Eisner Era Relic

[TomboyJanet]

Just wanted to share a video here that underscores and frames the Eisner era perfectly. His snarky Hollywood humor, his appeal to older kids and adults, and his love of cameos.

As weird and potentially problematic as this is, (especially the very crazy jungle cruise part which is like an outdated SNL level sketch I'd guess) It does show how more structured Disney was at the time, and how they knew how to handle the themes and appeals of the time. It's different now but Disney doesn't have a good handle on the people of today. They just have a handle on Economics. Like someone said they have the Roy without the Walt now and it's sad.

What I don't understand is Why Eisner Killed Imagination Pavilion But that's another story.

But for now just enjoy this look into the different mindset of Eisner era Disney

 

[SuddenStorm]

I've always loved this TV special. The Jungle Cruise bit, the early Splash Mountain, the Miss Piggy bit, Jim Varney's bit- and topped off with Will Smith is just wonderfully cheesy in an oddly charming sort of way.

 

[TomboyJanet]

I've always loved this TV special. The Jungle Cruise bit, the early Splash Mountain, the Miss Piggy bit, Jim Varney's bit- and topped off with Will Smith is just wonderfully cheesy in an oddly charming sort of way.

I remember seeing it as a kid being just a little disturbed by the jungle cruise but Since it was Disney I was like oh they are def just making silly jokes. Just like the Great Movie Ride's humor and the Tower of Terror. The Miss Piggy Bit Inadvertently started my Cinderella dress wearing craze despite being a tomboy I always wanted to let my girly side out that way.

It's the balance of light and dark that caused Disney to stick with me even as a teen and through cynical parts of my life. My dad also had that snarky sense of humor so he would play off of it so well. I guess I connect the snark of old Disney with my dad's humor and just like he's gone so is it?

I think that's the perfect metaphor for my life. This is way better than therapy!

But I'm interested in what modern Disney fans think of it

 

[SuddenStorm]

I remember seeing it as a kid being just a little disturbed by the jungle cruise but Since it was Disney I was like oh they are def just making silly jokes. Just like the Great Movie Ride's humor and the Tower of Terror. The Miss Piggy Bit Inadvertently started my Cinderella dress wearing craze despite being a tomboy I always wanted to let my girly side out that way.

It's the balance of light and dark that caused Disney to stick with me even as a teen and through cynical parts of my life. My dad also had that snarky sense of humor so he would play off of it so well. I guess I connect the snark of old Disney with my dad's humor and just like he's gone so is it?

I think that's the perfect metaphor for my life. This is way better than therapy!

But I'm interested in what modern Disney fans think of it

Totally get that- my two favorite things Disneyland has done are Splash Mountain and Fantasmic.

Both of these handle the light hearted side of Disney well, and the scary side of Disney.

 

[TomboyJanet]

Totally get that- my two favorite things Disneyland has done are Splash Mountain and Fantasmic.

Both of these handle the light hearted side of Disney well, and the scary side of Disney.

Exactly! One imagineer Idr if it was John Hench or someone else said something to the effect of "Disney is about knowing everything will be okay in the end" referring to how it simulates the danger and then takes you back. Rides like Mr Toad have that balance because at the end you are either "Spat out of heck" for being too dangerous a driver or awaken from a dream state back in toad hall's garage. Imagination had that structure basically spelled out to us in it's horror section followed by the comedic stage section, and then a slightly darker technological/science interlude that deconstructs things and analyzes, and ending with figment finally having what he needs to create his adventures. They could have taken a lesson from this if they weren't so Corp-brained. As I like to say

 

[Professortango1]

They clearly understood what every kid wanted out of these attractions. They play up the fun danger and storytelling rather than just focusing on riding through a movie. We used to go to Disneyland to pretend in a three-dimensional space. Now, we go to see characters we recognize that will wave to us without any element of danger or imagination.

 

[TomboyJanet]

They clearly understood what every kid wanted out of these attractions. They play up the fun danger and storytelling rather than just focusing on riding through a movie. We used to go to Disneyland to pretend in a three-dimensional space. Now, we go to see characters we recognize that will wave to us without any element of danger or imagination.

When I was in Tomorrow Land I was a kick butt Sci fi girl taking on the dangers of space. When I was In fontierland I was a brave cowgirl riding a mine train and riding a wild river while meeting critters who were just as wild. Just like in this video I was scared of the Haunted Mansion and my brother wasn't and then at the end It was me who was brave!

Even seeing the wench auction at the Pirates ride I got upset but not really upset more like a pouty "boys are stupid" way. I guess a real way to fix that would be to leave that scene in and then have her later rounding up the pirates turning the tables. That I would have enjoyed.

But to just literally ground a mountain into a mine dome...thing....is the perfect metaphor for that. People who like it now will probably grow tired of it eventually, not how It was for me and Splash. I don't see them reviving the original ride (at least not for a long long time) but I do see them eventually having to update it to include an actual plot.

So far we have three rides now they used this "attending a party" story on. Ratatouille (that's a whopper to spell) at least had some danger, but I feel like It was missing something. Too many boring pantries and everyday environments. Frozen.....IDk what to say about that.... Elsa invites us in, throws us into the "Hallway of nothingness" and her creature "happily" tries to kill us with a waterfall? Ok maybe not exactly but that's the vibe I get. TBA didn't even TRY! Mama Ode is the villain as far as I'm concerned! She sure laughs like one! That is like the ride that actually made me like PATF less for some reason I can't really articulate but I feel it. I probably am going to have to actively make fun of the ride while riding it (quietly so I don't bother people) in order to enjoy it at all. (That or recreate the Splash mountain soundtrack and listen to it while mentally projecting old animatronics in the empty space....there sure is enough)

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

I wish that we could've gotten this Eisner through his whole tenure. He had the spirit and his heart was in the right place, but man did he just start spiraling out of control in the last several years. It's unfortunate, it really is. The first bit of his tenure was all timer stuff.

I know the reasons why it all came crashing down (he was so lost without Wells), but it does make you think a bit of what would've happened if Wells had lived and Eisner kept this energy up all the way to the end of their run. No doubt some of the same follies would've appeared (I kinda think the disaster of Paris was a bit inevitable), but I can't help but feel that the response to them would've been very different.

 

[CaptinEO]

Lets not forget late era Eisner is exactly what Disney is today. By the early 2000s he lost all of his wit and you wouldn't have humor like this anymore.

People may look at Eisner's successes and not remember how he was the one that started the IP Mandate for the Disney parks.

 

[Too Many Hats]

Love this special, particularly the bizarre Cheers bookends and the way-too-much Charles Fleischer. Did America have Fleischer fever in 1990, or something? Haha.

 

[Too Many Hats]

Lets not forget late era Eisner is exactly what Disney is today. By the early 2000s he lost all of his wit and you wouldn't have humor like this anymore.

People may look at Eisner's successes and not remember how he was the one that started the IP Mandate for the Disney parks.

2000s Eisner was a nightmare. Having said that, even at the end of his tenure he was still approving stuff like Mission: Space and Expedition Everest.