MK Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[Bocabear]

But let’s say that is true. Couldn’t they keep everything but remove the Cars characters? And then it is just a car ride around the national park environment. Would that be so bad? It’s not like we are discussing them betting it all on Avatar and floating mountains.

the good thing is removing the IP will be as easy as scraping the googly eyes off the cars! lol
sadly the Auto Parts Mountains will be harder to change..... I was terrified to read they were talking about Mount Prometheus at Tokyo Disney Seas and how it dominates the skyline and comparing it to Piston Mountain....Imagine a giant snow covered Piston rising above the entire Magic Kingdom..... ugh...

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

You have to be IN the ride (or whatever you want to call it) to experience the water for Moana.

That is not quite correct. I can't say I have studied the exact details, but the top of the interactive geysers (not sure what to call them), and the mist area called 'air' are visible from outside of the attraction. I'm not sure exactly how far you can see them, and partly it would depend on the weather, but they are visible from beyond the attraction.

Said water is also somewhat visible from the monorail, though much of the attraction is concealed by foliage.

I do think part of that is so that the attraction is lush for viewers on the inside. Personally, I prefer the lush interior of the Moana walk-through to the rocks of Galaxy's Edge. GE now looks a little better than when it opened, but I still think GE is a missed landscaping opportunity.

 

[Professortango1]

Tron, 7DMT, HoP, PeopleMover, CoP, Bears - there are unique attractions at MK.

I also think people are too quick to dismiss entertainment at MK. Happily Ever After, the replacement for Wishes are both beloved shows. Obviously there are factors in Central Florida (being able to shoot off pyro daily, pyro launch points, bigger castle) give it a distinct advantage over Disneyland, but they shouldn't be discarded.

Festival of Fantasy, even if it's slightly modified from returning after Covid runs daily and it will be running simulatenously with Starlight. Disneyland didn't even run Magic Happens for the entire year and with PtN, there is no daily parade during the day.

Tron was a decent idea, but based on a pretty dead IP, doesn't fit the land, and is way too short. It also feels way too similar to SM right next door, but in a less charming way.

Hall of Presidents is nice enough, but nobody is visiting MK for HoP. Plus, American Adventure blows HoP out of the water and is in the best WDW park, Epcot. I typically spend 2 days at Epcot and half a day at most at MK.

PeopleMover is an ironically beloved attraction for Disney Adults, but, once again, nobody is visiting MK for PM. Disneyland has the monorail as a Tomorowland attraction in DL, WDW has PM.

Country Bears are unique and I do miss them. But, once again, Disney reduced the quality of the attraction. Gone are the visual gags, costumes, and backdrops. Now, its bears in front of blue curtains singing Disney songs. yay.

As for Entertainment, Disneyland used to take that trophy too, until recently. The destruction of live entertainment at the DLR is criminal.

The point is, what is there to entice me, as a tourist, to visit MK. Right now...nothing. A worse version of Country Bears? A Museum piece like CoP? The dated PeopleMover? Sorry, I'm visiting every other Disney Park AND every other Universal park before I visit MK. They haven't kept MK fresh as they did with Disneyland.

Now, the needle can move back to MK with attractions like this. And as Disneyland continues to whittle away at entertainment and kill NOS with a million little cuts. I'd love to see MK get some rides that are objectively better than their California cousins.

 

[yensid1967]

I still think that this expansion is the wrong way to go! I think they will see the error in a few years after opening!
BUT, since they are going ahead a RUINING NOSTALGIA, let's look at the positives...
IF the renderings are followed, it looks like they are going to theme the area toward frontierland, so it MAY fit into the area better than we anticipated. I think however the mountain looks, I hope they plant A LOT of PINE TREES on the side facing Frontierland. Or incorporate it so it is SEAMLESS!
I hope they find another area on property to use the Riverboat...Disney Springs lake? Seven Seas Lagoon as a private boat used for Polynesian and Grand Floridian guests to get to the Magic Kingdom...a PERK for those guests. At least the Riverboat will have another life, even if it's for a specific guests.

