The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Season 7: Fantasmic Journeys [CONCLUDED!]

Tegan pilots a chicken

Tegan pilots a chicken

Sharpie Queen 💜
Premium Member
montydysquith-navarro said:
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So... did we just snatch @Tegan pilots a chicken's beloved ✨TIERRA✨??

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I’ve never been so disappointed in my entire life.
 
D Hulk

D Hulk

Well-Known Member
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TEAM GARFIELD
THE WORLD’S MOST MAGICAL PROJECT

Right up front, this is a staggeringly impressive project! To think that a team of 5 could devise and execute something with this sheer amount of scale and detail in a week is flabbergasting. There are several individual components, components which are each the creation of single player, which could be enough on their own to be an entire team project. Regardless of how I might feel about this project within the context of this specific prompt, it is easily one of the most impressive creations I’ve seen in all of Armchair Imagineering.

And it is way too long.

But…that’s not really the issue. It has to do with what makes a “celebration” project. For what your Most Magical Project feels like, more than anything, is a top-to-bottom resort-wide overhaul. It’s an entirely different sort of project, really. That might be subjective – we had many judge talks about what exactly constitute a celebration/anniversary – but I feel the distinctly event-based stuff got lost in the larger scope. My specific criteria, as someone who’s been to every Disney theme park except the ones in Florida, was for something that’d get me to go during the year of the 50th. Most of what Team Garfield proposed is permanent. New rides, new land designs, even the new parades and spectaculars tend to outlast their anniversary years. This would overall be a huge boon to Walt Disney World, but I’d probably wait for the crowds to die down.

Of course the titanic scale moves the project beyond the realm of realism. By my count, there are 8 or more all-new rides being added to the resort in a single year. That is unprecedented! And with so much to look over – even with a multi-hour lead-in, I had to skim and speed read – there’s a lot of careful detail which I surely missed.

Just a little more care in organizing the presentation could’ve done wonders to sell the spectacular stuff you’ve all created. The website, organized by park (& etc.), and then sub-organized into redundant recurring categories like “Already Announced,” that makes the project read more like a list of unrelated components, and not like a large whole. There isn’t really an introductory thesis statement for what the celebration itself might be like – what specific artistic vision drives the year’s offerings – to tie everything together like the Dude’s rug. The website looks extremely nice. It has several dozen individual pages, splitting things up too much. Rather than separating entertainment by park, perhaps dedicating a section to entertainment throughout the resort (and otherwise keeping the same content) could’ve helped out.

Now to quickly rush through the specific things. Apologies of course that, thanks to the project’s sheer size, I cannot give anything the attention it rightfully deserves.

The Tomorrowland overhaul is fantastic. It recognizes an existing problem, and strengthens the Raygun Gothic look which is already there. I’m always a sucker for original concepts like Ace Astro Vince Quasar.

Magic Kingdom’s entertainment additions (the castle show, the parade, and more) hit all the right notes. For me, these are quintessential to the park anniversary experience. The premises show the perfect reverence and nostalgia…frankly, they’re better than what I saw at Disneyland’s 60th.

The upgrades to the Imagination Pavilion are needed and well-done, much like Tomorrowland. I might’ve preferred seeing Dreamfinder return to what’s now called Imagitopia, but Professor Pigment is a good original character. Would the use of a Disney Channel actress eventually date this? The Color Factory motion sim seems a little thematically redundant; the stuff here about Dreamfinder and dreams could’ve been folded into the Imagitopia concept. But overall, there is a fine amount of solid detail in each section to flesh out a long-abused pavilion.

Moving into Hollywood Studios, Pixar Place is a realistic, Chapekian addition. As you’d anticipated, I’m a little hurt by the removal of Maroon Studios since it came from an old project I worked on. Our focus then was partly to strengthen the “Hollywood that never was” aspect of DHS, which I feel we lose by turning a studio land into a Pixar land. A Toy Story Adventure is a sturdy ride, though I’d prefer a less overused Pixar franchise. The DCA Monsters Inc. ride doesn’t deserve cloning.

Around now, my attention while reading really started to flag.

Agreed on fixing up Chester & Hester’s. The Excavator is an obvious choice, but a good one. Odd to say, but it could use more detail!

Inventus gets new rides! Relocating Aladdin here is very smart. The tanuki flat ride is a cute idea. Would you acknowledge the tanukis’…er…testicles? (Sorry, they’re famous for that!)

Okay, I need to save some energy for the other teams. I’d love to discuss this more. So many individual components were extremely well made! The overall project was extremely over-ambitious, and could’ve used more focus on the celebration element.
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TEAM HOLLAND
ONCE IN A LIFETIME

Team Holland does the best job of the three teams of really zeroing in on the celebration/anniversary element which I’ve already harped about. The counter-intuitive choice of Google Docs helped out, actually! That forced a linear presentation approach, which in turn forced you to be systematic with your story.

