MK Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[HMF]

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.

To be honest I am surprised HoP is still running especially since it seems to be the root of why Disney is doing these things.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

welp this is gonna look weird for a long timeView attachment 869307

The old Disneyland "fun maps" would actually draw what they planned on building and would mark the area as "future expansion"

This is just lazy

 

[twilight mitsuk]

a

"You unlock this door with the key of imagination"

leads to a maintenance service elevator

 

[mickEblu]

Which I have been saying about EPCOT and DHS for years.

See now this is where it gets interesting. As someone that hasn't been to Epcot or DHS, would I even know or care? Is this what Disney is banking on? After the 40+ year olds die off nobody will care? The thing that makes the ROA different in my view is that is a huge/ integral part of the park but it's also timeless. They can claim that it's underutilized and thats fair even if they are partially to blame and doesn't really account for its value that doesn't show up on a spreadsheet. But they cant claim it went out of style. I'm not sure we can say the same about the majority of the Epcot or DHS attractions that went away.

Will younger generations still understand and appreciate the Disney difference? They re still a cut or two above the rest although Universal is catching up. IMO what sets Disney is apart was their visual story telling/ placemaking especially when it's in themes that take us to another time and place. I think the ROA turning into a Cars attraction is a downgrade in that sense.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I think it’s in large part because Cars is essentially the boys’ counterpart to the Princesses. Cowboys once filled that niche, so this is now one of their few IP-based options to replace that.

Cars and Pirates were the two mid-2000s alternatives to the Princess brand (and Toy Story to a lesser extent)

But since they bought Marvel and Star Wars it's not as prominent IMO, although Cars merch skews younger

 

[Casper Gutman]

Cars 3 was not a box office smash. I'm not even sure it recouped its production cost in theatrical grosses alone.

Planes: Fire and Rescue made less than $150 million globally.

All 3 Cars movies are near the bottom of Pixar movie rankings on RT among critics

The real monetary value of Cars as a property comes from merchandise. An irrelevant metric for theme park attractions.

Disney has totally failed to understand why Cars Land at DCA is so popular. They think it's the brand recognition. The excellent quality of RSR, the beauty of the canyon and the charm of the town are totally lost on the executive team who don't like theme parks and don't see how the quality of an experience can transcend the appeal of its source material.

It's why they keep building Toy Story Lands that are just regional amusement park areas with iconographic props.

My confusion about Cars was, perhaps, a bit disingenuous, but this is very well put.

 

[Jambo Dad]

I agree. 7 dwarves is nice for what it is. But remember how they raved about the swinging coaster cars? They aren’t that big of a deal - novelty yes. Reminds me of how they talk about the “drifting” ATV’s and all.

They also mostly locked down the swinging system after they got complaints.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Animal Kingdom also has (had) Dinoland USA. A nostalgic throwback to both mid-century roadside attractions, and American culture's fascination and interpretation of dinosaurs.

All the Disney parks have it to some degree, even the international ones.

I’d argue Dinoland is a bit more postmodern and satirical in its approach to the subject, but I agree it was a different approach to many of the same themes.

 

[James Alucobond]

Cars and Pirates were the two mid-2000s alternatives to the Princess brand (and Toy Story to a lesser extent)

But since they bought Marvel and Star Wars it's not as prominent IMO, although Cars merch skews younger

MK is the most child-friendly park. Their IP-based logic, such as it is now, makes it pretty clear why they’d put Cars there.

 

[HMF]

RSR opened in 2012 and it had a huge budget. There is no way they'd spend that kind of money now. even if they did somehow, I don't think it would be nearly as charming or well thought out.

Not to mention no Lasseter fighting for it.

 

[HMF]

he came back, and now we see him for the "creative" he truly is: someone more concerned with making money than making magic.

I knew that before he left the first time.

 

[flynnibus]

Disney has totally failed to understand why Cars Land at DCA is so popular. They think it's the brand recognition. The excellent quality of RSR, the beauty of the canyon and the charm of the town are totally lost on the executive team who don't like theme parks and don't see how the quality of an experience can transcend the appeal of its source material.

