AMC Downtown Disney showing 'DOCTOR WHO ...

[Lokheed]

Same here...and I WANTED to like it.
While it's a large fanbase, it's a very "love it or hate it" franchise. There really isn't "mass-appeal" once you get past the large devote fanbase.

The show has been running for fifty years (as of this Saturday) and celebrates its entire history as canon without reboots or reimaginings. It is not just the longest running science fiction television series in the world, aside from a couple of soap operas it is the longest running scripted television program of any kind. The imagery is a huge cultural touchstone in the U.K., with the TARDIS and Daleks on par with any Disney characters. It has a large enough fanbase that the 50th anniversary episode is being aired simultaneously around the world, the last time I looked more than 80 countries showing the episode in real time globally. I can't think of any other program with that kind of reach aside from the Olympics or possibly the World Cup. In the past eight years it has become the flagship program for BBC One. I'd say the show easily has global mass appeal.

Regarding a theme park attraction, there is an excellent one at The Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff. It is a walk through experience, not unlike the sadly-missed Alien Encounter at the Magic Kingdom. Over the course of the ride you face off against a multitude of classic Doctor Monsters and even get to pilot the TARDIS. It is really great fun, and has the added advantage of then dumping into a genuine museum of Doctor Who artifacts ranging from original costumes and props right up to several different TARDIS consoles. If that attraction were to be replicated at the U.K. Pavillion at Epcot I would be there on a regular basis. I doubt if that will ever happen, but it's nice to dream.

(Yeah, I'm kind of a fan. Been watching the show since the Third Doctor, and as excellent as Tennant is he will never top Troughton as the REAL Doctor.)

 

[WDWFREAK53]

The show has been running for fifty years (as of this Saturday) and celebrates its entire history as canon without reboots or reimaginings. It is not just the longest running science fiction television series in the world, aside from a couple of soap operas it is the longest running scripted television program of any kind. The imagery is a huge cultural touchstone in the U.K., with the TARDIS and Daleks on par with any Disney characters. It has a large enough fanbase that the 50th anniversary episode is being aired simultaneously around the world, the last time I looked more than 80 countries showing the episode in real time globally. I can't think of any other program with that kind of reach aside from the Olympics or possibly the World Cup. In the past eight years it has become the flagship program for BBC One. I'd say the show easily has global mass appeal.

Regarding a theme park attraction, there is an excellent one at The Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff. It is a walk through experience, not unlike the sadly-missed Alien Encounter at the Magic Kingdom. Over the course of the ride you face off against a multitude of classic Doctor Monsters and even get to pilot the TARDIS. It is really great fun, and has the added advantage of then dumping into a genuine museum of Doctor Who artifacts ranging from original costumes and props right up to several different TARDIS consoles. If that attraction were to be replicated at the U.K. Pavillion at Epcot I would be there on a regular basis. I doubt if that will ever happen, but it's nice to dream.

(Yeah, I'm kind of a fan. Been watching the show since the Third Doctor, and as excellent as Tennant is he will never top Troughton as the REAL Doctor.)

I'm not saying that it doesn't have a large fanbase...quite the opposite.

It's a very difficult show to "jump into." Without going back 50 years, it's tough to know what's going on. Trying to get that across in a theme park that isn't specifically geared towards sci-fi fans or fans of the show will be extremely difficult.

It does deserve theme park presence because of its fans...but it would be very difficult to pull off.

 

[Matt_Black]

My first full episode (not counting an episode that was aired on Nickelodeon as a special), was the second-to-last episode of the first new season (with Eccleston). I didn't have a whole lot of knowledge of Who, and that ep was loaded with references that I didn't get, and I still got hooked.

 

[DznyGrlSD]

I find it amusing that Americans get more excited for Dr Who than us British Personally I hate it but whatever.

I don't get British TV either (and I'm American). However the "IT Crowd" I think is hilarious.

