Star Wars themed land announced for Disneyland

[Stevek]

Ah - there's that rectangular building north of the ranch that I forgot to include. Do that and also use a bit more backstage land on the west and you're at 14 acres.

Yep, just missed your post before I posted mine. If you go back to the beginning of this thread, there's a few "speculations" that basically match what you have.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

So, I was trying to imagine worst case scenario, and I think they could still pull it off well:

• The Fort on TSI stays because that is required prep area for Fantasmic.
• I thought having the DLRR hug BTM in a manner similar to how it does at WDW might be nice.
• I'm also skewing the entrances to SWL using some of the Skyway area and the back of Cascade Peak to help hide sightlines and create more of a discovery feeling when arriving at SWL (a la entrance to Animal Kingdom).

This is similar to what I'm thinking and I'd be 100% ok with this. I put it in an area calculator and using the back portion of ROA, the Big Thunder Ranch, and the Circle K backstage area is just shy of 14 acres.

 

[Mouse3268]

So, I was trying to imagine worst case scenario, and I think they could still pull it off well:

• The Fort on TSI stays because that is required prep area for Fantasmic.
• I thought having the DLRR hug BTM in a manner similar to how it does at WDW might be nice.
• I'm also skewing the entrances to SWL using some of the Skyway area and the back of Cascade Peak to help hide sightlines and create more of a discovery feeling when arriving at SWL (a la entrance to Animal Kingdom).

Yeah, I wouldn't hate this. One thing you might be missing is there would probably be an entrance to Star Wars Land from Critter Country as a means of getting rid of the dead-end.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

The average guest is stupid? That's about as ridiculous as it gets. As Disney fans, many of us have set our expectations so high that quite honestly, Disney probably things we are the ones that are stupid. The reality is, whether we like it or not, the Disney theme park experience has been changing for decades. IP was always a part of it from day one and the success of Star Tours & Indy only reinforced that to Disney...a significant number of guests (dare I say the majority) want experiences that they can relate to. They want to step into those worlds they've seen on film.

I know this is likely going to lead down a rabbit hole, but what the hay...

Pirates of the Caribbean, "it's a small world", Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Jungle Cruise - all "classic" Disney attractions that have been around for decades and all of them well regarded and popular. And none of them were attached to or based on an IP.

It's not that Disney fans don't like attractions based on popular Disney IPs, and its true the parks have always been a way to promote Disney films and stories. But I think there used to be better balance between IP and non-IP. Nowadays just about every new thing at Disney Parks® is attached to an IP and many fans (me included) think that's unfortunate.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Been playing around based on Britains plan and other feedback and there would be plenty of room for 3 rides (I put star tours there also) and several other shops, restaurants, etc. I rotated them a bit (didn't change any sizes) but the big building on the left is Star Tours, the building above it is the IASW show building, and the building to the right is the Haunted Mansion building. Even with 3 large show building there would be tons of room.

 

[Phroobar]

I'm not opposed to having the ROA shortened. I would assume the train would still keep the same path and just go through any show buildings in the way. I would also like to see TSI upgraded with more DCA wilderness trail type rope bridges, swings, slides and rock climbing walls. Right now there isn't much to do except run around in low caves.

 

[britain]

Been playing around based on Britains plan and other feedback and there would be plenty of room for 3 rides (I put star tours there also) and several other shops, restaurants, etc. I rotated them a bit (didn't change any sizes) but the big building on the left is Star Tours, the building above it is the IASW show building, and the building to the right is the Haunted Mansion building. Even with 3 large show building there would be tons of room.

View attachment 112050

Nice to see how much room there really is for attractions there, thanks!

Wow - Star Tours as it currently exists in tomorrowland is only half an acre!?

 

[TP2000]

So, I was trying to imagine worst case scenario, and I think they could still pull it off well:

• The Fort on TSI stays because that is required prep area for Fantasmic.
• I thought having the DLRR hug BTM in a manner similar to how it does at WDW might be nice.
• I'm also skewing the entrances to SWL using some of the Skyway area and the back of Cascade Peak to help hide sightlines and create more of a discovery feeling when arriving at SWL (a la entrance to Animal Kingdom).

