Does Raya and the Last Dragon have a future in the Disney Parks?

[Kirby86]

Raya is influenced by Southeast Asian cultures, though. That's like putting Coco in the American Pavilion because they're on the same continent.

They put Coco in the gift shop for Pirates of the Caribbean. Disney has a habit of playing fast and loose with where they put merchandise. Raya has a dragon in the movie I have no doubt some Merchandise will appear in the China pavilion it's how Disney thinks. Also yeah I forgot the Frozen characters also appear in Norway now

 

[Beacon Joe]

Raya is influenced by Southeast Asian cultures, though. That's like putting Coco in the American Pavilion because they're on the same continent.

You're right, but we do have a Brazilian and an American bird headlining the Mexican pavilion after all.

 

[UofMGuy423]

I really enjoyed the movie and watched it a few times now. I could see Raya and Sisu showing up in Epcot somewhere or an appearance in a parade or even Fantasmic. There's so much Disney IP, not everything can show up in the parks these days.

 

[DoleWhipDrea]

Raya was released in theaters. And it was only released to Disney+ as premier access at first. (At $30 a pop, I believe.) I feel like streaming services that align with box office openings are going to continue in the future regardless of covid. It's an easy revenue stream with service like Disney+, and there are a lot of people who actually prefer watching movies at home to theaters.

Especially for those with little ones that have trouble quietly paying attention for extended periods of time. Honestly, I think the home releases, especially when your target demographic is small children, is the solution that a lot of parents have been waiting for and will ultimately be more of a financial success.

 

[Kirby86]

Another issue Raya had with the box office outside of day and date streaming, was that one or two of the major theater chains wouldn't play the film. AMC had it playing but Regal said nope because they were still apprehensive to day and Day releases.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

I say probably not. It wasn't a bad movie but it was forgettable. But if they can figure out a way to sell dragon merchandise, all bets are off.

 

[Heppenheimer]

I say probably not. It wasn't a bad movie but it was forgettable. But if they can figure out a way to sell dragon merchandise, all bets are off.

I wonder if that's the current benchmark for Disney in deciding which IP gets a theme park attraction. In the trip I took to Disneyland last year right before the shutdown, I couldn't help but notice the Onward merchandise wasn't exactly flying off the shelves. The movie seems all but forgotten now a year and a half later (not that it was a great film in the first place, though...).

 

[dreamfinder]

Raya has a dragon in the movie I have no doubt some Merchandise will appear in the China pavilion it's how Disney thinks.

Unless I missed Disney taking over China the way they did Morocco, I do believe that the stores in China are still O/O by a 3rd party, not Disney. So unless that 3rd party wants to sell Raya merch, I don't think we will see it there.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I wonder if that's the current benchmark for Disney in deciding which IP gets a theme park attraction. In the trip I took to Disneyland last year right before the shutdown, I couldn't help but notice the Onward merchandise wasn't exactly flying off the shelves. The movie seems all but forgotten now a year and a half later (not that it was a great film in the first place, though...).

I would guess that merchandise is ordered from manufactures way in advance. And if sales are slow... they just wind up with a surplus that then winds up in the Disney surplus outlets.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

I wonder if that's the current benchmark for Disney in deciding which IP gets a theme park attraction. In the trip I took to Disneyland last year right before the shutdown, I couldn't help but notice the Onward merchandise wasn't exactly flying off the shelves. The movie seems all but forgotten now a year and a half later (not that it was a great film in the first place, though...).

Yeah. Thats why I think films like Wreck it have a low presence. Bad merchandise sales.

 

[aliceismad]

Yeah. Thats why I think films like Wreck it have a low presence. Bad merchandise sales.

I don't think I've seen much Ralph merch. They do/did have a M&G in Epcot though.

Onward was a slightly bored/slightly frightened from my kid, so we've only watched it the once. She was also afraid of Coco, although she's since gotten over that after learning more about what Dia de los Muertos is. Somehow unfazed by UP, Soul, Good Dinosaur or Lion King though, and I think those were all more scary in their way.

 

[Namaari]

Would LOVE it if Raya got more presence in the parks (as well as me, Namaari, of course ). I personally think she would have a good fit in AK. IMO, Dinoland is pretty stale and they could possibly re-theme that section. I'm disappointed the movie didn't get as much recognition/popularity as some of the other newer Disney films like 'Tangled' and 'Frozen,' but I get how the pandemic was a big factor. That and I was kind of surprised 'Raya' didn't have any musical numbers in it, which was possibly another factor.

