News Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[DavidDL]

It’s important to remember that Disney knew this would be an unpopular decision with their fans, too. Which is exactly why they waited to show this artwork and confirm placement until AFTER the convention. It’s easier for them to put their fingers in their ears and pretend this is what Guests want when you don’t have an entire convention center filled with boos aimed at you and on the internet forever.

Booing which, I still heard on one of the livestreams when the Cars area was announced.

 

[John park hopper]

Again. Park doesn't mean 'trees and nature'. A 'car park' isn't natural.

Car Park to the British is a parking lot

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

I had the same thought! The current concept doesn’t rule this out… I’m hopeful that they plan to save the northern loop of ROA. It would allow big thunder to remain on the water front and they could dock the belle just west of the haunted mansion in a new small extension of liberty square which would transition to villains…

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This would be nice, but with the rivers tucked so far back, what's even the point? The best part of it is the views from LS/Frontierland. Now there's some race cars blocking the way. I wish they had put Cars on that back half of RoA/TSI and left the main part. It would all fit, I'm pretty sure. You can even keep that shape for Villains and not go out beyond the berm.

 

[lentesta]

Removing the rivers of America is one of the worst decisions these clowns have done! They have so much land behind big thunder!

I agree Rivers of America is beautiful place-setting.

The Liberty Belle Riverboat, Tom Sawyer Island, and Hall of Presidents generate exactly $0 in Lightning Lane revenue.

I'm not saying that should be the primary factor in these decisions. But it's a top consideration for the company, and one that drives decisions about what to build. (Whether it should be is more of a discussion about what flavor of capitalism you prefer. And to paraphrase myself from earlier today, this afternoon isn't the time for me to get banned from this forum.)

ETA: I really, sincerely thank you all for putting up with me while I test lines for the next podcast. Thank you.

 

[doctornick]

If they go this route, it’s ridiculous. Saving the part of RoA that doesn’t need saving and then destroying the part that adds the views.

The reason why that seems plausible to me is that they might be trying to keep the connection to the canal to the SSL for the purposes of storm water management. So keep the back part of the RoA that connects there.

There are surely other options, but I can see this logic in this.

 

[October82]

Again. Park doesn't mean 'trees and nature'. A 'car park' isn't natural.

Theme parks historically were parklike, and the park-aspects of them are much of what makes them attractive places to spend time.

Removing heat dissipating and shade providing natural areas and replacing with concrete and rock work will both elevate the temperature and remove places for people to take breaks from the sun.

 

[Mike S]

Maybe, but that's not a good thing. If you want to differentiate them, do it in ways that makes the park being changed better.

I fully agree.

 

[Brian]

It’s important to remember that Disney knew this would be an unpopular decision with their fans, too. Which is exactly why they waited to show this artwork and confirm placement until AFTER the convention. It’s easier for them to put their fingers in their ears and pretend this is what Guests want when you don’t have an entire convention center filled with boos aimed at you and on the internet forever.

Booing which, I still heard on one of the livestreams when the Cars area was announced.

There were several very loud boos, and more shockingly, a lack of the thunderous applause that virtually every other announcement got. There was a very tepid applause, at best. Keep in mind this is an entire arena full of the most rabid Disney fans on earth... people who are willing to take time off work, buy a flight and hotel room, and pay hundreds of dollars just to be there to hear these announcements.

 

[October82]

It’s important to remember that Disney knew this would be an unpopular decision with their fans, too. Which is exactly why they waited to show this artwork and confirm placement until AFTER the convention. It’s easier for them to put their fingers in their ears and pretend this is what Guests want when you don’t have an entire convention center filled with boos aimed at you and on the internet forever.

Booing which, I still heard on one of the livestreams when the Cars area was announced.

Trust in a brand is hard to gain and easy to lose. Repeatedly alienating your most loyal customers can't be good for the bottom-line.

 

[Brian]

Theme parks historically were parklike, and the park-aspects of them are much of what makes them attractive places to spend time.

Removing heat dissipating and shade providing natural areas and replacing with concrete and rock work will both elevate the temperature and remove places for people to take breaks from the sun.

