News Coco Boat Ride Coming to Disney California Adventure

[Disney Irish]

In that case, don't you think Josh would've compared Coco to IASW instead of Pirates?

No, because I don’t think it really is meant the way many here have been trying to use it. Do we know in what context he meant when he referenced Pirates? I mean he also mentioned Mansion too in the same sentence which everyone forgets. So what elements will be taken from each of those attractions which use different ride systems? Or will none been taken and it was more meant to evoke just a reference to scale and themes, since both deal with the dead and the use of AAs, both of which will be used here.

So I don’t know if a drop will be used. And as I’ve said many many times now I don’t care if there is one or not. I just have an opinion that I don’t think one is needed and I’ve given my reasons why. People can disagree with me and that is fine, just like it should be fine if I disagree with them.

 

[Gusey]

In that case, don't you think Josh would've compared Coco to IASW instead of Pirates?

he also compared it to Hanuted Mansion which isn't a boat ride or has any drops.
This is from the parks blog from the first post in the thread
"Walt Disney Imagineering will draw inspiration for the attraction from beloved classics, like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. “We’re bringing our skeletal cast of characters to life in a big way through the latest technology,” Josh told the crowd. “These figures will appear in ways you’ll have to see to believe.”alt Disney Imagineering will draw inspiration for the attraction from beloved classics, like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. “We’re bringing our skeletal cast of characters to life in a big way through the latest Audio-Animatronics technology,” Josh told the crowd. “These figures will appear in ways you’ll have to see to believe.”

To me, it seems like the Pirates and Haunted Mansion inspiration is the animatronic scenes that have so much going on you have to ride it multiple times to see every detail

 

[DrStarlander]

“We’re bringing our skeletal cast of characters to life in a big way through the latest Audio-Animatronics technology,” Josh told the crowd. “These figures will appear in ways you’ll have to see to believe.”

I'm thinking the skeletons could be marionette style animatronics such as on La Jungle des Chikapas seen in this video.

As for the drop possibility, I'd like a little drop or two. I don't remember the movie enough to know if there are scenes to tie them to. But I also don't think it matters, I can't imagine the ride will be a book report. I think it's a small world could have a little drop (say, down to the Southern Hemisphere) and it would create a fun "wheee!" moment. Kids love slides and when they're seated with their parents or grandparents, a drop is the kind of excitement moment that makes a theme park memorable.

Someone was recently explaining to me some brain science about how memories work and why traumatic moments seem like slow motion because the brain is logging so much more data -- almost like capturing a higher frame rate in filming a movie. These surprise moments are burned into our memories whereas all the surrounding events are lost. I think for a theme park to make lasting memories for kids, some moments like this -- where things seem out-of-control and a bit scary (for a few seconds) -- can be very valuable in building long-term memories, loyalty and ultimately lifetime revisitation.

For that reason, and because this is a movie that takes place in the Land of the Dead, I'm pro drop.

 

[Disney Analyst]

It’s hard to say if there was even a major boost. Attendance was up in 2023 - but so were most parks coming off the pandemic. Heck Epcot was up 5% more on a higher attendance base and a redo everyone seems unpleased about.



Ya, separating the attractions popularity itself from the return on investment. It’s weird how much the needle was not moved, by what was a “big deal” addition for USH. And this seems just an oddity in Hollywood. It was huge in Osaka.

I mean Osaka attendance is insane in general, but it makes sense Nintendo would help that park go big in that region.

It also doesn’t help USH got the smaller, lesser version. But now I think this is probably why… USH is just such a regional type park compared to their other properties.

 

[mickEblu]

Ya, separating the attractions popularity itself from the return on investment. It’s weird how much the needle was not moved, by what was a “big deal” addition for USH. And this seems just an oddity in Hollywood. It was huge in Osaka.

It is an odd ball. It didn’t move the needle for the park and yet the land is always packed because it’s new, it’s Mario/ Nintendo, the land is tiny and the park only has like 8 rides. Makes you wonder what the wait times would have been if they really knocked it out of the park with Mario Kart. Not sure what the annual passholder situation is in Osaka but I can’t imagine most passholders in Hollywood want to wait 80+ minutes for Mario Kart on any given day. I’d love to know how many locals skip it.