While the other teams organized their work by resort locations (parks), you divided everything up by event components. That worked like a charm! Beginning with the limited time only things – which I was the most interest in, BTW – then moving on to upgrades, then permanent new additions…that was a masterstroke. This choice alone does a ton to elevate every little part of the project, because it feels like part of a greater whole. And though the written descriptions tend to be quick overviews instead of detailed explorations, that approach works in this context.

Starting out with the event colors and the event-specific décor like bunting and banners…very wise. The visuals really sell exactly how Magic Kingdom would feel throughout 2021 & 2022. The specific 1970s “rotting avocado” color scheme isn’t my favorite thing, although I totally understand and respect the reasoning behind this choice. As basic a it would be, I would prefer gold. Fiftieth anniversaries are traditionally gold (and diamond for 60th, ruby for 75th, etc.).

Then we get into the limited time attractions. Y’know, I’m sold! This gets to the very core of this stanza! I’m buying a plane ticket and flying out to Florida (indirectly…might wanna go through Cuba along the way). A lot of the smaller-scale limited time engagements by Tegan are charming and appealing.

Both Epcot and DHS have black box dark rides, which are a really clever and realistic way to create limited time rides. This seems like a great use of a ride technology which many people have grumbled about. You can recreate lost rides for a limited time, you can appeal to niche interests, all without breaking the bank. Presentation-wise, it’s a shame that you didn’t fully explain the black box concept until we got to DHS, which made the Epcot entry slightly confusing.

Brandon’s list of snacks is a good way to do a “50 for the 50th” list without it being overwhelming. (Garfield!) Hulk love food! Shannon’s similar list of 50 event highlights much later works for the same reasons. Both lists have lots of little things (cupcakes, retro map souvenirs) which really make this anniversary feel tactile. Believable. They had the exact same stuff for Disneyland’s 60th on July 17th, and only on that day (yes, I was there).

Attraction Renovations section. Bay Lake Adventure Island suffers slightly from “overview syndrome.” I’d like to know more about this; I’m very intrigued. It has a good list of boutique activities, but not even a really theme. Could be something we revisit some day to flesh out.

The other renovations are all solid. Peter Pan, PeopleMover, Imagination, MuppetVision 3D (pandering to judges!!!), Kilimanjaro Safaris, in each case you identify a real problem and you propose a realistic solution. This seems like a believable roster of upgrades for one special year. I also like how you’ve postponed the complete Asgard overhaul in Inventus for a later year. You’ve saved yourselves some work, and you’ve given guests a reason to revisit Disney World sometime after the celebration ends.

ENTERTAINMENT HELL YES! Parades and castle shows, as I’ll say each time, are central to an anniversary celebration. All of your ideas fit that purpose well. Sadly, the parade write-up from @Honey Bee could use fleshing out. Right now it’s simply a preliminary list of floats. It’s a solid foundation, which needs to be made into a narrative.

Opening Magic Kingdom for 50 hours on 10/01/21…that’s just enough time to read through Team Garfield’s website! I love the specificity here, a specific day. I love all the very special stuff which happens only on this date. So very “celebration!” The double fireworks would be a big hit. The 50 Float Parade is a rare moment where your project feels slightly unrealistic. I’m not sure if Magic Kingdom could store 50 floats all at once, and the parade would be a multi-hour affair like Pasadena’s Rose Parade.

More fun details round out the project – the Disney+ special, the golden vehicles, all are good. Your presentation ends calmly, having succinctly made its point. Maybe it isn’t the most epic project of the three, but it satisfies exactly the requirements. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
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TEAM MAGUIRE
Most Magical Celebration

Team Maguire’s brainstorming process was a little quieter than their rivals, but it suits their personalities. There are more mature members here, who can quickly come to a decision with little muss or fuss. The end result is a very solid presentation, hitting lots of good notes with a strong website.

Somewhat like Team Garfield (though minus the Russian novel length), the Most Magical Celebration organizes its material by resort location. This means that the anniversary celebration stuff gets a little lost within the park overhauls and such. Like Garfield, the focus here is on permanent long-term improvements, at the expense of limited time fun.

Early on in the intro, there’s an “INSERT PARADE NAME HERE” gaffe. A rare mistake!

Ignoring that, the presentation begins in earnest with an Adventureland overhaul. The website organization gives this a place of prominence, which is maybe undeserved. A revamped Adventureland isn’t the heart and soul of the 50th. It’s not even as deserving as nearby Tomorrowland. Taken as its own thing, there is good work here. Removing the Magic Carpets is a good call. Removing the Swiss Family Treehouse is…less wise. Removing a vintage attraction for an anniversary seems a little tone deaf, no matter what you think of the Treehouse. Falco’s Flight is a good ride – it’s a strong retheme of a standard Intamin flat ride model – though I lament losing a classic to gain it.

Magic of Memories is my favorite castle show of the three. The premise is similar to the others, but the write-up is wonderfully evocative. This is written from the guest’s perspective, with a focus on emotion and sensation. This is an excellent template for any sort of Imagineering write-up. In contrast, the parade is severely underwritten. As a presentation, the parade and castle show should be a complementary pair.