Good thing it doesn't get hot in Florida, amirite?

 

[doctornick]

There were several very loud boos, and more shockingly, a lack of the thunderous applause that virtually every other announcement got. There was a very tepid applause, at best. Keep in mind this is an entire arena full of the most rabid Disney fans on earth... people who are willing to take time off work, buy a flight and hotel room, and pay hundreds of dollars just to be there to hear these announcements.

Absolutely. This is just like Splash in that they certainly know this change is going to be shredded by the most loyal and vocal parks fans, but they did it anyway because... reasons.

 

[MrPromey]

RIP Poseidon real soon now too.

Poseidon's been closed for a year or more.

The exterior is still there to walk past but they're clearly biding their time until EU is complete since that entire land is nothing but dining and shopping without a clear reason for existing at this point.

 

[Bocabear]

I really hope the Disney finance people decide this is to expensive and dont do it. I like the idea of a cars ride, but not at the expense of losing the Liberty Belle, ROA, and TSI. Also, send Cars to the Studios, and give MK something more fitting theme wise (Doesnt have to be IP Driven).

Most of the new announcements seem like a desperate response to the New Epic Universe Park. Except it is to little, and to late. Iger said that they have known about Epic was coming for around 10 years, and they are just now announcing new stuff. They should have announced this stuff 5 years ago, and had some of this stuff up and running starting this year and into next year.

Sadly this will probably happen... they will decide it is too expensive after they have already completed demo on ROA and Tom Sawyer's Island, and then readjust plans and build a value engineered version of the ride shown...a scaled down and less impressive version of what it was supposed to be... you know like the new Flex Space Communicore Hall/Community College Cafetorium... I don't feel confident that these plans will come through with current leadership after the EPCOT debacle.

 

[mattpeto]

You have to be honest with yourself and those attractions are skipped by most guests.

I don't have any strong sentiments towards Riverboat and TSI, but just please get the aesthetics right, Disney.

 

[lazyboy97o]

It's an artists rendering.

How, or why, do you think this is AI? It's not the usual super smooth AI art.

His whole shtick is just making up ridiculous claims and then repeating them over and over again.

 

[John park hopper]

Theme parks historically were parklike, and the park-aspects of them are much of what makes them attractive places to spend time.

Removing heat dissipating and shade providing natural areas and replacing with concrete and rock work will both elevate the temperature and remove places for people to take breaks from the sun.

It's by Disney design --raise the temperature and the guest buys more 5 dollar water and 5.50 soda

 

[lazyboy97o]

I agree - looking forward to see how they solve that. I don't think it's difficult. The key is the size and scope of that center mountain pass.

That’s not the key at all. It’s the relationship between things, including the existing ones that are being “protected” because the view would be so obviously jarring.

 

[JD80]

Filling in water is cheap?

Also, they still need water and storm management if they remove the RoA, probably adds a ton more cost to the process.

What do you mean filling in water?

It seems like the back half of RoA is staying, or at least some portion of it. You can "easily" build a drainage system that puts the water into the back half of RoA. Easily compare to diverting/building new canals outside the berm.

 

[October82]

Sadly this will probably happen... they will decide it is too expensive after they have already completed demo on ROA and Tom Sawyer's Island, and then readjust plans and build a value engineered version of the ride shown...a scaled down and less impressive version of what it was supposed to be... you know like the new Flex Space Communicore Hall/Community College Cafetorium... I don't feel confident that these plans will come through with current leadership after the EPCOT debacle.

Value engineering the value-store version of RSR is sure to be a winner.

 

[doctornick]

Trust in a brand is hard to gain and easy to lose. Repeatedly alienating your most loyal customers can't be good for the bottom-line.

That's what I don't get. They know this is going to off the most loyal fans. They know they have a worsening reputation problem about being "not worth it" and "too expensive". The biggest thing they have to counter that is the legions of fans online who hype up how a Disney trip is something you have to do and it is totally worth it.

Once those folks stop hyping everything - and it's already happening - the parks are going to continue to suffer in reputation.

And it's not like they can't do this in a way that would get people more on board. Tons of us already suggested it in this thread.