MK Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[DisneyHead123]

Good grief, to dismiss the popularity of Cars, of all franchises, one would have to completely avoid kids in every aspect of life. That stuff is EVERYWHERE. Behind Marvel and Star Wars, Cars easily has the largest merchandising footprint of any Disney IP in just about any store you set foot in.

I’m around kids all the time and, while this is completely anecdotal, I think franchises like Cars are fading. It does have a small section near the Hotwheels in our Target but it’s tiny. Also, kids seem to cycle through their Disney (and Paw Patrol, Thomas, etc.) phase much faster these days so the market gets shrunk by shortening age spans. Ages 1 to about 5, anything goes. 5 to maybe 7, it’s all about super heroes (and a burgeoning interest in electronics) for boys and the other stuff might be seen as “babyish”. After 7 it’s mostly apps and video games, YouTubers, anime and such (Also, interestingly, with the internet kids can more easily go down rabbit holes with niche interests in much the same way adults can.) Maybe a bit of Star Wars as that’s seen as something for older kids, teens and adults. Again, anecdotal and just speaking to kids I’ve observed, of course.

I contrast that to growing up in the 80s, where I remember 5th grade boys being very into Hotwheels and Matchbox cars, and it wasn’t unheard of for girls to have Barbies at that age.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

Truest comment on here.

RoA was simply not a positive revenue generator and I can venture to guess its existence negatively impacted multiple KPIs for the WDW resort/TDO specifically (Lightning Lane sales, merchandise sales, contemporary brand IP synergies/marketability, operations, advancing DVC/room sales, etc.).

Unfortunately, you’re right. Take 7/6 for example. It had its best day in years, maybe ever. It took about 16~ trips down the river. None of them, except maybe the last one, came close to reaching the capacity of 450 guests. I would be shocked if more than 5,000 people rode it on 7/6. This in a park with an average daily attendance of over 40,000-50,000. Unfortunately, for the amount of space it used, Disney just didn’t see the value in keeping it. It’s sad for me because it was my favorite attraction, tied with the railroad. But the reality is, on paper at least, it made less money each day then a different attraction using the same space. So each day it ran it carried a massive opportunity cost. The four new rides they’re building will print money for Disney, even if they’re only mediocre. I’m very sad it closed but unfortunately I understand why they’re doing it.

ETA: TSI had a very low capacity too. RoA made business sense only when multiple attractions could “stack” and simultaneously take advantage of the same space.

 

[Purduevian]

So Disneys really eager to release Cars 4, right?

https://movieweb.com/pixar-cars-4-new-projects/

"There are more Cars things brewing, I can't say much more yet. Cars has got a life that will keep going. I am working on some real fun projects right now that you will see in a couple of years. It takes us a while to make them."

"It became so much bigger than we expected. It likes on and everyday a new child sees It for the first time, which we did not expect. The interesting thing was that Cars came out in 2006 and this is when DVDs were quite popular. It was popular theatrically when it came out, but it grew more popular. Throughout the end of the year and into the next year, more and more people saw it."

They are developing more Cars stuff... I think it's one of the bigest non-tentpole franchises Disney has right now.

IMHO (im sure I'm missing some):

Tentpoles: Star Wars, Avengers, Spiderman, Frozen, Princess, Lion King, Toy Story, Mickey and Friends,

Tier 2: Aladdin, BatB, Cars, Nemo, GotG, Pirates, pooh bear, Indy, Avatar, Moana

Tier 3: Encanto, Coco, Incredibles, Monsters, Inside out, Zootopia, Dr. Strange

 

[FettFan]

So Disneys really eager to release Cars 4, right?

“Well the -ish is, I think Lightning McQueen is the bad guy in this. It just feels like there’s a lot of him creeping on girl cars and then arguing with their dads and husbands and stuff, and it’s a real departure for the character.”

 

[phillip9698]

I’m around kids all the time and, while this is completely anecdotal, I think franchises like Cars are fading. It does have a small section near the Hotwheels in our Target but it’s tiny. Also, kids seem to cycle through their Disney (and Paw Patrol, Thomas, etc.) phase much faster these days so the market gets shrunk by shortening age spans. Ages 1 to about 5, anything goes. 5 to maybe 7, it’s all about super heroes (and a burgeoning interest in electronics) for boys and the other stuff might be seen as “babyish”. After 7 it’s mostly apps and video games, YouTubers, anime and such (Also, interestingly, with the internet kids can more easily go down rabbit holes with niche interests in much the same way adults can.) Maybe a bit of Star Wars as that’s seen as something for older kids, teens and adults. Again, anecdotal and just speaking to kids I’ve observed, of course.

I contrast that to growing up in the 80s, where I remember 5th grade boys being very into Hotwheels and Matchbox cars, and it wasn’t unheard of for girls to have Barbies at that age.