Food & beverage is…something which should’ve had a single page. Splitting this up by park makes the celebration seem less focused than it is. It also stands out when certain parks (DHS) has extremely abbreviated food lists in contrast to other places.

Moving beyond Magic Kingdom, many of the other additions seem fairly minor. The Istanbul walkthrough in Epcot’s Turkey is well-researched, but a B-ticket at best. I definitely enjoy the Godzilla vs. Kong overlay in DHS (Hulk is #TeamGodzilla!). Not sure Universal Studios would enjoy it. Could you even get the rights to Kong?

Primeval World is very much needed in Animal Kingdom, to improve Dinoland. Journey through the Primeval World gets 90% of the attention, for better and worse. A family-friendly dark ride is sorely needed over here (I assume) to balance out all the nearby height restriction rides, plus I like the focus on extinct beasties beyond just dinos. I’d like to know a whole lot more about how Primeval World as a whole looks. How exactly is it upgrading the look of Chester & Hester’s…and how does Triceratops Spin still fit in here?

Okay, my hand is starting to hurt. I guess Inventus opened for the 50th, so we’ll move on. The resorts are often neglected, so it’ nice to see them getting some love. Backlot Movies Resort is one of your most substantial permanent improvements, and it’s a good one. It has an excellent amount of descriptions for the various wings – neither too detailed nor too brief – and it’s overall clearly a labor of passion. This doesn’t really seem like a celebration/anniversary thing, but it’s good as its own thing.

The Disney Springs stuff is a great big “wow!” moment right at the end. I believe this is all @Disney Dad 3000 ‘s doing; he’s becoming a truly formidable foe, who very nearly won last year! The WDW 50 Interactive exhibit is extremely impressive in both concept and execution. That interactive map shows DDad’s ever-growing skill set in all manner of technical areas. He’s really stepped up an already very strong game. This will serve him well going forward.

Skyliner – good. Signature dining – good. No conclusion. Yeah, this presentation has solid individual moments, but it struggles to come together. Conceptually and organizationally, you and Garfield had the same issues. But don’t let that get you down, this late in the game the challenge really ramps up. Everyone is producing worthwhile stuff.​
 
spacemt354

spacemt354

Chili's
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TEAM MAGUIRE
Most Magical Celebration

Granted with a prompt like this you expect some overlap, but it's pretty amazing how the three teams went is such vastly different directions overall despite having the same assignment. Which is ironic considering the similarities of this season from Futurama to Legos.

Out of the three teams this team was the least active in terms of page count, but in this regard I don't think that was a bad thing. Led by SA veterans such as Jokers and Disney Dad - the team was very hyper-focused from the get-go analyzing what aspects of Walt Disney World to upgrade. While out of the 3 projects, this probably has the least detail, that is not necessarily a bad thing, and after digging through the project, I think the detail could have been much more pronounced via presentation. There were many 'wow' elements to this project hidden in tabs at the end of the project, or menus that I have to scroll through that could have been in a larger font since they're done do well. These are elements that a reader might simply gloss over and I only knew they were there because they were mentioned in the brainstorming thread so I went searching for them. I posted a gif in the thread in response to the interactive map, because I wasn't kidding - that is a 'wow' moment! That should be on the front page of the site! Not hidden on a Disney Springs page, right? I get that you wanted to include it with celebration hub giving an example of the VR, but you can highlight the art on the home page showing that it's coming down the line. Same with ThemeParkPriest's amazing Skyliner map - that was such a delight to see, so highlight it in the project either putting it with the thread post or earlier on in the project because once the reader gets to the end I'm looking to wrap things up and may overlook stuff if I'm not actively looking for it.

As for the PM role I think Jokers did a really great job organizing the project with the daily list of content that needed to be done. In addition, I think Shannon really was very active in the brainstorming and taking care of the small items that add up to something special.

Getting back to the project, the Adventureland content is pretty good - I like how the spinner is still there but the pathway is widened back to its original state. Plus the spinner gives more of a deeper story to the surrounding area, and the Jungle Cruise upgrade still maintains the original's quality story-telling.

As we move on to the fireworks show - out of the 3 shows, I think Magic of Memories was my favorite. Not only for the brilliant song selection, but for the transitions and visuals - I could really get a sense of the show, so props in this department. The Turkey write-up was honestly a bit underwhelming, but perhaps that's because I'm comparing it to the original project, that said I liked the special World Showcase offerings! The Godzilla vs Kong ride made me giggle a little, not at the attraction, but at the film after seeing it last week. What a fun mess, and this: The battle ends with Godzilla ripping Mechagodzilla's head off while Kong throws its body into Tokyo Bay. isn't too far off. The 50th show was a great way to represent the real world/SAU additions as well.

