The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[Disney Irish]

No probably not but that may have been a good use of the abandoned ESPN Zone for a pay to play Disney Halloween maze etc. They could also plan for some flex space they can use for Halloween activities over on the Simba lot… if that ever happens.

Wasn't ESPN being used as a CM flex space since it closed down? Like I vaguely remember Entertainment or something being said to be in there. And now its getting currently redone to house several shops like Lululemon.

As for the Simba lot, sure you could do something there. But is that the best use for it, even in a future theme park space? Something that only gets used for 2ish months out of the year? I would think not.

So I guess again the question is, is that the audience Disney is trying to appeal to anyways now or in the future. If the answer is no then any current and future plans shouldn't really include allocating and building spaces that could incorporate such an experience. As the land is more valuable for actual attractions and such than that.

Also note I'm not saying this because I don't like these type of experiences. I've done the FrightFest at Six Flags a few times. And used to always go to this huge traveling haunted house event that came to my area up until they closed in the late 90s, always scared the crap out of me.

 

[Phroobar]

If Disney took the ESPN zone and turned it into a limited time Halloween maze experience like Universal's Horror Unleased in Las Vegas, it would pay for itself first night. It doesn't have to be for children. 13+.

Disney used to be able to scare children in their movies. Now they just scare us with bad Star Wars/Marvel shows and their lack of box office success.

 

[Disney Irish]

If Disney took the ESPN zone and turned it into a limited time Halloween maze experience like Universal's Horror Unleased is Las Vegas, it would pay for itself first night.

Do you really think there is that much pent up demand for a Disney version of that? And what would that even look like?

I mean wouldn't people just stay away because they think it would be "Disneyified" and not be real "scares"?

I just don't see it myself.

 

[Phroobar]

Do you really think there is that much pent up demand for a Disney version of that? And what would that even look like?

I mean wouldn't people just stay away because they think it would be "Disneyified" and not be real "scares"?

I just don't see it myself.

Are you kidding? Of course there is! Those people that go to Universal/Knotts all have Disneyland APs.
Disney has FOX and Hulu. They can do a Alien/Predator maze. They could do American Horror Story. You would enjoy a Poor Things maze. If we are talking Disney characters, they could do a twisted Disney Villain maze. Knotts did Pinocchio Unstrung for a few years. Pooh Blood & Honey? When I browse Hulu there is some pretty scary stuff on there.

 

[mickEblu]

Wasn't ESPN being used as a CM flex space since it closed down? Like I vaguely remember Entertainment or something being said to be in there. And now its getting currently redone to house several shops like Lululemon.

As for the Simba lot, sure you could do something there. But is that the best use for it, even in a future theme park space? Something that only gets used for 2ish months out of the year? I would think not.

So I guess again the question is, is that the audience Disney is trying to appeal to anyways now or in the future. If the answer is no then any current and future plans shouldn't really include allocating and building spaces that could incorporate such an experience. As the land is more valuable for actual attractions and such than that.

Also note I'm not saying this because I don't like these type of experiences. I've done the FrightFest at Six Flags a few times. And used to always go to this huge traveling haunted house event that came to my area up until they closed in the late 90s, always scared the crap out of me.

I’m not sure about ESPN Zone.

Personally I’d rather them not use expansion space for Halloween stuff. I’m not really into all that but Disney might take notice of how popular these mazes have gotten over the last 20 years.

Villains Grove is the most popular thing at Oogie Boogie. People attending those events would have liked to see more like it and they could have put another maze or two in the backlot if they wanted to but they didn’t have to because it sold out every year. With that said, sales have been slowing down the last couple year or at least this year. I think they te going to have to start thinking about adding something substantial to the event. Not sure how much longer they can skate by with just Villains Grove and new characters.

 

[NobodyElse]

Once upon a time, I visited Six Flags Magic Mountain in October - but during the day. So, like Knott's, you had spiders and webs etc. on coasters, which was just oddly amusing. They were however running a "haunted" walk-thru in the old Magic Pagoda. That featured at least two or three satisfying gags. It was a really fun unexpected addition to the park.

If Disney wanted to include one well-executed "maze" (in an un/under-utilized location) I think it would be welcome.

 

[NobodyElse]

Also, when Disney owned or ran (I forget what the real arrangement was) the Queen Mary, there was a pretty well done "haunted tour" of the ship. I'm not sure how directly involved they were in the production, but I really appreciated its sometimes understated elements at the time.

