Kevin Yee's review of 'new' F-land ...

[The Empress Lilly]

Kev, simmer down now...

 

[RSoxNo1]

It does, for the reasons explained above.
MK, AK and DHS all need new headliners. Epcot could do with just updating what they have.

Honestly I think Epcot is the most stale of all the parks. The current state of Future World is very bland.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Yep. That's it exactly. Carsland works as a whole. It is a perfectly recreated environment. Standing on Route 66, you don't really have visual intrustions. Even looking up the main drag and seeing Grizzly Peak really works because anyone who has driven in California's desert's knows you suddenly see green mountains in the distance (the area near Mount Whitney is incredibly beautiful in this regard). We can even leave out watching a space shuttle pass overhead (as it did on my recent visit) since it doesn't happen every day, but they used to fly those in and out Edwards Air Force Base ... in the middle of nowhere/desert too!

And if Carsland works in its entirety, TDS is just a whole 'nother level. It's design and multi-levels and keen manipulation of the nearby Tokyo Bay is a work of genius.

Well, compared to all of that, this Fantasyland expansion is a mixed bag.You have one apparently very nice area in the Forest part, while having a tackier (somewhat improved?) version of Tentland in Storybook Circus.

What I go back to is the simple FACT that while nice enough (even with those visual intrusions, many that likely wouldn't exist if all the Hub trees weren't removed years ago) there isn't enough actually being added. NOT. ONE. E-TICKET.

So, while I can give kudos for style, I say for four years of work and $425 million, this is still woefully short on substance.

This has come up before and I'll bring it up again. Theming is incredibly important and the layers of detail in New Fantasyland is fantastic. However, theming for Disney is part of the infrastructure, just like meet and greets, just like Next Gen and just like hotels. The draw is and always will be attractions. The Little Mermaid is a solid attraction and a great addition to that park, but the ride itself isn't a draw. Conversely, Carsland accomplishes both of these things. It is stunning thematically while having an anchor attraction that represents a true draw. Based on tonight's information it's conceivable that World of Avatar will be similar as well with a true draw.

I do think Disney is starting to get it, and there has been quite a bit of money being thrown around for a variety of different projects. Good things are definitely coming, and New Fantasyland is a solid first act. We also have to remember that another significant component of New Fantasyland isn't opening for another year. While I don't expect that to be a true E-ticket draw, it will only improve the area further.

 

[WDW1974]

This has come up before and I'll bring it up again. Theming is incredibly important and the layers of detail in New Fantasyland is fantastic. However, theming for Disney is part of the infrastructure, just like meet and greets, just like Next Gen and just like hotels. The draw is and always will be attractions. The Little Mermaid is a solid attraction and a great addition to that park, but the ride itself isn't a draw. Conversely, Carsland accomplishes both of these things. It is stunning thematically while having an anchor attraction that represents a true draw. Based on tonight's information it's conceivable that World of Avatar will be similar as well with a true draw.

I do think Disney is starting to get it, and there has been quite a bit of money being thrown around for a variety of different projects. Good things are definitely coming, and New Fantasyland is a solid first act. We also have to remember that another significant component of New Fantasyland isn't opening for another year. While I don't expect that to be a true E-ticket draw, it will only improve the area further.

I think folks who expect that little mine train to be more than a B-Ticket (a C if they've been drinking) are setting themselves up for a major disaster. ... The whole issue with this project is that it's wonderful eye candy, but not much substance. I actually expect Avatar to have more substance, which is awful on one hand because if there's one thing Disney should be able to execute flawlessly it would be a Fantasyland.

Now, I can't help but wonder why Kevin hasn't dropped in (he must know I've been meaning to rip him for his new choice in writing 'partners' since it came up in the Quickees thread, but never got around to it!)

 

[the.dreamfinder]

I think folks who expect that little mine train to be more than a B-Ticket (a C if they've been drinking) are setting themselves up for a major disaster. ... The whole issue with this project is that it's wonderful eye candy, but not much substance. I actually expect Avatar to have more substance, which is awful on one hand because if there's one thing Disney should be able to execute flawlessly it would be a Fantasyland.

Now, I can't help but wonder why Kevin hasn't dropped in (he must know I've been meaning to rip him for his new choice in writing 'partners' since it came up in the Quickees thread, but never got around to it!)

The Shanghai version should be better, right? I believe either you or Lee had mentioned that our version was cut back while Shanghai's getting the original plan.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I think folks who expect that little mine train to be more than a B-Ticket (a C if they've been drinking) are setting themselves up for a major disaster. ... The whole issue with this project is that it's wonderful eye candy, but not much substance. I actually expect Avatar to have more substance, which is awful on one hand because if there's one thing Disney should be able to execute flawlessly it would be a Fantasyland.

Now, I can't help but wonder why Kevin hasn't dropped in (he must know I've been meaning to rip him for his new choice in writing 'partners' since it came up in the Quickees thread, but never got around to it!)

Isn't eye candy a portion of that substance though? I mean we've seen the layout of the mine train and from a track layout standpoint it's already a step above Barnstormer (not exactly a substantial statement, but still). The fact that it's a terrain hugging attraction and that terrain is substantially themed adds to that substance. To say that it's a B-ticket is laughable. Can you explain that further? Is it based on the length of the attraction?