What to put in the northwestern end of the Magic Kingdom?

[mharrington]

Some time ago, I posted this graphic my thread on updating the Magic Kingdom, in which, similar to what happened to Disneyland's Rivers of America, the Rivers of America in the MK is reduced and the space filled in with a new land, like so:

One thing I thought of was a Toontown-like area. However, I feel as though that between the existence of the Great Goofini coaster and the concept of a Mickey dark ride going anywhere else in the park (i.e., Main Street or Storybook Circus), not to mention the Runaway Railway going into the Studios, I feel like that might be a little too much for the resort as a whole. Besides, this is off of Liberty Square/Frontierland, and Toontown-like areas are typically transitory to and from Fantasyland.

But that's really about the only thing I can think of to put back there, and it really seems to cover a lot of space. So what can be put back in that area? Can a Toontown (or something with Mickey and the gang) work back there? If so, how? And if not, what else could be done with the area?

 

[Miru]

I suggest an area more aquatic themed, akin to DisneySea. Of course, maybe Toontown stuff could work there... like Epic Mickey and KH! Call it CyberSea, with Epic Mickey and KH being E-Tickets, with maybe a few others like Spectrobes, Maui Mallard, etc, providing other rides.

 

[mharrington]

I suggest an area more aquatic themed, akin to DisneySea. Of course, maybe Toontown stuff could work there... like Epic Mickey and KH! Call it CyberSea, with Epic Mickey and KH being E-Tickets, with maybe a few others like Spectrobes, Maui Mallard, etc, providing other rides.

One thing I thought about was a land similar to Paradise... or rather, Pixar Pier, but themed to Mickey and the gang somehow instead. Again, however, the main challenge there is that Storybook Circus fills that role somewhat, in terms of amusement theme. And it would be somewhat out of place (and out of scale) with the Haunted Mansion and the Riverboat nearby.

Speaking of KH and Epic Mickey, I also thought of doing this area as "Timeless River", based on the classic Mickey shorts of old. However, the level is monochrome, to reflect the old shorts, and it would be difficult to replicate the black-and-white atmosphere above, with the blue sky above clashing.

 

[TwilightZone]

since it's near frontierland, maybe the western river expedition and thunder mesa can be put here

 

[DisneyManOne]

Agreed. Western River Expedition.

 

[mharrington]

since it's near frontierland, maybe the western river expedition and thunder mesa can be put here

No, Western River isn't happening. There was a time when Big Thunder was going to be included, but while it did, it was ultimately as its own ride, not as part of the big Western River concept. Besides, the paths to the area are not so easily accessible from Frontierland. There are small bridges to and from Tom Sawyer Island, but the main pathway is from Liberty Square. So it needs to be different, not as part of Frontierland or Liberty Square, but totally different.

 

[TwilightZone]

No, Western River isn't happening. There was a time when Big Thunder was going to be included, but while it did, it was ultimately as its own ride, not as part of the big Western River concept. Besides, the paths to the area are not so easily accessible from Frontierland. There are small bridges to and from Tom Sawyer Island, but the main pathway is from Liberty Square. So it needs to be different, not as part of Frontierland or Liberty Square, but totally different.

imagineer thread, I know it's unrealistic, just fun to think.

 

[mharrington]

imagineer thread, I know it's unrealistic, just fun to think.

Well, that's just it, I'm trying so hard not to be unrealistic.

I had thought of the Timeless River, with a Steamboat Willie ride somehow, but I'm not sure how black-and-white cartoons fit, at least in the context of a whole land, if not a ride. I thought of a riverfront theme for the area, but it would also seem rather awkward to have a riverboat here that doesn't move anymore. Those footpaths across the river mean that the Liberty Belle Riverboat can and will no longer move across the river; it will now be permanently docked (maybe becoming a restaurant area). Maybe the Keelboats or something can return to this area to give the guests something to ride on the river.

 

[TwilightZone]

Well, that's just it, I'm trying so hard not to be unrealistic.

Oh yeah that makes sense. Well I guess if I were to think of something realistic for the space, maybe something themed to France with a beauty and the beast attraction and the rat ride.

