EPCOT Announced: Mary Poppins Attraction in UK Pavilion

[nickys]

If I may intrude, I agree with @bhmclaurin because all the indications are that this is going to be a very expensive but mediocre attraction whereas a new Imagination or Coco ride could be great. I think either of those things also have greater potential to be in keeping with the (original) spirit of EPCOT.

Personally, I liked both MPR and the original, so I have no issue with the IP. If we were talking about something more on the scale of, say, Ratatouille in France, that would be a different matter. But a souped-up flat ride with movie set facades in WS is hard for me to get too excited about.

Intrude away! It makes it a discussion, instead of just a statement with no explanation.

There seems no doubt this “attraction” is going to disappoint a lot of people. If they go with the double decker carousel with “extras”, that at least would be better than “Tales with Mary”.

I want a UK attraction, but feel let down by the likely outcome. Guess I let my expectations get too high. So I can understand if people who prefer they use the money elsewhere to better effect.

 

[Rich Brownn]

That’s why I said they should have kept SoS in the score as Mary’s theme, just as it was in the original film. Add all the new songs you want, just don’t dismantle what’s been established in the score.

There were interpolations of music from the original film weaved in as part of the score. But they didn't do songs.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

Intrude away! It makes it a discussion, instead of just a statement with no explanation.

There seems no doubt this “attraction” is going to disappoint a lot of people. If they go with the double decker carousel with “extras”, that at least would be better than “Tales with Mary”.

I want a UK attraction, but feel let down by the likely outcome. Guess I let my expectations get too high. So I can understand if people who prefer they use the money elsewhere to better effect.

Not knowing exactly what they're planning for the UK Pavilion, I think I'd actually still be excited by a "Tales with Mary" kind of thing - imagine if they took things in an Enchanted Tales/Tiki Room sort of direction. We go into the Banks' house to meet with Mary and prepare for an outing, only for it to start pouring outside the window. Since we can't very well go out in the rain, she changes the plan and makes an adventure out of being in the Banks' living room. Maybe Admiral Boom "chimes the hour" and sets the room into disarray, but she shows us that with a snap of our fingers we can reset the toppled books and knickknacks on the shelf. Maybe she pulls a couple fun things out of her bag to brighten up the room and we see her engage in conversation with her umbrella parrot. Maybe she brings the pictures on the wall to life to talk to us, and a la Enchanted Tales and we step into a beautiful landscape for something fun and a chance to take a picture with her, after she does a magical costume change before our eyes. And just as our spirits have been lifted, the sky brightens back up outside the window and everything in the room goes back to normal, with Mary pretending none of it happened and insisting she must be off. Maybe we see her fly away out the back window before we're returned out to Cherry Tree Lane.

But that's enough armchair imagineering! I certainly won't begrudge a ride if that's what we're getting, though I hope it's more interesting than it has been made to sound, but as far as elaborate Meet and Greets go I think Mary has way more potential for a magical "event" in a dynamic space than a character like Belle. I'd love to get to have a special encounter with her along those lines.

 

[DoleWhipDrea]

If I may intrude, I agree with @bhmclaurin because all the indications are that this is going to be a very expensive but mediocre attraction whereas a new Imagination or Coco ride could be great. I think either of those things also have greater potential to be in keeping with the (original) spirit of EPCOT.

Personally, I liked both MPR and the original, so I have no issue with the IP. If we were talking about something more on the scale of, say, Ratatouille in France, that would be a different matter. But a souped-up flat ride with movie set facades in WS is hard for me to get too excited about.

This is how I feel. I’m so glad that WS is getting new things, and I’m all for Poppins, but hearing that it’s likely going to be a carousel or a souped up M&G is frustrating. Poppins is rich with storytelling potential!

Not every attraction can be a HM or RotR, but making such a big to-do over what we’re hearing feels...disingenuous? I mean they brought out the incomparable DVD at D23 for the announcement. Poppins is a real legacy property for Disney, and IMHO it deserves something grand.

