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

[danlb_2000]

I'm not opposed to attractions with screens... but MK has proven that you don't need them to be popular. A park (and just about every single theme park) should prioritize immersive environments.

I don't think MK should get a simulator attraction, just wouldn't feel right in the park.

If used properly, screens are just another tool in the Imagineering toolbox. I see no reason to tell an Imagineer that they can't use this specific tool in MK.

 

[fgmnt]

It's not as much themeing as it is operations.

WDI typically does just enough of the engineering and installation load so that they can legally be listed as the manufacturer of record. This gets them around regulations requiring parks to operate the machinery "as directed by the manufacturer."

Vekoma and others are happy to sign away much of their liability, but this is an area where B&M reportedly won't budge.

I also think Universal has proven that a B&M ride could not handle how Disney would want to operate it (into the ground). B&M has a great business trading on high quality engineering for regional theme park operators, they have no motivation to go into business with Disney.

On BTM, it's probably most apt to consider whoever is working on the retrack as the fabricator. WDI is telling them exactly what to make and will handle installation and testing, and the manufacturer is likely not lending any engineering expertise outside of how the track gets made.

 

[HauntedPirate]

There is zero need to actually shorten the river if it is too expensive. They can make guest areas mostly outside the RR berm if they wanted to to create space north of the RoA

Land north of RoA? You aren't terribly familiar with the RCID land suitability map, are you?

 

[Andrew25]

If used properly, screens are just another tool in the Imagineering toolbox. I see no reason to tell an Imagineer that they can't use this specific tool in MK.

Should have been specific, I meant screen-only attractions. I would love to see the Na'vi River concept expanded at MK as it can provide incremental effects to a primarily physical experience.

While FoP ride system can fit a Coco experience... it'll just feel too similar. There's not many other motion simulator concepts that are unique enough to prioritize IMO.

 

[doctornick]

Land north of RoA? You aren't terribly familiar with the RCID land suitability map, are you?

The land there ranges from marginally suitable (surrounding the railroad) to marginally unsuitable (further out). What am I missing exactly?

Sure, there would need to be some remediation to make everything work to be built upon, but it's not like removing a river - used for water management - is some simple task either.

 

[fgmnt]

Should have been specific, I meant screen-only attractions. I would love to see the Na'vi River concept expanded at MK as it can provide incremental effects to a primarily physical experience.

While FoP ride system can fit a Coco experience... it'll just feel too similar. There's not many other motion simulator concepts that are unique enough to prioritize IMO.

Flight of Passage was the right ride in the right place at the right time. I think it would be a disservice to the company and the guests to build an exact copy of that ride with a different video and motion profile in Florida. You would run into the same problem Universal has with Transformers and Spider-Man, and Disney itself had with Star Tours and Body Wars. Taking the core conceit of a flying theater and making a significant, visceral change for the guests (hang glider -> banshee -> allegedly a boat on the high seas) would be a minimum requirement. You can build busbar rides and omnimovers that feel different because the experiences guests have are so viscerally different between them, and you lose that physical, 3-D, nigh tactile experience when viewing a screen.

Would love to see the FoP ride system take on a new adventure in a different resort.

 

[Tha Realest]

Flight of Passage was the right ride in the right place at the right time. I think it would be a disservice to the company and the guests to build an exact copy of that ride with a different video and motion profile in Florida. You would run into the same problem Universal has with Transformers and Spider-Man, and Disney itself had with Star Tours and Body Wars. Taking the core conceit of a flying theater and making a significant, visceral change for the guests (hang glider -> banshee -> allegedly a boat on the high seas) would be a minimum requirement. You can build busbar rides and omnimovers that feel different because the experiences guests have are so viscerally different between them, and you lose that physical, 3-D, nigh tactile experience when viewing a screen.

Would love to see the FoP ride system take on a new adventure in a different resort.

Yes, but. I lament the loss of those great omnimovers of old. Plus if anything it’s at least not another trackless experience.

 

[DisneyRoy]

Should have been specific, I meant screen-only attractions. I would love to see the Na'vi River concept expanded at MK as it can provide incremental effects to a primarily physical experience.

While FoP ride system can fit a Coco experience... it'll just feel too similar. There's not many other motion simulator concepts that are unique enough to prioritize IMO.

Would you consider Shanghai Pirates screen only? Because that ride system would work great with Coco I would think.

 

[fgmnt]

Yes, but. I lament the loss of those great omnimovers of old. Plus if anything it’s at least not another trackless experience.

The company has the theoretical capacity to build a great one but they simply have not done this in the US this century.

