EPCOT Announced: Mary Poppins Attraction in UK Pavilion

[MisterPenguin]

To whom do I make out the Human Sacrifice in order to make THIS happen? If we're meant to finally get a Mary Poppins Attraction, something like this is really the form it should take. I'm sure the Double-Decker Carousel would have been nice enough, but Mary deserves better than another bunted spinner.

I also kinda think a nice classy double decker merry go round would be a pretty swell addition to epcot as there isnt one, so even if they cut the budget way down from a dark ride to a nice merrygoround Id be happy, and its be a nice low thrills ride all ages draw to that section of the park

Our more regarded insiders have said that the detachable horse from a merry-go-round is the old Baxter pitch which was never in the mix for this EPCOT renewal. Just fan speculation/wish-fulfillment.

Also, they said the carousel would not be double decker. Another fan theory.

Hey, those two things have something in common!

 

[UNCgolf]

Our more regarded insiders have said that the detachable horse from a merry-go-round is the old Baxter pitch which was never in the mix for this EPCOT renewal. Just fan speculation/wish-fulfillment.

Also, they said the carousel would not be double decker. Another fan theory.

Hey, those two things have something in common!

I thought Martin mentioned the double decker carousel at some point as a possibility.

Regardless, I've always wondered how they'd be able to efficiently load a double decker carousel. Carousels aren't exactly quick to load to begin with, but doing it on two separate levels seems like it would slow things down even more. It would not be a high capacity attraction unless the carousel was massive (double decker would likely be higher capacity due to sheer numbers of additional spots, but if it took twice as long to load, it would significantly cut into that capacity).

 

[owlsandcoffee]

IMO, they're trying to do too much with the trackless, affecting the storytelling. It's more important than the technology. A simpler, easier to maintain vehicle and support doesn't negate immersion. Take a look at what other parks on doing with less technology.

Oh, agreed, I'd love to see a more simple, Pretzel-style tracked ride that takes advantage of projection tech, better animatronics, and high-quality theming. The fact that Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is still the best ride that Fantasyland ever had supports your comment.

 

[UNCgolf]

Oh, agreed, I'd love to see a more simple, Pretzel-style tracked ride that takes advantage of projection tech, better animatronics, and high-quality theming. The fact that Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is still the best ride that Fantasyland ever had supports your comment.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was better than Mr. Toad.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Respectfully disagree. Look at Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, most of that ride is spent parked in front of screens too, but it's one of the greatest attractions of all time (some may argue *the* greatest). You just don't get the same effects in a simulator. The bits they chose to make practical give it a heightened sense of authenticity. I like it a lot for what it is.

Spider-Man uses a motion base and a LOT of practical effects, far more then Rat. The screens are a big part of Spidey. The screens ARE Rat.

I actually think Spidey works slightly better then Indy, although both are masterpieces and their is very little daylight between the two. Without the integration of screens, Indy feels SMALL, and (although this is an odd way to put it) the motion-base sometimes feels like its overacting to prove its there, occasionally overwhelming rather then working in harmony with other elements of the attraction. I appreciate many of Indy's effects without necessarily FEELING them - I enjoy the snake or the boulder finale, but I enjoy them as clever effects in a ride, and neither produces the visceral suspension-of-disbelief moment that Spidey's lantern bomb or anti-gravity sequence does even on the umpteenth ride. But again, I still absolutely love Indy, and its easily one of the best attractions in America.

 

[marni1971]

Will anyone who was "in the know" confirm what the attraction would have been?
The initial post was 5 years ago in this thread and the attraction was officially announced three years ago.

Began life as a dark ride when the theme was changed from Brave.

Then a “flat” ride

Then a “spinning” ride.

Got so far as backstage survey markers.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

Began life as a dark ride when the theme was changed from Brave.

Then a “flat” ride

Then a “spinning” ride.

Got so far as backstage survey markers.

Would you think it‘s fair to say this has been merely shelved instead of cancelled?

It surprised me to see anyone suggest it might simply come further down the line, given the climate of the company.

 

[TikibirdLand]

Began life as a dark ride when the theme was changed from Brave.

Then a “flat” ride

Then a “spinning” ride.

Got so far as backstage survey markers.

Can you imagine a dark ride set on Cherry Tree Lane. New or old Mary Poppins... It would have been magical!

 

[marni1971]

Would you think it‘s fair to say this has been merely shelved instead of cancelled?