 

[DisneyDodo]

Would LOVE it if Raya got more presence in the parks (as well as me, Namaari, of course ). I personally think she would have a good fit in AK. IMO, Dinoland is pretty stale and they could possibly re-theme that section. I'm disappointed the movie didn't get as much recognition/popularity as some of the other newer Disney films like 'Tangled' and 'Frozen,' but I get how the pandemic was a big factor. That and I was kind of surprised 'Raya' didn't have any musical numbers in it, which was possibly another factor.

Music is definitely a big factor in a Disney movie's longevity. Watching a movie is a commitment - no matter how much somebody likes it, they will only do it every so often. You can listen to a catchy song over and over again. Little girls singing "Let it Go" keeps Frozen perpetually relevant. With Walt Disney Animation, the musicals just about always leave a more lasting cultural impact than their non-musical cousins. Zootopia grossed considerably more at the box office than Moana in the same year, but which is more relevant 5 years later?

 

[wdisney9000]

I wonder if that's the current benchmark for Disney in deciding which IP gets a theme park attraction. In the trip I took to Disneyland last year right before the shutdown, I couldn't help but notice the Onward merchandise wasn't exactly flying off the shelves. The movie seems all but forgotten now a year and a half later (not that it was a great film in the first place,

I think that benchmarks went the way of the dodo for WDI. Lately it seems as if they just start building, wether it's a restroom or an E ticket and THEN they decide which IP to slap on it.

*Disney* "101 Dalmatians Margarita stand in Mexico Pavilion coming soon"

*Guests* Why?

*Disney* Uh.... 101 Dalmatians is about dogs and people with dogs like margaritas.

*Guests* OMG your right! It totally makes sense now! We need more of this. My kid gets bored at Epcot!

*Vloggers* We're at Epcot! Follow, Like, smash that subscribe button and don't forget to click on the bell..".

 

[Ghost93]

Music is definitely a big factor in a Disney movie's longevity. Watching a movie is a commitment - no matter how much somebody likes it, they will only do it every so often. You can listen to a catchy song over and over again. Little girls singing "Let it Go" keeps Frozen perpetually relevant. With Walt Disney Animation, the musicals just about always leave a more lasting cultural impact than their non-musical cousins. Zootopia grossed considerably more at the box office than Moana in the same year, but which is more relevant 5 years later?

While I think it was the right artistic choice to not have songs in Zootopia and Raya and the Last Dragon, I will admit you have a point that musicals with a successful soundtrack leave more of a cultural impact. I personally liked Zootopia way more than Moana, but Moana has occupied more space in my head the past few years due to the catchiness of songs like "How Far I'll Go" and "You're Welcome."

 

[MisterPenguin]

While I think it was the right artistic choice to not have songs in Zootopia and Raya and the Last Dragon, I will admit you have a point that musicals with a successful soundtrack leave more of a cultural impact. I personally liked Zootopia way more than Moana, but Moana has occupied more space in my head the past few years due to the catchiness of songs like "How Far I'll Go" and "You're Welcome."

Who needs a new song? This old one's all we need.

 

[Namaari]

Music is definitely a big factor in a Disney movie's longevity. Watching a movie is a commitment - no matter how much somebody likes it, they will only do it every so often. You can listen to a catchy song over and over again. Little girls singing "Let it Go" keeps Frozen perpetually relevant. With Walt Disney Animation, the musicals just about always leave a more lasting cultural impact than their non-musical cousins. Zootopia grossed considerably more at the box office than Moana in the same year, but which is more relevant 5 years later?

Very true! Although Shakira did have a good song in 'Zootopia' but that was pretty much the only music the movie had going for itself. I'm also going to go ahead and predict that 'Encanto' will be in the "memorable movie" camp since Lin-Manuel Miranda is heavily involved again.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Just a quick update that Raya debuted out at Shanghai DL just recently...

 

[Ghost93]

Just a quick update that Raya debuted out at Shanghai DL just recently...

That's a great costume!

 

[Kirby86]

Yeah that is a good costume. I'm impressed.