Primeval World was another highlight of the project to me - adding a family dark ride to Animal Kingdom is a great concept and was written very well, with tons of great animal visuals to follow along. Continuing the highlights - Disney's Backlot Movies Resort was an Oscar worthy entry! A great way to take the All-Stars and add a bit more spice to them. Complements everything in the area very nicely. Celebration Hub and the Skyliner as mentioned before were two other incredible additions to the resort. And the signature dining custom menus do not go overlooked! They were very well made and all were so unique. Which is the crux of my dilemma with this project is this feels like I'm reading a project that has all the components of bring great - it just perhaps needed another day or two in order to organize and compartmentalize the remaining aspects. For instance, why have an Inventus tab to say it's going to open in 2022, when the program guide confirmed that it was open already? So it's a fine balance between too much, too little, and how the presentation is set up for the reader that all factors into the minor contributions that out of necessity have to separate the projects because of how impressive all of these, including this project, are!

So overall - I think like all teams, Maguire should be proud of this submission - as you really tried to come up with unique presentations like the interactive map, and perhaps a day or two more this could have ascending to even higher heights.​
 
Sam Magic

Sam Magic

Well-Known Member
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Team Holland: Once in a Lifetime​

I’d like to begin by congratulating you all on compiling such a thorough and detailed proposal. Having spent countless hours in your shoes in the past, I know how stressful projects like these can be. I was impressed by this team’s ability to create, power through, and communicate with each other to produce a great proposal. Cheers folks. To best provide my feedback, I will be breaking my review down into two parts.

What Doesn’t Work:
Let’s start with what unfortunately doesn’t work in this proposal. Off the bat, the colors do not work. I admire and respect the logic behind this approach: a throwback to vintage Disney World and the 70s design aesthetic. The problem is not the thesis; the problem is its execution. The warm color palette is not translatable to other seasons and doesn’t work in Central Florida. It clashes with Disney World’s history; when Disney first opened, it used very bright and bold colors, not warm oranges and browns. Rather than serving as a classy throwback to Disney World circa 1971, it merely revives the worst elements of 1970s design. I’m worried about how it would translate into a resort (and frankly worldwide) campaign. Most disappointing, the muted tones undercut the bold nature of the remaining proposal.

A more visionary approach would’ve been to either recreate the color palette of the Vacation Kingdom or create a new color palette that evokes a sense of the 70s while still being appealing to modern audiences, in line with the anniversary’s nature, and applies to seasons outside of Fall. In future proposals, design color palettes that have both depth and flexibility. Use tones that fit the project and potential applications. A well-done color palette can make all the difference in a project.

Frankly, the colors are the most glaring mistake in this proposal. The only other aspect of this proposal that is lacking is its presentation. That being said, you all made it easy to digest and read through. A suggestion I’d have for the future would be to experiment with new presentation formats. Websites are overdone and challenging to pull off well or collaborate. Perhaps explore using videos, podcasts, google presentations, mixes of both? Experiment and push into new mediums. After all, you’re Imagineers!

P.S. What the heck is that name "Once Upon Once in A Lifetime". Simplify that. Maybe, and I'm trying to work with the retro vibe, "Golden Dreams"?

What Works:
I’ll start this out by complimenting you all on something I just critiqued! Though I believe you all could’ve pioneered a new presentation style besides google docs, the team’s use of google docs was exceptionally well done. My biggest compliment is the consistent application of the color palette! Though I despise the colors, I admire their consistent application throughout your presentation. It added a degree of realism and unity to your proposal. Another thing that blew my socks off was the 50 Hours for 50 Years; this is a great idea, and I’m a little heartbroken Disney probably won’t do it this year. Each element of this celebration was well thought out and fantastic.

Improvements made around the resort are both well described and generally great ideas. I especially love the proposal to transform Discovery Island. Discovery Island is a remarkably unused feature of the resort, and reviving it in the way you all did is genuinely brilliant. Also! I love the use of Disney+ to tell the Disney World Story. A second to the last thing: I love the celebration of the original EPCOT. It’s such an often ignored or poorly explained part of Walt’s life, and I appreciate your group’s attempts at righting that wrong and acknowledging WDW’s roots.

A final thing that works is your team! I understand there were some communication issues early on, but not only did you all overcome those issues, you folks straight up thrived! Quickly a great sense of teamwork captured you all and aided in creating an excellent proposal.

Conclusion:
In the end, you all should be proud of the work submitted. Though the color palette will give me nightmares for the next week, everything else contained in the proposal demonstrates a team with the right ideas, creativity, and attitude to advance further in this competition. I wish you all the best in the results!
 
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Chaos Cat

Chaos Cat

Well-Known Member
OKAY. Reviewing these one at a time because I can already tell these are going to take a while.

tcool123 said:
Stanza XIV: The Anniversary

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We here at Team Garfield hope everybody here remembers how to count because we're about to take you on a fifty part tour at the world's most magical vacation location! Without further ado we proudly present...

