Miceage Update: New Soarin film by 2015, DHS refurb on the way.

[The Empress Lilly]

I think if they r gonna add any star wars rides, they should use that new "planes ride tech" and do either a pod racer or xwing dark ride...

There are whispered rumours that a pod race version of RSR has been (blue skyish?) proposed. Think those rocks, but themed as Tatooine, with Mos Eisley replacing the town.

 

[NoChesterHester]

There are whispered rumours that a pod race version of RSR has been (blue skyish?) proposed. Think those rocks, but themed as Tatooine, with Mos Eisley replacing the town.

Wait... What??????? Where did you see this?

 

[Calvin Coolidge]

There are whispered rumours that a pod race version of RSR has been (blue skyish?) proposed. Think those rocks, but themed as Tatooine, with Mos Eisley replacing the town.

That's...interesting. I'd think that would better lend itself to a Landspeeder than a podracer, but maybe that's just me.

 

[NoChesterHester]

I would really be surprised if Podracing was the ride they settled on. Disney is systematically moving the Star Wars universe back toward the original Trillogy timeframe.

It is less polarizing and universally loved.

It is closer in the Star Wars timeframe to the new movies they are currently producing. A ride based on say, the Endor speeder bike chase, would actually be more contemporary with the stories they are now focusing on.

I don't think Disney will ever explore the prequel era again in television or movies or for that matter... Theme Parks.

 

[RunOrlando]

This! One difference between the DLR audience and the WDW one is that those voting for change at WDW complain on a message board while those wanting change at DLR vote with their wallet. Disney was forced to re-invent DCA, they are not forced to re-invent any of WDW parks because people still go.

To give a sports analogy, the Chicago Cubs have not won a World Series in over 100 years, yet continue to sell out. Where is the incentive to put a winning product on the field?

The Cubs are actually 9th in attendance. They only sell 78% of their tickets.

The analogy is that Disney would sell more tickets, & make more from food & merchandise if they had a better park. The Cubs would make more money from merchandising & TV rights if they won more games.

 

[RunOrlando]

The constant complaining, not going and the letters, yes. Poor DCA. It took A LOT of flack from people, but it deserved it. But it was bad for DL even before DCA launched. The nineties were terrible for DL, and a lot of it was published in the LA Times, which was embarrassing for Disney. I remember during the 50th anniversary celebration, DL fans booed Eisner when he went up to speak.

DCA wasn't the only one to get talked about, though. There was this new parade called Light Magic that was supposed to debut years ago. Well, annual passholders were invited to see the parade before its debut and they HATED it and talked so much about it... So much that it was cancelled three or four months later. The same thing kinda happened with Mermaid. Before it opened in MK, DL/DCA guests complained of Ariel's hair and said it resembled a soft serve ice cream cone. They were also livid at the fact that the screens that showed Ariel and Flounder and the other showing Ariel turning human looked like CGI work. It didn't take long for Disney to change Ariel's hair and switch the computer animation to more of a hand-drawn animated look. When they took the swing dancing away from Carnation Plaza Gardens to create Princess Fantasy Faire, again, fans complained and created petitions. It's coming back this summer. I remember, when we got our new president from DAK, all the fans were nervous about him and what he was going to do to the parks. I guess someone told him about how ed off DL fans can get and he was seen serving popcorn in Disneyland, riding Alice in Wonderland and showed up at a MiceChat event and showered everyone there with a free gift (Golden Horseshoe Revue soundtrack).

I wouldn't say DL fans have power over TDA decisions and whatnot. But I will say they have some sort if influence that, unfortunately, WDW fans just don't seem to have. It's obvious, too. Just look at the DLR AP privileges and then look at the WDW AP privileges. Like night and day. Just recently, DL invited APs to a brainstorming session, with the promise of food and two hundred dollars. Sadly, I never got my invite lol. A lot of why happens at Disneyland ends up getting written about and published in the LA Times, so that contributes as well.

Even saying all of this, though, I still have no doubt things are going to turn around eventually for WDW. Things are just different there.

Disneyland has 20 million people living nearby. WDW has 5 million. Most visitors to WDW are from other places, they don't read our local paper. So if a park gets bad word of mouth in the press in LA, it's going to mean something.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Disneyland has 20 million people living nearby. WDW has 5 million. Most visitors to WDW are from other places, they don't read our local paper. So if a park gets bad word of mouth in the press in LA, it's going to mean something.

Exactly.

