News 'Beyond Big Thunder Mountain' Blue Sky concept revealed for Magic Kingdom

[Consumer]

On Frontierland and BBTM:

As currently executed, FL is by far the most restrictive of the four "big" MK lands. It's central source material - a romanticized and whitewashed fairytale of our nation's westward expansion - is inherently problematic. With a relatively minor tweak of style and storytelling, this area could be recast as a celebration of the natural beauty and ethos of this region. By focusing on a more natural setting for BBTM, you can help preserve the heart and vibe of FL.

There is nothing wrong with a fairy tale depiction of the Wild West, unless you also take issue with fairy tale depictions of the African jungle (where all the warlords?), turn-of-the-century America (where is all the eugenics?), Colonial America (where are all the slaves?), or the future (where is the nuclear holocaust?).

 

[SirLink]

Let me put it another way, I think Universal’s monsters land will be very successful, because a little gloomy Bavarian Village where the Wolfman, Frankenstein, and Dracula will terrorize people is true to their original stories. But none of the most famous Disney villains have a land of their own and a league of comrades.

“Disney Villains” isn’t really a thing. It’s a marketing push.

Not quite some of those from some of the monster movies you have mentioned are in fact the hero's in the EU land . But in any case Frankentein wouldn't be chasing you even if that wasn't the case it would be Frankenstein's monster.

Centering a land around Villains allows WDI to be some what creative rather than doing another *yawn* book report the ride based on the latest animated feature.

 

[doctornick]

Also who says that Disney wouldn’t just create a story of how the Villains work with each other. I mean…they already have. House of Mouse, Villains After Hours, character interactions, etc.

Fantasmic features multiple villains. Seems this concern is a story treatment one, not something that can’t be overcome.

 

[Tha Realest]

Let Odyssey become an extension of all things Latin America and a perpetual fiesta. Then you can conjigger a queue big enough for a Three Caballeros retheme of the Mexico ride.

This is a terrific idea

 

[britain]

Not quite some of those from some of the monster movies you have mentioned are in fact the hero's in the EU land . But in any case Frankentein wouldn't be chasing you even if that wasn't the case it would be Frankenstein's monster.

Centering a land around Villains allows WDI to be some what creative rather than doing another *yawn* book report the ride based on the latest animated feature.

They don’t have a great track record with those non-book report attractions. The best ones are Indy and Rise, but those work because the “new story” is really just a greatest hits compilation.

 

[britain]

Fantasmic features multiple villains. Seems this concern is a story treatment one, not something that can’t be overcome.

A 15 minute clip show is not a fully immersive environment.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

On Frontierland and BBTM:

As currently executed, FL is by far the most restrictive of the four "big" MK lands. It's central source material - a romanticized and whitewashed fairytale of our nation's westward expansion - is inherently problematic. With a relatively minor tweak of style and storytelling, this area could be recast as a celebration of the natural beauty and ethos of this region. By focusing on a more natural setting for BBTM, you can help preserve the heart and vibe of FL.

On Villiand Land / Dark Kingdom:

There is without a doubt great concept work happening here. My biggest hesitation is that - no matter what they're able to fund and deliver - this project will struggle to live up to expectations, as it's taken on a mythos of it's own. I'll happily be proven wrong, but I see some of these concepts making it to a DHS expansion - perhaps one with a transportative device that allows it to be fully indoors.