The World's Most Magical Celebration​
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B-Wolf's Guest Review of Team Garfield
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(By the by, I'm writing this as I'm reading, so I might realize things a bit late)
  • Starting off bold with the "50 for the 50th" campaign. While including many of Disney's official announcements in this might be seen as a bit of a cop-out to some, 50 is an insane amount of things to write for, so I'll forgive some shortcutting and just applaud you for committing to the idea.​
  • The EARidescent (ha!) overlays are a neat idea. Nice way of showing the park's legacy. However, I'm not sure if some of the repainted ride vehicles would work all that well in the rides themselves. Haunted Mansion, in particular, I could very easily see as looking very out of place. Still, not a bad concept.​
  • I don't exactly keep up with county music, so I have no idea how good the new soundtrack is, but Country Bears has been in desperate need of a update, so I'm just happy you gave the show the plus it needs.​
  • The Thunder Mountain and Haunted Mansion updates are both mainly no-brainer stuff, but they still greatly improve these already great rides. I only wish you had also replaced the current Bride effect, but that might also require changing things at Disneyland, so...​
  • Combining the new North America scene with the existing Latin America scene is a really good idea and the whole thing flows smoothly, but don't think I don't realize that you lead with that just so that you can get the Character Dolls past. ;) Seriously, I don't mind the Character Dolls (and in this case, you also made sure to spread them out more), I just found it funny you lead with something else entirely.​
  • Honestly, you could of just said "Peter Pan's Flight gets an update" and I would still be sold.​
  • Top-to-Bottom Tomorrowland overhaul, YES. Not only that, but you're expanding on Raygun Gothic theme the current Tomorrowland was suppose to be, but then they just kind of gave up and just threw anything vaguely sci-fi in.​
  • Flash Gordon-esque adventures and the Roger Rabbit ride system is not the first combination I think of, but it work surprisingly well. I feel like you could of gone into more detail, but again, it's "50 for the 50th," I can give a little leeway. Plus, all thing considered, "I wish there was more of this" is a great complaint to get.​
  • Flight of the Navigator is an odd choice for an attraction, but you managed to pull it off well. Kind of a sci-fi on Soarin'.​
  • I have mix feelings on the replacement of Astro Obiter with Jetpack Joyride. On one hand, the ride itself looks to be a massive improvement. On the other, I'm sorry, but a statue of a man on a jetpack just can't complete Astro Obiter's iconic planet tower. It's just such a cool and unique visual and you can't really compete with it.​
  • The Space Mountain and PeopleMover updates are small but nice. ...Can't really say anything else.​
  • The new preshow for Carousel of Progress is a good example of a minor addition making the whole thing "click," adding context to an attraction that otherwise just kind of there.​
  • Haley's Cosmic Cantina feels like what an actual restaurant would be like in a sci-fi world. Like, this place feels like one of those restaurants that put up a bunch of random stuff on the walls for atmosphere, but for space. I love it.​
  • Galactic Waypoint, meanwhile... exists. There's not really enough detail here for me to say anything else about it. Like, I know you been keeping these descriptions short, but couldn't you afford to got into a little more detail here?​
  • Surprised you kept Move it Shake it, but theming it to the park itself does make it work better. However, it also feels a bit superfluous since all the entertainment is themed to the parks.​
  • I have not seen Fantasy Faire somehow, so I can't say it this update was really needed. However, on it's own, it's good. I do feel like having Mickey and friends represent Fantasyland is a bit of a cop-out, though.​
  • Classic Magic Parade at first felt a tad underwhelming, but then I notice that it was a temporary parade, and looking it over in that mindset made it work better. For what it is, it's a good parade, but I would of preferred something more permanent.​
  • Celebrate a Wish Come True is really good, a very nice tribute to the park, but feels like it's retreading a lot of ground that other shows like Remember Dreams Come True and Celebrate Tokyo Disneyland have already covered. It's still good, just nothing groundbreaking. (The nods to Wishes were much appreciated, though.)​
  • Redone Adventerland Plaza and Robin Hood M&G. Yes.​
  • (I've been writing this for too long, so at this point, I going to start skipping over some of the small but nice stuff if I don't have anything to say about it other than "it's small but nice")​
  • Imagination sponsored by Crayola... that make so much sense I'm surprised no one's done it sooner.​
  • I love Journey to Imagitopia. It's such a unique take on Journey into Imagination that just feels like so much fun. Love the subtle references to the old Epcot rides, as well.​
  • The Colorworks are nice update to the Imageworks (and lord knows it needed it). Theming it to Figment's Home was just the cherry on the cake.​
  • The Color Factory is fun little romp as well. I'm admittedly not the biggest fan of Minion Mayhem system (having all those vehicles in the same space feel a bit off), but it's definitely a massive improvement to just showing old Pixar shorts.​
  • The concert series sure featured a lot of names that I'm sure someone recognizes. Not me, though.​
  • I have mixed feelings on Pixar Place replacing Maroon Studios. Nothing against Pixar Place itself, it really well done, keeping the studio theming while still having the classic Pixar feel. Toy Story Adventure is a particularly fun addition and I love the inclusion of the Cereal Bar. The thing is, though, Roger Rabbit just works perfectly at Hollywood Studios and I don't like that you had to get rid of it. Again, not saying Pixar Place is bad; if you had to retheme a land to Pixar, this is how you should do it. Just not if it was the best call to get rid of Roger Rabbit.​
  • Doctor Strange lends himself to a stage show so well that it's surprises me that Disney has managed to pull one off successfully.​
  • Mickey's Stardust Circus is such a fun and creative parade. I love it when Disney just does out of the box stuff with Mickey and friends just to see if it works.​
  • Fantasmic 2.0 is, well, it's Fantasmic. It's a classic for a reason. I would of liked a bit more classic Disney, but the focus on modern stuff is still good.​
  • Animation at Animal Kingdom... well, at least it's at the Conservation Station, where theming isn't really a thing. (I kid, I kid)​
  • Yes, Dinoland overhaul! While I do kind of like the tourist trap narrative Dinoland was going for, I am not sad to see go away in favor of going all in on the dig site theming.​
  • Circle of Life is a really interesting take on Lion King, telling the story in a more abstract way. It really feels like the thesis statement show that Rivers of Light wishes it could be. My only real problem with it is that it reminded me that the remake exists.​
  • Moving Magic Carpets over to Inventus and away from the Magic Kingdom was a stroke of genius, but "exactly the same?" Not even a new paint job to make it look less out of place?​
  • Not gonna lie, when I saw Tanuki and Tilt-a-Whirl together, my mind jumped to the worst possible conclusion. 😅 Thankfully, that was not the case, and this was nice, cute flat ride.​
  • I actually really like the atmosphere of The Marketplace and this update just enhances it so much! A lot of cool store and restaurant ideas as well.​
  • Overall, this was a project with a lot of attention on the little things. Small quality-of-life updates to attractions, nice little surprises for guests to find, that sort of thing. And while that attention to detail is nice, it also meant a lot of the major stuff got a bit lost amidst everything. It didn't help that some sections felt like they could of used more detail. Pixar Place, in particular, got shoved onto one page, with only Toy Story Adventure getting more than 1-2 paragraphs. The project was still overall great, don't get me wrong. I just felt it could of gotten some more focus.​
Okay, first review done after way too long (I started this at 11 something, for reference). Two more to go...

