MK Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[MisterPenguin]

Disney thinks the cars franchise is super successful and that's all that matters...

Disney knows how much Cars merch sells and how often Cars content is streamed.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Disney knows how much Cars merch sells and how often Cars content is streamed.

FTFM (fixed it for myself)

 

[rd805]

I too am looking forward to the addition of this attraction(s). I liked the beautify of the river - sure, but I like rides more (especially NEW ones which Disney doesn't create as often as they should).

 

[Disstevefan1]

Definitely not one, my entire family is happy for this change, many people who I've spoken to on the internet are as well. Lots of people think this was an underwhelming waste of space so oh well.

On my last visit I was staring at the ROA and just said 'Kachow!'. I wore a lightning mcqueen shirt to MK too just for the heck of it. I am super excited for this change.

I am happy for you and your family. In reality, Disney will do what it will do and we all just have to deal with it.

I am glad whenever they add attractions to the parks at WDW, I wish they did not destroy and replace to do it.

Walt sincerely thought WDW had the blessing of size. Walt is long dead. Today's Disney will choose to destroy and replace instead of expanding because it costs less to do that. Its too bad but it is what it is.

I am going to miss CoP.......

 

[mattpeto]

Here's what else is known about the show so far:

Building on Disney and Pixar’s beloved Cars franchise, Cars: Lightning Racers follows Lightning McQueen as he gears up for all-new adventures in Radiator Springs alongside his hilarious best friend Mater and new friends thrill-seeking drag car Pipes and mud-loving monster truck Miles. The all-star cast returning to their original roles includes Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen, Larry the Cable Guy as Mater, Tony Shalhoub as Luigi, Cheech Marin as Ramone, Bob Peterson as Chick Hicks and John Ratzenberger as Mack. Leah Lewis (Elemental) and Yuri Lowenthal (Marvel Rivals video game) join the cast as Pipes and Miles, respectively. Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary) will also voice a new character, Ms. Blinker.

Wonder if Disney Jr. series will leverage the same type of artistic style as the movies, or it will be even more in 2D cartoon form.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Guest Satisfaction surveys rank Country Bear Musical Jamboree as the #6 overall attraction in Magic Kingdom. The original Country Bear Jamboree was ranked #27.

That’s very different to touring plans - they place it at #38 by reviews and at #19 on their ratings.

#6 seems downright unbelievable.

 

[Chi84]

You realize there’s a robust search feature on this site, right?

It’s a well-moderated site. Most of the insults and name-calling get deleted.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

That’s very different to touring plans - they place it at #38 by reviews and at #19 on their ratings.

#6 seems downright unbelievable.

It does feel rather high - and no details on how they solicited it and/or over what timeframe, etc

Though if we assume they are at least being consistent in their methodology it does show an uptick to them

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I’d hope everyone who is a theme park fan acknowledges that we are losing a major piece of Walt Disney World history here. Even if you think the loss is worth the trade, acknowledge the loss is real.

 

[easyrowrdw]

But I was told the cars franchise was dead and not selling merchandise anymore /s

Disney made a National Treasure TV show recently and it was canceled after one season. Now, I think Cars is definitely more popular than that. But also, sometimes Disney just wants what they want, you know

 

[jah4955]

Having just viewed Brickey's video released today, I better understand why TSI closed (of course I'm still not happy about it). To summarize, a (the?) major reason why Disneyland's Tomorrowland remains in its sorry state of its 1998 reskin of the 1967 rebuild is because of the 1967 infrastructure tunnels that exist underneath Tomorrowland--and only Tomorrowland. After watching, I realized every single major expansion of Florida's Magic Kingdom has been beyond the perimeter of the Utilidors: most recently TRON, but before that New Fantasyland over the former footprints of 20,000 Leagues and Mickey's Toontown Fair--neither of which were built over the Utilidors. As much earthmoving as they will need for the TSI replacements, it's no comparison to a revamping of a Utilidor. I'm good friends with an engineer who participated in a major maintenance project of the Utilidors several years ago, and his discussion of its details made me realize any significant revamp of the Utilidors would be prohibitively difficult at best. Hence the recent loss of one of the least-trafficked ground-level attractions at Magic Kingdom. That being said, even if not for decades, I'd argue that next major attraction on the chopping block would be the Speedway. Once Cars opens, it will decrease the Speedway's appeal even further than it's already experienced, it has the biggest attraction footprint, Tomorrowland could still use some extra love, but, most-importantly, it's not over any Utilidors. I realize many of you may have realized this already. At least now I do too. Maybe it's also why the EPCOT hub redo is largely a disappointment--they kept those tunnels intact from everything I've read and seen.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

major reason why Disneyland's Tomorrowland remains in its sorry state of its 1998 reskin of the 1967 rebuild is because of the 1967 infrastructure tunnels that exist underneath Tomorrowland--and only Tomorrowland.

They can’t do any work above ground because of tunnels?

