Eddie Sotto's take on the current state of the parks

[Eddie Sotto]

Speak of the devil...I have a coin I carry with me that says. "Humility: A superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions." I guess I'm on the right track!

Psalm 138:6

For Jehovah (God) is high, and yet the humble one he sees;
But the lofty one he knows only from a distance.

Humility is a quality that that be expressed in design if we let it. When you create spaces that are overdone and exude excess, they can be subconsciously unappealing or ultimately empty. I know that the "McMansions" (http://la.curbed.com/archives/design_shelter/mcmansions/index.php?page=2) here in Los Angeles are of a proportion and scale that are oversized and intended to impress. They beg for you to gawk. Barns not homes. The older estates are usually more beautifully proportioned, and the sizes of the windows, doors and even the interior spaces have a humbler and more refined personality to them. There is an intimacy even though they are a large dwelling. (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2009/01/new_to_market_paul_williamsdesigned_brentwood_estate.php)

Disneyland's Main Street has that childlike humility and charm that got a bit lost in WDW. Small towns like their citizens, are humble and sincere. Think Mayberry. You don't feel that detail is there for it's own sake or "showing off" in excess. it's just naturally there and is not asking for your attention. The bank has Greek Columns so you think it's safe, permanent, and secure, same with City Hall. It's funny how design can appeal to our better nature, or tease our senses as Las Vegas does with it's skin of lights and hollow glitz. Spaces manipulate our emotions and leave an aftertaste. Entertainment spaces are designed to amaze and I'm not saying that being incredible is a bad thing (you know what Vegas is going in and it meets expectation), it's how you do it and how it "feels" that's so important. If it's just for it's own sake with no point, then you'll feel that too.

A friend told me once that "If you search for truth you'll find beauty, but if you search for beauty, you find vanity." Our pure motives in why we are designing something are important as we will possibly be driven to design for it's own sake rather than in earnest to accomplish a given purpose and leave out the excess. I saw this piece in the paper last night about a guy who built his dream house out in the middle of nowhere and now they want him to tear it down due to code violations. It looks insane and hideous, but I have to say it's sincere and I love that about it and kind of root for him although it's probably not safe. It's his voice as a building or an expression. There is truth and beauty in that. So much better than all of those faux mansions that meet all of the building codes and feel cold. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-phonehenge-west-20110526,0,797986.story

 

[TP2000]

Disneyland is jumping with reviews of the Little Mermaid ride, images of the new parade and other interesting new projects..

http://micechat.com/forums/blogs/in...r-little-mermaid-video-getting-tiki-more.html

Disneyland is jumping, period. I've never seen a Disney property in such a frenzy of openings, debuts, refreshes, additions and updates. All at once. And we're not even to Buena Vista Street and Cars Land, that's still a year off.

With the exception of opening an entirely new theme park, I can't think of any other time when so much has been happening at one property. Only the unprecedented 1966-67 era seems to top it, when Disneyland opened Small World, Primeval World, New Orleans Square, Pirates, and New Tomorrowland all within a 16 month period.

 

[kashmir]

Mr. Fahey

Eddie,
Your article brought to mind a children's book called "The Big Orange Splot" in which Mr. Plumbean (main character) builds the house of his dreams. His is the most original and the neighbors aren't happy they no longer have "a neat street".
Mr. Fahey seems to be doing the same! "My house is me and I am it. My house is where I like to be and it looks like all my dreams." said Plumbean...after reading this story by Daniel Pinkwater, I thought of Disney and his Imagineers (YOU!) creating dreams.
Thank you!

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Eddie,
Your article brought to mind a children's book called "The Big Orange Splot" in which Mr. Plumbean (main character) builds the house of his dreams. His is the most original and the neighbors aren't happy they no longer have "a neat street".
Mr. Fahey seems to be doing the same! "My house is me and I am it. My house is where I like to be and it looks like all my dreams." said Plumbean...after reading this story by Daniel Pinkwater, I thought of Disney and his Imagineers (YOU!) creating dreams.

I like how they reference that the Watts Towers would not have happened if things like that were proposed today. In 1955 Disneyland proposed things that were not in the codes and the city let them do lots of stuff you could never do now.

 

[AEfx]

I like how they reference that the Watts Towers would not have happened if things like that were proposed today. In 1955 Disneyland proposed things that were not in the codes and the city let them do lots of stuff you could never do now.

Like???!!!

Tease.

Seriously, though - would love to hear more about this.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Like???!!!

Tease.

Seriously, though - would love to hear more about this.

I'm glad they made the connection between art and codes. The Watts Towers is American Gaudi. It raises the question as to how much regulation dictates design versus guiding it. Would Gaudi have been able to build his cathedral here?

