A Terror-rific Spirited 13th (ToT fans have lots to fear)...

[MisterPenguin]

nor did he always put artistic purity above profits

Like how he not only made a Barvarian/Victorian castle/palace visible from Main Street, but an Alpine mountain visible from Frontier Land?

but how about changing It's a Small Worlds?

Let's start with the ceiling with the exposed industrial tiles and duct work! It must be a very small world... the size of a warehouse.

So, let's put in a drop ceiling that shows the solar system and our galaxy... now that's a reminder we're a small world. Add in a pic of the Earth itself from space to drive home the message. Then, in the final room, there should be faux fireworks up there.

 

[HMF]

Oh...didn't know that, just watched a video. While it's not as bad as I had imagined, it's still totally unneccesary and dilutes the ride.

I would argue having the characters there at all does that.

 

[wdisney9000]

That's quite inventive logic.

Id say the logic is more judicative.

It makes sense because Walt said it made sense and it works because we can all buy into the fantasy of it.

It works and we buy into the fantasy of it because of how it was designed, not because Walt said so. The videos of Walt talking about "weenies" is nothing more than an extremely simplified version of explaining exactly what we are discussing in terms of architectural design and layout. As you mentioned, Walt knew his audience. He knew they did not need or want to hear a long drawn out explanation of his twist on turn of the century rural design and implementation, so he watered it down and went with the weenie explanation. Do I know that for a fact? No. But I would bet dollars to doughnuts that there was a round table discussion of sorts and it was far more detailed than just someone pitching the idea of "build a big shiny castle to impress them".

 

[Brer Oswald]

You did good!

 

[Brer Oswald]

News Flash: We can talk about changing castles, but how about changing It's a Small Worlds?

Tokyo Disneyland has announced that they will add over 40 Disney characters to It's a Small World. I expect that Tokyo's change will be similar to Disneyland's in 2008, though Disneyland only added 29 characters (unless more have been added since). DL's version does not have Anna and Elsa... but do not fear! Tokyo's will.

They're also going to be altering bits and pieces of the song to include tunes from the characters' movies.

I only hope that this change is not brought to MK.

*edited for accuracy

Changing characters is one thing, but changing songs? That's a terrible idea! I dread that song, but I can accept the fact that it's a classic and should not be altered. Maybe it's because I've grown more of a tolerance for it in the last couple months, or maybe it's because I have stopped getting the recurring Small World nightmares I used to have, but the song has grown on me a lot more since September.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Like how he not only made a Barvarian/Victorian castle/palace visible from Main Street, but an Alpine mountain visible from Frontier Land?



Let's start with the ceiling with the exposed industrial tiles and duct work! It must be a very small world... the size of a warehouse.

So, let's put in a drop ceiling that shows the solar system and our galaxy... now that's a reminder we're a small world. Add in a pic of the Earth itself from space to drive home the message. Then, in the final room, there should be faux fireworks up there.

I'm with you on this- the obvious warehouse ceiling was disappointing. A galaxy or starry skies design would be a huge improvement.

I wish there were a way to clean up the gross looking water. Or perhaps a better lighting package would go a long way to highlight this ride. (We can move it to Epcot while we're at it)

 

[Cesar R M]

If it would happen at all that's the most likely scenario. I never said otherwise.

Unless Disney wants to give MK a special 50th present...

GOTG themed castle cake overlay.

 

[Cesar R M]

Walt understanding his audience doesn't mean they're "dumb sheep" at all. He also wasn't always right, nor did he always put artistic purity above profits. In fact, he often didn't. At any rate, I don't think Sleeping Beauty Castle is supposed to evoke a civic monument in a turn-of-the-century American town. I think it is supposed to look fantastical and to draw us toward it as a symbol of the fun and fantasy that awaits in the different lands of the park.

Yes, but he didnt literally "sell out".
I dont think Walt would have tolerated adding GOTG or something completely dissimilar to EPCOT like MARVEL just because of mighty $$$.
He would have found a way to make it work and keep the theme.
He was the one trying to plus things, not cost cutting left and right.

 

[JohnD]

An MK-style park's identity stems from castle. It's what's shown in articles, it's what everyone has pictures with, and it's the first thing that comes to mind when most think of the park. Each park should have its own identity. Simple as that. That's my first point.

Here's my second point. You might say the castle works in California, so why doesn't it work in Hong Kong? Well, in a park full of history, legacy, and tradition, built by Walt himself over 60 years ago... the original castle can be seen as quaint. People grew up with it as a child. However, in a park built barely over a decade ago... that same castle is simply small. People don't have the same level of affection for it. SDL severly amplifies the problem, making HKDL look like the weaker of the two China parks.

I believe that each park should have its own identity. I also believe that each park should be given the same love and treatment, and one should not look significantly weaker than another. People say that this whole ordeal is emblamatic of Iger's ego, but I say they are moreso fixing a poor mistake by Eisner. And better to fix it sooner than later.

