MK Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[Disstevefan1]

Cars land is being built to sell LLs period.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Or maybe, themed entertainment should be seen as its own thing and not just as a series of references to other media.

Could be - but that is less of a sure thing to bring in guests vs known commodities and you can only get Disney IP at Disney Parks so I get the thinking

Again, this change isn't what I would do but also understand my view and that of places like this forum represent a small percentage of Disney guests

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I’m a 50 year old woman. Exactly how many westerns do you think I’ve watched? Shockingly, unlike today’s younger crowd, some of us can enjoy things without them having to be explicitly tied to some other thing.

But they were part of the culture in a way that it isn't anymore. Just because I don't watch something or listen to something doesn't mean it isn't a big thing cultural that has implications beyond me

 

[lazyboy97o]

Could be - but that is less of a sure thing to bring in guests vs known commodities and you can only get Disney IP at Disney Parks so I get the thinking

Again, this change isn't what I would do but also understand my view and that of places like this forum represent a small percentage of Disney guests

But we’re now at the point where things done by the Disneys are somehow “not Disney”. Even when it’s the thing that is quintessentially identified as being Disney. The Magic Kingdom is not very “Disney” by these standards but remains the most visited park in the world. The problem isn’t real.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I beg you please don't start another podcast. If there is one thing this world does not need, its more damn podcasts.

Did a podcast hurt you? Lol.

They already did the comparable thing in DLP.

No they didn’t. They still have the shooting arcade, riverboat, etc.

 

[JohnD]

No they didn’t. They still have the shooting arcade, riverboat, etc.

"Peco Bill's could be rethemed to Tiana in a heartbeat. They already did the comparable thing in DLP."

Context, Trains. Context.

 

[Agent H]

Honestly I kinda would but I think it's also a case of a few other things.

1. The Internet in general & its attitude towards theme parks/imagineering shifting. Think about it like this, as an Imagineer do you want to be known for something like "Barnstormer", "Astro Orbiter", "Mad Tea Party"? Probably not usually, these rides imo are essential for helping maintain capacity with an overall pretty minimal footprint. And even then, there are calls from people to REMOVE them (especially shocking with Astro Orbiter) and replace them with... nothing?? With the war between the parks, every ride is compared against each other, no matter the scope. Tron wasn't as good as Hagrids? Not worth the time, didn't live up to the hype. People want to be known for making the "incredible Encanto dark ride" or the "Rise of the Resistance". You want to be known for the amazing stuff if you only have the chance to work on a select few projects especially with the budgetting so... you only start pitching the big showstoppers in the first place while each park really needs capacity. One thing I will say is that I'm glad the Cars area is getting what appears to be a B or C ticket ride as well as its main E-ticket ride. And Tropical Americas is also getting that C/D ticket. Maybe Disney will realize the importance of the smaller rides and I hope Villians Land gets 1-2 smaller ticket rides as technically D'maro said 2 MAJOR attractions.

Who says Astro orbiter is a waste of space?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

"Peco Bill's could be rethemed to Tiana in a heartbeat. They already did the comparable thing in DLP."

Context, Trains. Context.

? There isn’t a Tianas restaurant either? Are you talking about the coco QS?

 

[Disstevefan1]

Who says Astro orbiter is a waste of space?

Don't worry, the Astro orbiter will be destroyed and replaced some day.

 

[Agent H]

Don't worry, the Astro orbiter will be destroyed and replaced some day.

No it won’t

 

[danlb_2000]

I beg you please don't start another podcast. If there is one thing this world does not need, its more damn podcasts.

You do know that you don't need to listen to all of them, right?

 

[Disstevefan1]

No it won’t

This post wont age well

 

[mickEblu]

I’m a 50 year old woman. Exactly how many westerns do you think I’ve watched? Shockingly, unlike today’s younger crowd, some of us can enjoy things without them having to be explicitly tied to some other thing.

