MK Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[easyrowrdw]

Devil's advocate - they had an idea, heard the feedback, and are adapting in response to the fans.

Cars might not fit thematically in Frontierland, but from a business pov, it doesn't make sense to keep that huge chunk of land sitting there for a glorified playground. I think it looks great but I haven't taken the ferry to TSI in literal decades, having gone to MK at least once per year (local). That said, I can see why WDI wants to bulldoze it. But at least they're making an effort to assuage fan concerns.

Sure. They have tons of available space but if they insist on destroying and replacing you could do all of that without Cars. It would fit better and still sell plenty of Lightning Lanes. Test Track is still very popular, for instance. An off-roading adventure through a mountain would do fine without Cars. This comment sums it up nicely, I think.

They can dress it up all they want, but they still fail to explain and justify the use of Cars as an IP for this area.

What exactly does Cars bring to this project besides name recognition and a chance to sell toys?

They're working backwards to try and justify the decision. If you didn't have ride vehicles with giant eyeballs on them, or had an alternate form of transportation to take you through the area, you wouldn't need to worry so much about sightlines or noise reduction. The ride's scenery would blend in and work as an extension of the existing Frontierland...like the RoA they're spending who knows how much to replace.

You could have similar scenery, a similar ride path, a similar kind of ride...and not worry about how to make it "fit"

It would just be another ride through a Frontier setting. One that doesn't have car shaped icons or buildings that are not designed for humans. A much more logical successor to the kinds of rides this is supposed to reference and build upon.

Cars is a handicap on the whole project, and you can tell WDI knows this by trying to make a Cars ride that doesn't look or sound like one and can be ignored when outside its perimeter...which is counter intuitive to a scenic wilderness trip.

 

[Centauri Space Station]

I don't agree with that at all. The failed replacement of one attraction doesn't equate to ripping out three integral pieces of the Magic Kingdom, all of which are part of the DNA of the "castle" park. Even Shanghai has a few large bodies of water.

Except DL removed three attractions as well. Circle vision was removed for a queue, peoplemover for the ride and rocket jets was replaced by a bad sculpture with astro orbitor being placed infront. Not to mention that now rocket jets and rocket rods are completely abandoned, plus Launch bay is a waste of space and Magic eye is abandoned too.

 

[disneylandtour]

" It's gotta be based on animated films because that's just what you do in Magic Kingdom."

Like with Hall of Presidents and the Speedway and the Railroad and the Treehouse and Tron and etc. It's sorta like some of the PR people have never been to the MK.

 

[DisneyHead123]

Overall thoughts…

I think the primary issue still stands. To some extent, who cares how nice an enclosed ride looks when you’re talking about a land in general? It’s still a ride. It’s great for the three minutes you’re on it, but if it’s not a walking area, the impact is limited. Swapping out one backdrop for another. It will be nice to see fake mountains in the distance I guess, but it’s nothing particularly exciting and doesn’t seem like an upgrade. It was also nice to see the riverboat and real life greenery in the background.

Honestly that is my biggest reservation about the whole thing. The parks are in many ways an extended resort - a place to look around, shop, snack, grab a coffee or a cocktail (in some parks). At best this will serve as a somewhat nicer background, from what I can tell, but doesn’t add a lot experientially.

I guess there’s potential LL revenue, but even there, I kinda question who the target audience is. I have a child who is fairly obsessed with vehicles and yet he doesn’t particularly care about the Cars franchise. He’s currently into various historical ships, cruise ships, and different types of airplanes, because these seem to have more of a YouTube and Roblox presence. I have no idea what kind of generational hivemind decides on these things, but historical shipwrecks feature heavily on those platforms. And Cars doesn’t strike me as a franchise with a ton of nostalgic staying power among adults. I just don’t see many adults with nostalgic Lightning McQueen coffee mugs or tee shirts the way you do with the Fab 5, Peter Pan, the princesses, etc.

To be fair, Disney of course has the merch sales and D+ viewing info, so they would know better than anyone. Maybe Cars is still super hot with kids today. Anecdotally, though, this hasn’t been my observation, so I don’t see devoting such an iconic area of the park to a ride that will - to my mind - probably be on par with Buzz Lightyear in terms of demand after a few years. Again, I could be waaaay off there, but I’m just having a hard time seeing this.

