News Primeval Whirl, Stitch's Great Escape and Rivers of Light permanently closed

[WDWVolFan]

So many memories of my son’s first trip to Disney in Primeval Whirl. I am not gonna lie, I shed a tear when I read that. So sad.

 

[Coaster Lover]

For what it's worth, in the last couple days, Rhode has posted some drawings he recently made of Dinosaurs on his Instagram feed... Not sure if that has any connection to the closing of Primeval Whirl (and more importantly what might replace that area) or if it's just coincidence...

 

[brb1006]

Figment and Dreamfinder would be better served with an animated film. It's high time Disney actually does something with that CGI/2D blending tech they keep experimenting with in shorts on a full feature scale.

Especially after seeing "Short Circuit" on Disney+, since one of the shorts used 2D/CGI imagery (especially "Just A Thought", "Exchange Student", and "Downtown").

 

[cookiee_munster]

For what it's worth, in the last couple days, Rhode has posted some drawings he recently made of Dinosaurs on his Instagram feed... Not sure if that has any connection to the closing of Primeval Whirl (and more importantly what might replace that area) or if it's just coincidence...

Catland USA apparently...

 

[larryz]

that was the rumor at one point, however, the latest rumor seemed To suggest some teacups. Not sure the validity of that, but that’s what went around.

All these permutations have been dizzying!

 

[larryz]

I don’t think a big budget fantasy adventure film about Figment and Dreamfinder would bomb. At all. Especially with Favreau.

In fact, Favreau could probably do a passable Dreamfinder all by himself...

 

[cookiee_munster]

In fact, Favreau could probably do a passable Dreamfinder all by himself...

I'd say give figment to Pixar and let them do a series of unique shorts. Airing them on Disney+ would be a great re-introduction to a new/younger audience without Disney having to wrestle with spending such a large budget on a feature length film.

 

[networkpro]

Catland USA apparently...

Calling Exotic Joe

 

[Brer Panther]

I'd say give figment to Pixar and let them do a series of unique shorts. Airing them on Disney+ would be a great re-introduction to a new/younger audience without Disney having to wrestle with spending such a large budget on a feature length film.

I was gonna suggest letting the guys at PIXAR do something with Figment myself. Between his cameos in Inside Out and Toy Story 4 and the school mascot in Onward bearing a striking resemblance to him, there's clearly a lot of Figment fans at PIXAR.

 

[Homemade Imagineering]

I was gonna suggest letting the guys at PIXAR do something with Figment myself. Between his cameos in Inside Out and Toy Story 4 and the school mascot in Onward bearing a striking resemblance to him, there's clearly a lot of Figment fans at PIXAR.

Yup! I can even remember the story where I believe it was Chapek, who pitched an inside out replacement of imagination devoid of Figment to Pete Doctor, to which Pete defended figment and wanted him to remain at Epcot.

 

[MythBuster]

After Frank Wells died, Disney had multiple attractions that were subpar in the years Eisner had remaining in his reign as CEO and it was not just Primeval Whirl. It was not just a WDW problem either.

I never went to Disneyland, but I read Disney California Adventure was a big disappointment in its early years with complaints about the park. Superstar Limo was so bad a ride that it did not even last a year before it closed down despite it being a DCA grand opening attraction.

In terms of WDW, Enchanted Tiki Room under New Management was not looked kindly by people like me. The 2nd version of Imagination was terrible and got replaced by a 3rd version.

I think the name you are looking for is Paul Pressler.

 

[jeffnheather]

Time to build Kuzcotopia!

 

[DisneyDebRob]

I don't get people that say this at all. Animal Kingdom is far and away the prettiest park. The nature trails are awesome. We can spend two days there easily. It's our favorite.

We have spent 2 days there and still didn’t get a chance to do everything. Every trip now to Disney we plan at least 2 and a half days at AK.If you think of AK as FoP,the yeti and safari then you can do it in a day with a meal or two. Skipping the shows, the trails and everything else is not giving one of the best parks Disney has ever made justice.

 

[Brer Panther]

Yup! I can even remember the story where I believe it was Chapek, who pitched an inside out replacement of imagination devoid of Figment to Pete Doctor, to which Pete defended figment and wanted him to remain at Epcot.

If only John Musker and Ron Clements stopped them from announcing a Princess and the Frog retheme of Splash Mountain.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

I think the name you are looking for is Paul Pressler.

I know about his terrible reputation for a very long time. He was responsible for DCA and it was approved his watch.

I read about him back in the 2000s and really should've been investigated due to his attitude with maintenance at Disneyland. He turned multiple Disneyland attractions into time bombs due to his no maintenance attitude. Him and Cynthia Hairriss did very bad things at Disneyland. Disney had to settle a wrongful death lawsuit with the guests family receiving money from the Big Thunder Mountain railroad actually becoming a runaway train due to no maintenance.

The thing is Eisner appointed him.

As Far as WDW goes, some of the stuff had no inkling to Paul Pressler due to time frame.

I know Paul had some say at WDW due some of the stuff like Spaceship Earth not becoming a roller Coaster called time Racers was due to him. The catch is he did not have a say for WDW not as long as he did at Disneyland. He had almost 4 years for influencing stuff for WDW.

Paul was not President of Walt Disney attractions aka now known as the Chairman of Disney Parks and resorts before December of 1998. Primeval Whirl was under Pressler's reign like you said. The 3rd version of Imagination ride was under his reign also.

Pressler had nothing to do with Enchanted Tiki Room under New Management since the original Tiki room at the Magic Kingdom closed down in 1997. Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management reopened in 1998 before Pressler had a chance to get his hands on this.

He had nothing to do with with the original Imagination closing down and getting a 2nd version of the ride since that was planned before Paul became President of Walt Disney attractions just 2 months after the attraction closed. The 2nd version of the imagination ride opened up almost a year after the first version closed down.

What happened for the 2nd version of imagination was an imagineer blunder, not a management issue. I think you know the imagineer who did that since he is right now the head imagineer responsible for Epcot's makeover.

 

[Crazydisneyfanluke]

Here is a look at Primeval Whirl today.

Cast were getting pictures in-front of the ride, although no walls yet.

Primeval Whirl overview

Primeval Whirl overview

www.wdwmagic.com

It looks like they had plans to reopen it. There are the 6ft markers on the floor by the entrance.

 

[DVCakaCarlF]

It looks like they had plans to reopen it. There are the 6ft markers on the floor by the entrance.

Good point...I wonder if it hit a “point of no return” regarding maintenance?

 

[WEDway Inc & Company LLC]

It looks like they had plans to reopen it. There are the 6ft markers on the floor by the entrance.

Good point...I wonder if it hit a “point of no return” regarding maintenance?

I hate to say it, but there was no chance of that ride reopening to guests ever.

 

[Rhinocerous]

It's a large company. I would imagine the group tasked with deciding what could re-open "safely" under COVID is independent from who made the decision to close it. I expect those lines were set down at every attraction on the list.

 

[celluloid]

It is nice to dream and blue sky about what investments could come later, but these cuts were made officially to cut another dime trying to fix the spending for things low on the guest satisfaction list.