MK Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[psherman42]

Then you’re not actually looking at the concept art at all. Because that is not what any released piece of art shows.

Concept art is just that. Concept art. Plans can change from the time they’re drawn to actual construction. But there could literally be a pond the size of a puddle in this new area or just a few geysers and anyone defending this project will scream, “see! There’s water!”

Look back at Pandora the day it opened

That was different imagineers.

 

[psherman42]

They made Journey of Water feel fairly mature overnight. Horticulture is one area where I am rarely concerned at Disney.

That’s a much smaller area though. It’ll require a lot more to make this area actually look good.

 

[peter11435]

Concept art is just that. Concept art. Plans can change from the time they’re drawn to actual construction. But there could literally be a pond the size of a puddle in this new area or just a few geysers and anyone defending this project will scream, “see! There’s water!”

But you said that’s what most of it looks like. And know you’re basing your entire opinion on assuming that plans will change for the worst and you’ll be left with nothing but concrete and cars? I get being cynically but don’t be ridiculous.

That was different imagineers.

Not really. And the point is that they are more than capable of planting a mature setting.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I don’t think the new area will look “bad” - it has the potential to look too cartoon-ish but usually Disney does a good job (grizzly peak as a good example).

I still wonder exactly how this expansion evolved and how it ended up happening the way it did.

This is my basic understanding and guess - can any insiders tell me if I’m on the right or wrong track?

- original plan for beyond big thunder included coco attraction “beyond big thunder” and Encanto. Encanto would have likely gone where Tom Sawyer is, but also could have been between coco and villains in a “beyond” pathway and development.

- plan got cut back which left Tom Sawyer development only. Coco e ticket would not work in that space and Encanto got moved to DAK so that left “new plan scramble”

 

[BrianLo]

That was different imagineers.

Technically Bruce Vaughn was/is involved in both.

 

[peter11435]

Technically Bruce Vaughn was/is involved in both.

And many others

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

And many others

To be fair though…. Joe, Kevin and Tony have led the creation of the most impressive projects that I’ve seen Disney create post- Walt days.

Art is of course subjective and some may disagree.

 

[BrianLo]

I don’t think the new area will look “bad” - it has the potential to look too cartoon-ish but usually Disney does a good job (grizzly peak as a good example).

I still wonder exactly how this expansion evolved and how it ended up happening the way it did.

This is my basic understanding and guess - can any insiders tell me if I’m on the right or wrong track?

- original plan for beyond big thunder included coco attraction “beyond big thunder” and Encanto. Encanto would have likely gone where Tom Sawyer is, but also could have been between coco and villains in a “beyond” pathway and development.

- plan got cut back which left Tom Sawyer development only. Coco e ticket would not work in that space and Encanto got moved to DAK so that left “new plan scramble”

I believe the majority of the prior Beyond Big Thunder proposal was looking towards the yet to be leveled 11 acre laydown yard. There very likely was a variety of proposals and some shortening of the ROA considered along with back stage utilization of Big Thunder. But that’s the roughly boundaries of the plot they were circling around back in 2022.

What I’m still not quite sure of and perhaps some more informed posters (@lazyboy97o ) might have some ideas… why exactly are they prepping so much lay down? It seems a bit excessive to me.

 

[BrianLo]

And many others

Definitely. Just wanted to highlight someone who has some clear decision making authority and was front facing for both.

There’s ex-Epic imagineers on this project too.

 

[peter11435]

To be fair though…. Joe, Kevin and Tony have led the creation of the most impressive projects that I’ve seen Disney create post- Walt days.

Art is of course subjective and some may disagree.

Absolutely. But many of the same people who were responsible for making sure Pandora looked like a lush mature environment on opening day will be involved in this project as well.

 

[J4546]

maybe they will surround Big thunder with a river like Paris and let you walk all the way around...??? /s

 

[eddie104]

It’s not off topic. DLR managed to build a “Cars Land” without removing their ROA. It’s fair to compare both in light of those respective decisions, as well as whether this new “Cars Land” matches Cars Land in DCA.

It’s not the same as much you try to correlate them to one another.

We already discussed why our ROA is being removed ad nauseam and the reason Disneyland kept theirs.

Even though I personally don’t believe Tom Sawyer Island is gonna last on the West Coast either.

 

[Dreamer19]

Something we need to keep remembering if you're going to compare DCA's Cars Land and the Cars attraction coming to Magic Kingdom:
This is not a new Cars Land. It is a Cars-themed attraction in Frontierland.

Which makes it even more out of place for where they want to put it.

If they wanted to create a Cars Land in place of Frontierland, I don’t agree with it, but it would at least make more sense than what they’re doing.

 

[JoeCamel]

4y

Definitely. Just wanted to highlight someone who has some clear decision making authority and was front facing for both.

There’s ex-Epic imagineers on this project too.

Screams new resort don't it?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I believe the majority of the prior Beyond Big Thunder proposal was looking towards the yet to be leveled 11 acre laydown yard. There very likely was a variety of proposals and some shortening of the ROA considered along with back stage utilization of Big Thunder.

That was my thought too - it would be fascinating to know what we almost got.

It sure seems to me the cars idea was pre-existing and got plopped into place when Encanto went to DAK.

But like I said, I’m not entirely sure Encanto was ever supposed to go there, or in the “beyond” plan had to exist since there was no way they could fit Coco, Encanto, and Villians into the current land they are developing and repurposing.

 

[BrianLo]

It sure seems to me the cars idea was pre-existing and got plopped into place when Encanto went to DAK.

Maybe? Though Pandora presented itself as semi thought through and we know the project was merely 18 months into development. Encanto was pulled at least 12 months prior to D23, but realistically 18.

But like I said, I’m not entirely sure Encanto was ever supposed to go there, or in the “beyond” plan had to exist since there was no way they could fit Coco, Encanto, and Villians into the current land they are developing and repurposing.

It’s hard to say, “almost” being a bit too generous of a descriptor. We almost got Main Street theatre or reflections. Most of these things were ditched in the actual bluesky phase.

I know a lot of people think Disney announces things too early, but usually their announcements still proceed 12-18 months of development (with a few notable Iger backed IP exceptions) and it’s more appropriate to call that phase Blue Sky.

A very niche take, but I loved that Blue Sky session. Actually having understood what it was, which I think many people struggled with.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

It’s hard to say, “almost” being a bit too generous of a descriptor. We almost got Main Street theatre or reflections. Most of these things were ditched in the actual bluesky phase.

Yes, certainly Main Street theatre and Copperfields magic underground were closer to actually happening - but you don’t have a “blue sky” presentation for something you’re not actually considering and that plans are being looked at for. At least I don’t think.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I know a lot of people think Disney announces things too early, but usually their announcements still proceed 12-18 months of development (with a few notable Iger backed IP exceptions) and it’s more appropriate to call that phase Blue Sky.

It is not appropriate to call it Blue Sky because it is not Blue Sky. Disney’s Feasibility phase and approval to move forward with rare exception happens after Concept Design. The phases of design are specifically named and referenced throughout the design process.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

The phases of design are specifically named and referenced throughout the design process.

Is there a resource where we can see what the phases of design are named?

 

[lazyboy97o]

Is there a resource where we can see what the phases of design are named?

From Disney themselves. Slide 6.