Disney to Reveal Ambitious Star Wars Plans

[TomP]

I'm constantly amazed when I see photos like this with a person in it for scale - the castle looks larger WITH a person next to it than it does without. Somehow, through all the work they did in designing Be Our Guest, the achieved effect is that the Beast's Castle is made to look SMALLER than it is in reality. Forced perspective, when used properly, can amplify minimal resources in an amazing way, and yet here the impact of this apparently large structure is totally diminished. What a bizarre mishandling of an effect Disney's been using for decades.

It looks like they know it, too - the drawing of Tokyo Disney's forthcoming New Fantasyland seems to indicate they've reconsidered the design in it's next incarnation. I'd love to see them rework the Florida version one day. It has the potential to be magnificent and just completely misses the mark.

Geesh. I had no idea Beast's castle was so large. It looks so much smaller in place than actual....unless the photo with the construction worker has an unnatural perspective. I agree that they really messed that up.

 

[Horizons '83]

Again....

Net gain 1. (although it's a M&G)

Mermaid = 20,000 leagues under the sea. (closed in 1994 for refurbishment lagoon removed 10 years later.)
Skyway to Tomorrowland = "Tangled" bathrooms...(Not an attraction just a location.There were bathrooms there before.)
Beast Castle = Restaurant
Snow White = Seven Dwarves Line Train (fewer AAs to repair and minimal show scenes to dust.)
Storytime with Belle = "The" net gain attraction although it's really a dressed up meet and greet.
Double Dumbo = Dumbo with 1 more spinner for increased carnival fun.

Meet/Greets, Bathrooms, and Restaurants are not attractions. FastPass+ kiosk queues, ATMs, and charging stations are not attractions. In the not so old days, there were far more walk around characters to meet and greet. If we start calling M&Gs attractions, then Disney owes us many more attractions to make up for fewer characters in the parks.

NFL was a let down and wasted opportunity. Disney (WDI) can do amazing things. (Mystic Manor on YouTube to see it.) I am hoping for Mystic Manor/ Carsland for Avatar/StarWarsLand but I am expecting to be disappointed. We need to stop propping up a "good enough" product with undeserved praise. I will be thrilled to be overwhelmed by the greatness of StarWarsLand and will happily eat my words if I am wrong at expecting an underwhelming performance.

*1023*

Wow, that mystic manor ride looks fantastic. That's my first time hearing about it. Has very Haunted Mansionish qualities to it. That would be a great addition to any park!

 

[tribbleorlfl]

I'm constantly amazed when I see photos like this with a person in it for scale - the castle looks larger WITH a person next to it than it does without. Somehow, through all the work they did in designing Be Our Guest, the achieved effect is that the Beast's Castle is made to look SMALLER than it is in reality. Forced perspective, when used properly, can amplify minimal resources in an amazing way, and yet here the impact of this apparently large structure is totally diminished. What a bizarre mishandling of an effect Disney's been using for decades.

It looks like they know it, too - the drawing of Tokyo Disney's forthcoming New Fantasyland seems to indicate they've reconsidered the design in it's next incarnation. I'd love to see them rework the Florida version one day. It has the potential to be magnificent and just completely misses the mark.

While I agree with the outcome of Beast's castle is disappointing and unconvincing, I do believe they were going for more of a "it's far away in the distance" FP look than the traditional "it's bigger than it actually is" FP look.

 

[wdisney9000]

Beasts Castle just feels off the moment you look at it. I remember the first time I saw it (before they opened FLE) and thinking "I hope this isn't an indicator of what to expect". Then I thought for a moment, "I hope it doesn't suck...nah, it's Disney", I told myself. Needless to say, it never got much better, at least as far as what I expected it to be.

I was once a pixie duster, but FLE destroyed any remnant of my former, more forgiving self.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

I'm constantly amazed when I see photos like this with a person in it for scale - the castle looks larger WITH a person next to it than it does without. Somehow, through all the work they did in designing Be Our Guest, the achieved effect is that the Beast's Castle is made to look SMALLER than it is in reality. Forced perspective, when used properly, can amplify minimal resources in an amazing way, and yet here the impact of this apparently large structure is totally diminished. What a bizarre mishandling of an effect Disney's been using for decades.

It looks like they know it, too - the drawing of Tokyo Disney's forthcoming New Fantasyland seems to indicate they've reconsidered the design in it's next incarnation. I'd love to see them rework the Florida version one day. It has the potential to be magnificent and just completely misses the mark.

I think in this case, it's a forced perspective in depth and not forced height. The blueish hues of the castle help create optically-correct atmospheric distance but the exterior paints seem a bit too saturated to look realistic. There is also a lack of height references. A cluster of mini trees or other objects to scale would help make the castle look less like a doll house and more like a grand castle. Some atmospheric haze via a fog machine could also help improve the illusion.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

While I agree with the outcome of Beast's castle is disappointing and unconvincing, I do believe they were going for more of a "it's far away in the distance" FP look than the traditional "it's bigger than it actually is" FP look.

