MK Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[Disgruntled Walt]

I mean to the point of not coming to this site anymore.

So would you rather everyone expressed nothing but positivity and happiness with the decisions Disney is making? That's called Fantasyland.

If I don't like something, I'm going to call it out. I think others here feel the same way. If more and more people are complaining, and the negativity seems to be on the rise, what do you think is the reason for that...?

Here's my hypothesis: Disney is doing more and more stuff that people disagree with. The "increased negativity" is Disney's own fault for making stupid decisions.

 

[Bocabear]

The Disney owned and branded website is full of breathless excitement over everything... perhaps they would rather look on that site rather than actually discuss the good the bad and the ugly on these discussion forums...

 

[Chi84]

The Disney owned and branded website is full of breathless excitement over everything... perhaps they would rather look on that site rather than actually discuss the good the bad and the ugly on these discussion forums...

No I don’t think that’s what people want. But at some point people need to acknowledge that WDW is supposed to be fun.

It would be nice to be able to point out some of the good without getting a rose-colored glasses meme or being told that what I actually see at WDW is not really happening there.

 

[solidyne]

[...] It would be nice to be able to point out some of the good without getting a rose-colored glasses meme or being told that what I actually see at WDW is not really happening there.

I have seen (and made) lots of posts about the good, but I never have seen the latter two responses you claim.

(I'd like to see the glasses meme. That sounds funny.)

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

That’s not surprising but there are several posters commenting on the negativity lately and that perception isn’t good for the site.

What were your posts about the good?

Good for the site? It’s a site for discussing Disney parks. This thread and muppets specifically have quite a few negative points that should be expressed.

I had a great time visiting WDW to say goodbye to muppets - it was sad but also very fun to fully appreciate such a great attraction and to stand by the fountain next to Steve Whitmire himself - I mean how cool is that!?

While I’m 100% against it I can at least understand the desire to fill in the River for better crowd flow - it’s a shame more value wasn’t placed on the riverboat for place making, theme, and the fact it’s one of the most accessible attractions in all of WDW. That alone should have saved it.

 

[Casper Gutman]

No I don’t think that’s what people want. But at some point people need to acknowledge that WDW is supposed to be fun.

It would be nice to be able to point out some of the good without getting a rose-colored glasses meme or being told that what I actually see at WDW is not really happening there.

It would be great if Disney remembered that WDW is supposed to be fun. Guests are not the ones responsible for making it fun.

Right now, Disney is ripping out the RIVERS OF AMERICA. If a poster told you 15 years ago that Disney was going to do this, you would have dismissed them as an absurd doomer. And you would have been right to do that.

 

[Chi84]

It would be great if Disney remembered that WDW is supposed to be fun. Guests are not the ones responsible for making it fun.

Right now, Disney is ripping out the RIVERS OF AMERICA. If a poster told you 15 years ago that Disney was going to do this, you would have dismissed them as an absurd doomer. And you would have been right to do that.

I understand that means a great deal to some people. But there are others who will prefer the replacements.

At the end of the day it’s a place where people go to enjoy themselves and many do so. Guests are having fun and Disney is making that possible.

 

[Gusey]

It would be great if Disney remembered that WDW is supposed to be fun. Guests are not the ones responsible for making it fun.

Right now, Disney is ripping out the RIVERS OF AMERICA. If a poster told you 15 years ago that Disney was going to do this, you would have dismissed them as an absurd doomer. And you would have been right to do that.

It's funny because when you say that, I'm thinking:
A) Guests have to make their own fun on Tom Sawyer Island as its just a big play area
B) An exciting Rally Race through a national park is something I would get more fun out of on its own (+the other 3 attractions coming to this section of the park) than a slow boat ride looking at overgrown trees and an island that's difficult to get to and only has caves and chairs

 

[Vinnie Mac]

I understand that means a great deal to some people. But there are others who will prefer the replacements.

At the end of the day it’s a place where people go to enjoy themselves and many do so. Guests are having fun and Disney is making that possible.

