EPCOT Announced: Mary Poppins Attraction in UK Pavilion

[Orange is the new Red]

The truth is they know they don't have to do better than a carousel. WDW fans cry all the time when they asked for cake (afordable prices, high-quality food options, and new E-tickets) but got a mouthful of spinach instead (paid parking at hotels, 100% increase in AP prices since 2010, 50-75% increase in hotel cost since 2010, average or lower quality food at many locations, new rides like A.S.S. and Navi promoted as major new rides). We could learn something from a child in this case. They have the sense to spit out the disgusting substitute for the cake they requested no matter how much they are told the spinach is good for them. We (not me, but the collective WDW attendees) have lost that pure, natural rejection of what we dislike instinct. We've bought into the narrative of "Just hold your nose and swallow. It's not that bad." In so doing we have given Disney permission to build 'just a carousel'. Why would they do more? They know we will eat the spinach anyway even though it's not the cake we asked for.

Your argument sounds strong in a vacuum. You cant mention the bad without mentioning the good. Navi is not a great ride but it is a good ride in combination with that area. FOP is amazing. Thats only one example. There is a strong line up of rides that are about to be completed as well. Why not mention those? Oh, because it gets in the way of your doomsday scenario.

 

[VaderTron]

Your argument sounds strong in a vacuum. You cant mention the bad without mentioning the good. Navi is not a great ride but it is a good ride in combination with that area. FOP is amazing. Thats only one example. There is a strong line up of rides that are about to be completed as well. Why not mention those? Oh, because it gets in the way of your doomsday scenario.

Not a doomsday scenario. That's what all "pixie dusters" want to paint any negative statements as. However, doomsday would be the park closes due to mismanagement, the company goes bankrupt, etc. We are not talking about that. Also, no one said they are incapable of building great rides. That's what's so maddening about this. They have the ability to maintain high-quality, but the lowering of quality has not met with lower satisfaction (at least in revenue, which is the only language Disney reads).

In this case the scenario isn't doomsday. It's accepting a carousel as satisfactory instead of a more interesting ride. The reasons Disney will likely do it anyway are because there are enough people like you that say, "You know what, there are other things that are great so I'm ok with lower standards as long as I get some good things with it."

To modify the earlier analogy, "OK I will eat the spinach. Just put it on my cake and I'll eat it together." Because we all know that will taste great.

 

[VaderTron]

Your argument sounds strong in a vacuum. You cant mention the bad without mentioning the good. Navi is not a great ride but it is a good ride in combination with that area. FOP is amazing. Thats only one example. There is a strong line up of rides that are about to be completed as well. Why not mention those? Oh, because it gets in the way of your doomsday scenario.

Let's also be fair. You seem to be cutting hard on the bad and really pushing strong on the good. Perhaps because there is no good news on the price hikes on everything including tickets/passes/hotels. You conveniently glossed over that part.

 

[UNCgolf]

It didn't ban children, but it didn't cater to them either. Closest you got was Journey.

I think it catered to intelligent/inquisitive children who liked learning.

I'm not even sure it's about children vs. adults (other than the drinking in the World Showcase). I'm pretty sure the people who didn't like it as kids still didn't really like it as adults, and the people who loved it as adults would have still loved it as kids. I know it was my favorite Disney park when I was 8.

 

[Rich Brownn]

I think it catered to intelligent/inquisitive children who liked learning.

I'm not even sure it's about children vs. adults (other than the drinking in the World Showcase). I'm pretty sure the people who didn't like it as kids still didn't really like it as adults, and the people who loved it as adults would have still loved it as kids. I know it was my favorite Disney park when I was 8.

Well, the biggest complaint it got was that it wasn't kid-friendly. So first the character were allowed back. Then "play areas" we're introduced. Movies like "Symbiosis" got replaced with a film with Lion King characters... and slowly, over time, it evolved (or de-evolved depending on your viewpoint) to where the characters are the attraction in the case of the new additions (Frozen, Beauty & The Beast, Ratatouille)....

 

[gustaftp]

So I looked it up orginally there was going to be a Switzerland pavilion between Italy and germany with the matterhorn. Also the matterhorn is on the border of the two countries. See attachedView attachment 422242

Yep, it's a beautiful ski resort that has a Swiss side and an Italian side. One of the best days of my life so far was skiing in Zermatt. If you see the real Matterhorn in person (and all the trains!) you can understand why Walt Disney was so inspired by it. It's one of the most beautiful places in the world.

 

[jt04]

Not a doomsday scenario. That's what all "pixie dusters" want to paint any negative statements as. However, doomsday would be the park closes due to mismanagement, the company goes bankrupt, etc. We are not talking about that. Also, no one said they are incapable of building great rides. That's what's so maddening about this. They have the ability to maintain high-quality, but the lowering of quality has not met with lower satisfaction (at least in revenue, which is the only language Disney reads).

In this case the scenario isn't doomsday. It's accepting a carousel as satisfactory instead of a more interesting ride. The reasons Disney will likely do it anyway are because there are enough people like you that say, "You know what, there are other things that are great so I'm ok with lower standards as long as I get some good things with it."

