The New Fantasyland

[EPCOT Explorer]

Oh yeah it looked great. Loved the ride, hated where they put it. But you know me and backstory, aesthetics and theme integrity. You had all this European era fantasy and suddenly and without transitions a oceanic retro steampunk theme. :brick:

But it appears the problem has been resolved with the new Fantasyland.

Worked fine for me. Sorta like a Mermaid lagoon.


Yes, resolved by ripping it out.:lookaroun:lol:

 

[jt04]

Worked fine for me. Sorta like a Mermaid lagoon.


Yes, resolved by ripping it out.:lookaroun:lol:

Mermaid will work in the new plan I think because it will fuction as an isolated land visually. And it's roots are located in europen folklore both literally and figuratively. 20K, not so much.

Yes! One of the best of Eisner's decisions. Now we have the possibility of an entire land similarly themed. Thanks Michael!

 

[Horizonsfan]

Yes! One of the best of Eisner's decisions. Now we have the possibility of an entire land similarly themed. Thanks Michael!

Yes! A 10 year timespan between closing an E-ticket and just the removal of the lagoon and a 17 year timespan between 20k's closing and the opening a new attraction at the same spot. It was almost too wonderful.:lookaroun

 

[jt04]

Yes! A 10 year timespan between closing an E-ticket and just the removal of the lagoon and a 17 year timespan between 20k's closing and the opening a new attraction at the same spot. It was almost too wonderful.:lookaroun

20K was falling apart. So some stuff got shut down, we got DAK out of the deal.

Big picture. Ya gotta look at the big picture.

It'll all make perfect sense by the 50th anniversary.

 

[Figment632]

20K was falling apart. So some stuff got shut down, we got DAK out of the deal.

Big picture. Ya gotta look at the big picture.

It'll all make perfect sense by the 50th anniversary.

We got DAK because 20K closed???

 

[wserratore1963]

I like it; I like it

Yes, it's like this was the plan all along as I said before. 20K seems to have been a "last minute" add back in the day, and now we are finally getting the original intended design. Tea Cups are already in the right place so it makes perfect sense. And that is another indication this was the original idea. Maybe even Walt inspired. Now wouldn't that be interesting to find out.

Did I mention I think this is a great concept?

:sohappy:

Here's to the Future!

 

[Lee]

We got DAK because 20K closed???

No.
:ROFLOL:

 

[jt04]

We got DAK because 20K closed???

I didn't say that.:ROFLOL:

 

[Figment632]

I didn't say that.:ROFLOL:

lol I know I was joking if thats all it takes to get a new park, close RRC and give me a 5th gate.

 

[jt04]

lol I know I was joking if thats all it takes to get a new park, close RRC and give me a 5th gate.

True.

Someone mentioned earlier Disney should go all out and build a new DisneySea in WDW. But I figure if they have 2 to 3 billion to invest at WDW, that money could best be spent in the existing 4 parks.

Now that would be nice.

 

[Vernonpush]

Oh yeah it looked great. Loved the ride, hated where they put it. But you know me and backstory, aesthetics and theme integrity. You had all this European era fantasy and suddenly and without transitions a oceanic retro steampunk theme. :brick:

But it appears the problem has been resolved with the new Fantasyland.

But look at it from the time it was built 1971 (were you even born then?). It made perfect sense as a transition between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. A story based on a novel (Fantasy) by Jules Verne (about the "future"). The only thing that made it "out of place" was the addition of Mickey's Birthdayland ( later: Toon Town) between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.:shrug:

 

[hoke2007]

True.

Someone mentioned earlier Disney should go all out and build a new DisneySea in WDW. But I figure if they have 2 to 3 billion to invest at WDW, that money could best be spent in the existing 4 parks.

Now that would be nice.

If Disney invested $2 billion in the existing 4 theme parks, they would all be mind-blowing.

 

[jt04]

But look at it from the time it was built 1971 (were you even born then?). It made perfect sense as a transition between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. A story based on a novel (Fantasy) by Jules Verne (about the "future"). The only thing that made it "out of place" was the addition of Mickey's Birthdayland ( later: Toon Town) between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.:shrug:

It should have been located where the indy racers are or at least had some sort of facade to block it from the rest of FL's theming. Having it on the castle side of the tea cups and directly across from toad was very poor placement. Very very poor. Especially by Disney standards. Beautiful design plus bad placement equaled bad show.

 

[jt04]

If Disney invested $2 billion in the existing 4 theme parks, they would all be mind-blowing.

I agree, all 4 parks are very close to being of Disneyland caliber IMO.

It's a bit frustrating that they don't go for that standard. But the FL expansion is definitely a step in that direction.

 

[Horizonsfan]

20K was falling apart. So some stuff got shut down, we got DAK out of the deal.

Big picture. Ya gotta look at the big picture.

It'll all make perfect sense by the 50th anniversary.

I'm not saying that 20K didn't need work or taken out. I just find it incredibly far fetched to think that this was the grand plan. Like I said, having to wait 17 years for a replacement isn't really a plan. You can try and concoct a theory about why it took so long....but it doesn't make it true.