 

[Disney Irish]

Are you kidding? Of course there is! Those people that go to Universal/Knotts all have Disneyland APs.
Disney has FOX and Hulu. They can do a Alien/Predator maze. They could do American Horror Story. You would enjoy a Poor Things maze. If we are talking Disney characters, they could do a twisted Disney Villain maze. Knotts did Pinocchio Unstrung for a few years. Pooh Blood & Honey? When I browse Hulu there is some pretty scary stuff on there.

Except people here (and all over the internet) have always complained about the Disney "brand" getting watered down by going away from the traditional family friendly space. And then there backlash we saw with redos of some of the characters over the years. So why would we think that a "twisted" version of Disney characters, like the horror remakes over the last couple years, would be popular? Its not like any of those horror remakes did boffo box office. So sure there is market for those "twisted Disney" things, but its not as many as I think you believe there is, it seems to be more niche.

Also not sure why you would think I would enjoy a Poor Things maze.

I say let the companies known for that horror/Halloween event space keep that niche, no need for Disney to delve into it.

 

[Disney Irish]

I’m not sure about ESPN Zone.

Personally I’d rather them not use expansion space for Halloween stuff. I’m not really into all that but Disney might take notice of how popular these mazes have gotten over the last 20 years.

Villains Grove is the most popular thing at Oogie Boogie. People attending those events would have liked to see more like it and they could have put another maze or two in the backlot if they wanted to but they didn’t have to because it sold out every year. With that said, sales have been slowing down the last couple year or at least this year. I think they te going to have to start thinking about adding something substantial to the event. Not sure how much longer they can skate by with just Villains Grove and new characters.

I would agree with expanding the Villains Grove, as that is popular. But I just don't see a huge market beyond that, sure there will be some that would flock to it, just like they do with the Uni/Six Flags ones. But I don't see the traditional Disneyland guest getting all that into a maze, especially families.

Or maybe I'm just not seeing what you guys are. Or maybe when I think of a maze I'm thinking of a jump scare and gore "FrightFest" type of maze, and I don't see that as the traditional Disney Park experience.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

The last thing I want in the Disney parks is jump scares when I walk around.

 

[CaptinEO]

I do wonder if Disney ever really looked into doing some type of experience like this at the domestic Parks, as wasn't it TDL or HKDL that used to do one.

But just thinking about this logistically, where would they even put the "mazes" or experiences like that at Disneyland? Its not like they have a large enough clear area to do it. I guess NOS in front of the river but that would block a bunch of stuff including views of the river and the walkways themselves. So space is not on their side here for such an experience at Disneyland proper, and DCA isn't much better.

I mean other than Guardians with its natural maze like queue in the Boiler Room (or whatever they call it now) and maybe RotR, I don't even know many attraction queues where you could do it.

Also I'm not sure that guests would really appreciate having a bunch of walls up all over the place to make these walkthrus and mazes. As it would really be not only a safety concern of having clear walkways but would also minimize a lot of the Park in ways that wouldn't be appealing to many outside of the "FrightFest" type crowd, an element that Disney probably doesn't want to bring into the Parks anyways.

I just think its not an ideal site for such an experience. And like you said, different audience age groups so not ideal there either.

Now maybe WDW would be a better site for such an experience, given they have lots of unused areas. So maybe it could happen there if Disney was ever willing to get into more of the "Fright" side of Halloween.

I can think of a few abandoned areas off the top off my head:
-Carousel of Progress (2 floors)
-Tunnel between Buzz Store and Rocket Rods platform
-Stage 17
-Hollywood and Dine
-Overflow Area Behind former Tower of Terror Fastpass distribution
-Starcade
-Unused overflow queue between Indiana Jones and Pirates

I'm not saying they should do any type of scary mazes, only family friendly themed walkthroughs (think sleeping beauty castle, or recently Universal Fanfest Nights).

I'd say Fanfest Nights proved an event of walkthroughs without scares can be super successful.

 

[coffeefan]

Oogie Boogie can remain for the Disney Jr audience and no-fun families. But Disney should do something for teens and grownups with the horror IPs they own.

 

[Disney Irish]

I'd say Fanfest Nights proved an event of walkthroughs without scares can be super successful.

But isn't this essentially what Villains Grove is?