It surprised me to see anyone suggest it might simply come further down the line, given the climate of the company.

Pass. I’ve not asked.

But we know how Bob likes to count his pennies.

 

[marni1971]

Remember when we were all hoping for them to add a trackless dark ride to Disney World?

Now we have, I think, three. And the novelty has worn off.

We had one in 1982. Then another 2. Then everyone wanted LPS a version.

I thought Martin mentioned the double decker carousel at some point as a possibility.

Wasn’t me… was it?

 

[castlecake2.0]

Began life as a dark ride when the theme was changed from Brave.

Then a “flat” ride

Then a “spinning” ride.

Got so far as backstage survey markers.

Do you know how much of the pavilion would have been altered to make it fit? I’m all for more attractions but scared we would lose those quiet corners of WS.

 

[marni1971]

Do you know how much of the pavilion would have been altered to make it fit? I’m all for more attractions but scared we would lose those quiet corners of WS.

I never saw a plan for the project in any of its forms. I do know it would have encroached on the backstage bus turnaround.

 

[UNCgolf]

We had one in 1982. Then another 2. Then everyone wanted LPS a version.

Wasn’t me… was it?

Guess not!

 

[owlsandcoffee]

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was better than Mr. Toad.

Lol, I suppose I should cop to being too young to ride either...kinda forgot 20K was a Fantasyland ride, I'll give you 20K!

 

[Goofy213]

Seeing how disney likes to save money by reusing ride designs in different parks (ex. Indy at Disneyland and Dinosaur at AK), could they reuse the new Spidey design and rather it to Mary. Seeing how Marvel is not allowed in Florida anyways, might as well use the technology. Make the ride vehicles open carriages like the one from the new movie so guest of all ages can ride. Then take them through scenes from both movies, Cherry Tree Lane, the Chalk Drawing, the Royal Bowl, the Bank, Trip the Light and grand finale the Roof Top step in time. Does anyone know if the footprint is small enough to fit behind the Tower of London restrooms at Epcot? Or will that encroach to much in to the Millenium festival tent?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I thought Martin mentioned the double decker carousel at some point as a possibility.

Regardless, I've always wondered how they'd be able to efficiently load a double decker carousel. Carousels aren't exactly quick to load to begin with, but doing it on two separate levels seems like it would slow things down even more. It would not be a high capacity attraction unless the carousel was massive (double decker would likely be higher capacity due to sheer numbers of additional spots, but if it took twice as long to load, it would significantly cut into that capacity).

Tokyo DisneySea has a double decker carousel and they simply load the two at different intervals.

 

[UNCgolf]

Tokyo DisneySea has a double decker carousel and they simply load the two at different intervals.

Well yeah, that wouldn't be an issue on a normal carousel. I was thinking it could be a problem for something with actual show scenes of some sort, although in thinking about it more I suppose it would be impossible to sync them in any meaningful way for a carousel anyways so that likely wouldn't be a concern.

 

[Bocabear]

Seeing how disney likes to save money by reusing ride designs in different parks (ex. Indy at Disneyland and Dinosaur at AK), could they reuse the new Spidey design and rather it to Mary. Seeing how Marvel is not allowed in Florida anyways, might as well use the technology. Make the ride vehicles open carriages like the one from the new movie so guest of all ages can ride. Then take them through scenes from both movies, Cherry Tree Lane, the Chalk Drawing, the Royal Bowl, the Bank, Trip the Light and grand finale the Roof Top step in time. Does anyone know if the footprint is small enough to fit behind the Tower of London restrooms at Epcot? Or will that encroach to much in to the Millenium festival tent?

Don't give them ideas on how to do a really cheap crappy attraction..LOL . Spiderman has been sort of universally panned...And another Motion Theater type attraction doesn't sound great for the Mary Poppins IP. It should be something wonderful...Not the cheapest laziest easiest thing they can think of...

 

[ppete1975]

Will anyone who was "in the know" confirm what the attraction would have been?
The initial post was 5 years ago in this thread and the attraction was officially announced three years ago.

Over priced, would have taken 5 years to build, and 90 percent of people on here would have hated it.. or said...
"cost way too much, took too long for what we got"

 

[kaos]

this is probably a BAD post for me to re-enter the WDWMagic world on... BUT- I would LOVE an OG MP theme; however my younger kids adored the sequel, so a good mix of BOTH would satisfy everyone.