Well since TOT is set in HW in the 20's or 30's and is an immersive attraction that brings you into another world I'd say it's fine. TSMM is suppose to be a Midway carnival game, which is why it fits in much better in Paridise Pier in DCA.
Yeah, and that is what the weenie does. A weenie does not have to be an icon though. Astro Orbitor is not an icon, but it is a weenie. Splash Mountain is not an icon, but it is a weenie. Everest is not an icon, but is a weenie.
The theater functions nicely as the weenie for Hollywood Blvd. Same as ToT works for Sunset. The Earful Tower works as the icon for the overall park. Nobody ever said the icon has to be at the center of the park, look at EPCOT.
I think the queue in Toy Story Mania is pretty immersive and it feels like you are brought to toy sized and then seeing Andy's bed twice the size of you makes you feel like you are in the movie. The ride it self is a game that Andy's Toys have made. The point is that the ride makes you feel like you are in the movie. If you notice the theming outside of the DCA version is completley different from the DHS because they are different stories.
Those aren't weenies. I understand what you are saying but a weenie by Walt's definition is to bring people in from the entrance as a treat at which point they can choose to go in various directions. It was to be used as both a treat and crowd-control method. Walt wanted to guests to be able to make choices but he wanted to control the overall experience. I didn't say that a weenie is at the center of the park I said it would draw people in from the entrance. I just read an article on weenies (maybe you can tell). Weenies also serve to symbolize their park such as the tree, castle, and ball.
I'd like to see the Chinese Theater become the icon. That's the main thing the BAH blocks, so once it is unblocked, that will be the main thing that catches your eye when you enter the park. It also works perfectly with the Hollywood theme.
Oh, and the whole Toy Story thing...
Pixar Place is a re-creation of Pixar Animation Studios but where the characters come alive for real. Midway Mania perfectly fits in that theme.
Yea but the theme of the park is going in the opposite direction with rides luke TSM.
KINGDOMS, COMMUNITIES, AND A STUDIO
~A letter to WDW Magic and all Disney Fans~
By EpcotServo
Foreward by The Muppets
"When somebody out there loves you, stands up and hollers for 'More!', that's when you've found a home at the Magic Store."
The Studios is just like EPCOT, a park with a central theme and character that outlines, encompasses, and brings together many different things into a community. Just as Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, Disneyland, and Tokyo Disneysea do. Just as MK is a "Kingdom" and EPCOT a "Community", the park is a "Studio", wherein everything inside is dedicated to carrying out the THEME of the park (Hence why they are called-Theme Parks) Magic Kingdom's theme is Reliving Fantasy. EPCOT is about bettering yourself, and the world around you, by understating it. Animal Kingdom is about Man's love for Animals, and how it can affect them for the better. DisneySea is about the soul of and spirit of adventure, as reflected by the boundless sea. Studios is about just as base an instinct, being the star, entertainment. Just as the other themes Imagineering has devolped, every human born will eventually have that moment that they want to join the stage, meet the men and women on the silver screen, and entertain the world to the thrill of applause.
At Magic Kingdom, timeless adventures-From soaring through space or over Neverland, let you live the fantasies of your childhood.
At Epcot, experiences, foreign sights and smells, and the thrill of what might be learned, or what might be possible drives the excitement of the theme.
At Animal Kingdom you meet face-to-face with Animals as told through you're entire life. From meeting Mickey with a big smile, to staring with bated breath on the plains of Africa-as a Lion looks right at you, with no barriers whatsoever. All of these experiences can be found within the depths of Man's love for the Animals around us, be they in the house, or half the world away. And by experiencing these adventures from every stage of life, we can better prepare ourselves for the last task: Conservation.
At DisneySea, every corner, every pathway is designed to let you know there's something better just a journey away. That from the gateway of the Ocean, our legends, myths, and adventures await. And as long as you continue that travel, rewards await!
And at the Studios, just as these other parks do, all of these many different tales, instincts, and fantasies, all random, are brought together to deliver the theme. At studios every attraction, every show, every street, every citizen of Hollywood, is designed to bring us that dream on Entertaining those around us. From Being a Toy in Andy's Toybox, rushing to play before he comes home. To being part of that theater we all remember, while Kermit tries to contain the chaos that always ensue. Cheering on an unkown as they sing their heart out. Finding that autograph of your favorite actor tucked away in an old shop. To rushing through the L.A. Night in a Limo like you've always dreamed with your mind sky-high on Rock N Roll and being treated like a VIP by a famous Rock Band. To stepping into Bergis Meredith's or William Shatner's shoes to step onto an elevator and into The Twilight Zone.
