Possible Attraction in France pavilion (Epcot) Update - new Attraction Greenlit

[RoysCabin]

Seeing the ads constantly as I live in Florida, WDW largely seems to center them around the magical time the kidlets can have. That's all they show. I did see one ad a couple of years ago that actually focused on the entire family, I was shocked. But that's how it should be, advertise for the entire family. I know some on here like to throw out "it's for the kids" but it isn't supposed to be aimed just for them. It's too bad Magic Kingdom has got the reputation that it's "just for kids" which is never what it was intended to be. People seem to despair that their kids can't get on everything. Well, a lot of us had to wait and look forward towards something. It's all about instant gratification now and if that doesn't happen, well, watch out ...

But I guess we're veering off topic.

And it's a shame they never considered the Sindbad (Sinbad?) ride, either version, as it's something I'm very much looking forward to. I hope it's still there in a few years.

Very good point; it's notable that their marketing pushes of late focus so heavily on the "bring the little ones" type of advertising while Universal is cornering the market on the "the kids are older now, they need a more exciting vacation" ads. It's strange to see that evolution in themed entertainment, considering Disney's biggest market in WDW's early days was younger, childless couples. Obviously there's always been a childlike component to the theme park experience, and I'm forever grateful to my family for bringing my brother and I to WDW as frequently as they did back in our childhoods, but it was a WDW that felt like it could be appreciated by all ages, not just us kids at the time, that kept my brother and I coming back for more as we grew older.

 

[Kman101]

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I was very lucky as well to live in Florida and take frequent trips as a kid in the late 80s and early 90s. As a teen I spent more time at Universal before getting back into the Disney bubble and now I hit both. I actually just found a picture of me with Mickey when I was a kid.

I get parents want their kids to experience everything, but the truth is, they can't. We all had to wait to experience things. It's life. It's like getting a trophy for just participating. Well, we all had to experience loss ...

I think the ad where the kids watch a hotel clerk "deliver the magic and pixie dust" isn't awful but it's 100% focused on kids only.

Universal focuses on what they have to offer, they don't really focus on specific age groups, just something I've noticed. I found their latest ad to be far better and more appealing.

But I'm off-topic.

How about that Rat ...

 

[djkidkaz]

SW is opening in 2019. Essentially every project they do takes 3 years, except for toy story land which was simplified to get it up in 2 years. So if they put the first shovel in the ground for Rat this morning it would open April 9th, 2020.

 

[MansionButler84]

SW is opening in 2019. Essentially every project they do takes 3 years, except for toy story land which was simplified to get it up in 2 years. So if they put the first shovel in the ground for Rat this morning it would open April 9th, 2020.

Yes, the schedule has shifted.

Mickey won't take 3 years. But it isn't an entirely new build.

 

[marni1971]

SWL mid-ish 2019

Mickey early fall 2019

Rat early summer 2020.

At the moment (I shouldn't be anymore specific than that)

 

[Kman101]

Thank you for what you can share @marni1971 !

 

[FerretAfros]

Take a look at their marketing. You always see children, usually under tween age ... they have turned a resort for all ages into one that caters to mommy bloggers and their young kids. The ideas of people visiting without kids or grands is totally against what the WDW of the 21st century has become. It is dumbed down because everything has to be OK for a seven-year-old princess.

Interestingly, this is one of the few areas where I think the MM+ project has been a success. I travel to WDW in groups with only adults, and have gotten some very well-targeted marketing materials from them, indicating that they're aware that their audience is more than families with young children

The 40-page glossy booklet they send after booking a room is filled with guests enjoying WDW's offerings. In the booklets I've recieved there are no children to be found (other than an occasional CGI marketing image, like the family riding a Soarin' vehicle over the Golden Gate Bridge). It's an amazing 180 from their mass produced/publicized marketing materials; my jaw literally dropped the first time I saw it. If you didn't know better, this was an advertisement for a place that catered to adults and only begrudgingly allowed children too

Predictably these images often feature expensive "not included with your ticket price" activities like dining, drinks, and spas, but they also manage to avoid the current marketing clichés like character meet & greets or barely-themed flat rides. Instead, they focus on the relaxing elements, occasional educational opportunities, and themed environments...what a crazy concept!