I'm not so sure - I know they were going for the effect of "it's high up on the mountain", but that's a little different than "it's far away in the distance". Besides, if that were the desired effect it would likely be solved by either A) Building a smaller castle, or B) Placing the one they made further away. They do have sufficient space on top of the restaurant to have placed it further back, but instead it's right up front:

Unless they were going for an Alice In Wonderland-type "scale is always in question" thing, I think they simply botched the forced perspective. That the castle is taller than it actually appears is very telling to me.

It also struck me when entering Be Our Guest for the first time how weird it is that we've just seen the castle high up and away, only to enter far below with no explanation of how we ascended so quickly. Initially I loved the concept of having it up on the mountain. It felt like a throwback to the castle in Storybook Land at Disneyland. In full execution, though, it seems half-baked.

Here's the rendering of Tokyo's upcoming version, which I referred to in my last post. It looks like they've brought the Facade down to ground level, which solves all of the problems described above. How it will actually turn out remains to be seen, but that they've reconsidered their original notion instead of replicating the WDW experience says a lot to me about what they think of the first attempt:

 

[bhg469]

Wow, that mystic manor ride looks fantastic. That's my first time hearing about it. Has very Haunted Mansionish qualities to it. That would be a great addition to any park!

It would easily fit in animal kingdom as part of some sort of mysterious area of the park but instead we get giant ferngully.

Also google Arthur the ride. It's a hanging dark ride with some mild coaster elements. I had no idea any other theme parks did stuff this amazing and disney especially should be ashamed that they don't have anything this good.

 

[bhg469]

Beasts Castle just feels off the moment you look at it. I remember the first time I saw it (before they opened FLE) and thinking "I hope this isn't an indicator of what to expect". Then I thought for a moment, "I hope it doesn't suck...nah, it's Disney", I told myself. Needless to say, it never got much better, at least as far as what I expected it to be.

I was once a pixie duster, but FLE destroyed any remnant of my former, more forgiving self.

I think it was about when I jumped ship as well. Somewhere around 2010 I was there with my girlfriend who is now my wife. We were excited to ride the train around it and check out how large it was. When we finally saw the finished product we were more impresses with pork shanks.

 

[Sped2424]

I'm not so sure - I know they were going for the effect of "it's high up on the mountain", but that's a little different than "it's far away in the distance". Besides, if that were the desired effect it would likely be solved by either A) Building a smaller castle, or B) Placing the one they made further away. They do have sufficient space on top of the restaurant to have placed it further back, but instead it's right up front:

Unless they were going for an Alice In Wonderland-type "scale is always in question" thing, I think they simply botched the forced perspective. That the castle is taller than it actually appears is very telling to me.

It also struck me when entering Be Our Guest for the first time how weird it is that we've just seen the castle high up and away, only to enter far below with no explanation of how we ascended so quickly. Initially I loved the concept of having it up on the mountain. It felt like a throwback to the castle in Storybook Land at Disneyland. In full execution, though, it seems half-baked.

Here's the rendering of Tokyo's upcoming version, which I referred to in my last post. It looks like they've brought the Facade down to ground level, which solves all of the problems described above. How it will actually turn out remains to be seen, but that they've reconsidered their original notion instead of replicating the WDW experience says a lot to me about what they think of the first attempt:

WdW1971 has mentioned that what we saw in the concept art although it is the beasts castle is not going to be the BOG. Instead he stated something else, something different and that's all he said about that.

 

[BrerJon]

Beasts Castle just feels off the moment you look at it.

There's one angle, in front of Pooh I think, where it looked great during construction. I heard a guest ask why they were building a second castle, convinced it was the same size as Cinderella's.

But then when the walls came down and you could get up close that vanished, and even the one view that worked is now - I think - blocked by the Mine Train.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Star Wars Land Plans?

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

WdW1971 has mentioned that what we saw in the concept art although it is the beasts castle is not going to be the BOG. Instead he stated something else, something different and that's all he said about that.

Oh, really? I didn't know that, how surprising. It seemed in several circles that Be Our Guest was a foregone conclusion. I'm now even more interested in knowing what it's going to be.

 

[danlb_2000]

Star Wars Land Plans?

She probably hid the plans in the escape pod. We will send down an detachment to retrieve them, there will be no one to stop us this time.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

She probably hid the plans in the escape pod. We will send down an detachment to retrieve them, there will be no one to stop us this time.

She probably hid the plans in the escape pod. We will send down an detachment to retrieve them, there will be no one to stop us this time.

Nice job Itingrlbella!

