20,000 "Poohs" Rumor

[DigitalDisney]

Here is my prediction...

The new area will probably be a combination of the Boneyard from AK or the Challenge Trail at DCA and the Character Greeting Trails at AK.

Even though it's a play area, the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail at DCA gets very high marks. It's detailed, and fun. These huge, immersive play areas seem to be the new trend, so I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if one ended up here.

This whole new area could actually be done really well, if it's done right. Granted, it won't be anywhere near an E-ticket, but that doesn't mean it will be horrible. Also, the character greeting area won't be exclusive to Pooh either. That's almost guaranteed. There aren't enough Pooh characters, and there are way too many other characters that may be neglected. If they do it right, the greeting areas will be close to Dumbo in central Fantasyland, so it isn't exclusive to the Pooh theme.

Also remember that there is a huge show building sitting behind those trees, which will hopefully be used for a new E-ticket adventure (dark ride, boat ride, etc)

 

[speck76]

Also remember that there is a huge show building sitting behind those trees, which will hopefully be used for a new E-ticket adventure (dark ride, boat ride, etc)

I don't think it is there anymore.

 

[PhotoDave219]

The show building is no more. Completely gone, except for two load bearing walls which will used i think to help retain some dirt.

We'll know come mid december when the great wall of fantasyland comes down.

 

[optjay]

what show building?
the 20k building?
They are just finishing the demo of it.

 

[Sledge]

Everyone remember MTTF area before it was called MTTF? I forget what it was called because I was too young but I saw pictures of me as a kid standing in the doorway of one of the little fake stores that said something like "Daisy's Flower Shop" on the door. Anyone remember those days?

 

[zone15int]

i just hope the pooh meet and greet area is totally temporary. i totally think that they should do a fantasyland expansion with some brand new (not cloned)2 or 3 rides in the vein of the classics that are there already but with new operating systems. and design a second entrance to fantasyland and tomorrowland and ditch the crappy little sign that says "concourse to tomorrowland" in front of cosmic ray's.its just too jarring to run into the teacups from the speedway kinda crappy show quality.. just MHO.

 

[tirian]

Yes, I do remember that area! It was actually a small replica of Duckburg, and it was built in Mickey's Birthdayland, a temporary area that celebrated the Mouse's 50th birthday. The area is now Toontown Fair.

The funny thing is that although that spot was essentially a lot of wooden cutouts, I fondly remember it. The rest of the MK was excellent--CoP was operating year-round, the subs were open, Mr. Toad still brought Guests on wild rides, an older Circavision film showed in the old post-modern Tomorrowland, and the park's maintenance was superb. Those were the days that MK truly celebrated all of Disney, from animation to live action to scientific interests, instead of a few over-promoted cartoon characters. Because of all the bustle, the quaint plywood city was a nice quiet spot.

Anyway, as far as everything else is concerned, I hope that the new CEO and board realize that Disney comprises much more than a few animated characters; and maybe the parks will once again feature everything from Winnie-the-Pooh to submarine rides. I would love to see a new Toad attraction that uses Universal's Spiderman ride system.

P.S. Why didn't Disney just build an updated Storybookland Canal attraction in the old lagoon? It would have required less work, and the show building could have been utilized for special effects with villains (e.g. Malificent/dragon).

 

[EpcotFanatic04]

I don't LIKE that idea. Is it really any better to have a dinky Pooh area with probably some plastic slides and fountains than a beautiful lagoon?

 

[McArcDes]

The Lagoon need to much work to keep it. As I understand it was leaking into the Utilidors right below it and would of had to be drained so they could do major rehab work just to get the lagoon up to par. In my mind not a good use of money. I understand how many of us miss 20k but when I rode it last (not long before it closed) it was a very tired and out of date attraction. The realestate where it was is way to valuable to just keep as a play area and meet and greet for too long. The most likely have an idea of what is going to go there already and just need the time to get it designed, approved and do the prep work to start construction. I will see if I can find out when I am there the week after Christmas. I have a friend at WDI that I am meeting for lunch and will ask him if he knows anything.

 

[tirian]

I understand; my mom told me that even back in the late 70s, not too soon after MK opened, the subs were musty, moldy, and showing wear-and-tear. Their lifespan was limited from the beginning.

I agree that the Hundred Acre theme is better than an empty lagoon, but I hope it's temporary; and I mean REALLY temporary, unlike our friends the Mickey Arm and Hat. (although I do like the hat...)

ANYWAY, if the lagoon was leaking, I understand why they drained it. The canal boats, however, would have been a lovely touch, and they would have helped preserve Fantasyland as a storybook-come- true--The Lion King, for example, never belonged in there!

