News Disneyland to give Tarzan’s Treehouse a new theme

[PiratesMansion]

The name is absolutely ridiculous, but par for the course these days.

I wouldn't say these days. Instead it makes me think of:
Tomorrowland Terrace.
Haunted Mansion.
Disneyland Railroad.
Disneyland Monorail.
Storybook Land Canal Boats (an absurd name that no one bats an eye at because of how long it's been in use IMO).
Jungle Cruise.
Fantasyland Theater.
Tomorrowland Autopia.
Fantasyland Autopia.
Polynesian Resort.
Space Mountain (another name that makes no sense if you think about it at all).

It says what it is. I'm not sure why the name is so controversial when it's very in keeping with old school Disney naming conventions.

Did we really want it to be called SEAS: The Adventure Treehouse: A Magical Journey Through Adventure instead? That would have fit better with Disney's more recent problem of having overly long names for its attractions, and would also have been much less functional and practical (how many people actually call The Little Mermaid by its full name? Why do identical attractions in two castle parks have DIFFERENT names that are both longer than they need to be?)

Most people are probably just going to call it the Treehouse as they have for sixty (!) years anyway. So this simpler naming convention is immensely preferable IMO.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Fun fact I just discovered that I hadn't seen pointed out in any of the announcements (at the very least, it's missing from the Disney Parks Blog post): the original Swiss Family Treehouse opened in November 1962. The announcement of the updated version coincides with the original attraction's 60th anniversary.

 

[J4546]

forreal...adventureland treehouse is a perfect name imo. Not trying to make it too much and just call it what it is. This is 100% win for DL

 

[MisterPenguin]

The name is absolutely ridiculous, but par for the course these days. I hope Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily are involved with this.

Adventureland Treehouse: An Ellen's Swiss Family Robinson Adventure

 

[Communicora]

Adventureland Treehouse: An Ellen's Swiss Family Robinson Adventure

Ha, that is the vibe the sign gives off. I don't know why they can't just call it the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse.

 

[_caleb]

Ha, that is the vibe the sign gives off. I don't know why they can't just call it the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse.

Because it’s no longer the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse.

This new design is more generally a Disneyland Adventureland Treehouse, loosely inspired (but not constrained) by the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse.

 

[_caleb]

Many of us around here dislike Disney’s tendency to theme every attraction to a film or series. The Adventureland Treehouse steps just the right distance back from IP-cramming by making its inspirations obvious, but not claiming to be ”the film brought to life.”

 

[Californian Elitist]

Because it’s no longer the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse.

This new design is more generally a Disneyland Adventureland Treehouse, loosely inspired (but not constrained) by the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse.

Exactly. It’s not SFR. If it was, there wouldn’t be S.E.A. references.

 

[Communicora]

Because it’s no longer the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse.

This new design is more generally a Disneyland Adventureland Treehouse, loosely inspired (but not constrained) by the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse.

I guess I'm nostalgic for the old name and don't see why changing it to this provides more freedom. To each their own.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Exactly. It’s not SFR. If it was, there wouldn’t be S.E.A. references.

Quite frankly, they could have left off the “inspired by” part of the name. I assume it’s their way of throwing a bone / nostalgia to fans.

But fans would already notice it had inspirations from the SFR iteration.

Adventureland Treehouse is good enough.

 

[Disney Irish]

I guess I'm nostalgic for the old name and don't see why changing it to this provides more freedom. To each their own.

Because if they just called it Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse everyone would have expected a recreation of the original and disappointed and complain when they didn't. Rather this is a new take that still gets its inspiration from the original but is different enough to warrant a new name. Basically its a nod to the past without being constrained by it.

And honestly if you visit Disneyland and call it SFRT not many people will correct you, so you can still be nostalgic if you want.

 

[SuddenStorm]

Many of us around here dislike Disney’s tendency to theme every attraction to a film or series. The Adventureland Treehouse steps just the right distance back from IP-cramming by making its inspirations obvious, but not claiming to be ”the film brought to life.”