 

[El Grupo]

I'm trying to recall, when did the real turnaround start at DLR? I made my first visit to DL in '91. Seems like it took several years despite the fan and media pressure.

 

[Studios Fan]

Disneyland has 20 million people living nearby. WDW has 5 million. Most visitors to WDW are from other places, they don't read our local paper. So if a park gets bad word of mouth in the press in LA, it's going to mean something.

I agree completely. It is unfortunate that the Florida parks aren't run more like local parks the way the California parks are. There is no reason they couldn't add at least one major attraction to one of the Florida parks every year. I think you would see an overall happier fan base if they were adding something of substance each year.

 

[NoChesterHester]

I agree completely. It is unfortunate that the Florida parks aren't run more like local parks the way the California parks are. There is no reason they couldn't add at least one major attraction to one of the Florida parks every year. I think you would see an overall happier fan base if they were adding something of substance each year.

The way things costing what they do, I'd be pleased with an every other year addition schedule. The problem is that because of stagnation they have so much to do. If they wouldn't have let Epcot and HS go then an every other year big addition schedule would be perfectly adequete.

 

[TP2000]

Disneyland has 20 million people living nearby. WDW has 5 million. Most visitors to WDW are from other places, they don't read our local paper. So if a park gets bad word of mouth in the press in LA, it's going to mean something.

I think that worked in the 1990's. I'm not so sure that concept works in 2013 and beyond. Newspaper readership is dwindling into the ether, both online and in print.

Yelp and Twitter and TripAdvisor and a few popular blogs like Al Lutz on Miceage do a lot more for bad word of mouth in the 2010's. For example, the traditional media on Cars Land was the typical puff pieces they did when DCA opened in 2001. But the real word of mouth from people and the online buzz for Cars Land and Buena Vista Street and DCA 2.0 was phenomenal, and continues to be so. People are talking about DCA, and the old newspaper sitting in the dusty rack on the corner that no one will buy had very little to do with that.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I think SoCal Disney fans often overstate their influence and importance in creating change at the Disneyland Resort. The Real turnaround at DLR started with the death on BTMRR and the national negative press coverage and change in management that resulted shortly afterword. The DCA 2.0 makeover was a result of the projected tourist crowd (for whom the Mickey and Friends parking structure was designed) never coming in those numbers and eventually Disney having to admit defeat after smaller projects (like ToT) failed to fix that.

The DLR local fans may had been complaining for years, but they were still the ones renewing annual passes and going into DCA to ride ToT, see Aladdin and buy drinks at the Cove Bar. That's more than what most resort visitors were doing to give Disneyland money.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I think SoCal Disney fans often overstate their influence and importance in creating change at the Disneyland Resort. The Real turnaround at DLR started with the death on BTMRR and the national negative press coverage and change in management that resulted shortly afterword. The DCA 2.0 makeover was a result of the projected tourist crowd (for whom the Mickey and Friends parking structure was designed) never coming in those numbers and eventually Disney having to admit defeat after smaller projects (like ToT) failed to fix that.

The DLR local fans may had been complaining for years, but they were still the ones renewing annual passes and going into DCA to ride ToT, see Aladdin and buy drinks at the Cove Bar. That's more than what most resort visitors were doing to give Disneyland money.

Don't forget that when the Disney's California Adventure project was announced, the City of Anaheim was seriously considering changing some of the zoning inside the Resort District. Disney had to show a big commitment to the Resort.

 

[stevehousse]

I would really be surprised if Podracing was the ride they settled on. Disney is systematically moving the Star Wars universe back toward the original Trillogy timeframe.

It is less polarizing and universally loved.

It is closer in the Star Wars timeframe to the new movies they are currently producing. A ride based on say, the Endor speeder bike chase, would actually be more contemporary with the stories they are now focusing on.

I don't think Disney will ever explore the prequel era again in television or movies or for that matter... Theme Parks.

I used the planet is tech for xwing or pod racers because of the possibility I have read about the vekoma motorbike coaster bein possibly used for a speeder bike roller coaster through Endor!

This is in no way concrete evidence of what is going on there but just an example of what could happen! But I think if they added those 2 rides and really decked out the area with ton of great theming, it'll be awesome! A pod racer style RSR sounds interesting, but I kind of like te ideas I just mentioned better! That way the land adds a thrill ride forte older crowd, and a dark ride that younger kids can ride

 

[TP2000]

Don't forget that when the Disney's California Adventure project was announced, the City of Anaheim was seriously considering changing some of the zoning inside the Resort District. Disney had to show a big commitment to the Resort.

