MK Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[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.

 

[mickEblu]

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

For sure. Then everyone who said this will never happen at Disneyland will move the baton again. We already have some rumors that they might be looking to do something with the big pond adjacent to BTMRR. Aka the old tunnel/ bridge over Bear Country in Mine Train Thru Natures Wonderland. Which I happen to think might be one of, if not the most important places in Frontierland from a place making perspective.

 

[Gusey]

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

Wasn't the only thing to close in 1994 the subs and the canoes? I know that the subs were beloved but what else closed that so severely negatively impacted the park? I wasn't at the parks back then so trying to understand the nostalgia people have for pre-New Tomorrowland MK, especially as Alien Encounter and Timekeeper seem to also be beloved by fans on these boards? As far as I can tell, it would be 1999/the early 2000s when things started to become a lot more controversial with replacements due to Pooh vs Toad, Magic Carpets being added, Stitch vs Alien Encounter, Monsters vs Timekeeper.

 

[DCLcruiser]

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.

Again, I’m not criticizing the message, myth or intent. I am just saying that Americana and bunting are like wearing a band’s shirt at the concert. We get it, we are just about all American. We would go to the Smithsonian or the Mall in DC if we wanted a patriotic romp through history.

 

[Dreamer19]

My 3 year old daughter’s friend loves Cars, he’s wild about it. It’s adorable to see him get excited about Lightning McQueen. I think the first movie is visually appealing and definitely strikes me with that feeling of classic Americana.

All that to say, Cars don’t belong in Frontierland. You can try and make it belong, but it’s going to look ridiculous. And as another poster pointed out, if you have to hide it, then it probably doesn’t belong in that place.

This is a bad idea, just like gutting Splash. I notice very few people defending Splash these days, but the damage is done. The same will apply here.

I’m not saying this attraction won’t be fun, I’m saying it won’t fit and that is just as important.

 

[flynnibus]

Are we having the same conversation?

I'll give you the cliff notes verison

Them: "They'd be burning Anaheim if they did this to the RoA in DL"
Me: "They already did"

TSI - gone
The river scenes - pointlessly nerfed
The river itself - cut short
The riverfront - taken over by F!

Point being... the pillaging of this untouchable element was done long ago and people moved on. And this very thread highlights they've already forgotten.

The two boats are the last holdouts of merit

 

[monothingie]

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.

Don't ruin the darling park, so they test it out in the swamp first because they know the pigs there will always come back to the trough to slop it up.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I want more themed inverted coasters like Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

so why do you want to visit Disney then?

Seems like Herschend would be ideal for you! Busch and Herschend both have steam trains so it’s a win win!

 

[Dreamer19]

Don't ruin the darling park, so they test it out in the swamp first because they know the pigs there will always come back to the trough to slop it up.

That is a point….The current Disney leadership think very little of the audience.

Walt was the opposite. He thought only of the audience.

 

[flynnibus]

Don't ruin the darling park, so they test it out in the swamp first because they know the pigs there will always come back to the trough to slop it up.

Glad you're still enjoying TSI out there on the west coast...

oh wait..

 

[monothingie]

Glad you're still enjoying TSI out there on the west coast...

oh wait..

I for one eagerly await our tracked googly eyed vehicles belching out ka-chows every 3 seconds.

 

[DCLcruiser]

so why do you want to visit Disney then?

Seems like Herschend would be ideal for you! Busch and Herschend both have steam trains so it’s a win win!

Can’t I want my favorite place to be my ideal? I’ve loved scream machines since I was a kid. Cedar Point, Busch Gardens, Kings Dominion, etc. We rode RnRC for soft openings, every night that week.

WDW is my favorite (actually EPCOT). I was so excited for Beastly Kingdom to have a dragon coaster.

So, if I was to add to MK, it would be inverted coasters, but I get that strays from the Castle Park for younger audiences theme.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

I guess in a way, but Baxter was more EPCOT Center with Gurr's vehicles being used at MK as well.

Umm…Splash Mountain…

 

[mickEblu]

I'll give you the cliff notes verison

Them: "They'd be burning Anaheim if they did this to the RoA in DL"
Me: "They already did"

TSI - gone
The river scenes - pointlessly nerfed
The river itself - cut short
The riverfront - taken over by F!

Point being... the pillaging of this untouchable element was done long ago and people moved on. And this very thread highlights they've already forgotten.

The two boats are the last holdouts of merit

Flynninus: they already did

Me: The river, the riverboat and the island are still there. The majority and most important aspects of them are still there. You cant compare any of the alterations made in the past to completely removing those elements. To expect the same level of backlash because the burning cabin is gone or the back end of the ROA (that could only be viewed by people riding the boats) would be anywhere near completely removing those elements overnight is wild.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Can’t I want my favorite place to be my ideal? I’ve loved scream machines since I was a kid. Cedar Point, Busch Gardens, Kings Dominion, etc. We rode RnRC for soft openings, every night that week.

WDW is my favorite (actually EPCOT). I was so excited for Beastly Kingdom to have a dragon coaster.

So, if I was to add to MK, it would be inverted coasters, but I get that strays from the Castle Park for younger audiences theme.

I love visiting museums but I don’t think they should open a branch of the Smithsonian in Fantasyland.

Certain things belong certain places.