Disney/Pixar Theme Park

MatthewM.UCF

New Member
Original Poster
Hello everyone!

I know there have been posts around the forums about this possibility, but I needed to write one of my own. I'm currently taking an entertainment marketing class at the University if Central Florida and we needed to create our own idea for a product that we would bring to market. My group and I chose to do a Disney/Pixar theme park.

I would really appreciate it if you could tell me what you would like to see in a Disney/Pixar Theme Park. Specific rides or areas. Also, what would get you excited about the new park? Would would you like to see in a commercial, billboard, or any other advertisement you can think of.

Any suggestions you have to offer would be a tremendous help. As we start writing the paper, I'll make sure to reply to this post with news of the actual park and advertisements we've created to see what you think.

I really appreciate anything you have to contribute in advance.
 

Disneyson 1

New Member
Wow... didn't you get yourself into a doozy! First of all, you've got to think of some sort of theme for the resort, not just "Disney and Pixar"... kind of how Disney's Hollywood Studios is themed to production, T.V., music, and movies, Disney's Animal Kingdom is themed to all animals (even those that are extinct or imaginary), EPCOT is themed to the world, it's future and it's culture, and how the Magic Kingdom is based off of 6 major ideals of Walt Disney himself (Adventure and nature in Adventureland, Old west and cowboys in Fronteirland, Patriotism in Liberty Square, Magic and Fairytales in Fantasyland, Walt's classic characters of Mickey and Minnie in Toontown, and the ideal future in Tomorrowland).

This also depends on where you're putting this resort, as a possible 5th Gate in Disneyworld or a new park in one of the other locations (Anaheim [original Disneyland, has 2 parks], Tokyo [has 2 parks], Paris [2 parks], and Hong Kong [1 Park]) or maybe someplace else?

A "Disney Movie" theme may not work, as you should take into account not only kids, but thrills and also things everyone can enjoy, one of the major draws of Disney Parks. Try to find a general theme and make a web of EVERYTHING you think of when you think of the word (For example, when Tokyo DisneySEA was made, SEA= Venice, 20k Under the Sea, The Little Mermaid, storms, ocean tech, Voyages of Sinbad (Aladdin?), Rivers of South America and Indiana Jones). Think of general motifs that include MANY subcatagories and you'll find that you've got a great outline for a theme park!

Remember to include characters in tasteful ways that help you explain your theme. Don't randomly plop Finding Nemo into, say, some 1920's New York area or something.

As for marketing, the great thing is that you can use characters, rides, and things appealing to everybody to market the park. Marketing's easy; the hard part is the park.

Once you've got down some specific info, please remember we're always open! Ask questions! We'll give you honest opinions.
 

MatthewM.UCF

New Member
Original Poster
Thank you for your reply!

Unfortunately, we decided to go with just a "Pixar" park. A place where you could experience the other side of Disney instead of making it about something vague (like "space"). So, we have to think about the Pixar park. Even though it's unlikely, I'm still trying to think of the best way Disney could do it.

Any ideas about what you'd want to see in a Pixar theme'd park would still be appreciated!
 

Chrononymous

Well-Known Member
Well...in my mind, I always imagined that a Pixar park would be very much a thrill park.

And the reason...Pixar makes guy movies. Guys tend to like action adventure and thrills.

OK...I know that may sound slightly sexist.
But really...Disney has it's princess thing...and Pixar doesn't have very many strong female protagonists.

They make movies about boys and fathers, buddy pictures, and movies about bugs, monsters, robots, super heroes, cars and stuff that well...appeals to boys.

Not that...as a chick...I wouldn't go to a Pixar park and have a great deal of fun...I probably would!

But it's something you do have to consider in your design.
 

Tip Top Club

Well-Known Member
Location?

If I were to do a Pixar Themed Park I would have to start with a Main Street style area themed to the studio itself. This boulevard would feature references to famous animators and movie studio personalities and celebrities, as well as being dedicated to the famous Pixar Short films, from a Luxo animatronic and Cafe Luxo, to a group of certain birds looking down from the power lines.

You couldn't avoid having themed lands starring the Toy Story, Monsters Inc, or Cars characters so that would be a good jumping off point. Perhaps an area built by the toys, or bringing you down to a toys size and featuring Toy Story Mania (Again based on location, you couldn't have this if it were at Disney World, but could in Paris for Example).

In Monstropolis, what better place then to bring to life the long awaited door coaster, a version of the laugh floor, and other great ideas.

And while your at it, bring in Carsland and the radiator springs racers.

I know that I personally would love to see an adventure themed area with a trip through nomanisan island from the Incredibles, and a journey through Paradise Falls from UP.

A Ratatouille Restaurant would be a necessity as well.
 

