Disney's America...was it a good idea or not?

[ElvisMickey]

Good morning everybody. Just wondering what your opinions are on the proposed park that was going to be built in Virginia back in the early 90's...Disney's America? Was it something you would have liked to have seen or no? Also...do you think this is something that could have or one day fit into WDW? I'm a history nut. Throw in the fact that it would have been within reasonable driving distance to NJ...I would have loved to have seen this park be built. What's interesting is that they wanted to move the Hall Of Presidents from WDW to this park. While I would still love to see this come to fruition somehow (maybe WDW), there is no way that it would happen under current management. Unless maybe there was a way to tie PIXAR and some meet and greets into it . Anyway...thoughts? For those of you who do not know the details...just follow the link!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney's_America

 

[wm49rs]

Good morning everybody. Just wondering what your opinions are on the proposed park that was going to be built in Virginia back in the early 90's...Disney's America? Was it something you would have liked to have seen or no? Also...do you think this is something that could have or one day fit into WDW? I'm a history nut. Throw in the fact that it would have been within reasonable driving distance to NJ...I would have loved to have seen this park be built. What's interesting is that they wanted to move the Hall Of Presidents from WDW to this park. While I would still love to see this come to fruition somehow (maybe WDW), there is no way that it would happen under current management. Unless maybe there was a way to tie PIXAR and some meet and greets into it . Anyway...thoughts? For those of you who do not know the details...just follow the link!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney's_America

The idea of the park was fine. Precisely where in Northern Virginia they wanted to put it was not......

 

[Hakunamatata]

Given that allot of people around here believe that current management are nothing but a bunch of profit hoarding Orcs straight from Middle Earth, this project would likely have a better chance of fruitioning under todays management if it in any way would be profitable.

 

[Susan Savia]

I would of loved to had the park built in Virginia. It would of been less then an hour from us.

 

[DocMcHulk]

I loved the idea, and I wish they would build it somehwere.

I have always found it ironic that the major "outcry" by locals was that the park would destroy the area. They then put in a huge housing development that probably ruined the area more than if the park had been built.

 

[DocMcHulk]

This is a nice breakdown of the park.
progresscityusa.com

 

[wm49rs]

I loved the idea, and I wish they would build it somehwere.

I have always found it ironic that the major "outcry" by locals was that the park would destroy the area. They then put in a huge housing development that probably ruined the area more than if the park had been built.

What housing that has been built s nowhere near the expanse of condos, shopping, hotels, etc. that would have come along with the proposed park (to say nothing of the park and its support area as well). The fact Disney did not go in there has actually allowed conservationists to purchase land adjacent to the battlefield....

 

[Mickey_777]

I loved the idea, and I wish they would build it somehwere.

I have always found it ironic that the major "outcry" by locals was that the park would destroy the area. They then put in a huge housing development that probably ruined the area more than if the park had been built.

So sad and true.

Man how I wish they would have built this park that would've been 30 min from home...

 

[MarkTwain]

Don't want to be a pessimist here, but I've always thought it sounded really problematic... One of those that things that looks wonderful in the concept art, and sounds really nice under the pretense of "wouldn't it be nice," but I think had it opened, a couple of realities would have revealed themselves...

1. Most of the rides would have been in a "county fair" sort of area. Ferris wheels, bare roller coasters, and farm tours. In other words: combining two of the most-criticized parts of Disney's California Adventure.

2. An unusually strong focus on militarism for a Disney park. An entire field reserved just for battle recreations? A land all about showcasing air force airplanes?? One of the nice things about American Adventure at Epcot is how it doesn't focus on the military aspect of American history, but this sounds like it might leave a wrong taste in the mouth to many international tourists... Imagine the response of all the British guests as they watch Disney celebrate the death of hundreds of their ancestors on a battle field. :lookaroun

3. Other than that, too much of what failed with guests about Epcot when it opened - lecture-y films, heavy-handed messages, and a strong focus on education. Not saying those are bad thing in and of themselves, but if unsupported by enough rides and other more "fun" attractions, guests have shown historically that they will become bored and agitated. Disneyland/Magic Kingdom work well in that they also communicate many different different settings and themes from American history, but they do it in a way that is subtle, fun, and effective at teaching in a way that goes almost completely unnoticed.

Actually, a lot of this park does resemble DCA when it opened... and we all know how that turned out. :lol:

 

[Kamikaze]

The idea of the park was fine. Precisely where in Northern Virginia they wanted to put it was not......

Yes, because the strip mall and condos now in its location are much better.

Hope they're respecting the 'Civil War Battlefield'.

