First Mexico and Now Norway? Proof America is Getting Dumber?

[Chef Mickey]

As Disney turns what was once a celebration of culture into a second Magic Kingdom, is the movement toward promoting the newest shiny toy proof Americans are getting dumber?

Is it actually our fault Disney is listening to the masses and giving the millions of Frozen fans exactly what they want?

A silly fringe ride with a name you can't pronounce, about a country no one has been to, emphasizes trolls, and herds you in to an outdated movie on Norway? Frozen it is!

The same thing happened to a once great Spaceship Earth (still great, but watered down) and now the Sea's with Nemo. Also, we lost the original Universe of Energy, the closure of Horizons and World of Motion, and just an overall sense it's becoming more about what's popular.

I guess that makes money, but it's a more watered down product. I think guests liked the calm, tranquil nature of older rides that didn't always have a recognizable character pushed in your face, particularly at EPCOT.

I think we have a "dumber" WDW today, do you?

 

[BoarderPhreak]

I don't think it's that sinister. America's getting dumber all on its own. In Disney's case - it's all about profit.

 

[raven]

It's called the "$$$ Cycle of Disney": Movie ->Theme Parks -> Merchandise -> Movie -> Theme Park -> Merchandise ->.....etc.

 

[Fizban]

Whatever brings in more cash is what they are going to do. They follow the trends or create them in some instances (vinyl, pin, trading).

 

[Chef Mickey]

It's called the "$$$ Cycle of Disney": Movie ->Theme Parks -> Merchandise -> Movie -> Theme Park -> Merchandise ->.....etc.

This model is fine with me, but it used to not be this way on every attraction, especially at EPCOT.

 

[kjb101791]

I loved Maelstrom, but to the masses, it was a 25 year old dark ride without the specific charm old dark rides such as Small World may have. Frozen belongs in Fantasyland; however, it's not totally wrong for it to be in the Norway Pavilion. When a movie makes over a billion dollars, it's bound to work its way into some marginally appropriate places to keep it going.

 

[Bairstow]

The World Showcase didn't exist as it was because America was "smarter" back then;
It existed the way it was because Card Walker convinced various international corporate sponsors to pick up the tab.
When people like NorShow stopped paying out, things were bound to change.

 

[Chef Mickey]

The World Showcase didn't exist as it was because America was "smarter" back then;
It existed the way it was because Card Walker convinced various international corporate sponsors to pick up the tab.
When people like NorShow stopped paying out, things were bound to change.

I think that's partially true, but it's not just World Showcase that's been watered down. A lot of the once great attractions I mentioned at EPCOT have been themed with a celebrity (Ellen), character (Nemo), closed for another corporate sponsored interactive mess (Test Track, Spaceship Earth), or just abandoned (Wonders of Life) because it's perhaps too boring and/or expensive?

It's a new paradigm at all of the Disney parks. Everything is about "YOU" now and how you can be part of the action. Interactive queues, merchandising, cheap themes, and consumption dominate the parks more than ever. It's of course the American way, but to me, it's proof things have been simplified for money over all else.

 

[ShoalFox]

It's not so much America getting 'dumber', it's more Disney trying to squeeze every last dollar they can out of each of its franchises. The point on America becoming 'dumber' can be argued to death, however.

 

[WDW_Jon]

I do honestly think it's a shame many old attractions are replaced with whatever is popular and making the $$'s, particularly in Epcot, but people clearly flock to this stuff which is only going to encourage more of the same.
The only people Disney irritates by changing classic stuff are people who have gone for many years and appreciated how the old disney was (including myself through childhood and teens & now into 30's) and that doesn't concern them as the new generations want current stuff and whilst ever the numbers and money roll in nothing is safe and we all have to deal with that I'm afraid...

 

[jensenrick]

Yes.

 

[raven]

This model is fine with me, but it used to not be this way on every attraction, especially at EPCOT.

Totally agree with you there. But sadly they are driven by money so anything is game for a change to them. i think theNmaster2000 said it best here:

...it's more Disney trying to squeeze every last dollar they can out of each of its franchises.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Can you really fault them? It's a business...it's about profit...and their attendance numbers aren't exactly falling from this approach. Do I like it...for the most part, no...but when they assess everything, they look at what's boosting numbers. It may be the dumbing down of Disney from a content perspective, but they're laughing all the way to the bank with this approach. I've decided that Frozen is to Disney as the Kardashians are to E! and other media outlets. Most of the masses supposedly hate them or are at least sick of them, but enough people buy into it to make it wildly profitable. And who in their right mind would stop that kind of a cash cow?

 

[bebert]

Sad thing is, this is the future of Disney and Disney Parks. The job of the executive staff is to please the board and stockholders, not us. All of us who want the original park feel must accept it is never going back to that. The vision that Walt had just does not mean as much to them. Think of the movies as a really expensive commercial, that is all they really are, whether it be Frozen or Marvel. I love WDW and the memories it has given my family but, I am going to really take a hard look after our June trip if the experience is still the same to warrant the amount of money it costs to go yearly. It really comes down to that for me, does the experience = cost.

 

[Magenta Panther]

It's called the "$$$ Cycle of Iger: Movie ->Theme Parks -> Merchandise -> Movie -> Theme Park -> Merchandise ->.....etc.

Fixed that for you.

 

[prfctlyximprct]

Considering the fact that you can travel to most of these countries for the amount you spend on a disney vacation, I'm all for them being glorified disney versions of the country. If you truly want to go to Norway, do it. If you want to go to the Norway within the bubble, let it be frozenfied.

 

[Bairstow]

Sad thing is, this is the future of Disney and Disney Parks. The job of the executive staff is to please the board and stockholders, not us. All of us who want the original park feel must accept it is never going back to that. The vision that Walt had just does not mean as much to them. Think of the movies as a really expensive commercial, that is all they really are, whether it be Frozen or Marvel. I love WDW and the memories it has given my family but, I am going to really take a hard look after our June trip if the experience is still the same to warrant the amount of money it costs to go yearly. It really comes down to that for me, does the experience = cost.

Careful.
Most of Disney World and EPCOT in particular are Card Walker's vision, not Walt or Roy Disney's.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Considering the fact that you can travel to most of these countries for the amount you spend on a disney vacation, I'm all for them being glorified disney versions of the country. If you truly want to go to Norway, do it. If you want to go to the Norway within the bubble, let it be frozenfied.

Still much cheaper to fly to Orlando and visit Disney than actually go to a top 10 city in the world. World travel is actually very expensive, especially flying there. If you want to eat well or have any fun, prepare to pay much more than Disney...at least that's my experience in Tokyo, Cayman Islands, Zurich, or even right here in NYC.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

I think its about money. But not so much just to profit on movie tie-ins, its that once youbattach a movie to something you have less reason to update it, which costs money. When EPCOT first opened it was amazing, but within a decade it becomes outdated...future world and the countries. So you can update things at an incredible cost to keep to the original theme or ....slap movie themes on them and hope to create the next Mr. Toads Wild Ride which people will never want to see change.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

Considering the fact that you can travel to most of these countries for the amount you spend on a disney vacation, I'm all for them being glorified disney versions of the country. If you truly want to go to Norway, do it. If you want to go to the Norway within the bubble, let it be frozenfied.

Cost is of the issues and checkpoints for airport security is an issue for traveling overseas. I have a doctor who travels on vacation outside of the country and isn't planning on doing many more trips outside of the US because of how being checked by airport security is outside of the country.