Trackless is another good example. I think a problem they could overcome were they to build a 4th one on property, would be make it a significantly different experience from the other 3. I do not think people would object to an installation of a ride like Aquatopia or Luigi's Rollicking Roadsters in MK or DAK.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Land north of RoA? You aren't terribly familiar with the RCID land suitability map, are you?

Barring cavernous sinkholes, any unsuitable land can be made suitable with enough dirt, water management, and required conservation offsets.

It's just that a 'suitable plot' doesn't require all that expensive remediation.

The swampy forest between DHS and CBR was once 'unsuitable,' but Disney bought up conservation offsets so they can build on it, if and when they want.

 

[eddie104]

Land north of RoA? You aren't terribly familiar with the RCID land suitability map, are you?

Wouldn’t you prefer them not having to shorten an existing attraction and instead expand on the existing land they have?

 

[HauntedPirate]

Barring cavernous sinkholes, any unsuitable land can be made suitable with enough dirt, water management, and required conservation offsets.

It's just that a 'suitable plot' doesn't require all that expensive remediation.

The swampy forest between DHS and CBR was once 'unsuitable,' but Disney bought up conservation offsets so they can build on it, if and when they want.

You nailed the two key words - Expensive remediation. Despite the influx of planned spending, throwing a chunk of that money on expensive land reclamation seems unwise when there are better uses for that money. But what do I know.

 

[SilentWindODoom]

Should have been specific, I meant screen-only attractions. I would love to see the Na'vi River concept expanded at MK as it can provide incremental effects to a primarily physical experience.

Mm... Now I'm picturing the Peter Pan ride in Tokyo with physical sets and surroundings on the level with Na'vi River Journey. That would be wonderful across from Peter Pan's Flight. Shame there's so little room between the Mansion and Small World show buildings.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I saw in Bob’s interview he mentioned “almost everything” going forward will be based on current IP. I feel like this makes a Villain land less likely…villains aren’t really an IP they focus on and they seldom make new, iconic villains any more. Gothel isn’t even featured in the new Rapunzel ride! She just leaves her tower and starts a new life with a mysterious man. It’s a Lifetime movie.

And we know about Facilier in TBA.

 

[James Alucobond]

I saw in Bob’s interview he mentioned “almost everything” going forward will be based on current IP. I feel like this makes a Villain land less likely…villains aren’t really an IP they focus on and they seldom make new, iconic villains any more. Gothel isn’t even featured in the new Rapunzel ride! She just leaves her tower and starts a new life with a mysterious man. It’s a Lifetime movie.

And we know about Facilier in TBA.

Despite what he said, I think they're okay with more generic lands as long as they support IP use. Otherwise, Tropical Americas wouldn't be happening.

 

[PREMiERdrum]

Despite what he said, I think they're okay with more generic lands as long as they support IP use. Otherwise, Tropical Americas wouldn't be happening.

Tropical Americas is a bit of an outlier since Dinosaur needed to be addressed and Indy was an obvious fit. Much of the land's aesthetic is anchored by Encanto with support from Coco... both "current" IP.

Crickets on Dark Kingdom for a good bit now, at either location.

 

[SilentWindODoom]

I saw in Bob’s interview he mentioned “almost everything” going forward will be based on current IP. I feel like this makes a Villain land less likely…villains aren’t really an IP they focus on and they seldom make new, iconic villains any more. Gothel isn’t even featured in the new Rapunzel ride! She just leaves her tower and starts a new life with a mysterious man. It’s a Lifetime movie.

And we know about Facilier in TBA.

I'd heard Lantern Festival being meant as a romantic ride. I don't know if that's just something the person narrating the video inferred from the ride and not necessarily something intended. If it was intended, then, Gothel doesn't fit the atmosphere they're going for. And, of course, the reasons for Facilier have been recounted plenty in the other thread.

Meanwhile Hook and Hans show up no problem.

 

[Purduevian]

I saw in Bob’s interview he mentioned “almost everything” going forward will be based on current IP. I feel like this makes a Villain land less likely…villains aren’t really an IP they focus on and they seldom make new, iconic villains any more. Gothel isn’t even featured in the new Rapunzel ride! She just leaves her tower and starts a new life with a mysterious man. It’s a Lifetime movie.

And we know about Facilier in TBA.

I wonder if they will include Dolores in the new Encanto ride...

 

[Touchdown]

I wonder if they will include Dolores in the new Encanto ride...

How is Delores a villain?

 

[ToTBellHop]

How is Delores a villain?

Grandma is the villain…she’s awful.