New Tomorrowland @ Disneyland? Is this the year it finally gets announced? No, and that’s OK

[britain]

HILARIOUS! Place is packed with guests daily, riding things like Space Mountain, Star Tours, etc. and they have the gall to say it wouldn’t bring more attendance with a proper revamp &/or enhancement. It’s Disneyland for crying out loud.

I think you’re making their very point.

TL is already popular. Revamping it won’t make an unpopular place popular. Better to invest in places that are currently not attracting people and not making money.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

I think you’re making their very point.

TL is already popular. Revamping it won’t make an unpopular place popular. Better to invest in places that are not making money.

I see your point too.. but, when you’ve got ‘easy’ things like bringing back the PeopleMover with new interior show enhancements for instance, that can help spread capacity. Not to mention bring back lots of needed goodwill towards the company. A way to reutilize the carousel theatre space that’s practically used for nothing now, put a film worth seeing in the Magic Eye Theatre. All ways to help improve the experience and help guest flow, still is a terrible call to do nothing with all that. Knowing the complaints against the over crowding, under-utilized space, and long wait times. And the call to keep/bring more nostalgia back to the parks in times where it seems to keep dwindling by the year rather than helping further balance nostalgic and brand new offerings. Doing what I mentioned would do a ton to help negative sentiments towards the company rn, while boosting attendance right where it’d need to be. And that’s not even getting into the merchandising & social media marketing opportunities that they’d know sell.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

I know there was the recent Soarin’ Over America overlay they’re planning for DCA. Another easy way to please nostalgics and maybe bring some needed attendance too (again, where it needs to be), while also spreading capacity between both parks, and merch opportunities for that whole celebration. Would be to possibly bring America Sings back to the Carousel Theatre, “Pop!(corn) Goes the Weasel” buckets or Soda POP! Goes the Weasel sippers, and this would help alleviate the complaints against ridding Splash Mountain also, as all the critters would be able to be seen in their originally intended/designed forms & show, and again, the merch possibilities with those characters are endless.

 

[PiratesMansion]

I think you’re making their very point.

TL is already popular. Revamping it won’t make an unpopular place popular. Better to invest in places that are currently not attracting people and not making money.

Counterpoint: it is clear to me that Buzz, Star Tours, and the subs are not the draw they once were.

They aren't empty, mind, but their waits are decidedly below where they were when I started visiting 13 years ago (well, ok, Buzz's wait times were lower at the very start of all that because it didn't have FP, but you get the point).

It's not empty, but it does suggest to me that at least parts of the land are less appealing than they were a decade ago.

 

[britain]

Counterpoint: it is clear to me that Buzz, Star Tours, and the subs are not the draw they once were.

They aren't empty, mind, but their waits are decidedly below where they were when I started visiting 13 years ago (well, ok, Buzz's wait times were lower at the very start of all that because it didn't have FP, but you get the point).

It's not empty, but it does suggest to me that at least parts of the land are less appealing than they were a decade ago.

Good points. I think management views star tours as something of a “we thought it wouldn’t be as popular as it is right now, shouldn’t everybody be preferring millennium falcon?” sort of thing.

 

[Nickm2022]

thing is making TL smaller allows for so many things. wether it be villains, zootopia, frozen, lionking, etc, it just frees up the area

 

[Disneyland/DCA]

I know there was the recent Soarin’ Over America overlay they’re planning for DCA. Another easy way to please nostalgics and maybe bring some needed attendance too (again, where it needs to be), while also spreading capacity between both parks, and merch opportunities for that whole celebration. Would be to possibly bring America Sings back to the Carousel Theatre, “Pop!(corn) Goes the Weasel” buckets or Soda POP! Goes the Weasel sippers, and this would help alleviate the complaints against ridding Splash Mountain also, as all the critters would be able to be seen in their originally intended/designed forms & show, and again, the merch possibilities with those characters are endless.

They wouldn't spend the money to revamp the carousel theater.

Instead they should install some of the old America Sings AAs at the Opera House to sing a song, and Mr. Lincoln can do his rap.