Here's the big picture: In late 60s the MK was planned to include new versions of all the big E-ticket of DL, excluding POTC, but including the Submarine Voyage. Flash forward, 20K was a slow loader and was costly. Disney took it out with no immediate replacement. Ideas came and went with no project moving beyond blue sky. They still didn't even really touch the lagoon for 10 years. Finally, in 2004 they tore out the lagoon, built PPS but still without a solid plan for the area. Five years later (NOW), Lasseter and other people in the company notice how horrible the MK's capacity is, how it's been 17+ years since the last E-ticket was added, and how the MK has some of the worst FL and TT aesthetics of any DL-style park in the chain. Lasseter, Iger and others get a plan put together to redo FL, going over the objections of TDO and even P&R. It includes a firm replacement for 20K, TLM. The plan is leaked and people get excited but wonder why it took so long. That's the big picture.

..And how in god's name do you know what is going on for the 50th? Our insiders aren't even sure what's definitely going to happen for the 40th!

 

[hoke2007]

I agree, all 4 parks are very close to being of Disneyland caliber IMO.

It's a bit frustrating that they don't go for that standard. But the FL expansion is definitely a step in that direction.

I agree. Besides the fantasyland expansion, I'd like to see some rehabs of classic rides like Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan, and Snow White. The speedway also needs some pretty big help.

 

[Figment632]

I agree. Besides the fantasyland expansion, I'd like to see some rehabs of classic rides like Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan, and Snow White. The speedway also needs so pretty big help.

Yea iwas just joking about the 5th gate as well. I am the biggest non supporter of a 5th gate around. WDW has 6 parks if you include TL and BB we don't need a 7th I rather have the money spent on plussing and see DL get a third gate and a water park.

 

[jt04]

I'm not saying that 20K didn't need work or taken out. I just find it incredibly far fetched to think that this was the grand plan. Like I said, having to wait 17 years for a replacement isn't really a plan. You can try and concoct a theory about why it took so long....but it doesn't make it true.

Here's the big picture: In late 60s the MK was planned to include new versions of all the big E-ticket of DL, excluding POTC, but including the Submarine Voyage. Flash forward, 20K was a slow loader and was costly. Disney took it out with no immediate replacement. Ideas came and went with no project moving beyond blue sky. They still didn't even really touch the lagoon for 10 years. Finally, in 2004 they tore out the lagoon, built PPS but still without a solid plan for the area. Five years later (NOW), Lasseter and other people in the company notice how horrible the MK's capacity is, how it's been 17+ years since the last E-ticket was added, and how the MK has some of the worst FL and TT aesthetics of any DL-style park in the chain. Lasseter, Iger and others get a plan put together to redo FL, going over the objections of TDO and even P&R. It includes a firm replacement for 20K, TLM. The plan is leaked and people get excited but wonder why it took so long. That's the big picture.

..And how in god's name do you know what is going on for the 50th? Our insiders aren't even sure what's definitely going to happen for the 40th!

All 4 parks need work. I absolutely believe that Disney intends eventually to keep all resort rooms filled at non-discounted rates. They are overbuilt now but I think that was the plan all along. To get the inventory ahead of demand for a time rather than lose guests off site during peak season. But nobody could have anticipated the severe downturn we have experienced. So I think they will now develop the parks to fill the rooms at a quicker pace. And as we know these projects take many years. Many more years than the 2 years left before the 40th. Obviously the 50th will not just be papered over.

As for TDO being over-ruled and forced to accept the expansion. Well, even if that is the way it's going down, it is indicative of future trends. It's obvious these type decisions are going to be coming from the top more and more. Perhaps all the TDO bashing has been part of it. Or maybe it is just easier to control quality and content from California and TDO's loss of power is just the result of a new corporate strategy. I'd bet on the latter.

 

[hoke2007]

Yea iwas just joking about the 5th gate as well. I am the biggest non supporter of a 5th gate around. WDW has 6 parks if you include TL and BB we don't need a 7th I rather have the money spent on plussing and see DL get a third gate and a water park.

I don't know anyone who actually wants a 5th theme park at WDW. The 4 existing theme parks need a lot of help. I cannot even begin to describe how disgusted I'd be with Disney if they built a 5th theme park without significantly helping out the 4 existing parks first.

 

[rudyjr13]

Five years later (NOW), Lasseter and other people in the company notice how horrible the MK's capacity is, how it's been 17+ years since the last E-ticket was added, and how the MK has some of the worst FL and TT aesthetics of any DL-style park in the chain. Lasseter, Iger and others get a plan put together to redo FL, going over the objections of TDO and even P&R. It includes a firm replacement for 20K, TLM. The plan is leaked and people get excited but wonder why it took so long. That's the big picture.

Does anyone have any insight as to why TDO would be against this type of refurb/plussing in the MK? One would think they would be the ones pushing upper management to improve on the park and your Igers would be pushing back saying hold tight until the economy rebounds.

Unless they truly don't care unless attendance drops? I find that hard to believe especially since I'm assuming the flat attendance numbers from 08 to 09 do not translate into higher profit due to the discounts/incentives.