 

[lebeau]

Don't want to be a pessimist here, but I've always thought it sounded really problematic... One of those that things that looks wonderful in the concept art, and sounds really nice under the pretense of "wouldn't it be nice," but I think had it opened, a couple of realities would have revealed themselves...

1. Most of the rides would have been in a "county fair" sort of area. Ferris wheels, bare roller coasters, and farm tours. In other words: combining two of the most-criticized parts of Disney's California Adventure.

2. An unusually strong focus on militarism for a Disney park. An entire field reserved just for battle recreations? A land all about showcasing air force airplanes?? One of the nice things about American Adventure at Epcot is how it doesn't focus on the military aspect of American history, but this sounds like it might leave a wrong taste in the mouth to many international tourists... Imagine the response of all the British guests as they watch Disney celebrate the death of hundreds of their ancestors on a battle field. :lookaroun

3. Other than that, too much of what failed with guests about Epcot when it opened - lecture-y films, heavy-handed messages, and a strong focus on education. Not saying those are bad thing in and of themselves, but if unsupported by enough rides and other more "fun" attractions, guests have shown historically that they will become bored and agitated. Disneyland/Magic Kingdom work well in that they also communicate many different different settings and themes from American history, but they do it in a way that is subtle, fun, and effective at teaching in a way that goes almost completely unnoticed.

Actually, a lot of this park does resemble DCA when it opened... and we all know how that turned out. :lol:

You are right on the nose.

It's worth pointing out that a lot of the ideas for Disney's America were recycled at DCA.

I think Disney is lucky they didn't build this thing.

 

[ChrisFL]

Don't want to be a pessimist here, but I've always thought it sounded really problematic... One of those that things that looks wonderful in the concept art, and sounds really nice under the pretense of "wouldn't it be nice," but I think had it opened, a couple of realities would have revealed themselves...

1. Most of the rides would have been in a "county fair" sort of area. Ferris wheels, bare roller coasters, and farm tours. In other words: combining two of the most-criticized parts of Disney's California Adventure.

2. An unusually strong focus on militarism for a Disney park. An entire field reserved just for battle recreations? A land all about showcasing air force airplanes?? One of the nice things about American Adventure at Epcot is how it doesn't focus on the military aspect of American history, but this sounds like it might leave a wrong taste in the mouth to many international tourists... Imagine the response of all the British guests as they watch Disney celebrate the death of hundreds of their ancestors on a battle field. :lookaroun

3. Other than that, too much of what failed with guests about Epcot when it opened - lecture-y films, heavy-handed messages, and a strong focus on education. Not saying those are bad thing in and of themselves, but if unsupported by enough rides and other more "fun" attractions, guests have shown historically that they will become bored and agitated. Disneyland/Magic Kingdom work well in that they also communicate many different different settings and themes from American history, but they do it in a way that is subtle, fun, and effective at teaching in a way that goes almost completely unnoticed.

Actually, a lot of this park does resemble DCA when it opened... and we all know how that turned out. :lol:

I agree, until recently I didn't really know the full details of what was to go in the park, and honestly, it doesn't sound too family friendly overall.

Disney has proven they can give us serious messages, in small doses and it doesn't negatively affect our enjoyment of the parks, but there is a line that can be crossed very easily.

 

[wm49rs]

Yes, because the strip mall and condos now in its location are much better.

Hope they're respecting the 'Civil War Battlefield'.

What's been built in that area is nothing compared to what would have come up if the park had been built. And the fact the growth didn't reach those levels has allowed conservation efforts to purchase land near or adjacent to the battlefield to continue.

 

[MarkTwain]

Not saying that Disney's America was a terrible idea, just that if it had been built, there's a chance it could have been become a bigger PR fiasco than it was already. There are plenty of living museums and state/national parks around the country that do pretty much all of the things proposed for Disney's America. The problem is a) they don't advertise themselves as theme parks, and b) they're not owned by Disney.

Unfortunately, there's a big double standard in the public for when a company does something, and when Disney does something. Just look at all the negative press that originally surrounded Princess and the Frog, and the continuing press around Song of the South or some of Peter Pan's scenes. A lot of people just don't trust Disney with sensitive subject matter, and that's where Disney's America could have run into trouble (and arguably already did).

 

[olinecoach61]

Park sounded like an interesting concept to me, I love history and I love Disney, would've been perfect for me. Somehow I think the English could handle a recreation of a 200 year old battle, civil war battles are recreated all the time and we survive. It's no different than watching a play or movie. Of course it wouldn't be too kid orientated so I see that problem.