Lord give me strength.
 
AceAstro

AceAstro

Well-Known Member
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TEAM GARFIELD
The World's Most Magical Celebration

To start, I love the overall look of the site. The splash page and colour scheme of the whole area looks great. I feel it fits into an anniversary celebration perfectly. Next, I love the layout of the different places. It’s clean to know which park I am going to. I really like the list of the 50 things right on the main page. It makes it sort of a checklist that allows me to then know what to expect going forward.

That being said, this is also what I struggle with. For a celebration like this there would be a timeline or some kind of wind-up. Instead it is just “here are 50 things that is happening”. A little bit more of an introduction/ timeline would have really helped the flow of the overall project instead of just 50 things for the 50th.

Starting with one thing across all the parks. All the already announced parts make sense. None of it is too much detail and makes sure we are all on the same page.

With Magic Kingdom, I like the Beacons of Magic touch. It stays true to the Disneyland 50th about specialty ride vehicles for the 50th. It’s a nice touch! However, I’m not sure about the attraction updates. I think the changes to Country Bear Jamboree are bold. With an attraction that iconic at this point (being celebrated with a special marquee), the attraction inside is completely different. I think Peter Pan’s Flight is a better approach. It is plussing a classic while removing the more problematic issues. I think it is a nice way to update an attraction.

For the Tomorrowland overhaul, there was definitely concern. Depending on the level it was done, this overhaul was a project in of itself - let alone a tiny part of this one. And I think that hurts this area. We have a massive new dark ride taking over two different attractions and it’s two paragraphs. For a new attraction like that I feel there needs to be more detail. The rest of the overhaul makes sense. It’s detail and ideas aren’t overly concerning. I think the new design for Tomorrowland could look really nice. I am just concerned about the scope of this project when there are 49 other things going on as well.

I think the entertainment and miscellaneous are great touches to the Magic Kingdom additions as a whole. I love the updated castle show. I think the nighttime parade is a great touch too! Was there a reason for not adding a new daytime parade? That feels like an anniversary celebration stable to me. All in all, I think the additions to the Magic Kingdom are solid but I do have some concerns about the scope as there is still so much left with the other parks.

I think an Imagination refurbishment is a given at this point. And I really like this ride. I am a big HSMTMTS fan but I think Sofia Wylie is a bold choice for the professor and I am not sure how well that would work (especially with how young she is). Outside of that little thing with the casting choice, I think it is a really fun and modern take of the ride (and I love the touches of all the retro Epcot photos). I think the rest of the additions into the pavilion are great touches that really add to the overall experience. While you mention no real headliners to the 50th, I feel like this is a big one.

