A Pinocchio ride in Storybook Circus?

[mharrington]

I've been pondering constantly how to put a Pinocchio ride in the Magic Kingdom. One thing I've thought of was to put it in Storybook Circus (as opposed to the Mickey ride I've also constantly thought of), sort of like how a Pinocchio ride was to have been put in the never-built Dumbo's Circusland before built in Fantasyland instead.

I'm not sure, though, how to do it. For one thing, how would it be geographically appropriate to put a ride themed around an Italian (or Germanic Italian) fairy tale in a land themed around a circus that is supposedly set in what looks like America? Also, assuming a dark ride gets put in, I'm not sure if a clone of the Disneyland ride would work here. It works in Fantasyland, but not necessarily in Storybook Circus. A better-case scenario may be a spinner of some kind, which I know a lot of people are madly in love with.

Any ideas?

 

[MickeyMouse10]

Pinocchio would be interesting as an animatronic show like Country Bears. There could be other characters as well like the dancing girls and Jiminy Cricket.

 

[mharrington]

Pinocchio would be interesting as an animatronic show like Country Bears. There could be other characters as well like the dancing girls and Jiminy Cricket.

I don't know, I think they've been leaning away from animatronic shows as of late. I don't think they do new shows anymore. I want it to be a ride of some kind. What, though, I don't know.

The best I can think of is a swing ride of some kind. One of them is wave swinger like the Silly Symphony Swings. In fact, they could revive the old swing ride concept that was considered before Silly Symphony Swings. I can't find the concept art right now, but I know it's out there.

The other concept is maybe something like the balloon swing ride like Flik's Flyers/Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind:

Regardless, however, I'm having trouble trying to figure out how a Germanic Italian fairy tale about a puppet can fit within the theme of an American circus, which I really don't think fits the theme of Fantasyland at all if the train station is an indication. Any ideas there? Or about the ride itself?

 

[MickeyMouse10]

Regardless, however, I'm having trouble trying to figure out how a Germanic Italian fairy tale about a puppet can fit within the theme of an American circus, which I really don't think fits the theme of Fantasyland at all if the train station is an indication. Any ideas there? Or about the ride itself?

If it was just one attraction I think it would need to be near Village Haus. But it is possible to go bigger and give Pinocchio his own land.

On the other side of the tracks near Storybook Circus there's plenty of land. Dumbo's section could be themed to the good side and Pinocchio's the evil side. Also if more land is needed they could always create a bridge/road tunnel. Like they've done for Downtown Disney in California.

 

[MickeyMouse10]

 

[mharrington]

If it was just one attraction I think it would need to be near Village Haus. But it is possible to go bigger and give Pinocchio his own land.

On the other side of the tracks near Storybook Circus there's plenty of land. Dumbo's section could be themed to the good side and Pinocchio's the evil side. Also if more land is needed they could always create a bridge/road tunnel. Like they've done for Downtown Disney in California.

It is just one attraction. Unfortunately, there's no room for even a small balloon-type swing ride over by the Village Haus, even if we took out the bathrooms. It so happens that is right over where the entrance to the Utilidors is.

I'd rather conform my ideas to the real world than just go pure blue sky where there are no limits, as you seem to be suggesting I do.

For those reasons, I had thought of doing a ride over in the Speedway area, but that juts into Tomorrowland a bit. I had thought of doing something related to Monstro, either a small water thrill ride, courtesy of Mack Rides, or a spinning teacup ride but with water.

You also never answered my question about how Pinocchio can fit in an American circus.

 

[MickeyMouse10]

I'd rather conform my ideas to the real world than just go pure blue sky where there are no limits, as you seem to be suggesting I do.

For those reasons, I had thought of doing a ride over in the Speedway area, but that juts into Tomorrowland a bit. I had thought of doing something related to Monstro, either a small water thrill ride, courtesy of Mack Rides, or a spinning teacup ride but with water.

We'll have to agree to disagree. I think it's more blue sky to say Disney would replace half of Speedway with Pinocchio. Rather then use land that's just over the tracks from Storybook.

