News Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[Andrew M]

This could be just copium talking, but…..the northern path adjacent to Thunder Mountain buts up against trees and….water?

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I realize it's a very big longshot, but if they use this to cut the river short put in the same water-front theming they did for the railroad at Disneyland, that could be a huge improvement over the current complete lack of theming that most of the RR has.

There is water shown in the Villains Land concepts, so maybe there could be a way to maintain some part of the river and the riverboat ride to fit in with that. I know I should know better, but I'd be very surprised if they completely eliminated the Liberty Belle after the recent refurbishment.

 

[Quietmouse]

The truth is that this will probably fit in well frontier lane. Mountain trees, streams, water falls and a faux mountain like grizzly at dca will most definitely fit in with theme of frontier land. Heck, even BTM will look good and even more natural within the context of even more nature and mountains surrounding it.

If they can blend the ride well into the environment and keep the noise level down, then the debate of how well this fits into frontier land (ip discussions aside) is rather silly.

When you think of the frontiers you most definitely think of wilderness and mountains.

 

[celluloid]

This planned for 2029-2030 just means that we can expect a Cars 4 attempt near then. That is all it tells us.

Not only a sore thumb compared to the hyperreal around it...

in 2030-2040 it can be fair to say that a Cars area like this will be less culturally relevant than the Pioneer concept of American romanticized history is now.

 

[el_super]

in 2030-2040 it can be fair to say that a Cars area like this will be less culturally relevant than the Pioneer concept of American romanticized history is now.

People said Cars Land at DCA wouldn't be relevant after 10 years, and here we are.

 

[mickEblu]

I feel like I’m seeing far more negative feedback toward MuppetVision’s apparent removal than I am for anything here.

Which is CRAZY to me and kind of makes you realize that even those who think they may not care or want IP at the parks care far more than they realize if the removal of an old 3D show is giving them more grief than losing the ROA. Especially if Muppets presence will still be around somewhere at the parks. Once the ROA is gone its gone and it effects 1/3 of the park. It's not contained in a building. I mean, I know in this case its a little deeper because of Jim Henson and the fact that its an original and last version standing but its a bit of a head scratcher for me.

 

[Gusey]

I'm surprised by how much I'm bothered by this move considering I've never stepped foot into MK. I suppose it's because it can be viewed as a chin-k in the armor of Disneylands (or any version of the ROA) if you will. Granted, there are many more reasons they wouldn't do anything this extreme with Disneylands version but you never know with these guys. It's also because I view the ROA as maybe the most untouchable thing at Disneyland. Its right there and probably even more important in terms of placemaking than the Castle, Matterhorn and DLRR train station, What it does for the entire west side of the park cannot be overstated and I have to imagine it does the same thing even if it's not quite as utilized as DL's version.

Anyway, this decision by Disney is very disappointing so I'm going to just go focus on the announcements they made for DLR which are all very positive. Unless of course we hear Pandora is being plopped on top of Grizzly Peak and then there will be hell to pay.

It's very unlikely they'll get rid of the RoA at either Disneyland or Disneyland Paris. Disneyland's Rivers have a lot more going for them including Fantasmic, Mark Twain, SS Comumbia and the Canoes. Even when they considered converting TSI to Discovery Bay at one point, they still kept the rivers with bridges connecting the island to mainland. Disneyland Paris' was built with Big Thunder in the middle of it, so whilst they are down to one boat, the rivers will likely stay because of Big Thunder. Tokyo's on the other hand may face a similar fate to MK's as Tokyo Disneyland is running out of expansion space.

 

[EeyoreFan#24]

In regards to the Railroad, it would be really cool if that trackless off road tech could interface with RR crossings and have the train go right through the desert where they are racing.

That probably can’t happen for at least one million reasons, but it would be kinda neat.

 

[celluloid]

People said Cars Land at DCA wouldn't be relevant after 10 years, and here we are.

Cars Land there is very different. It is Route 66 .(and also does not take place in California. So the park had to abandoned that theme as well. They gave people starving a chicken and called it a steak as well. It is in fact a great land in design. More than the property likely deserves over a decade later of merch trends changing. It made its money from then on. It does not ask for it now.

I also don't recall anyone saying that very often, as it was built and forced synergy right after the first movie, the only one of the series, resonated and pushed merch. The land would sitll be gorgeous if the Cars overlay would not have gone in.

It was also where they pumped out two movies and spin offs since. See my comment you only partially quoted.
and DCA is still the most struggling stateside theme park. That is why it is still needing all that work after all that work.


All these knee jerk reactions show what happens when they need to do a lot of something due to neglect, and have little Marvel to use.

 

[Jrb1979]

I think it's super simple for the general public. "I don't go on TSI, but I would love two Cars rides. I'm in!"

They programmed the general public to think that way. When I first started going to the parks in the 80s and 90s the focus was on exploring and experiencing all the areas of the park.

 

[el_super]

It's also because I view the ROA as maybe the most untouchable thing at Disneyland.

It's been changed and updated quite a few times. It lost Cascade Peak in 1998. It lost most of the trees in 2002. It was updated in 2009 (to add stuff missing since the trees were gone) and then shortened and reconfigured in 2016 with the SWGE changes. If you remember what it was like in the late 90s and even into the early 2000s, it's a shell of what it used to be. It's been gone for a long time really.