There just seems to be a lot of poor budgeting with this EPCOT makeover.

 

[rreading]

The fact that this seems to be at a standstill suggests that what the Imagineers would like to do and what the budget allows is at an impasse and until someone gives, then there's nothing going here.

Sure, it's been announced but it was vague. Even something as concrete -and distinctly useful - as the Main Street Theater gets axed if the $$ doesn't allow.

Not sure whether this or Brazil will happen first. If I had to guess, the Coco overlay happens before either as that one makes the most sense from a conceptual and $$ standpoint.

 

[aladdin2007]

The fact that this seems to be at a standstill suggests that what the Imagineers would like to do and what the budget allows is at an impasse and until someone gives, then there's nothing going here.

Sure, it's been announced but it was vague. Even something as concrete -and distinctly useful - as the Main Street Theater gets axed if the $$ doesn't allow.

Not sure whether this or Brazil will happen first. If I had to guess, the Coco overlay happens before either as that one makes the most sense from a conceptual and $$ standpoint.

I think it was noted in the Brazil thread that Brazil is off the table now all together?...but I agree it feels like the poppins thing isnt happening either due to what you described, the experience presentation seems so vague its like they threw it in there just to look good.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

I think it was noted in the Brazil thread that Brazil is off the table now all together?...but I agree it feels like the poppins thing isnt happening either due to what you described, the experience presentation seems so vague its like they threw it in there just to look good.

What are they doing with the land that they are building the barges for the new fireworks show? The real estate is huge.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Except it was taken straight from the books. “Returns” was a much truer adaptation of the books than the original movie. The stage show, at least the London version (not sure if Broadway was the same) was much darker then the movie, and also closer to the book.

The broadway show opened with the same wonderful score (additional score was by Stiles and Drew, Cameron McIntosh promised PL Travers it would be a Britist writing team).

After a few years they toned it down by putting in Playing the Game instead of Temper Temper which was my favorite song in the show.

As a side note... Gavin Lee was incredible as always performing those songs at Epcot this past week!

Back to on topic.... it would be amazing if they had Burt performing 1-man band or street organ shows, Jack lighting the lamps, and the Park Keeper back in the courtyard, Admiral Boom etc.

 

[marni1971]

What are they doing with the land that they are building the barges for the new fireworks show? The real estate is huge.

It’ll go back to scrub until it’s needed.

 

[Orange is the new Red]

Is it possible that the development of this attraction would be impacted by the closure of the Chinese Disney Parks due to the Corona virus or is it too far along in the process to be impacted?

 

[𝐌𝖆𝖓 𝖎𝖓 𝐖𝖊𝖇]

Is it possible that the development of this attraction would be impacted by the closure of the Chinese Disney Parks due to the Corona virus or is it too far along in the process to be impacted?

I'd be surprised if they walk it back. A "Main Street USA Theater" repeat wouldn't go over well. It sure is quiet though. While I don't think it cancelled, I do wonder if the plans have changed. I hope we get more than a M&G.

 

[danlb_2000]

I'd be surprised if they walk it back. A "Main Street USA Theater" repeat wouldn't go over well. It sure is quiet though. While I don't think it cancelled, I do wonder if the plans have changed. I hope we get more than a M&G.

I bet that the vast majority of guests didn't even know about the theater project.

 

[CJR]

Just my two cents, but I really hope no one in power would consider spending that kind of money on just a M&G.

This is different than Belle because Belle was part of a much larger expansion that ultimately included two and half new rides. It also brought the very popular and profitable Be Our Guest restaurant next door. Even then, many people criticize the project today, not really the best thing to compare to.

Even a carousel would be an addition and something that's not already available in Epcot. Mary Poppins already has a M&G in the UK pavilion. So as an investor, I fail to see any RoI with just a M&G. That's just bad money management, not that a carousel should be the top pick either, but at least there's some justification there.

