MK Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[Gusey]

Ok so then let’s assume these numbers are right ( I still think the island is pulling more) why were those posters reacting like what I said was a wild take?

It is quite a wild take to assume that TSI and the Liberty Belle will have had a higher attendance than a new E-Ticket on that side of the park. Again, assuming those numbers are correct, the Cars attractions replacing the South Island will have a larger capacity than both Liberty Belle and TSI, unless nobody bothers to turn up at all

 

[Chi84]

Ok so then let’s assume these numbers are right ( I still think the island is pulling more) why were those posters reacting like what I said was a wild take?

Why does it matter what reason Disney has for closing the river and the attractions on it?

 

[phillip9698]

Ok so then let’s assume these numbers are right ( I still think the island is pulling more) why were those posters reacting like what I said was a wild take?

Because what the other guy was posting were the max capacities for the riverboat.

We are telling you the riverboat was nowhere near max capacity. It was LUCKY to be half full to be honest with you. And the island was a ghost town.

So you take an attraction that can run 900 guests an hour and cut that in half, being generous with that, and you are saying the 2 new Cars attractions may not pull more than 450 guests an hour. That's crazy talk.

Take it from the people who frequent Disney World, there is no way those two Cars attractions will pull less than 450 people per hour.

The argument for keeping the river is not a discussion of utlilization/capacity, it's about theming and place.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Because what the other guy was posting were the max capacities for the riverboat.

We are telling you the riverboat was nowhere near capacity. It was LUCKY to be half full to be honest with you. And the island was a ghost town.

So you take an attraction that can run 900 guests an hour and cut that in half, being generous with that, and you are saying the 2 new Cars attractions may not pull more than 450 guests an hour. That's crazy talk.

Take it from the people who frequent Disney World, there is no way those two Cars attractions will pull less than 450 people per hour.

The argument for keeping the river is not a discussion of utlilization/capacity, it's about theming and place.

I don't see any realistic argument that the Piston Peak area will have at least the same actual capacity than the riverboat, rafts, and island - and really, probably more actual use. Plus more people in the queues freeing up capacity elsewhere.

Now, that doesn't mean the trade off is an overall good one (as you mention he theming, just being a quiet place people can go to, how it anchored the area, etc ) but it will for sure have higher guest usage

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

The argument for keeping the river is not a discussion of utlilization/capacity, it's about theming and place.

I would say there is a difference in utilization though. Piston Peak could, and will hopefully, have some TSI like elements that can be utilized in a similar way.

But the riverboat provided a slow moving, calming and accessible attraction that all ages and abilities could enjoy together. So that type of utilization will not be replaced

I believe the riverboat was the most accessible moving attraction at WDW.

 

[Bocabear]

I believe the Riverboat, The ROA, and TSI were all more than the sum of their parts... They were part of the fabric of the MK... The steam whistle could be heard not all over the MK, but also if you were staying in the surrounding resorts... It brought a touch of realism...These things were the anchor of an entire quadrant of the park... Something I am not sure that Engine part-shaped mountain features will do... Maybe that part of the area will be hidden from view until you are actually in the area....Who knows... The big water basin was calming and beautiful...Discussing it in terms of throughput and income generated is like trying to figure out how much money Town Square Park makes, and how many people walk through it a day.... Maybe those benches are not serving enough people and they haven't quite figured out a way for them to generate money yet.....
But you know what WOULD be helpful? Putting something appropriate in the empty Stitch attraction.... Maybe adding something new in Tomorrowland aside from Stitch...that would be two attractions added to the current lineup.... without closing anything currently running....

 

[HMF]

I don't know if under prior leadership it could "easily" be done either .

Prior leadership was literally two decades ago unless of course Chapek would have spared the river during his brief set up to fail tenure.

 

[HMF]

Sooooooo, judging from the Touring Plans thing... are Astro Orbitor and Casey Jr. Splash and Soak Station next on the chopping block?

I wouldn't complain about Casey Jr.

 

[HMF]

Its fun to read the arguing and rationalizations to justify the destruction of RoA, ISI and Liberty Bell.

In 3 to 5 years when the cars thing is open for previews we will see the queue snake through what was once called Frontierland. Who knows what it will be called by then.

Folks will say, "See I was right! Many, many more folks want to go on Cars then went to...... What was that again??"

Cheers will be heard within the walls of the Disney company. Add another gem to all to Iger's (legacy?).

Sadly, that is a very likely scenario.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Sadly, that is a very likely scenario.

