Original Attractions

[topher]

Space Mountain, BTMRR, Jungle Cruise, Spaceship Earth, Soarin, ToT...
These, as far as I know, are all based on original and independent concepts. These attractions aren't themed based on popular Disney characters or movies.
Personally, my favorite aspects of WDW have absolutely nothing to do with the Mouse or Buzz... Well, except for Star Wars.
Have we entered an era of Disney where all new land and attraction concepts will be the product of a Disney franchise?

 

[Donald96]

Expedition Everest is the newest original ride I can think of, but you also left out Kilimanjaro and Kali in that list

 

[topher]

Expedition Everest is the newest original ride I can think of, but you also left out Kilimanjaro and Kali in that list

Yeah, there are definitely other original attractions.
It just seems as though most or all of the rumors and concepts since Everest have been an adaptation of some franchise.

 

[Zweiland]

Both Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean are also original attractions, however movie adaptions based on these two rides have been made.
I really hope Disney continues to make original attractions in the future, but they are becoming rarer and rarer. I don't like the idea of themed lands based on only one specific franchise (except maybe Star Wars land).

 

[jkl2000]

Jar Jar World

 

[luv]

Agreed! Have they lost their creativity? Must every single thing be based on some franchise? Will we ever be delighted with something new?

Some of the best rides are franchise themed...the Simpsons and Spider-Man leap to mind. But some are unique - Haunted Mansion, IASW, Tiki birds, Maelstrom, etc.

Unique attractions are important, IMO.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

I for one really like attractions where the characters were "Park Born" Like Figment, Dreamfinder, General Knowledge, The Cranium Commandos, Orange Bird, SMRT-1, Bonnie Appetite, The Kitchen Kabaret, & Fud Wrapper to name a few.. In a way the parks were trying to push away from the movies and show another side of Disney that guests can still remember without having to be force fed seeing an Abridged version of the film as a ride...Disney should bring this back to the North American Parks. Stories like Mystic Manor & TDS Disney Sea are amazing in story and even tho I haven't ridden them..They are very memorable on how unique the attraction is..

 

[Goofyernmost]

I don't really think that they spend that much time on movie, either animated or live action. Others that come to mine for me are the Steamboat, HoP, Country Bears, CoP, Timekeeper, (until replaced by MILF), Alien Encounter (until replaced by Stitch), Energy, Horizon replaced by Mission Space, WoM replaced by Test Track, The Seas (until replaced by Nemo), Imagination w/Dreamfinder & Figment replaced by Imagination with Figment, Dinosaur.

I'm sure there are others that I have missed, but, with the exception of DHS which was, after all, built to play around movies, I just don't see WDW, in general, top heavy with movie related stuff. I didn't include World Showcase because most of those are just set up to represent the countries that they are featured in. However, American Adventure is superb.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

I thought ToT was based on TV show Twilight Zone and then they made a ToT movie

 

[wdwmagic]

I thought ToT was based on TV show Twilight Zone and then they made a ToT movie

Yes indeed ToT is inspired by the Twilight Zone tv series, although features an original story.

 

[topher]

Good call on ToT. I completely forgot about The Twilight Zone.

Since EPCOT received Soarin in 2005 new and refurbed attractions include:
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Poohs Playful Spot
Journey Into Narnia
Finding Nemo the Musical
The Seas added Nemo
El Río del Tiempo added the three caballerros
Monsters Inc Laugh Floor
O Canada
Toy Story Midway Mania

This is compiled from
http://www.wdwmagic.com/walt-disney-world-history.htm and includes attractions through 2008.
Not a lot of original theming in that list.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Iger has publicly stated several times that his focus is on franchises. Original attractions in the US are pretty much dead for the time being.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I thought ToT was based on TV show Twilight Zone and then they made a ToT movie

Twilight Zone was part of the concept not the actual story. It just explains why the weird things are happening to the elevator.

 

[englanddg]

They made a ToT movie? Do I dare watch it? Is it as good as Country Bears?

 

[Goofyernmost]

They made a ToT movie? Do I dare watch it? Is it as good as Country Bears?

Yup, it's right up there with Country Bears and Haunted Mansion. Although, I was somewhat amused by HM.

 

[englanddg]

Yup, it's right up there with Country Bears and Haunted Mansion. Although, I was somewhat amused by HM.

Scurry...now I must see it...

<pops some popcorn and goes a hunting>

 

[englanddg]

Yup, it's right up there with Country Bears and Haunted Mansion. Although, I was somewhat amused by HM.

Gosh...this movie is BAD!

 

[englanddg]

Ok, finished the ToT movie, with a lot of stop and starts (of course, but that's how I watch mostly brainless entertainment, but it's great filler!)...

It really wasn't bad! Especially for a Disney Channel late 90's production.

I'd watch it again, and I will share it with the kid the night before we go back to HS this coming trip!

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

Ok, finished the ToT movie, with a lot of stop and starts (of course, but that's how I watch mostly brainless entertainment, but it's great filler!)...

It really wasn't bad! Especially for a Disney Channel late 90's production.

I'd watch it again, and I will share it with the kid the night before we go back to HS this coming trip!

Afer I watched it I read that a lot of it was filmed at HS but since I had only been on the ride once and it was at night I didn't reconize much of the hotel Might have to watch it again before our trip in March.

 

[cynic710]

its a time where a connection must be established to lure cusotmers in. Its sad really because that does water-down the creativity aspect, but nonetheless disney is really good at detailing the theme really well. its a catch 22 really, no "original" rides but great themed ones. but look at universal, they basically gave half their property to a movie francise that is already over and not coming back.

put it into perspective...how much is the new roller coaster at kings island talked about outside of local news? not much....but how much was avatarland talked about nationwide?? case and point.

do i agree with this? no, not really, as i work in the creative field and feel creative originals are very important, but i can understand why disney is sticking to themed attractions...its to relate to a new audience that has a connection to the world of disney, and want to experience it first hand on a ride. we go to the parks to be in the presense of that, so the will pour it on full speed.