Granted, you don't get any of that information until after you've already booked your room, so I'm not sure how effective it really is at convincing people to visit in the first place, but someone somewhere in Disney's marketing department is aware that people visit WDW without children. Is WDW still the most-visited honeymoon destination in the US?

 

[The Hatbox Ghost]

My husband and I go once a year (we have no kids) and we receive the same 'adult-centered' brochures/materials enticing us to come back for some more fun. It's great that they do some marketing to childless visitors, though it seem to be only direct marketing. I would really like to see a broad television and print ad campaign designed to draw in the adult 'big kids'. I believe they had a television ad a few years ago that tried to convey that message, though it was in terms of 'Mom & Dad' being the 'big kids' alongside their children.

 

[danlb_2000]

SWL mid-ish 2019

Mickey early fall 2019

Rat early summer 2020.

At the moment (I shouldn't be anymore specific than that)

So will SWL in DL open early 2019, or will the gap between them get tighter then 6 months?

 

[MisterPenguin]

So will SWL in DL open early 2019, or will the gap between them get tighter then 6 months?

It should be early. Haven't we been told that late 2018 is a bonus goal, but it was announced as 2019 just in case of delays?

 

[marni1971]

So will SWL in DL open early 2019, or will the gap between them get tighter then 6 months?

Pass. These are the timeframes being aimed for. A lot can happen in two years as you'll appreciate.

 

[Mike S]

Interestingly, this is one of the few areas where I think the MM+ project has been a success. I travel to WDW in groups with only adults, and have gotten some very well-targeted marketing materials from them, indicating that they're aware that their audience is more than families with young children

The 40-page glossy booklet they send after booking a room is filled with guests enjoying WDW's offerings. In the booklets I've recieved there are no children to be found (other than an occasional CGI marketing image, like the family riding a Soarin' vehicle over the Golden Gate Bridge). It's an amazing 180 from their mass produced/publicized marketing materials; my jaw literally dropped the first time I saw it. If you didn't know better, this was an advertisement for a place that catered to adults and only begrudgingly allowed children too

Predictably these images often feature expensive "not included with your ticket price" activities like dining, drinks, and spas, but they also manage to avoid the current marketing clichés like character meet & greets or barely-themed flat rides. Instead, they focus on the relaxing elements, occasional educational opportunities, and themed environments...what a crazy concept!

Granted, you don't get any of that information until after you've already booked your room, so I'm not sure how effective it really is at convincing people to visit in the first place, but someone somewhere in Disney's marketing department is aware that people visit WDW without children. Is WDW still the most-visited honeymoon destination in the US?

Speaking of honeymoons I wonder why Disney hasn't sold packages that include a night in Cindy's castle. Seems like the kind of move they would do and overcharge through the roof for.

 

[Bartattack]

Wow.. so Rat in 2020? Is it because they wait to start construction or just because it goes slow? I remember that Rat in Paris took about 2 years to complete... and they had to build a whole 'land' and restaurant etc... which they could simplify in France Epcot, no? They could just add some sort of themed entrance and have the showbuilding somewhere else. Or do they have bigger plans?

 

[Kman101]

If they start Rat in 2018 then 2020 would make it two years. When do they plan to start can anyone say yet?

 

[jpeden]

It will not.

I thought the whole point of Rat over BATB was that it would open before 2020/SWL to help "alleviate" the crowds at DHS.

 

[doctornick]

I said they could start on Rat and in-park guests would be non the wiser.

