Arendelle, Motorboats, and Monorails

[TROR]

The DMV, lawyers, airport security and telemarketers.

I like your style. I agree fully.

 

[Professortango1]

I get what you're saying, but the thing is: Zootopia is not about our world. It's a what-if fantasy and should be approached that way because, as sci-fi or fantasy, it's really intriguing. WHAT IF intelligent life arose from dozens and dozens of species--predators and prey-- and now they're all trying very hard to share a world, and they all have their animal instincts and abilities intact? What unique social issues would they have to deal with if they were trying to live together?

The script makes sure to blend the species around as much as possible, making sure the police force is comprised of both predators and prey (so officers become victims of unfair judgement as much as regular citizens) and making the major "black" character (Chief Bogo) a prey animal so that there's no simple this=this analogy to our world. Taken this way, it's an incredibly fun premise.

It's the message at the end that counts: All animals are equal. They all come from different backgrounds and have different built-in skills, but they've created a haven called Zootopia where you are what you decide to do and everyone should have an equal chance. It's a goal to work toward.

It's not about humans. We don't have Zootopia's unique species-specific problems. It's a fantasy.

Now given all I just said....Truthfully, I'm still uneasy about the DMV scene, funny as it is. Why does the DMV employ only sloths? And how would I feel about this scene if I worked for the real-world DMV? For me, it's the one scene in the film that really goes against what the rest of the film is trying to say.

But it is an allegory on race in our world. And when they make such a statement, they better be prepared to receive criticism. Its like Bright. Yes, its a fantasy world, but the obvious allegory is more problematic than helpful.

 

[__r.jr]

Most people don't view Pooh as a British property. They just think cartoon animals in the woods, which works next to Splash.

Placing Zootopia would only further erode and be deemed justifiable in Critter Country because, the Ashdown Forest of England based Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, broke the thematic cohesion to begin with.

Bear Country was intended to be a hybrid extension of both Frontierland and New Orleans Square. The setting depicting the Pacific Northwest which is known to be the bear capitol of North America while The Country Bear Jamboree is a musical showcase of country music with twang that's derivative from the Deep South.

When Splash Mountain came online, it reestablished the setting from a Pacific Northwest to a more solidified extension of a late 1800's New Orleans by means of music from the Country Bears being meshed with a wilderness setting of a Dixieland influenced South.

 

[Professortango1]

Placing Zootopia would only further erode and be deemed justifiable in Critter Country because, the Ashdown Forest of England based Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, broke the thematic cohesion to begin with.

Bear Country was intended to be a hybrid extension of both Frontierland and New Orleans Square. The setting depicting the Pacific Northwest which is known to be the bear capitol of North America while The Country Bear Jamboree is a musical showcase of country music with twang that's derivative from the Deep South.

When Splash Mountain came online, it reestablished the setting from a Pacific Northwest to a more solidified extension of a late 1800's New Orleans by means of music from the Country Bears being meshed with a wilderness setting of an Dixieland influenced South.

I agree Zootopia doesn't fit. But most people don't know Pooh takes place in England, so the ride doesn't break any thematic cohesion for 99% of guests. Its still a woodsy area filled with talking animals. Just like how The Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise are very different takes on "exotic," but it doesn't hurt the land unless you really stop and think about it.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

There is literally zero danger of a Zootopia expansion coming to DLR.

 

[__r.jr]

I agree Zootopia doesn't fit. But most people don't know Pooh takes place in England, so the ride doesn't break any thematic cohesion for 99% of guests. Its still a woodsy area filled with talking animals. Just like how The Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise are very different takes on "exotic," but it doesn't hurt the land unless you really stop and think about it.

The Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise coexist wonderfully thematically as Adventureland is a romantic interpretation of exotic locales from various parts of the world through fantasy, legend and magic mixed with temporal history and realism.

In Critter Country, theme is broken either way. While Pooh does it passively (the setting being a wilderness that Splash Mountain shares) Zootopia would be much more blatant being the majority of the film's narrative takes place in a metropolis that encompasses several biomes. The only way it could at least somewhat fit is if the attraction is set in Bunnyburrow from the movie. That way Critter Country could still retain its overall setting and name.

Another consideration is the anthropomorphic animals in Splash Mountain are meant to be real (again with fantasy, legend and magic mixed with temporal history and realism) while Pooh and Friends only come alive through the imagination of a boy. (Pooh really belongs in Fantasyland, but I've digressed enough.)