I have to always remind myself that there is a whole world outside of our Disney/Theme parks sphere. Something I might not like may be loved by millions of other people and that's okay I'm not more important than anyone else just because I love the parks. I understand that while I'm not the biggest fan of what's replacing ROA, there is gonna be a generation of kids who will and millions of adults who will love it.

 

[Andrew C]

I have to always remind myself that there is a whole world outside of our Disney/Theme parks sphere. Something I might not like may be loved by millions of other people and that's okay I'm not more important than anyone else just because I love the parks. I understand that while I'm not the biggest fan of what's replacing ROA, there is gonna be a generation of kids who will and millions of adults who will love it.

Yes. We all love waiting in lines at theme parks with no way to escape them. Makes for an outstanding overall experience.

I can’t wait for Celestial Park in Uni to eventually utilize all that underutilized space.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Let me help some of the confused folks. Here’s what I want:

1a) New attractions that do not replace beloved masterpieces and/ or aesthetic elements that are integral to huge sections of the park and several headliner attractions. Rat is, as far as I’m concerned, a big win. But it’s a rare example.

Failing that, I will also be excited for:

1b) new attractions that replace old ones but improve on the original. This is pretty rare at WDW. I think Tropical Americas will do it. MMRR was something of a lateral move but I love the ride. Otherwise, Disney World’s record is simply abysmal.

2) A mix of IPs (and not just the same 7 or 8) and originals.

3) GOOD new attractions. Even if Monsters and Cars weren’t replacing classic elements, both would look profoundly underwhelming, especially compared to the masterpieces based on those IPs elsewhere.

And I’ve said this bit before but a lot of folks want to ignore:

Disney DOES NOT HAVE TO REPLACE OLD ATTRACTIONS TO BUILD NEW ONES. That is a CHOICE, and it is a choice they ONLY make regularly in Florida, the resort in which there is the LEAST reason to make that choice.

From all the information we have, the current plan was an extremely last minute decision made by management shortly before D23. The alternative plan that was abandoned at the last minute would have involved the construction of several new attractions “Beyond Thunder Mountain” and elsewhere without replacing key park elements. We know this plan existed - Disney showed it off at the previous D23!

 

[TheRealSkull]

I have to always remind myself that there is a whole world outside of our Disney/Theme parks sphere. Something I might not like may be loved by millions of other people and that's okay I'm not more important than anyone else just because I love the parks. I understand that while I'm not the biggest fan of what's replacing ROA, there is gonna be a generation of kids who will and millions of adults who will love it.

One good thing about this is that people will hopefully stop comparing Disneyland to WDW. It will give the Magic Kingdom its own identity once this, and Villains open hopefully around 2029.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I understand that means a great deal to some people. But there are others who will prefer the replacements.

At the end of the day it’s a place where people go to enjoy themselves and many do so. Guests are having fun and Disney is making that possible.

This is not a “both sides” issue. The Rivers are an integral part of the park. They are central to the narrative and aesthetics of a huge, central part of the resort and three headliner attractions. This is not about folks who like to ride Mark Twain. From a storytelling and design standpoint, the choices Disney is making are creatively indefensible.

 

[TheRealSkull]

This is not a “both sides” issue. The Rivers are an integral part of the park. They are central to the narrative and aesthetics of a huge, central part of the resort and three headliner attractions. This is not about folks who like to ride Mark Twain. From a storytelling and design standpoint, the choices Disney is making are creatively indefensible.

And to your point, people won't realize what beauty we have lost until it is too late.

 

[Bocabear]

I understand that means a great deal to some people. But there are others who will prefer the replacements.

At the end of the day it’s a place where people go to enjoy themselves and many do so. Guests are having fun and Disney is making that possible.

Oh! Ok..... well then....what do we have to discuss? LOL
Seriously if all you want to do is exclaim how wonderful everything is, and what an amazing job everyone is doing managing the parks, and everything is sunshine and lollipops, you should really be on the Disney owned website... It would give their staff writers a break.

