Trying to sum up in one or two posts.
First off, retooling of the Fairies franchise is a good thing. Holding off building Pixie Hollow would benefit from having more characters to choose from. Making the area smaller also is a good idea. If part of the area could be indoors, the better. Better lighting could go a long way.
Tom Skaggs is right. Trying to make attractions for everyone and not just for girls or toddlers, etc. With FLE, this was an undertaking that really ran with one concept, Princesses. Fantasyland is not all about the girls. A Pinocchio or Dalmatian attraction. Heck even Hercules or Aladdin. Taking a step back and seeing what else can be done with Tom's input, I think, will be a good thing.
As for any Frontierland expansion, maybe Tom is brave enough to try and push through the Western River Expedition project that Marc Davis created years ago. Now that, would be a balance to any Fantasyland project. ((WDI should revisit some of the shelved plans that were created for original ideas. There must be tons of ideas already thought through)).
As for Tomorrowland, I think that the powers that be need a vision and to create a land around that vision instead of bandaging areas that don't gel together. I don't know if I would keep Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland. DHS would benefit the most from having Pixar Place expand and expand.
Remember that most attractions were not built around movies. Yes, there were some: Peter Pan's Flight, Dumbo, Snow White's Adventures, Mr. Toad, and Pooh (ok throw in Pinocchio's Daring Adventure and Alice attraction in DL), but the major ones like Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, Tiki Room were all original ideas. After the successful original ideas from the World's Fair, DL received It's a Small World, Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln and Caroussel of Progress. Small World is an icon in the theme park industry and Caroussel of Progress was very innovative moving the audience around the theater. The parks need more original ideas, especially the Magic Kingdom, where attractions create the adventure, compared to attractions mimicking movies. Heck, we now have movies that were born from attractions: POTC, Haunted Mansion, Country Bears, and possibly Jungle Cruise. When would you think that would ever happen.
All new attractions do not have to be based on animated features or recent blockbusters. There should be a mix though. Tron, after all these years, should have some sort of Tomorrowland attraction. It should have been there for how many years already. With a sequel ready to come out and a third waiting to be produced, it would just make sense. Princess and the Frog should definitely be put in the parks. It just makes sense in New Orleans Square in DL and possibly in Adventureland in WDW (any better suggestions?). If anything, the Magic Kingdom should stick to the Classics and Modern Classics. The other parks can take care of the rest.
As for shopping, no wonder the TWWOHP is cleaning up. Merchandise is only found in that area!!!! Shops have specific items only found in those shops. Shops like the World of Disney or the Emporium should carry generic brand merchandise. Leave the "land" specific merchandise in those lands. I don't need to see Vinylmation or Princess costumes or Fairies stuff in every land. The worst decision Disney made was coming up with "Disney Parks" merchandise. It cheapens the market. It may cost less, but it doesn't create a theme.
