Staggs says changes to Fantasyland...

[ChrisM]

As for Casey Junior, his film, Dumbo, has always been a strong seller on home video as well, and narrowly missed being a part of the Platinums. Dumbo is being re-released in the US on DVD and BD in 2011 (it's already out in most of the world), which would be perfect timing for awareness of the characters from that film to be peaking when the FLE opens - even among children and their families who are more "mainstream" and less "hardcore" in their Disney knowledge!

I would wager that if you asked 10 random people milling around Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom on any given day who the character of Casey Jr was, 9 of them would have no idea what you were talking about. And I think I'm being extremely generous with even that number.

 

[_Scar]

I would wager that if you asked 10 random people milling around Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom on any given day who the character of Casey Jr was, 9 of them would have no idea what you were talking about. And I think I'm being extremely generous with even that number.

I doubt this. Dumbo is a classic.

Just like most (modern) people probably haven't seen Bambi but they know Bambi's mom dies and who Thumper and Flower are.

 

[lebeau]

I'd say most people have no idea who Casey Jr. is. (I bet most people would guess you were talking about "Casey at the bat".)

I think you'd be surprised how few people know who Thumper and Flower are.

 

[wm49rs]

I doubt this. Dumbo is a classic.

Just like most (modern) people probably haven't seen Bambi but they know Bambi's mom dies and who Thumper and Flower are.

Bambi's Mom dies?!?!?!?!? Great, just great. Now you'll tell me that Bruce Willis was dead or something when he was counseling that little kid.....

 

[huntzilla]

Dumbo is just me giving my take on how I think the changes will look. Although Tirian or Corrus or someone like that once said it was only moving a very very short distance.

I never accused you as some are trying to make it sound. Challanged yes, accused no.

Gotta go. It has been fun.

Corrus? I remember reading he has going through some tough times. I haven't seen him post in years.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

Agreed. I have no idea how AiW is somehow more cross gender friendly even when considering the overall freakishness of that world.

Strong objection from this corner.

It seems to me the only relation Alice has to the princesses is the fact that they're all females. Beyond that, the characters couldn't be more different. Cinderella and Aurora worry about wearing pretty dresses or finding handsome princes. Alice falls down rabbit holes and enters a whole world on LSD. If the simple fact of being a cartoon girl is enough to disqualify her from appealing to boys, then OK, but I think that really underestimates boys.

Beyond that, I would say if the rumors of an Alice ride are correct, then any ride, regardless of theme, is automatically going to appeal to young lads more readily than a chance to get a hug and autograph from a princess.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I would wager that if you asked 10 random people milling around Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom on any given day who the character of Casey Jr was, 9 of them would have no idea what you were talking about. And I think I'm being extremely generous with even that number.

I actually just walked around Fantasyland and asked 100 people who Casey, Jr. is. Only 5 knew.

So it's actually 1 in 20 who know.

None out of the 100 had heard of Song of the South.

Doesn't really matter. As Kevin Costner learned, if you build a great attraction, people will ride it (once their Fastpass time comes up).

All that really matters is that we are talking about a new ride being built. Not a Princess sorority party.

 

[ChrisM]

I doubt this. Dumbo is a classic.

Just like most (modern) people probably haven't seen Bambi but they know Bambi's mom dies and who Thumper and Flower are.

This is precisely the myopic perception that's so prevalent back here amongst the Disney obsessed.

Given my presence on the forums one could make a strong argument that I'm exponentially more Disney obsessed than the typical, casual visitor, and yet, despite having seen Bambi, I couldn't tell you who Flower was. Thumper, on the other hand, I do recall.

Point being, think like an executive, not a fan.

 

[EmperorMilenko]

It was not executed well? What? The movie that is Time's movie of the year? What? It's a critically acclaimed movie.

Naveen falls in love with Tiana after he realizes she's everything he ever wanted. Especially after he sees how passionate she is about working for her dream.

Should be in love? Or almost exactly the opposite? Did you watch Aladdin?

Facilier did it for the power. He had his own song sequence. IMO the best song of the movie. How did you forget about him?

Both Jafar and Facilier (and Scar, Radcliffe, Shan-Yu) want power. Facilier is a poor man.

Facilier was an AMAZING villain. And the whole New Orleans/voodoo theming is awesome. I'm an 18 y/o male and I wasn't too excited for it at first. But than I watched and I thought it was an awesome piece of art, to say the least. It was so classic feeling that I felt Tiana had earned her place in Cinderella's Royal Table. And Naveen appeals to boys in many ways (especially the whole him being rude and smug towards Tiana, my little cousin was cracking up)

 

[lebeau]

Given my presence on the forums one could make a strong argument that I'm exponentially more Disney obsessed than the typical, casual visitor, and yet, despite having seen Bambi, I couldn't tell you who Flower was. Thumper, on the other hand, I do recall.

Flower is the skunk.

Bambi was the first movie I saw in theaters. My room had Bambi decor including Thumper. But from around the age of 10 up until I had kids, I couldn't have told you who Flower was.

 

[Evil Genius]

Alice is an aspirational and thrilling tale.

As are Dumbo

Pinochio

Hercules

Bambi

The list goes on...they all fit into that catagory.

As for the Casey Jr debate, while I'll admit the majority of folks may not know him by name...if you bring up the movie I'm willing to bet they remember the train factoring into the film quite a bit. Despite not remembering him by name. Same applies to Song of the South.

Often it's the thoughts and emotions connected to a story or character that allows it to translate well to an attraction than specific name recognition.

