News Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[Centauri Space Station]

Whelp, I guess this plate will be a collectible soon…..

View attachment 810046

Where are the mule wagons at the parks?

 

[Two Ears]

So.


Sorry…but…what?

D23 announcements:

Animal kingdom :

Indy replacing dinosaur - I’m guessing same theme with the ride system.

Wooden Carousel - definitely not a thrill ride

Encanto - from what I understand dark ride/boat ride? Not sure what the exact details are, but definitely not a thrill ride.

Zootopia replacing bugs life …

Magic Kingdom - Sounds like a trackless test track from the rumors. Will probably go fast but height restriction probably won’t be any different than cars land in DCA , which is 40 inches - so average height for 4/5 year old ?

Second ride is supposed to be a ride geared more towards kids probably no height restrictions.

Villains Land -????

Maybe an e ticket coaster? Maybe an eticket coaster plus a villains dark ride?

I think things are really murky as far as what’s actually going to be built in villains land at the moment.

So that leaves DHS.

Okay, monster inc land is featuring a coaster. I’m going to throw a wild guess, due to the nature of its theme (more kids oriented) that it’s height restriction will probably 40 inch max - again average height for a 4-5 year old.


All in all, officially 1 coaster was announced and 5 non coasters attractions were announced. But again, even with monster inc. , 40 inch requirement is not I would necessarily call “thrill”.

There simply is not enough thrill rides in this list.

 

[bwr827]

All these new announcements from D23 all feel reactive to Epic Universe. It's like they looked at Epic Universe and see what they are doing, and copied it with the Disney version. They are adding more thrills then they did before, and adding standalone IP lands

I really feel they have lost sight of what made them different. It's so odd for them to be the follower rather than the leader.

Which are the standalone IP lands? Monstropolis, and…? Not Frontierland Cars, not Tropical Americas, not Villains.

Indiana Jones and Encanto sound like dark rides to me. Villains will probably have one coaster and one dark ride.

 

[bwr827]

Car culture is a very superficial representation of American ideals (and Cars an even more remote representation of that culture). Liberty Square and Frontierland, at least as originally designed, touch on some of the founding ideas, stories, and mythology of America.

So yes, I do object to the Magic Kingdom becoming less American.

Nothing superficial about car culture as a representation of America. Cars are woven into America’s growth, development and way of living going back more than a century.

 

[bwr827]

I wonder if they have another ride system as a backup? Like this trackless thing has to work if they are going to do it.

They’ve been testing the ride system.

 

[John park hopper]

Favorite things removed
20000 leagues
Alien encounter
original Energy pre Ellen

 

[donaldtoo]

Nothing superficial about car culture as a representation of America. Cars are woven into America’s growth, development and way of living going back more than a century.

My question is, will these ATVs be portrayed as gas or electric…?!

 

[CraftyFox]

I always love the use of water in themed environments whether that be in fountains, ponds, or the RoA. I feel like they add this subtle kinetic energy and liveliness. On the one hand, I think the new Cars attractions might feature moving elements that help retain that sense of kinetic energy in Frontierland. But on the other hand I would really prefer it if the grinning cars are not visible from 19th century Frontierland and late 18th century Liberty Square. But then if they are fully hidden away that kinetic energy goes away again.

 

[lazyboy97o]

So your debating facts. The HKDL was announced that it would be Main Street(grant you originally it was supposed to be 1960s theme) and 3 lands. There was never an indication of a Frontierland was in development. The closet that something like a Frontierland was Grizzly Gulch and as stated the way the HKDL and SDL fund the expansions are based on % of ownership.

The original announcement in 1999 included Frontierland and ToonTown.

“From Adventureland guests may want to travel on to the wild American frontier. In Frontierland, they will have the opportunity to experience the American Old West of the 1880s. Here guests might climb through a Wild West fort, take a frightfully fun trip through a haunted mansion and shoot the rapids on a daring river raft.”