 

[Disney Analyst]

It is an odd ball. It didn’t move the needle for the park and yet the land is always packed because it’s new, it’s Mario/ Nintendo, the land is tiny and the park only has like 8 rides. Makes you wonder what the wait times would have been if they really knocked it out of the park with Mario Kart. Not sure what the annual passholder situation is in Osaka but I can’t imagine most passholders in Hollywood want to wait 80+ minutes for Mario Kart on any given day. I’d love to know how many locals skip it.

Universal Studios Japan is the 3rd most visited theme park in the world (according to the TEA report).

Just behind Magic Kingdom and Disneyland.

Osaka - 16 million annual (number 3 on top 25 list)

USH - 8.7 million annual (number 16 on the top 25 list)

 

[coffeefan]

he also compared it to Hanuted Mansion which isn't a boat ride or has any drops.
This is from the parks blog from the first post in the thread
"Walt Disney Imagineering will draw inspiration for the attraction from beloved classics, like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. “We’re bringing our skeletal cast of characters to life in a big way through the latest technology,” Josh told the crowd. “These figures will appear in ways you’ll have to see to believe.”alt Disney Imagineering will draw inspiration for the attraction from beloved classics, like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. “We’re bringing our skeletal cast of characters to life in a big way through the latest Audio-Animatronics technology,” Josh told the crowd. “These figures will appear in ways you’ll have to see to believe.”

To me, it seems like the Pirates and Haunted Mansion inspiration is the animatronic scenes that have so much going on you have to ride it multiple times to see every detail

No, because I don’t think it really is meant the way many here have been trying to use it. Do we know in what context he meant when he referenced Pirates? I mean he also mentioned Mansion too in the same sentence which everyone forgets. So what elements will be taken from each of those attractions which use different ride systems? Or will none been taken and it was more meant to evoke just a reference to scale and themes, since both deal with the dead and the use of AAs, both of which will be used here.

So I don’t know if a drop will be used. And as I’ve said many many times now I don’t care if there is one or not. I just have an opinion that I don’t think one is needed and I’ve given my reasons why. People can disagree with me and that is fine, just like it should be fine if I disagree with them.

I didn't forget about HM. I just think the reference to HM is self-explanatory. It still doesn't explain why Pirates was referred to as an inspiration over IASW if the attraction is more like IASW. Unless Josh provided the wrong examples, but if he did, he would have had plenty of time to clarify or mention IASW since then.

 

[Disney Irish]

I didn't forget about HM. I just think the reference to HM is self-explanatory. It still doesn't explain why Pirates was referred to as an inspiration over IASW if the attraction is more like IASW. Unless Josh provided the wrong examples, but if he did, he would have had plenty of time to clarify or mention IASW since then.

Why mention Mansion at all if they only meant to reference the Pirates ride system alone? And why not say will use a similar ride experience as Pirates if that is what is meant? See how we can turn this around and use the same logic when you try to gloss over the Mansion reference.

They clearly say draw inspiration from, not pull direct ride system experiences from.

The comparison to Pirates and Mansion are talking about scope, scale, and AA technology not direct ride system elements.

Again will it have drops, who knows. But I wouldn’t put any real credence into the Pirates reference as the for sure clue that it will.

 

[britain]

Plain and simple: IASW is mocked by mainstream public. You don’t want to compare your new boat ride to Small World, you pick Pirates (even if it is more like Small World).

Sinbad at TDS was compared to Pirates in advance of it opening in 2001. And yet…

 

[mickEblu]

In reality this attraction won’t be anything like POTC or IASW. If we’re lucky it’ll feel like Hong Kong’s Frozen ride. If we re not more like Tangled or somewhere between the two.

 

[Disney Irish]

In reality this attraction won’t be anything like POTC or IASW. If we’re lucky it’ll feel like Hong Kong’s Frozen ride. If we re not more like Tangled or somewhere between the two.

I would agree, drop or no drop.

 

[DLR92]

I am expecting Coco to be a lavish musical based. If it would contain one gentile drop-I would be more delighted with this new attraction.

