Disney confirms 'Frozen' makeover coming to Epcot's Norway Pavilion

[Mike S]

Why is it when *Disney* (and I do mean only Disney, because no other company is constantly questioned or challenged on their "direction" or decision making, the way Disney is) - anyway, why is it when Disney makes a change -any change- there is this obsessive collective mindset that erupts into this faux outrage followed by attacking people who aren't as offended or simply open to embracing change?

I'm trying to understand how one consumer, who I assume frequents the parks, has the gall to attempt to label another consumer as "dumb" for expressing excitement about a specific change. It completely baffles me -- this is akin to labeling the person who prefers Ralph Lauren's take on fashion this season over Prada's as dumb. World showcase is like the Vegas Strip sans hotels and casino's to me. I don't see how people can people become so emotionally attached to such a thing? I don't think the majority of people can.

If I had to categorize and label one group of park goers as the official Disney apologists, sheeple, rose colored glass wearing koolaid drinking pixie dust sniffers or whatever derogatory name that's spitefully attached to Disney guests, it is the DVC owners. This group has committed to provide Disney with a substantial amount of cash upfront and possibly for decades whether Disney invests a dime in the parks or not - alleviating Disney from having to compete on the same platform as other theme parks, who must create new and innovative rides and attractions in order to remain competitive. For the record, I don't feel that way about DVC owners, but DVC's massive success has forever changed Disney from an amusement park to a timeshare resort and I don't see any signs of that trend slowing down.

Back to Maelstrom, there was barely a line there before Frozen. I haven't ridden it years, but I will after it reopens. I still think the Captain EO area or somewhere in Future World would have been perfect for a Frozenland, but whatever.

In short, all I am saying is if you have been to Disney since the grand opening of Expedition Everest, you may want to take a good look in the mirror before attempting to identify certain guests as "dummies." You cannot blame other guests for Disney's decisions, especially when you visit the parks yourself. I'm not knocking anyone who is disappointed - we all have our *thing*, but it is simply illogical to blame other guests for the decisions that Disney makes without assuming some of that blame yourself.

Because Disney as a company used to hold itself to a higher standard. We only want them to keep to that standard. To answer why people choose to go on Disney Cruises or go to Disneyland over Walt Disney World it's because that quality standard is still held to in those areas much more so than in Orlando.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I'm trying to understand how one consumer, who I assume frequents the parks, has the gall to attempt to label another consumer as "dumb" for expressing excitement about a specific change.

A lot of those who are "dumb" repeatedly express a view that negates the legitimacy of themed entertainment as a creative medium. They do not like themed entertainment as its own thing and do not respect it as capable of telling its own stories. As such, they only look for it to repeat what they already know and have experienced. The delight is not from the medium, but a familiarity with a reference.

 

[twebber55]

Star Wars will do insanely well. The prequels, like 'em or not, attracted a whole new generation. After that, Clone Wars, which for many kids is more Star Wars than the movies, was a huge hit, and now with Rebels this year, and a movie next year. As the original fanbase has got older, new fans have grown to join them...

Episode 7 will do record numbers that make Avatar look like a disappointment, believe me.

oh i agree i think it will definitely do somewhere around 1.5 to 2 billion dollars

 

[Nick Wilde]

So..... even though I hate this stupid decision that Disney is making, I'm still gonna ride it AT LEAST once. Probably never again. I'd like to know who else really disagrees with this move, but will still ride it AT LEAST one time.

 

[dadddio]

On this particular point of contention, yep. If you think Frozen and Arendell should be taking over Norway, YOU are part of the problem. Part of the dumbing down of Disney parks. Which, if you happen to be a dummy, is probably what you would want.

Nice. Let's see:

Red herring? Check
Ad hominem? Check
Moral High ground fallacy? Check

 

[TyrantBoss]

I hear that Disney is going to make all of the parks "Frozen" themed in order to bleed any bit of money they can out of Frozen and keep ramming it down our throats until we are totally sick of it.

See also....Stitch, Hannah Montana, Duffy the Bear.....and coming soon Star Wars.

 

[Lee]

Nice. Let's see:

Red herring? Check
Ad hominem? Check
Moral High ground fallacy? Check

And yet....entirely accurate.
Not sure of your point.....

 

[Zac Skellington]

Yet it was the very thing they had lined up the day they announced the purchase... and what justified spending billions. Yeah, who thought they had movies on their mind..

The day they bought Lucasfilm they announced 3 movies...
How many theme park attractions have they announced??

Their priorities were clear..

You're a smart guy, @flynnibus. I'm surprised you don't understand the word just, as I used it above. (Right back at ya.)

When did I say anything about the films not being priorities? (Because you earned it.)

TWDC seems to get many things wrong lately. Still, I would hope even they learned not to announce a new land before it has been fleshed out. I'm looking at you AvatarLand...

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

It will be interesting to see what happens on these boards when Tokyo Disney Sea gets it full blown Frozen port a la Mermaid Lagoon. I bet everyone who was excited to have Frozen replace Maelstrom will say "Why should have gotten something like that!"

 

[NormC]

@BigTxEars If it has beans it ain't chili.

 

[flynnibus]

You're a smart guy, @flynnibus. I'm surprised you don't understand the word just, as I used it above.