 

[Casper Gutman]

As long as I’m bloviating… I recently stayed at a Disney World resort for an extended period for the first time in over a decade. Here are a few things that struck me;

No room service except at the Floridian. For the rates Disney charges, that’s utterly unacceptable. Worse, the room service option is still on the in-room phones! Disney just doesn’t care.

No package delivery to resorts. Disney just doesn’t care.

No AP discounts on quick service. Disney just doesn’t care.

Terrible operations at the resorts. The personnel are great and try to do their best, but they are hampered at every turn by simply awful restrictions. Disney just doesn’t care.

A lack of live street performances. The parks feel nowhere near as alive as they once did. Disney just doesn’t care.

And on a slightly different note…

An embarrassing slate of awful and/ or ancient shows, particularly at the Studios. This used to be an area in which Disney excelled. Now… Disney just doesn’t care.

I suspect most of these complaints are old hat to regular guests. As a lobster who just plunged back into the pot after years away, however, the shortcomings were stark. I’ll be honest… I complain a lot on here, but I didn’t realize just how much things had changed for the worse.

 

[Chi84]

Oh! Ok..... well then....what do we have to discuss? LOL
Seriously if all you want to do is exclaim how wonderful everything is, and what an amazing job everyone is doing managing the parks, and everything is sunshine and lollipops, you should really be on the Disney owned website... It would give their staff writers a break.

Why do you think I would want to do that?
I think the current management is greedy and the prices are too high, but the experience is still quite a bit of fun.

I’m perfectly happy to contribute to the site but it concerns me when I see posters say they don’t post much anymore because of the constant negativity.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I have to always remind myself that there is a whole world outside of our Disney/Theme parks sphere. Something I might not like may be loved by millions of other people and that's okay I'm not more important than anyone else just because I love the parks. I understand that while I'm not the biggest fan of what's replacing ROA, there is gonna be a generation of kids who will and millions of adults who will love it.

There are millions of adults who would enjoy a dog track or a casino. That really isn’t a defense.

And yes, it is fair to say that someone with an extensive history with the parks will have a more informed opinion about its development. Many guests will enjoy whatever replaces RoA, but a minuscule number will be able to make a meaningful comparison with what came before or form a reliable opinion as to whether they might have enjoyed it more. THEY also aren’t more important then YOU.

And once again - the Cars thing could have been built without destroying a huge section of the park. Disney made a CHOICE.

 

[Casper Gutman]

the constant negativity.

Do you believe this emerged from a vacuum? That a lot of posters here woke up and said, “Today I want to be sad about something I loved?” Or is it possible that Disney is making a lot of terrible decisions?

I’d argue this board is special because it has a lot of informed, eloquent, insightful posters with diverse expertise that all love Disney. That’s going to be a group that’s particularly sensitive to and vocal about bad decisions regarding the parks.

 

[Casper Gutman]

But discussions have to progress. You've been saying the same things since this projects was announced, and even when we get new information its just the same discussion of "I like RoA so I won't like its replacement". We've had confirmation that there will be a significant water pressence with the Cars attraction, plus sections of the national park to explore on foot, and their designing the new attraction so it won't impact on the natural vibes of Frontierland and Liberty Square, particularly with noise. Yet, I keep seeing the same "discussion" that this is a mistake because their getting rid of all the water in the area and it will impact the views and sounds from Frontierland and Liberty Square.

Of course it will “impact on the natural vibes of Frontierland and Liberty Square,” they’re ripping out the central element around which both areas were aesthetically and narratively oriented! What a crazy thing to say!

As to leaving some water in place - folks understand that space is finite, right? When was the last time that WDW constructed an attraction that was going to be bounded on all sides by guest areas, with three sides already existing? Anything besides the masterpiece that is Journey of Water? Either the ride or the water has to be shortchanged. That’s just reality.