 

[justintheharris]

I'd be surprised if they walk it back. A "Main Street USA Theater" repeat wouldn't go over well. It sure is quiet though. While I don't think it cancelled, I do wonder if the plans have changed. I hope we get more than a M&G.

Given that the experience is being touted every day in the Epcot Experience exhibit, I don't think Disney would ever be able to get away with cancelling the project.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Given that the experience is being touted every day in the Epcot Experience exhibit, I don't think Disney would ever be able to get away with cancelling the project.

Remember: Main Street Theater.

 

[FigmentFan82]

Remember: Main Street Theater.

To be fair though, wasn't that just 1 piece of concept art and then crickets after? I get that they can (and do) anything they very well please, but the time and effort put into the exhibit in Odyssey seems like there's a plan to invest in the project. But again, who know. Surely not me.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Well judging by the Epcot models, and what an insider has told us, there was a Coco whatever that was coming, and now it is not. Only the model of the Mexico pavilion with Miguel's guitar is left of a shadow of what was going to be, but got cut or delayed. Same with the Imagination pavilion... continued to be put off.

If Poppins is coming for the 50th, they only have 15 months left to complete it before the 50th. Otherwise, it most likely gets delayed to 2023 to be completed with the rest of the Epcot additions/upgrades.

So, between Main Street Theater and Coco and Imagination... it's clear Disney has no problems cutting or delaying projects, even when they are announced or have a display that they pretend doesn't exist.

 

[justintheharris]

Well judging by the Epcot models, and what an insider has told us, there was a Coco whatever that was coming, and now it is not. Only the model of the Mexico pavilion with Miguel's guitar is left of a shadow of what was going to be, but got cut or delayed. Same with the Imagination pavilion... continued to be put off.

If Poppins is coming for the 50th, they only have 15 months left to complete it before the 50th. Otherwise, it most likely gets delayed to 2023 to be completed with the rest of the Epcot additions/upgrades.

So, between Main Street Theater and Coco and Imagination... it's clear Disney has no problems cutting or delaying projects, even when they are announced or have a display that they pretend doesn't exist.

But there is not and never was a Coco segment being advertised in the film. It's unlikely most guests know or think anything of the Mexico pavilion on the model. On the other hand, Mary Poppins is not only on the model, but she has a segment in the film. And there has been so much publicity on the attraction that cancelling it would catch the attention of not just D23 fanatics but of the general public.

 

[Bocabear]

These days 15 months is barely enough time to build a spinner...I am beginning to think the Mary Poppins attraction is going to be little more than a facade and movie set walk through...unless they are pushing this one until 2023 too...

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

Well judging by the Epcot models, and what an insider has told us, there was a Coco whatever that was coming, and now it is not. Only the model of the Mexico pavilion with Miguel's guitar is left of a shadow of what was going to be, but got cut or delayed. Same with the Imagination pavilion... continued to be put off.

If Poppins is coming for the 50th, they only have 15 months left to complete it before the 50th. Otherwise, it most likely gets delayed to 2023 to be completed with the rest of the Epcot additions/upgrades.

So, between Main Street Theater and Coco and Imagination... it's clear Disney has no problems cutting or delaying projects, even when they are announced or have a display that they pretend doesn't exist.

But there is not and never was a Coco segment being advertised in the film. It's unlikely most guests know or think anything of the Mexico pavilion on the model. On the other hand, Mary Poppins is not only on the model, but she has a segment in the film. And there has been so much publicity on the attraction that cancelling it would catch the attention of not just D23 fanatics but of the general public.

Not to mention that the Guitar on the Mexico Model is not Miguel's, it's just a guitar. The defining feature of Miguel's guitar is the skull shaped headstock, which the one on the model doesn't have. The shape of the body is different from his too. Weird, but it's not the smoking gun people have made it out to be.