 

[mharrington]

We'll have to agree to disagree. I think it's more blue sky to say Disney would replace half of Speedway with Pinocchio. Rather then use land that's just over the tracks from Storybook.

At least it's within the boundaries of the park. Besides, the Speedway is not very popular anyway. I'm also sure there's a reason the space behind the tracks isn't more utilized. And it's also super pricey, I'm sure.

But you still didn't explain how an Italian puppet fits a seemingly American circus. Can you please explain?

 

[MickeyMouse10]

I don't think it matters if he's an Italian puppet. Fantasyland is the most popular land and has different stories. Lands don't have to have one IP or theming. That seems to be a modern take on creating lands. Plus you could always separate the land into 2 parts kinda like Fantasyland after the redo.

In fact many other lands have multiple themings throughout. Adventureland has the Caribbean, Hawaii and even Agrabah. New Orleans Square has New Orleans, but it also has Pirates of the Caribbean.

 

[MickeyMouse10]

Even the land you are adding to already has characters and themings which are different. Some people would say Mickey and his friends don't belong in the same area as Dumbo. Because they are human sized animals in a land with more natural and realistic sized animals.

 

[mharrington]

Even the land you are adding to already has characters and themings which are different. Some people would say Mickey and his friends don't belong in the same area as Dumbo. Because they are human sized animals in a land with more natural and realistic sized animals.

I'm not talking about characters, I'm talking about setting, how it seems incongruous to have Italian themes in an otherwise American circus. And yes, I was thinking about the modern way of doing lands.

 

[MickeyMouse10]

I'm not talking about characters, I'm talking about setting, how it seems incongruous to have Italian themes in an otherwise American circus. And yes, I was thinking about the modern way of doing lands.

I don't think it matters if the whole land is made up of tents and circus related items.

 

[mharrington]

I don't think it matters if the whole land is made up of tents and circus related items.

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How can a ride be done themed just to Pleasure Island?

 

[MickeyMouse10]

The land is called Storybook Circus, not Dumbo's Circusland. Disney probably did this so they can have other characters besides the Dumbo ones. Besides Pinocchio would fit the section more than daredevil Goofy does.

It makes no difference at all what country the books were written in. Especially if it's based on the Americanized Disney version. Where many of the characters look like they're straight out of 1940's Chicago.

 

[mharrington]

The land is called Storybook Circus, not Dumbo's Circusland. Disney probably did this so they can have other characters besides the Dumbo ones. Besides Pinocchio would fit the section more than daredevil Goofy does.

It makes no difference at all what country the books were written in. Especially it's if based on the Americanized Disney version. Where many of the characters look like they're straight out of 1940's Chicago.

But even Dumbo's Circusland would have had other characters besides those from "Dumbo". In fact, that was where the Pinocchio ride would have gone, had it been built, rather than in Fantasyland. Frankly, daredevil Goofy would have gone there, too.

But how can a Pinocchio ride here be themed just to Pleasure Island without being a direct lift of the ride in Disneyland? I don't want to end it with Geppetto's workshop, as that would really be out of place.

 

[MickeyMouse10]

But even Dumbo's Circusland would have had other characters besides those from "Dumbo". In fact, that was where the Pinocchio ride would have gone, had it been built, rather than in Fantasyland. Frankly, daredevil Goofy would have gone there, too.

But how can a Pinocchio ride here be themed just to Pleasure Island without being a direct lift of the ride in Disneyland? I don't want to end it with Geppetto's workshop, as that would really be out of place.

If Disney was going to put it into Circusland. Then I see no problem with putting it into your version of Storybook Circus.

 

[MickeyMouse10]

You can see Pinocchio on the left next to a relocated Casey Jr in this scaled model.

 

[mharrington]

If Disney was going to put it into Circusland. Then I see no problem with putting it into your version of Storybook Circus.

But that rendering of the tent doesn't really say anything about what's inside. As with Mickey's Madhouse, I've tried to do some research on what they might have done, including posting about it here, but I got nothing of any meaningful substance. As such, this means (again as with Mickey's Madhouse) I felt like I might just have to do something from scratch, with only the barest inspiration to go on.