Oh and I still stick by the assertion that Mt Olympus would fit fantastic in the FLE.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

It think at the end of the day in the boardroom and at an imagineering easel or desk, when all is said and done, they must be thinking about what this FLE truly is.

This is setting a precedent.

This is not just adding one ride, one attraction, or one restaurant, like they usually do.

This is the definitive stamp on Fantasyland Orlando for some time to come. And they really really want to get it right.

We may not see any more additions to FL after this for quite some time, perhaps in some of our lifetimes even.

They are working on fine tuning an entire land, with eateries, rides, m&g's and a ride or two or whatever they end up doing, not just adding an attraction, like they did when EE or TOT or other stuff was built.So this is probably keepng Staggs and his team up at night more than some of us.

And I haven't thanked Lee and Juan yet, so thank you for brightening my day and my mind because the hints are fun and sharpens brainstorming and aids our speculation.

And let's not harp on them. It's not easy, but not entirely difficult in a corporation to track down people that are talking about info.

Even with movies, people get hand-delivered, color-coded, and even numbered scripts, so they don't talk.

I doubt Disney just says, "Psst...please don't tell anybody,: and leaves it at that.

If they are only giving certain details to certain people and it comes out, it might be easy to narrow it down and find out who the sources are.

Some tv production people were doing it with foilers and people were being weeded out that way and dealt with.

Don't put our insiders in that position.

 

[lebeau]

As for the Casey Jr debate, while I'll admit the majority of folks may not know him by name...if you bring up the movie I'm willing to bet they remember the train factoring into the film quite a bit. Despite not remembering him by name. Same applies to Song of the South.

I'm not sure all that many people know anything about Dumbo other than he's a flying elephant. But your second point is valid. People don't need to be familiar with the source material if the attraction is well done. Splash Mountain will probably always be the best example of this.

Oh and I still stick by the assertion that Mt Olympus would fit fantastic in the FLE.

I stick by my disagreement with your assertion.

 

[ToTBellHop]

It think at the end of the day in the boardroom and at an imagineering easel or desk, when all is said and done, they must be thinking about what this FLE truly is.

This is setting a precedent.

This is not just adding one ride, one attraction, or one restaurant, like they usually do.

This is the definitive stamp on Fantasyland Orlando for some time to come. And they really really want to get it right.

We may not see any more additions to FL after this for quite some time, perhaps in some of our lifetimes even.

They are working on fine tuning an entire land, with eateries, rides, m&g's and a ride or two or whatever they end up doing, not just adding an attraction, like they did when EE or TOT or other stuff was built.So this is probably keepng Staggs and his team up at night more than some of us.

And I haven't thanked Lee and Juan yet, so thank you for brightening my day and my mind because the hints are fun and sharpens brainstorming and aids our speculation.

And let's not harp on them. It's not easy, but not entirely difficult in a corporation to track down people that are talking about info.

Even with movies, people get hand-delivered, color-coded, and even numbered scripts, so they don't talk.

I doubt Disney just says, "Psst...please don't tell anybody,: and leaves it at that.

If they are only giving certain details to certain people and it comes out, it might be easy to narrow it down and find out who the sources are.

Some tv production people were doing it with foilers and people were being weeded out that way and dealt with.

Don't put our insiders in that position.

most of our insiders are intelligent enough to not put THEMSELVES in that position...

 

[wm49rs]

Well, since Fantasyland is pretty much consigned to Walt's original works, and there's a concern over appeal to both genders, how about incorporate one of his unappreciated classics into the FLE: Darby O'Gill and the Little People:

 

[Eyorefan]

I actually just walked around Fantasyland and asked 100 people who Casey, Jr. is. Only 5 knew.

So it's actually 1 in 20 who know.

None out of the 100 had heard of Song of the South.

Doesn't really matter. As Kevin Costner learned, if you build a great attraction, people will ride it (once their Fastpass time comes up).

All that really matters is that we are talking about a new ride being built. Not a Princess sorority party.

I think this is perfect.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I'm not sure all that many people know anything about Dumbo other than he's a flying elephant. But your second point is valid. People don't need to be familiar with the source material if the attraction is well done. Splash Mountain will probably always be the best example of this.

I doubt the average guest even realizes Splash is based upon a movie. And that's fine. I viewed the movie a few years back...the ride is much better (imho)...

 

[David S.]

"it's a small world" is a friend to no one.

It's MY friend! It's my co-favorite ride in all of WDW! Clearly at least an 11 on the 1-10 cuteness scale! The cuter, the better! And it's message of tolerance and harmony is as timeless and needed today as ever!

Plus, the Sherman Brothers wrote a catchy and addictive theme song for the ride that many cynics make fun of, but to me is MUCH better than writting a tuneless and un-memorable theme song that DOESN'T stick in your head!

 

[Evil Genius]

I stick by my disagreement with your assertion.

I could certainly see it there rather than Bald/Fire Mountain. It has a great regality to it that would fit in well with Cindy and Beast's castles.

 

[Grizzly Hall 71]

ISTC I'm not saying it's all about Alice I just think it's the most logical. I don't care what it is. As long as it is a:
R I D E.

And btw Tower of Terror does fit the theme of Hollywood Studios. The front section of the part is dedicated to the 1940's Hollywood. The Hollywood Tower Hotel is from the era. So it does go. Now you can argue Rnrc shouldn't be where it is and then I'll give it to you . lol




If it's what people call more of a boy ride or girl ride I don't care. Rides are fine with me as long as they move. Who knows maybe it will be Bambi's Escape From the Burning Forest. A launched steel coaster .