There’s nothing problematic about Frontierland to people of ordinary sensibilities. It’s about the story of the American pioneer, traveling westward. It’s a story of adventure, hardship, endurance, but ultimately of hope. Hope in a better future if you’re willing to work hard at it. Was there fighting and bloodshed? Absolutely, unfortunately. But that westward expansion was inevitable. As a matter of national security, the USA could not allow a large power to control its western border. If the USA didn’t expand west when it did, some other power would have, and there would have been a bloody conflict to secure America’s frontier. Walt Disney understood the importance of passing this on to the next generation:

 

[McMickeyWorld]

I don't see a problem with a land of villains. They don't even have to make them friends (it's not like they haven't done it before beyond a joke). They can create a couple of attractions centered on individual characters and maybe a dinner with a show or exclusive theater. Even if it were a land like 'Descendants,' 'Twisted-Wonderland,' or 'Villains Recruiting Program,' I would find them interesting to experience. Another good idea would be to show a new perspective of the stories, as was done a few years ago in HK.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

“Frontierland is a tribute to the faith, courage and ingenuity of the pioneers who blazed the trails across America.” - Walt Disney

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Disney's an entertainment company full of creatives, if they want to create a villains land, it can be well executed.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

“Frontierland is a tribute to the faith, courage and ingenuity of the pioneers who blazed the trails across America.” - Walt Disney

I don't know whether or not we're discussing the merits of BBTM, but I'm sure that whatever is to become of it will not be considered a part of Frontierland.

 

[SirLink]

They don’t have a great track record with those non-book report attractions. The best ones are Indy and Rise, but those work because the “new story” is really just a greatest hits compilation.

Also a good example of how to do a Villains land is from one part of the 'House of Villains' animated movie where you had Jafar, Hook, Ursla, Hades and Cruella team as the main up to take over House of Mouse. It did portray them as best of buddies. Or even Kingdom Hearts where the Villains were buddies like Pete and Maleficiant.

Its not like a Villains land is a this wacky brand new concept for MK there was one pitched years ago, its just the concept was they kept plotting to take over MK.

 

[Consumer]

I was always fond of these old Disneyland commercials for Halloween. Doesn't mean a land based on them would be a good idea.

They don’t have a great track record with those non-book report attractions. The best ones are Indy and Rise, but those work because the “new story” is really just a greatest hits compilation.

Agreed. Star Tours, Radiator Springs Racers, and Pandora all do the same thing. Yes, they're not "book report rides," but they're by no means separated from the source material.

 

[britain]

I’ll get off my soapbox. I maintain that what works for a singular cartoon episode as a post-modern joke won’t make for a satisfying theme park land. But good luck to them if they can make it work.

 

[britain]

Agreed. Star Tours, Radiator Springs Racers, and Pandora all do the same thing. Yes, they're not "book report rides," but they're by no means separated from the source material.

Yes, which makes me feel that Tiana’s is taking that “We can do more than book reports” aspiration a little too far. I mean, will there be any changing into frogs in this new story? I guess we’ll find out.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Yes, which makes me feel that Tiana’s is taking that “We can do more than book reports” aspiration a little to far. I mean, will there be any changing into frogs in this new story? I guess we’ll find out.

The lack of changing into frogs seems very rooted in the fact that Disney has caught a lot of flack for the fact that they created their first African-American princess and then she spent the majority of the movie as a frog.

 

[britain]

The lack of changing into frogs seems very rooted in the fact that Disney has caught a lot of flack for the fact that Disney created their first African-American princess and then she spent the majority of the movie as a frog.

I see, well, at least the songs will return.

 

[DisneyDean97]

The lack of changing into frogs seems very rooted in the fact that Disney has caught a lot of flack for the fact that they created their first African-American princess and then she spent the majority of the movie as a frog.

Absolutely, although I still can't believe they couldn't think of a way to include Dr. Facilier... he would have looked incredible as an AA

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Absolutely, although I still can't believe they couldn't think of a way to include Dr. Facilier... he would have looked incredible as an AA

I don't believe in the conspiracies that Disney is stepping away from the character, just more so that this story clearly takes place after the film and Dr. Facilier got sucked into the "other side".

 

[DisneyDean97]

So, can one of our insiders confirm, that basically phase 1 of Beyond Big Thunder Mountain will be a Frontierland expansion, and then a phase 2 will debut as a new "land", whether its Villains or whatever else they come up with??
And then the new Moana attraction will open up before either phases of Beyond Big Thunder Mountain?