a chunk of the old Motorboat Cruise track that went under and around the Autopia freeways, but we'll just forget about those for now and leave them to be overgrown landscaping as it is today. It doesn't count as part of the space.
The current Spiderman complex in Marvel Land is about 45,000 square feet in total space, and that contains the D Ticket ride, a gift shop, and area restrooms.
The existing Fantasyland East complex is also about 45,000 square feet in total space, and that contains the two C Tickets (Snow White and Pinocchio), Bibbity Bobbity Boutique, the Red Rose Taverne and its outdoor patio, and area restrooms.
The unused Motorboat Lagoon space could hold a rather sizeable C or D Ticket dark ride, plus mandatory exit giftshop, and more restrooms that are always needed, while maintaining the existing Autopia footprint and the maintenance facilities directly northeast of the lagoon.
Rich T
Well-Known Member
Absolutely! Space 220 would be *perfect* for DL’s Tomorrowland and a guaranteed money machine for Disney. They should give it more floor space and higher capacity than the Epcot version if possible and definitely keep the first-come first-serve bar seating option for peasants like me.
Absolutely! Space 220 would be *perfect* for DL’s Tomorrowland and a guaranteed money machine for Disney. They should give it more floor space and higher capacity than the Epcot version if possible and definitely keep the first-come first-serve bar seating option for peasants like me.
It would be great but a part of me would also like to see a Multi level Tomorrowland with walkways and attractions above us. I feel like a restaurant with a nice balcony or large glass windows would help more with that. Honestly, something like the old Encounter restaurant at LAX would be great. It would make the land feel more alive, futuristic and "real" in a way that that the fake space screen in Space 220 just cant do.
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Disney Irish
Premium Member
I wouldn't call FL Theater currently unused, shuttered, or even abandoned. Rather I would call it underused as there is no active show running.
Its currently being used for Pixar Pals Playtime Party for Pixarfest daily between 11:45am to 5:30pm. So it is getting used for something at least.
As for whether the area itself is a waste of space, I would say yes overall.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Here's more good news! 
Look at this Drought Monitor map for California, after the second winter in a row of above normal rain and snow. The map on the left is as of May 14th, 2024 with 100% of California drought free. The map on the right is how California looked just 18 months ago, with 99.77% of California in mild to exceptional drought.
18 months ago, all of Orange County was listed as Severe Drought. How is all that Astroturf doing at Disneyland, I wonder?
droughtmonitor.unl.edu
Look at this Drought Monitor map for California, after the second winter in a row of above normal rain and snow. The map on the left is as of May 14th, 2024 with 100% of California drought free. The map on the right is how California looked just 18 months ago, with 99.77% of California in mild to exceptional drought.
18 months ago, all of Orange County was listed as Severe Drought. How is all that Astroturf doing at Disneyland, I wonder?
Current Map | U.S. Drought Monitor
droughtmonitor.unl.edu
waltography
Well-Known Member
A new show debuted in HKDL today exclusive to their Platinum Celebration Gala (think annual pass holder party for their most expensive pass) called "When You Wish." Features Wish, Tangled, Frozen, Moana, Encanto, and Brave. (Started the video at the Wish section below.)
It's only around for 3 days as part of their AP parties (and it certainly looks like it has the budget of something only sticking around for 3 days) but I thought it was a sweet little show. Always happy to see Wish represented in the parks (unpopular opinion, I'm sure!).
Meanwhile in Anaheim, we get free foam fingers and prints every other month as Magic Keyholders.
It's only around for 3 days as part of their AP parties (and it certainly looks like it has the budget of something only sticking around for 3 days) but I thought it was a sweet little show. Always happy to see Wish represented in the parks (unpopular opinion, I'm sure!).
Meanwhile in Anaheim, we get free foam fingers and prints every other month as Magic Keyholders.
I missed foam fingers??Meanwhile in Anaheim, we get free foam fingers and prints every other month as Magic Keyholders.