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

She probably hid the plans in the escape pod. We will send down an detachment to retrieve them, there will be no one to stop us this time.

Danlb_2000 - have you heard anything about SW land? You post a ton of information about AvatarLand that's been great!

 

[ford91exploder]

My prediction is, whatever Disney does with Star Wars, it will not be as good as anything Uni does to at least one person. Also, at least one person will absolutely say it is the best thing since sliced bread. Furthermore, at least one person will be on the fence about it.

Well there you have it....

Ok we'll chalk you up in the 'hater' category just kidding

 

[ItlngrlBella]

I'm not so sure - I know they were going for the effect of "it's high up on the mountain", but that's a little different than "it's far away in the distance". Besides, if that were the desired effect it would likely be solved by either A) Building a smaller castle, or B) Placing the one they made further away. They do have sufficient space on top of the restaurant to have placed it further back, but instead it's right up front:

Unless they were going for an Alice In Wonderland-type "scale is always in question" thing, I think they simply botched the forced perspective. That the castle is taller than it actually appears is very telling to me.

It also struck me when entering Be Our Guest for the first time how weird it is that we've just seen the castle high up and away, only to enter far below with no explanation of how we ascended so quickly. Initially I loved the concept of having it up on the mountain. It felt like a throwback to the castle in Storybook Land at Disneyland. In full execution, though, it seems half-baked.

Here's the rendering of Tokyo's upcoming version, which I referred to in my last post. It looks like they've brought the Facade down to ground level, which solves all of the problems described above. How it will actually turn out remains to be seen, but that they've reconsidered their original notion instead of replicating the WDW experience says a lot to me about what they think of the first attempt:

Why is Captain EO so ginormous?! It's HUUUUUGE!

That's like crack, it's whack.

 

[ford91exploder]

Again....

Net gain 1. (although it's a M&G)

Mermaid = 20,000 leagues under the sea. (closed in 1994 for refurbishment lagoon removed 10 years later.)
Skyway to Tomorrowland = "Tangled" bathrooms...(Not an attraction just a location.There were bathrooms there before.)
Beast Castle = Restaurant
Snow White = Seven Dwarves Line Train (fewer AAs to repair and minimal show scenes to dust.)
Storytime with Belle = "The" net gain attraction although it's really a dressed up meet and greet.
Double Dumbo = Dumbo with 1 more spinner for increased carnival fun.

Meet/Greets, Bathrooms, and Restaurants are not attractions. FastPass+ kiosk queues, ATMs, and charging stations are not attractions. In the not so old days, there were far more walk around characters to meet and greet. If we start calling M&Gs attractions, then Disney owes us many more attractions to make up for fewer characters in the parks.

NFL was a let down and wasted opportunity. Disney (WDI) can do amazing things. (Mystic Manor on YouTube to see it.) I am hoping for Mystic Manor/ Carsland for Avatar/StarWarsLand but I am expecting to be disappointed. We need to stop propping up a "good enough" product with undeserved praise. I will be thrilled to be overwhelmed by the greatness of StarWarsLand and will happily eat my words if I am wrong at expecting an underwhelming performance.

*1023*

Agent Mickey speaking,

Welcome back Mr @1023 , We've missed you...

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Why is Captain EO so ginormous?! That's like crack, it's whack.

Don't give EPCOT any ideas

 

[TheTourist]

Again....

Net gain 1. (although it's a M&G)

Mermaid = 20,000 leagues under the sea. (closed in 1994 for refurbishment lagoon removed 10 years later.)
Skyway to Tomorrowland = "Tangled" bathrooms...(Not an attraction just a location.There were bathrooms there before.)
Beast Castle = Restaurant
Snow White = Seven Dwarves Line Train (fewer AAs to repair and minimal show scenes to dust.)
Storytime with Belle = "The" net gain attraction although it's really a dressed up meet and greet.
Double Dumbo = Dumbo with 1 more spinner for increased carnival fun.

Meet/Greets, Bathrooms, and Restaurants are not attractions. FastPass+ kiosk queues, ATMs, and charging stations are not attractions. In the not so old days, there were far more walk around characters to meet and greet. If we start calling M&Gs attractions, then Disney owes us many more attractions to make up for fewer characters in the parks.

NFL was a let down and wasted opportunity. Disney (WDI) can do amazing things. (Mystic Manor on YouTube to see it.) I am hoping for Mystic Manor/ Carsland for Avatar/StarWarsLand but I am expecting to be disappointed. We need to stop propping up a "good enough" product with undeserved praise. I will be thrilled to be overwhelmed by the greatness of StarWarsLand and will happily eat my words if I am wrong at expecting an underwhelming performance.

*1023*

This is a reasonable assessment, and I think it captures the reason I was so disappointed with NFL.