Is anyone else dissapointed by lack of AiW?

[Next Big Thing]

So, you're saying that pre-Depp PoTC was hard for younger fans to recognize what was going on? I don't think that stance holds much water. PoTC was one of, if not the most popular rides in all of WDW for decades before Captain Jack was added. I agree that the same refurbishment brought some better technology to the ride, but they could have done that without Depp's AA.

I think the refurb was mostly a wash when the positives and negatives are weighed. The tech is great to have, but I do think adding Jack and Barbosa added too much story to the ride. You're no floating through vignettes of some random pillaged town in the Caribbean, you're following a really weak storyline of Barbosa hunting Jack, with Jack randomly ending up in the throne room, speaking some pretty odd (and awkward) dialogue. In essence, before the addition of Jack the ride was the world's coolest diorama that you got to float through. Now, it's more like a storyboard that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It's still Pirates, and I still love it, but the movie tie-ins bug me because in this instance, no story was better than a crappy story.

Also - I really doubt PotC (the movies) are going to be timeless enough for the movie specific tie ins to make sense in 10 years. Could they change the ride again by then? Sure, but I wouldn't put money on it.

I just wanted to say I agree with you mostly here.

Now, I actually didn't read all of _Scar's post before I posted. Now that i've read the whole thing, I disagree with him even more. How can you say it helps the children understand the story more? There really wasn't a clear storyline in PotC from the beginning, i'll give you that, but the ride is what the movie is based off of, not the opposite like many other things around the parks. We shouldn't let the movie dictate what goes on in the classic attraction, which spurred this BILLION DOLLAR MOVIE FRANCHISE. That being said, I have no problem adding Captain Jack. I don't see how you think that helps anyone understand the storyline any better though. I just see him being there as something to look at and an impressive AA. I guess Captain Jack goes though and ends up with the treasure at the end, but other than that, it is still the same mumbled storyline of pirates drinking rum and the buy a bride and the guy with the leg and the dude with the cat and the guys in jail with the dog. All they added was a storyline for captain Jack, he doesn't really add to the existing storyline like you were suggesting.

 

[hrcollectibles]

How exactly are the fairies giving diversity?

Well, I could be wrong, but I believe diversity is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.

 

[Sketch105]

I just watched the Magic Kingdom "Imagineering the Magic" DvD, and they brought up a great point.

When POTC opened, it became a classic to US as only a ride. HOWEVER, there's a whole generation of kids who are growing up who will see the MOVIE before the ride, and wonder why the characters are not there.
I think Depp being added to Pirates does not disturb the essence of the attraction itself, honestly.

The same can be said for Pixie Hollow. Sure, us community members can say that AiW's cartoon form has better longevity than the direct-to-video pixie movies, but they are a brand that has reached millions of young girls, and we cannot measure it by what WE think. Most of us are not the core audience for this attraction.

Also, AiW is not represented because it already HAS representation- The Mad Tea Party. Say what you want about Dark rides and blah blah blah but this land was lent to expand upon characters that did not have a proper ride or attraction to represent them at the Magic Kingdom already. Alice already does meet-n-greets outside the Tea Party, while the Princesses were stuck in the tents in...Toontown Fair? It makes sense to me. Plus, the Alice DL ride, IMHO, isn't as good as people say. Alice is shoved into a corner from a rehab correcting the "Oh, we're supposed to BE Alice, not see her" philosophy of the dark rides of that era, and while the outside track is nice it breaks up the momentum of the ride.


I am looking forward to the placemaking this is creating for Fantasyland, since up until now it has been an assembly of medieval tents.

 

[MKeeler]

To me Wonderland could serve as the perfect transition into Pixie Hollow. Think about being Alice, shrinking down and interacting with the Flowers and the Caterpillar. From there perspective just needs to be changed a little bit to be at the right size for Pixie Hollow.

But me, I want it all...
an expanded Wonderland section
Pixie Hollow and Neverland
the Dumbo circus area (even if it needs to be east of the RR tracks)
Shoot - I'd even find a way to put Oz in there based on the Skottie Young/Eric Shanower Marvel comic series.

A proper ToonTown - in Hollywood Studios offset from the Animation Courtyard, with Roger Rabbit
and even a Burton's Alice in Wonderland dark ride in a "Burton Block" sub land around the Hunchback Theater where the Nightmare Before Christmas musical would be playing.

