Forbes: Disney Facing Furious Backlash Over $17 Billion Theme Park Investments

[Disney Glimpses]

Go to Orlando and talk to people.

And you expect they'd say something different? Like, are we really gaslighting that this project is the least bit popular? Especially among locals?

It honestly sounds like you are in favor of the project and injecting that into these opinions you are forming; which is a little hypocritical considering it's the exact same thing you're accusing of the folks cited in the article.

Forbes isn't exactly peak journalism. Doubtful this will have any measurable impact.

If you think this doesn't land on Disney's radar as significant, you don't know Disney. They have week long meetings about changing the color of a button in their app.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

Then the new attractions open, and lines are long. The end.

Eh, that's not how they measure success or decide to proceed or plan projects. Everything they do has long lines; doesn't mean it's the right long-term decision.

 

[doctornick]

I still say there's enough cumulatively to make them slightly rethink the aesthetics along Frontierland.

I mean that's my hope. Personally I'd be fine if they just ditched Cars altogether (which is a terrible fit for MK and/or Frontierland) and went only with Villains. If that means losing the top part of the RoA and docking the Liberty Belle than so be it, but they should retain the existing waterfront.

The fact that this has made it to a mainstream publication is very interesting.

 

[DisneyHead123]

I don’t think that RoA will last, unfortunately. The park real estate is too prime (all that foot traffic from potential merch buyers), I think the rivers themselves are difficult to maintain, and Frontier Land itself is probably on the chopping block in the not too distant future (it makes me sad but I’ll admit the kids aren’t exactly super enthused about cowboys these days). But I do think they may well change it to something more traditionally charming - maybe the original Coco idea or something New Orleans themed. Maybe even something to play into the entrance of Villains land, like a “classic Disney” tribute type land. Classic Disney, with its Americana vibe, could kind of extend out the theme of Main Street and then bridge into Villains, with more of a hero theme in that area.

 

[Bocabear]

I don’t think that RoA will last, unfortunately. The park real estate is too prime (all that foot traffic from potential merch buyers), I think the rivers themselves are difficult to maintain, and Frontier Land itself is probably on the chopping block in the not too distant future (it makes me sad but I’ll admit the kids aren’t exactly super enthused about cowboys these days). But I do think they may well change it to something more traditionally charming - maybe the original Coco idea or something New Orleans themed. Maybe even something to play into the entrance of Villains land, like a “classic Disney” tribute type land. Classic Disney, with its Americana vibe, could kind of extend out the theme of Main Street and then bridge into Villains, with more of a hero theme in that area.

So we will go from Main Street into some other Americana based land that will lead to Villains Land? I don't follow this at all. What would a "Classic Disney" tribute land be? The whole park is already designed to be "Classic Disney" except for Tiana and what they are planning to do to the Rivers Of America...
The park is over 50 years old and the ROA has never been "Difficult to maintain"... The park is packed, you have to make literal reservations to get in... There is no problem with the popularity of the park at this point... Popularity is not a "problem" that needs to be solved... More attractions would be welcome....they could start with the closed ones and the expansion space in Tomorrowland along with the Speedway if they feel they need more attractions desperately....

 

[Tha Realest]

I mean that's my hope. Personally I'd be fine if they just ditched Cars altogether (which is a terrible fit for MK and/or Frontierland) and went only with Villains. If that means losing the top part of the RoA and docking the Liberty Belle than so be it, but they should retain the existing waterfront.

The fact that this has made it to a mainstream publication is very interesting.

while I generally agree with the thesis of the article, and would like to see Cars canceled, Forbes as it exists now bears little similarity to the magazine or institution of years past. To the extent it has cache or credibility as a mainstream news org, that ship sailed long ago.

 

[DisneyHead123]

So we will go from Main Street into some other Americana based land that will lead to Villains Land? I don't follow this at all. What would a "Classic Disney" tribute land be? The whole park is already designed to be "Classic Disney" except for Tiana and what they are planning to do to the Rivers Of America...
The park is over 50 years old and the ROA has never been "Difficult to maintain"... The park is packed, you have to make literal reservations to get in... There is no problem with the popularity of the park at this point... Popularity is not a "problem" that needs to be solved... More attractions would be welcome....they could start with the closed ones and the expansion space in Tomorrowland along with the Speedway if they feel they need more attractions desperately....