So to sum up my thoughts, I am going to accept this and move on...Disney will do whatever they want and not really care what the guests thoughts are. I see this new CARS area failing in a few years, just like the Star Wars hotel and Galaxy's Edge. Disney is STILL not on my list of places to visit for my next trip next year. They WILL still raise prices (announced for 2026) and cut QUALITY AND QUANITY. All the parks will be CONSTRUCTION WALL CITIES as Disney expands to increase attendance...yes EU is affecting them, but that's what they get for being complacent with planning things to open with EU and not 2+ years later!

 

[WondersOfLife]

I did experience it and i was bored.

Some folks just aren't interested in moving past entertainment in its most basic form... And that's okay.

...But that doesn't mean the technological marvel of previous imagineers needs to be discredited. Because what they accomplished back then is leaps and bounds better than most (MOST) of what today's imagineers are able to do... Specifically under the constraints the company gives them.

 

[Bocabear]

I don't think the Liberty Belle is able to navigate on it's own... it is on a guidance track... It would make a lovely set piece moored somewhere... I think it might make it even sadder though.

 

[SamusAranX]

Ok, but let's remember what we see as 'timeless' now are the attractions that actually made the cut and survived.. not all did.

Many required significant updates to stay fresh too.

Those cherrished Disney attractions we celebrate as timeless are the ones that have appealed to multiple generations and built around topics that have continued to be enjoyed by people over several social eras. While POTC may have met that citeria, there are plenty of Mule Trains, Rocket to the Moon, etc that didn't.

Correct but those were non-IP “throws” that struck out. When it comes to the now IP or bust mandate…they’re risking that spiral universal was (and arguably might still be) in. Cars may become timeless like Snow White. It may not. If not, if Disney in ten years sees data that it’s not as popular. Are they gonna commit the funds to a reskin, or leave it? Will every park in WDW being just random IP mish mash preserve the parks reputation as a thematic, lush theme park that’s different then the six flags and USF of this world? Who knows…we get to wait and see

 

[Professortango1]

There is way less stuff to do in Isle of Berk compared to Fantasyland.

People have been making the argument about teens preferring Universal for over 20 years.

I can spend several hours wandering around Isle of Berk and enjoying the atmosphere. The kinetic energy of the attractions, the animatronics, the puppetry. Add in a stellar show, a good family coaster, and a pair of fun filler rides and you have a good land.

MK's Fantasyland....has a far worse family coaster that is a kiddie coaster in disguise. It has the worst 3D movie attraction I've experienced at Disney. It has the Little Mermaid ride from DCA with a much better facade/queue. A comprabale Small World with a far worse facade/queue. And a worse Peter Pan.

I'll give MK this; I loved the first half of Enchanted Tales with Belle. It just needs a better second half of the experience.

Isle of Berk shows us what Galaxy's Edge should have felt like. Magic Kingdom's FL shows us what Disneyland's MK felt like 30-some years ago. Only with fewer darkrides.

If I was a kid, I would have felt like I was walking into Mecca walking into IoB. The land's design, the training camp play area, the interactive elements and dragons to discover everywhere. Discovery is a huge part of the guest experience that Disney used to understand, but seems to have stopped evolving in the 80's. Universal has picked up that torch with the Wizarding World and has now applied it to IoB and SNW as well.

 

[eddie104]

There is no comparison to the Imagineers who implemented that and the lazy and careless individuals putting a cars attraction in between the “Bayou” and a Haunted Mansion.

Why do people tend to always talk down about today’s imagineers when they are just following directives set by management ?

Improving the other parks has never been shown to meaningfully pull attendance away from MK.

If anything it has the opposite effect.

It certainly appears that Disney has started (foolishly) chasing Universal by building lots of restrictive thrill rides.

I absolutely agree with this 100 percent.

Great point. Here are some selects from Disneyland's past, some of which stood for a very long time.