The same exec team I'm sure sees the receipts from the SIX non-attractions in the land and know if the 'source material' is still relevant or not.

 

[HMF]

we get a new Walt/Roy duo like we had with Eisner and Wells? Please?

An Eisner or Wells is the best case scenario. There will never be another Walt. Todays business world wouldn't allow it.

 

[HMF]

Disney has totally failed to understand why Cars Land at DCA is so popular. They think it's the brand recognition. The excellent quality of RSR, the beauty of the canyon and the charm of the town are totally lost on the executive team who don't like theme parks and don't see how the quality of an experience can transcend the appeal of its source material.

Ding!!!!!Ding !!!! Ding!!!!!!

 

[mlayton144]

See now this is where it gets interesting. As someone that hasn't been to Epcot or DHS, would I even know or care? Is this what Disney is banking on? After the 40+ year olds die off nobody will care? The thing that makes the ROA different in my view is that is a huge/ integral part of the park but it's also timeless. They can claim that it's underutilized and thats fair even if they are partially to blame and doesn't really account for its value that doesn't show up on a spreadsheet. But they cant claim it went out of style. I'm not sure we can say the same about the majority of the Epcot or DHS attractions that went away.

Will younger generations still understand and appreciate the Disney difference? They re still a cut or two above the rest although Universal is catching up. IMO what sets Disney is apart was their visual story telling/ placemaking especially when it's in themes that take us to another time and place. I think the ROA turning into a Cars attraction is a downgrade in that sense.

I think you are on point , the nostalgia for people is always personal , you can’t miss what you never experienced. I have experienced Epcot from the 80s onward , do i miss the old future world, fountain of nations, tapestry of nations and Illuminations ? heck yeah

Bringing much of those back today would ring hollow for today’s youth IMO

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Disney has totally failed to understand why Cars Land at DCA is so popular. They think it's the brand recognition. The excellent quality of RSR, the beauty of the canyon and the charm of the town are totally lost on the executive team who don't like theme parks and don't see how the quality of an experience can transcend the appeal of its source material.

Can't the same be true with Piston Peak though? The charm and beauty of a national Park, the ranger station, the walking paths the rainbow springs the geysers etc ?

Not saying it will but why is it impossible that the area will have a quality experience that happens to have a Cars attraction in it as well?

 

[Casper Gutman]

Four?

If all goes to plan, there's gonna be some surprises

Will there be a Bantha ride around Villains Land to add kinetic interest?

 

[GenChi]

Except the tracks were destroyed are completely unusable. The only way to bring back a pm is to rebuild it which would require removing Buzz, Star tours, carousel building completely and then you have autopia and subs that would be affected. There will never be anything worse than the rocket rods travesty.

Agreed, what you're mentioning is actually what I was referring to by a TL transformation. It can only happen if the whole land and mentioned buildings gets revamped due to supports, but it is very feasible they will redo the entirety of Tomorrowland at some point.

Funny enough both are misguided attempts to try and force an e-ticket. While that one was the worst until now, I think ROA is the worst because while there is some percent chance of PM being revived in the right circumstances, there's zero chance this can ever be fixed.

 

[HMF]

I think you are on point , the nostalgia for people is always personal , you can’t miss what you never experienced. I have experienced Epcot from the 80s onward , do i miss the old future world, fountain of nations, tapestry of nations and Illuminations ? heck yeah

Bringing much of those back today would ring hollow for today’s youth IMO

Really, then why did ROE last for 20 years while it's god-awful replacement lasted barely two? The Fountain did not need to be removed and the music from ToN still played every night for 20 years, long after the parade itself had been cancelled. If you create something truly timeless people will remember it forever. Today's EPCOT is a sad shadow of what it used to be and even the things about it that are impressive don't work right.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Another possible data point on 'why Cars?'...

For boys. So that MK isn't thought of by boys as being for babies and for girls (Princesses!!).

DL has a SWL for the 'boy demographic.'

MK doesn't have SWL, nor can it get a Marvel Land.

And so... Cars.

Beep beep.