Haha I’m 42 and agree. Great design and place making resonates with people. It’s as simple as that. If anything, the nostalgia comes from visiting the parks and attractions themselves throughout the years. I’ve lived in Los Angeles my whole life. Far and away removed from anything that looks like Main Street USA. But there’s something about its warmth, scale and design that appeals to as human beings. But when I do encounter a small charming street or town in real life I can’t help but think that my experiences at Disneyland is a big part of why they resonate with me so much. With some of the IP rides yes the nostalgia is more explicitly tied to the IP/ music like Indy / Star Tours but eventually after enough time just as much, if not more of the nostalgia comes from riding the attractions themselves and not the source material.

Similarly, I find it funny when someone will suggest that older movies like Pinocchio or Snow White are irrelevant don’t resonate with today’s kids. Granted the world has changed a lot since the 80s and there is more content than ever before but Snow White was 45 years old when I was born.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

But we’re now at the point where things done by the Disneys are somehow “not Disney”. Even when it’s the thing that is quintessentially identified as being Disney. The Magic Kingdom is not very “Disney” by these standards but remains the most visited park in the world. The problem isn’t real.

But things change over time - if Disneyland was built from scratch now the lands chosen would be very different.

The ones selected were relevant to the times and fit with properties (IP) Disney had and were popular (True Life Adventures, Davy Crockett, etc)

And 40 years from now other things will be relevant

Doesn't mean every change will be the correct one and always will depend on execution - personally I think at a minimum the margin for error on this one is very high but always willing to see the end product before deciding if my visits will be better or worse

 

[Agent H]

Or maybe, themed entertainment should be seen as its own thing and not just as a series of references to other media.

Like it or not this has been the case since day one when Disneyland was promoted on live tv with Davy Crockett and Disneys animated movies this is buy and large what people want attractions like pirates or the haunted mansion are the exception not the rule

 

[danlb_2000]

No it won’t

Those words should never be used when it comes to changes at WDW, everything is on the table.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Like it or not, Disney got the approvals for this work, so in about 4 to 7 years and after a few cost cuts, Cars land will be ready for previews.

 

[Agent H]

Those words should never be used when it comes to changes at WDW, everything is on the table.

What could they even replace it with? Maybe we get a retheme with Disney characters that’s the “worst case scenario”

 

[Incomudro]

I don’t think the concept at its core is all that bad. Sure, it sucks to lose ROA, but a grizzly peak-esque Pacific Northwest vibes area is, to me, the perfect replacement to ROA and could be great. Heck, the rally race idea sounds like it could be fun too! think people are just hung up that it’s CARS. While I’m not as staunchly opposed to it as some, it is kinda iffy to stick cars in MK, but I think it could still be fun. Just the IP has people hung up. I have an idea for an IP that could get people somewhat behind this attraction concept. Remember that old “country bear 500” attraction that was pitched for DL? Now use that theme, but put it in the current cars ride concept, racing around grizzly peak. Hear me out….

It being Cars is not a hang up for me in the slightest.
Matter of fact, I would have welcomed the real Cars behind Big Thunder, or at Hollywood Studios.
The destruction of Rivers of America is the most disgusting, clueless, and unforgivable thing that Disney could do in my opinion this side of taking down the castle.

 

[lazyboy97o]

But things change over time - if Disneyland was built from scratch now the lands chosen would be very different.

The ones selected were relevant to the times and fit with properties (IP) Disney had and were popular (True Life Adventures, Davy Crockett, etc)

And 40 years from now other things will be relevant

Doesn't mean every change will be the correct one and always will depend on execution - personally I think at a minimum the margin for error on this one is very high but always willing to see the end product before deciding if my visits will be better or worse

And yet these more relevant parks don’t match the success of Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom. We’re even getting a brand new park this year and outside delusional fanboy dreams there is no expectation that it’ll have close to that level of visitation, much less cultural cache.