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

[britain]

Not quite some of those from some of the monster movies you have mentioned are in fact the hero's in the EU land . But in any case Frankentein wouldn't be chasing you even if that wasn't the case it would be Frankenstein's monster.

Centering a land around Villains allows WDI to be some what creative rather than doing another *yawn* book report the ride based on the latest animated feature.

They don’t have a great track record with those non-book report attractions. The best ones are Indy and Rise, but those work because the “new story” is really just a greatest hits compilation.

 

[britain]

Fantasmic features multiple villains. Seems this concern is a story treatment one, not something that can’t be overcome.

A 15 minute clip show is not a fully immersive environment.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

On Frontierland and BBTM:

As currently executed, FL is by far the most restrictive of the four "big" MK lands. It's central source material - a romanticized and whitewashed fairytale of our nation's westward expansion - is inherently problematic. With a relatively minor tweak of style and storytelling, this area could be recast as a celebration of the natural beauty and ethos of this region. By focusing on a more natural setting for BBTM, you can help preserve the heart and vibe of FL.

On Villiand Land / Dark Kingdom:

There is without a doubt great concept work happening here. My biggest hesitation is that - no matter what they're able to fund and deliver - this project will struggle to live up to expectations, as it's taken on a mythos of it's own. I'll happily be proven wrong, but I see some of these concepts making it to a DHS expansion - perhaps one with a transportative device that allows it to be fully indoors.

There’s nothing problematic about Frontierland to people of ordinary sensibilities. It’s about the story of the American pioneer, traveling westward. It’s a story of adventure, hardship, endurance, but ultimately of hope. Hope in a better future if you’re willing to work hard at it. Was there fighting and bloodshed? Absolutely, unfortunately. But that westward expansion was inevitable. As a matter of national security, the USA could not allow a large power to control its western border. If the USA didn’t expand west when it did, some other power would have, and there would have been a bloody conflict to secure America’s frontier. Walt Disney understood the importance of passing this on to the next generation:

 

[McMickeyWorld]

I don't see a problem with a land of villains. They don't even have to make them friends (it's not like they haven't done it before beyond a joke). They can create a couple of attractions centered on individual characters and maybe a dinner with a show or exclusive theater. Even if it were a land like 'Descendants,' 'Twisted-Wonderland,' or 'Villains Recruiting Program,' I would find them interesting to experience. Another good idea would be to show a new perspective of the stories, as was done a few years ago in HK.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

“Frontierland is a tribute to the faith, courage and ingenuity of the pioneers who blazed the trails across America.” - Walt Disney

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Disney's an entertainment company full of creatives, if they want to create a villains land, it can be well executed.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

“Frontierland is a tribute to the faith, courage and ingenuity of the pioneers who blazed the trails across America.” - Walt Disney

I don't know whether or not we're discussing the merits of BBTM, but I'm sure that whatever is to become of it will not be considered a part of Frontierland.

 

[SirLink]

They don’t have a great track record with those non-book report attractions. The best ones are Indy and Rise, but those work because the “new story” is really just a greatest hits compilation.

Also a good example of how to do a Villains land is from one part of the 'House of Villains' animated movie where you had Jafar, Hook, Ursla, Hades and Cruella team as the main up to take over House of Mouse. It did portray them as best of buddies. Or even Kingdom Hearts where the Villains were buddies like Pete and Maleficiant.

Its not like a Villains land is a this wacky brand new concept for MK there was one pitched years ago, its just the concept was they kept plotting to take over MK.

 

[Consumer]

I was always fond of these old Disneyland commercials for Halloween. Doesn't mean a land based on them would be a good idea.

They don’t have a great track record with those non-book report attractions. The best ones are Indy and Rise, but those work because the “new story” is really just a greatest hits compilation.

Agreed. Star Tours, Radiator Springs Racers, and Pandora all do the same thing. Yes, they're not "book report rides," but they're by no means separated from the source material.

 

[britain]

I’ll get off my soapbox. I maintain that what works for a singular cartoon episode as a post-modern joke won’t make for a satisfying theme park land. But good luck to them if they can make it work.

 

[britain]

Agreed. Star Tours, Radiator Springs Racers, and Pandora all do the same thing. Yes, they're not "book report rides," but they're by no means separated from the source material.

Yes, which makes me feel that Tiana’s is taking that “We can do more than book reports” aspiration a little too far. I mean, will there be any changing into frogs in this new story? I guess we’ll find out.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Yes, which makes me feel that Tiana’s is taking that “We can do more than book reports” aspiration a little to far. I mean, will there be any changing into frogs in this new story? I guess we’ll find out.

The lack of changing into frogs seems very rooted in the fact that Disney has caught a lot of flack for the fact that they created their first African-American princess and then she spent the majority of the movie as a frog.

