News Announced: Mary Poppins Attraction in UK Pavilion

[AKL2003]

Sigh....i am so torn between being excited for necessary "newness" and being nostalgic for what once was ...

 

[Jo DeVil]

OH God please not Nessie!!! The old ways of the pavilions was as a tourist advertising to get people to want to travel to that Country! But as they are all moving to Disney/Pixar themes then some of the others have mentioned some good films that could fit. The UK is always mobbed so if something is needed to draw in more people to that area, How about something total different and a bit out there, something for boys without a Princess in sight!!!! Personally I would rather they spent the time and effort on Future World and fill the empty spaces there as they are more in your face empty than hidden areas in the World Showcase.

 

[larryz]

Because nothing says U.K. more than a climactic trip to hell?

Nothing better to prepare one for WDW in August.

On the other hand, it could also prepare one for a visit to a British restaurant.

 

[jhendrix]

For my own clarity, the pairs are the flanking pavilions to the gateway? The one being France... which is well documented. Is the other likely pair a different pavilion, or the UK?

In terms of further calculation... a new pavilion +/- a ride is not what you are considering in that 6, only for existing pavilions right?

Mexico of course being the only overlay option.

France and U.K.
Existing and new
No. But I'll leave it at that.

The only other "attractions" to be overlaid would be China and Canada's circle-visions. Unless the empty building in Germany where the river ride was supposed to go is "overlaid" with an attraction such as Pinocchio or Tangled.
I could maybe see China getting a Mulan circle-vision show, but circle-vision seems like a fad that passed 30 years ago. Unless they were to do a Mulan Virtual Reality theatre in the same space.

[Edit:] I just remembered the American Adventure could count too. Man I hope that one doesn't get an IP overlay. That would be awful. "Come see the American Adventure: featuring Toy Story!"

 

[jpeden]

France and U.K.
Existing and new
No. But I'll leave it at that.

The last one confuses me - if we're talking about ride overlays, the only options are Mexico and Norway - are you suggesting they'd overlay Frozen? Unless we're talking as suggested above about a movie overlay or an overlay of the American Adventure.

 

[P_Radden]

The only other "attractions" to be overlaid would be China and Canada's circle-visions. Unless the empty building in Germany where the river ride was supposed to go is "overlaid" with an attraction such as Pinocchio or Tangled.
I could maybe see China getting a Mulan circle-vision show, but circle-vision seems like a fad that passed 30 years ago. Unless they were to do a Mulan Virtual Reality theatre in the same space.

[Edit:] I just remembered the American Adventure could count too. Man I hope that one doesn't get an IP overlay. That would be awful. "Come see the American Adventure: featuring Toy Story!"

The ride building for Germany was never built. Japan however, it was infact built but is now used for other needs such as maintenance etc.

 

[disneydude715]

Long time blogger and I don't usually post, but I was scrolling through twitter and found this. I found it interesting and wanted to share it.

 

[PJBuckeye]

Two pairs are competing for the same spaces. These are down to cost. A fifth is doubtful (and again down to cost) and I'd be gobsmacked to see the 6th.

And then there's overlays too...

So, this is in addition to the Mexico overlay that has been speculated. That is good.

 

[jaxonp]

Mexico?

 

[aladdin2007]

OH God please not Nessie!!! The old ways of the pavilions was as a tourist advertising to get people to want to travel to that Country! But as they are all moving to Disney/Pixar themes then some of the others have mentioned some good films that could fit. The UK is always mobbed so if something is needed to draw in more people to that area, How about something total different and a bit out there, something for boys without a Princess in sight!!!! Personally I would rather they spent the time and effort on Future World and fill the empty spaces there as they are more in your face empty than hidden areas in the World Showcase.

I agree would like to see something without a darn princess focus,,,but where is it not mobbed at Disney anymore?

 

[Darth Sidious]

Just no on the Nessie idea ... did a bus driver come up with that?