It kind of strikes the perfect balance. There is that new Swiss Family Robinson show- so Disney gets it's synergy, but the attraction itself isn't a book report ride through- and it's a throwback to a Walt Disney era attraction.

These days it almost feels like there's two camps in WDI- one that loves classic Disneyland and wants to bring the park closer to it (the new Tomorrowland entrance hearkens back to '67, if it ever gets done- plus the rumored Peoplemover return, bringing back the old pirate cave transition, and this). Then there's the other side- that has begun treating classic Disneyland as something that's taboo and needs to be 'fixed'.

 

[SuddenStorm]

I'd be very interested in reading the legalese on how this attraction is ADA compliant. Is it because the core structure has been there since the '60s, so it is exempt? I feel like there's been enough revisions it would be considered a new attraction now.

Or, is there enough stuff on the ground level that it's considered an equal alternate experience?

 

[Disney Analyst]

I'd be very interested in reading the legalese on how this attraction is ADA compliant. Is it because the core structure has been there since the '60s, so it is exempt? I feel like there's been enough revisions it would be considered a new attraction now.

Or, is there enough stuff on the ground level that it's considered an equal alternate experience?

I assume it’s kind of like the Subs alternative “option”.

Can enjoy the ground level, which shows images of what’s upstairs.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I'd be very interested in reading the legalese on how this attraction is ADA compliant. Is it because the core structure has been there since the '60s, so it is exempt? I feel like there's been enough revisions it would be considered a new attraction now.

Or, is there enough stuff on the ground level that it's considered an equal alternate experience?

First, accessibility does not just mean wheelchairs. It is a subject that is far broader that covers a variety of issues and built features. The ADA Design Guidelines and California Building Standards Code (CBSC), Chapter 11B both have accessibility requirements for stairs, meaning new stairs are “ADA compliant.” There are all sorts of aspects of the updated treehouse that will be “ADA compliant” when it reopens.

There are also a lot of variation in what is required of alterations, it’s not necessarily that everything just must now comply. There are also different requirements for amusement and recreation facilities than for general buildings. California is more stringent than the federal government (making this more a CBSC issue and not an ADA issue) but there is still an exemption for technical feasibility. Providing alternate experiences and access is part utilizing those exemptions.

 

[Communicora]

Because if they just called it Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse everyone would have expected a recreation of the original and disappointed and complain when they didn't. Rather this is a new take that still gets its inspiration from the original but is different enough to warrant a new name. Basically its a nod to the past without being constrained by it.

And honestly if you visit Disneyland and call it SFRT not many people will correct you, so you can still be nostalgic if you want.

I get what you are saying.

To me, the full name feels like an example of how they have to be so literal with everything lately. I do think they could call it Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse and still have tangents and whimsy and whatever they want. I will stop there before I go on a long tear about their obsession with canon over experience.

But, hey, so long as they have the Swisskapolka, I’ll be happy!

 

[Disney Irish]

But, hey, so long as they have the Swisskapolka, I’ll be happy!

I expect that to be playing in Mother's Music Room.

 

[mickEblu]

So I’m taking it the red leaves aren’t coming back? Oh well, at least the water wheel is. Also gotta be honest I recently saw a video of Tarzan’s treehouse and I think I kind of miss the presence of the second tree and suspension bridge from a pure aesthetic standpoint. Still think removing it was the right move though.

 

[mickEblu]

I get what you are saying.

To me, the full name feels like an example of how they have to be so literal with everything lately. I do think they could call it Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse and still have tangents and whimsy and whatever they want. I will stop there before I go on a long tear about their obsession with canon over experience.

But, hey, so long as they have the Swisskapolka, I’ll be happy!

I agree even though I don’t really mind the name. I would have preferred Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse or just Adventureland Treehouse with out the “inspired by” part. At least it doesn’t have a colon!

 

[chadwpalm]

I guess I'm nostalgic for the old name and don't see why changing it to this provides more freedom. To each their own.

There isn't a teenage daughter in the SFR movie. Making it inspired by SFR instead of based on it allows them these kind of freedoms. They can add and remove things as they wish without people saying, "That wasn't in the movie!"