The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[Nirya]

That's the start of the problem. They're higher engineers to an artist's job and artists who don't know anything about art! What WDI needs is historians who understand the "why's?" of the world.

Just to give a quick example of what I mean, look at Main Street USA. Why does it work? Is it because it's a charming small town that reflects classic American ideas? Partially. But, more practically, Main Street USA works because millions of farmers moved to California during the Great Depression due to the Dust Bowl. These farmers grew up in these small turn of the century towns just like Walt Disney. Come around to the 1950's and Disneyland opens, now these farmers visit this brand new park in Anaheim and are reminded of their childhoods back in Middle America when life was simpler.

Obviously that's not the only reason Main Street works, and obviously not the reason it works today, but it explains why it was built how it was. Main Street was not built as an entrance to Disneyland simply because it was Walt's childhood, but because people shared that experience.

I actually did my college senior thesis (history major) on Disneyland, and that's not exactly what happened here. Main Street USA is based in part on Walt's hometown, but really it is an idealized version of the United States at the turn of the century. In fact, that is what was sold all throughout the park - Adventureland is an idealized version of the unexplored parts of the world, Frontierland was an idealized version of the American West, etc. And settling on Main Street USA as the opener to Disneyland had as much to do with what he had seen in other amusement parks when he was initially designing the park. That's why the berm exists - it's a signifier that you are leaving the dirtiness of the "real" world behind and entering Walt's clean, sanitized version of America.

Lindsey Ellis actually did a better job than me of explaining this concept, and you can expand her points further to see why today's artists and Imagineers are starting to shift away from those concepts.

 

[TROR]

I actually did my college senior thesis (history major) on Disneyland, and that's not exactly what happened here. Main Street USA is based in part on Walt's hometown, but really it is an idealized version of the United States at the turn of the century. In fact, that is what was sold all throughout the park - Adventureland is an idealized version of the unexplored parts of the world, Frontierland was an idealized version of the American West, etc. And settling on Main Street USA as the opener to Disneyland had as much to do with what he had seen in other amusement parks when he was initially designing the park. That's why the berm exists - it's a signifier that you are leaving the dirtiness of the "real" world behind and entering Walt's clean, sanitized version of America.

Lindsey Ellis actually did a better job than me of explaining this concept, and you can expand her points further to see why today's artists and Imagineers are starting to shift away from those concepts.

Oh, yes, I’m definitely aware of these reasons as well (nothing is ever really caused by one factor), I’m just describing one of the reasons Main Street resonated with Disneyland guests.

 

[Nirya]

Oh, yes, I’m definitely aware of these reasons as well (nothing is ever really caused by one factor), I’m just describing one of the reasons Main Street resonated with Disneyland guests.

I'm of the opinion that it resonated so much because it was SO different than anything else out there. It's not a coincidence that anyone attempting a theme park since Disneyland's inception either attempted something similar (see: the Universal theme parks) or essentially eschewed theme altogether in service of RIDES RIDES RIDES (see: Magic Mountain).

Though it is also important to note that, while Main Street's aesthetic would have resonated with people who grew up in small-town America, that wouldn't have been the case for the majority of visitors, who would have grown up in Los Angeles, and even by the turn of the century LA was turning into a modern city that would explode during the original movie boom and WW2 into the modern city it is today.

 

[lazyboy97o]

In all honesty I'm pretty sure you need an engineering/design/art background to do anything at WDI.

But what do I know.

Not necessarily. There are other roles like scheduling, accounting, legal, etc. that aren’t engineering or design.

 

[Mac Tonight]

 

[lazyboy97o]

The teaser trailer for Mulan does suggest that Mulan is Hakka. If she’s still fighting a northern invasion, that’ll be quite a trek.

 

[GingerGirl3]

Ariel isn't ginger. Her hair was an unnatural shade of red in the animated movie and is likely to be something similar in the new version.