Ooh, a really good point there! The SunCal housing project that a few council members like Lorri Galloway were supporting (after getting some $ commitment from SunCal) was a direct threat to the zoned Resort District set up in the 1990's for the expansion. That was definitely a factor in getting 1 Billion in expansion approved for DCA in late '07.

The blessing of size at WDW means that type of local government pressure could never exist for WDW, especially their theme parks.

Although I must say, the constant bad PR that Al Lutz and a few others were giving DCA, and getting quoted in the Wall Street Journal or USA Today for, certainly helped push the whole thing forward a bit.

The reality is that it was a series of various factors that all converged around 2004-07 to push it all forward. And the result in 2013 is an amazingly revitalized property at the Disneyland Resort.

 

[RunOrlando]

I think that worked in the 1990's. I'm not so sure that concept works in 2013 and beyond. Newspaper readership is dwindling into the ether, both online and in print.

Yelp and Twitter and TripAdvisor and a few popular blogs like Al Lutz on Miceage do a lot more for bad word of mouth in the 2010's. For example, the traditional media on Cars Land was the typical puff pieces they did when DCA opened in 2001. But the real word of mouth from people and the online buzz for Cars Land and Buena Vista Street and DCA 2.0 was phenomenal, and continues to be so. People are talking about DCA, and the old newspaper sitting in the dusty rack on the corner that no one will buy had very little to do with that.

That is a fair point.

Now I'm wondering how many people would be unhappy with WDW after their 1st visit. I'm wagering not many.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Ooh, a really good point there! The SunCal housing project that a few council members like Lorri Galloway were supporting (after getting some $ commitment from SunCal) was a direct threat to the zoned Resort District set up in the 1990's for the expansion. That was definitely a factor in getting 1 Billion in expansion approved for DCA in late '07.

While I don't doubt that something would have been done, I think without the pressure we never would have had the big announcement with a five year roadmap. They backed out of some small parts, but I think that big splash forced a commitment. Without the big, early announcement I think Buena Vista Street could have easily been killed due to fear over disrupting the entrance and the associated franchise not being something more tangible like a film.

 

[Bryner84]

I would like to think that fans speaking out about the condition of Splash Mountain at MK had something to do with it finally getting the attention it needed. Just got back and noticed two show issues the first time I rode (Brer Bear being pushed in the hole, and one of the three alligators in the finale scene were not working) both fixed on subsequent ride throughs the next day. Actually, rode several times throughout our visit. Crowds were so low one night we walked on an rode twice without even having to get off as we has a log to ourselves and no one was waiting at 11:00pm...but I digress. What are we talking about again? Oh yeah, so maybe the fans are getting some heads to turn. Perhaps that's wishful thinking, but I am always the optimist...

 

[doctornick]

I would really be surprised if Podracing was the ride they settled on. Disney is systematically moving the Star Wars universe back toward the original Trillogy timeframe.

It is less polarizing and universally loved.

It is closer in the Star Wars timeframe to the new movies they are currently producing. A ride based on say, the Endor speeder bike chase, would actually be more contemporary with the stories they are now focusing on.

I don't think Disney will ever explore the prequel era again in television or movies or for that matter... Theme Parks.

I agree with you regarding the prequels, especially Episode 1. That said, I think there are some real solid reasons for doing Pod Racing....

(1) it would allow for theming the area to Tantooine (along with almost certainly Mos Eisley Cantina as well as other options like maybe something themed to Jabba the Hutt or Jawas or a Land Speeder), which is the probably the best planet to use. It has such a central role in the public consciousness of the franchise.
(2) Pod racing, as silly as it was in the movie, is a great foundation for a ride. You could have 4 or 5 different style ride vehicles, which would help with repeat-ability. And it certainly makes perfect sense for a race a la RSR.
(3) I think according to the expanded universe for SW, that the Boota Eve Classic is still run in the era of the OT. So, the date of the ride could be themed to circa Ep IV-VI. This might allow for some connections to the OT (maybe Han and Chewie in the crowd or even the Skywalker family or a secondary character like Biggs being involved). Also, making it pre-Episode VI would allow you to have an AA Jabba involved which, well, would be awesome.

As a complete aside, if WDI wanted to do a ride based on something not well described in the movies, but still somewhat know, maybe a ride themed to the Kessel Run would be cool. There would be a lot of freedom to develop that.

 

[lazyboy97o]

The pod racers wouldn't translate well to a fixed track. It's a free floating pod pulled by two free floating engines.