 

[DrStarlander]

Dave at FreshBaked was wondering about what's happening at the corner of Disneyland Dr./Katella relative to that fence changing direction. My understanding from the Anaheim Plan is that Disney is required to maintain 125' x 1215' landscape triangle on both sides of Disneyland Dr., per point 4 in notes and diagram.

 

[Disney Irish]

Dave at FreshBaked was wondering about what's happening at the corner of Disneyland Dr./Katella relative to that fence changing direction. My understanding from the Anaheim Plan is that Disney is required to maintain 125' x 1215' landscape triangle on both sides of Disneyland Dr., per point 4 in notes and diagram.
View attachment 908925

I haven't watched this weeks video, so don't know what was said yet, but couldn't Anaheim have given a special variance to allow a smaller set of landscaping for that corner, especially if its temporary during the initial construction phases for traffic flow?

 

[DrStarlander]

I haven't watched this weeks video, so don't know what was said yet, but couldn't Anaheim have given a special variance to allow a smaller set of landscaping for that corner, especially if its temporary during the initial construction phases for traffic flow?

Absolutely, who knows, just showing what we know publicly about that corner.

 

[wityblack]

Dave at FreshBaked was wondering about what's happening at the corner of Disneyland Dr./Katella relative to that fence changing direction. My understanding from the Anaheim Plan is that Disney is required to maintain 125' x 1215' landscape triangle on both sides of Disneyland Dr., per point 4 in notes and diagram.
View attachment 908925

OMG CARS WATCH OUT, YOU'RE GONNA HIT THOSE TREES.

 

[Disney Analyst]

 

[mickEblu]

See this image. It makes me scared for Coco. Wife went with a Thomas Kinkade calendar this year. We’re taking a break from the island motif. Anyway, any time I see a romantic, whimsical PatF image like this I’m reminded of how much they didn’t capture this feeling on the attraction. What we got was such a sterile, off brand and superficial representation of the movie. We all have this image of what a Coco attraction can be and well, I just hope it doesn’t end up anything like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

I still can’t believe the didn’t reuse the river boat. SMH

 

[Disney Analyst]

 

[Professortango1]

View attachment 909194

See this image. It makes me scared for Coco. Wife went with a Thomas Kinkade calendar this year. We’re taking a break from the island motif. Anyway, any time I see a romantic, whimsical PatF image like this I’m reminded of how much they didn’t capture this feeling on the attraction. What we got was such a sterile, off brand and superficial representation of the movie. We all have this image of what a Coco attraction can be and well, I just hope it doesn’t end up anything like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

I still can’t believe the didn’t reuse the river boat. SMH

Yeah, I very much believe that the finale of TBA will be the majority of the Coco Ride. We will have facades lining the canal with many simple figures on terraces and steps and the occasional high end AA littered in the foreground of 3-5 scenes. And in those facades will be "windows" with tons of screen-based gags.

I think if you think about Pirates as just the town section (well dunking, auction, chasing, burning the town), that will the idea for Coco with tighter sets and more screens. With luck we'll get a little cool opening scene/moment before we get to the city of the dead, but I wouldn't expect more than that general concept of 4 sections of a cocktail party.

The biggest challenge, for me, is making it not one-note. Pirates succeeds because the difference between the bayou and the caverns of gold and skeletons and the ship battle, and the town section and even the muted encore before the final lift. The ride has variety and you get every part of a pirate ride that you could ask for. With Coco, I hope it isn't just endless haciendas and skeletons singing and dancing. I want Marc Davis gags and moments.

And that is what Tiana's finale lacks. There's not a lot to discover and let your eyes wander over like in Pirates, IASW, and even the previous finale for SM. You could look and watch the scenes all around you with the gators and the hay cart and the variety of figures on the boat to even the blue bird and Brer Fox/Bear gag. Now, everything is designed to make you look at Tiana only. You do get the nice little Carlotta wave moment, but that feels like they moved the greeter moment with the porcupine on the shell and merely moved it inward, taking that space away from the energy of the finale. And then when you do pass Tiana's mom and friend, the projection animation, the blandness of the band, and the staging all puts focus on Tiana. When you look elsewhere, you can feel your eye redirected back to her.

Hopefully this team is a bit better in design and storytelling, and we get to explore a new world rather than see familiar characters park and bark.