So, regardless of whether you like the look of the new design... I hope you agree that the change, in general, should happen.

Yeah but SDL went to the opposite extreme. It's a colossal Communist edifice. I agree with your point about the HKDL castle. It's not the original built by Walt himself. It needs a better castle.

 

[JohnD]

Rouge One tickets go on sale on Monday 12.01AM

You mean "Rogue" (miscreant) not "Rouge" (makeup).

 

[JohnD]

I wouldn't be opposed to this. Nemo is showing its age, and a Polynesian area could mercy kill Dinorama in favor of a family dark ride to go with the show. It'd certainly be a good counterbalance to draw crowds back to that side of the park post-Avatar. Not to mention yet another opportunity for a beautiful environment to be created in their prettiest stateside park.

That said, based on everything I've seen of the movie so far, they could put Moana just about anywhere and I'd eat it up. If I had my way, I think I'd go with Hollywood, though. That place needs the water more than anything.

If it's a good show. I like the Nemo musical, though. Very well done.

 

[JohnD]

Definitely completely insane.

First, it is clear that AK is really "Tropical Forest Animal Kingdom". So, rather than Australia, it will be the Amazon that will be next to be added to AK. Then, it's done. No other animals exist except the ones that are from tropical and mostly wet climates. That is the lesson of the ""Animal"" Kingdom.

Second, I agree that we should rip out that awful Nemo slow ride from the Living Seas. There's a Nemo musical and Turtle Talk. No need for a third Nemo attraction. But Captain Nemo ain't a Disney movie coming out in the next five years, so, the idea of using that IP in the park is DOA. Instead, have a slow omni-mover or trackless vehicle take you through the aquarium. Literally. There are already tunnels through the aquarium... put in more that the vehicles can go through. With projections, screens, and underwater animatronics, all your favorite underwater IP characters can be seen. Have the Living Ocean from Moana be the guiding force of your vehicle. Think: underwater People Mover.

Turn Dinoland into South America. Re-theme DINOSAUR to Indy and place it in the same story as pre-Raiders in the Amazon jungle.

 

[Brer Oswald]

I'm with you on this- the obvious warehouse ceiling was disappointing. A galaxy or starry skies design would be a huge improvement.

I wish there were a way to clean up the gross looking water. Or perhaps a better lighting package would go a long way to highlight this ride. (We can move it to Epcot while we're at it)

Yes. Make Small World with a palace design, but retain the classic clock in the facade. It would have a dome like ceiling with the Galaxy design, and you'd be able to see it from any room. Put it at the entrance of World Showcase (they'd have to decrease the size of the lagoon though).
*Side note: My gosh, do I hope we're still talking about Small world or what I just said will make me sound very foolish.

 

[Brer Oswald]

Turn Dinoland into South America. Re-theme DINOSAUR to Indy and place it in the same story as pre-Raiders in the Amazon jungle.

I too want to see Indy in that spot, but I came up with a crazy idea where Indy would go into a temple of Dinosaurs. It would be an archeologist meets paleontologist attraction. Better yet, it would be an original story using an existing IP!

 

[Mike S]

Turn Dinoland into South America. Re-theme DINOSAUR to Indy and place it in the same story as pre-Raiders in the Amazon jungle.

And Indy fits in AK because, why? Snakes? That's weak.

 

[Bocabear]

And Indy fits in AK because, why? Snakes? That's weak.

I think more like...Indy, Adventure, Jungle, Animals... It really is not a far stretch... The entire park has an Adventure type theme... Feels about right. Maybe then we could get rid of Chester and Hester and do the Temple Du Peril coaster along with the retheme...then turn the rest into an archaeological dig site and village... It would work well I think... Of course it would fit Adventureland too, but Adventureland feels more like Piarates Land and Agrabah these days...

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Yes. Make Small World with a palace design, but retain the classic clock in the facade. It would have a dome like ceiling with the Galaxy design, and you'd be able to see it from any room. Put it at the entrance of World Showcase (they'd have to decrease the size of the lagoon though).
*Side note: My gosh, do I hope we're still talking about Small world or what I just said will make me sound very foolish.

Yep, you're good. and I agree, that sounds like an acceptable design.

 

[Mike S]

I think more like...Indy, Adventure, Jungle, Animals... It really is not a far stretch... The entire park has an Adventure type theme... Feels about right. Maybe then we could get rid of Chester and Hester and do the Temple Du Peril coaster along with the retheme...then turn the rest into an archaeological dig site and village... It would work well I think... Of course it would fit Adventureland too, but Adventureland feels more like Piarates Land and Agrabah these days...

Indiana Jones lacks the focus on nature. AK is more than just Adventureland annex.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

And Indy fits in AK because, why? Snakes? That's weak.

Moana AK
Indy MK

 

[Jones14]

Indiana Jones lacks the focus on nature. AK is more than just Adventureland annex.

Not to mention that Dinosaur is already an excellent fit, and is not a contributor to Animal Kingdom's problems.