MK Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[Gusey]

All this and the park still will have fewer attractions than in 1994.

Why 1994? As far as I'm aware there were 35 attractions in 1994. 40 attractions in 2008 (Galaxy Palace Theater closed in 2009). There are now only 34 attractions, so we are currently less than 1994 but still more than in 2011 (only 32 attractions then). Once Cars and Villains are open, it should be 38 attractions unless something else closes?

 

[Casper Gutman]

Can I be unpopular and say that’s fine? We are in the US, it’s somewhat redundant to have Americana at the parks. I wouldn’t want a Francophone ride at Paris either. I would take the train to Paris, or Versailles, for that experience.

An idealized vision of America is at the core of the US castle parks (and EPCOT and even MGM). More importantly, it’s at the core of Walt Disney’s ideology and everything he built. Now, it’s very fair to criticize that vision in whole or in part, but it can’t constructively be ignored or dismissed. Eliminating it in an utterly thoughtless way, with no reflection on what it meant or what its removal means, is tremendously destructive. It will do to MK what has already been done to EPCOT - render it a husk, a work of art with no soul. This is one of the very fundamental problems with executives that don’t understand that theme parks have meaning beyond their role as a cash register.

 

[psherman42]

Ok, good on them getting everything already up, etc , but this doorway does look a little funny on its own

View attachment 869351

This would have been a great advertisement for the Monsters area.

 

[flynnibus]

Fort wilderness, Bay lake, seven seas lagoon add much more to MK as well. If DL removed ROA their entire resort has no more boats.

And the number of people who goto DL based on the size of their boat fleet?

They have the subs still

Before F! was butchered, F! was far more important to the DL faithful than what happened around the river bend or on the island. Those battles were fought and lost decade+ before. People wanted the Columbia sailing and the two boats in F!

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

This isn’t about the best business decisions. It’s about a guy who doesn’t like the park wanting the map to look different so he can say “I did that.”

“A phrase resounds when it rings true”

That being said, the space needed anything compelling (preferably a coaster, but that’s just me).

Frontierland already has a coaster, and a thrilling drop ride.

We are in the US, it’s somewhat redundant to have Americana at the parks.

So what should be in the parks? Only movies? That’s Universal.

lest I hear another “Walt’s dead” - the concept of a DISNEY park is rooted in Americana.

 

[mickEblu]

Interesting article.

This is the line that sticks out to me from this article. It succinctly says what many of us have been saying or trying to say.

“At some point, if you remove the essential elements of a park, it’s no longer the same place.”

 

[Gusey]

And they’ll all still have insufficient capacity.

Just for the record, what were the capacities for TSI and the Liberty Belle? And do we know the planned capacities for the 2 Cars attractions and 2 Villains attractions? The only one that I can see having less capacity is the 2nd Cars ride, but the combination of 2 Cars and 2 Villains could be more than TSI and Liberty Belle?
And as far as I'm aware, the Monsters Show, Zootopia: Better Zoogether and Indiana Jones should have the same capacities as they're all going to be using the same theaters/ride systems as their predecessors. The only other replacements capacity wise would be Carousel vs Triceratop Spin (which should hopefully be roughly the same) and Encanto vs Primeval Whirl (which a lot of insiders and the site plans indicate the capacity should be bigger). Door Coaster is a new build so will be bonus capacity for HS and the dual load station will help capacity and operations, right?

 

[Chi84]

This is the line that sticks out to me from this article. It succinctly says what many of us have been saying or trying to say.

“At some point, if you remove the essential elements of a park, it’s no longer the same place.”

It will definitely be an entirely new place in the next several years.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Why 1994? As far as I'm aware there were 35 attractions in 1994. 40 attractions in 2008 (Galaxy Palace Theater closed in 2009). There are now only 34 attractions, so we are currently less than 1994 but still more than in 2011 (only 32 attractions then). Once Cars and Villains are open, it should be 38 attractions unless something else closes?

1994 is the year they made a number of closures which continue to negatively impact the park to this day.

 

[Purduevian]

Just for the record, what were the capacities for TSI and the Liberty Belle? And do we know the planned capacities for the 2 Cars attractions and 2 Villains attractions? The only one that I can see having less capacity is the 2nd Cars ride, but the combination of 2 Cars and 2 Villains could be more than TSI and Liberty Belle?
And as far as I'm aware, the Monsters Show, Zootopia: Better Zoogether and Indiana Jones should have the same capacities as they're all going to be using the same theaters/ride systems as their predecessors. The only other replacements capacity wise would be Carousel vs Triceratop Spin (which should hopefully be roughly the same) and Encanto vs Primeval Whirl (which a lot of insiders and the site plans indicate the capacity should be bigger). Door Coaster is a new build so will be bonus capacity for HS and the dual load station will help capacity and operations, right?

quad load stations I believe.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Can I be unpopular and say that’s fine? We are in the US, it’s somewhat redundant to have Americana at the parks. I wouldn’t want a Francophone ride at Paris either. I would take the train to Paris, or Versailles, for that experience.

Discoveryland was great and Space Mountain: From the Earth to the Moon far better than its two successors.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Interesting article.

RoA, an "Americana Attraction" is being replaced by Piston Peaks, which is an "Americana Attraction."

Splash got a Georgia setting replaced by a NOLA setting. Still 'Americana.'

The 'refresh' of CBJ is still 'Americana.'

