News Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[KDM31091]

It doesn’t have to be huge, just popular enough to generate fresh buzz - and thus new merchandise and lightning lane revenue. Increasing the per customer spend. While I realize gender roles are taboo, it’s also a valuable “boy-centric” franchise to coexist alongside Tiana.

Today’s kids aren’t buying coonskin caps anymore or reading long-form books in general, but certainly not the likes of Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn.

This is the end result of TDO’s poor planning both in terms of its reliance of upselling Lightning Lanes as a core function of the WDW property business model and it’s inability to properly maintain TSL/RoA for years. Unlike DL there is no financial incentive (like Fantasmic) tied to keeping the rivers operational. Nor is there an incentive to tug in the nostalgia heartstrings, in part because the MK does have the benefit of the sheer number of E-tickets that DL has, but also because the audience is wholly different.

The business model for the WDW is to fill each park with a moderate selection of fresh E-tickets, and crowd them as much as possible creating an artificial scarcity necessitate requiring the upcharging of LL to ensure your once a decade or once a lifetime tourist “maximize their day”. When you view it through that lens it makes sense why land expansion and “free” (non-LL) C-ticket or even D-ticket rides are a waste of space.

Yup. If they cannot sell a LL for it, if they cannot make the waits appear ridiculous, if they cannot monetize the ride and milk it dry… it’s at risk of being considered a waste of space and eliminated. So sad.

 

[Dear Prudence]

There is lots of theme parks in Europe. Efteling, Europa Park, Park Asterix

I was gonna say, after Efteling, I am impressed with NOTHING Disney or Universal have done lately.

 

[Lou Filerman]

No I'm not. It's a well-established principle of design with loads of evidence.

It has nothing to do with individual thoughts about what's being done.

That doesn't mean Disney can't redesign other existing areas to make it work (and it seems like that may be the plan with dumping Liberty Square), though.

You literally wrote “people are going to dislike it”. You have no idea what people will and will not like. You are forcing your own feelings into other people and assuming everyone thinks like you.

 

[Raineman]

I've read much of this and my additions ultimately don't mean very much, but a few thoughts:
1) I've gone to Disneyland and DCA over WDW in recent years because of things like Radiator Springs, so this is a welcome addition to the resort
2) I think the theming arguments here are overblown and it feels like an issue to a very small, but very vocal, number of fanatics. The rock work of RSR (I know it's not a complete copy) feels like an extension of BTMRR to me even if it's just "west" and not "old west"
3) I'm shocked that ROA, TSI and the Liberty Belle are that popular on here. It's always seemed like a huge waste of space to me. I think I went to TSI once in the 80s, never rode the keelboats, finally rode the Liberty Belle on the most recent trip and don't really need to do again. It seems like an obvious place to me to reclaim land for more popular attractions.

So, another vote from me for this one. The recently announced additions in total may bring me back to WDW when I would've been content going west for the foreseeable future. I'm excited for this and Villains, for Encanto, and for the Monsters Inc land.

Now if we can add another actual live animal attraction to AK, that would be amazing, but I don't know that will ever happen.

You're another person here that completely misses the point. "Theming arguments are over blown"? Seriously? They are taking a focal point of an entire 25% of the park and drastically changing it. Theming is what Disney theme parks have always been built on. The entirety of Liberty Square and Frontierland are designed to face the river and the island-it's integral to the atmosphere and pacing of both lands. And, if you read through this whole thread, most people are not denying the fact that it would be great to have this Cars area and attractions-I would love to see it. But not at the expense of something classic. Why does every inch of the parks have to be reclaimed or used to shove thousands of people through? Believe it or not, there are still some people that aren't park commandos and only go to WDW for the rides-some of us like atmosphere and theming, and like to slow down and take everything in, and the ROA is one of the best areas on property to be able to do this. WDW property is the same size as the city of San Francisco, and most of it is unused-alot of room to work without destroying something current. And where does this stop? Do you consider World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot to be unused space? Would you be ok if it was filled in and covered with IP based attractions? If this is the way WDW is changing, so be it, but it seems like they are pandering more and more to the younger, casual guest and not the long time guests who have spent thousands and thousands of dollars over many years there, and appreciate the history. Alot of us will be moving on, and everyone that wants this to happen can have WDW all for themselves.