 

[KevinPage]

Ironically, Disney was looking at filling 20K lagoon in the 90s and putting Pooh there, keeping Mr. Toad. They found it cheaper to "sabotage" the Toad attendance and keep 20K undeveloped.

Oy vey.

 

[PhotoDave219]

actually, the stories of having a small collapse into the locker room is true from back in the mid 90s. They tried to drain it and stuff came down. My friend lost her shoes along with her locker.

So it took some time before they could find a way to dismantle 20k. Sorry to burst your bubble on that one Grizz.

 

[MiklCraw4d]

Ahh... just what Walt always wanted! A place where parents could come and sit on a bench while they watch their children have fun. Doh! Now Jim Hill will come lecture me on speculating as to Walt's mindset.

Seriously, though, I feel that this area will only be a temporary measure. Surely they wouldn't go to the expense of killing the lagoon only to replace it with a meet'n'greet. The only concern I have is how long it will take them to get things going, and what they'll replace it with. After all, the lagoon sat there filling with garbage for ten years before they got moving on it.

It's also ironic that just as WDW bulldozed their lagoon, Disneyland has hit upon a plan to refurbish and revitalize their Subs area.

Hopefully we'll see this area filled with quality dark rides. I really am concerned about the abandonment of the dark ride artform by WDI. Subtle, atmospheric attractions have been abandoned in favor of almost completely thrill-centric development.

So maybe a block of buildings with some of the dark rides originally conceived for Florida's MK? A Mary Poppins ride like Tony Baxter has wanted for years? How about the BatB show designed for Paris? Alice? Toad?

The possiblities are endless but I'd like to know when they're going to start. And if they slip and accidentally demolish Toontown that'd be ok too

Michael

 

[Scooter]

NEWSFLASH!!!

Mr Toad is DEAD...
He is GONE...
He is NEVER coming BACK!
NEVER EVER!!

Lets keep our memories of This ride and let him rest in peace.

 

[stitchcastle]

I hope they tear the Pooh Ride down and put "Pooh's Hunny Hunt" from Tokyo in that Pooh play area....that's exactly what I thought of for my ideal MK

 

[Lynx04]

I'm not exactly sure why Disney thinks that the Winnie the Pooh brand is so popular.

Pooh was the highest selling fictional character in 2002 and was second only to Mickey in 2003. Pooh is extremely popular. Actually, I can think of 5.6 billion reasons why Pooh was popular in 2003

I for one don't like Pooh, I never saw anything attractive about him or his entrouge. But, that is my personal opinion. I hope that what ever ends up in the 20,000 spot is something that generates a lot of traffic flow to it. I wouldn't be overly surprised if it is Pooh because of Pooh's popularity and it doesn't matter to me as long as it is a crowd gusler. I think MK needs another high end attraction that attracts a lot of guess from Space, Splash Thunder, ect.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

With 20000 poohs shouldnt they have used the lagoon as an area for a septic tank

 

[speck76]

I hope they tear the Pooh Ride down and put "Pooh's Hunny Hunt" from Tokyo in that Pooh play area....that's exactly what I thought of for my ideal MK

What exactly would that accomplish?

 

[Hakunamatata]

NEWSFLASH!!!

Mr Toad is DEAD...
He is GONE...
He is NEVER coming BACK!
NEVER EVER!!

Lets keep our memories of This ride and let him rest in peace.

He is alive and well in Disneyland. Dont rule out transferring the ride to WDW............

 

[Hakunamatata]

Pooh was the highest selling fictional character in 2002 and was second only to Mickey in 2003. Pooh is extremely popular. Actually, I can think of 5.6 billion reasons why Pooh was popular in 2003

I for one don't like Pooh, I never saw anything attractive about him or his entrouge. But, that is my personal opinion. I hope that what ever ends up in the 20,000 spot is something that generates a lot of traffic flow to it. I wouldn't be overly surprised if it is Pooh because of Pooh's popularity and it doesn't matter to me as long as it is a crowd gusler. I think MK needs another high end attraction that attracts a lot of guess from Space, Splash Thunder, ect.

I think the popularity of Pooh is derived from the fact that in its basic form (i.e does not need to be changed) it is the only character set that is appropriate for the small child, i.e., infant through 3 years old. Nurseries (as ours is for our son) can be geared with the pooh character for boy or girl. Mickey has to be "babyfied" in order to be appropriate and I actually cant think of any other character in its natural state that would be appropriate for a child's nursery. Therefore, pooh is usually the first character disneychildren related to.