“Frontierland Concept: Frontierland is a walk right into the American Old West of the 1880s. Here park guests explore a frontier outpost at Fort Comstock. They might also take a frightfully funny trip through a haunted mansion, shoot the rapids on a river raft ride, or experience for themselves just how tough it is to be a bug in a one-of-a-kind show.”

The HKDL Source : Hong Kong Disneyland Announcement

 

[psherman42]

Of the approximately 20 million guests that visit Magic Kingdom every year, what percentage use the boardwalk? Again, my point is that the river is not well integrated into the park. The only path with a decent view of the river is one that cannot accommodate very much traffic because it’s not very wide, hence why you’ve had to navigate crowds.

At both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, I was comparing the views from their respective main walkways inside the lands. I genuinely think that‘s a fair comparison when it comes to whether the Rivers of America at each park does a good job of establishing an atmosphere inside their respective lands. Just because there’s a short, or not very wide walkway, inside the land that has a decent view of the river doesn‘t mean the river does a good job of establishing an atmosphere. For most places in Liberty Square or Frontierland, the river feels distant and disconnected from the land, and in my opinion, a replacement could do a much better job of establishing an atmosphere in each land.

The percentage of guests that use the walkway is irrelevant honestly. I’ve seen it said here that only 10% of guests experience space mountain. Does that mean it should also be replaced? What ago it the walkway at Epcot that goes from Canada towards imagination? Should that be removed as well if a percentage threshold isn’t met? What about the boardwalk connecting Pandora to Africa at DAK?

Again, I am not trying to argue which river is better. It still doesn’t mean that WDW’s should be gutted. If it’s really an issue of integrating the river, then they could do that, redesign the walls or the boardwalk rather than just take it out entirely. And I do not agree that an area that looks like it’ll be surrounded by trees and a mountain will establish a better atmosphere. If anything it’ll make it more isolating since your view will be completely blocked.

 

[bwr827]

The percentage of guests that use the walkway is irrelevant honestly. I’ve seen it said here that only 10% of guests experience space mountain. Does that mean it should also be replaced? What ago it the walkway at Epcot that goes from Canada towards imagination? Should that be removed as well if a percentage threshold isn’t met? What about the boardwalk connecting Pandora to Africa at DAK?

Again, I am not trying to argue which river is better. It still doesn’t mean that WDW’s should be gutted. If it’s really an issue of integrating the river, then they could do that, redesign the walls or the boardwalk rather than just take it out entirely. And I do not agree that an area that looks like it’ll be surrounded by trees and a mountain will establish a better atmosphere. If anything it’ll make it more isolating since your view will be completely blocked.

Those pictures did help me understand better why the MK river doesn’t stand out in my memory. The DL pics make the river so much more prominent.

When are we going to split this thread into forward-looking discussion and backward-looking commentary?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I think one relevant point here is that most people would be happy with a balanced solution that perhaps saw TSI disappear but allowed for at least the front part of the ROA to remain rather than it all becoming Carsland 2.0 so as to preserve the theming and ambiance of the area.

The second point I would make is that providing those spaces to slow down does have value in and of itself. Even just stopping and looking at the 'river' for a moment while waiting for your family to go to the bathroom or buy a turkey leg likely improves a person's mood in the midst of a rushed and hot day at MK. One of the things that supposedly distinguishes Imagineering from other theme park designers is that they think about those sorts of things.

This is how retail at parks like Disneyland and The Magic Kingdom was designed as well.

A mix of high volume, one-stop-shopping stores and small, unique shops that acted like exhibits to occupy time. That some didn't turn a profit wasn't important, because the park was viewed as a whole with the understanding that attractions, retail and restaurants don't compete with each other, but work together to sell the experience.

That changed in the 90s when any store that wasn't making x margins was thrown out.