I love the concert series addition. They are so much fun during the festivals that having it be available year-round would be incredible! I am definitely in for Kara Lindsey and Kevin Massey!

Overall, I think the scale of this park is much better. It is nicely balanced and doesn’t feel too heavy on detail.

… I am not even at the halfway point yet am I…

Going into Hollywood Studios, I love the attraction updates here. All the updates to Star Tours really make sense and the updates to Warehouse of Wonders shows the focus of keeping the SAU in mind which is really nice.

I think Pixar Place is a safe choice for a re-theme. Maroon Studios is an obvious place to change too. If a new land was wanted, I feel like DHS was already pretty full compared to a new Epcot country or Animal Kingdom expansion. That being said, A toy Story Adventure is a really fun dark ride. It is definitely something I could see actually happening! The train scene would be such a cool experience. The rest of the land is clones or pretty basic ideas so I don’t have too many comments on it. One thing I would love though is an new updated map with the new Pixar Place.

Coming into the DHS Entertainment, I think this is some of the best work. While Doctor Strange and the Stardust parade are both great, I think Fantasmic 2.0 really draws everyone in. These new scenes really update the show in a new manner that I think would really add a lot to the show! I wish this was real! I love the miscellaneous additions to update just the minor things!

A Disco Yeti fix was inevitable but definitely needed. I think all of the Animal Kingdom additions are much needed additions. Disco Yeti, the Excavator, and a new nighttime show are all great additions that I hope we see in the actual park sooner than later! The Circle of Life might be a little short, but I definitely get the feel of a full nighttime show!

At this point, as I run out of steam reading this, it feels like the team has too. We went from full land overlays with new parades, shows, updated and refurbed attractions to a new coaster and nighttime show. The pacing through this project is hurting.

I think how teams deal with Inventus will be interesting. How do you deal with an anniversary celebration for a park that isn’t real? I think the additions made are safe but work. Two flat ride additions definitely helps round out the attraction list. The new dining option is pretty simple but you can’t go wrong with more dining!

I really think the re-imagined Marketplace is one of the best things of the whole project! I think a lot of the stores make a lot of sense (and I could never turn down a MrBeast Burger). I love the architecture style which really gives a new look to Disney Springs that I am all for!

The last little miscellaneous area is great! I think it adds a lot to the overall presentation and they all really fit in.

All in all, I think there were a lot of great detail pieces but I also just think there as a lot going on. This review alone is 2 google doc pages. I think there are lots of great details in there but the flow of it feels off making it feel a lot longer than it may need to be.
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TEAM HOLLAND
Once in a Lifetime

I know it has become a broken record but it does have to be talked about: The colour scheme. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore the colour scheme. I think it looks great in everything. But it doesn’t scream anniversary celebration. I don’t think it needs to be the cliché gold of the 50th but at the same time the retro colours don’t sell me either. This is a super minor note however and isn’t the end of the world. That being said, I love how you have implemented it through the park. Showing highlights of it on the castle and city hall are great touches!

I like the presentation use here. A Google Site has become the mainstay but this flows much better. The Table of Contents really helps that as I can jump around if needed but for a project like this I think the Doc really works nicely.

Moving to the “Once in a lifetime attractions”: I know the preview centre is a tiny blurb but I actually wish there was more here. It reminds me of DCA’s Blue Sky Cellar which showcased concept art and models of Imagineering and it was always such a cool experience. Incorporating old Animatronics into this area too is such a fun way to spend some time. On the other hand, I am not sold on FuturePort from a realism perspective. Are they making a trackless dark ride to then just demolish it after a year? That doesn’t make a ton of sense. I know the black box idea gives them flexibility with it but with it in the middle of Epcot it feels like awkward placing. The Great Backlot Adventure is a great way to tie up an old SAU loose end so major props to Pi for that one! All in all, the limited time attractions have sold me! Things like that is what makes me go to anniversaries and I don’t know if I could miss them!

Moving on to the attraction renovations, I think the Bay Lake Adventure Island one is definitely needed! It’s such a nice island in the lake they are letting rot and something like this would be a super simple implementation of a way to bring some life back to it (but I wish I got more details - even just things like the theme of the mini golf course)! I think at this point, it’s clear we all agree Peter Pan needs a refurbishment. And I think you nailed it! It’s nothing extravagant or overly insane but completely fits the area it has to go in and I think plusses it in a way that keeps it true to it’s original. On the topic of staying true to the original, I love adding in the Primeval World section that Disneyland has. It is one of the best parts of the Disneyland Railroad and it always blew my mind WDW didn’t have anything like that. I think this is a simple, but handy, addition. Renovations like the PeopleMover and Imagination pavilion are potentially more obvious renovations but definitely ones that need to be done. While neither blow you out of the water, they definitely fit with things that would happen for a big anniversary. Now we get to the part I was the most nervous about: MuppetVision. Without trying to be, I typically am a pretty big purist about this show. With it being one of Henson’s last works, I always get nervous about the talk of a refurbishment. But I think the 1.991 (nice year choice ;) ) is a solid job at it. But I think you flirted with the line of staying true to the original quite nicely. It gives small updates to it without massively changing it. I don’t think anyone would complain about Waldo getting a new look so I think the refurb works!

