News Paradise Pier Becoming Pixar Pier

[Rich T]

Well this gets into a larger discussion on Hollywood, the audiences that go see the products they put out, and even still a larger cultural discussion beyond that. Current Hollywood is a product of the cultural shifts in society and thus the products they put out represent those cultural shifts. Disney/Pixar is no different in this respect. The writers/directors are writing films based on what they've learned and how they were shaped by the cultural and society around them.

Time to shake it up/get back to basics/reinvent the wheel. The tropes are getting familiar to the point where even casual film goers are noticing.

 

[Rich T]

Yeah... pretty sure even Six-Flags would've voted against the Jack Jacks on sticks.

Unless the Jack Jacks were holding little billboards for Discover Card and Twizzlers.

 

[Professortango1]

As someone who grew up in the theatre... the concept was if you wear black the audience can’t see you... it’s not true.

As someone who does magic. It is true that people don't notice black. Black roofs with black poles, they would be invisible to the casual eye.

 

[Disney Analyst]

As someone who does magic. It is true that people don't notice black. Black roofs with black poles, they would be invisible to the casual eye.

Okay sure... but they aren’t painting the roofs black; and I still think during the day it would be fully visible. It would work in an enclosed environment.

 

[shortstop]

@Kram Sacul is that you roasting Micechat on their Incredicoaster article?

Reading the rest of the comments, I’m pleased to see they’re all on the negative side. Maybe Disney will realize efforts like this won’t cut it.

 

[Disney Irish]

Haha. They need some invisipaint.

Funny you mention that, such a thing exists, its called Vantablack.

 

[Curious Constance]

@Kram Sacul is that you roasting Micechat on their Incredicoaster article?

Did they rave about it?

They sold out big time.

 

[shortstop]

Did they rave about it?

They sold out big time.

Big time. Saying Screamin’ doesn’t hold a candle, Incredicoaster has a story/character so it’s better, “you can’t criticize it until you’ve ridden it!!” all that mumbo jumbo. Micechat has sold out BIG time, you’re so right. But people see right through it.

 

[TwilightZone]

Yeah... pretty sure even Six-Flags would've voted against the Jack Jacks on sticks.

Yeah here's six flags standard static figures for example

Much better than jack jack on a stick (which should have it's own acronym: JJOAS or JJAS or JJS, you decide!)

 

[Deleted member 107043]

The new normal is ****ty quality.

Quality isn't the point I'm making. I'm talking about Disneyland being strictly a purveyor of Disney brands.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

Yeah here's six flags standard static figures for example

Much better than jack jack on a stick (which should have it's own acronym: JJOAS or JJAS or JJS, you decide!)

It took me a second to realize those aren't photos of Gadget's Go-Coaster.

 

[TwilightZone]

Unless the Jack Jacks were holding little billboards for Discover Card and Twizzlers.

Don't forget X2: Sponsored by Twix! Still bothers me from my last trip lol.

 

[Rich T]

It took me a second to realize those aren't photos of Gadget's Go-Coaster.

It's the exact same off-the-shelf ride model with the exact same track layout, though.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Big time. Saying Screamin’ doesn’t hold a candle, Incredicoaster has a story/character so it’s better, “you can’t criticize it until you’ve ridden it!!” all that mumbo jumbo. Micechat has sold out BIG time, you’re so right. But people see right through it.

Eh, even Al Lutz would gush about crap so long as it represented an excess of money being spent. Dusty doesn’t deny having a similar point of view.

 

[No Name]

And of course its not exactly a secret the Japanese are more character crazy then they are in America. And I also think the more characters you slap on a T-shirt the sales just rise a lot more.

The Japanese are certainly "character crazy" as you say, but guess who the highest-selling character at the Tokyo Disneyland Resort is? Duffy. A character who originated in the parks and is not a part of any movie. Figment is hugely popular in WDW, and the Yeti, Orange Bird, etc. sell as well. So, I never said nor implied that the parks should have fewer characters. It would just be a lot healthier if they were to establish some of their own instead of solely piggybacking off of other divisions.

 

[dweezil78]

They could have done something, you know, new.

You can't create brand spankin' new attractions on an annual basis, especially when there's next to no empty space to create such projects. To expect that is ridiculous. But, for better or for worse, consumers now expect something every summer from Disney, Universal, and even their smaller counterparts. Projects like Pixar Pier are akin to an annual model refresh from auto brands. Every 5 years or so (sometimes more) there's an all-new _________ -- but for those years in between, they still need something to push so they change around this and that with the existing model and create a campaign around it. The result is something very similar when you have the type of competition you're seeing now in the theme park industry.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

It's the exact same off-the-shelf ride model with the exact same track layout, though.

And proof that "quality" at Disneyland has had a very broad definition since basically forever.

 

[fctiger]

The Japanese are certainly "character crazy" as you say, but guess who the highest-selling character at the Tokyo Disneyland Resort is? Duffy. A character who originated in the parks and is not a part of any movie. Figment is hugely popular in WDW, and the Yeti, Orange Bird, etc. sell as well. So, I never said nor implied that the parks should have fewer characters. It would just be a lot healthier if they were to establish some of their own instead of solely piggybacking off of other divisions.

Ooooh yes I know all about Duffy! That is the biggest eye roll in Disney marketing ever done. But you know what, it worked lol. People would stand over an hour in line to get a picture with this fraud. Duffy is so popular they have now given him a girlfriend, ShellieMay. And yes Duffy (and ShellieMay) fever has hit the other parks in Asia as they are now in both Shanghai and Hong Kong.

I will say it was great to see Duffy rejected SOUNDLY when they tried to bring him to DCA. I remember seeing all the Duffy stuffed animals just collecting dust on the shelves where they would've been empty by dinner time at TDR. So its not like they didn't try but Americans clearly gravitate to something that's already a brand of some kind. To many, like me, it looks like crass marketing trying to make a new character with ONLY the intent to sell more toys. Apparently not in Tokyo lol.

And I don't really agree they need to make characters just for the parks. Walt Disney himself used all the characters he already made in shorts and movies to promote the parks. Mickey Mouse became an instant icon of the place and he had no real connection to the park other than Walt Disney wanted him in there. And it was a smart move because now when people think of Disneyland they think of Mickey, Donald, Goofy and all the rest even though those were created decades before. They are continuing the same tradition the park always done.

As for TDR I'm actually shocked they haven't built an attraction with him yet although there is now a Duffy stage show.

 

[lazyboy97o]

You can't create brand spankin' new attractions on an annual basis, especially when there's next to no empty space to create such projects. To expect that is ridiculous. But, for better or for worse, consumers now expect something every summer from Disney, Universal, and even their smaller counterparts. Projects like Pixar Pier are akin to an annual model refresh from auto brands. Every 5 years or so (sometimes more) there's an all-new _________ -- but for those years in between, they still need something to push so they change around this and that with the existing model and create a campaign around it. The result is something very similar when you have the type of competition you're seeing now in the theme park industry.

Disney was under no pressure to do something annually. Even if they were, the only hurdles are Disney’s own internal problems. Costs are out of control and Disney’s use of space is incredibly inefficient. Even if there was some pressing need and a refresh was the only means, they could have refreshed an area that was refreshed only a few years ago.

 

[Rich T]

And proof that "quality" at Disneyland has had a very broad definition since basically forever.

Yeah... BUT with lesser attractions, it used to be "this is the best we can do for now." Gadget's was the first attraction to scream "cuttin' corners by buyin' at Ride-Mart" at me.