 

[Agent H]

I realize that this probably means I have low standards or that I’m just coping. (I 1000 percent am) but I’m actually much happier with this than I was before. If there is truly no stopping cars from joining Frontierland or stopping the rivers of America from being replaced fully at least they are keeping SOME portion of the river. My expectations are slowly rising off the floor like the broom from fantasia.

 

[Figments Friend]

We went last year and thought TSI was still pretty well maintained - simple animatronics were working, the guns all worked and made noise, etc

Now I think it is "dated" as it is not a modern attraction and definitely not ADA compliant, but it was in solid shape

Just visited TSI two days ago…and agree.
It was in much better shape than I honestly expected.

Animatronic scene at Fort Langhorn were working fine, shotguns were firing and making sounds…all bridges open, mine shafts and caves as well.
Aunt Polly’s was closed of course…

-

 

[Epcot82Guy]

The storytelling here - or lack thereof - just baffles me. (Well, given most of the recent decisions, that's not true...) Now that we have more details, it's mind numbing that they are removing entirely the central thing that COULD HAVE TIED THIS ALL TOGETHER! If they had left a portion of the river, built the kids area on the island and then Cars or whatever back in the woods and rocky mountains, the rebrand to Rivers of America would have made sense. And, it could have actually tied this whole area together in a weird, but cohesive theme.

Instead, Cars is mostly backing up to most of the very land it's a part of - kind of like Moana in Epcot and opening up to Liberty Square. Even with a berm, this is bad space planning and placemaking storytelling.

I also remain highly skeptical on the scale here given the small size of the area and that the rockwork needs to be viewed 360. Most of the iconic rock areas are against the edge. Only things like GRR, 7DMT, etc. are of this nature, and I just don't think they have room to create what people think this will look like.

Again, time will tell. But, the grasping at straws for the theme of these lands is getting almost laughable at this point.

 

[JackCH]

I also remain highly skeptical on the scale here given the small size of the area and that the rockwork needs to be viewed 360. Most of the iconic rock areas are against the edge. Only things like GRR, 7DMT, etc. are of this nature, and I just don't think they have room to create what people think this will look like.

Again, time will tell. But, the grasping at straws for the theme of these lands is getting almost laughable at this point.

I do agree on the space concern. It does feel like a lot to cram in and still have the amount of theming they are promoting.

 

[Agent H]

shotguns were firing and making sounds.

I’m honestly surprised that the ones that are firing directly at big thunder mountain have lasted this long. I’m not saying that they should have gotten rid of them. I’m just surprised.

 

[ToTBellHop]

If the train station ISN’T moving, perhaps it won’t be used because it’s simply impractical to have a single train stop at three stations. It’s far simpler to load up at one station, make everyone get off at the next station, load up there, and return.

 

[GenChi]

It's actually hysterical how much they are trying to duck presenting anything about this to the local D23 audience this year after last year's complete non-response to it (before knowing what it was replacing). Letting out small details at SXSW then this random Tuesday post with all these big details that's they'd normally present at D23 is making it very clear they will not discuss it in person in August.

Don't know how confident anyone can feel when they have no confidence facing their diehards who pay thousands regardless with anything about this project.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

You’ve mentioned this a few times in regards to WDW in regards to having all those other bodies of water/ boats across the resort and I think it’s one of the best counter arguments I’ve heard. Disney would be wise to push that narrative a bit. At Disneyland losing the ROA would be absolutely soul crushing and all we’d be left with is the Pixar Pipe lagoon.

Oh no, no, no. This is one of the stupidest arguments I've ever heard. I'm sorry, @mickEblu , but you're off on this one. Getting rid of the ROA is ok because there's water in other places? Or you can hear a whistle on the ferryboat? We're talking about altering the fabric of the park in an unprecedented way. The "getting rid of a beautiful water feature" argument is still a good one (see: any pictures of the site with Haunted Mansion or BTM reflected in the water), but this talk of water and whistles outside the park is severely missing the point. Maybe since you're a Californian who has, I assumed, lived through droughts, your perception is clouded? I don't know that I've ever really disagreed with you on this site. I don't know what's happening!