Makes sense given the potential location. Seems like the kind of thing that could be going on for a while before Disney makes it "official". Makes me wonder, though, if they would announce it at D23 this summer (perhaps too soon) or in 2019 (seems a little late). My guess is probably some time in 2018 at one of their official WDW media events and then more details at 2019 D23.

I'm a bit dismayed about the extended timeframe (opening 2020 instead of 2019) -- given that the ride has previously been built (so the "kinks" should be understood) and the location would be backstage with potential 24/7 access, I had hoped this might range on the faster side of Disney builds. To bring up the typical Uni comparison, if they could build Transformers so quickly (and did so to increase capacity leading up to Diagon Alley's opening much like this could help with the crush from Star Wars) there's no reason Disney couldn't do a 2 year build here.

 

[MisterPenguin]

So if Rat is pushed ahead of GotG and Rat is 2020... then GotG won't be until... 2021? 2022?

I'll be Napping With Ellen for years to come!

 

[clemmo]

So if Rat is pushed ahead of GotG and Rat is 2020... then GotG won't be until... 2021? 2022?

I'll be Napping With Ellen for years to come!

I think 2021 for GOTG but yeah should be another year or probably two of solid nap time before Ellen goes

 

[DDLand]

You're smart.

We just got back from shanghai and my wife avoided all videos of pirates.

She got off the ride in tears. Literally tears.

I envied her.

I also avoided videos of Battle for the Sunken Treasure. Whoa.

Spoiler: Battle of the Sunken Treasure Spoiler

The attraction starts so similarly to the Classic Pirates that I was lulled into a false sense of comfort. I know Pirates of the Carribean. I appreciated the little reference to the three prisoners and dog.

Everything is proceeding pretty much normally, and then BAAM. The skeleton turns into Jack Sparrow. I was like what?!?!

Of course then you start your descent with that lovely score (love that music). Everything went from so small and familiar to so massive and foreign. It happened instantaneously.

Then you have these incredibly detailed environments. I was just trying to take in a fraction of the setting.

I had seen a few pictures of the flagship animated figure, so that wasn't super shocking. When I began that ascent though, man, it felt like I was actually rising. The massive battle begins in intensity and it's just incredible.

During that scene I remember having this distinct thought: "whoa, there's a hole in the boat." I continued "that's a great detail."

Ha, then I proceeded going inside the boat and I was like "what?" Then the whole thing explodes and we're launched backwards down a hill, and at that point I'm like "what?!?!"

I got off. I was stunned speechless. Never had technology in my life left me stunned. It was like someone seeing television for the first time.

They created magic with that one. I'd join the chorus that says stay away from on ride videos if you can.

 

[Mike S]

I also avoided videos of Battle for the Sunken Treasure. Whoa.

Spoiler: Battle of the Sunken Treasure Spoiler

The attraction starts so similarly to the Classic Pirates that I was lulled into a false sense of comfort. I know Pirates of the Carribean. I appreciated the little reference to the three prisoners and dog.

Everything is proceeding pretty much normally, and then BAAM. The skeleton turns into Jack Sparrow. I was like what?!?!

Of course then you start your descent with that lovely score (love that music). Everything went from so small and familiar to so massive and foreign. It happened instantaneously.

Then you have these incredibly detailed environments. I was just trying to take in a fraction of the setting.

I had seen a few pictures of the flagship animated figure, so that wasn't super shocking. When I began that ascent though, man, it felt like I was actually rising. The massive battle begins in intensity and it's just incredible.

During that scene I remember having this distinct thought: "whoa, there's a hole in the boat." I continued "that's a great detail."

Ha, then I proceeded going inside the boat and I was like "what?" Then the whole thing explodes and we're launched backwards down a hill, and at that point I'm like "what?!?!"

I got off. I was stunned speechless. Never had technology in my life left me stunned. It was like someone seeing television for the first time.

They created magic with that one. I'd join the chorus that says stay away from on ride videos if you can.

Already spoiled myself since I won't be going to China anytime soon.