Star Tours, Princesses, Mermaid, DC gate, Pop Century, and more... Oh My!

[Shaman]

Haven't had time to really get into the article but I will say...
Star Tours - Sounds pretty right. Doesn't conflict with anything I have heard.

Fantasyland - Mermaid is very likely. It's been on and off before, but is heading to on again, partly due to Shanghai getting one. That will allow them to double up to save money.
The rest of the FL stuff is still a little "blue". The plan is not new, and never has moved even to "yellow light" before. Could happen, but I think LM has a better chance of coming alone, at least at first.

Washington - Kinda far off in the future, barely past blue sky.

Cruise ships - Heard similar information, but not in this much detail. I like it.

Cool! I'm really surprised that they're building a Mermaid attraction. A ride not based off of a Pixar flick? :lol:

Not sure about the further Princessfication of things...maybe if it we're mixed with other things, not just Princess stuff. :shrug:

 

[DisneyDellsDude]

Huh! That was rumored, right?

I though it was one of their "selling points" for the attraction. They claimed they could switch out the entire game system overnight if they wanted to change the games for various reasons or holiday overlays.
I assumed it was more a matter of when it will happen - which I don't know.

 

[George]

I just did the math, there would be 15,625 possible ride combos. Looks like I'm going to need to stay employed for free admission for a loooong time.:lol:

My assumption was that some of the beginnings wouldn't work with some of the middles and so on, so there wouldn't be 25^3 experiences. I mean if in the first scene you were flying around in a snow speeder over Hoth you couldn't have a middle that was eating fruit and drinking tea with Jar Jar and Emperor Palpatine followed by an ending where American Idol has come to Endor and you and Warwick Davis are the two finalists.

 

[SirGoofy]

My assumption was that some of the beginnings wouldn't work with some of the middles and so on, so there wouldn't be 25^3 experiences. I mean if in the first scene you were flying around in a snow speeder over Hoth you couldn't have a middle that was eating fruit and drinking tea with Jar Jar and Emperor Palpatine followed by an ending where American Idol has come to Endor and you and Warwick Davis are the two finalists.

Ha! That sure would make for a funny ride. Not in the good way of course, but funny.

PS-George Lucas...NO JAR JAR! That is all.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Ha! That sure would make for a funny ride. Not in the good way of course, but funny.

PS-George Lucas...NO JAR JAR! That is all.

Psst, let you in on a little secret... Jar Jar is your pilot...

OK, I made that up... But, George loves that character so much.... He will work him in somehow...

 

[dizpins14]

For the new courtyard, I say tear out Sir Mickey's and Tinkerbell's Treasures and rework the Snow White entrance to where Mrs. Pott's Cupboard and the Mine Cart shop is now. This way the carousel can stay put and a courtyard can be built.

As far as the Enchanted Forest goes; I highly doubt Toontown will be torn down for a Princess area. The need for a permanent Mickey meet and greet in the Magic Kingdom is too great. There really isn't anywhere else in MK to put Mickey without breaking the illusion of coming out the meet and greet and seeing him parading down Main Street or strolling around Fantasyland.

Plus I can not imagine an entire land being dedicated to a forest theme. There is only so many attractions that can be made within a forest with princesses. Jasmine, Mulan, Ariel, and Tiana attractions would be out of the question in a forest. I nice highly themed play area with meet and greet encompassing Faries and Princesses in a forest would work; not a land.

 

[TP2000]

The Star Tours info also plays into what Al Lutz talked about several months ago in one of his Miceage updates; that Orlando was balking at chipping in on the price of the attraction and it jeopardized the version planned for Anaheim, so WDI got Tokyo to buy one too instead of Orlando and that has saved Anaheim's version.

If Tokyo went in on the Star Tours 2.0 coming to Anaheim in 2011, then perhaps the price is now looking more palatable to Orlando management as well? Or maybe the Star Tours 2.0 only goes to Anaheim and Tokyo first in 2011, with an installation for Orlando later in the decade? Perhaps when Shanghai opens in 2014 or so?

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

For the new courtyard, I say tear out Sir Mickey's and Tinkerbell's Treasures and rework the Snow White entrance to where Mrs. Pott's Cupboard and the Mine Cart shop is now. This way the carousel can stay put and a courtyard can be built.

Wonderful idea! That might be what they do, now that I think of it!:lol:

The Star Tours info also plays into what Al Lutz talked about several months ago in one of his Miceage updates; that Orlando was balking at chipping in on the price of the attraction and it jeopardized the version planned for Anaheim, so WDI got Tokyo to buy one too instead of Orlando and that has saved Anaheim's version.

If Tokyo went in on the Star Tours 2.0 coming to Anaheim in 2011, then perhaps the price is now looking more palatable to Orlando management as well? Or maybe the Star Tours 2.0 only goes to Anaheim and Tokyo first in 2011, with an installation for Orlando later in the decade? Perhaps when Shanghai opens in 2014 or so?

That's what they want to do with TLM!:lol:

 

[kingslyZISSOU]

I have a feeling that startours is going to be like that storm thing in inoventions (with interactive elements). I bet that show was a test for the technology.

 

[jt04]

For the new courtyard, I say tear out Sir Mickey's and Tinkerbell's Treasures and rework the Snow White entrance to where Mrs. Pott's Cupboard and the Mine Cart shop is now. This way the carousel can stay put and a courtyard can be built.