It may be a “small” section but how many Disney IPs can you say have kept a consistent toy section for 20 years? The list is tiny.

And it’s not just the toys. They have bikes, helmets, bedding, clothes, toothpaste, backpacks, shoes, lunch boxes, underwear, books, power wheels, etc…..

Like I said it’s everywhere. It’s absurd for people to act like this isn’t a very popular franchise.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ]

Maybe the engine noises from the cars will be on-ride speakers in the headrests, so when you're riding the ride you hear all the car noises but outside of it, it's practically silent?

About as loud as a golf cart/electric gokart. Onboard audio for characters taking. Most of the "noise" will be from waterfalls but even then probably only at ground level.

I don't see it being... Noisy. The inverse of this discussion, would be the dreadful noise of the Howling Dog sfx at Haunted Mansion. (Which isn't an issue either)

I find the whining about noise humorous. As if we're not in a themepark with the bombardment of stimuli all around us.

 

[Disstevefan1]

View attachment 869509

“Well the -ish is, I think Lightning McQueen is the bad guy in this. It just feels like there’s a lot of him creeping on girl cars and then arguing with their dads and husbands and stuff, and it’s a real departure for the character.”

At first I thought this quote is a joke, but then I thought , this is true to today's Disney.

I fully expect the star of this new Cars attraction will be a girl car.

 

[Purduevian]

At first I thought this quote is a joke, but then I thought , this is true to today's Disney.

I fully expect the star of this new Cars attraction will be a girl car.

It's an SNL skit with Owen Wilson about recording lines for Cars 4... He gets increasingly uncomfortable with the lines until someone hands him a bag of money.

 

[DisneyHead123]

It may be a “small” section but how many Disney IPs can you say have kept a consistent toy section for 20 years? The list is tiny.

And it’s not just the toys. They have bikes, helmets, bedding, clothes, toothpaste, backpacks, shoes, lunch boxes, underwear, books, power wheels, etc…..

Like I said it’s everywhere. It’s absurd for people to act like this isn’t a very popular franchise.

I’ve said before, my observations and the data Disney must have don’t particularly line up on Cars. I just don’t see much of a Cars presence beyond toddlers (and even there it’s not huge) when it comes to Gen Alpha, but maybe that’s just my area. Or, alternately, maybe it’s like Paw Patrol. That’s a franchise purchased mostly by very young children and they still sell tons of merchandise. Parents of little kids are often enthusiastic consumers.

 

[Raineman]

Unfortunately, you’re right. Take 7/6 for example. It had its best day in years, maybe ever. It took about 16~ trips down the river. None of them, except maybe the last one, came close to reaching the capacity of 450 guests. I would be shocked if more than 5,000 people rode it on 7/6. This in a park with an average daily attendance of over 40,000-50,000. Unfortunately, for the amount of space it used, Disney just didn’t see the value in keeping it. It’s sad for me because it was my favorite attraction, tied with the railroad. But the reality is, on paper at least, it made less money each day then a different attraction using the same space. So each day it ran it carried a massive opportunity cost. The four new rides they’re building will print money for Disney, even if they’re only mediocre. I’m very sad it closed but unfortunately I understand why they’re doing it.

ETA: TSI had a very low capacity too. RoA made business sense only when multiple attractions could “stack” and simultaneously take advantage of the same space.

Any attraction that Disney can't get you in and get you out within 5 minutes or less is at risk of replacement in the near future, imo. Disney loves the park commandos that make them $$ in LL revenue, but they can't make money off of the people who like to wander and explore at their own leisure, which was the core element of TSI.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Was there any land at MK that needed this kind of extensive work less? Obviously Tomorrowland is in the most desperate need of attention, but I’d argue both Fantasyland and Adventureland could have benefited from added attractions more than the land with three headliners and a (formerly) strong assortment of minor attractions.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ]

Any attraction that Disney can't get you in and get you out within 5 minutes or less is at risk of replacement in the near future, imo. Disney loves the park commandos that make them $$ in LL revenue, but they can't make money off of the people who like to wander and explore at their own leisure, which was the core element of TSI.

:Looks at concept art of Piston Peak:

 

[Incomudro]

I

I’m around kids all the time and, while this is completely anecdotal, I think franchises like Cars are fading. It does have a small section near the Hotwheels in our Target but it’s tiny. Also, kids seem to cycle through their Disney (and Paw Patrol, Thomas, etc.) phase much faster these days so the market gets shrunk by shortening age spans. Ages 1 to about 5, anything goes. 5 to maybe 7, it’s all about super heroes (and a burgeoning interest in electronics) for boys and the other stuff might be seen as “babyish”. After 7 it’s mostly apps and video games, YouTubers, anime and such (Also, interestingly, with the internet kids can more easily go down rabbit holes with niche interests in much the same way adults can.) Maybe a bit of Star Wars as that’s seen as something for older kids, teens and adults. Again, anecdotal and just speaking to kids I’ve observed, of course.