I don't want Disney/Pixar/Marvel/Lucas IP stuffed into EPCOT's now hollow shell. But if the new Poppins movie is the huge hit I expect it to be, then I'd expect Disney to take advantage.

While I agree with your sentiment on IP in Epcot, I've always thought Mary Poppins as a dark ride with the music of the film could be incredible.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Because nothing says U.K. more than a climactic trip to hell?

Toad is that most essential of British treasures, the eccentric gentleman. Or is that 'most treasured of British essentials'. He'd be brilliant.

 

[WildcatDen]

They've been tossing around ride ideas for all of Showcase since the late 1970's.

Right now I know of 6 new builds proposed. I'd expect to see 2 of them.

That matches what I heard with a caveat that a third would not be a major surprise.

 

[CanadianGordon]

I'm getting excited over the rumour of something new. Really like what I'm reading. Makes sense for them to be planning something right near the gondola system.

Now the question is, UK... What kind of drinking would they create and food?
101 Dalmatians had Cruella... Uh no.. Poppins.. I want to laugh on a ceiling and eat tea and cake... I really wish we had Baxter's ride...
So many possibilities.. I'm thinking Medieval. They could use multiple characters....

The mind is so filled with ideas I can't think straight.

 

[RSoxNo1]

A quick commentary on the possibility of a Poppins ride in the UK (that I can neither confirm nor deny as being most likely, as I simply do not know the specifics of the themes being considered). I get that it takes place in London, and Frozen takes place in a Norway-ish country, but that still does not change the fact that it is a bit hypocritical to praise the concept of Poppins and bash on Frozen. Poppins by no means centers around English culture (unless you count accents & tea), while still having slight inspirations, akin to Frozen. I would deem it a worse fit in WS that Rat, as far as IPification goes. Ultimately, I am just a concerned that the prospect of a practically perfect Poppins ride, is blinding us from seeing how this could damage a bit of the integrity of EPCOT. Now, having said that, seeing as EPCOT is going down this road, be it with or without Mary, I would personally advocate for it as a best case, especially since EPCOT Center is dead.

I'm with you. Poppins would belong in Fantasyland. The location of Mary Poppins isn't culturally significant to the movie to the extent that it's a good fit in Epcot. It's why I'd be ok with a Coco addition in Mexico over some of the IP proposals.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Tony Baxter once said on the Season Pass Podcast that he felt that the 'Castle Parks' are supposed to "take the magical, and make it real". And he said that EPCOT is supposed to "take the real, and make it magical." And the studios were, obviously, about "how the magic is made." I don't think he mentioned AK.

He said that you could theoretically put any IP into any park as long as you remained true to that. As an example, he said Indiana Jones, at the studios, is a stunt show demonstrating how an Indy movie was made. At Disneyland, the whole fantastical adventure is 'made real' and you are in the ancient temple with Indy.

Now here's the kicker:

He said you could put Indy in EPCOT as long as he was serving the purpose making the real magical. Use Indiana Jones to educate about actual archeological history in Mexico, perhaps. Or do something about real cultures, framed with an Indiana Jones lens.

I don't think that would be exactly what the public really wants out of Indy, and now the studio is shedding the "magic making" in favor of more "magic made real".

So, I think you could apply this reasoning to Poppins in the UK. But again, I don't quite think it would be what the people want out of a Poppins attraction.

The fact that Tony Baxter isn't involved with any re-imagining of Epcot is a crime.

 

[jt04]

Mexico?

Coco I would guess.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I could see them cheaply using this system and dressing it up for poppins...

Gross.

 

[larryz]

I could see them cheaply using this system and dressing it up for poppins...

Or with minor modification, they could combine this device with Alice's Spinning Teacups, where riders would be pulled to the top, then allowed to gently drop into the teacup, which would then fill with hot water and start spinning. They could call it "Alice's Teabag Party."

They'd just have to site it carefully to avoid potential conflicts with the new Aerial Gondola system in the works...

 

[NYBaloo]

Would love to have the UK get a Bedknobs and Broomsticks attraction!