Now entire swaths of park acreage are viewed this way. Not pulling your weight on a spreadsheet? Time to go. Never mind the operational need to not have every ride be over indexed, or the aesthetic value a setting may provide.

 

[999th Happy Haunt]

Good lord.

Maybe just maybe the frontier is just outdated. Unless they’re well over 50 most people didn’t grow up with fond memories of the frontier or media glamorizing it. The frontier means nothing to the current generations bringing their kids to Disney parks. Nothing.

The closest I got to the frontier is knowing how to avoid dysentery playing Oregon Trail! And I’m 40+ with 2 elementary aged kids, aka prime Disney park demographic.

Maybe fans of Yellowstone can fill that riverboat going forward, but they sure aren’t the demographic to do anything on that island.

Lol as if kids are familiar with Main Street and 30s Hollywood or care about the history of agriculture and communication

 

[Cliff]

I'd love to see this poll go up for everybody:

Would you like to see "Frontier Cars":

A.) Built on top of The Rivers of America.
B.) Built on a currently empty portion of land.

I'd be curious to see the results of that.

It's my guess that this destruction of the Rivers of America idea is originating from a small group of Burbank and Glendale executives. I would guess again that most people affiliated with Imagineering (past and present) were privately horrified when they heard this idea was going to happen. I also suspect that a very large number of internal cast members were also horrified too.

I'd LOVE for Tony Baxter, Bob Gur and Joe Rhode to speak out publicly about this and be COMPLETELY HONEST about what they think about this mess. But,..we all know that they can't. "If" they go against Burbank, they will get blacklisted and canceled real fast.

 

[John park hopper]

Lol as if kids are familiar with Main Street and 30s Hollywood or care about the history of agriculture and communication

So what exactly do they teach in school these days

 

[Tha Realest]

This is how retail at parks like Disneyland and The Magic Kingdom was designed as well.

A mix of high volume, one-stop-shopping stores and small, unique shops that acted like exhibits to occupy time. That some didn't turn a profit wasn't important, because the park was viewed as a whole with the understanding that attractions, retail and restaurants don't compete with each other, but work together to sell the experience.

That changed in the 90s when any store that wasn't making x margins was thrown out.

Now entire swaths of park acreage are viewed this way. Not pulling your weight on a spreadsheet? Time to go. Never mind the operational need to not have every ride be over indexed, or the aesthetic value a setting may provide.

Everyone complains about how “IP” has ruined the parks when really it was the hostile takeover by the Consumer Products folks.

 

[The Mom]

Please stay on topic. Thank you.

 

[BrianLo]

Indeed. To me, that seems like a really bizarre misreading of what the fans want. @BrianLo mentioned that the reaction in the room was very subdued/uncomfortable around that announcement, so if that crowd wasn't into it then you have to ask who it is for.

Yup, I heard people talking about it immediately afterwards outside Honda on the street and then again at the Disneyland hotel in the elevator. I’d go so far to say it was the only thing that maybe had an actual ‘negative’ reaction from the crowd. 2022 Zootopia in DAK was somewhat similar.

I think it’s a bit Disneyland centric and was so early in the presentation, but it was surprising the lasting discomfort.

I do think it’s one of those things, if it’s done exceptionally tastefully, there will be more support once people start seeing it.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

Those are all extremely superficial representations of America, which is exactly the point I was making.

Wait an exploring the American west/frontier via car is somehow only superficially American? Driving along Route 66, or other older America highways to travel and explore is almost singularly an American cultural experience.

And that’s of course leaving aside all the other aspects of park that really aren’t all that American cultural specific, like almost all of the classic characters/stories that have European routes. The idea concept of princesses (yup totally American culture there) and castles.

 

[Cliff]

.

People at D23 are not uncomfortable with "Frontier Cars" and the concept itself. I think most are fine with it. I think it's the Monday morning bombshell about "where" it was going to go that people got upset about.

If they built "Frontier Cars" in an EMPTY part of land,...this idea would be a smash hit!!