As far as the Enchanted Forest goes; I highly doubt Toontown will be torn down for a Princess area. The need for a permanent Mickey meet and greet in the Magic Kingdom is too great. There really isn't anywhere else in MK to put Mickey without breaking the illusion of coming out the meet and greet and seeing him parading down Main Street or strolling around Fantasyland.

Plus I can not imagine an entire land being dedicated to a forest theme. There is only so many attractions that can be made within a forest with princesses. Jasmine, Mulan, Ariel, and Tiana attractions would be out of the question in a forest. I nice highly themed play area with meet and greet encompassing Faries and Princesses in a forest would work; not a land.

I had assumed the EF would be much more than a glorified meet n greet. I pictured something like the new attraction at Disneyland multiplied by a factor of 10. Or more along the lines of Mermaid Lagoon at TDS but in a forest setting. So it would include small rides, eateries and meet n greets in a completely immersive setting. The forest theme is very broad and could include princesses, faries, snow white/dwarves mine train, Bambi, and even the Winnie the Pooh play area that already exists.

What would really set it apart is if as you entered the faux forest the scenery was so lush that you would actually be entering a large show building without even realizing it. That way it could be utilized during fireworks shows. The roof could even be used as a launch spot.

Anyway, that is what I pictured when I heard the rumor. A mostly indoor "land" that pretty much takes up the entire 20K site and would adjoin the LM building.

 

[JustInTime]

Well, I think they should expand toontown and add all kinds of Disney homes. Like Snow White's cottage and the Up house. You could even make the Up house a lifting ride. I really like ALL of the other ideas.

 

[forevermickey]

I like the redo for around the castle, I don't think they would get rid of the carousel, I remember reading that Walt put all white horses on it, so everyone would be a "good" guy.

 

[Lee]

Or more along the lines of Mermaid Lagoon at TDS but in a forest setting.
Anyway, that is what I pictured when I heard the rumor. A mostly indoor "land" that pretty much takes up the entire 20K site and would adjoin the LM building.

Close.
The EF project (if it ever happens) will be indoors, kinda like ML at TDS, but perhaps not as extensive as your post implied.
As for adjoining the LM building, that should be correct since they will both be taking over the 20K pad.
However, I say again, I expect LM to appear before any of the other FL project moves forward. LM was described to me as "straining at the leash", and is the only part of the project that is a sure thing....eventually.

 

[DisneyEverest]

THIS SOUNDS AWESOME!!! If all of this came true I would be so happy. The Enchanted Forest idea sounds pretty cool and the new Star Tours sounds even better.

 

[Studios Fan]

I like the ST plans and EF could work.

 

[hwdelien]

Could it be possible the enchanted forest concept will be going further back behind the the grotto and back towards the railroad? I had heard at one time that they were considering adding another train station at the back of Fantasyland due north of the castle. The rumor involved a forest with snow or something. I can't remember all the details. But putting a train station there would GREATLY expand the MK. It would mean they would have to change some backstage logistics and hiding the tunnel entrances but that seems rather easy to solve.

It's amazing the amount of space there is back there. I outlined the railroad path in red.

If you re-route Magic Kingdom Drive there's enough room for another "land" back there.

 

[jt04]

It's amazing the amount of space there is back there. I outlined the railroad path in red.

If you re-route Magic Kingdom Drive there's enough room for another "land" back there.

Exactly what I was getting at. Thanks for the drawing. By rerouting MK Drive, they could still bus in employees and have tons of room to expand. Fantasyland could be a series of mini hyper-themed lands.

So from the rumors we could end up with,

Little Mermaid, Enchanted Forest, ToonTown, Castle Plaza, the original sections of FL, and a new train station at the far north of the area that could have a north pole Santa theme. Although I have to admit I have only heard that rumor once. And I don't think we would ever get all of this before 2021 (50th anniversary).

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I though it was one of their "selling points" for the attraction. They claimed they could switch out the entire game system overnight if they wanted to change the games for various reasons or holiday overlays.
I assumed it was more a matter of when it will happen - which I don't know.

Right. Maybe in a few years, when more people have seen it.

Other than that...I hadn't heard.

Close.
The EF project (if it ever happens) will be indoors, kinda like ML at TDS, but perhaps not as extensive as your post implied.
As for adjoining the LM building, that should be correct since they will both be taking over the 20K pad.
However, I say again, I expect LM to appear before any of the other FL project moves forward. LM was described to me as "straining at the leash", and is the only part of the project that is a sure thing....eventually.

Hopefully as the first step in a long line of refurbs to the area...Maybe we can call it a new Land after a while.

 

[jt04]

Close.
The EF project (if it ever happens) will be indoors, kinda like ML at TDS, but perhaps not as extensive as your post implied.
As for adjoining the LM building, that should be correct since they will both be taking over the 20K pad.
However, I say again, I expect LM to appear before any of the other FL project moves forward. LM was described to me as "straining at the leash", and is the only part of the project that is a sure thing....eventually.

Makes sense and it sounds like the LM entrance will definitely be near the current LM meet n greet. I really hope they can create the effect that you are walking into a forest but you are actually entering a show building for the EF area. Mermaid Lagoon is perfect at this type effect. As is "The Seas" at Epcot. That queue is amazing. You almost feel like you should hold your breath as you walk through it. Imagineering at their best.

 

[Disneyson 1]

If we're lucky, we'll get a whole land like in Tokyo for TLM, but I don't have my hopes up. But a Santa land? Wouldn't that be weird in, like, July?