Same reason why Aladdin's Jasmine is in Morocco... visiting.
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EPCOT Morocco Pavilion redevelopment
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
LittleBuford
Well-Known Member
The character is from Baghdad and sets sail from Basra (on the Persian Gulf), so yes, the story takes place thousands of miles from Morocco.
LittleBuford
Well-Known Member
A character meet-and-greet is one thing, but a whole ride based on a story set thousands of miles away would be highly inappropriate in my opinion.
Bocabear
Well-Known Member
There is no reason the pavilion has to remain Morocco specific... Add a few more architectural flourishes and it could be just about anywhere in that region...I know the tower is based on a real mosque, but the rest of the pavilion is a hybrid of a lot of ideas... No reason that this could not be an "Arabian Coast" pavilion like at Disney Seas...I mean, Arrendelle is just across the lake...which was also once based on a real location, but now more whimsical to better match an IP... There is effectively no longer a cultural museum representing The Kingdom Of Morocco.... They could easily make it fit...
tcool123
Well-Known Member
But at that point why stop there? Encanto in Mexico, Raya in China, Hercules in Italy, etc.
Frozen was inspired by Norway, and yes other Scandinavian cultures, but it was at least also inspired by Norway so even if its set in a fictional kingdom it at least fits in better than throwing something that wasn't inspired by that region. Or at least that's just me
LittleBuford
Well-Known Member
Sorry, but this says more about your lack of knowledge about “the region” (by which I assume you mean the Middle East) than about actual overlaps between countries that are thousands of miles apart. The architecture of Morocco is no more akin to that of Iraq than the architecture of Italy is to that of the UK. It is simply wrong to say that the pavilion’s references are generalised and nonspecific; on the contrary, they are firmly rooted in Morocco, even incorporating actual Moroccan craftsmanship.
ppete1975
Well-Known Member
How about a dark ride about a new character or story set in Morocco? Sell tons of merch and if its a huge hit spin it into its own disney+ show.
Figment is a perfect example of this (his original ride along with his cuteness makes people still love him regardless of the current ride)
Also figment needs a well done disney + show.. and a new ride.
You want to make money by putting an IP character into a land and selling merch. Why not create new characters that sell merch and make a demand for a new show or movie. So instead of recycling and adding money into a character thats already making money.. lets say beauty and the beast (not morocco based of course.. just an example), where there is already billions of merch, but name recognition that will make people clamor for the ride.... Make a new character and sell merch that has 0 out there currently... make the ride so awesome that people clamor to ride it (a great ride is a great ride after all),
you actually make MORE money...
Figment is a perfect example of this (his original ride along with his cuteness makes people still love him regardless of the current ride)
Also figment needs a well done disney + show.. and a new ride.
You want to make money by putting an IP character into a land and selling merch. Why not create new characters that sell merch and make a demand for a new show or movie. So instead of recycling and adding money into a character thats already making money.. lets say beauty and the beast (not morocco based of course.. just an example), where there is already billions of merch, but name recognition that will make people clamor for the ride.... Make a new character and sell merch that has 0 out there currently... make the ride so awesome that people clamor to ride it (a great ride is a great ride after all),
you actually make MORE money...
LittleBuford
Well-Known Member
Perhaps images can make the point better than I can.
A minaret in Marrakesh:
Minarets in Baghdad:
Arches in Fez (Morocco):
Arches in Baghdad:
And so on.
Please let's not insult the diversity of the Islamic architectural tradition by pretending it's all the same. That would be as reductive as claiming that all European buildings are the same.
A minaret in Marrakesh:
Minarets in Baghdad:
Arches in Fez (Morocco):
Arches in Baghdad:
And so on.
Please let's not insult the diversity of the Islamic architectural tradition by pretending it's all the same. That would be as reductive as claiming that all European buildings are the same.
ppete1975
Well-Known Member
I dont get your point... these look the same to me though.Perhaps images can make the point better than I can.
A minaret in Marrakesh:
Minarets in Baghdad:
Arches in Fez (Morocco):
Arches in Baghdad:
And so on.
Please let's not insult the diversity of the Islamic architectural tradition by pretending it's all the same. That would be as reductive as claiming that all European buildings are the same.
networkpro
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
Perhaps images can make the point better than I can.
A minaret in Marrakesh:
Minarets in Baghdad:
Arches in Fez (Morocco):
Arches in Baghdad:
And so on.
Please let's not insult the diversity of the Islamic architectural tradition by pretending it's all the same. That would be as reductive as claiming that all European buildings are the same.
And lets also not confuse either with pre-Arabic/Islamic architecture. "Arabs" didnt invade Iraq until 634 AD. The Ishtar gate in Babylon was built 1,100 years prior to that.
LittleBuford
Well-Known Member
I agree with the general thrust of your point, though it’s worth noting that modern-day Iraqis who identify as Arab are predominantly descended from the pre-Islamic people of Iraq (Mesopotamia) rather than from outside invaders.
UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
I agree, but it's not that different than putting a fictional land in the Norway pavilion just because they used Scandinavian architecture. If Disney was willing to do one, I don't think they'd be stopped from doing the other.
UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
It was built/designed (at least in part) by Moroccan artisans sent by the King of Morocco, so it does kind of need to remain Morocco. It's not like it's something Disney threw up themselves.
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
You say this like Disney might actually care about such details...
LittleBuford
Well-Known Member
For that comparison to hold, the story of Sindbad would have to take place in a fictional country inspired by the Maghrib (i.e., the region to which Morocco belongs), just as Arendelle is inspired by Norway. That isn't the case at all, however: Sindbad is from Baghdad, nowhere near the Maghrib. So I don't agree with you that it's not much different. A better comparison would be if they decided to put a Russian-themed ride in the UK pavilion.
Why does it need a ride? Just open (re-open) a new restaurant that serves authentic Moroccan food, hopefully a nicer one.
Then give the Americans what they (we
) want - Rick's Cafe - a chic lounge with Moroccan entertainment and a piano player. Gambling and access to fraudulent passports in the back room would be a bonus.
Then give the Americans what they (we
) want - Rick's Cafe - a chic lounge with Moroccan entertainment and a piano player. Gambling and access to fraudulent passports in the back room would be a bonus.
LittleBuford
Well-Known Member
It's never going to happen. Not only would the optics be horrible (Morocco is currently the sole African and Islamic presence in World Showcase), but they'd have to pretty much raze the whole pavilion in order to convert it into another country. The Kutubiyya Minaret is as iconic as the Eiffel Tower—you can't just pretend it belongs somewhere outside Morocco.
LittleBuford
Well-Known Member
It doesn't. People just don't appreciate how special it already is. It's about the only corner of World Showcase with authentic craftsmanship, and on that basis alone a standout. The courtyard area in particular is so well done that I can barely distinguish it from the real thing.
I agree. It's one of my favorites. But I would like them to reopen the main restaurant.