• Main Street Shooting Gallery (1955–1962)
• Big Game Safari Shooting Gallery (1962–1982)
• Pack Mules (1955–1956)
• Rainbow Ridge Pack Mules (1956–1959)
• Pack Mules Through Nature's Wonderland (1960–1973)
• Stage Coach (1955–1956)
• Conestoga Wagons (1955–1960)
• Rainbow Caverns Mine Train (1956–1959):
• Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland (1960–1977)
• Mike Fink Keel Boats (1956–1994, 1996–1997)
• Skyway to Tomorrowland (1956–1994)
• Skull Rock and Pirate's Cove (1961–1982)
• Motor Boat Cruise (1957–1991)
• Circarama, U.S.A. (1955–1997)
• Space Station X-1 (1955–1960)
• Rocket to the Moon (1955–1966
• Flight to the Moon (1967–1975)
• Mission to Mars (1975–1992)
• Tomorrowland Boats (1955–1956)
• Monsanto House of the Future (1957–1967)
• Submarine Voyage (1959–1998)
• Flying Saucers (1961–1966)
• General Electric Carousel of Progress (1967–1973)
• PeopleMover (1967–1995)
• Adventure Thru Inner Space (1967–1985)
• America Sings (1974–1988)
• Rocket Rods (1998–2000)

People tend to forgot how long DL has been around versus WDW. Amount of attractions that existed and closed is pretty long.

It's my suspicion that modern Burbank does not love Disneyland's Rivers of America any more than they love Orlando's

I mean look at the state of their Fantasmic and you can tell TDA doesn’t give rat’s a** about presentation.

 

[flynnibus]

Again, I don't doubt that they pitch to different demographics and Disney's pitch is certainly more wholesome and family friendly. This may also indeed be because Universal is preferred to Disney by teenagers.

Ok, let's pump the brakes before we keep broadening the statement wider and wider.

The initial comment was about Fantasyland.. and then about the appeal of Uni vs Disney to teenagers.

Teens don't tend to be a vacation demographic by themselves.. they still rely on their family getting them somewhere. So it's hard to separate them when just talking about total attendance numbers like TEA.

UNI has a long standing approach to the teen and older crowds.. with only a cursory approach to the younger crowd. This is seen in their marketing and how much they build towards the junior audience in brands and accessibility (height requirements, etc).

UNI doesn't have a stroller problem

Its challenging when you start creeping towards broad generalizations that want to read like ALL teens believe this, etc.. because it's not an all or nothing. It's simply about a product that is more targeted or maybe more appealing to a specific demo broadly - but not all members play out the same.

 

[Drew the Disney Dude]

The land clearing on Floridian Way is moving QUICKLY. You can see Tiana’s and Cinderella Castle clear as day from outside of the park.

 

[BagOfGroceries]

Disney themselves believes summer is their "off season" now

Because it is hot as balls.

 

[ChrisFL]

PeopleMover is an ironically beloved attraction for Disney Adults, but, once again, nobody is visiting MK for PM.

Speak for yourself

 

[Dreamer19]

Why do people tend to always talk down about today’s imagineers when they are just following directives set by management ?

If anything it has the opposite effect.

I absolutely agree with this 100 percent.

People tend to forgot how long DL has been around versus WDW. Amount of attractions that existed and closed is pretty long.

I mean look at the state of their Fantasmic and you can tell TDA doesn’t give rat’s a** about presentation.

You are absolutely right, I shouldn’t be painting with a broad brush the way that I did. Living within the Orlando/Disney bubble, I know several terrific Cast Members, some of which are in Imagineering.

That being said, during the Splash Mountain conversion to TBA, I attended a party where I conversed with an Imagineer working on TBA. He was very open and almost gleeful about tearing out “an ugly part of Disney’s history” and how the rest working on the project were in agreement.

Knowing what I know now about how the Splash Mountain destruction was treated even beyond that isolated anecdotal conversation, I am VERY weary of anything coming out of Disney leadership OR Imagineering.

 

[flynnibus]

Correct but those were non-IP “throws” that struck out. When it comes to the now IP or bust mandate…they’re risking that spiral universal was (and arguably might still be) in. Cars may become timeless like Snow White. It may not. If not, if Disney in ten years sees data that it’s not as popular. Are they gonna commit the funds to a reskin, or leave it?