I know it seems that I'm splitting hairs here but these small details of making a seamless experience are still critically important no matter how great the challenge might become. Because when one allows these little contradictions of theme to grow then the next decision to erode the theme only becomes easier. Where do you draw the line? When you take the extra time and thought to theme those smaller parts of the guest experience like establishing a time, place and purpose, then you're making a statement about the level of conviction you have about putting on the show in the first place.

 

[SuddenStorm]

The message is problematic, basically saying racism made sense once upon a time because a certain group of people (or animals) were naturally designed to attack the others. The movie isn't terrible, but its got some real issues. Reminds me of a Dreamworks movie more than a Disney movie.

Strange. I've never heard of a Disney animated film about animals having issues when it comes to portraying race.

 

[SuddenStorm]

There is literally zero danger of a Zootopia expansion coming to DLR.

But what about the Splash double logs?

 

[Disney Irish]

Most people don't view Pooh as a British property. They just think cartoon animals in the woods, which works next to Splash. Zootopia would be a bit different as both Splash and Pooh are meant to exist in our world, Zootopia is a fictional world and very advanced.

I guess you don't understand the concept of a Portal into another world.

 

[mickEblu]

There is literally zero danger of a Zootopia expansion coming to DLR.

Phew!

 

[TROR]

I guess you don't understand the concept of a Portal into another world.

Honestly, I don't. Are you saying it's its own land entirely?

 

[Disney Irish]

Honestly, I don't. Are you saying it's its own land entirely?

It would be its own mini-land within Critter Country with either a fully themed area or just an attraction. You would walk through an entry point, the portal, and would then be in the world of Zootopia.

Not saying it would happen, but that is how it would work if you use the portal device as a way to tell the story.

Again this is how TT works. You walk under the train tracks, this is the "portal", and then you are in the world of toons.

 

[Practical Pig]

Honestly, I don't. Are you saying it's its own land entirely?

The "portal" is a psychological transition. In Toontown, the act of walking through the arch under the tracks helps transport your headspace from one form of Fantasyland into another.

 

[TROR]

It would be its own mini-land within Critter Country with either a fully themed area or just an attraction. You would walk through an entry point, the portal, and would then be in the world of Zootopia.

Not saying it would happen, but that is how it would work if you use the portal device as a way to tell the story.

Again this is how TT works. You walk under the train tracks, this is the "portal", and then you are in the world of toons.

The "portal" is a psychological transition. In Toontown, the act of walking through the arch under the tracks helps transport your headspace from one form of Fantasyland into another.

But Toon Town is its own land.

 

[Practical Pig]

But Toon Town is its own land.

Yeah, but it's a "fantasy-land" branching off from "Fantasyland." so I think the transitional psychology still works. I'm not advocating a Zootopia anything, but I get the portal transition thing.

 

[Disney Irish]

The "portal" is a psychological transition. In Toontown, the act of walking through the arch under the tracks helps transport your headspace from one form of Fantasyland into another.

Yeah, but it's a "fantasy-land" branching off from "Fantasyland." so I think the transitional psychology still works. I'm not advocating a Zootopia anything, but I get the portal transition thing.

Completely correct, I couldn't have said it better myself.

TT, while it is its own land it really an extension of FL. So the Portal from one area to another works.

Now I'm not saying Zootopia is something I want, although I would be interested in how they would pull it off. I'm just saying using a portal would be the way it could be in Critter Country.

 

[Professortango1]

Completely correct, I couldn't have said it better myself.

TT, while it is its own land it really an extension of FL. So the Portal from one area to another works.

Now I'm not saying Zootopia is something I want, although I would be interested in how they would pull it off. I'm just saying using a portal would be the way it could be in Critter Country.

But Toon Town is the city where Toons live behind Disneyland. It's not a portal into another world, it's still in our world. Zootopia wouldn't fit Critter Country as the concepts are so different.

 

[Disney Irish]

But Toon Town is the city where Toons live behind Disneyland. It's not a portal into another world, it's still in our world. Zootopia wouldn't fit Critter Country as the concepts are so different.

The backstory for TT is that it was hidden from the world until Mickey opened the gates, the "portal", into TT. If the gates were permanently closed the portal would close and TT would be hidden from the world again, or so the story goes. Which I assume is the story they will tell if TT ever closes.

Again the "portal" is any storytelling device that is used to transition from one area to another that you couldn't normally get to. Its a common storytelling device used in many stories. Even in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the basis for DL TT, they have a portal device used when Valiant drives through the tunnel into TT.

 

[lazyboy97o]

A portal within a land is typically contradictory. The land is a place of storytelling, not just a superficial common element. Such a hard cut marks a stark difference, something separate and not something together.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Toontown is its own land and is not considered a “portal” in Fantasyland. They are their own lands and are separate.