Your post inferred they bought Lucasfilm so they could build theme park attractions - their actions so far have shown that to not be a driving factor in the decision. They even downplayed it during the announcements (because they weren't ready to announce things) - and we know owning the company wasn't necessary for them to get SW attractions or events in the parks to begin with. Yet, at day zero and within weeks, they had films and TV projects under way.

You could say them making starwars clothing under Consumer Products falls under them 'not buying lucasfilm for JUST movies' - and technically be correct - but the gain there is insignificant and not really the driving factors to justify the purchase. Disney is looking to make hundreds of millions from each of the films - money that would take decades to make back from any other division.

These other secondary gains are just freebies the company gets from the buyout - not the decision drivers.

Disney didn't need to buy Lucasfilm to do theme park attractions... and any royalty savings just don't justify even a fraction of the 4 billion spent to acquire lucasfilm.

 

[wm49rs]

And yet....entirely accurate.
Not sure of your point.....

Well, he did leave martyrdom off his checklist....

 

[Zac Skellington]

Your post inferred they bought Lucasfilm so they could build theme park attractions - their actions so far have shown that to not be a driving factor in the decision. They even downplayed it during the announcements (because they weren't ready to announce things) - and we know owning the company wasn't necessary for them to get SW attractions or events in the parks to begin with. Yet, at day zero and within weeks, they had films and TV projects under way.

You could say them making starwars clothing under Consumer Products falls under them 'not buying lucasfilm for JUST movies' - and technically be correct - but the gain there is insignificant and not really the driving factors to justify the purchase. Disney is looking to make hundreds of millions from each of the films - money that would take decades to make back from any other division.

These other secondary gains are just freebies the company gets from the buyout - not the decision drivers.

Disney didn't need to buy Lucasfilm to do theme park attractions... and any royalty savings just don't justify even a fraction of the 4 billion spent to acquire lucasfilm.

What!? I inferred? No....
I like you, Flynn. I just don't know what you're smoking.
I was disagreeing that this cheap Frozen overlay is any kind of a replacement, or "plan B", for a SWLand.

Have a good day.

 

[Magenta Panther]

It will be interesting to see what happens on these boards when Tokyo Disney Sea gets it full blown Frozen port a la Mermaid Lagoon. I bet everyone who was excited to have Frozen replace Maelstrom will say "Why should have gotten something like that!"

I said that when I saw a video of Pooh's Hunny Hunt.

The apparent contempt TDO has for us Yanks is pretty appalling...

 

[PhilharMagician]

Additionally, I don't LOVE Frozen but clearly from a marketing perspective the franchise deserves more than a cheap, rushed (by Disney standards) overlay ... it deserves a land, an original attraction ...


Anyway ... way to think this through guys, brilliant.

I also enjoyed the movie Frozen, but it does not deserve a land or an original attraction. There has been one Frozen movie and yes it was popular. In 5 years the fan base could dwindle to a minute fraction of what it is today. If the ride or show is does quick and cheap then what happens? It becomes another closed or abandoned building. How about investing in good generic storyline with state of the art technology and a high quality theme without cutting the hell out of the budget while building it.

I get so tired of hearing every time a new Disney, Pixar or Marvel movie comes out that Disney needs to build a themed ride to it. NO THEY DON'T!

 

[Mike S]

I said that when I saw a video of Pooh's Hunny Hunt.

The apparent contempt TDO has for us Yanks is pretty appalling...

Pooh's Hunny Hunt is probably the most perfect comparison to draw from. In both cases a ride is being replaced for a relatively cheap plan in Orlando and a much more elaborate plan and nothing being replaced in Tokyo (unless you count the skyway station). Also the trackless ride system being used. It's like history is repeating itself.

 

[PhilharMagician]

118 pages of essentially the same comment. This thread will be longer than Save the Adventurers Club eventually.

Save what?

 

[FigmentFreak]

I was a Marketing major and currently work in marketing. You know I have found out through school and my career?

No amount of excellent advertising and marketing can polish a turd.

But, but, but, it's a pixie dust turd. It's magical and if we freeze it we can sell it as a Frozen turd. Or make it a Marvel Hero SuperTurd.

 

[FigmentJedi]

It will be interesting to see what happens on these boards when Tokyo Disney Sea gets it full blown Frozen port a la Mermaid Lagoon. I bet everyone who was excited to have Frozen replace Maelstrom will say "Why should have gotten something like that!"

The sentence "We should have gotten something like that!" applies to that whole park of course. Would be a great 5th gate.

 

[Cesar R M]

Really? Captain EO is awful - it just is. You're the only person I've encountered, who condones the continued presence of Captain EO in Epcot. And, while not all that original, you do get points for being "different." Perhaps it was okay back in day, I guess. And, I can forgive Disney for bringing it back after MJ passed, but it should have only been for a short duration, granting Disney plenty of time to create a suitable replacement.

I couldn't believe Disney made Captain EO a permanent fixture. This move alone demonstrates that Disney World has been on a steady decline for quite some time. I just adore those fountains so those can stay, but really, the theater should be bulldozed and replaced something state of the art, especially with all of the water and glass features over there - Frozenland would have been a perfect fit, imo.

you missed the point entirely.