Nope, I’ve been very clear Ariel is a pale redhead. Sure her hair is it’s own red but it’s still red. Even Wikipedia knows that ginger is just another word for redhead and by redhead I and Wikipedia mean the tiny percentage of the population with fair skin. Even Wikipedia limits it to lighter eye color so my cousin with red hair but brown eyes so she can tan doesn’t make the cut. Dying her hair or using a red wig does not constitute a redhead, aka ginger. True gingers cannot walk to their car or stand close to a window without getting a sunburn. That makes Ariel and her red hair one of us. I’ve been bullied my whole life for having skin that glows in the dark and redhair. While it may be getting slightly better to be kissed by fire my daughter is still getting bullied for her paleness. Don’t dismiss my plight and that of my fellow recessives. We should be a protected class as we are the tiniest of minorities and facing extinction. #justiceforgingers #humanpandabear

 

[TROR]

Look, there's not a lot of roles for redheads. Taking away this opportunity for a young aspiring redheaded actress is bigotry.

 

[mickEblu]

I’d never heard of her until she was cast but she’s on Grownish which is on a Disney owned channel. She’s also on Beyonce’s label which is probably why she was casted.

Now I would totally be willing to overlook any accuracy issues if Beyoncé was playing Ariel.

 

[GingerGirl3]

Now I would totally be willing to overlook any accuracy issues if Beyoncé was playing Ariel.

Say it’s not so...I thought better of you.

 

[mickEblu]

Say it’s not so...I thought better of you.

But shes hawt.

So not a Beyoncé fan I take it?

 

[GingerGirl3]

But shes hawt.

So not a Beyoncé fan I take it?

There are not strong enough words about how vile I find her. I loved Destiny’s Child back in my college days. I’d have to brush up on the lyrics but she had songs standing up for women and one specifically about a girl who dressed like a trashy person (I’m only recently out of lurking status to standup for my people so I’m not sure what words I can use). Now she dresses like the girl she derided for being trash. I only just found out this place has a political forum, that I cannot participate in, so I’m getting the impression that regular forums like to limit discussion. I don’t think it should be controversial but since it is with idiots I’ll just say #backthebadge. Especially if you’re an entitled performer who is constantly in need of their protection at concerts. Basically I hate hypocrites.

 

[TROR]

Beyonce has a god complex and her fanbase is filled with mouth drooling worshipers. Frankly, it's a cult.

 

[THE 1HAPPY HAUNT]

LMAO!!! You litterally made me yell out loud just now at work. thanks lol

 

[mickEblu]

There are not strong enough words about how vile I find her. I loved Destiny’s Child back in my college days. I’d have to brush up on the lyrics but she had songs standing up for women and one specifically about a girl who dressed like a trashy person (I’m only recently out of lurking status to standup for my people so I’m not sure what words I can use). Now she dresses like the girl she derided for being trash. I only just found out this place has a political forum, that I cannot participate in, so I’m getting the impression that regular forums like to limit discussion. I don’t think it should be controversial but since it is with idiots I’ll just say #backthebadge. Especially if you’re an entitled performer who is constantly in need of their protection at concerts. Basically I hate hypocrites.

I don’t really listen to her music or stay current with pop culture. I also don’t watch the news. What does #backthebadge have to do with Beyoncé?

I’m just saying she’s sessy.

 

[Suspirian]

Can yall believe that TLK is probably going to rake in the most money out of all the remakes and it STILL doesn't have a ride?

Also I just tried the ignore feature for the first time! love that

 

[THE 1HAPPY HAUNT]

Can yall believe that TLK is probably going to rake in the most money out of all the remakes and it STILL doesn't have a ride?

Didn't you hear? Big Thunder Mountain is going to get a Pride Rock overlay this fall

 

[Suspirian]

Didn't you hear? Big Thunder Mountain is going to get a Pride Rock overlay this fall

Can't wait! Is this before or after The Lone Ranger e-ticket?

 

[THE 1HAPPY HAUNT]

Can't wait! Is this before or after The Lone Ranger e-ticket?

they only do overlays for films that make money.

 

[TROR]

Can't wait! Is this before or after The Lone Ranger e-ticket?

A Lone Ranger meets Western River Expedition is expected to replace Big Thunder Ranch. Expect an announcement at D23. Monstropolis is also replacing Hollywood Pictures Backlot with a door coaster.