Disneyland's recent history and decoding its new direction

[Model3 McQueen]

I found an interesting article that states what has happened to Disneyland / DCA since 2009. There's a few reasons for my intrigue but i'll first let you be the judge.

Attraction timeline since 2009

Compare that list to the article below and pay special attention to the dates.

Disney Names Robert Chapek chairman for Theme Parks

Notice that some of the major changes began in 2015 with Disneyland's Diamond Celebration. We got a newly refurbished Peter Pan, Hatbox Ghost, upgraded Matterhorn Yeti, and Disneyland Forever. Well, then 2016 was a big jump in aggression, with the addition of "Frozen" replacing "Aladdin", and SatW replacing SoC. Tomorrowland essentially becomes Star Wars. 2017 brings us Mission Breakout with other multiple additions in different areas. Pixar Pier and Pixar Fest in 2018.

You can really see where everything started to take a turn (for better or worse). Some changes were good, some were controversial. This helps us put things into perspective when thinking about the future (that is, Marvel Land and the future of other plans). The parks are changing faster than I can keep up with and quite frankly I believe I have reason to be scared that in the future, there will be more controversial announcements to be made. Already not listed in the article is the PotC change. But then there's also the Tropical Hideaway.

Ultimately, is this aggression really necessary? Does this really help the parks, or is the controversy well founded? It's apparent that the presence of IP is making a strong comeback.

I'll also leave this here: Robert assumed leadership of "Experiences and Consumer Products" in March of this year.

 

[Hatbox Ghostbuster]

I think when you look at it from this bird's eye perspective, its clear that what Chapek wants in his parks is constant relevance. He said as much when talking about Epcot at D23. However, he also added "more timeless"...so its anyone's guess if he actually knows the difference.

I think his personal biggest fear for the parks is some perceived stagnation period where nothing major is happening/opening for a year. And sure, having a year with no new innovation might immediately feel like a bad thing, but if his solution to combat stagnation is quick IP band-aids like Pixar Pier and Mission Breakout, then I think he's missing the point of new experiences.

Ironically enough, by 2019, Pirates, Tiki Room, Haunted Mansion will have all crossed the 50th anniversary threshold. It would completely amaze me if anything Chapek has overseen (minus maybe SWL) will reach that milestone, or even resemble what it started out as.

Chapek likes quick, hip, edgy stuff tied to release dates. I shudder to think what the parks would look like if they were built from scratch today...

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

The biggest problem would seem to be the overabundance of repurposed and overlayed attractions.

 

[SuddenStorm]

To build on this, and much of what follows is pure speculation, but I think this generation of Imagineers desperately lacks guidance, direction, and an understanding of the parks.

The amount of self referential humor being shoehorned into the parks is absurd. The entirety of Pixar Pier plays like one big joke- it's the Abominable Adorable Snowman. Which is all fine and dandy over at DCA, which has become a designated dumping ground for stuff that won't fit in the big kahuna across the plaza, but this approach is starting to leech into Disneyland, with the Tropical Hideaway. Naming a new establishment after one line in a decades old attraction as a sort of "I get that reference" for frequent visitors seems cheap and uninspired to me.

There's no form or reverence and respect for the attractions that made Disneyland what it is today. Now, Harold- an iconic piece of Disneyland history, a figure that used to freak me out as a (very) young child, has been put on display in a Marvel ride to sit motionless and rot. I hate to be that guy, but to quote Indy, "That belongs in a museum!"

Instead of looking at things that aren't popular and fixing those (looking at you Pooh), they pour millions into changing already popular attractions like Tower of Terror, Fantasmic (still bitter about this one), California Screamin- potentially alienating fans from wanting to visit those attractions.

Instead of looking at where they need crowds to go, DCA, and developing a Star Wars concept that would work there, they throw it into a park that's already very crowded in both people, and attraction count.

Not to mention the inability of the Imagineers to design high capacity attractions (as summarized by TP2000)- which at the very least makes me worried at how Star Wars land will handle crowds for the next decade. If Pirates of the Caribbean, a 50 year old classic with a 2400 hourly capacity can still pull 45 min waits regularly, how will these new attractions that promise to be the best Disney has ever done (if the marketing dpt is to be believed) cope with the 18 million annual visitors the park sees?

