Trueblood
Well-Known Member
Excellent, thank you! We didn't hear the soundtrack over where we were.
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Impressive defunct experiences you've been able to enjoy
- Thread starter ParadoxPortals
- Start date
WondersOfLife
Blink, blink. Breathe, breathe. Day in, day out.
Yes I read that the first time. It doesn't mean that a new version with updated movies wouldn't be well received.
The concept could still be the same but focused on the accomplishments of Disney films. Would be more attractive to the WDW audience than non-Disney flicks that are fading away.
I'm sure there are plenty of people that'll argue against this. I wont go into all that.
The Colonel
Well-Known Member
I'm just going to list the ones that hurt
The Adventurers Club
The rest of Pleasure Island
Osborne Lights
Off Kilter
Illuminations
Tapestry of Nations and Dreams
MSEP and Spectromagic
Wishes
The Jacuzzis in Beach Club
Jelly Rolls
Galactic Spectacular
The entirety of Future World at Epcot
Splash Mountain
Country Bears
Rivers of Light believe it or not
Now that I've made this list, I think, why am I still going?
The Adventurers Club
The rest of Pleasure Island
Osborne Lights
Off Kilter
Illuminations
Tapestry of Nations and Dreams
MSEP and Spectromagic
Wishes
The Jacuzzis in Beach Club
Jelly Rolls
Galactic Spectacular
The entirety of Future World at Epcot
Splash Mountain
Country Bears
Rivers of Light believe it or not
Now that I've made this list, I think, why am I still going?
Smiley/OCD
Well-Known Member
Phenomenal performance!!
SyracuseDisneyFan
Well-Known Member
The Great Movie Ride
Sweet tears
Member
And Chef Mickeys at the marketplace (Downtown Disney)
Sweet tears
Member
How about the Mine Train. Haven’t seen that one mentioned.
World_Showcase_Lover007
Well-Known Member
Birthday Cake Castle, Feb 1997. Love it or hate it, it was unforgettable.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
It was one of the most creative and impressive short term overlays they ever created. Instead of recognizing that a very vocal minority complained incessantly about how their beloved plastic castle was hidden by a plastic 25th anniversary cake. Think of the effort involved to create that display and can one can even manage to comprehend how much that must have cost for just one celebration.
What I noticed was a continuous line of complaints about any change that was made to anything. Instead of seeing the marvel all they saw was that something wasn't the same. The most common complaint was that is was gaudy and out of place. A theme park with the name Magic Kingdom and they felt it was out of place, how interesting. Anyway they got their own way and now there are no special efforts put in place worth even mentioning. Why should they when all there work and creativity is wasted on those that cannot handle anything being different.
Even the ugly damn hat was pretty creative and must have been a bear to build. The only real problem with that was the location. Hiding the beloved GMR was a major mistake especially with so much room in the semi-useless animation entrance plaza. That was my gripe with it. Location, Location, Location. At the time they must have had a reason for doing that, as that was when they were shedding, or trying too, the MGM connection with the park. I felt that the hand/wand over SSE was a very good way to connect EPCOT with WDW without really harming the majesty of SSE. I don't miss it, but I was never offended by it either. So many times when leaving the park you would here people say... Tomorrow let's go to WDW (meaning MK) and the Mickey hand told everyone that this was a big part of WDW that they were already in. Think about it, that hand was the last special thing that Disney built. Sure they still use flowers and small plastic basically lawn ornaments but nothing special and requiring significant money spent.
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Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
Multiple executives were almost fired over the blowback from that layover. It wasn't even a minority either.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
Almost got fired? For what, because they allow creative overlay fun to happen in a park that made it's name by having creative fun things to see and do. Anyway, like the old saying, almost doesn't count unless it's horseshoe's or grenades!
Majority of what? The general population? The number of complaints? I went to the park three times during that particular celebration. No one asked me what I thought and I wouldn't have voiced any opinion if I felt that it was good and part of what I would expect from Imagineering! So the majority would have to be those that complained as opposed to those that praised it or are we talking about the majority of the executives of the Disney Company that in all probability take there image of what a theme park should look like too seriously. That would be why they are just collecting huge paychecks but have no real concept of what the Magic Kingdom should project.
In this case it was because of the negative press (and reams of guest complaints) that made its way all the way to Eisner. I was told that was not an empty threat, and a number of high level folks across entertainment (who were technically in charge of the overlay) and operations had their jobs threatened. Eventually, so I was told, Eisner realized that it was effectively free promotion for the 25th ("millions of dollars worth" worldwide), and ceased any threats of firing.
As for my comment on the majority, this is what a number of cast members who were around back then either in GR or otherwise have told me, or that I have read in various places. I was also told that Disney has binders full of complaints about it just from international tourists who were very upset the castle didn't look like the castle they had seen in the media or their friends' photographs and videos. That was the other part of the reason why executives almost got fired - so many guests complained that it was impossible to ignore.
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Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
I don't deny that there were many complaints, but how many actually? How many of the millions and millions of guests that went to the park (in that one year+) and witnessed it complained or just thought it was cute and went on there way. It is one thing to state that they have a lot of complaints but it is important to weigh that against the number of people that didn't.
One thing that these boards always promote is doing the due research. At the time there were massive distributions of the park promotions and particularly the pictures of the castle. If they didn't realize that this was the 25th anniversary then they had their head stuck in the sand. If it was recognized as free promotion by top management and they didn't take it down earlier than it wasn't all that serious a problem was it.
I wouldn't be surprised that the CM's would have had to field a lot of complaints from people that didn't understand the nature of MK. However, I would bet that very few people that were OK with it would say anything at all about it except among themselves. So all the CM would have heard nothing but complaints. I'd bet that they have been fielding many more complaints about the cost of going there, as of late, but you don't see Disney giving a damn do you? Nor has it been detrimental at least until recently. It might have been more than usual, but I doubt is was worse than the Big Ugly Hat or the hand at Epcot though. It is just that the traditionalists found it offensive and spoke up about it. It is highly unlikely that it stopped anyone from going to WDW in subsequent years. I still Maintain that is was a small minority of guests the had a problem with it. I can't be the only one that had been a constant yearly visitor for the decade or more previous and loved the layout of MK from the get go, did not have nor even thought I should have a negative thought about it. Just shows that Karen's were not a new concept and existed since at least 1996.