Ah yes the likely sad scenario where people love a change and aren’t blinded but something just always being there as a reason it should remain.

 

[HMF]

I’d argue the most sacred attraction we have is the Country Bears. It’s the original, it’s the only one left in the US, and the mere thought of removing it caused such an uproar they decided to keep it. It’s the first true MK original, and even though it’s a new setlist now, those characters are sacred to MK. As long as Henry and the gang all exist forever at MK, I don’t care what songs they play. They’re just important to the park.

What happened with CBJ is the closest thing to a compromise between keeping the original creative intent without conflicting with Iger's IP mandate. Same with Luminous at EPCOT.

 

[HMF]

Kissing the ground of the company that is NOTORIOUS for replacing all of their classic attractions is certainly… a choice here. Jaws, Twister, Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, Kong, Shrek, Dueling Dragons, I mean a lot of these were Universals bread and butter. Imagine the outrage if Disney replaced Haunted Mansion because it was too pricey to run (despite having the popularity)

I am no fan of the Universal model and the way Disney is being run right now is much closer to the Universal model than it was during the Eisner days. Haunted Mansion is a legacy attraction with a large fanbase and heavily marketable. otherwise Disney probably would remove it with little thought and if Iger's strategy was in place when it was originally designed it literally would not exist and as we know they wouldn't even bother to spend the money to install the Hatbox Ghost in his proper spot instead opting to put him in an area where he makes absolutely no sense and destroys the flow of the attraction.

 

[HMF]

Ah yes the likely sad scenario where people love a change and aren’t blinded but something just always being there as a reason it should remain.

Yes, I do consider that a sad statement about how people's standards have fallen. Though not surprising in the instant gratification era. From a rational standpoint yes it makes perfect business sense. But again if Walt had done everything that made perfect business sense, We literally would not have theme parks and Disneyland, The Magic Kingdom, all the other parks and by extension this very board would not exist.

 

[Chi84]

Yes, I do consider that a sad statement about how people's standards have fallen. Though not surprising in the instant gratification era.

Sometimes people just like change or seeing new things. It doesn’t mean their standards have fallen.

 

[easyrowrdw]

Would just like to point out that you believe that with an average daily attendance of 48k people, you believe that over 19,000 or a bit under half of everyone in the park is going on the Riverboat or TSI per day? You certainly have a lot more faith in the ROA than Disney or any sane engineer.

I’m sure they didn’t. Disney limited their operating hours. I can’t remember the boat but I’m pretty sure Tom Sawyer was 11-6. Typically I’d see two rafts running, occasionally full mostly less so. Every once in a while they’d have three rafts.

But the island was never dead when I was there. It wasn’t packed either but I don’t think it was supposed to be. I don’t think it would’ve worked if it was packed. My kids loved it so we visited whenever we were there. It was always just a nice break and a place for the kids to have fun.

 

[mickEblu]

Because what the other guy was posting were the max capacities for the riverboat.

We are telling you the riverboat was nowhere near max capacity. It was LUCKY to be half full to be honest with you. And the island was a ghost town.

So you take an attraction that can run 900 guests an hour and cut that in half, being generous with that, and you are saying the 2 new Cars attractions may not pull more than 450 guests an hour. That's crazy talk.

Take it from the people who frequent Disney World, there is no way those two Cars attractions will pull less than 450 people per hour.

The argument for keeping the river is not a discussion of utlilization/capacity, it's about theming and place.

How many people visit the island per hour though?

 

[mickEblu]

Why does it matter what reason Disney has for closing the river and the attractions on it?

Not sure how this question makes sense in the context of this conversation?

 

[mickEblu]

The argument for keeping the river is not a discussion of utlilization/capacity, it's about theming and place.

Obviously. For some reason you or someone else took a throw away comment I made about the capacity comparison and focused on that. Most of my comments in regards to this subject since the announcement was made has been in regards to theming/ place making. My argument has never been that the ROA/ TSI need to stay because of the amazing numbers they pull. Their value has nothing to do with capacity.

 

[Chi84]

Not sure how this question makes sense in the context of this conversation?

Obviously they don’t want to operate these attractions anymore. So why argue over how many people were visiting or how they will compare capacity wise or otherwise with the replacement?

 

[mickEblu]

Obviously they don’t want to operate these attractions anymore. So why argue over how many people were visiting or how they will compare capacity wise or otherwise with the replacement?

Because you guys cherry picked a throw away comment from my post and wanted to focus on it.