MK Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[Streetway Again]

People here really have trouble with things that aren’t black and white good or bad, do they?

This is a grey area decision in its merit. It is a very heavy decision, that I’m sure was not made lightly. I do think that both sides of this argument bring very good and valid points to the table for the argument for or against the rivers at MK. At the end of the day, this whole argument comes down to personal preference as guests. Does I’m not sure if we will ever truly know if this was the right or the wrong decision until it opens, and even then I’m not sure if we will ever know for sure without a shadow of a doubt. I would rather everyone have greater respect for our opinions, and not just continually call eachother wrong.

I admit, cars and the river going wouldn’t be my first choice, and I imagine it was kidna what executives wanted. But do I kinda get why it was made? Yeah. That’s me though. I do agree that there is something to be lost with the rivers, but that doesn’t mean something won’t be gained as well! Give the imagineers a chance. But I understand those who would not, and don’t see as I do. For me, I’m choosing to have an open mind for this because of all those reasons, and for the fact that I would rather not spend the next 5 years of my fandom being angry.

 

[mickEblu]

Past experience tells me all I need to know.

Considering their recent track record - a very scary time to be taking on such a high stakes project.

 

[Disstevefan1]

There are solutions to any problem.

Except for the ground lighting in EPCOT apparently

 

[Agent H]

So your position is that they should’ve refurbished the Rivers of America and the Liberty Belle? And expanded Beyond Frontierland and create a massive in-park dead end?

I’ve been watching people stroll Frontierland. Hardly anybody pays the river any mind.

What do you want them to do? Stop and cheer?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

But just saying it can be done like it's easy, isn't an argument in good faith

It’s as easy as the plan they are going forward with and as easy or easier as other plans they have recently done.

To say that’s not true is also not an argument in good faith.

 

[trainplane3]

It's the position of many who don't really think about the "why"

You can't keep enough of the river to be worth it in almost an idea i can come up with, the boat has no clearance to move and you have to build infrastructure for the river that doesn't exist.

They didn't build the river with future expansion in that spot or behind it in mind

Arguably, and preferably for me, you don't change it.

But if they want to do anything back there, it almost HAS to go. That's the reality of this

Plus, as somone who works there, park operations wants it gone because it's a massive dead end as it sits now with the entire crowd in the front of the park at night.
Let alone trying to put 2 huge expansions behind it with essentially 1 20ft wide path to get in AND out(next to big thunder)

Disneyland has GE behind its RoA and is just fine. WDW could make it work if they actually cared about crowd control that's more then just making a pathway bigger and having CMs stand there doing next to nothing. For a park as tight as DL, I had a easier time navigating that park during fireworks and also back to HM (a dead end at the time) during Fantasmic then I ever had trying to move around MK. I wonder why?
Oh wait it's because they were pushing people through the bottlenecks in enforced lanes. WDW just doesn't try to be better and always cries for the easiest out at the moment in time. I'm sure when these expansions open, they'll just complain that "X is too small" or something.

 

[FettFan]

Disneyland has GE behind its RoA and is just fine. WDW could make it work if they actually cared about crowd control that's more then just making a pathway bigger and having CMs stand there doing next to nothing. For a park as tight as DL, I had a easier time navigating that park during fireworks and also back to HM (a dead end at the time) during Fantasmic then I ever had trying to move around MK. I wonder why?
Oh wait it's because they were pushing people through the bottlenecks in enforced lanes. WDW just doesn't try to be better and always cries for the easiest out at the moment in time. I'm sure when these expansions open, they'll just complain that "X is too small" or something.

Bingo. The fact that they re-routed the train and altered RoA for Star Wars in Anaheim renders his entire point moot.

Seems to me another case of Disney cheapeneering….such a move would require much more money and effort than just filling in the river, and Ol’ Bob and his goons are pinching the pennies so hard that poor Mr. Lincoln thinks he’s having another night at the theater.


Meanwhile, Universal is close to completing Epic Universe and is quietly building their minipark in Texas which was conceived with dedicated expansion pads.

Poor Mickey needs to start wearing his yellow pants.

 

[Streetway Again]

This entire thread right now

I hate to see the rivers go, but there are reasons for it. You make not like them, but you just can’t pretend they don’t exist wrong because of that fact.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

That's literally what you just described, minus the shaking AA on a rope. And that ride seems to be the top of the list of many theme park fans.

Not exactly…. Many of the decisions are, in my opinion, over spending on ego projects.

This is not the cheapest solution - but it’s spending too much money in the wrong places.

On top of that - I question the tackless technology- I kinda hope they keep the existing design but just do radiator springs system.

 

[mickEblu]

Alright alright we get it Disney. You didn’t want us to think that Florida was going to tell you what to do when it comes to your parks. Well they approved it so now you can say that you made the decision to scale back the river demolition on your own terms. These guys I’ll tell ya

 

[Disstevefan1]

Bingo. The fact that they re-routed the train and altered RoA for Star Wars in Anaheim renders his entire point moot.