I don't want to just duplicate the Disneyland dark ride. If the ride were to go into Storybook Circus, then it needs to have a reason to exist there, and that means it should begin and end in that type of circus setting. More to the point, Geppetto's workshop and the little village it's set in do not fit there at all. It's like when people complain about the Frozen boat ride being in the Norway pavilion, even though it has little to do with the real Norway, or people complaining about how the upcoming retheme of Splash Mountain to "The Princess and the Frog", even though the setting is geographically incorrect, as Frontierland is all about the westward expansion from New England (as represented by Liberty Square) to way out west (Big Thunder). I'm trying to mitigate such objections here.

And yes, we are in the days of Galaxy's Edge, where the ride and the land should be a seamless blend of one another as much as possible. And that's what I'm trying to do here. If it's going into a circus area, then it should try and minimize (if not outright eliminate) any contradictions or shocks as much as possible.

So, with that in mind, how could a Pinocchio dark ride (since that's the impression I'm getting from you) work here without being an outright duplicate of the ride in Disneyland?

 

[Evilgidgit]

If I may jump in, this may be a deciding factor in whether or not Pinocchio would fit within Storybook Circus, if the land's storyline and details are taken into account:

This implies the circus is run by and features exclusively animal performers, with no humans in sight -- though this canon rule is a little dubious when you have human cast members acting as members of the show. Of course, Pinocchio is set in late 19th century Italy when compared to the contemporary setting of the circus. Yet, Storybook Circus is considered a part of New Fantasyland, which has clashing historical themes of European eras, whilst the circus has a steam train and airplanes (make that crashed airplanes), so how and where does Pinocchio fit into the theme.

Pinocchio has theatrical and circus/funfair elements throughout in relation to Stromboli and Pleasure Island, but both are actually locations that are secretly dangerous and threatening to the character. So, you have to wonder and ask why would Pinocchio be a part of a semi-modern day circus that is apparently run by animals? Mickey's Madhouse can work because he and his friends are a part of the circus and live in a modern setting (whilst able to be placed elsewhere in time). Pinocchio is a little more grounded in his setting and world. Unless New Fantasyland and Storybook Circus exist in a more Kingdom Hearts type universe where such places can all co-exist without issue. I believe the overall idea for NF was for it to be a magical location where fairy tales and storybooks merge together as one, regardless of temporal displacement.

Pinocchio has always been associated with the circus/funfair/theatre aesthetic, as seen in his dark ride, in parades and shows, etc. Placing Geppetto's workshop in a circus would make no sense. The Disney attractions tend to present what could be considered alternate takes on the films, or at a point where the characters exist before or after their happy endings. Pinocchio would likely be a puppet as that is how most people recognise him or visually imagine him. It would be a bit contradictory setting an attraction after the film's ending, as it would neutralise Pinocchio's happy ending by turning him back into a puppet. Frozen Ever After and Splash Mountain 2.0 follow the "set after the film" narrative, but that can't really be done with Pinocchio, since the character undergoes a life changing transformation.

So, you either find a way to incorporate the need for Pinocchio to be within the circus as a puppet or alternatively do it as a "after the film" step where he is human and has joined the circus for a reason - perhaps to present his father's puppets to a large audience, or he is getting up to mischief, or has merged the better traits of Pleasure Island into Storybook Circus. Maybe Honest John and Gideon turned over a new leaf and joined the circus, or in a "what if" scenario, didn't take Pinocchio to the theatre and instead the trio joined the circus. I'm spitballing here, but laying down the foundation of the story and how it ties in with Storybook Circus is a good place to start, if the option to add a Pinocchio ride is considered.

 

[mharrington]

Mickey's Madhouse can work because he and his friends are a part of the circus and live in a modern setting (whilst able to be placed elsewhere in time). Pinocchio is a little more grounded in his setting and world. Unless New Fantasyland and Storybook Circus exist in a more Kingdom Hearts type universe where such places can all co-exist without issue. I believe the overall idea for NF was for it to be a magical location where fairy tales and storybooks merge together as one, regardless of temporal displacement.

Are you saying that Mickey and the gang are not grounded in reality?