 

[lazyboy97o]

Having just viewed Brickey's video released today, I better understand why TSI closed (of course I'm still not happy about it). To summarize, a (the?) major reason why Disneyland's Tomorrowland remains in its sorry state of its 1998 reskin of the 1967 rebuild is because of the 1967 infrastructure tunnels that exist underneath Tomorrowland--and only Tomorrowland. After watching, I realized every single major expansion of Florida's Magic Kingdom has been beyond the perimeter of the Utilidors: most recently TRON, but before that New Fantasyland over the former footprints of 20,000 Leagues and Mickey's Toontown Fair--neither of which were built over the Utilidors. As much earthmoving as they will need for the TSI replacements, it's no comparison to a revamping of a Utilidor. I'm good friends with an engineer who participated in a major maintenance project of the Utilidors several years ago, and his discussion of its details made me realize any significant revamp of the Utilidors would be prohibitively difficult at best. Hence the recent loss of one of the least-trafficked ground-level attractions at Magic Kingdom. That being said, even if not for decades, I'd argue that next major attraction on the chopping block would be the Speedway. Once Cars opens, it will decrease the Speedway's appeal even further than it's already experienced, it has the biggest attraction footprint, Tomorrowland could still use some extra love, but, most-importantly, it's not over any Utilidors. I realize many of you may have realized this already. At least now I do too. Maybe it's also why the EPCOT hub redo is largely a disappointment--they kept those tunnels intact from everything I've read and seen.

The big blocks the utilidors serve are in the middle of the park. Those spaces aren’t really big enough for contemporary attractions and you’d be taking out things like food service in the process.

Journey was Water is right over the remaining basement.

 

[HMF]

View attachment 875937
FTFM (fixed it for myself)

The sad thing is and I kind of knew this would happen is the reason Bob thinks Cars Land in California is such a success is specifically because it is based on the Cars franchise. He does not understand the reason it is popular is it a detailed and immersive route 66 tribute which if you hypothetically did not have the characters there would still work.

 

[FettFan]

Wonder if Disney Jr. series will leverage the same type of artistic style as the movies, or it will be even more in 2D cartoon form.

Or will they fall into the infamously cheap DisneyToon levels of quality that make it look like a Portuguese knockoff?

 

[jah4955]

They can’t do any work above ground because of tunnels?

Brickey explained why it's hard to do major work...major revamps.

 

[jah4955]

The big blocks the utilidors serve are in the middle of the park. Those spaces aren’t really big enough for contemporary attractions and you’d be taking out things like food service in the process.

Journey was Water is right over the remaining basement.

Agreed. Although I haven't been to EPCOT since its hub revamp, it doesn't seem Journey of Water would be considered a major attraction by any stretch. It's interesting neither DHS nor AK have "tunnels." Guess by the mid-80's they concluded it was more trouble than it's worth?

 

[lazyboy97o]

Agreed. Although I haven't been to EPCOT since its hub revamp, it doesn't seem Journey of Water would be considered a major attraction by any stretch. It's interesting neither DHS nor AK have "tunnels." Guess by the mid-80's they concluded it was more trouble than it's worth?

It’s an interactive water play area on top of a basement. It’s more water in an area where water is already a big concern. It’s not major, but it’s a very different use. They also built a new building on top of the existing basement. It’s not great, but that was more a function of lack of time and a clear idea of what they were doing. Go look at anything you’d consider major and you’ll see that it’s a lot bigger than most facilities on a tunnel system.

Even EPCOT Center only has tunnels right there to CommuniCore. It’s a lot cheaper to just orient buildings largely around the perimeter of a park than to provide underground access. Even when not in a park with tunnels it is still easier and cheaper to work along the perimeter because you don’t have to conceal things like back of house service areas.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Agreed. Although I haven't been to EPCOT since its hub revamp, it doesn't seem Journey of Water would be considered a major attraction by any stretch. It's interesting neither DHS nor AK have "tunnels." Guess by the mid-80's they concluded it was more trouble than it's worth?

Probably - also, looking at them individually, DHS they were trying to get done as quick as possible to beat Universal, and I assume doing tunnels would make it take longer.

AK is so big that, maybe be some benefits in the central area but not to the far areas, and there were cost challenges and areas getting cut anyway. Plus I think on the initial reasons for the utilitdoors was to avoid someone in a Tomorrowland costume walking through Main St or Fantasyland, probably less of a concern in AK were (until Pandora) everything was loosely "Safari ranger" themed anyway / more similar. So just less of a need

 

[Incomudro]

The sad thing is and I kind of knew this would happen is the reason Bob thinks Cars Land in California is such a success is specifically because it is based on the Cars franchise. He does not understand the reason it is popular is it a detailed and immersive route 66 tribute which if you hypothetically did not have the characters there would still work.

And it's based on the actual movie.
When most people go to an attraction based on a film, they want to see some of what was in the film.