 

[Phroobar]

Except people here (and all over the internet) have always complained about the Disney "brand" getting watered down by going away from the traditional family friendly space. And then there backlash we saw with redos of some of the characters over the years. So why would we think that a "twisted" version of Disney characters, like the horror remakes over the last couple years, would be popular? Its not like any of those horror remakes did boffo box office. So sure there is market for those "twisted Disney" things, but its not as many as I think you believe there is, it seems to be more niche.

Also not sure why you would think I would enjoy a Poor Things maze.

I say let the companies known for that horror/Halloween event space keep that niche, no need for Disney to delve into it.

Just like having rated R movies on Disney+, everyone's excuse was don't watch it and use the filters. Same thing here. Deadpool is on the Disney+ side. I can't think of anything more un-family friendly as that. Don't go to a scary Disney Hulu event if you want family friendly. Have the scary stuff sponsored by Hulu at DCA and unused space in DTD. Funny how you argued the exact opposite for traditional family friendly space for Disney movies.

Dude, you were all over Poor Things when it was in theaters.

 

[Disney Irish]

Just like having rated R movies on Disney+, everyone's excuse was don't watch it and use the filters. Same thing here. Don't go to a scary Disney event if you want family friendly. Have the scary stuff sponsored by Hulu at DCA. That is why having it outside in the ESPN zone would be idea. Funny how you argued the exact opposite for traditional family friendly space for Disney movies.

First we aren't speaking about me, we've been talking about the general guests that go to the Disney Parks.

Just look at what happened with the Disney Karen's screaming and complaining because of Alien Encounter in the 90s. What do you think would happen now in the era of social media if you put on a whole season of events that are similar? The complaints and social media backlash would go through the roof.

Second D+/Hulu is different than a family spending thousands to go to the Disney Parks, especially a ticketed event.

So yeah I don't see it happening.

Plus aren't you the "no rated R" family? How is that going to work with an event like this that you are proposing? Or you just not going to go?

Dude, you were all over Poor Things when it was in theaters.

Just because I liked the movie doesn't mean I want a Halloween event surrounding it especially at a Disney Park event. There are plenty of movies I like that I don't need to experience in real life or at a Disney Park, that covers like 99.9997% of movies out there.

 

[mlayton144]

The last thing I want in the Disney parks is jump scares when I walk around

Agreed , leave that to six flags and universal - it’s their prime demographic (teenagers and younger adults)

 

[mickEblu]

But isn't this essentially what Villains Grove is?

Yes and the event could use a few more experiences like that. Can’t speak for others but I didn’t mean Gorey non family friendly mazes. Just some variety to add to Villains Grove. An indoor maze or two themed to something else.

 

[Disney Irish]

Yes and the event could use a few more experiences like that. Can’t speak for others but I didn’t mean Gorey non family friendly mazes. Just some variety to add to Villains Grove. An indoor maze or two themed to something else.

Yes, I'd be down for that, which is why I said earlier I'd agree with an expansion to Villains Grove.

I don't think Disney needs to get into the "Twisted Disney" type of R-rated Halloween event as @Phroobar seems to want. Leave that to Six Flags and Uni.

 

[D.Silentu]

Once upon a time, I visited Six Flags Magic Mountain in October - but during the day. So, like Knott's, you had spiders and webs etc. on coasters, which was just oddly amusing. They were however running a "haunted" walk-thru in the old Magic Pagoda.

Halloween mazes for the younger set have untapped potential and I think this idea is a good model. It also brings to mind The Haunted Shack, that used to be at Knotts. Instead of jump-scares, fill the maze with spooky magic tricks and illusions. It's easy to imagine a family's delight, sitting down at the Mad Hatter's table and seeing, via optical illusion, that dad is now shorter than Jr! A simple example, but leaning into the magic and whimsy of the holiday, combined with the pantheon of Disney villains, there is a wealth of material for 'not so scary' mazes.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Disney is not going to do a real scare attraction that remotely approaches the domain of Knott's, HHN, etc. in the states. Let's be real.

People couldn't handle a mildly scary Snow White ride that was three minutes long, and Disney not that long ago openly expressed discomfort with an axe murderer character being part of an attraction called Haunted Mansion. They're not going anywhere near truly scary anything because neither they nor much of their base could remotely handle it.

Even Hong Kong, which really used to go there back in the day, has reportedly been much tamed and tampered down as of late.

It's just not gonna happen much more beyond what's already there now for OBB.