The amount of change seen in the resort in a short period of time will have decades long repercussions, for better or for worse. I just hope that at the end of it, I can still go to the parks and have as much fun as I do now.

 

[bluerhythym]

However, he also added "more timeless"...so its anyone's guess if he actually knows the difference.

In the past, "timeless" has meant a land that transcends modern trends, a land that can maintain its relevance through generations.

Seems like Chapek's interpretation of "timeless" is a land that actually has no sense of time or place. Incredibles Land and the rest of Pixar Pier seem to fit that bill...

 

[Hatbox Ghostbuster]

In the past, "timeless" has meant a land that transcends modern trends, a land that can maintain its relevance through generations.

Seems like Chapek's interpretation of "timeless" is a land that actually has no sense of time or place. Incredibles Land and the rest of Pixar Pier seem to fit that bill...

"Its so timeless, it doesn't even exist within time! It's eternal..at least until another hot IP is ripe for plucking."

 

[TROR]

It's timeless because it'll be replaced before it's unpopular.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

You all have great points. It would seem that quality is now taking a backseat for these "new" experiences, and in my opinion i'm not entirely sure they're being future proofed. I mean Star Wars Land and Marvel Land might be future proofed but the reskins and billboard advertisements (Monorail reskin, Muppet Theatre for previews, Hyperspace Mtn, Pixar Fest Pizza Port, etc) gives the parks a massive dent in my opinion.

My girlfriend, who went to the parks for the first time just last year, rolls her eyes at the new changes the parks have been going through and she questions it. She laughed at Incredicoaster when we saw a vid of it. I constantly have to say I love the ToT, SoC, Cars Land (expansion) / Buena Vista Street days.

I also say #NotMyDisneyland lol

 

[Hatbox Ghostbuster]

Part of me thinks that the worst thing in Chapek's mind would be for a family to visit the parks one year and then to go back the next year, and have everything be exactly the same. In that sense, I think he greatly underestimates what draws people to the parks and keeps them coming back.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

Part of me thinks that the worst thing in Chapek's mind would be for a family to visit the parks one year and then to go back the next year, and have everything be exactly the same. In that sense, I think he greatly underestimates what draws people to the parks and keeps them coming back.

I'm convinced that every higher-up at Disney is singing Chapek's praises. He's the poster child of their new direction, although i'm not entirely sure he's the brainchild behind the laziness and seemingly lack-luster budget for the "new" experiences.

 

[Hatbox Ghostbuster]

I'm convinced that every higher-up at Disney is singing Chapek's praises. He's the poster child of their new direction, although i'm not entirely sure he's the brainchild behind the laziness and seemingly lack-luster budget for the "new" experiences.

Of course they are. He and Iger are the dynamic duo. But if he's not the brains behind the park's recent experiences, I don't know who is.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

Of course they are. He and Iger are the dynamic duo. But if he's not the brains behind the park's recent experiences, I don't know who is.

Mission Breakout, for example. Joe Rhode the legend used 4k TV screens to portray the awful "story". Who's decision was that (for both the story and tv screens)? Incredicoaster with the baby Jack-Jacks on poles and plastic figures in the tubes - who's idiotic designing was that?

I don't know how hands-on Chapek gets with these projects but i'm under the impression he and Iger say "This is what I want, this is how much I want it to cost, and this is when I want it done".

 

[Hatbox Ghostbuster]

Mission Breakout, for example. Joe Rhode the legend used 4k TV screens to portray the awful "story". Who's decision was that (for both the story and tv screens)? Incredicoaster with the baby Jack-Jacks on poles and plastic figures in the tubes - who's idiotic designing was that?

I don't know how hands-on Chapek gets with these projects but i'm under the impression he and Iger say "This is what I want, this is how much I want it to cost, and this is when I want it done".

Well sure, every project has a leader other than Chapek. And once he gives greenlight approval, who knows if and when he ever sees it again until its in execution mode.

 

[BrianLo]

Part of me thinks that the worst thing in Chapek's mind would be for a family to visit the parks one year and then to go back the next year, and have everything be exactly the same. In that sense, I think he greatly underestimates what draws people to the parks and keeps them coming back.

