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DAK “Zootopia” is being created for the Tree of Life theater

HMF

Well-Known Member
Agree. For another comparison, I think all agree that Splash should never have been rethemed.
In retrospect maybe but under a better management team it could potentially have been a worthy replacement. My philosophy on changes in the parks is basically the same as Tony Baxter's. If you take something away, Make sure what is replacing it is better. I actually have written an article with my thoughts on TBA. I tried to make it as not political as I possibly could while still addressing the underlying issues.
 

HMF

Well-Known Member
it seems a trend is forming where Disney is no longer aiming for general audiences and universal appeal and instead making attractions for individual age groups. This one being laser-focused on kids. (like Tiana)
As with SGE, the strange thing about Tiana's is that most people who are in the demographic they seem to be aiming for can't ride it because of height restrictions.
 

DrStarlander

Well-Known Member
Disney is typically really good with attraction pacing, whereas bad pacing remains one of Universal's biggest flaws in attraction design. This actually might be the first time where the pacing is true Universal style, just straight into frenetic chaos the entire time and never easing off.
Frenetic story-based attractions are the least repeatable, all else being equal, I believe. I personally wish there were more low-key -- literally relaxing -- "mood piece" attractions and shows. Given how overstimulating theme parks can be, a calming break can be so welcome. One of my all-time favorite attractions was the Sparkletts Water Fantasy show at SeaWorld (I saw it on every visit in San Diego, not sure if it was elsewhere). A theater "in the round" (or at least two sides looking to the middle) with a music, fountain, light show. Absolutely fantastic.

An elegant show like this, with gravitas, in the Tree of Life, with maybe some real-life animal footage projections on mist, about the interconnectedness of life on earth (a thesis statement show) could have been really cool and very unexpected.
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The bigger problem with Imagineering, I believe. Seems they're either unable to speak critically, or constructive criticism is just discouraged. It could also be that they're too "afraid" to say anything.
I believe this is a problem in all of corporate America right now. People are so fearful of being labeled "difficult" or "toxic" or getting called out in "360 degree reviews" they just keep mum about bad work. They keep their heads down, just hoping to evade the next layoff. And the result of that is not surprising. It's critical HR departments train on effectively providing critical feedback.

That's not just a problem at Disney.
Yeah I included Universal's Minions Mayhem in that comment. And the list wasn't exhaustive for sure.
 

HMF

Well-Known Member
They something good and they need it fast. This show is a flop and people are being vocal about it.
I am legitimately surprised how big a flop this is. I would have hated it anyway being the theming purist I am but I have never seen anything like a consistent consensus on anything here before. The best comparison I can think of is JIYI and that happened when we still had to be off the phone to access the internet.
 

WorldExplorer

Well-Known Member
The bigger problem with Imagineering, I believe. Seems they're either unable to speak critically, or constructive criticism is just discouraged. It could also be that they're too "afraid" to say anything.

It's the animation studio instead of Imagineering, but consider: "I let you live here for free and don't even charge you rent."

That line is widely mocked for being objectively stupid. It's not an opinion, it's not just a mangled metaphor, it's wrong English, like saying 2 + 2 = 5. But it worked its entire way through the song writing and animation pipelines, no doubt being seen by dozens of people along the way, probably a hundred, and no one said anything.

Imagine the hypersensitivity that has to exist in a workspace for no one to be able to acknowledge a clear cut, factual screw up. If you can't say "hey, actually 2 + 2 = 4", what chance do you have giving constructive criticism?

Now imagine if that applies to other portions of the company.
 

Dreamer19

Well-Known Member
It's a combination of doing what is easiest to please shareholders and promoting people who don't have any real vision, talent, or understanding of theme parks into important decision makers.

Literally no guests are out there demanding: "You know what, instead of attractions that are fun for everyone, what I really want is stuff that panders to my kids that won't challenge them or resonate with them in any way, that will be about as memorable as YouTube Kids autoplaying random Cocomelon videos."
I’ve heard the shareholder theory, but as a shareholder I don’t know how any of us should be pleased. The value is stagnant. If anything, I think any shareholder that continues to put up with this low quality product needs their head examined. Disney hasn’t been good for a while and it’s showing no signs of improving anytime soon, nor does the share value….
 

Dreamer19

Well-Known Member
I am legitimately surprised how big a flop this is. I would have hated it anyway being the theming purist I am but I have never seen anything like a consistent consensus on anything here before. The best comparison I can think of is JIYI and that happened when we still had to be off the phone to access the internet.
Just wait and see what they’ve got planned for the corpse of ROA….
 

Brer Panther

Well-Known Member
It's the animation studio instead of Imagineering, but consider: "I let you live here for free and don't even charge you rent."

That line is widely mocked for being objectively stupid.
Personally, I find "When it comes to the universe, we're all shareholders!" a far more cringeworthy line.
 

Biff215

Well-Known Member
I do hope you are right and that it is as unpopular as possible.
I understand the sentiment but I have to disagree here. Disney is likely investing hundreds of millions into the Cars project and altering Frontierland significantly. While I’ll miss the RoA, I certainly hope this is a homerun and upgrade to the MK.

As the Ghost Host says, “there’s no turning back now”.

Hopefully this one Zootopia miss isn’t an indication of the other bigger projects and their success. If it is, WDW is in bigger trouble than any of us could even realize.
 

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