Disney didn't pick something because they thought it would last 50years... they picked something they thought would be popular with broad appeal. The fact it's lasted 50years is a bonus... not a criteria they screen attraction choices with to start with.

You simply can't have a mindset that we can only build things that will successfully last 3 generations plus. You'd never get out of your own way and you'd miss out on so many opportunities. That's why we can have attractions that last only 10 years and still be enjoyable. Not every topic will be a 'forever' one.. The park designers know this, they just don't want to miss entirely. They have an expected lifespan for an attraction and if they exceed that.. fantastic. But no one has expectations they will build the next POTC or they should pass on it.

Will every park in WDW being just random IP mish mash preserve the parks reputation as a thematic, lush theme park that’s different then the six flags and USF of this world? Who knows…we get to wait and see

Bigger topic of how one designs theme parks.. but company's survive on their commercial success, not their academic review.

 

[Bocabear]

Honestly, The People Mover is one of my favorite things at the Magic Kingdom...I ride it every visit... and while it may not be THE reason I go to the Magic Kingdom is it part of the reason...Like a bunch of other things.... If you go to the park for ONE attraction, you will eventually get bored with that one thing.... To me the park is a million points of light... Lots of things that attract me back over and over.... Which are bit by bit going away. sadly... Losing Hall of Presidents might not be the reason I would stop going to the park, but it could be one of the reasons...

 

[flynnibus]

Honestly, The People Mover is one of my favorite things at the Magic Kingdom...I ride it every visit... and while it may not be THE reason I go to the Magic Kingdom is it part of the reason

I can't ride it without being bummed about how barren it is vs what it used to be. The special peak into the buildings and attractions is what always made it so unique to me as a engineering obsessed kid. Now it just feels like a shell of itself.. on a platform that isn't nearly as novel as it was 40 years ago.

 

[SamusAranX]

Disney didn't pick something because they thought it would last 50years... they picked something they thought would be popular with broad appeal. The fact it's lasted 50years is a bonus... not a criteria they screen attraction choices with to start with.

You simply can't have a mindset that we can only build things that will successfully last 3 generations plus. You'd never get out of your own way and you'd miss out on so many opportunities. That's why we can have attractions that last only 10 years and still be enjoyable. Not every topic will be a 'forever' one.. The park designers know this, they just don't want to miss entirely. They have an expected lifespan for an attraction and if they exceed that.. fantastic. But no one has expectations they will build the next POTC or they should pass on it.


Bigger topic of how one designs theme parks.. but company's survive on their commercial success, not their academic review.

I would argue the Disney experience is what helped elevate them above their competition…that in tandem with truly well built attractions. If thrill rides were all that people cared about, Universal would have way more market share then it currently has. To me, Disney is greater than the sum of its parts. You keep removing and replacing, and putting the current IP flavor of the day, E ticket dominant mentality for new “expansion” in the works; you run the risk of forgetting that it’s a thematic quality, consisting of A-E, experiences, visuals, shows etc that made Disney the best overall experience. I’m not a Disney doomer (although all “empires” fall, in principle, including economic). But I also have doubt about the directions they’re taking. The Republic of Cars is a symptom (despite positive developments with the project that make me feel a bit better but still not onboard completely) . Will be an interesting next ten years for WDW.

 

[Figments Friend]

It likely was never a serious thing. They routinely put out "Walt stuff" in an effort to placate the die-hard fans. This is Bob's Disney, not Walt's.

Yes, Bob’s Disney for sure.
Has been so for quite some time.

Walt is just that ‘old guy’……

Do we think Bob really has an understanding of what Uncle Walt actually accomplished …?
Sure was more than just turning a profit for the shareholders.

Oh Bob….

( Apologies to @monothingie for ‘stealing’ your image….but it needs to be seen at a larger scale. )

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Well it's not gonna hurt in that demographic... so you suggest do nothing and keep suffering?

Magic Kingdom is NOT suffering; it's the number one theme park in the world!