 

[KDM31091]

Poseidon Entertainment just did a video on Disney resorts, really lauding the best it has to offer but ending with disappointment at the current trend of blander looking ones they're making, or the choices to do things like slap The Incredibles everywhere on the Contemporary, that sort of thing. It's a pretty great launching off point for discussions of "what IS Disney?" to most people - like, to me Disney is a series of design choices and styles. Ergo, something like the Yacht and Beach Club is interesting because it's that Disney style's take on those very things, the Wilderness Lodge is the Disney style's take on a mountain resort, etc. You get some characters here and there, mostly around the gift shops, but it's not overbearing.

The newer stuff is pretty much generic hotel towers, but with Disney characters drawn on some surfaces or what have you, and now it's bleeding over into the previously built hotels (e.g. "throw Beauty and the Beast into our 'Florida in the Victorian Era' themed resort because...reasons!"). I suppose to some that makes it "more Disney", but I think a stronger case can be made that it's abandoning a lot of Disney design principles, thus making it less Disney than it was before, even if that feels strange since it involves an increase in the number of visible Disney characters.

I saw that video and I totally agreed. All the unique Disney touches are vanishing and at that point you may as well stay off site, which is really sad.

 

[Quietmouse]

As was discussed earlier, the entire acreage of the Cars area here is less than JUST the RSR attraction at DCA, and this is supposed to contain two rides. The main Jeep ride is either going to be very short or go much slower than would be expected for a thrilling E-ticket.

couldn’t the ride still be long if there we’re elevation shifts? My head is thinking mountain trail, climbing up the mountain and looping down…which would result in a longer ride right?

 

[UNCgolf]

You literally wrote “people are going to dislike it”. You have no idea what people will and will not like. You are forcing your own feelings into other people and assuming everyone thinks like you.

No I'm not. You're just not understanding what I wrote, although I'm not sure how to put it any clearer.

Go back and re-read the full comment instead of latching onto random excerpts. I didn't imply that people are going to dislike Cars, or dislike literally everything. It's a very specific concept, and one with tremendous amounts of backing evidence. It has nothing to do with individual feelings.

This isn't really the same thing, but it's vaguely similar and it might work as an example. Imagine two restaurants, one of which has big windows with outdoor views full of natural light, and the other which has no windows at all. People are generally going to prefer the former as a setting. Not every single person will, but as a general principle, people will find the first a more pleasant place even if they don't really notice why.

 

[DCLcruiser]

Gotta wonder if this was originally considered for DLP since WDW has Cars elsewhere, but they changed their minds and just slapped Tiana's in the background.

Very possible. It is odd to use the wrong FL yet include the specific teal queue covering from HM.

 

[Wall-e]

As was discussed earlier, the entire acreage of the Cars area here is less than JUST the RSR attraction at DCA, and this is supposed to contain two rides. The main Jeep ride is either going to be very short or go much slower than would be expected for a thrilling E-ticket.

IMO high speed areas of RSR would take up more track distance. I doubt this “off road” adventure will have the large banked turns and straights that RSR has thus less space/track needed.

Edit: rereading your post I see your point more clearly. All conjecture at this point but I see areas that show undulations, possible simulated jumps, and thrills and spills . If it’s new, exciting and technological it’ll be considered an E ticket for years.

 

[Centauri Space Station]

Wdw has tons of lagoons

There making more lagoons and water features, moping up what Disney has abandoned and I think it’s a great move.

 

[WDW1995]

couldn’t the ride still be long if there we’re elevation shifts? My head is thinking mountain trail, climbing up the mountain and looping down…which would result in a longer ride right?

We can see the rough track layout from the concept art, and there will be elevation changes and points where the track crosses under itself, but there is only so much you can do with a footprint basically the size of 7DMT, if not a bit smaller.

