News Magic Kingdom Permits Filed for Big Al's, Westward Ho, and Churro Cart Possible Demolition

[HMF]

Why people might argue for a different name is different from why Westernland as a name exists. It was considered easier for native Japanese speakers to say. That’s it. That’s why it wasn’t used for Disneyland Paris, whose Frontierland is exclusively focused on the Wild West along with a number of very western focused offerings outside the park. Even Hong Kong Disneyland was originally announced to have Frontierland. It was a decision rooted in one park with a specific audience that speaks a specific language. That it could hypothetically be used elsewhere for different reasons doesn’t change that.

I am still convinced there are "other" motivations at play here.

 

[DrStarlander]

Why people might argue for a different name is different from why Westernland as a name exists. It was considered easier for native Japanese speakers to say. That’s it. That’s why it wasn’t used for Disneyland Paris, whose Frontierland is exclusively focused on the Wild West along with a number of very western focused offerings outside the park. Even Hong Kong Disneyland was originally announced to have Frontierland. It was a decision rooted in one park with a specific audience that speaks a specific language. That it could hypothetically be used elsewhere for different reasons doesn’t change that.

Sure, I'm not talking about why they called the land Westernland in Tokyo in the 1980s. I'm talking about why some people could think Disney would make that change at Magic Kingdom in the 2020s. I'm not saying I know all the thinking behind the quotes below, but watching Disney the past few years makes me think the name of the land could change for the reason I described, because there is sensitivity, there is a nuance in meaning, and changes are underway anyway.

I still am betting that the Frontierland name will be gone within a few years.

Wouldn't be shocked if it becomes Westernland like some of the other parks.

 

[FigmentFan82]

I am still convinced there are "other" motivations at play here.

Try not running out of tinfoil

 

[mattpeto]

This is the exact time to kill off the land Frontierland and they chose not to. Intead they are double-downing and put Piston Peak (and Cars IP) within in.

 

[Disstevefan1]

The disassembly of Frontierland B E G I N S .....

 

[HauntedPirate]

“Disney Somewhat-Adventure-Themed Area”

 

[rreading]

Try not running out of tinfoil

Except that I’m not sure he’s wrong. Putting Tiana/New Orleans feels like a real shot across the bow

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

Not necessarily, It could just indicate that it is on the Western side of the park

I know that you think very lowly of Disney these days but come on now.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

Except that I’m not sure he’s wrong. Putting Tiana/New Orleans feels like a real shot across the bow

I can't really say I agree with you though when the attraction Tiana's replaced was also very much not set anywhere near the frontier (in fact, it's further away from it than New Orleans is), and yet it was never considered to be anything other than a Frontierland attraction.

 

[WorldExplorer]

“Disney Somewhat-Adventure-Themed Area”

Junk Drawer Land

 

[rreading]

I can't really say I agree with you though when the attraction Tiana's replaced was also very much not set anywhere near the frontier (in fact, it's further away from it than New Orleans is), and yet it was never considered to be anything other than a Frontierland attraction.

That’s assuming that you put the context of the movie in said location- which is why it was gutted

They changed the appearance of Splash to look more like the west. It could easily have been a Texas location by its characters and its appearance. The vibe of the space changed completely as the Bayou.

There were complaints over here that you can see Rapunzel’s tower from Frontierland.

Silly complainers. They are now completely speechless and now wonder if there’s any thematic integrity to save

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

That’s assuming that you put the context of the movie in said location- which is why it was gutted

They changed the appearance of Splash to look more like the west. It could easily have been a Texas location by its characters and its appearance. The vibe of the space changed completely as the Bayou.

There were complaints over here that you can see Rapunzel’s tower from Frontierland.

Silly complainers. They are now completely speechless and now wonder if there’s any thematic integrity to save

I don’t know man, if you have to divorce an attraction from it’s context and acknowledged setting to make it a thematic fit, then it isn’t a thematic fit. One can’t wave away the fact that both of them don’t really fit into Frontierland simply because one may like one ride better than the other. Either it’s a thematic fit or isn’t.

 

[eddie104]

I don’t know man, if you have to divorce an attraction from its context and acknowledged setting to make it a thematic fit, then it isn’t a thematic fit. One can’t wave away the fact that both of them don’t really fit into Frontierland simply because one may like one ride better than the other. Either it’s a thematic fit or isn’t.

I hate when people fail to admit they are completely biased for one attraction over the other.

 

[rreading]

I don’t know man, if you have to divorce an attraction from it’s context and acknowledged setting to make it a thematic fit, then it isn’t a thematic fit. One can’t wave away the fact that both of them don’t really fit into Frontierland simply because one may like one ride better than the other. Either it’s a thematic fit or isn’t.

How’s that dead horse? Eh - let’s take a few more swings at it

Separate from whether Splash fit or not, at least they tried to keep the theme. And decades after it was built, the boardwalk along Frontierland across from Tom Sawyer’s was still a lovely area that felt better than a theme park should. For anyone who would say Magic Kingdom is too busy, a visit over there could prove them wrong- especially at night

In retrospect it makes sense: for anyone who was bothered by a night club moving in next to BTMRR, the internal WDW response must have been “they haven’t seen anything yet”.

Hopefully once the dust settles then it’ll be a really nice, really different area. But whether it really even feels like Frontierland again is a real question

 

[rreading]

I hate when people fail to admit they are completely biased for one attraction over the other.

fwiw, I think that the Tiana ride at DL is great. And I rarely rode Splash

 

[lazyboy97o]

I don’t know man, if you have to divorce an attraction from it’s context and acknowledged setting to make it a thematic fit, then it isn’t a thematic fit. One can’t wave away the fact that both of them don’t really fit into Frontierland simply because one may like one ride better than the other. Either it’s a thematic fit or isn’t.

Theme and setting are not the same.

 

[HMF]

fwiw, I think that the Tiana ride at DL is great. And I rarely rode Splash

The DL version is a much better fit for its park, but it is still pretty lackluster as an attraction.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

I think the name will stay, the storyline will change

This. They have already redefined Frontierland from Walt Disney’s version. It is now a general “frontier,” not the American Frontier of the 19th century focused on the American pioneering spirit. A sad change but par for the course.