MatthewM.UCF

New Member
Original Poster
Thank you both for the replies. They were very helpful!

@Chrononymous - That was our idea exactly! To make it geared toward the younger boys (not that girls don't like Pixar!) and their families. I also agreed with your idea of it being somewhat a "thrill park." That was our intention exactly, to make something different from the other Disney parks in both styling and ride design.

@Tip Top Club - I really liked your idea of the main street style area themed as the studio itself. I may just use that idea into the final design! I was originally thinking maybe making "Toy Story" the main street area and the centerpiece of the park since it's about to have 3 movies and it's very iconic-ly "Pixar". Your rides are exactly right, and almost exactly what I was thinking. Even down to the Ratatouille restaurant (which you're right, is a MUST!)

Any other ideas would be fantastic! What types of rides would you like to see? What places from the movies need to be in the park. Any types of restaurants (besides the Ratatouille one?). I was thinking of possibly a Finding Nemo restaurant. One of those restaurants where you essentially ate in a big aquarium.
 

CharlieD

New Member
How about putting all the lands around the a large lake so it is like Epcot's World Showcase. You walk down the Main Street Studio street suggested, then there is a land themed to every single Pixar film likes the countries in World Showcase.

There's are my ideas for lands (sorry that none of these ideas are extremely original):
Sydney Harbour- a recreation of Sydney harbour complete with the bridge and opera house with attractions based on Nemo. Inside the Sydney Opera House is Finding Nemo- The Musical. There is a cruise ship docked in the harbour and inside is Turtle Talk with Crush (set up in the same style as Turtle Talk in DisneySea).

Sunnyside Boardwalk- A seaside Boardwalk (like Paradise Pier) hosted by the Toy Story. Attractions here include Toy Story Mania, Rex's Dino Land Arcade and Bo Peep's Carousel.

Luxo Space Port- A futuristic Pixar style Tomorrowland themed against a port for space ships (and named after the Pixar mascot). It is also the base of Star Command. Here you'll find an upgraded Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and Star Command Space Mission (a Pixar-fied much better version of Mission: Space). And in the Space Port, the Axiom Ship from Wall-E has landed. Inside it is the Wall-E Axiom Coaster- a half dark ride/half spinning coaster based on the film. Guests sit in chairs based on the seats in the film, in the first part of the ride they travel around the ship with Wall-E and Eve loosely following the story where they meet the captain Auto and in the second half they are thrown down the chute and out into space where the guests spin widely out of control.

A Bug's Land- Same as DCA, only much better theming

Radiator Springs- Same as DCA, only larger with more shops and restaurants such as Flo's Gas, Cozy Cone Motel and a Sci-Fi Dine In style restaurant

Monstropolis- Based off the city in Monsters Inc. The heart of the land is dominated by the Monsters Inc building. Inside is Ride & Go Seek from Tokyo and Monsters Inc Door Chase, a duelling inverted coaster where guests ride the doors in the film and compete to see who can scream the loudest and create the most power. Also is Mike Wazowski's Monsters Unleashed!, a variety show hosted by everyone's favourite monster, similar to Turtle Talk. In it Mike interacts with the audience, tells jokes and does musical numbers such as 'Put That Thing Back Where It Came From'. There is also Harry Hausens restaurant, the Sushi restaurant from the film.

Nomanisan Island- A large island featured in the movie the Incredibles. There is a large volcano in the centre. The main attraction is The Incredibles Adventure, a ride similar to the Spiderman ride at Universal, in which the Incredibles must battle all of their nemesis who have joined forces. Another attraction is The Incredibles 4D, based on the movie which includes effects such as water spray when Dash runs on the water and the whole theatre moving when the Omindroid is rolling across the floor. Other attractions include Island Transportation Pods, based off the transport in the movie, and the Edna Mode show: another interactive character show. In it guests are seated in a large theatre for the recording of Mode, Edna's daytime talk show. There are various segments to the show including the style segment in which she criticizes audience members dress sense; celebrity interviews in which pre recorded interviews with Edna from real celebrities are played; and a Jerry Springer parody in which a Pixar couple come onto the stage to discuss their marriage and it is revealed that the wife has been having an affair with a randomly selected audience member. I've written a whole script for this show if you're interested.

Paradise Falls- Based on the tropical rainforest in Up. In it Paradise Falls River Expedition, a Splash Mountain style log flume ride based on the film. Guests travel in a log meeting all the characters before plummeting down Paradise Falls at the climax. Also here is Flying With Russell and Carl: a balloon ride where guests sit in Carl's house.

Place de Paris- The setting for the Ratatouille film with cobblestone streets and a huge fountain in the middle. The main attraction is Remy's Adventure, an omnimover dark ride in which guests are shrunk to the size of a rat and dart around the kitchens and the streets of Paris. Also here is Cookalong Live With Remy and Linguini, a live cooking show with the two characters where things go disasterously wrong. And of course you have to have Gusteau's Restaurant.