I absolutely love that plan and map you've created! This would be a big improvement for Frontierland and the five rides closing temporarily this January.

 

[Stevek]

I know this is likely going to lead down a rabbit hole, but what the hay...

Pirates of the Caribbean, "it's a small world", Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Jungle Cruise - all "classic" Disney attractions that have been around for decades and all of them well regarded and popular. And none of them were attached to or based on an IP.

It's not that Disney fans don't like attractions based on popular Disney IPs, and its true the parks have always been a way to promote Disney films and stories. But I think there used to be better balance between IP and non-IP. Nowadays just about every new thing at Disney Parks® is attached to an IP and many fans (me included) think that's unfortunate.

I'm not disagreeing with you at all regarding the use of IP...I'd prefer more things like Pirates, Space, Matterhorn, etc. My point about IP based products always being around...Peter Pan, Snow White, Casey Jr, Teacups, Toad...all IP based. Heck, the park's icon, the castle, is named for Sleeping Beauty. It's always been a mix but I think the scales tipped a few years ago where everything moving forward will be IP based. It is a bummer as you could put a Mystic Manor or pretty much any non IP product from DisneySea into a US park and it would be a hit. My gut tells me it's only going to get worse...I just have this sinking feeling that Toontown was saved to at some point become an extension of Fantasyland. You go under the bridge and bam, you're in Arendale.

 

[britain]

I absolutely love that plan and map you've created! This would be a big improvement for Frontierland and the five rides closing temporarily this January.

Thanks! At first I hated the idea of losing any of the River, but by abbreviating it, they might give it more care and focus. Hopefully.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

The Asian parks are irrelevant since they have separate owners who dictate content. Neither Disney's California Adventure or Disney's Hollywood Studios have so far done anything beyond obvious brand experiences.

Looks like you are trying as hard as possible to be negative. I share your distaste for brands all over the place, but that's just the way the theme park industry rolls these days.

The Asian parks are not irrelevant in this context since, as I said, TDS was designed by Disney. Point being that with the right leadership and budget WDI demonstrated with the TDS project that it can deliver themed experiences that impress and surprise. Most of what they've produced over the past five years has been good to excellent, so I can't help but feel optimistic about what's on the horizon for DL. .

 

[TP2000]

Thanks! At first I hated the idea of losing any of the River, but by abbreviating it, they might give it more care and focus. Hopefully.

That's what I'm thinking too. I hated this edited River plan too for about 30 minutes, but then I got to thinking about it and saw the method in the madness.

The Rivers of America is a HUGE piece of 1955 acreage that is vastly under-utilized by 21st century audiences. As mentioned in this thread, there are big Disney fans who on their first multi-day Disneyland visit didn't even go on any of the four Rivers of America attractions. Half of Tom Sawyer Island isn't even used or accessible to anyone; it's just overgrown landscaping past a locked fence.

The way the vast majority of Disneyland visitors "experience" the Rivers of America will remain; by glancing over at the river and a passing boat as they hustle from Haunted Mansion to Indiana Jones. That will still look the same in 2017. Fantasmic! will be back. Tourists in 2017 will still ignore all the River rides.

But that back half of the Rivers of America, where most Disneyland visitors never bother to go to on the Mark Twain or Canoes or Columbia, will be reworked and edited and put to much, much better use.

And if the River fans are lucky, they will save and re-install these types of static statue scenes that should explain why so few people are riding the Mark Twain in the 21st century. Who needs a Millennium Falcon ride when you can see Two Plastic Raccoons Staring At Plastic Skunk On Fake Log?

A Scenic Highlight of the River Journey on the backside of Tom Sawyer Island

 

[Phroobar]

I....I just have this sinking feeling that Toontown was saved to at some point become an extension of Fantasyland. You go under the bridge and bam, you're in Arendale.

See I have no problem with ToonTown becoming an extension to Fantasyland. It would be great to see a real Frozen ride that takes over the Wonderbra theater and to have a Tangled dark ride or Be Our Guest restaurant.

I also believe that once Star Wars land is firing on all cylinders, Tomorrowland will be closed and worked on.