 

[AEfx]

I'm glad they made the connection between art and codes. The Watts Towers is American Gaudi. It raises the question as to how much regulation dictates design versus guiding it. Would Gaudi have been able to build his cathedral here?

Ah, actually I meant what was done at Disneyland that couldn't be done under coding today.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Ah, actually I meant what was done at Disneyland that couldn't be done under coding today.

At that time there were not many codes for theatrical environments, like thatched roofs stuff like that. Places like Tom Sawyer's Island would be wheelchair compatible, caves and all. Treehouses have to have an elevator, etc.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Tlm

I watched the HD video of the Little Mermaid ride. Don't want to seriously weigh in till I go on it.

Having said that, you can see they have gone back to dark ride basics. For those of you who have been non-plussed by recent rides dependent on too much video storytelling, this "old school" style Omnimover and Animatronic spectacular is a return to tradition. Many figures seem very well animated too. I think they have gone to the same quality level as the TDS Sinbad figures for the key characters. Omnimovers do not allow for anything to "happen to you" as there is no time to reset a gag. So this is a big musical pageant of looped action aimed at the wee ones. The company used to be dead set against doing anything this grand for an animated dark ride. DCA has needed something of this traditional genre in their mix and it is a good addition in that respect. Looks like a great family ride and a strong D, can't wait to get on it.

 

[AEfx]

At that time there were not many codes for theatrical environments, like thatched roofs stuff like that. Places like Tom Sawyer's Island would be wheelchair compatible, caves and all. Treehouses have to have an elevator, etc.

Ah, OK. I was thinking more building heights and that sort of thing.

I did notice that Disneyland was a lot less wheelchair friendly than WDW, for obvious reasons. The walkways and such are so narrow that even on slow days they seem crowded, and many attractions still have the old-fashioned outside metal pole queues. My niece uses a wheelchair so I noticed these things as I was visiting - though of course DCA seemed a bit more friendly towards non-mobile guests.

 

[AEfx]

I watched the HD video of the Little Mermaid ride. Don't want to seriously weigh in till I go on it.

Having said that, you can see they have gone back to dark ride basics. For those of you who have been non-plussed by recent rides dependent on too much video storytelling, this "old school" style Omnimover and Animatronic spectacular is a return to tradition. Many figures seem very well animated too. I think they have gone to the same quality level as the TDS Sinbad figures for the key characters. Omnimovers do not allow for anything to "happen to you" as there is no time to reset a gag. So this is a big musical pageant of looped action aimed at the wee ones. The company used to be dead set against doing anything this grand for an animated dark ride. DCA has needed something of this traditional genre in their mix and it is a good addition in that respect. Looks like a great family ride and a strong D, can't wait to get on it.

Exactly how I feel, and am glad about it.

I'm amazed at the figures - I have never seen animated characters so fluid and life-like. It gives me high hopes for the Mine Train as well as the redo of Peter Pan I hope is in the offing.

So often in the last decade or two it's seemed like Disney is more about the hook than the attraction, and it's so nice to see a film so lovingly reproduced in this manner. I don't think it's just for the wee ones, as this type of thing is what made many of us fall in love with Disney parks in the first place.

I've gotta say, since Iger has been around, I've been a lot happier with the direction these things are taking.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Ah, OK. I was thinking more building heights and that sort of thing.

I did notice that Disneyland was a lot less wheelchair friendly than WDW, for obvious reasons. The walkways and such are so narrow that even on slow days they seem crowded, and many attractions still have the old-fashioned outside metal pole queues. My niece uses a wheelchair so I noticed these things as I was visiting - though of course DCA seemed a bit more friendly towards non-mobile guests.

I think they did get the city to agree on a height restriction on construction outside the park to avoid visual intrusions to the lands.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I think they did get the city to agree on a height restriction on construction outside the park to avoid visual intrusions to the lands.

They did as part of the Resort Zoning. It is why Disney had to remove the old Disneyland Hotel marquees from the tops of the towers.

 

[StageFrenzy]

What is the discussion like for where an attraction gets placed in the parks? I imagine sometimes location comes before the ride and sometimes the ride comes before the location. Who picks the location in the park, what is the thought on an attraction being outside the berm vs inside? When building a park do you have more control over where things go than if it is already built?

 

[BlueLightningTN]

Alright, Eddie, here's a question for you that I'm interested to see how you'll answer:

Let's be hypothetical for a moment and say that you are given a sufficient budget to make significant additions to each of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World (MK, Epcot, DHS, and AK). Let's say it's $400 million total, but you can divy it up any way you see fit. What would be your additions to those theme parks and why?

Feel free to be vague if you think you might be working for the mouse again one day...

- BL

 

[HMF]

I watched the HD video of the Little Mermaid ride. Don't want to seriously weigh in till I go on it.