 

[DrStarlander]

We're lucky the executives approved the New Fantasyland project at DL in 1983, and I wonder how it was justified in terms of financial returns (it would be interesting to read all the inter-office memos about it). And I wonder if TWDC regrets spending $45 million on it back then (that's about $150 million today).

It seems like a bargain in retrospect (it would probably cost several times that if tackled today). How much has the quality of that revamped land helped secure Disney guest loyalty all these decades since?

They say "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." Perhaps there's a similar logic to upgrading theme parks in that it will always cost less now rather than later so kicking the can saves money in one regard, but costs more money in another, if the revamp is ultimately "required" within a foreseeable future anyway.

 

[TheRealSkull]

Man, I guess there were truth to those rumors in 2019 and 2022. Wonder if it got approved what we would be looking at today.

 

[Phroobar]

Good points. I think management views star tours as something of a “we thought it wouldn’t be as popular as it is right now, shouldn’t everybody be preferring millennium falcon?” sort of thing.

The idea was to build GE first as a replacement for TL. Since GE was very popular, they could shut down the entire TL and start from scratch. Unfortunately, GE was not popular so they needed to keep TL open. If they had only gone original trilogy instead of Disney EU, it would have worked.

 

[DLR92]

How are they okay with not using two empty buildings. And no people mover? They expect to bring more ticket sales with the 3 day bargain happening now.

 

[mickEblu]

Autopia takes up a lot of space so I can understand the desire to repurpose that land even though it has a lot of classic Disneyland charm and mature trees. It’s also an opening day attraction - although not so much in its current form. Under the right regime I could be ok with this.

The lagoon however is a non negotiable. The vista with the monorail gliding over the lagoon with the Matterhorn looming over is classic Disneyland. It needs to stay and just be integrated into whatever they decide to do with that space. Most likely a Fantasyland expansion. I also understand the subs are expensive to run and claustrophobia- inducing and not necessarily everyone’s favorite. I’d be ok seeing the attraction rethemed and these sub vehicles being replaced with something more like the subs from Legoland that are constantly loading/ unloading with fewer people per vehicle.

It’s true Star Tours is not the draw it once was and yet it’s still much better than Smugglers Run. I just can’t see what they can put in that small plot and/ or reusing that ride system that will be better or more popular long term. Key words being long term. Of course unless they re blowing up all of TL minus Space Mountain. Then that’s another story. In other words, as long as that building is standing I believe Star Tours should stay.

Buzz has gotta go. A modernized and upgraded shooter themed to Stitch seems like the right play.

Astro Orbiter or some version of obviously has to go back to its rightful place on the platform and away from where it currently is blocking the entrance. I’d even be ok losing the attraction entirely if putting back on the platform is not an option. Just replace that depressing orbitron with a proper weenie.

If they re doing the TL redo on the cheap than a Space 220 like restaurant is the move for the Carrousel building. With that said I’d also be ok with something like the restaurant at LAX. With huge windows overlooking the land. Could be nice at night to overlook the land all lit up night. Especially if they bring back a People Mover with vehicles that light up at night.

Monorail obviously has to stay. Losing the spaghetti loop would be a bummer but most likely a casualty of any Fantasyland expansion going where the Motorboat cruise or Autopia are.

FL theatre. I’m ok with it staying as a stage but wouldn’t be upset if they replaced it with an attraction either. Not sure if you have enough room there for a solid D/E ticket.

 

[BrianLo]

Specifically towards the threads title for @mickEblu; this year… maybe!

I’d give it a 30% chance. I think I have a 60% odds now on either Tomorrowland or Imagination for D23. In general I’m sort of just looking around domestically and wondering, where would they have announcements for, what could be done on a reasonable budget and what timeframes makes sense. They need at least one announcement of substance to justify a Honda presentation.

Those two places are Disneyland and Epcot seem to be next for some sort of bone and doing a bit of something with Tomorrowland could be justified for the 75th. Generally a 28/29/30 project would be the target ranges of their major announcements.

It also depends on whoever that night wants some glory, because we know these are now the two things that would play best in the Honda Centre even without a piece of artwork to show.

