Star Wars themed land announced for Disneyland

[TP2000]

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).

The Fantasyland Theater is going too?!? Well, aren't you just a wealth of information today.

The good old WonderBra Theater, which had Annual Passholders burning up our 56K Modems in online disgust when it was enlarged and opened in the late 1990's. So no more WonderBra tent peeking above Sleeping Beauty Castle?

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

The Fantasyland Theater is going too?!? Well, aren't you just a wealth of information today.

The good old WonderBra Theater, which had Annual Passholders burning up our 56K Modems in online disgust when it was enlarged and opened in the late 1990's. So no more WonderBra tent peeking above Sleeping Beauty Castle?

Well I DID post it yesterday. Don't you obsessively read all of my posts? I assumed you'd set up text message notifications so you could read them right away wherever you are!

Oh and yes I sure do remember the bru-ha-ha over the tent!

 

[jrhwdw]

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).

Magical Map Too?!?!?! Good grief!!!!! So when will DL let that out??? I know SWL is good for DL/DHS, but I wasn't expecting this much impact for DL! Now that I know that and if it's true, DLR should move Magical Map to DCA instead of Frozen!

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

I would imagine Disneyland will delay releasing the exact plans as long as possible, as they must anticipate backlash.

 

[Stevek]

I would imagine Disneyland will delay releasing the exact plans as long as possible, as they must anticipate backlash.

Understatement of the year

 

[Phroobar]

I would imagine Disneyland will delay releasing the exact plans as long as possible, as they must anticipate backlash.

They aren't that smart.

 

[NobodyElse]

The train will go from Splash Mountain and turn toward the river, and then over what is currently river to cut TSI in half.

Are you saying the tracks will cut in front of Hungry Bear?

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Are you saying the tracks will cut in front of Hungry Bear?

All I can say is that at present, the current plan for the train tracks involves it turning past Splash and cutting the river/TSI about in half. Revealing more details could jeopardize the sources from which those details came.

 

[NobodyElse]

Got it. Thanks for the info you have been able to share. This is going to be a very interesting project.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

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?

You really went there, didn't you? lol

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

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).

What's the logic behind tearing down the theater? They've already got 14 acres without it and it is a huge people eater.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

What's the logic behind tearing down the theater? They've already got 14 acres without it and it is a huge people eater.

I don't know. That's one thing I'd be very happy to be wrong about.

In fact, I'd be very happy to be wrong about all of it.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

What's the logic behind tearing down the theater?

I don't know but I've hated that venue since they built Videopolis to replace the Space Stage. Maybe they'll bring the Space Stage back?

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I don't know. That's one thing I'd be very happy to be wrong about.

In fact, I'd be very happy to be wrong about all of it.

My smell test for rumors is if they make business, financial, and thematic sense. So far everything you've "rumored" does with the exception of the theater, not to say it won't when more details come out, just that it doesn't yet. I'm curious to see how this all plays out over the next few years.

 

[Phroobar]

Well at least it's not going in Simba.

 

[TP2000]

I don't know but I've hated that venue since they built Videopolis to replace the Space Stage. Maybe they'll bring the Space Stage back?

Agreed. Fantasyland Theater goes buh-bye for a rerouted Railroad and park expansion.

Turn MuppetVision into the "Flex Theater" they announced would replace Muppets back in 2007, for all the latest Disney/Pixar/Marvel/Lucas previews. But by 2009 the Flex Theater got cut from the DCA makeover budget.

Turn the Magic Eye Theater back into the outdoor stage show venue it was originally designed as back in 1967. In the 1960's and 70's they used to do big, schmaltzy musical revues there that would horrify today's Disney fans and casual visitors alike.

There's so much Patriotic Polyester in this photo that it hurts!

In 1977 they upgraded and formalized the space as part of the Space Mountain project, but it was still a semi-outdoor stage venue for random acts and shows into the mid 1980's. It could work that way again.

But then I'm not a guy who typically seeks out theme park stage shows. I haven't even seen the Magical Map show yet, and it's been there for a few years now.

I'm more jazzed about the possibilities for Star Wars Land to open up the back acres of Disneyland, utilize the space better, eliminate dead-ends and get crowds moving around the perimeter of the park better, jazz up the railroad experience and tighten up the tired river experience. There's a lot of great possibilities for Disneyland here!

 

[doctornick]

What's the logic behind tearing down the theater? They've already got 14 acres without it and it is a huge people eater.

I would think that it is needed for the new RR path. I'm not sure how feasible it is to have the train travel around the theater.

 

[lazyboy97o]

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.

You should read more closely, but yes, the 'average guest' argument is all about framing the 'average guest' as a bumbling idiot who is offended by even a whiff of quality or care.

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. .

The decisions regarding content for the Asian parks are not made by Disney. Also, Tokyo DisneySEA is a lousy example because it's creative leads are part of the massive Walt Disney Imagineering brain drain that has occurred since that park opened.

 

[Donaldfan1934]

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.

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This image depresses me. It seems with this that Bob Iger is finally pushing "Worse than Eisner" territory people have been fearing for years.

 

[NobodyElse]

A few quick thoughts. When first hearing about these proposed changes, I envisioned something close to what Vegas Disney Fan came up with. (Actually, in my mind, big thunder trail was staying between BTMRR and the new track path but most else was the same.) With some of the newer info coming to light, the first thing to wonder about is where the RR tracks might start their new right-hand turn. I had assumed that a gentle arc would start right after the Hungry Bear patio area. Looking at maps, if the turn is going to start anywhere before that (and still coming out of Splash in it's present location) I would think Hungry Bear would have to go. I don't think they would want to or be able to make a sharp enough turn to get in front of that restaurant.

I think some of us were also assuming that the WonderBra theater would be staying. We might have even been subconsciously thinking this because of the current location of Toontown Station. If the theater is going, that would allow for more shaving away of Fantasyland, but to do so would probably require relocating Toontown Station, and perhaps changing the orientation of the adjacent bridge. (Or some of that might be mitigated with tunnels. Who knows?)

Again, this will be a fascinating process to watch.