MiceAge needs to check its sources

HM999thGhost

HM999thGhost

Member
Original Poster
I was just reading about seas with nemo and friends on the boards involving the broken kuka arm. But what made me make this thread is miceages theory on Disney building attractions and parks because of where people were going or what other companies were building, what they said was that Disney was being reactionary in its construction, and stated that Disney announced it second but finished first the MGM-Studios when Universal announced their studio. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Disney start theirs first? Here's part of the article:

"My interest is piqued, not only because I want to see what IOA does with the Potter rights, but also because history tells me this will be an interesting time in theme parks. When Universal announced it was opening a studio theme park in Central Florida, Disney reacted by scrambling and coming up with Disney-MGM Studios, announcing it second but building it faster and opening it first. When Church Street Station in Downtown Orlando became such a draw that Disney wanted in on the action, they opened Downtown Disney. When Disney eyed the tourists heading out to Cape Canaveral, they responded with Mission:Space (Canaveral has since returned the volley in the form of a new simulator about launching on the space shuttle, something I’ve yet to experience). The point being, Disney World has long been reactionary in Central Florida. When something new is built, or even announced, Disney feels it must defend its territory and keep people on property by responding with their own equivalent offering. "
(http://miceage.micechat.com/kevinyee/ky051707a.htm)
 
ChrisFL

ChrisFL

Premium Member
HM999thGhost said:
I was just reading about seas with nemo and friends on the boards involving the broken kuka arm. But what made me make this thread is miceages theory on Disney building attractions and parks because of where people were going or what other companies were building, what they said was that Disney was being reactionary in its construction, and stated that Disney announced it second but finished first the MGM-Studios when Universal announced their studio. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Disney start theirs first? Here's part of the article:

"My interest is piqued, not only because I want to see what IOA does with the Potter rights, but also because history tells me this will be an interesting time in theme parks. When Universal announced it was opening a studio theme park in Central Florida, Disney reacted by scrambling and coming up with Disney-MGM Studios, announcing it second but building it faster and opening it first. When Church Street Station in Downtown Orlando became such a draw that Disney wanted in on the action, they opened Downtown Disney. When Disney eyed the tourists heading out to Cape Canaveral, they responded with Mission:Space (Canaveral has since returned the volley in the form of a new simulator about launching on the space shuttle, something I’ve yet to experience). The point being, Disney World has long been reactionary in Central Florida. When something new is built, or even announced, Disney feels it must defend its territory and keep people on property by responding with their own equivalent offering. "
(http://miceage.micechat.com/kevinyee/ky051707a.htm)
Click to expand...


Construction started on MGM first, but Universal had the plans and purchased the land before MGM even started. Jim Hill has a lengthy article about it.
 
unkadug

unkadug

Follower of "Saget"The Cult
Disney had originally planed the Studios as an EPCOT pavilion.

Universal was announced first.

Disney changed it's plan from a pavilion to a full fledged park.

Disney/MGM opened before Universal.
 
EpcotServo

EpcotServo

Well-Known Member
unkadug said:
Disney had originally planed the Studios as an EPCOT pavilion.

Universal was announced first.

Disney changed it's plan from a pavilion to a full fledged park.

Disney/MGM opened before Universal.
Click to expand...

Disney/MGM Studios becomes 10 times better than Universal.

:lol::lookaroun:zipit:

Seriously though, do yourself a favor and block out ALOT of what you hear over there. It's mostly hot air.
:lol::brick:
 
ChrisFL

ChrisFL

Premium Member
EpcotServo said:
Disney/MGM Studios becomes 10 times better than Universal.

:lol::lookaroun:zipit:

Seriously though, do yourself a favor and block out ALOT of what you hear over there. It's mostly hot air.
:lol::brick:
Click to expand...

wait, better than Universal? When will that happen?
 
disneytopdog

disneytopdog

Active Member
How can you even compare Mission Space to a visit to Cape Canaveral. The Cape is a historic American Site, where one of our countrys greatest achievements were launched, astronaunts died there. Mission Space is a ride.

Those guys at mice age have no clue on what they are talking about.
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
The Universal Florida tour was mentioned to Paramount when Uni were looking for partners in the 70`s - and who was at Paramount? Michael Eisner. He joined Disney to find the aformentioned EPCOT pavilion planned, and made this the centerpiece of a new studio theme park. A year later, Disney MGM was announced in 1985, when Universal already had their plans finalised. That`s when the real war began.