 

[TP2000]

Been playing around based on Britains plan and other feedback and there would be plenty of room for 3 rides (I put star tours there also) and several other shops, restaurants, etc. I rotated them a bit (didn't change any sizes) but the big building on the left is Star Tours, the building above it is the IASW show building, and the building to the right is the Haunted Mansion building. Even with 3 large show building there would be tons of room.

View attachment 112050

Thanks for that image! That type of image makes me very excited for this project long-term. Yeah, the Rivers of America rehab will be ugly in 2016, but those rehabs have always been ugly and always been required to keep things running.

Thinking of the park as a whole, this type of Star Wars Land plan in your image would be a dramatically better use of the under-utilized northern half of the Rivers of America. It would help tighten up the slow-and-plodding boat rides for 21st century audiences, maintain all the key riverbank visuals from New Orleans Square, Critter Country and Frontierland proper, and open up almost 10 acres of expansion land south of the existing railroad berm.

And if they could reroute the Disneyland Railroad to the south of Star Wars Land, that would improve the railroad experience as well! It would certainly bring kinetics to more of the park and liven up the journey for those on the trains. Sadly, I imagine the railroad will maintain its current path mostly and just go through fake tunnels to get past the Star Wars Land entrances and buildings.

 

[britain]

Who needs a Millennium Falcon ride when you can see Two Plastic Raccoons Staring At Plastic Skunk On Fake Log?

Right, hopefully part of the budget will include bringing the whole river area up to modern standards.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

The train is being rerouted.

 

[TP2000]

The train is being rerouted.

In a major way, similar to what @britain and @Vegas Disney Fan have offered with a new route south of Star Wars Land?

Or in a minor way, with just a bit of a track squiggle and a new tunnel past Star Wars Land?

I'm hoping for a major re-route through this reworked area. It would improve the passenger experience and the park kinetics, kind of like parts of the Westernland Railroad at Tokyo Disneyland.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

In a major way, similar to what @britain and @Vegas Disney Fan have offered with a new route south of Star Wars Land?

Or in a minor way, with just a bit of a track squiggle and a new tunnel past Star Wars Land?

I'm hoping for a major re-route through this area. It could offer up so much kinetic activity and neat visuals, kind of like parts of the Westernland Railroad at Tokyo Disneyland.

The train will go from Splash Mountain and turn toward the river, and then over what is currently river to cut TSI in half. It will then go by BTMRR on land currently used by the ranch right now. The river will then become a much smaller loop of water and everything beyond the train tracks will be SWL.

 

[TP2000]

The train will go from Splash Mountain and turn toward the river, and then over what is currently river to cut TSI in half. It will then go by BTMRR on land currently used by the ranch right now. The river will then become a much smaller loop of water and everything beyond the train tracks will be SWL.

Wow! Okay, so much like this image that @Vegas Disney Fan created here. Give or take a few trees and some fake Indians. They'll also need to move the plastic raccoons staring at the plastic skunk. And shaving off a few minutes from the boat rides won't hurt for 21st century audiences.

Honestly, I don't know why I'm being so sacrilegious on this topic! I'm not even a major Star Wars fan.

But for whatever reason I got over my shock and anger at daring to alter Walt Disney's Rivers of America sketched out on a cocktail napkin in 1953, and instead I'm getting really excited about the long-term possibilities here for the park as a whole.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Wow! Okay, so much like this image that @Vegas Disney Fan created here. Give or take a few trees and some fake Indians. And moving the plastic raccoons staring at the plastic skunk. And shaving off a few minutes from the boat rides won't hurt for 21st century audiences.

Honestly, I don't know why I'm being so sacrilegious on this topic! I'm not even a major Star Wars fan.

But for whatever reason I got over my shock and anger at daring to alter Walt Disney's Rivers of America sketched out on a cocktail napkin in 1953, and instead I'm getting really excited about the long-term possibilities here for the park as a whole.

That image leaves more of ROA and TSI intact than is currently the plan, but it's not too far off in the resizing of the river. The Fantasyland Theater is also being removed, but I don't know when it will close (I suspect sometime in 2016).