 

[hopemax]

They KNOW it has to blow people out of the water! Just like they knew Tiana’s had to blow people out of the water! Look at how great that turned out! Why can’t we trust these poor execs making these hard decisions!

They think we’re idiots.

That and Galaxy’s Edge and the Epcot spine. I don’t where other people are getting all this trust out of current Disney. These are the projects when they really *try.*

Some CA projects have turned out okay, and I’ll get to see Fantasy Springs in 2 months. So maybe it’s just operational constraints and budgets after being run through WDW management, and not the entirety of WDI that’s broken. However, as someone whose first failure and Disney heartbreak was Tomorrowland ‘98, I really don’t have the patience or frankly, time to give them the benefit of the doubt anymore. Better ideas aren’t coming, because the people in charge can’t even recognize what differentiates themselves from others in the marketplace.

My WDW visits have continued the last decade, because I could visit for free. The June trip was the first time I didn’t go to all 4 parks. We skipped DHS because it’s too hard to actually ride anything after the first attraction. It’s been basically two of Tower, MMRR and TSMM, followed by Muppets and Star Tours before leaving. All these announcements, the writing is on the wall. Disney doesn’t even want guests to have the option to experience attractions with low waits. Every attraction must be painful (which only ratchets up expectations, but whatever.) Or space simply abandoned like the front of Tomorrowland.

When DLR announced their Frontierland changes, we booked a last minute trip to see the park before. I’m not sure if I ever want to set foot in the Magic Kingdom again. Once Epic opens it will be hard to justify keeping WDW on the agenda, even though it’s free, and we have to pay… and expect to pay a lot, to do Universal.

 

[Quietmouse]

They programmed the general public to think that way. When I first started going to the parks in the 80s and 90s the focus was on exploring and experiencing all the areas of the park.

Yes but would you explore it again on a repeat visit ? I think that’s kind of the main topic point. The boat nor the island had a repeatability factor.

 

[FigmentFan82]

in 2030-2040 it can be fair to say that a Cars area like this will be less culturally relevant than the Pioneer concept of American romanticized history is now.

as long as there are little kids, Car will be relevant. that is not going to change. and everyone who visits RS in DCA says they love it. i'm guessing many will like this too

 

[el_super]

Cars Land there is very different. It is Route 66 .

If you're willing to accept that DCA's Cars Land can have value outside of the IP, why not the new MK Frontierland?

The land can still be gorgeous.

 

[KDM31091]

They don’t seem to care about blowing people out of the water anymore. As long as it sells merch and pushes Disney+ subscriptions I guess that’s good enough now. But I too noticed the “we know we have to blow this out of the water” shtick and I don’t believe they will.

Speaking of water, I’m also reluctant to believe the concept art showing any water being what happens. New Fantasyland, Galaxys Edge and Future World all had water in the concept art IIRC and have not a trace of any water.

And yes. They only want long wait high demand attractions to sell more LL. Low wait attractions aren’t monetizing you as a guest and therefore are not a priority. Every guest walking around needs to be buying LL, buying merch or buying food.

 

[el_super]

They programmed the general public to think that way. When I first started going to the parks in the 80s and 90s the focus was on exploring and experiencing all the areas of the park.

LOL if they could program people, why not just program them to like what is already there and save the money?

 

[celluloid]

If you're willing to accept that DCA's Cars Land can have value outside of the IP, why not the new MK Frontierland?

The land can still be gorgeous.

Because it could certainly go somewhere better than the middle of Frontierland and across from The Haunted Mansion?

If you admit the land's design is irrelevant to where it is at, then you admit that it is that clear that Disney put little thought into that as well.

Gorgeous lands don't really happen at Disney often anymore stateside. Pandora was over a decade ago by the time this thing opens and took much longer with more resources.

 

[Gusey]

I keep seeing comments about how MK has the worst FL, but I honestly don't get it. What makes other FLs more special than MK's? I've been to DL and their FL seemed small and didn't have much more (if anything more) to offer than MK's. Of course, now it will with their shooting arcade, riverboat and island still intact (for now). But I felt underwhelmed with their FL compared to WDW's. Ours always felt so open to me and very "western expansion" like.

It's more the content of MK's Rivers that is the worst version of RoA. Disneyland's has more to see on the back half that can only be viewed from the boats (a lot of MK's are hidden by overgrown trees), there are lots of different transportation options on the river and at night it transforms into a nighttime show.

 

[Grantwil93]

I think outside of the serious fans, the majority of casual park guests think Cars moving into RoA and TSI is a very good thing.

Unfortunately you are absolutely correct. Talked to hundreds of guests already about this and fellow CM's and literally only 2 ppl were actually upset. The reality of the actual opinions of guests is not even remotely in line with what many here and on X think it is.

 

[Stripes]

Look at the concept art: the mountain is not supposed to be hidden, you're supposed to see it when you walk into the land from the hub. They're not planning for it to be hidden behind a wall of trees.

In the concept art, when you walk in from the hub, it’s quite forested. See the area circled in green.