So Universal planned it first. Disney annoucned it first. The reason the original MGM was a half day park was not because of money but (quotable) to have it open before Universal Orlando.
 
The Empress Lilly

The Empress Lilly

Well-Known Member
I agree with that MiceAge article. Disney reacts to its competition too much. WDW is often defensive in its building program, instead of creative.

:shrug:
 
I-Miss-Horizons

I-Miss-Horizons

Member
Empress Lilly said:
I agree with that MiceAge article. Disney reacts to its competition too much. WDW is often defensive in its building program, instead of creative.

:shrug:
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I have to disagree with Disney being too defensive and not being creative. Disney has to respond to competition, thats business. They want to keep people going to their parks so they do what they have to do. But you have to look beyond what Disney is doing and look at what other parks are doing as well. Disney IS creative because a lot more ideas have been taken FROM Disney instead of the other way around. Disney has many more original ideas than any other park out there.
 
I-Miss-Horizons

I-Miss-Horizons

Member
marni1971 said:
Maybe, but they are still sat on shelves gathering dust.
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True, but I was thinking more along the lines of Disneyland in itself being an original idea. The whole shape of Disneyland (with a central object that is surrounded by lands such as spokes on a wheel) was original, and so are fast passes. I may be wrong but isn't the matterhorn the first tubular track steel roller coaster? I also heard that River country was the first themed water park and that Star Tours was the first Simulator to be in a theme park (not sure about that though). Test Track, Mission Space, Soarin', and Indiana Jones/ Dinosaur style rides are original. The stories that Disney adds to their rides are original as well. Other theme parks lack on GOOD stories like Disney has. When I think of Universal, the only thing that comes to mind as being original is Spiderman The Ride, and the idea of a theme park based on movies. Other theme parks have taken ideas from Disney such The Men in Black ride that came after Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin was made. It doesn't have to be just the Disney theme parks either. If you think of the whole company, they have been original with films and television as well. Think full length animated films and the multiplane camera. Don't get me wrong though, I do completely agree with you. Disney has so many great Ideas that are stuck on the shelves at the time and I just hope they will dust them off one of these days and create some more amazing attractions.


Hurricane said:
Anyone weighing in on Busch Gardens vs DAK? Anyone?
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I don't know about anyone else but I don't really think of them as being very similar. I guess because Animal Kingdom was built mainly because Walt loved animals and Bush Gardens is just like a zoo with rides. Disney is trying not to be like that. That's just how I see it though.
 
Krack2

Krack2

Member
unkadug said:
examples?
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Off the top of my head ...

MGM as a response to Universal Orlando

Pleasure Island as a response to Church Street Station

Animal Kindgom as a response to Busch Gardens Tampa

Proposed Disney's America as a response to Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Proposed Disney's Night Kingdom as a response to Discovery Cove
 
Krack2

Krack2

Member
Almost forgot the most important (although least obvious example) ...

The entire Disney's California Adventure park was a response to the popular tourist spots of California. You have a Universal Studios land, a Santa Monica Pier land, a Redwood National Park land, and a Wine Country land. Apparently nobody in Disney Management realized that, unlike WDW, Disneyland's bread and butter is the locals, not the tourists. And no local is going to go to a 1/4 park knockoff of Universal Studios when they can drive an additional 20 minutes and hit the real thing. The same is true of Santa Monica and the beach (and wine country and the national forests).

And the park became a colossal disaster and they are now forced to throw more good money after bad, because of it.
 
ChrisFL

ChrisFL

Premium Member
I-Miss-Horizons said:
I don't know about anyone else but I don't really think of them as being very similar. I guess because Animal Kingdom was built mainly because Walt loved animals and Bush Gardens is just like a zoo with rides. Disney is trying not to be like that. That's just how I see it though.
Click to expand...

yeah, AK is more like a zoo with shows :lookaroun
 
ChrisFL

ChrisFL

Premium Member
I would say that Rock'n'Roller coaster and Mission:Space was reactionary to Universal's new attractions.

There have been more than a few occassions where one of the WDI members will mention they think a new ride will be "better than Spiderman". IMO it hasn't happened yet, but they keep trying
 

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