 

[Disney Vault]

By next d23 it is very likely Josh will be the new ceo. So I wonder who will be giving the next announcement presentation

 

[PiratesMansion]

Speaking of Tomorrowland changes: any word on the all-electric fleet of Autopia vehicles?

Didn't they promise that would be coming this year?

 

[TheRealSkull]

Speaking of Tomorrowland changes: any word on the all-electric fleet of Autopia vehicles?

Didn't they promise that would be coming this year?

Should be here by October 2026. Could be a nice D23 announcement. One of those, "Coming sooner than you think" type of announcements.

 

[MoonRakerSCM]

Friends who used to religiously do Disney don't anymore and their statement is "There's nothing new at Disneyland" (though I did comment how when they go next month (after the half marathon) that Avengers will be veritcal and fencing has gone up around Coco).

Which reminds me... it is going to be an utter laughing stock and idiotic highlight of their visit... is the north side of the Tomorrowland entrance STILL abandoned with a random wall in the planter???

 

[britain]

Specifically towards the threads title for @mickEblu; this year… maybe!

I’d give it a 30% chance. I think I have a 60% odds now on either Tomorrowland or Imagination for D23. In general I’m sort of just looking around domestically and wondering, where would they have announcements for, what could be done on a reasonable budget and what timeframes makes sense. They need at least one announcement of substance to justify a Honda presentation.

Those two places are Disneyland and Epcot seem to be next for some sort of bone and doing a bit of something with Tomorrowland could be justified for the 75th. Generally a 28/29/30 project would be the target ranges of their major announcements.

It also depends on whoever that night wants some glory, because we know these are now the two things that would play best in the Honda Centre even without a piece of artwork to show.

IF it is going to be ready for the 75th, then yes, it would probably have to be announced at this year's D23.

Also, putting on my tin foil hat for a moment, one can easily imagine that the WSJ tidbit about prior Tomorrowland proposals might have come up in conversation while the reporter saw some NEW new Tomorrowland stuff. It's possible the reporter was told to not share any of it, besides the nixed proposal info.

 

[TheRealSkull]

IF it is going to be ready for the 75th, then yes, it would probably have to be announced at this year's D23.

Also, putting on my tin foil hat for a moment, one can easily imagine that the WSJ tidbit about prior Tomorrowland proposals might have come up in conversation while the reporter saw some NEW new Tomorrowland stuff. It's possible the reporter was told to not share any of it, besides the nixed proposal info.

It's unfortunate because Disney still views Tomorrowland as tolerable, not a danger to park capacity. It's frustrating because we all believe there is so much left to be discovered with that whole area. I'm talking well into the spaghetti bowl of the Autopia, PeopleMover and Monorail tracks, and the motorboat cruise area. Heck, I even would have been okay if that is where the Avatar area would have gone. It would have been the perfect transition from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland. Also, I say this with the utmost confidence Autopia's footprint could be scaled down so this could work. At this point, I don't even fully agree with the concept of Autopia existing in a New Tomorrowland. It's an opening day classic, yes, but nothing like what it used to be.

Let's be real, in 2017/18, we all expected that area to be turned into a Frozen Land well by now. The Matterhorn would have been a nice backdrop honestly. If I were to guess the reason that has not happened yet, no Frozen Lands at that point had been open anywhere in the world, and if they were to open one in Disneyland where change on that level is extremely controversial, best to test it out overseas, first. They got a little over their heads about the presumptive success they thought would be Galaxy's Edge, but since then they are probably playing a little more conservatively, it's probably why we haven't got a new Tomorrowland.

Eventually though, they are going to have to bite the bullet and get it done. It's inevitable. Those tracks and buildings cannot sit there abandoned forever.

Also, I know this doesn't matter to WDI, but I think we are seriously underestimating just how many people would be okay if the whole land shut down for a total demo and rebuild. If the tradeoff is no more abandoned buildings and maybe an updated PeopleMover, then I say the wait is well worth it.

 

[TheRealSkull]

It also makes me wonder whether the lack of updates on Autopia’s electric vehicles could be because the project has been canceled in favor of something larger planned for that area?