Seems to me another case of Disney cheapeneering….such a move would require much more money and effort than just filling in the river, and Ol’ Bob and his goons are pinching the pennies so hard that poor Mr. Lincoln thinks he’s having another night at the theater.


Meanwhile, Universal is close to completing Epic Universe and is quietly building their minipark in Texas which was conceived with dedicated expansion pads.

Poor Mickey needs to start wearing his yellow pants.

 

[Gusey]

Disneyland has GE behind its RoA and is just fine. WDW could make it work if they actually cared about crowd control that's more then just making a pathway bigger and having CMs stand there doing next to nothing. For a park as tight as DL, I had a easier time navigating that park during fireworks and also back to HM (a dead end at the time) during Fantasmic then I ever had trying to move around MK. I wonder why?
Oh wait it's because they were pushing people through the bottlenecks in enforced lanes. WDW just doesn't try to be better and always cries for the easiest out at the moment in time. I'm sure when these expansions open, they'll just complain that "X is too small" or something.

Yeah, because MK's and pre-2016 Disneyland's rivers are exactly the same. Except for the canal next to MK's Big Thunder meaning a bridge would be needed to connect the path in front of Big Thunder to that expansion plot. Except for the lack of space for a path next to Haunted Mansion meaning the ROA would need to be shortened on the Liberty Square side. Except that adding a small path to the left of Haunted Mansion will create a bigger bottleneck than there already is there with people trying to get to Villains or Haunted Mansion. The ROA were always going to be altered as soon as Beyond Big Thunder was announced. Let's not spend the next 3-4 years repeating the same arguments

 

[Stripes]

Because it’s an integral part of their most popular park at their flagship resort

Once it opens you might say the same thing about Cars and Villains.

provides beautiful ambiance

As will its replacement.

has resonated with guests for 50+ years

We’re all going to die someday. Appreciate and be thankful for the memories you’ve made. Be open to new experiences.

Some things you don’t mess with.

This isn’t one of those things. It’s some dirty Florida swamp water and island based around a classic IP that hasn’t resonated with younger generations for a long time. I have a 100x more beautiful view on my deck than what Rivers of America offers. And, unlike its superior sibling in Disneyland, it’s not even well integrated into the park.

Disney could really use some bonafide Wins with the last few years they’ve had. This is not it.

If Cars, Villains, and the new berm live up to my high expectations, I will absolutely consider it a massive win.

 

[Stripes]

Considering their recent track record - a very scary time to be taking on such a high stakes project.

You do realize that there’s been a massive shakeup at WDI in the past 2-3 years? The effects of this shakeup have yet to be demonstrated to the public, but they will soon.

 

[Ayla]

This entire thread right now

I hate to see the rivers go, but there are reasons for it. You make not like them, but you just can’t pretend they don’t exist wrong because of that fact.

You're awfully sure of yourself for only being here a week.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

I have a 100x more beautiful view on my deck than what Rivers of America offers.

Maybe you should sell tickets.

You do realize that there’s been a massive shakeup at WDI in the past 2-3 years? The effects of this shakeup have yet to be demonstrated to the public, but they will soon.

If they're not fighting against this change, then I question the quality of their decision-making.

We’re all going to die someday.

Truth.

What do you want them to do? Stop and cheer?

This is your best post on this site so far. Hands down.

I would rather not spend the next 5 years of my fandom being angry.

Yeah, me too. They're just making it difficult.

 

[Agent H]

This is your best post on this site so far. Hands down.
.

Ha! Thank you.

 

[Stripes]

What do you want them to do? Stop and cheer?

Wouldn’t that be nice?

But seriously, I just think some people should be more open-minded. It’s perfectly fine to have a “prove it to me” attitude, but for some it’s downright contempt which is just unreasonable.

This “river” is not some sacred place.

 

[Jrb1979]

Wouldn’t that be nice?

But seriously, I just think some people should be more open-minded. It’s perfectly fine to have a “prove it to me” attitude, but for some it’s downright contempt which is just unreasonable.

This “river” is not some sacred place.

Neither is having Cars fill that spot. I would upset regardless with ROA leaving but I would understand if it was an IP that fit Frontierland.

The theme of the land or park doesn't matter to many anymore. They just want their IP they grew up with.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

This “river” is not some sacred place.

And now let’s turn to the book of Rohde for one of my favorite passages….

“
Now, we theme park designers do not build temples or churches, and our stories are not sacred, but the underlying logic of the Eternal Return still applies to the best of narrative placemaking.

The real world is brutally amoral and relentless in its rate of destruction and replacement. There are few refuges from this assault. Theme parks, at their best, can be such places, secular though they are. People step out of the chaos and into an ordered ceremonial world where time is arrested. Beloved important moments are re-enacted in a space that is outside of history.

That's why it's such a shock when time intrudes, either with changes, or more tellingly with new events that are too anchored in contemporary relevance.”