But that's just me...

 

[Animaniac93-98]

New Alice is currently Disney's 3rd biggest money maker of all time in the US and Canada (not adjusting for inflation obviously) and is just $25 million away from becoming #2. Meanwhile, Walt's Alice is selling well with it's new DVD ranking #5 for the week ended April 3rd.

At this point it would seem silly not to add something Alice related, however small, to this expansion.

On the other hand this Alice hype could be for this year only and not really last until 2013 when all phases are complete.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Tim Burton should get his own theme park.

I agree with those that said his style doesn't fit in a Disney park.

Imagine a "Main Street Barber Shop" themed to Sweeney Todd...with a Meat Pie Quickservice stand underneath it.

The Willy Wonka factory...completely with multiple attractions...and a candy store.

The Edward Scissorhands Hedge Maze with a Meet & Greet at the end.

Sleepy Hollow Thrilling Dark Ride. (Dinosaur style attraction the pits you up against the Horseman)

Beetlejuice coaster. (Maybe escaping the sandworms?)

Alice in Wonderland section.

One "land" could be his animated films...like Corpse Bride and Nightmare Before Christmas (The entire land could be done in his "style" of animation)

Hehe, I could go on and on...I love Tim Burton!

Now...back to the thread at hand. Keep the AiW "in the Magic Kingdom" to the Disney style...not the Burton style.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Alice in Wonderland (2010) is just under $50 million away from becoming Disney's biggest hit of all time, when not adjusting for inflation and has sold over 2 million DVD copies already.

Meanwhile, Walt's Alice got a DVD re-release (2nd so far without a Blu-ray release and only 16 min worth of new bonus content) on March 31 and has so far sold 870,550 copies despite several home video releases since 1986 and begin available for rental since 1981.

I doubt Disney will want to let this Wonderland craze fizzle out too quickly and the sales of the 1951 film show that it still has selling power.

If phase 2/ Pixie Hollow is up in the air, Wonderland sounds like a good alternative or addition.

Having said all of this, I still think a duplicate of Disneyland's PH should be built to accommodate the obvious demand for the friaries and so we can get that neat little nighttime show it has.

 

[tirian]

Having said all of this, I still think a duplicate of Disneyland's PH should be built to accommodate the obvious demand for the friaries and so we can get that neat little nighttime show it has.

You'd never be able to see it. The Brazilian tour groups would use it as a meeting place.

 

[drossjr]

I've always been hoping that they would bring over the DLR ride of AiW, and with this fantasyland expansion, it just seems too perfect. Have your kid sit down and have tea with the march hare (well not only kids, I'd so do it).

Or would that idea be bad considering that they already have a tea cup ride? or they could re-theme that area, gah its dissapointing, Alice has always been my favorite.

ACTUALLY, how about leading the little kids through her adventures in wonderland? It would be like an interactive experience, you could have multiple Alice's touring kids at a time to keep the wait short, and you could meet the Mad Hatter, The Caterpillar, and have to escape the queen!

Seems like adding Alice in Wonderland would make too much sense to me! Especially seeing that the recent movie had success. Disney is too into adding attractions for things past their prime such as American Idol

 

[UberPlannerMom]

If Pixie Hollow is such a horrible idea then why not make it neverland with a bit of picie hollow, since that is where pixie hollow is, isn't it? I have never watched the dvds... just saying that the mermaid lagoon would be cool (possibly a mini coaster even), a play area in the pirate's ship or the indian camp and move PPF over there. That would put the things that go together, together. It would mean that the meet and greets with the pixies would be near the meet and greets for peter, wendy, hook and smee and the rides that go along with them. Seems to make more sense than meeting peter at POTC, riding his ride in original fantasyland and seeing tink in the expansion...

If they were going to do something with burton's alice I would prefer it go in at hollywood.... just saying. Walt's alice works great for MK, but burtons does not!

 

[cheezbat]

You know, the more I read into this, the more the idea of Alice makes WAY more sense to me. Who cares if Tink and the fairies are popular now. Will they have staying power? Alice has...for nearly 50 years! Alice also caters to the interests of both the female and male audiences, Tink and friends, not as much. Having seen the meet and greet area at Disneyland, I too agree that if there must be an area for them, make it like the one over there. Not something massive, taking up prime Fantasyland real estate.
Now the question is, Alice dark ride, or maze, or both?