Having said that, you can see they have gone back to dark ride basics. For those of you who have been non-plussed by recent rides dependent on too much video storytelling, this "old school" style Omnimover and Animatronic spectacular is a return to tradition. Many figures seem very well animated too. I think they have gone to the same quality level as the TDS Sinbad figures for the key characters. Omnimovers do not allow for anything to "happen to you" as there is no time to reset a gag. So this is a big musical pageant of looped action aimed at the wee ones. The company used to be dead set against doing anything this grand for an animated dark ride. DCA has needed something of this traditional genre in their mix and it is a good addition in that respect. Looks like a great family ride and a strong D, can't wait to get on it.

I am very impressed. Chris and Larry really know what they are doing and the results are fantastic and best of all it does not hit you over the head with "Story". A lot of the complaints I have heard are about how Ursula's downfall is portrayed but I feel that it is actually done very well because the purpose of these rides is not to re-hash the stories of the movie but to put guests in to experience the atmosphere of the movie and they have succeeded spectacularly.It is spectacular to see the WED spirit alive in some areas of WDI. I guess the WED nametags must have helped.:sohappy:

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Alright, Eddie, here's a question for you that I'm interested to see how you'll answer:

Let's be hypothetical for a moment and say that you are given a sufficient budget to make significant additions to each of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World (MK, Epcot, DHS, and AK). Let's say it's $400 million total, but you can divy it up any way you see fit. What would be your additions to those theme parks and why?

Feel free to be vague if you think you might be working for the mouse again one day...

- BL

I guess the theme of this response is to bring back a strong focused "point of view" and vision to the parks.

250m....I would give EPCOT a clear vision that meets expectation with a "futurist" E type attraction in the ball that has a thrill ending, perhaps it's inside of a Horizons Hotel where "you stay in the future". (Hotel costs extra)

MK. 50M to bring back the sincerity to everything. Lots of enhancements in food and retail..So many details are lost and the retail is so bad, bring back the immersion, richness and depth to the lands. Small shows everywhere.

DHS- 50M Redo the "Great Movie Ride" into the theme attraction for the park.

Downtown Disney 45M- To make it a must see, not another mall. Maybe bring back the Fort Wilderness RR.

4M make the busses more interesting.

AK 1M- Have Red Bull sponsor the Safari and feed it to the animals to prevent napping.

 

[lazyboy97o]

AK 1M- Have Red Bull sponsor the Safari and feed it to the animals to prevent napping.

:ROFLOL: I am sure that go over very well.

 

[TP2000]

The company used to be dead set against doing anything this grand for an animated dark ride. DCA has needed something of this traditional genre in their mix and it is a good addition in that respect. Looks like a great family ride and a strong D, can't wait to get on it.

Exactly! I went on Mermaid twice this past Friday, and I loved it. It helps that the attraction facility overall is gorgeous and clearly uses some very high quality materials and custom accesories and furnishings. It's a home run for DCA, and exactly what that park has needed since it opened.

I do wonder how it will play in the Magic Kingdom Park, especially across the way from Small World and a couple dark rides, and around the corner from Haunted Mansion. But for DCA, it's just made a hugely positive impact smack dab in the middle of that transforming park.

It's fascinating that the company used to be "dead set against" a ride like this. What were they thinking?!?

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Exactly! I went on Mermaid twice this past Friday, and I loved it. It helps that the attraction facility overall is gorgeous and clearly uses some very high quality materials and custom accesories and furnishings. It's a home run for DCA, and exactly what that park has needed since it opened.

I do wonder how it will play in the Magic Kingdom Park, especially across the way from Small World and a couple dark rides, and around the corner from Haunted Mansion. But for DCA, it's just made a hugely positive impact smack dab in the middle of that transforming park.

It's fascinating that the company used to be "dead set against" a ride like this. What were they thinking?!?

In the case of doing Pooh the "E" level TDL way (free ranging ride vehicles, tons of effects), which was a mega hit with all ages, the "thinking" was that it was "Pooh targeted to small kids so you doesn't need to be that good, so it's irresponsible to spend that". You could get away with what they did at DL and WDW. As you know, they did get away with it and little kids love it, they then chalked up the fact that TDL Pooh did so well with Adults to "Japanese culture". There is some truth to that, but the ride is still a smash with Americans that see it, so I'm not sure it could not have been marketed and done well here.

I think TLM will play fine in WDW as long as it's not a visual intrusion from other lands. Again, I've not been on it yet, but it seems very lush and immersive. As for DCA, it is a bit odd to me to have such a Fantasyland style spectacular in the middle of a carnival midway setting. I get the pavilion idea and that's clever, but it still promises alot. It's like those "worlds" can be put in boxes and dropped in anywhere. Having said that, DCA was such a parking lot emotionally, and this ride really helps bring magic to all of that. Job well done.