...But no one has EVER complained about the hybrid 16th- to 19th-century Teutonic castle at the end of a 1905 All-American Main Street? Of course not. There's nothing anachronistic about that. It makes perfect sense, right?
The Castles get mentioned all fo the time as examples of why more visual intrusions should be considered acceptable, but it is a lousy example. The placement of the of the Castles plays on the pattern of the American Main Street which was idolized in Main Street, USA. These common streets were typically anchored by some structure of significance, in older towns it was typically a church, in latter Mid- and Western towns it was often a civic structure. These were the local landmarks which defined the local skyline and worked as a symbol of the town. At the Magic Kingdom's the function and form have changed, but not the typology. 19th century revivalist castles, not medieval castles, mark the end of the Main Street, USA as a signifier that this place is both familiar and yet different. It is a deliberate action which is given significance in its uniqueness.
You do realize that the general public has no idea what "weenies" are, right?
They will see the tower and be drawn into Fantasyland as they want to get a better look at it...and then they will be drawn through the new path into Fantasyland.
It's not necessarily an attraction that is a "weenie". The biggest weenie of them all is at the end of Main Street and it's not an attraction...but a big castle that draws guests into Fantasyland from that vantage point.
People may not know the term "weenie" but they very well know what they are, otherwise they would not be a component of design as they would not work. But we know the term because they do work.
I also did not use the term attraction, I said experience. The Castles are part of the procession down Main Street, USA and the introduction to the hub where one may then move onto the real of the Magic Kingdom. At this point the weenie for Fantasyland is the carousel, the motion of which is viewed beyond the Castle which is not acting as a portal. Now yes, this tower could be a weenie down the Fantasyland corridor (or Liberty Square), but that is still an odd placement. The area is being expanded because it is already crowded. There is no need to draw more people to this place as it is already a traffic thoroughfare. So why is there a desire to attract more people to experience the Liberty Square - Fantasyland transition and these new restrooms? Why is this an experience that should be given significance with a strong visual language?
Rapunzel will be in the Princess Fairy Tale Hall for her meet and greet.
Her tower in the distance is just a theming element. And the bathroom area are the buildings from her town. It will just be a pretty area where there is a nice traffic flow instead of the congestion that was there before. The restrooms are going to free up space by Peter Pan because the current restrooms there are going to be removed so that a very exciting new queue can be made for Pan...so think of the restrooms as being part of a bigger picture. Everything will make more sense to you when it's all completed and the Pan restrooms are removed and the new interactive queue added there.
Those are all operation and logistical considerations.
I think it's pretty easy to explain:
Child: Where is Rapunzel? Is she in the tower?
You: No, she used to be in the tower, remember...but then she got free. She's not there anymore. That is where she used to live.
Child: Where is she now?
You: Let's go find her in the Fairytale Hall where she's hanging out with her other princess friends.
How hard is that?
Apparently it is quite hard. Otherwise we would be visiting an un-enchanted French castle instead of one that is inhabited by a monster so terrifying he is simply known as The Beast. We've seen the movie, and we all know the curse was lifted, but those versions of the characters are not the ones that get seen.
