News 'Beyond Big Thunder Mountain' Blue Sky concept revealed for Magic Kingdom

[GhostHost1000]

They didn’t try to hide the fact that it was nothing more than engaging in some fun “what if?” with fans. I thought it was a god way to engage at a fan convention. Fans love to armchair imagineer (though I really don’t get the appeal of the “imagineering” boards on this site)—we’ve been talking about the Beyond Big Thunder presentation for 56 pages now!

Why not have actual Imagineers join in the fun?

I took it as more of an obvious admission they don’t have a clue what they should do next or where which is troubling considering what is needed

 

[GhostHost1000]

Not to speak on the specific concepts/themes but I do think that building on the north side of the RoA and connecting Frontierland and Liberty Sq on the other side is a great idea for MK. would really be helpful for expanding space and improving guest flow (especially during parades). The Splash/BTMRR dead end is terrible.

I wouldn’t focus on MK on the “next” expansion if I were TDO, as DAK and DHS need additional stuff more, but I heartily approve of the idea of going “beyond Thunder Mountain” as a concept. And I’m happy to note that insiders here have confirmed that doing so is truly being considered.

I suggested parking the ferry and making it a tiana restaurant near splash mountain and then redoing TSI into different attraction space and connecting as you mentioned.

Regardless, to me the MK is the last park of the 4 that needs expansion and more guests attracted to it

 

[NotCalledBob]

They didn’t try to hide the fact that it was nothing more than engaging in some fun “what if?” with fans. I thought it was a god way to engage at a fan convention. Fans love to armchair imagineer (though I really don’t get the appeal of the “imagineering” boards on this site)—we’ve been talking about the Beyond Big Thunder presentation for 56 pages now!

Why not have actual Imagineers join in the fun?

I agree. I thought it was fun. It's nice to see what the current thought processes are.

However, I think it fell a bit flat because of the lack of other announcements.

If they had firm announcements, (other than meet and greets, and unretiring old night time spectaculars), then I think it's a great addition to the panel. Great to see the imagineers up front and center, and brainstorming.

But, not in the place of other news.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I agree. I thought it was fun. It's nice to see what the current thought processes are.

However, I think it fell a bit flat because of the lack of other announcements.

If they had firm announcements, (other than meet and greets, and unretiring old night time spectaculars), then I think it's a great addition to the panel. Great to see the imagineers up front and center, and brainstorming.

But, not in the place of other news.

Let’s hope they have something concrete to announce at WDW at Destination D23 this year.

 

[_caleb]

Let’s hope they have something concrete to announce at WDW at Destination D23 this year.

I’m thinking they’ll make a big announcement, but for something that isn’t very far along in development.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I’m thinking they’ll make a big announcement, but for something that isn’t very far along in development.

Like the soon-to-be-announced Darby O'Gill and the Little People mini-land in the UK pavilion?

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

Like the soon-to-be-announced Darby O'Gill and the Little People mini-land in the UK pavilion?

Ah yes, the first mini-land to have a height limit.

Can’t wait to see how they achieve the Banshee meet and greet, I’m sure it’ll be a scream.

 

[_caleb]

Like the soon-to-be-announced Darby O'Gill and the Little People mini-land in the UK pavilion?

It’s so small, you can’t even see it from your seat in the Destination D23 auditorium

 

[Andrew25]

I'm about to get crucified.

Replacing Country Bear Jamboree with a relevant popular IP would help improve MK capacity in the short term.

 

[Ayla]

I'm about to get crucified.

Replacing Country Bear Jamboree with a relevant popular IP would help improve MK capacity in the short term.

I've had 35+ trips to WDW and I've never once seen Country Bear Jamboree.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I'm about to get crucified.

Replacing Country Bear Jamboree with a relevant popular IP would help improve MK capacity in the short term.

Just have them sing "We Don't Talk About Bruno."

 

[GhostHost1000]

Let’s hope they have something concrete to announce at WDW at Destination D23 this year.

Maybe we’ll get a Stranger Things popcorn bucket and a Tron cupcake!

 

[dreday3]

I've had 35+ trips to WDW and I've never once seen Country Bear Jamboree.

I've only been 8 times total and the only time I saw it was back in the early 80s when I was 8 or 9.
That was enough for me.

 

[doctornick]

I suggested parking the ferry and making it a tiana restaurant near splash mountain and then redoing TSI into different attraction space and connecting as you mentioned.

Regardless, to me the MK is the last park of the 4 that needs expansion and more guests attracted to it

That IMHO sounds terrible. Having the river with boat traffic on it is awesome to see for the ambience and having TSI be a quiet respite to explore is a wonderful contrast to the busy rest of MK. Why waste tons of money to redo perfectly useful aspects of the park when it could be used to expand the park with new space and attractions

 

[GhostHost1000]

That IMHO sounds terrible. Having the river with boat traffic on it is awesome to see for the ambience and having TSI be a quiet respite to explore is a wonderful contrast to the busy rest of MK. Why waste tons of money to redo perfectly useful aspects of the park when it could be used to expand the park with new space and attractions

Do you consider TSI to be a perfectly useful aspect of the park that wouldn’t benefit from additional/more popular offerings

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I'm about to get crucified.

Replacing Country Bear Jamboree with a relevant popular IP would help improve MK capacity in the short term.

The theater is tiny and there's not much room to expand it or replace it with something else that would draw larger crowds.

Just rotating all three Bear shows throughout the year like they do in Tokyo would help to keep interest up.

MK's 4 animatronic shows do their job of giving people something to do while waiting for something else.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I'm about to get crucified.

Replacing Country Bear Jamboree with a relevant popular IP would help improve MK capacity in the short term.

Filling in a few extra seats would not appreciably help improve anything. If anything, you you would make things worse because you would create crowding in the area and remove an offering that was previously available as desired. Parks need slack capacity that is generally available, not just as something extra to just fill in part of a day but to help handle overflow when capacity is temporarily lost.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Talking to a few of my friends in Imagineering, I get the sense that they are currently very, very busy on an unannounced/unconfirmed project.

Not sure if it's this one, but they seem to be cooking up something exciting over at Imagineering.

Our insiders have always said they're working on stuff that we don't know about. It all depends if it ever gets a greenlight and a budget.

 

[Bocabear]

RE: permanently docking and turning the riverboat into a restaurant, the river boat looks big, but it really is not...especially if they considered making it into a restaurant. it would not seat enough guests to make it worthwhile...and really, in the film, the restaurant was pretty big, and would have to handle huge crowds...

 

[Dutch Inn '76]

It's a positive that they intend to eventually expand into this gap north of BTMRR, even if this "announcement" is just brainstorming. An old southwest/Spanish theme would work as an extension of Frontierland. Using elements from Coco, Encanto, Saludos Amigos, Three Caballeros, Home on the Range, and even Apple Dumpling Gang would be fun. I just hope they don't make it all about one film...