 

[britain]

The lack of changing into frogs seems very rooted in the fact that Disney has caught a lot of flack for the fact that Disney created their first African-American princess and then she spent the majority of the movie as a frog.

I see, well, at least the songs will return.

 

[DisneyDean97]

The lack of changing into frogs seems very rooted in the fact that Disney has caught a lot of flack for the fact that they created their first African-American princess and then she spent the majority of the movie as a frog.

Absolutely, although I still can't believe they couldn't think of a way to include Dr. Facilier... he would have looked incredible as an AA

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Absolutely, although I still can't believe they couldn't think of a way to include Dr. Facilier... he would have looked incredible as an AA

I don't believe in the conspiracies that Disney is stepping away from the character, just more so that this story clearly takes place after the film and Dr. Facilier got sucked into the "other side".

 

[DisneyDean97]

So, can one of our insiders confirm, that basically phase 1 of Beyond Big Thunder Mountain will be a Frontierland expansion, and then a phase 2 will debut as a new "land", whether its Villains or whatever else they come up with??
And then the new Moana attraction will open up before either phases of Beyond Big Thunder Mountain?

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Must we get another Soarin' ride? Even Soarin' 2.0 with the new patent isn't exactly a gamechanger.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ]

Must we get another Soarin' ride? Even Soarin' 2.0 with the new patent isn't exactly a gamechanger.

I'd be SHOCKED if that's what we're getting for COCO.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

I'd be SHOCKED if that's what we're getting for COCO.

I've heard that on this forum multiple times in the last 24 hours, so I don't know what to think!

 

[BrianLo]

We have a source from earlier this week at a WDI presser....

​

Then came presentations by portfolio executives from Florida who provided new details about the plans for Tropical Americas in Animal Kingdom and Beyond Big Thunder at Magic Kingdom. This was the meatiest portion of the presentation, with new substantive details about the Dino-Rama replacement featuring Indiana Jones, Encanto, and Coco plus brand-new concept art for the area.​

I Went Inside Imagineering - Disney Tourist Blog

“I wish I could be here every day,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger to kick off an Imagineering presentation I attended. He was joined at the front of the small conference room by Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro, who shared that he actually had been spending a lot more time in WDI’s Glendale offices lately...

www.disneytouristblog.com

But this is the BBTM thread. I posted that in the DAK Expansion thread...

DAK - 'Encanto' and 'Indiana Jones'-themed experiences at Animal Kingdom

Sad to lose the good parts of Dinoland but honestly what we're getting is going to be absolutely amazing. This concept is much better than what was initially teased before. The last two visits I've had to WDW have left me feeling inspired and hopeful for the future of the parks. personally I...

forums.wdwmagic.com

The back-and-forth we've seen with the art is atypical, and a direct result of them knowing what properties they wanted to use and which areas they want to develop and redevelop, but not having a clue what and where.

The Moana art we saw for AK was first drawn for another location. Same for Zootopia. The Encanto and Coco grafts had a similar path. BBTM had a very unlikely path due to development costs until relatively recently, so the cards seems to have been shuffled again. Coco, Encanto, and Moana have immense internal support. Getting Coco into AK was a no-brainer with the Tropical Americas land, but the as-designed Coco E-Ticket is absolutely the leading candidate to anchor BBTM.

I was all ready to admit defeat and move on… but you guys perhaps missed Tom’s more specific quote from the AK article. The team continued to only talk about Encanto and Indy…

“Vaughn also indicated that Imagineering had considered several options for Dino-Rama and Tropical Americas, but that Encanto and Indiana Jones “rose to the top” because they give Imagineering “so much to play with.” Vaughn also indicated that there’s “a long way to go and a lot more to discover, but our team in Florida is all over it.

All of that suggests Tropical Americas featuring Encanto and Indiana Jones is the plan for Dino-Rama. Coco also seems to maybe have a place in Tropical Americas, with a carousel replacing TriceraTop Spin, restaurant replacing Restaurantosaurus, and courtyard architecture reminiscent of Santa Cecilia. Beyond the concept art above, I saw concept art reflecting the latter during a recent visit to Imagineering.”


While I want to stoke the hair pulling conspiracies, I do want to adjust my positioning. I think the carousel is indeed Coco for now… and I think the weirdness about this is exactly all to do with the BBTM project. It certainly seems like they aren’t willing to let go of the Coco E-ticket. Whether that means they are trying to downplay Coco, because the real presence is still on the table for later, OR if they are still willing to late pivot the Coco elements to Encanto (if they go all in on Coco for MK) are two good explanations for why they are being so weird.

Though the ‘it’s definitely not and never was a Coco spinner’ seems to be least likely now.