News Coco Boat Ride Coming to Disney California Adventure

[Disney Irish]

There was official concept art drawn up. I do know that.

Given the concept art we've seen over the last decade I don't think that means much.

 

[SuddenStorm]

- Draw for children. Frozen is meant to attract families and the Matterhorn's imposing nature and seating formation isn't optimum for kids.

This didn't seem to stop them with TBA...

 

[denyuntilcaught]

Given the concept art we've seen over the last decade I don't think that means much.

It definitely means that it was considered, which sounds absolutely mind-blowing to me regardless! Says a lot about the hierarchy of decision making logic at WDI - meaning narrative flow, history, and legacy each fall way below ease of adaptability and cost.

Which we knew, but still...wow

 

[Disney Irish]

It definitely means that it was considered, which sounds absolutely mind-blowing to me regardless! Says a lot about the hierarchy of decision making logic at WDI - meaning narrative flow, history, and l egacy each fall way below ease of adaptability and cost.

Which we knew, but still...wow

It honestly doesn’t mean much to me. As I’m sure the rank and file within WDI have either been asked or have created ideas on their own for all sorts of overlays using all sorts of IPs for every existing attraction. It doesn’t mean any of them are seriously considered beyond just the exercise to create them. As we know that Disney regularly has WDI create concepts just for the process, ie busy work to keep them doing something.

And as this is the first it’s even being talked about we can confidently say it never got beyond the concept phase, ie it probably was never a real consideration.

 

[DLR92]

Disney had considered Muppets taking over Disneyland. With calling the park Muppetland for one year. With muppets taking over Matterhorn, It’s a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean. I’m glad that never happened. LOL

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Matterhorn was too problematic for a few reasons.

- Age and grandfathering in of features. It was a concern that they couldn't invest the money they would want into a Frozen attraction within the current layout and changing the layout opened a can of worms.

- Roughness. Matterhorn is a rough ride and there are no great plans right now to fix this issue. Disney didn't want to waste a major IP on a ride that many folks don't want to go on.

- Draw for children. Frozen is meant to attract families and the Matterhorn's imposing nature and seating formation isn't optimum for kids.

That's when they looked at Frontierland and saw that it was beloved, but a can of worms in regard to telling new stories in that space. Westerns were dead, Home on the Range was a flop, their Oz the Great and Powerful-based offshoot in Big Thunder Ranch was shelved, and stories about civilizing the frontier and native populations were sticky. The reason for Frontierland sticking around so long has been Big Thunder.

Which is why they considered keeping Big Thunder but changing it to an IP-based attraction that could anchor a new land. The Big Thunder Sleigh Ride was born and caught a lot of traction when the top saw how easy it would be to retheme the simple one-street layout of Frontierland.

Ohhh brother. So then why the heck would they not even consider making a Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Disney + series?? They saw how big an IP Pirates of the Caribbean became after they saw how good that ride was and made that a movie, so like, what the heck? And surely that would set a standard for a modern day classic Disney western if they did so. Make it traditionally animated. And imagine if like, to further provide like a big, big backstory lore for it, you then make a Western River Expedition movie, that utilizes a lot of the fun concepts and such from what Marc Davis designed, and then.. that provides fuel for an eventual plussing or expansion of the land/space to provide the Western River Expedition ride to go along with Big Thunder Mountain railroad. The darkride ‘and’ coaster as initially planned, Viola!

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Say goodbye to all the baggage from Home on the Range and those particular failures. We damn well know it didn’t fail because of the western theme. Make a point this time to hire known good animation & storytelling talent (maybe some good WDI talent to collab with), talent that is willing to work with said good talent and learn with & collaborate well with them. Good songwriters, etc. Make it the best you can make it. Don’t chince out on the quality, don’t needlessly meddle with a good thing just cause you want a finger in the pie just let the team you trusted and hired to do a good job, do a good job. Give them a good budget, don’t screw with its promotion and release. Let it be able to succeed, Let them make it the best they can make it. Can’t fail then.

 

[Disney Irish]

Ohhh brother. So then why the heck would they not even consider making a Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Disney + series?? They saw how big an IP Pirates of the Caribbean became after they saw how good that ride was and made that a movie, so like, what the heck? And surely that would set a standard for a modern day classic Disney western if they did so. Make it traditionally animated. And imagine if like, to further provide like a big, big backstory lore for it, you then make a Western River Expedition movie, that utilizes a lot of the fun concepts and such from what Marc Davis designed, and then.. that provides fuel for an eventual plussing or expansion of the land/space to provide the Western River Expedition ride to go along with Big Thunder Mountain railroad. The darkride ‘and’ coaster as initially planned, Viola!

First I suspect whatever this idea was about an overlay for BTMRR was years ago (maybe even predating D+), not recent. I even recall one for a Woody overlay at one point years ago.

Second there was a rumored movie that was in the works, it didn't end up moving forward, but it was even reported on by the trades -

‘Hawkeye’ Directors Bert & Bertie To Direct Big Thunder Mountain Movie For Disney, LuckyChap and Scott Free

Scott Free and LuckyChap producing

deadline.com

Disney is constantly thinking of ideas for both their attractions and studios, most of which (probably close to 98-99%) never see the light of day.