Thunder Mountain is fully refurbed to continue to be 'Americana.'

Mains Street U.S.A. is located <checks notes> still in America.

HoP still doing its "Americana" thing, though it was rumored to go away along with Liberty Square... hold on... <checks parks> ...they're all still there.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Erased from existence, like it never happened.

That did it.......... I miss the Osborne lights

 

[lazyboy97o]

Just for the record, what were the capacities for TSI and the Liberty Belle? And do we know the planned capacities for the 2 Cars attractions and 2 Villains attractions? The only one that I can see having less capacity is the 2nd Cars ride, but the combination of 2 Cars and 2 Villains could be more than TSI and Liberty Belle?
And as far as I'm aware, the Monsters Show, Zootopia: Better Zoogether and Indiana Jones should have the same capacities as they're all going to be using the same theaters/ride systems as their predecessors. The only other replacements capacity wise would be Carousel vs Triceratop Spin (which should hopefully be roughly the same) and Encanto vs Primeval Whirl (which a lot of insiders and the site plans indicate the capacity should be bigger). Door Coaster is a new build so will be bonus capacity for HS and the dual load station will help capacity and operations, right?

The parks don’t have sufficient capacity now. They’re going from insufficient to still insufficient.

 

[Dreamer19]

MK does not need its ROA destroyed to show it’s not Disneyland. I don’t recall ever seeing people complaining about Frontierland but I do recall seeing people complain about the Tomorrowland speedway. If they wanted to “give MK a better identity”, why not start there by putting an attraction or two on the speedway footprint and filling the empty space where stitch used to be? They didn’t have to ruin Frontierland. And now if Tomorrowland ever gets an upgrade, it’ll probably be at least a decade for that to happen.

Exactly. They’re fixing what ain’t broke.

Frontierland was fine, the Riverboat was fine, TSI was fine. The Liberty Belle didn’t need to be swamped by people in order for it to be an important and “timeless” feature of the park. While I wasn’t a frequent visitor to TSI, it was of the main areas kids used to have to use their imaginations. Gee, we can’t have that!

Tomorrowland on the other hand is in dire need of rejuvenation and updating. Three rides alone broke down in that area of the park the last time I was in it.

They could do incredible things with the Speedway, with the Stitch space, even the Laugh Floor space.

You know they’re itching to gut ROA and TSI at DL too, they’re just not bold enough yet.

 

[DCLcruiser]

An idealized vision of America is at the core of the US castle parks (and EPCOT and even MGM). More importantly, it’s at the core of Walt Disney’s ideology and everything he built. Now, it’s very fair to criticize that vision in whole or in part, but it can’t constructively be ignored or dismissed. Eliminating it in an utterly thoughtless way, with no reflection on what it meant or what its removal means, is tremendously destructive. It will do to MK what has already been done to EPCOT - render it a husk, a work of art with no soul. This is one of the very fundamental problems with executives that don’t understand that theme parks have meaning beyond their role as a cash register.

I get the point of an idealized post-war America on Main Street. It’s quaint and sets the tone where everyone is friendly and wholesome. (Please ignore the actual guests). And, in EPCOT it is a great lessen in America, amongst other nations (still needs a ride).

But, it easily becomes white noise as most of us are American, or aware of history.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

^ bingo, MK has spent way too long being the shadow of Disneyland. It needs this and other unique experiences to show it’s not just Florida Disneyland. It needs a better identity and I think this new expansion begins giving it

Don't worry, Disneyland's Rivers of America + Tom Sawyer Island will eventually be paved over as well. Some of you may have a knee jerk "no way" reaction. Yes, way. 100%. That park needs that space better utilized way more than MK's does. I'm actually surprised it wasn't the first one to go.

 

[DCLcruiser]

“A phrase resounds when it rings true”



Frontierland already has a coaster, and a thrilling drop ride.



So what should be in the parks? Only movies? That’s Universal.

lest I hear another “Walt’s dead” - the concept of a DISNEY park is rooted in Americana.

I want more themed inverted coasters like Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

I didn’t say we need more IP or movies. I am open to new and original ideas. But, Americana can be redundant if it’s just bunting. Rides representing parts of America or our history are a great idea, but blatant propaganda (I can’t think of a softer term to use) are a bit much for a US park. We already know we are in the US, and most of us went to school here.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

By the way…. I was kinda surprised we didn’t see any “celebrities” like Baxter, Bob Gurr, etc. yesterday.

I think Tiana left such a bad taste in Tony’s mouth, he’s adhering to that “think twice, speak once” rhetoric before making a comment…but I would imagine he’s not a happy camper…Bob Gurr, the same thing…

 

[Casper Gutman]

I get the point of an idealized post-war America on Main Street. It’s quaint and sets the tone where everyone is friendly and wholesome. (Please ignore the actual guests). And, in EPCOT it is a great lessen in America, amongst other nations (still needs a ride).

But, it easily becomes white noise as most of us are American, or aware of history.

I would question the idea that Americans are aware of the nations history.

But they don’t have to be. It’s not really about education. The Magic Kingdom resonates because it taps into a series of interrelated myths that Americans believe about their world and themselves. It FEELS coherent even if guests can’t articulate why. The myths can certainly be criticized- there’s a lot of insightful literature doing so. But it’s deeply wrong to ignore how integral they are to the success of the US castle parks.