The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

Too Many Hats

Too Many Hats

Well-Known Member
PiratesMansion said:
I totally understand the cultural sensitivity issues, but I'm not really sure there's a culturally sensitive way to do a Tiki Room. Tiki culture is basically made-up exoticism, and as a result it could be seen by some as unPC-able, so to speak, just inherently as a concept. I really, really am hoping it's basically grandfathered in, but who really knows anymore.
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I completely agree. Tiki is a made-up thing.

When I said I'd support minor updates to the Tiki Room to make it less culturally insensitive, I was referring to maybe updating the voice acting. But yeah, big picture, the attraction in its current form is unPC-able.

My only counterpoint (not to you, but to the hypothetical Disney exec considering shutting down the Tiki Room) would be that southern Californians love tiki stuff. Consider the popularity of Trader Sam's and all the tiki-inspired merch/clothing one can purchase around the Disneyland Resort. Tiki "culture" here has taken on a life of its own; it's become a form of escapism that at this point transcends whatever inauthentic representations GIs brought home with them after WWII. I think most people know it's fantasy (I could be wrong). This doesn't make it "not problematic," of course.

Fun PBS video on this topic, which includes segments on classic LA bars like Tiki Ti and Tonga Hut, shouts out the Enchanted Tiki Room, and, most relevant to this discussion, touches on places like Strong Water in Anaheim that are trying to engage "tiki culture" a bit more conscientiously.



PiratesMansion said:
Whereas IASW, while not perfect, could easily be redone to better fit current needs without truly altering the core or central message of the attraction.
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Agreed. Just some wardrobe changes, really. And some enhancements to the Africa room. I know people have observed for years that it's like 90% animals, and that's not great.
 
Too Many Hats

Too Many Hats

Well-Known Member
Rich T said:
Everything Disney does lately strikes me as so timid and bland. Who are they afraid of offending at this point? Who actually rides iasw, experiences its wonderful art direction, dazzling colors and uplifting message of cooperation and peace… and comes away saying, “That was so offensive!” Let them be offended. All art offends someone.
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Almost nobody. And I agree that Disney is getting to the point where, in their effort to build attractions that offend no one, they are catering to preschool sensibilities. And that's a huge bummer for theme park fans.

But some depictions on Small World are outdated. And the Tiki Room's depiction of Polynesian culture is fictional. And Jungle Cruise included an ugly scene involving indigenous people, and Pirates featured a depiction of selling women that was intended to be humorous. In most cases we can tweak these attractions in a manner that strengthens them and cements their place in the park for another generation.

Does WDI always get it right when it comes to the replacements? No. Are there grifters on social media who pretend to be offended by innocuous things at Disney parks in order to get attention? Yes. It's complicated.

However, somewhere along the way "prevent guests from feeling uncomfortable due to insensitive cultural representations" turned into "remove anything scary or perilous" from every attraction and "play to the lowest common denominator." This is overkill and not something most Disney parks fans are on board with.

Rich T said:
If they ever really do build a Villains Land, I cannot wait to see what today’s Disney-the same company that thinks Pirates should host furniture auctions, the trees on Snow White were too scary, and that TBA required zero villainy—comes up with. I’m picturing the Stepsisters getting a major fashion show—in which they’re not allowed to say anything mean.
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Completely agree. I cringe when people gush over Villains Land and predict it will be Disney's scary and twisted response to Dark Universe. WDI couldn't bring themselves to incorporate any sense of peril at all into the Tiana ride, doing everything in their power to downplay the 50-foot plunge at the ride's climax. Your stepsisters fashion show sounds about right.

Rich T said:
Meanwhile, I love the fact that at Epic Universe guests can laugh and scream on a genuinely fun-scary ride as a werewolf yelling “Fresh meat!!!” chases them through a castle. 😄
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No spoilers! 🙃
 
Disney Analyst

Disney Analyst

Well-Known Member
Too Many Hats said:
Get the chocolate and mochi xiaolongbao for dessert, trust me.
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They’ve changed my life, for good.

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M

MoonRakerSCM

Well-Known Member
The Tiki Room will be gutted and will just have one AA in it. The show starts and the CM walks up to the illuminated center of the room where they lift a coconut off of the animatronic HeiHei. It proceeds to cluck a few times and then screams for the next 15 minutes.

 
P

Parteecia

Well-Known Member
Nice article on Bob Gurr in today's L.A. Times. I would link it but they're super heavy paywalled nowadays. Sometimes incognito mode + simplified view works.

I have the pdf but don't know if I'm allowed to share it.

ETA here's the link anyway.
www.latimes.com

He worked with Walt Disney to shape Disneyland. Now at 93, boy, does he have stories

Bob Gurr, the designer of the monorail, the Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Haunted Mansion 'doom buggies' and more, isn't slowing down.
www.latimes.com www.latimes.com
 
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Too Many Hats

Too Many Hats

Well-Known Member
Rich T said:
But it’s in the commercial (well…not the dialogue quote…sorry about that) 😃 By the way, that close up look Universal gave of that wolfman animatronic? It looks that good on the ride, too.
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Ha, I’m kidding, no worries. I actually didn’t even watch the “trailer” for Monsters Unchained; I opened it, saw an unbelievable AA in the first 5 seconds, and promptly closed it for the sake of avoiding spoilers. I’m stoked for the ride; many are saying it’s superior to Ministry of Magic.
 
Rich T

Rich T

Well-Known Member
Too Many Hats said:
Ha, I’m kidding, no worries. I actually didn’t even watch the “trailer” for Monsters Unchained; I opened it, saw an unbelievable AA in the first 5 seconds, and promptly closed it for the sake of avoiding spoilers. I’m stoked for the ride; many are saying it’s superior to Ministry of Magic.
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I personally prefer it to Ministry. Ministry’s great; it creates mind-blowing illusions and it tops, scale-wise, anything that’s been done before in a dark ride.

But, for me, Monsters Unchained is more fun and uses its amazing AAs in a more exciting and startling manner. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve ridden it (four times yesterday alone), and I’m already eager to go back and do it again. And again. 😄
 
mickEblu

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
This is happiness.

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Chicken was scrumptious yesterday. Better than or at least as good as it’s ever been. Skin was super crispy and meat was moist and flavorful. The Plaza Inn just makes me happy.

Visited TSI yesterday. Man, it’s so hard to believe they are getting of TSI, the river and the steamboat at MK. The kids had a blast. I didn’t realize that I had never once walked through Dead Man’s Grotto. It’s always closed when we visit. What a shame to get rid of that vista and that whole complex. I get that it’s not exactly the same as Anaheim but I recently saw a Freshbaked video in its still quite beautiful. It’s different but in some ways even nicer than ours. It doesn’t have quite the same kinetic energy without the Columbia or canoes but that’s way down the list on what makes it so special. Not having that vista, the river boat going around or hearing that steam whistle? Yikes.
 
mickEblu

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
Original Poster

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