 

[Disney Irish]

BTW, none of this has to do with Coco, so not sure why we're now talking about BTMRR and an overlay that never came to be.

 

[Professortango1]

BTW, none of this has to do with Coco, so not sure why we're now talking about BTMRR and an overlay that never came to be.

Given these previous plans, it's fair to say that Disney could put additional CoCo rides just about anywhere in any of their parks.

 

[Disney Irish]

Given these previous plans, it's fair to say that Disney could put additional CoCo rides just about anywhere in any of their parks.

Past actions do not predict future endeavors. Yes Disney could put more Coco into any place in any one of the other Parks, that however doesn’t mean it’s related to any past action that didn’t come to pass such as your BTMRR Frozen overlay example.

 

[britain]

So Star Wars went to the Frontierland plot as its own land and Arendale/Frontierland was done.

Let us forever be grateful!

But why the heck hasn't the obvious thing happened? I'm referring, of course, to the Motorboat Cruise area being turned into a Frozen attraction.

 

[Adventureland Veranda]

I'm looking forward to Coco's Journey of Water replacing the sub lagoon in Tomorrowland!

Really though, it's exciting to see work getting started on the boat ride. Mexico has always been my favorite pavilion at Epcot and I hope this new ride/mini-land matches or exceeds that experience.

 

[DrStarlander]

Really though, it's exciting to see work getting started on the boat ride. Mexico has always been my favorite pavilion at Epcot and I hope this new ride/mini-land matches or exceeds that experience.

If a team of Imagineers sit down for the first meeting to design a Coco boat ride, by about ten minutes into the meeting I think they have to confront to most obvious question and opportunity: Are they going to have a Blue Bayou / San Angel Inn always-night restaurant?

As far as I'm concerned, the actual ride designs itself. It's boats, dimensional sets based on the movie, animatronic skeletons, projection mapping, and music. It could be executed amazing or meh, but the scope and content is not going to shock anyone.

Whether or not there's a perpetual night restaurant is the biggest swingy variable in this project, in my mind. Without it, it's a disapointment. It will always be criticized for missing an amazing and obvious opportunity. It will be pointed at as a lack of ambition, creativity, and investment. It will be a classic modern-Disney example of coming up short and not giving guests what they want.

If they include it, it won't be surprising (because it's so obvious) but it will give DCA something the park desperately needs: magic. The park, overall, has a very sober, awake, literal, straightforwardness (not helped by a huge chunk of the "theme park" being an "amusement park.") The park fails to provide ethereal, dream-like spaces and moments that take you out of reality and into a world of make-believe and the uncertain. Yes, the boat ride will do that, but an always-night restaurant provides a chance to immerse into that feeling in a deep and relaxing and extended way that goes beyond a 4 minute ride.

 

[Disney Irish]

If a team of Imagineers sit down for the first meeting to design a Coco boat ride, by about ten minutes into the meeting I think they have to confront to most obvious question and opportunity: Are they going to have a Blue Bayou / San Angel Inn always-night restaurant?

As far as I'm concerned, the actual ride designs itself. It's boats, dimensional sets based on the movie, animatronic skeletons, projection mapping, and music. It could be executed amazing or meh, but the scope and content is not going to shock anyone.

Whether or not there's a perpetual night restaurant is the biggest swingy variable in this project, in my mind. Without it, it's a disapointment. It will always be criticized for missing an amazing and obvious opportunity. It will be pointed at as a lack of ambition, creativity, and investment. It will be a classic modern-Disney example of coming up short and not giving guests what they want.

If they include it, it won't be surprising (because it's so obvious) but it will give DCA something the park desperately needs: magic. The park, overall, has a very sober, awake, literal, straightforwardness (not helped by a huge chunk of the "theme park" being an "amusement park.") The park fails to provide ethereal, dream-like spaces and moments that take you out of reality and into a world of make-believe and the uncertain. Yes, the boat ride will do that, but an always-night restaurant provides a chance to immerse into that feeling in a deep and relaxing and extended way that goes beyond a 4 minute ride.

I can’t tell if you’re joking or not, but my guess is that is not happening. Had that been part of the plans because it’s so iconic it would have been announced already.

 

[mickEblu]

If a team of Imagineers sit down for the first meeting to design a Coco boat ride, by about ten minutes into the meeting I think they have to confront to most obvious question and opportunity: Are they going to have a Blue Bayou / San Angel Inn always-night restaurant?

As far as I'm concerned, the actual ride designs itself. It's boats, dimensional sets based on the movie, animatronic skeletons, projection mapping, and music. It could be executed amazing or meh, but the scope and content is not going to shock anyone.

Whether or not there's a perpetual night restaurant is the biggest swingy variable in this project, in my mind. Without it, it's a disapointment. It will always be criticized for missing an amazing and obvious opportunity. It will be pointed at as a lack of ambition, creativity, and investment. It will be a classic modern-Disney example of coming up short and not giving guests what they want.