 

[mharrington]

Oh yeah that makes sense. Well I guess if I were to think of something realistic for the space, maybe something themed to France with a beauty and the beast attraction and the rat ride.

There's already a France pavilion at Epcot. Rumors are persisting (and in fact, they may have been confirmed) that a copy of the Ratatouille ride is going in.

 

[TwilightZone]

There's already a France pavilion at Epcot. Rumors are persisting (and in fact, they may have been confirmed) that a copy of the Ratatouille ride is going in.

oh yeah that's right! Forgot this was disney world. Maybe something Americana then? Like 50s land or something like that.
edit: I got it! A semi port of DCA's grizzly peak with an upgraded grizzly river run and a new soarin type attraction.
that's realistic right?

 

[Twilight_Roxas]

Cars land?

 

[mharrington]

oh yeah that's right! Forgot this was disney world. Maybe something Americana then? Like 50s land or something like that.
edit: I got it! A semi port of DCA's grizzly peak with an upgraded grizzly river run and a new soarin type attraction.
that's realistic right?

Unfortunately, no, as there is already a river rapids ride in the Animal Kingdom and a Soarin' ride at Epcot.

Cars land?

I think it's too small for a Cars Land. And besides, the main headliner, Radiator Springs Racers, is the same kind of ride as Test Track.

 

[spacemt354]

Unfortunately, no, as there is already a river rapids ride in the Animal Kingdom and a Soarin' ride at Epcot.



I think it's too small for a Cars Land. And besides, the main headliner, Radiator Springs Racers, is the same kind of ride as Test Track.

To be fair Buzz Lightyear and the Haunted Mansion are both omnimovers and are in the same park. Small world and Pirates are both similar boat ride vehicles too

 

[mharrington]

To be fair Buzz Lightyear and the Haunted Mansion are both omnimovers and are in the same park. Small world and Pirates are both similar boat ride vehicles too

But I don't want to get too cannibalistic. And these attractions each have their own quirks: Buzz Lightyear has the ability to shoot targets and Pirates goes over a waterfall.

 

[spacemt354]

But I don't want to get too cannibalistic. And these attractions each have their own quirks: Buzz Lightyear has the ability to shoot targets and Pirates goes over a waterfall.

And Radiator Springs Racers has nothing to do with Test Track. It's just a similar ride system. They are also in different parks.

Mine Train and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (both coasters and both based on mines) I could go on...

 

[TwilightZone]

But I don't want to get too cannibalistic. And these attractions each have their own quirks: Buzz Lightyear has the ability to shoot targets and Pirates goes over a waterfall.

Toy story mania also lets you shoot targets as well. Disney is very cannibalistic, no matter how many differences the attractions have, many are the same type.

 

[Twilight_Roxas]

Plus RSR has 2 vehicles racing each other.

 

[AceAstro]

What about bringing in the Indiana Jones Expedition? Sure it wouldn’t connect to the Jungle Cruise but it’d A) bring over the Indiana Jones Adventure attraction B) give WDW a looping coaster in the mine cart attraction C) have the railroad go through it.

Plus then Indiana Jones can stay out of Animal Kingdom that way.

 

[mharrington]

And Radiator Springs Racers has nothing to do with Test Track. It's just a similar ride system. They are also in different parks.

As you just pointed out, they both have the same systems. This is like a reason why the technology of the Dinosaur ride (originated from the Indiana Jones ride in Disneyland) has not been duplicated elsewhere in the same resort.

We shouldn't just repeat the same things in the same parks over and over, or they might become too competitive with each other. There once was a thread I did where I contemplated this very thing, and many people insisted that the parks are seen as complimenting, not competing with, each other: https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/do-the-parks-seem-to-be-competing.703108/#post-4465922.

Anyway, one of my ideas, as I said before, is something like Timeless River, like the area in KH2 revolving around old Mickey cartoons. Maybe have a Steamboat Willie ride. But even so, it would be difficult given the Goofy coaster and Mickey's Fun House ride over in Storybook Circus. Again, I don't want to spread things too thin.