And just as The natural world, the foreign lands, and the stunning architecture are the backdrops, the "Cement" that holds these far reaching adventures the exploration of these themes will take us too is held together at Animal Kingdom, DisneySea, and EPCOT respectively do, the allure of Hollywood and the Working studio provides this "cement" for these adventures to take place. When one thinks of Entertainment, one thinks about the Hollywood that never was-but always will be, and the sweat n' grease, makeup n' wardrobe, Fire n' water world of a Studio Backlot.
So as I've tried to literate in this explanation and examination of Walt Disney Imagineering and the Theme Parks, is that the idea that Studios, Animal Kingdom, or any park I've mentioned is any less than the others in true principal is an outright mistruth, and common slander.
WDI's theme parks in my formative argument, have-on the whole been misrepresented in these arguments and wholly misunderstood. You can't put "More themeing on it" as Joe Rhode tried to explain on the tenth anniversary of Animal Kingdom. Theme is a base concept. From that you tell stories. From there you add plot and experience. From that, you add detail. In turn, those details and those stories culminate in a successful day in a Disney Park, a day in which the theme has been explored with you. At Kingdom it's the feeling of having an amazing dream, waking up the happier. At Epcot, it's the feeling of knowing more about where we are, what's around us, and where we're going. At DisneySea it's the feeling of returning to port-Having seen amazing things and bringing back incredible legends and tales to tell for the rest of our life. At Animal Kingdom, it's knowing that, even faced with great threat, love conquers all, and that we have to work everyday, from the plains of Africa, to the heights of the himalayas, and our own backyard- to better our part of the relationship with our friends, the Animals that share our world. And at Studios, that no matter what we do in life, no matter what our job, it's ALWAYS possible to be the star, Leave em' laughin' or cryin' in the aisles, as long as our Imagination lets us believe we're the stars of the show. Just as Mickey says to close out the night at Fantasmic "Some Imagination, huh?"
A sign that types out "This is a studio, in a real place" should be as unwelcome by some of you "fans" as a sign at Epcot that says "This is a series of Buildings, all related to each other, and exist firmly in this world". Or a sign at Magic Kingdom that says "These are all just rides and shows. Adventureland is clearly not a faraway jungle, as you can see a Castle and Tomorrowland from here. Stop imagining things."
That's not what Magic Kingdom is. That's not what Epcot is. And that isn't what studios is. It's a THEME PARK, not just a park.
I can't think of a better metaphor than of when Imagineers at Wed went to Walt and said "We can't build the Matterhorn. Why would you see a Swiss Mountain on Main Street, which is supposed to be Missouri at the turn of the century."
The answer of why Walt said yes, why the Matterhorn still fits in perfectly for some 50 odd years now, is that it's Disneyland. Turn of the Century Missouri and a Swiss Mountain have nothing to do with each other, EXCEPT...Both of them are far reaching adventures that lie in the heart of everyone's fantasies. And that's what makes Disneyland their home. Living Fantasies, the theme of Disneyland. Right there. Take a picture.
So next time you step into a Disney Park, ye complainers of Studios, know this:
You can only get from the Park, what you take in with you.
Turn off your Imagination at the gate if you want, but it's that theme of wanting to take center stage and make it big that will continue to bring that busy L.A. Night on the freeway...That playset Under Andy's Bed...That Ewok Village on a cold night on Endor...That balcony with two old hecklers...The hangar in Casablanca where too crazy mixed up people say goodbye...that old deserted hotel at the end of Sunset Blvd. in the 1940's...and the Hollywood that never was, all fit together just perfectly to me.
Alot of back and forth here on "theme" I can't take the time to comment on, but as I posted earlier this week about Studios and "theme"...
And as for icon...Studios has many icons, even without the hat. Tower of Terror, The giant Strat' outside RNR, The AT-AT, Muppets Courtyard. But for me the central icon of studios shall always be the Chinese theater.
:shrug:
???????
TSM is based on a hugely popular movie.
Concerning the HS Icon.
1. As others said, Earful tower was and is way too small. And it was never embraced by the masses. Failed try.
2. I think the hat is cool, but in a stupid location. Move it and it will be embraced. Fantasia was a major part of Walt's career.
3. The Theatre is awesome. Move that hat, and let those two share the duties. The other 3 parks have undeniably great icons, HS needs 2 to compete.
I still think maybe a movie slate with mickey ears....kinda make it hollywood-ish
And as for icon...Studios has many icons, even without the hat. Tower of Terror, The giant Strat' outside RNR, The AT-AT, Muppets Courtyard. But for me the central icon of studios shall always be the Chinese theater.
Tough to argue, guess I'll agree.
Great thread.
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