If they include it, it won't be surprising (because it's so obvious) but it will give DCA something the park desperately needs: magic. The park, overall, has a very sober, awake, literal, straightforwardness (not helped by a huge chunk of the "theme park" being an "amusement park.") The park fails to provide ethereal, dream-like spaces and moments that take you out of reality and into a world of make-believe and the uncertain. Yes, the boat ride will do that, but an always-night restaurant provides a chance to immerse into that feeling in a deep and relaxing and extended way that goes beyond a 4 minute ride.

This is a really interesting take. Agree with the sentiment towards DCA and what it’s lacking. Personally this is the first time I’ve even thought about our Coco ride getting a Blue Bauou type of restaurant. I’m assuming you’re saying that because this ride was originally conceived for the boat ride at Mexico/ Epcot. While that would be amazing, I’m not expecting it but would take the sentiment you just expressed in that post and apply it towards the ride having drops (or at least a drop) and just them not being afraid to go a little darker with this one.

In other words more POTC, Mansion, old school fantasyland dark rides etc. Less Little Mermaid, Frozen, Tangled. I think its tone is what will seperate it from fine to great. Something with some gravitas. Some substance. I’m fine with it at its core being a musical romp but let there be some eerieness, some mystery and some build up with a proper climax. Instead of just loading and immediately go into sing along mode how about we take a little nighttime boat ride through Mexico, go through a cemetery lit with all the dia de Los muertos candles, enter a crypt and take a little drop into the Land of the Dead to find ourselves in a cenote (or some back alley where Miguel’s drunk friend on the hammock lived) where from there the plot starts to become clearer, the characters show up and the familiar songs begin to play. I Imagine all of that build up with something like the Ernesto De la Cruz meet n greet soundtrack (stylized slow spooky version of Remember Me) from Oogie Boogie playing would be killer. But great now my expectations are even higher with the restaurant. Thanks. lol.

 

[Disney Irish]

This is a really interesting take. Agree with the sentiment towards DCA and what it’s lacking. Personally this is the first time I’ve even thought about our Coco ride getting a Blue Bauou type of restaurant. I’m assuming you’re saying that because this ride was originally conceived for the boat ride at Mexico/ Epcot. While that would be amazing, I’m not expecting it but would take the sentiment you just expressed in that post and apply it towards the ride having drops (or at least a drop) and just them not being afraid to go a little darker with this one.

In other words more POTC, Mansion, old school fantasyland dark rides etc. Less Little Mermaid, Frozen, Tangled. I think its tone is what will separate it from fine to great. Something with some gravitas. Some substance. I’m fine with it at its core being a musical romp but let there be some eerieness, some mystery and some build up with a proper climax. Instead of just loading and immediately go into sing along mode how about we take a little nighttime boat ride through Mexico, go through a cemetery lit with all the dia de Los muertos candles, enter a crypt and take a little drop into the Land of the Dead to find ourselves in a cenote (or some back alley where Miguel’s drunk friend on the hammock lived) where from there the plot starts to become clearer, the characters show up and the familiar songs begin to play. I Imagine all of that build up with something like the Ernesto De la Cruz meet n greet soundtrack (stylized slow spooky version of Remember Me) from Oogie Boogie playing would be killer. But great now my expectations are even higher with the restaurant. Thanks. lol.

I would say you're more likely to get your drop than there is to get this restaurant.

 

[mickEblu]

I would say you're more likely to get your drop than there is to get this restaurant.

I’d agree. That’s a pretty safe bet IMO. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t have a drop either.

 

[Disney Irish]

I’d agree. That’s a pretty safe bet IMO. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t have a drop either.

Yes we had that discussion previously on why a drop may not happen.

 

[mlayton144]

If a team of Imagineers sit down for the first meeting to design a Coco boat ride, by about ten minutes into the meeting I think they have to confront to most obvious question and opportunity: Are they going to have a Blue Bayou / San Angel Inn always-night restaurant?

As far as I'm concerned, the actual ride designs itself. It's boats, dimensional sets based on the movie, animatronic skeletons, projection mapping, and music. It could be executed amazing or meh, but the scope and content is not going to shock anyone.

Whether or not there's a perpetual night restaurant is the biggest swingy variable in this project, in my mind. Without it, it's a disapointment. It will always be criticized for missing an amazing and obvious opportunity. It will be pointed at as a lack of ambition, creativity, and investment. It will be a classic modern-Disney example of coming up short and not giving guests what they want.

If they include it, it won't be surprising (because it's so obvious) but it will give DCA something the park desperately needs: magic. The park, overall, has a very sober, awake, literal, straightforwardness (not helped by a huge chunk of the "theme park" being an "amusement park.") The park fails to provide ethereal, dream-like spaces and moments that take you out of reality and into a world of make-believe and the uncertain. Yes, the boat ride will do that, but an always-night restaurant provides a chance to immerse into that feeling in a deep and relaxing and extended way that goes beyond a 4 minute ride.

I’m not going to give a prediction as there are others more in tune with what’s going on in that area , but kudos to you on that description of DCA and what it needs - you have a gift for words