They are my rough ideas for a Pixar park.
 

Disneyson 1

New Member
Some places like Monster's Inc, the Ant Hill from A Bugs Life (housing It's Tough to be a Bug), and Andy's Room are absolutely necessary! Seeing iconic pieces are great marketing tools. Also, a nighttime parade/spectacular/show would be a great idea, along with possibly a form of the Pixar Play Parade currently playing in Disney's California Adventure? It'd certainly get people to stay for the whole day! A restaurant like the Coral Reef in EPCOT might be nice for Finding Nemo, but restaurants and especially merchandising are possible virtually everywhere!
 

MaterA113

New Member
Here are some ideas of lands you could use (i havent read fully this thread, so sorry if repeats)
--(Main St. Area, something cleverly named) Maybe streets of Paris, so you can incorporate Ratatoille(sp?)
--Radiator Springs
--Bugs Land
--Toy Story Playlandia/Andy's Backyard
--Nomansian Island
--Monstropolis
--(Wall-E space themed land), possibly an inside themed area to the space ship


(i know im missing some movies) You could also do something with the Pixar Shorts

EDIT: just read post, and it seems all of mine have been suggested.. haha.. so IGNORE my land suggestions
 

ScorpionX

Well-Known Member
Here are some of my land ideas:

  • Pixar Studio Street
  • Radiator Springs
  • a bug's land
  • Andy's Room
  • Nomansian Island
  • Monstropolis
  • Axiom Spaceport
  • The Big Blue World
  • Paris

What do you think?
:D
 

Andy01

New Member
I wrote a few suggestions for Pixar rides a month or so ago in the context of a Pixar Place expansion - it's here. Feel free to take any of those ideas for your project.

I think the Main Street area should be themed to Pixar Studios, with some references to the shorts (I love the birds idea!), and then I think there are countless possibilities for themed lands. I think it's definitely a better idea to put the characters in their own environments, as opposed to putting them into another scenario (somebody suggested a Toy Story boardwalk, for example) because the movies environments translate really well into a theme park.

Maybe try and think of an icon for the park (a la the castle, SSE, tree of life, the hat...) and then that is what you can focus your marketing around - although I can't think of a suitable icon...

The park has to include, as people have already said:
- Ratatouille restaurant
- Monstropolis - with Harryhausen's as a must.
- Andy's room would be a difficult, maybe Andy's back yard would be a better angle
- The city from a Bug's Life would be pretty nice as opposed to the ant hill, and could even host a show with the circus bugs.
- Something from the Incredibles

...and there are loads more ideas that you can use, too.
 

MatthewM.UCF

New Member
Original Poster
Thank you everyone (again) for all of the wonderful ideas!

I'm really taking almost everything you're saying into consideration and thought I'd check back in to tell you what I've been thinking about.

I really liked @CharlieD's idea of modeling the park in the same fashion of Epcot's World Showcase. I think that leaves a a lot of room to grow, and really gives you the experience per movie world.

@Andy01 - for the icon of the park, I was going to use the time-tested Luxo Jr. (possibly with the ball that's in all the movies).

I was also thinking of making a park area (like central park) in the center of the theme park (like concentric circles). This park would be accessible to walk through to the other sides of the park from virtually anywhere. It would give you someplace to eat your fast food if you chose to. In the park, I thought we could include some some stuff from all the short films. One area could be for the "One Man Band" short. Every few hours, they could battle it out (and maybe have the audience decide who the winner of the golden coin is). Another little area would have some chess tables set up, and then a statue in homage to the old chess player. Just some stuff like that to really remind you of all the fun short films.

Any specific ride ideas, as well as restaurants or fast food (naming included)?
 

Disneyson 1

New Member
I would DIE to eat at Nomansian Island, like when Mirage and Mr. Incredible had dinner in front of the lava wall! Things like "Dash's Quick Bites" or the bar from A Bug's Life would be great quick service places, but Pizza Planet is a must!
 

Pink.Tink

New Member
Rides

I would love to see a Cars rollercoaster but in the form of a race off. It would be a type of spinoff of Universal's Dueling Dragons when it was up and running. I would have it themed off of the race that Mc Queen and Porcia have. As for the marketing part of it... I would defintely incorporate an App for the iPhone to keep it as an ongoing thing. Each time it is updated you can update what is going on with the park and sneak peeks!
 

TrevorA

Active Member
In the Parks
Yes
I would have to vote for the ball as the icon of the park. The Luxo lamp sounds like (to quote Elliott Gould) "a gaudy monstrosity" - no offense.


---TrevorA
 

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