News Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[Andrew C]

It’s a concern of half of livery square is gone. For me, anyway.

I wouldn't jump to conclusions on this just yet. The concept art doesn't show all that detail...

 

[marni1971]

I would think it's at least something being considered. After all, they did just do the boiler replacement a few years ago, and it wasn't cheap.

It’s a theme park ride. Not suitable for open water.

 

[EPICOT]

There's an argument to be made for Carousel of Progress.



The original concept of Frontierland is problematic for a number of reasons: slavery and racism, the treatment of native Americans; women largely didn't have the right to vote. It would be incredibly difficult for Disney to develop a new story in that context. We got 70+ years out of the idea. Let's be happy with that.

Liberty Square's days are numbered. And this is not the morning for me to get banned from this board for explaining why.



I'm hopeful the water features mostly stay. I think they learned their lesson with Galaxy's Edge.

If what you say is true and the concept of “American frontier” is problematic no matter what, I’m just shocked you would allow yourself to find enjoyment in such an immoral place!

 

[marni1971]

@Tayoboy something funny?

 

[GhostHost1000]

It’s a theme park ride. Not suitable for open water.

Paddlefish II coming soon lol

 

[JustInTime]

I wouldn't jump to conclusions on this just yet. The concept art doesn't show all that detail...

It does show it. It just may not be totally accurate.

 

[Brian]

It’s a theme park ride. Not suitable for open water.

Not currently, but you don't think they'd consider invest in repurposing it for actual transit from TTC to MK? If not, what else do you do with it? It doesn't seem to have a place in the current plans.

 

[Tha Realest]

liberty square is gonna be fine, I mean wdwmagic himself was hinting at a muppets HOP replacement

No, you see, the HOP tells a story filled with problematic individuals.

Unlike Muppets and Kevin Clash, who Disney continues to employ.

 

[marni1971]

Not currently, but you don't think they'd consider invest in repurposing it for actual transit from TTC to MK? If not, what else do you do with it? It doesn't seem to have a place in the current plans.

No. It has no navigation, limited propulsion, limited safety, sits low in the water etc etc etc

 

[doctornick]

They're saving that for another expansion.

I mean great, but then why not do the reverse? Use the north area as much as possible first and then if you really need to use the RoA footprint in the future do it when there is no other choice for space. I don't think people would be as upset if it came down to "we have no where else to expand" situation.

 

[ctrlaltdel]

I wouldn't jump to conclusions on this just yet. The concept art doesn't show all that detail...

Yeah it clearly does not show that. It clearly shows the Riverboat Landing building at the edge of the attraction (who knows if it actually will remain or be rethemed), but nothing else in particular is touched. Seems clear to me the boundaries of the area are the lower portions of Tom Sawyer's Island and the ROA with a pretty clear delineation to what currently exists on the banks of the river.

 

[vikescaper]

The boardwalk along RoA that goes from Liberty Square to TBA was adding in the 90’s to help with crowd control during SpectroMagic, correct? I assume this will be removed with the expansion so I wonder how crowd control will work once the new night parade premieres and there are construction walls up around RoA.

 

[Parker41056]

Not that it's going to make people feel any better, but this was one of the costlier options pitched, and makes a broad attempt to fit the area better than most others.

Now that word is out and the dust is settling, a little more information is slipping through.

Once their original BBTM plans were scrapped, Coco's massive showbuilding precluded it from being relocated. Cars won, the ROA's fate was sealed.

Villains - despite being a disparate collection of ideas even to this date - was by far the favorite to win over the singular BBTM expansion plot. The art as shown is suggestive of theme and style but not related to a practical model. Yet.

From my perspective, this leaves a ton more opportunity to expand Beyond Big Thunder. Coco could still live back there with an even bigger area for a Villains land. Maybe a phase 2.

 

[kevlightyear]

Yet somehow totally fine for DL. That's what irks me the most - even if they are going with completely idiotic shortsighted reasons for these changes, at least be consistent. Stop treating MK like a second class citizen and letting DL keep its history. That's total crap.

Disneyland is (and should be) the nostalgia/history park. Magic Kingdom has always been a copy. No sense in letting the most popular park in the world get stale.

