MK Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[TrainsOfDisney]

On the cars ride specifically - if this is a recreation of a modern “ATV adventure” I question how it belongs in MK at all?

Speedway is in the same boat of course.

 

[wdwmagic]

Since it appears that nearly all of the "new" Monster's land, save for the ride itself will be nothing but a reskinning of what's already there.

The land itself is no expansion at all.

I guess it'll look like something new to most people since they're tearing down something in the middle of it, though.

Yes Monsters, Tropical Americas, and Cars are designed to provide new attractions that can be revenue making with Lightning Lane and merchandise in place of attractions that are not, and done in the most cost effective way. You can see the same principals in all three projects. ie. remove under-performing attractions (in terms of LL revenues and merchandise), and where possible, reuse existing infrastructure. Monsters and Tropical Americas being the best two examples of the latter.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

Well, that's the question. Is it the "whole ROA"? When I look at the design schematics, clearly the lower half is filled in. It's unclear about the upper half. Still doesn't negate that argument that this isn't an "expansion" at all but a replacement. See @wdwmagic image below.

View attachment 847821

I never actually noticed before that the Fort Langhorn half is still there. Are they gonna keep the riverboat as a small loop back there?

To that point, why not put Cars in the Fort Langhorn half? It's more room (iirc) and Fort Langhorn is infinitely less interesting than Tom Sawyer. The only thing interesting about it is the old animatronics. Putting Cars back there would preserve the vibe of the entrance to Frontierland/Liberty Square, keep the waterfront view of the Mansion, keep Cars out of view from the "real world" part of the land, and keep the temps down in the busiest part of the land(s).

 

[JohnD]

Semantics…

A very important one at that. The only exception would be an "expansion plot" built in for future growth such as several around WS in Epcot. Or some built into Epic as well. Would you call Tropical Americas an "expansion"? No.

 

[Agent H]

A very important one at that. The only exception would be an "expansion plot" built in for future growth such as several around WS in Epcot. Or some built into Epic as well. Would you call Tropical Americas an "expansion"?

Technically it is. The encanto ride will expand out into backstage areas.

 

[JohnD]

Technically it is. The encanto ride will expand out into backstage areas.

Fair enough. I made the same point about Monsters. Most is a replacement except the ride which expands into the parking lot. Same here.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

You do know that's literally happened again recently with this set of Imagineers. Chapek wanted Tarzan's Treehouse gone and Kim Irvine managed to get it to stay in the form of Adventureland Treehouse. The current Imagineers know what battles to pick. Removing MK's underutilized RoA for a 4 ride expansion and easy access to another expansion for when it's needed is not a battle their going to win

Maybe the battle was keeping the bears (and maybe even the Tiki room given that Moana concept art), and the rivers were the sacrifice. Or there's another battle we don't know about and the rivers were a pre-emptive sacrifice.

Though outside of the Country Bears (which are safe now) and the Tiki Room, I can't think of any other classic attractions that aren't safe. Maybe Hall of Presidents, but the current situation in DC has essentially guaranteed that the HoP will be safe because Disney doesn't want to be a bigger target than it already is. Jungle Cruise just got a big refurb and it's popular enough. Pirates and Mansion are the big two so they're safe. Really at this point, Tiki Room is the only one that's "in danger", and even then, with the Moana replacement cancelled, I can't see anything going in its place except maybe a CBMJ-style new setlist with songs from Lilo & Stitch and Moana?

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

It will be interesting to see if/when the Frontierland signs come back what they say.

If there IS a name change, it'll probably be "Wildernessland" or "Natureland", but I think "Frontierland" still works if the "frontier" refers to the land of the American west and not the vibe.

 

[Agent H]

Maybe the battle was keeping the bears (and maybe even the Tiki room given that Moana concept art), and the rivers were the sacrifice. Or there's another battle we don't know about and the rivers were a pre-emptive sacrifice.

Though outside of the Country Bears (which are safe now) and the Tiki Room, I can't think of any other classic attractions that aren't safe. Maybe Hall of Presidents, but the current situation in DC has essentially guaranteed that the HoP will be safe because Disney doesn't want to be a bigger target than it already is. Jungle Cruise just got a big refurb and it's popular enough. Pirates and Mansion are the big two so they're safe. Really at this point, Tiki Room is the only one that's "in danger", and even then, with the Moana replacement cancelled, I can't see anything going in its place except maybe a CBMJ-style new setlist with songs from Lilo & Stitch and Moana?

I hope tiki room stays. I didn’t like the original country bear jamboree but the tiki room is a delight.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I’m a casual theme park fan. For me, an expansion is a new ride. Lots of arguments about these expansions being zero net gains. To me that’s silly, but I think you are having a technical discussion.

To you, is expansion, the removal and replacement of old ride you enjoyed with a new ride in the same spot?

Do you still consider it an expansion if you liked the old ride better than its new replacement?

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

I hope tiki room stays. I didn’t like the original country bear jamboree but the tiki room is a delight.

