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

[Stripes]

Well, that settles that. Controversy over.

The controversy will continue for some until they are dead. It has never existed for others.

 

[Giss Neric]

Forbes is basically just a glorified tabloid nowadays.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

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”

If properly maintained and operated - the MK will never become stale.

That doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be expansion and updates - many of us agree the Disneyland format of shrinking the River and island could work well for the MK as well.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

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

The train whistle would also be annoying then, so get rid of that too?

What was their favorite thing to experience at MK?

 

[durangojim]

I took my 10 y/o niece and 9 y/o nephew to TSI last week. It was their first time and they spent about an hour there. They loved it and their parents that it was a nice change from the rest of the parks. I asked them all if they’d be upset if it and the river was removed. All their answers were essentially, yeah that would be stupid. As others have said, there’s something intangible about the area and allows a child’s imagination to grow. I really hope the powers that be change their mind and create the cars thing without removing what we have already.

 

[JD80]

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

By all means, get all meaningful opinion from twitter replies. You live your best life.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

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

I mean, we have concept art lol

 

[durangojim]

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.”

Did they find anything in the park special? Also, these aren’t them are they?

 

[Phil12]

Getting rid of the riverboat is long overdue. It's a quaint museum piece. Members on this forum discussed this topic several years ago and the Disney dweebs wanted to keep the boat and pretty much freeze the entire area along with Walt's head in cryogenic perpetuity. Walt himself would be leading the charge to build Cars Land in that area. It's always the same crowd of Disney enthusiasts that want to preserve and protect attractions at the Disney parks for present and future generations as if they have some sort of important cultural or historic significance that needs to remain untouched.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

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 seals the deal. Stripes friends don't like it so that's all the proof I need.

While you have a single anecdote to prove that this project isn't that big of a deal, the reality is that the negativity around this project isn't just in echo chambers online; it's everywhere.

Walt himself would be leading the charge to build Cars Land in that area.

Wait, you think Walt Disney would be in favor of this project? Stop lol

Walt would've fought to protect the Rivers of America — it wasn’t just scenery to him, it was his tribute to the spirit of American storytelling and the freedom of frontier exploration. He used IP when it served the story, not when it steamrolled it — and dropping Cars into that space would’ve broken the very illusion he worked so hard to create.

 

[Jrb1979]

Getting rid of the riverboat is long overdue. It's a quaint museum piece. Members on this forum discussed this topic several years ago and the Disney dweebs wanted to keep the boat and pretty much freeze the entire area along with Walt's head in cryogenic perpetuity. Walt himself would be leading the charge to build Cars Land in that area. It's always the same crowd of Disney enthusiasts that want to preserve and protect attractions at the Disney parks for present and future generations as if they have some sort of important cultural or historic significance that needs to remain untouched.

Again it's never been that older fans don't want new attractions and want the parks to never change or add new things. They just want the parks to keep their theme and add new attractions that fit the area it's going in.

Unfortunately the new fans don't care as long as they get "kachow kachow", "don't talk about Bruno" or "we scare cause we care".

 

[Moth]

Meanwhile at Disney PR:View attachment 851318

One (maybe two*) outta nine.

*Smelling smoke, will report back later

 

[Disney Analyst]

Well, that seals the deal. Stripes friends don't like it so that's all the proof I need.

While you have a single anecdote to prove that this project isn't that big of a deal, the reality is that the negativity around this project isn't just in echo chambers online; it's everywhere.


Wait, you think Walt Disney would be in favor of this project? Stop lol

Walt would've fought to protect the Rivers of America — it wasn’t just scenery to him, it was his tribute to the spirit of American storytelling and the freedom of frontier exploration. He used IP when it served the story, not when it steamrolled it — and dropping Cars into that space would’ve broken the very illusion he worked so hard to create.

No one can say what Walt would do in 2025. Perhaps his entire mindset would be different given the technology, given the social climate, given the company and it’s size. Etc etc.

He is long gone, and it’s hard to know what he would think or do in today’s world.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

Just what we needed — even more discussion on this topic!

 

[Tha Realest]

They did take my concerns on her plagiarism relatively seriously and followed up a few times. So I give them a tad of credit, even if she's still employed.

I’m glad to hear that. Here is their model, FWIW:

What the Forbes model of contributed content means for journalism - Poynter

From person-to-person coaching and intensive hands-on seminars to interactive online courses and media reporting, Poynter helps journalists sharpen skills and elevate storytelling throughout their careers.

www.poynter.org

 

[Agent H]

Getting rid of the riverboat is long overdue. It's a quaint museum piece. Members on this forum discussed this topic several years ago and the Disney dweebs wanted to keep the boat and pretty much freeze the entire area along with Walt's head in cryogenic perpetuity. Walt himself would be leading the charge to build Cars Land in that area. It's always the same crowd of Disney enthusiasts that want to preserve and protect attractions at the Disney parks for present and future generations as if they have some sort of important cultural or historic significance that needs to remain untouched.

The same crowd? I fall into a group some people on this site would (wrongly) call “shills” on 95 percent of issues and even I don’t like this.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

Well, that seals the deal. Stripes friends don't like it so that's all the proof I need.

While you have a single anecdote to prove that this project isn't that big of a deal, the reality is that the negativity around this project isn't just in echo chambers online; it's everywhere.


Wait, you think Walt Disney would be in favor of this project? Stop lol

Walt would've fought to protect the Rivers of America — it wasn’t just scenery to him, it was his tribute to the spirit of American storytelling and the freedom of frontier exploration. He used IP when it served the story, not when it steamrolled it — and dropping Cars into that space would’ve broken the very illusion he worked so hard to create.

I’m pretty sure Phil is trolling.

 

[Stripes]

Did they find anything in the park special?
View attachment 851335

They thought the castle was beautiful, Main Street was charming, Haunted Mansion was cool, Tron was fun, and the Country Bears were cute.

They had a great time.

 

[Stripes]

While you have a single anecdote to prove that this project isn't that big of a deal, the reality is that the negativity around this project isn't just in echo chambers online; it's everywhere.

There’s no need for exaggeration or bluster. The vast majority of guests don’t even know about the project. Your X account and even this forum of highly engaged and passionate fans is not an accurate reflection of the real-world.

 

[Streetway Again]

and the Country Bears were cute.

Even though the Disney songs wouldn’t be my first choice, it makes me happy to see a new generation falling in love with the country bears from the new show.

They are, at least to me, a part of magic kingdom’s soul as it was one of the few things magic kingdom that was unique to the park on opening day.