 

[marni1971]

The boardwalk along RoA that goes from Liberty Square to TBA was adding in the 90’s to help with crowd control during SpectroMagic, correct?

Yep.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Unlike Muppets and Kevin Clash, who Disney continues to employ.

Kevin Clash is not employed by The Walt Disney Company or any affiliated company or subsidiary.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

Maybe it’s just me but I really don’t feel that “the park’s legacy” argument works here.

This isn’t Disneyland. MK’s version of Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island et all has never, ever been on the level of importance or significance that Disneyland’s is. Unlike Disneyland’s version, this particular corner of the park gets really ignored beyond it just being a way to get to the rides in the area people care about.

The RoA and riverboat are deeply integral part of Disneyland’s identity, especially with Fantasmic! being performed there and it’s co-relationship with other nearby attractions. That has NEVER been the case for Magic Kingdom. It has never been a highlighted point of the park, has never been held up as one of its sacred jewels. It has always just been “Disneyland has it so we do too.”

MK’s version of Frontierland has been incredibly weak for decades. Among the worst (if not THE worst in the world, bottom two). It getting a massive overhaul I feel has been an inevitability for ages.

I understand nostalgia for RoA. I do. I have it myself. I’ve loved it. But the park isn’t really losing anything critical to it’s existence and identity here.

This was never sacred ground here. I do feel the image of a river and riverboat is indeed a fixture and foundation of Disney iconography, just that that comes from a completely different park.

If you want to knock this from a thematic point of view, I’ll gladly join that. I don’t think Cars really belongs here either. But I really also cannot start to pretend that MK’s RoA or TSI is or ever has been important to this park, let alone a part of its legacy.

 

[Jrb1979]

I mean great, but then why not do the reverse? Use the north area as much as possible first and then if you really need to use the RoA footprint in the future do it when there is no other choice for space. I don't think people would be as upset if it came down to "we have no where else to expand" situation.

Why you ask? They know the hardcores will be the most upset and they don't care about them.

The other part, park theme doesn't matter anymore. It's not just to those in charge but also to the majority of newer guests. They want flashy and new IP

 

[Dwebble]

I have no attachment to ROA or TSI (although I enjoy the scenery). However, Disney is showing they will do anything they can to not increase capacity. They just keep replacing it. Attendance may be down right now, but as we've seen in recent years, they need the additional capacity for crowd management.

...in what possible world does a large land with multiple rides not represent an increase of capacity over the riverboat and Tom Sawyer's Island, of all things?

 

[flyerjab]

There is no doubt in my mind that this Cars attraction will be the #1 most popular attraction across all four parks (at least until Villains opens). Absolutely guaranteed.

The land also looks beautiful, so it will ALSO provide character, atmosphere, and beauty.

They're replacing a beautiful, unpopular thing, with something that will be tremendously popular *and is also beautiful.*

I’m in agreement here. I want to start, however, by saying I respect the nostalgia and attachment some super fans have for this part of the park. I’ll never say people are silly for being attached to things that I don’t personally share the same feelings for.

Having said that, we were just at Disneyland for the first time 2 weeks ago. We went to both parks. The ride with the longest standby was RSR. And for good reason; I had always heard people lavish that ride with praise. And now I understand why. INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE. I waited in a ridiculously long standby for that and it was worth every minute.

If this is built, and is a trackless, all-terrain ride, the park goers will eat…this…up. Period. There is a dedication on the forums that doesn’t exist in the hordes of “normie” park visitors. I agree with @CaptainAmerica on this point. If this is themed to the level that Carsland is, the line for this will stretch back to the castle.

We visited TSI once, and then never again. We went on the Riverboat almost never. It was hot and you got to see figures of animals and Native Americans. There is a reason why. In Walt’s day, the frontier was a focus of movies, books, etc. I don’t feel that westerns are as big as they used to be, relative to other genres. Walt picked this because it was a popular story to tell. But that was then.

Everyone on here says that they need to fix and expand the parts of the parks they already have in WDW. Well, this is that happening in real time now. The amount of people to queue up for this ride in one day will surpass the number of people that do TSI and the riverboat in one week. That’s what they want, maximize profit and distribution of guests. The current Frontierland does not do that. Adding this will.