 

[Dole Whip Happy Hour]

in the spaceship earth Dr who movie ....
I could see Donna yelling "Oi! You missed a spot" to Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel scene..
a weeping angel around the scenes with the telegraph and telephones...and a tardis floating around in the top with all the stars.........sorry......can't stop myself........

 

[Matt_Black]

Use the Push/ Pipa tech to have an actual Dalek go around and meet the guests!!!

 

[lilclerk]

Use the Push/ Pipa tech to have an actual Dalek go around and meet the guests!!!

When I was little (I'm thinking it was like '87 - '88, somewhere in there) there was a Doctor Who exhibit in Boston that my parents brought my sisters and I to. The only thing I remember is a robotic Dalek that scared the bejesus out of me. I can't imagine how good (and scary for kids like me) it would be now

 

[michmousefan]

The show has been running for fifty years (as of this Saturday) and celebrates its entire history as canon without reboots or reimaginings. It is not just the longest running science fiction television series in the world, aside from a couple of soap operas it is the longest running scripted television program of any kind. The imagery is a huge cultural touchstone in the U.K., with the TARDIS and Daleks on par with any Disney characters. It has a large enough fanbase that the 50th anniversary episode is being aired simultaneously around the world, the last time I looked more than 80 countries showing the episode in real time globally. I can't think of any other program with that kind of reach aside from the Olympics or possibly the World Cup. In the past eight years it has become the flagship program for BBC One. I'd say the show easily has global mass appeal.

Regarding a theme park attraction, there is an excellent one at The Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff. It is a walk through experience, not unlike the sadly-missed Alien Encounter at the Magic Kingdom. Over the course of the ride you face off against a multitude of classic Doctor Monsters and even get to pilot the TARDIS. It is really great fun, and has the added advantage of then dumping into a genuine museum of Doctor Who artifacts ranging from original costumes and props right up to several different TARDIS consoles. If that attraction were to be replicated at the U.K. Pavillion at Epcot I would be there on a regular basis. I doubt if that will ever happen, but it's nice to dream.

(Yeah, I'm kind of a fan. Been watching the show since the Third Doctor, and as excellent as Tennant is he will never top Troughton as the REAL Doctor.)

Been watching since the fourth Doctor… so Baker's my fave, though I like parts of what all of the other actors have done with the role… looking very much forward to Peter Capaldi as the 12th, too.

Attraction-wise, it would be great to take a trip into the Tardis for a visit to the "adopted" home of the Doctor, the British Isles…where he could "show off" the pivotal parts of UK history with style and humor. There's plenty of room at the back of the UK pavilion. Of course, I'm still waiting for a "Universal Exports" sign to appear on one of the storefronts, just as a little nod to Britain's other famous hero...

 

[Lokheed]

...looking very much forward to Peter Capaldi as the 12th, too.

Capaldi is going to be amazing as the Doctor. It's also a great jumping on point for new viewers.

 

[Hot Lava]

Been watching since the fourth Doctor… so Baker's my fave, though I like parts of what all of the other actors have done with the role… looking very much forward to Peter Capaldi as the 12th, too.

Attraction-wise, it would be great to take a trip into the Tardis for a visit to the "adopted" home of the Doctor, the British Isles…where he could "show off" the pivotal parts of UK history with style and humor. There's plenty of room at the back of the UK pavilion. Of course, I'm still waiting for a "Universal Exports" sign to appear on one of the storefronts, just as a little nod to Britain's other famous hero...

It is amusing I started this thread, b/c I have never really counted myself a Dr Who fan. Like @michmousefan, I was introduced to the show with Tom Baker, so he is my favorite and the one I really consider Dr Who. I used to watch it b/c it was on Sunday mornings, when there was nothing else except religious programming (this was long before we got cable).

I have watched a bunch of eps here and there of the "new" series, mostly with Matt Smith and David Tennant. And I find I really enjoy them. I have also been watching the series on BBC America profiling each doctor and then showing a "classic" episode of that doctor. I have quite enjoyed that. As I said, i have not in the past really considered myself a true fan, but I am looking forward to the 50th Anniversary special.