I hope so too. I like the Tiki Room. I loved the original CBJ, but I'm happy with the CBMJ. I can't see any sort of CBMJ-style show for the Tiki Room that isn't awful, because you only have like two Polynesian-esque movies to pick from, plus Polynesian music is from a specific culture, meanwhile country/western is a genre, so it would be hard to Disney-fy it without coming off as disrespectful. I think WDW's Tiki Room might have unintentionally gotten the same protected status as Disneyland's.

 

[flynnibus]

I am actually shocked there isn't more tears here about no trackless. The way so many had convinced themselves it would be... counter to all rational thought. The pivot to 'the ride will be canceled' as a coping mechanism wasn't what I expected the jump to be.

The need for input makes me wonder if instead of RSR, we get a more lightweight, hybrid version of EMV+Test Track.. where the ride vehicle augments the movement vs just driving over the rough terrain. They vehicles won't be able to drive over such offroad features like that with traditional ATV kinda suspension like they experienced in their field testing. They will have to mimic it with actuators like the EMVs do.

For those crying "I don't need another XYZ..." - I think Disney is smart enough here they can't just rebrand RSR. And the kind of stuff they are highlighting in their video would be pointless for a RSR/TestTrack equivalent too. They clearly want to add a different dynamic to the experience. If they can do the EMV thing, but in the smaller form factor it could be interesting.

 

[Orange is the new Red]

To you, is expansion, the removal and replacement of old ride you enjoyed with a new ride in the same spot?

Do you still consider it an expansion if you liked the old ride better than its new replacement?

you are a broken record… we get it….zzzz

 

[Streetway Again]

Or there's another battle we don't know about and the rivers were a pre-emptive sacrifice.

The railroad?

 

[Disstevefan1]

If there IS a name change, it'll probably be "Wildernessland" or "Natureland", but I think "Frontierland" still works if the "frontier" refers to the land of the American west and not the vibe.

Lets see what happens. Nothing would surprise me at this point.

 

[JohnD]

I’m a casual theme park fan. For me, an expansion is a new ride. Lots of arguments about these expansions being zero net gains. To me that’s silly, but I think you are having a technical discussion.

I think its a very important distinction though. Replacing rides or areas with something else is certainly not an "expansion." Tron was an "expansion", a new ride beyond the RR berm. An "expansion" should be something new beyond existing boundaries of a park or in a built it expansion plot for future growth.

I'm engaging with you on this point--politely I hope--because Cars Land, unless moved beyond the RR, is not an "expansion" at all. It is a very important point to make.

 

[Disstevefan1]

you are a broken record… we get it….zzzz

They were sincere questions. I was hoping for answers.... Nope.

 

[Agent H]

I hope so too. I like the Tiki Room. I loved the original CBJ, but I'm happy with the CBMJ. I can't see any sort of CBMJ-style show for the Tiki Room that isn't awful, because you only have like two Polynesian-esque movies to pick from, plus Polynesian music is from a specific culture, meanwhile country/western is a genre, so it would be hard to Disney-fy it without coming off as disrespectful. I think WDW's Tiki Room might have unintentionally gotten the same protected status as Disneyland's.

I think another reason the country bears are different from the tiki room is that in that show it’s more about the characters and the humor. I don’t think anyone goes in there because it’s great music. As opposed to the tiki room where the characters are (imo) less of a focus. In the tiki room the focus is more on the music. I hope this makes sense.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

It will be interesting to see if/when the Frontierland signs come back what they say.

I'd be surprised if it isn't called "Frontierland" but I do think the scope, particularly the timeline of it, will be changing. Be a more broader view of what the American Frontier is and won't be set in a specific time period

And the changes already fit into that - while Country Bears still sing in a Country Western style, it include songs from across time periods, Tiana's is a bit newer than Big Thunder and then Cars Land will be a bit newer than that

 

[MrPromey]

Maybe the battle was keeping the bears (and maybe even the Tiki room given that Moana concept art), and the rivers were the sacrifice. Or there's another battle we don't know about and the rivers were a pre-emptive sacrifice.

Though outside of the Country Bears (which are safe now) and the Tiki Room, I can't think of any other classic attractions that aren't safe. Maybe Hall of Presidents, but the current situation in DC has essentially guaranteed that the HoP will be safe because Disney doesn't want to be a bigger target than it already is. Jungle Cruise just got a big refurb and it's popular enough. Pirates and Mansion are the big two so they're safe. Really at this point, Tiki Room is the only one that's "in danger", and even then, with the Moana replacement cancelled, I can't see anything going in its place except maybe a CBMJ-style new setlist with songs from Lilo & Stitch and Moana?

I think Tiki benefits from being a relatively small attraction occupying a relatively small space.

The only two things I could really see them replacing it with are retail or backstage space.

Even if they were to shoehorn a small Moana attraction in there, the IP popularity would create serious capacity issues.

Seems similar to the problems with Stitch. Disney doesn't seem interested in building freestanding non-e-ticket attractions anymore since they can't charge people to experience those so what do they do with space in the middle of the park with a fixed footprint?

I suppose they could shutter the whole thing and turn it into a Moana character meet-and-greet but I think that's about the extent of it.