Mmmmm, I dunno. I strongly support the idea that the resort as a whole should see something new every year. That doesn't mean it needs to be bad or half-assed, but there should always be something to justify the expense.

Even if that's a new parade, a re-done show. I hate the conceit of preservation and slow stagnation. I think Chapek is correct in that belief, there has just been a run of some bad ideas from inception.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

Well sure, every project has a leader other than Chapek. And once he gives greenlight approval, who knows if and when he ever sees it again until its in execution mode.

Yeah true and then he gives a quick speech and runs off to plan the demise of another attraction. The endless cycle of "new" Disney.

 

[Hatbox Ghostbuster]

Mmmmm, I dunno. I strongly support the idea that the resort as a whole should see something new every year. That doesn't mean it needs to be bad or half-assed, but there should always be something to justify the expense.

Even if that's a new parade, a re-done show. I hate the conceit of preservation and slow stagnation. I think Chapek is correct in that belief, there has just been a run of some bad ideas from inception.

Well, I'm not suggesting slow stagnation is the answer cause I'd hate that too. But I disagree with the idea that a family could have so much fun at Disneyland one summer and then decide not to plan a repeat visit next summer simply because all the attractions are still the same. But you get enough of a variety with "fests"/shows/parades/fireworks always changing like you mentioned. I guess when it comes down to it, change for the sake of change is short-sighted imo.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

Mmmmm, I dunno. I strongly support the idea that the resort as a whole should see something new every year. That doesn't mean it needs to be bad or half-assed, but there should always be something to justify the expense.

Even if that's a new parade, a re-done show. I hate the conceit of preservation and slow stagnation. I think Chapek is correct in that belief, there has just been a run of some bad ideas from inception.

I agree with you, things should change every once in awhile. The third lift hill at BTMRR, the hatbox ghost at HM, the new Harold at Matterhorn all things I gladly stand behind. They "better" the attraction. In my opinion, changes like Incredicoaster and MB are rushed out garbage

 

[TROR]

The change to Rivers of America and the Disneyland Railroad was more exciting than Mission Breakout. I had to wait an hour just to board the DLRR when it reopened last summer. I'll bet y'all a million dollars that if Tower of Terror just added random drop profiles, it would've seen the same spike as Mission Breakout and would've been far cheaper. They could then use that money to fix up Hollywood Land and give it a stronger 1940's theme, starting with fixing the Hyperion's facade. I'll also say that if they took all the money they spent on Pixar Pier and Pixar Fest and placed it into finishing up Paradise Pier's shops, entrance, and fixing issues with California Screamin', the attendance boost would be higher than Pixar Pier.

 

[dweezil78]

The biggest problem would seem to be the overabundance of repurposed and overlayed attractions.

That's really nothing new or specific to Chapek though, is it? DL's carousel theater was used for two shows, the subs became Nemo, WDWs Tomorrowland omnimover has been seen three main iterations now, EPCOT has seen repurposing of the Mexico boat ride, Journey Into Imagination, the Living Seas, etc, every single 3D theater has hosted multiple shows, Mission to Mars became Alien Encounter, MK's Circlevision because Time Keeper... yadda yadda yadda. This type of thing has been going on at Disney parks since I was a little kid.

 

[BrianLo]

I agree with you, things should change every once in awhile. The third lift hill at BTMRR, the hatbox ghost at HM, the new Harold at Matterhorn all things I gladly stand behind. They "better" the attraction. In my opinion, changes like Incredicoaster and MB are rushed out garbage

I think the problem is just DCA in general. You can't tweak something that inherently kind of sucks to begin with. Paradise Pier needed a paint job and a new attraction for the helix, but I don't think it needed a complete rethink on old bones. If it was getting a rethink it needed a tear down.

DCA needs the big capital expenditure, Disneyland needs the plussing. Grizzly flats was well done (Soaring notwithstanding). Yes I think Frozen was a very good idea too. That theatre should really see a new production every 5-7 years. Outside of that DCA has been about as tweaked as it can be without a drastic investment.

I'm excited for Star Wars, but DL got the big capex project. Had that capex gone to DCA there are plenty of Chapek approved marketable tweaks for DL. The Alice dark ride improvements could be milked for 4-5 years as they slowly go through them one by one.