I wish BBC America would quit airing Star Trek TNG and air Dr Who eps.
Why does BBC America air those? B/c Picard is British? Admittedly I do not like ST or any iteration, but it is not a British show and I do not want to watch American shows on BBCA! That goes for all the episodes of the American version of G Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares. I don't care that they air also in the UK; I go to BBCA to see actual UK shows.

To be honest, I wish they would replace all the STTNG with more Top Gear. I can watch that show endlessly, no matter how many times I have seen an episode. And it is a good show on the weekends to have on in the background while I do chores around the house.

 

[AndyS2992]

I wish BBC America would quit airing Star Trek TNG and air Dr Who eps.

I just looked at BBC America's schedule for today and tomorrow and it is showing Dr Who ALL day both days lol In fact it is on all week

 

[Hot Lava]

I just looked at BBC America's schedule for today and tomorrow and it is showing Dr Who ALL day both days lol

Yeah, they are doing a big build up to the 50th Anniversary episode this weekend. They were advertising it a lot this weekend during the Top Gear Marathons.

Maybe if it does well enough, they will go to more Dr Who than ST!

 

[CDavid]

To be honest, I wish they would replace all the STTNG with more Top Gear. I can watch that show endlessly, no matter how many times I have seen an episode. And it is a good show on the weekends to have on in the background while I do chores around the house.

First, feel for those of us who don't get BBC America!

Second, can you imagine a Top Gear UK overlay of Test Track...

 

[ewensell3]

Second, can you imagine a Top Gear UK overlay of Test Track...

While I love that idea, we'd probably end up with the "Star in a reasonably priced car" version.

 

[Hot Lava]

First, feel for those of us who don't get BBC America!

Second, can you imagine a Top Gear UK overlay of Test Track...

While I love that idea, we'd probably end up with the "Star in a reasonably priced car" version.

LOL! I would love it! And yes, unfortunately we would probably get the reasonably priced car version, instead of the Bugatti v jet fighter... or something.

And I do feel bad if you do not get BBCA. The STTNG issue aside, it is a great channel to have. I would be sad!

 

[MOXOMUMD]

First, feel for those of us who don't get BBC America!

Amen. I can't get it either.

 

[Hot Lava]

A special nationwide 3D screening of the Doctor Who 50th anniversary TV special “Day of the Doctor” grossed a stunning $4.8 million at the U.S. box office.

What makes this particularly impressive: That’s from one night. The 75-minute “Day of the Doctor” screened in 660 theaters as a one-night-only special event Monday and averaged $7,155 per location, with 320,000 tickets sold. Granted, the tix were $15 a pop, so that certainly helped.

In fact, the BBC’s cult favorite show was the No. 2 movie in America on Monday, behind only The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Its gross is nearly as much as The Wizard of Oz in 3D made during its entire run earlier this year ($5.5 million). And it was more than indie fav Much Ado About Nothing ($4.3 million) or bomb The Fifth Estate ($3.3 million).

And don’t forget: This screening was two days after the episode had already premiered on BBC America, so most fans had already seen it. On limited Saturday screenings, the show racked up $204,000 in the U.S. box office and $2.9 million at the UK box office.

 

[Matt_Black]

The UK take is especially impressive, seeing as most there could stay home and watch it for free.

 

[Lokheed]

If I'm a number cruncher at the BBC, I am looking at those worldwide ticket sales and then calling up Steven Moffat to talk about an actual Doctor Who theatrical film.

 

[michmousefan]

If I'm a number cruncher at the BBC, I am looking at those worldwide ticket sales and then calling up Steven Moffat to talk about an actual Doctor Who theatrical film.

Certainly... talk about untapped demand! But the bar has been set rather high with that 50th Anniversary Special... one of the best episodes ever. Resoundingly entertaining.