EPCOT Announced: Mary Poppins Attraction in UK Pavilion

[MrPromey]

When the CEO goes out of his way to bring something up, we should expect it will be built unless he stops being CEO. He wasn’t asked about this ride but he brought it up anyway.

They keep talking about Frog Mountain, too. Unfortunately.

Someone should ask him about the Main Street Theater. He doesn’t do well when cornered.

"In response to a question at the 2022 Shareholder Meeting, Chapek said that the project is in a holding pattern currently, but looks forward to refunding the Mary Poppins ride in the future."

I'm sure if asked in a public setting while on a live mic, he'd say he looks forward to "refunding" that (the Main Street Theater) some day, too.

 

[ppete1975]

What if they took a page out of the Universal playbook and created a really engaging London section that included Cherry Tree Lane but also nods to the other films they did that were set in London and the UK...Cruella, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, 101 Dalmations, Peter Pan... All worked into an interactive cityscape featuring the Mary Poppins ride but lots of other things to explore... And while it can't be Diagon Alley, it could be something worth seeing... Create new branded merch to fill the stores specific to the setting and IP... just like they did at Hogsmeade... And of course, this could become the model for all pavilions and the reinvention of the World Showcase...

In theory I think thats a cool idea.. change world showcase from real world places to disney areas..... like china can become more mulan and remove the country name.. Now that people travel the world more, can see everything on the internet (not like when it was built and national geographic magazine was the only way most people saw these areas ... maybe PBS). There is also the bigger challenge... what happens if we get into a big dispute with one of these countries.... ala China... Remember Russia was talked about as being added at some points.

But I think the ROI isnt there (and thats all they care about), and there could be alot of outrage if you remove the real world countries.

Remember in Disneys mind World showcase is just a backdrop for festivals.. and people will always come for food and booze..

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

"In response to a question at the 2022 Shareholder Meeting, Chapek said that the project is in a holding pattern currently, but looks forward to refunding the Mary Poppins ride in the future."


I'm sure if asked, he'd say he looks forward to "refunding" that some day, too.

Refunding…

Like things are so tight…time to search for spare change in the cushions

Prices are up probably 30% from what they were in real terms in 2019

 

[Phicinfan]

It's not a price rise, it's a Mary Poppins levy!

Need to continue to re-invest those Tuppins

 

[Bocabear]

…yeah…cause they really WANT to spend money

Of course, that is the problem...But with a bunch of shops and restaurants, they could produce more ROI...and what little girl wouldn't want to go to the House Of DeVil boutique and get a crazy couture gown...or Professor Emelius Brown's Magic Shop? add another restaurant and a quick serve...

 

[MrPromey]

Refunding…

Like things are so tight…time to search for spare change in the cushions

Prices are up probably 30% from what they were in real terms in 2019

I guess nobody cared enough to ask about the giant coffee table!

 

[TikibirdLand]

What if they took a page out of the Universal playbook and created a really engaging London section that included Cherry Tree Lane but also nods to the other films they did that were set in London and the UK...Cruella, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, 101 Dalmations, Peter Pan... All worked into an interactive cityscape featuring the Mary Poppins ride but lots of other things to explore... And while it can't be Diagon Alley, it could be something worth seeing... Create new branded merch to fill the stores specific to the setting and IP... just like they did at Hogsmeade... And of course, this could become the model for all pavilions and the reinvention of the World Showcase...

OK. I'm hiring you as my lead imagineer when I become CEO.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Of course, that is the problem...But with a bunch of shops and restaurants, they could produce more ROI...and what little girl wouldn't want to go to the House Of DeVil boutique and get a crazy couture gown...or Professor Emelius Brown's Magic Shop? add another restaurant and a quick serve...

There seems to be little if any impetus on the corporate level to build good things. That is the difference from the 20th century Disney to the 21st.

 

[MrPromey]

Of course, that is the problem...But with a bunch of shops and restaurants, they could produce more ROI...and what little girl wouldn't want to go to the House Of DeVil boutique and get a crazy couture gown...or Professor Emelius Brown's Magic Shop? add another restaurant and a quick serve...

Dude, you're not new here. You know the management we're talking about.

It is fun to dream, though.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Dude, you're not new here. You know the management we're talking about.

It is fun to dream, though.

It’s particularly bad now.

There is no…zero reason for Disney to invest right now. Their customers ask for nothing for their dollars as it stands.

In a public traded company…chapek would be tarred and feathered if he took on costs when it wasn’t absolutely necessary. “Investment” in companies doesn’t mean you invest in them anymore.

 

[Brer Panther]

Wasn't this initially put on hold/cancelled to fund the Splash Mountain retheme?

 

[larryz]

Great…when does it open?

Spring.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Refunding…

Like things are so tight…time to search for spare change in the cushions

Prices are up probably 30% from what they were in real terms in 2019

It’s hard times for Bob. He now wears a single suit two days of each week. Ties must last 4 days.

Fridays are for Hawaiian shirts, obviously.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It’s hard times for Bob. He now wears a single suit two days of each week. Ties must last 4 days.

Fridays are for Hawaiian shirts, obviously.

…they were repo from Lasseter

 

[yensid1967]

but looks forward to refunding the Mary Poppins ride in the future.

I thought the funds were there when they put the project on hold (as with SSE redo) but now they have to refund it?
Did they ue they allotted money for the canceled projects for TRON and Gaurdians for over spending?

 

[ToTBellHop]

but looks forward to refunding the Mary Poppins ride in the future.

I thought the funds were there when they put the project on hold (as with SSE redo) but now they have to refund it?
Did they ue they allotted money for the canceled projects for TRON and Gaurdians for over spending?

It was allotted to things like plexiglass, distancing markers, etc., and to absorb costs from when the parks reopened to very low capacities. It wasn’t cheap to get the parks ready to reopen in Summer 2020.

 

[celluloid]

The Mary Poppins attraction (really is more of a pavilion venue) is less dead than Splash Mountain's demise.

Who would have seen that a week ago?

 

[yensid1967]

The Mary Poppins attraction (really is more of a pavilion venue) is less dead than Splash Mountain's demise.

Who would have seen that a week ago?

I think EVERY country should have an attraction(s) of some sort for the theme of the country...Disney has a wide array of cross-cultural movies they could incorporate, but no IP's...actual prop filled attractions! The imagineers are dreamers and storytellers...start telling and making some park attraction stories!

 

[ToTBellHop]

I think EVERY country should have an attraction(s) of some sort for the theme of the country...Disney has a wide array of cross-cultural movies they could incorporate, but no IP's...actual prop filled attractions! The imagineers are dreamers and storytellers...start telling and making some park attraction stories!

Agreed. Staring at Germany, Italy, Japan, and Morocco. Shouldn’t be hard to find a Disney IP for each…took me about 3 seconds to think of one for each.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Agreed. Staring at Germany, Italy, Japan, and Morocco. Shouldn’t be hard to find a Disney IP for each…took me about 3 seconds to think of one for each.

From the WWII propaganda shorts?