 

[Tomi-Rocket]

not much stuff anyway....

When we were there last Sept. we went into that shop because my DH wanted a villain t-shirt. They had hardly anything then! I also remember the selection they did have was minimal. It's hard to believe that there's no market for villains but they do go where the money is. :shrug:

 

[dandaman]

Well, I could be wrong, but I believe diversity is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.

+1 Internets for you.

 

[mp2bill]

Yeah, I wish they had more rides of the classics like AiW, Robin Hood, and Pinocchio. I like the teacups, but they're just the same ride that almost every amusement park has with an AiW theme. I'd like to see more classic movie rides, but I'm not sure where they'd put them all. Maybe in the future at a new land for classics?

 

[DisneyNut2007]

You know, the more I read into this, the more the idea of Alice makes WAY more sense to me. Who cares if Tink and the fairies are popular now. Will they have staying power?

Who knows?

I bet there were even some people back in the day who thought that the earlier Disney characters would not endure, but were eventually proved wrong. :lookaroun

There's always a chance the same thing could happen in this case.

Alice also caters to the interests of both the female and male audiences, Tink and friends, not as much.

I'm so sick and tired of all this "catering to interests" nonsense! Drop that mentality already, please, folks!

Some males like Tink and friends, too, you know. Even me!

There! I said it!

 

[cheezbat]

haha...i can see it now...the demolition of the Tomorrowland Speedway. "the Magic Kingdom's newest land:Classic Land! Featuring more classic dark rides from your favorite Disney movies! Robin Hood, the Jungle Book, Sleeping Beauty, Alice In Wonderland, and in phase II the NEWER classics! Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and the Lion King!

Man, I'd love to see attractions based on some of those.

 

[munkgirl]

I was with you guys until someone suggested Depp's version of Hatter in the parks. Don't you ever ever take my Classic Alice Hatter's away. They were all that makes 1900PF breakfast shifts worth doing

It kind of hurts to admit this, but I am an "adult" and I actually kind of liked the first Pixie Hollow movie...I haven't seen the second one yet though. I was just really happy when Tink finally accepted the fact that she is a nerd, likes building machines and engineering, and just did it, instead of trying to be "cool" like all the elemental fairies. I hope she stayed like that for the second one.

Believe me when I say the Fairies will continue to thrive, for as long as aunts, uncles, and grandparents continue to buy gifts for their small relatives based on "red/blue/cars is for boys, pink/purple/fairies/princess is for girls."

That said, i know a nice parking lot near mainstreet that would be a great spot for Dumbo's circus

 

[AEfx]

Still waiting for proof of this rumor. Last I checked the second DVD has made more than the first while selling a few less units. But it's early yet.

Now I'm with you that Wonderland is the way to go. But it's Dumbo that needs to go not PH.


IMO.

It's not the DVD's, from my understanding, but all the merchandise that is fizzilng. Sure, you slap Tink's face on a roll of toliet paper and it will sell, but anything just "Faeries" or whatever without Tink sits and collects dust.

I'm all for adding a Tink M&G, but like many have said, an AiW C- or D-ticket would really make our Fantasyland seem more complete. Disneyland's is wonderful, and it feels odd that we don't have one at our park.

 

[mp2bill]

haha...i can see it now...the demolition of the Tomorrowland Speedway. "the Magic Kingdom's newest land:Classic Land! Featuring more classic dark rides from your favorite Disney movies! Robin Hood, the Jungle Book, Sleeping Beauty, Alice In Wonderland, and in phase II the NEWER classics! Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and the Lion King!

Man, I'd love to see attractions based on some of those.

That'd be nice.

 

[wizards8507]

haha...i can see it now...the demolition of the Tomorrowland Speedway. "the Magic Kingdom's newest land:Classic Land! Featuring more classic dark rides from your favorite Disney movies! Robin Hood, the Jungle Book, Sleeping Beauty, Alice In Wonderland, and in phase II the NEWER classics! Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and the Lion King!

Man, I'd love to see attractions based on some of those.

I know it's technically a restaurant and not an "attraction," but Beast's Castle seems like it should be fairly impressive. Seating for 500+ is no small feat.

Side note: When did Tinkerbell spike in popularity that warranted a whole spin-off series? She was really kind of a b***h in Peter Pan.