To modify the earlier analogy, "OK I will eat the spinach. Just put it on my cake and I'll eat it together." Because we all know that will taste great.

Walt installed a Carousel. He never designed every attraction as an E ticket.

 

[VaderTron]

Walt installed a Carousel. He never designed every attraction as an E ticket.

I didn't say the ride should be an E-ticket. I said it should be better than a carousel. Your comment underscores why. We already have a carousel at WDW. To install a second is lazy and unimaginative, two things Walt would not approve of.

 

[Bender123]

I didn't say the ride should be an E-ticket. I said it should be better than a carousel. Your comment underscores why. We already have a carousel at WDW. To install a second is lazy and unimaginative, two things Walt would not approve of.

We already have multiple movies, dark rides, and others too.

Small World and Mexico are basically the same ride experience with different scenery...

Honestly, EPCOT needs something for small children, so I have less concern for this, because "at least its an attraction" even if its not really built for me.

 

[Bocabear]

Walt installed a Carousel. He never designed every attraction as an E ticket.

He also didn't intend for that carousel to anchor Fantasyland as it's only attraction....
He also installed popcorn carts but that doesn't mean a popcorn cart is a viable replacement for an attraction either...

 

[jt04]

I didn't say the ride should be an E-ticket. I said it should be better than a carousel. Your comment underscores why. We already have a carousel at WDW. To install a second is lazy and unimaginative, two things Walt would not approve of.

IF it is a Carousel perhaps you should consider you are not the target audience. Also, only the Studios doesn't have a boat ride but nobody is upset they exist beyond the Jungle Cruise or IaSW.

 

[jt04]

He also didn't intend for that carousel to anchor Fantasyland as it's only attraction....
He also installed popcorn carts but that doesn't mean a popcorn cart is a viable replacement for an attraction either...

I am hopeful whatever is being added is only a first phase and eventually the pavilion will follow the example of the France pavilion.

 

[Bocabear]

I am hopeful whatever is being added is only a first phase and eventually the pavilion will follow the example of the France pavilion.

lets be honest...they almost never get to a phase 2...and if they do it will be decades away.

 

[jt04]

lets be honest...they almost never get to a phase 2...and if they do it will be decades away.

In normal times. But we are in the Epcot 2.0 era. And investing in WS is much cheaper than a 5th gate.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

I agree Epcot needs a mix of attractions- perhaps even a carousel. BUT it should not be what represents one of the most celebrated and profitable Disney films of all time.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

I agree Epcot needs a mix of attractions- perhaps even a carousel. BUT it should not be what represents one of the most celebrated and profitable Disney films of all time.

WDW can’t use Marvel in the parks

 

[KimAnnFran]

I think this is moot, but since when is EPCOT supposed to be about storybook themes? I mean, I thought EPCOT was about futuristic things, prototypes of tomorrow, etc? How are the Disney stories getting mixed in here?

And the original World Showcase was really amazing, it really gave you the feel of being in that country you were visiting....now in the middle of Norway, there's Frozen. IT's a bit jarring. What lead to this decision, or is it just the obvious $$$ and merchandising?

 

[marni1971]

I think this is moot, but since when is EPCOT supposed to be about storybook themes? I mean, I thought EPCOT was about futuristic things, prototypes of tomorrow, etc? How are the Disney stories getting mixed in here?

EPCOT is dead. This is the new regimes new IPCOT.

 

[mikejs78]

Walt installed a Carousel. He never designed every attraction as an E ticket.

He also didn't intend for that carousel to anchor Fantasyland as it's only attraction....
He also installed popcorn carts but that doesn't mean a popcorn cart is a viable replacement for an attraction either...

Walt actually did consider the carousel to be the anchor of Fantasyland, and considered it a critical part of Disneyland. Notice it's placement - it's the first thing you see when you enter Fantasyland via the castle - the centerpiece. He considered the inclusion of the carousel to be critically important for his theme park (probably going back to his daughter's love for them).

I too would prefer a dark ride, but I don't have issue for an imaginative carousel with special effects that make it a different experience than a typical carousel. To say Walt wouldn't do this is rather presumptuous and possibly not true, given his affinity for carousels.

 

[Mike S]

Walt actually did consider the carousel to be the anchor of Fantasyland, and considered it a critical part of Disneyland. Notice it's placement - it's the first thing you see when you enter Fantasyland via the castle - the centerpiece. He considered the inclusion of the carousel to be critically important for his theme park (probably going back to his daughter's love for them).

I too would prefer a dark ride, but I don't have issue for an imaginative carousel with special effects that make it a different experience than a typical carousel. To say Walt wouldn't do this is rather presumptuous and possibly not true, given his affinity for carousels.

Disneyland was also built in the 50s and Walt was a guy about constantly moving forward with technology. No one really knows what he’d be like today and what he’d do but perhaps he would’ve felt carousels were old hat. Maybe.