 

[Wall-e]

Wdw has tons of lagoons

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This. There will be water in this area and there’s still the chance we have remnants of ROA between BTM and Villians.

 

[CSOM]

You're another person here that completely misses the point. "Theming arguments are over blown"? Seriously? They are taking a focal point of an entire 25% of the park and drastically changing it. Theming is what Disney theme parks have always been built on. The entirety of Liberty Square and Frontierland are designed to face the river and the island-it's integral to the atmosphere and pacing of both lands. And, if you read through this whole thread, most people are not denying the fact that it would be great to have this Cars area and attractions-I would love to see it. But not at the expense of something classic. Why does every inch of the parks have to be reclaimed or used to shove thousands of people through? Believe it or not, there are still some people that aren't park commandos and only go to WDW for the rides-some of us like atmosphere and theming, and like to slow down and take everything in, and the ROA is one of the best areas on property to be able to do this. WDW property is the same size as the city of San Francisco, and most of it is unused-alot of room to work without destroying something current. And where does this stop? Do you consider World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot to be unused space? Would you be ok if it was filled in and covered with IP based attractions? If this is the way WDW is changing, so be it, but it seems like they are pandering more and more to the younger, casual guest and not the long time guests who have spent thousands and thousands of dollars over many years there, and appreciate the history. Alot of us will be moving on, and everyone that wants this to happen can have WDW all for themselves.

I completely agree with you that theming is what sets Disney parks apart from others, and one of the reasons I was underwhelmed by the Studios Park in France.

I also understand that LS/FL were built with the waterfront in mind, no debate from me.

I'm also a long time guest, going regularly for 40 years and appreciate the history (long live Horizons!). This was just my opinion that the river never mattered to me. The Epcot lagoon is used for night shows and doesn't impede guest flow.

It's felt underutilized to ME (again YMMV), the TSI was never appealing, the boat was never appealing, and I always found that the river constrained the walk way and it was a PITA to get from HM to BTMRR.

For those that enjoy the area, I'm sorry that you'll feel the loss. I'm just completely baffled by the response on here, because I honestly didn't realize the area had that many fans.

 

[DCLcruiser]

There is lots of theme parks in Europe. Efteling, Europa Park, Park Asterix

I was being sarcastic.

 

[Raineman]

Wdw has tons of lagoons

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Look at all of that unused space! That's unacceptable. Such low capacity areas right now that no one cares about. Fill them in and use that space more efficiently. /s

 

[Disnutz311]

We can all write a 100 pages on this thread in 30 hours but no one will sign the petition below? Speaks volumes here…

Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?

Preserve and Safeguard the Rivers of America at the Magic Kingdom, Disney World

chng.it

 

[The Leader of the Club]

We can all write a 100 pages on this thread in 30 hours but no one will sign the petition below? Speaks volumes here…

Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?

Preserve and Safeguard the Rivers of America at the Magic Kingdom, Disney World

chng.it

Because that worked so well for Splash

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

Wdw has tons of lagoons

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But can you see any of those while standing in Frontierland?

I feel like the people trying to make the argument that Disney still has water features, or appear to be adding water features in the Cars area are missing what others are saying. Yes - there are OTHER water features on property. Yes - they will supposedly be adding a waterfall and puddles to the new area. But the point is RoA is a respite INSIDE MK. To see the other bodies of water pictured you have to go outside of the park which defeats the purpose. And I'm sorry, but waterfalls and puddles do NOT have the same relaxing ambience of a river. Now, hopefully they will keep at least some small parts of the river, as evidenced by some bridges in the artist rendering. But it's hard to tell how large those areas will be...IF they even make the cut. Certainly won't be the same as sitting on the edge of the river watching the LB glide by.

 

[Horizons '83]

We can all write a 100 pages on this thread in 30 hours but no one will sign the petition below? Speaks volumes here…

Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?

Preserve and Safeguard the Rivers of America at the Magic Kingdom, Disney World

chng.it

Just have to be honest with yourself, petitions don't move the needle. The boat has sailed on this one as well, layyards are being built and permits being filed. We lost another one...

 

[MaryJaneP]

By degrees!