On whether or not RoA should go… that’s not my decision to make. I’m trying to think about how executives likely view the situation and hypothesizing about it from there. I’m thinking:

- I think the amount of foot traffic in that area means they are going to want to make it merchandise-able. Period. Maybe not with Cars, but in some way. That’s a prime spot to sell things and they can’t sell on an open body of water.

- People say it’s hard to maintain… maybe they’re misinformed, I don’t know.

- Ditto for Frontierland, because cowboys don’t sell well in 2025. I’m not saying I want it to go, but I think that’s the reality. (And honestly, Frontierland without Rivers would lose so much in atmosphere that it would be half gone already.)

As for Classic Disney - ok, fine, if it’s a hideous idea no one will ever propose it and they’ll do something else. I like it (I was picturing vintage scenes of all the early characters together,) but I’m a rando on a message board, I wouldn’t worry about it.

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

Definitely not online anywhere.

Expound, please.

 

[JD80]

Expound, please.

Expound on what? When people have a negative experience they tend to post about it online. When they have a positive experience they tend to enjoy it and move on.

Using Twitter as a consensus platform is comical.

 

[Biff215]

While I’m not a fan of the plans for Frontierland, this story is terribly written and unlikely to make any real impact. I’m sure Disney is well aware that this project isn’t popular with many but it’s probably not hard to find just as many who are all for it.

Disney’s gonna do what Disney’s gonna do.

 

[Theme Park Nerdo]

Meanwhile at Disney PR:

 

[flynnibus]

And you expect they'd say something different?

If you can't tell the difference between engaging people in the real world and online twitter feeds and youtubers...

well this is why this country is doomed.

 

[SamusAranX]

Go to Orlando and talk to people.

So if someone expressed the same criticisms but in person while visiting Disney it suddenly becomes valid? That’s hilarious of you to think

 

[Splash4eva]

Serious question for all the people who oppose this project…. If they cancel plans altogether and do nothing and product remains stale is that better or worse then continuing with this unpopular “expansion/overlay”

 

[Stripes]

I do expect major changes to the southern portion of the attraction. And they'll pretend it was the plan all along.

Who’s to say it wasn’t the plan all along? You?

 

[Stripes]

I brought some first time visitors to Magic Kingdom on Monday. I told them about the river being replaced with a Cars attraction. I told them getting rid of the river was a controversial decision among fans.

Their response? “Why is it controversial? This isn’t anything special. And that whistle from the boat is annoying.”

 

[HauntedPirate]

So if someone expressed the same criticisms but in person while visiting Disney it suddenly becomes valid? That’s hilarious of you to think

Well, that’s the only way to know it’s true. Otherwise if you say the same thing online you’re just an angry Twitter user.

I brought some first time visitors to Magic Kingdom on Monday. I told them about the river being replaced with a Cars attraction. I told them getting rid of the river was a controversial decision among fans.

Their response? “Why is it controversial? This isn’t anything special. And that whistle from the boat is annoying.”

Good thing Disney makes all their decisions based off of the opinions of first time guests. Just an idiotic thing to share.

 

[Stripes]

Good thing Disney makes all their decisions based off of the opinions of first time guests. Just an idiotic thing to share.

Turning first time guests into repeat visitors is incredibly important.

 

[DisneyHead123]

Serious question for all the people who oppose this project…. If they cancel plans altogether and do nothing and product remains stale is that better or worse then continuing with this unpopular “expansion/overlay”

For most adjectives we have a version with a positive connotation and one with a negative connotation (frugal vs. stingy, ornate vs. gaudy, etc.)

Presumably people who want Rivers to stay see it as the positive version - “classic” vs. “stale”.

Since the cherry blossoms are in the news right now, take that as an example. Do people want the blossoms, tidal basin, and monuments replaced by flashing interactive light screen displays because trees and monuments are “old” and “stale”? Of course not.

Personally I am in the camp that wants Rivers to stay. That said, I just think there’s not a snowballs chance in heck. So if it has to go (and at that point, what’s left of Frontierland other than the rides will be kinda sad and isolated, so it won’t be far behind,) I’d at least like to see a replacement with a similar vibe. Aesthetically pleasing, charming, a bit vintage, calm yet full of life. To me Cars is way too modern and hyperkinetic for that “classic” area of the park.

 

[Smooth]

I brought some first time visitors to Magic Kingdom on Monday. I told them about the river being replaced with a Cars attraction. I told them getting rid of the river was a controversial decision among fans.

Their response? “Why is it controversial? This isn’t anything special. And that whistle from the boat is annoying.”

Well, that settles that. Controversy over.