I contrast that to growing up in the 80s, where I remember 5th grade boys being very into Hotwheels and Matchbox cars, and it wasn’t unheard of for girls to have Barbies at that age.

Having twin sons (now age 23) I agree.
They loved Cars, particularly my son Dean.
Matter of fact, as he is training as a US Marine right now, I have a Lightning McQueen car on my nightstand as a memory of him while he is away.
The one thing I will say however is the nostalgia factor, which is what most of the Disney parks exist on.
My son's would certainly have a fondness for a Cars area, particularly the one in California - and so would I.
They will also be upset over the loss of the river and boat (they don't know about that yet) even though none of us have ever ridden the boat of been to the island.

 

[Donfan]

:Looks at concept art of Piston Peak:

After looking at the concept art, it seems like this area may be less about Cars than many people think. It will be the Piston Peak National Park area. The only Cars presence will mostly be in the rally ride. The vehicles which have been pictured could be less like Cars vehicles, and more like off-road vehicles. The rest of the place, except for the possible Tow Mater style ride, looks like wilderness countryside, which Disney, in the past, has been pretty good at building.

 

[WDWBryan]

Is this going to be a cars land without lightning McQueen and mater like a Star Wars land without darth Vader and Luke skywalks

 

[Sir_Cliff]

After looking at the concept art, it seems like this area may be less about Cars than many people think. It will be the Piston Peak National Park area. The only Cars presence will mostly be in the rally ride. The vehicles which have been pictured could be less like Cars vehicles, and more like off-road vehicles. The rest of the place, except for the possible Tow Mater style ride, looks like wilderness countryside, which Disney, in the past, has been pretty good at building.

But this kind of highlights a huge issue with the project: they have to try and make the land look as little as possible like what it is in order to minimise how much it clashes with the surrounding areas.

Ultimately, this is a land populated solely by anthropomorphic cars in which built structures and geological features take on the features of car parts. So, all of that will have to be in there for the land to make sense. In order to prevent it looking like they have just stuck a big pile of wide-eyed talking cartoon cars into the middle of Frontierland and Liberty Square, however, they are having to try and de-emphasize these aspects as much as possible in favour of generic national park-style architecture and hide as much of it as possible, including the land's main landmark, from the surrounding areas with rock work and trees.

It really should be a red flag when a themed land has to disguise its theme.

 

[WorldExplorer]

At first I thought this quote is a joke, but then I thought , this is true to today's Disney.

I fully expect the star of this new Cars attraction will be a girl car.

They tried that with the third one already. It seems to have landed with a flat thud, just based how how often I see merchandise with her (almost never).

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I took the time to map out the size of the area we're working with, based on other "360/walk around" areas. Here's some rough comparisons. I will say, this makes me even more concerned about scale here - especially since forced perspective will be very difficult.

These are basically just the area/attraction perimeters. I didn't include surrounding walkways, as we know they plan to reuse the existing FL and LS walkways.

-Pandora (just the garden section - not including the mountains or FOP queue) - 1000'
-BTMRR DL - 1300'
-TOT (with queue, exit and forested area) - 1300'
-7DMT - 1350'
-BTMRR MK - 1400'
-ROA Lower Half MK/Cars MK - 1600'
-Discovery Island (interior paths and Tee of Life) - 1600'
-Celebration Gardens (basically from SSE, between the buildings, to the start of the WS Bridge) - 1600'
-MK Hub (just the land in the center from Mainstreet to the Castle Stage) - 1750'
-Grizzly River Run - 1900'
-Radiator Springs Racers (ride only) - 2200'
-Toystory Land DHS (not including show buildings) - 2400'
-CarsLand - 3100'
-World Showcase Lagoon - 5200

-Condor Flats (interior areas, not including the Soarin' building or Napa restaurant complex) - 2700

So, I think the Grizzly River Run is a good comparison for concept. And, this means the whole Cars attraction and secondary attraction will need to fit in an area smaller than the footprint of Grizzly River Run itself.

If anyone wants any other comparisons, let me know!

 

[Disstevefan1]

They tried that with the third one already. It seems to have landed with a flat thud, just based how how often I see merchandise with her (almost never).

My money is still on the star of this attraction will be a girl car.

Not based on anything just a feeling.

 

[Jedi14]

Is this going to be a cars land without lightning McQueen and mater like a Star Wars land without darth Vader and Luke skywalks

Lightning and Mater are hosting the Rally Race.