 

[Fox&Hound]

I’m honestly surprised that the ones that are firing directly at big thunder mountain have lasted this long. I’m not saying that they should have gotten rid of them. I’m just surprised.

I said the same thing a while back and got attacked for it.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

I've had the day to think about this, and here are my rambling thoughts:

1. I think this replacing the ROA is incredibly stupid. We will look back derisively on this for, well, 50+ years most likely. Ask me when I'm 78 years old, and I'll still think replacing the ROA is stupid.
2. BLESSING OF SIZE. Do it all. Just do it somewhere else. Spend the money, make the land suitable (as the company was capable of doing in 1966), and EXPAND YOUR FREAKING PARKS WITHOUT REPLACING STUFF.
3. I'm 28 years old, and I have nephews who are 7, 5, and 3, and all of us think Westerns are AWESOME! And Cowboys VS Indians is an authentic part of American history.
4. The "fun map" released today is deliberately intended to assuage the fears of people who thought the water would be gone. It's NOT JUST ABOUT WATER. This looks like a very nice area on this map. But it doesn't belong right there.
5. People really are twisting themselves up trying to defend this. But can anyone say it wouldn't be better if they had expanded the park? @Mr. Sullivan you're a reasonable fellow, can you answer this? Wouldn't it be better if they built both of these expansions outside the footprint of the park? Why can't it be this way?

 

[SamusAranX]

Rocket Rods still holds the crown as the worst theme park mistake in the history of the company.

The ride not only failed, it also destroyed the track making it not possible to bring back the people mover.

To add insult to injury visitors must see the remains of the people mover track everyday, abandoned, left to be taken over by nature.

Not to go off topic but why not? Lack of motivation funds, or a genuine mechanical reason they can’t bring back people mover?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Holy there are way too many posts to work through. I can imagine it’s nothing but excitement and appreciation.

Just run this thread through an A.I. and ask for a summary.... before it kills itself.

 

[mickEblu]

Oh no, no, no. This is one of the stupidest arguments I've ever heard. I'm sorry, @mickEblu , but you're off on this one. Getting rid of the ROA is ok because there's water in other places? Or you can hear a whistle on the ferryboat? We're talking about altering the fabric of the park in an unprecedented way. The "getting rid of a beautiful water feature" argument is still a good one (see: any pictures of the site with Haunted Mansion or BTM reflected in the water), but this talk of water and whistles outside the park is severely missing the point. Maybe since you're a Californian who has, I assumed, lived through droughts, your perception is clouded? I don't know that I've ever really disagreed with you on this site. I don't know what's happening!

I’m just being honest in that it’s pretty much the only argument I’ve heard that makes me pause and think for a few beats. So if it can’t make someone as against this project as I am to pause and reflect for a few seconds then it may not be a bad approach for Disney to take in their park blogs. Not that I truly care about Disney winning over the naysayers. Essentially what it does in my mind is soften the blow of losing the ROA at MK. To be clear, I still think removing the ROA is an awful idea and that there are so many better ways they could have gone about this like keeping the lower loop at the very least. It still obviously hurts the park tremendously but when viewed from a resort wide perspective it’s the kind of thing I’d probably try to grasp onto for some comfort if I was a local in Orlando who grew up with park. I can’t help but then compare to DL and acknowledge that the ROA means much more to Disneyland than it does for MK for a variety of reasons including the limited bodies of water found at DLR. Just look at these boards. More people were upset about losing the Muppets than the ROA.

 

[Clyde Birdbrain]

Do you happen to know if this will still connect to Seven Seas Lagoon then? I have wondered for the last year how they could just disrupt the flow of water in the park.

I think it needs to be connected for mosquito control, right? I recently watched a great video about how they got rid of the mosquitoes at WDW in the 1960s by digging canals and creating a massive drainage system.

 

[BrianLo]

Just run this thread through and A.I. and ask for a summary.... before it kills itself.

I caught up. I’ve actually seen worse, the membership here is too beaten into submission!

Still not my preferred outcome, but it’s fine.

 

[SamusAranX]

Still think cars in MK is a terrible fit, then add in losing what they are replacing…but this is better then expected and they’re going to put the Republic of Cars in, full speed ahead, so this to me is the least “worst” of the options