Your team really nailed the idea of an anniversary celebration with the entertainment! I absolutely love the castle show (except for the name that is a mouthful). I think the theme of going through the decades is a really great way to do it. I love the general premise of the parade. It’s crazy to me that Steamboat Willie has never been in a parade (has he been anywhere besides Fantasmic?). That being said, I would have loved more detail in this parade.

October 1st. What a crazy day you have planned. When I first read that the park would be open for 50 straight hours I thought you were all insane. Then I remember Disneyland was opened for 60 straight hours for the opening of the original Star Tours so I guess anything is possible! The rest of the list for the night is incredible! That would be an absolutely exhausting time but an incredible experience that would 100% make me want to fly out and be apart of it. I love nighttime parades a million times more than daytime parades so when I read a 50-float one I was really excited. But I feel like it falls flat with just being “We combined two old ones together”. This could’ve been such a cool thing that feels like an afterthought.

To round out, the bonus details of the Disney+ special, the special colour vehicles, etc. are all a great bonus aspect to round out the project. It flowed nicely throughout and at no point was there anything that felt like a major miss. There were a few places I would have loved more detail but it wasn’t that it extremely lacked detail either.​


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TEAM MAGUIRE
Most Magical Celebration

The first thing I noticed opening the site was that the tab label was “wdw50th”. It doesn’t really bring me in like “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” or “Once in a Lifetime”. It’s just a minor detail note.

Getting into Magic Kingdom we have another minor detail mistake with forgetting to add the parade name but again, it’s not the end of the world by any means. I think the approach of an Adventureland refresh is an interesting call. While it may not be as obvious of a refresh as Tomorrowland, it’s been in a weird limbo for a while and if done correctly, it re-opens that land for so many again! The Jungle Cruise update was expected but not in the way you took it. But I really like it. An expansion to the Jungle Cruise would’ve been the last thing I would have expected to happen but it really works. A minor note: after the alligator attack at the Grand Floridian, CM’s rarely (if ever) acknowledge the alligators already on the ride. Would they make a whole expansion that focused on crocodiles circling the boat? Moving on to the rest of Adventureland, I think it’s done beautifully. Removing the massive carpets for a hint of Moana is a brilliant touch. Removing the oft-empty Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse for a drop tower is a bold call, but I think it fits the theme of the land just as well and could really bring new energy to the land.

Moving on to the Magic of Memories show, that was incredible! The song choices, the transitions, the story telling, etc. It was probably the highlight of the project! I wish it was something real so I could go see it for myself as I think it would truly be a lot of fun!
I enjoy the Turkey addition. As someone who worked on that project I know we had to do a ton of research into it and it’s clear that that was done here too. That being said, I am partially confused on where it is going and how it would work? Is it an indoor walk through? Is it models? Projections? I am just wanting a bit more detail beyond the sights we would see.

Moving into Godzilla vs. Kong, at first I thought this was a bold choice. But as I thought about it more, with a Godzilla attraction already in place in DHS, it really fits. It is still weird to think about there being two Kong attractions in Orlando though lol. I think the Making Of show is a nice touch and a perfect fit for the theatre.

Next, I think Primeval World is awesome. With the removal of Primeval Whirl, there is a ton of space to play with. I think Journey Through The Primeval World is a great use of said space. A family dark ride is desperately needed in that park and this is the way to go. I would have loved more detail on the minor things (how it’s façade tied in to the rest of the land, how the ride vehicles looked, etc.) but I think it was still solid overall.

In a prompt like this, resorts don’t get looked at a lot. But y’all really knocked it out of the park with this refresh. Switching the All Stars to the Backlot Resort is a definite winner in my books. I think the descriptions are solid and the themes that were chosen for the buildings is great. It also leaves it open for easy re-themes in the future which is a great call.

From there, we get to the project’s Pièce de résistance. I just wish it wasn’t hidden away on one of the last tabs. Major props to Disney Dad on this one. I don’t know how you did it but it truly is a stunning piece of work! I can’t wait to see how an interactive map like that is used beyond this game!

Lastly is the food. I left it all for the end because I wish that was how it was grouped on the site. We have park specific food tabs but then also a signature dining tab that mentions restaurants in the parks just leaving it slightly disorganized. That being said, as a Canadian, if you can somehow make tire d'érable (or Maple Taffy) work in WDW, I would be there all the time!

All in all, I think this project was solid. There were some details things here or there and the slight disorganization that hurt the project but the ideas were solid and it would still be a fun anniversary celebration.​
 

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