The Spirited 11th Hour ...

[flynnibus]

ugh.. bangs my head for reading the last 5 pages. wake me up when people learn better..

 

[MKCP 1985]

Wasn't it his idea? I remember a story that while in Switzerland Walt bought a Matterhorn postcard and sent it back to WED with the words "build this."

Maybe that was when Third Man on the Mountain was on TCM.

Retired chairman of Walt Disney Resorts Nunis: " I can remember asking Walt that could we come up with some kind of a thrill attraction and Walt says, 'Nunis, this is a not an amusement park.' And I says, 'No, sir, I realize that but we really need to do what the guests want and they want a thrill attraction.'"

Both statements could be true.

 

[Cesar R M]

Excuse me for chiming in again, but I have a question and an observation.
First, just WHY is it necessary to have a thrill ride in Fantasyland when there are four other Lands in the Magic Kingdom where it would be possible to have one? (I wonder how it could be themed in Liberty Square. Interesting thought.) Do we have to to have thrill rides everywhere? Plus, there are three other parks in which to put another one. Please don't get me wrong. We loved thrill rides and rode on just about every one in the USA when we were younger..
Second, there is a vast difference between something thrilling or horrifying in a story and actually experiencing it on a ride or attraction.. This is true for some adults and especially for a child. Look what happened to Alien Encounter. A great show, but you did need a good grasp on reality.

balance between lands.
If you only put all the thrill rides in a single land,there is going to be a separation and lack of balance that noone wants.
Instead of having families to enjoy the park together.. they will probably have to split.
That is something I seen a lot in Universal that is not usual in Disney. (aja, families splitting because theres so many rides that some groups cant get in)

ugh.. bangs my head for reading the last 5 pages. wake me up when people learn better..

you're on for a loong nap my friend.

 

[Cesar R M]

And I recall hearing that Roy objected to the expense, so Walt had them start construction while Roy was out of town.

HAH, I still remember that rumor of Walt also secretly adding gold to the castle behind Roy's back. Who was always trying to block "excessive expenses".

 

[Wikkler]

@GrammieBee , because I'm so helpful I'm stupid, I'm going to try to answer your questions and reply to most of your points.

Excuse me for chiming in again, but I have a question and an observation.
First, just WHY is it necessary to have a thrill ride in Fantasyland when there are four other Lands in the Magic Kingdom where it would be possible to have one?

Why is it necessary to have a thrill ride in Fantasyland? Well, some older children and adults might come with the impression that that area of the park is entirely targeted at children, and might not try some of the better rides in that area, or maybe even get the impression that they could leave their kid and go to Tomorrowland or Frontierland for more "mature" experiences. Plus, the amount of adults without children at Disney World is probably higher than you think.

I wonder how it could be themed in Liberty Square. Interesting thought.

Liberty Square does not have room for a thrill ride without ripping out Tom Sawyer's Island. I cannot come up with a possible theme for a thrill ride that would match the land, but there's no need to put in a thrill ride, because we have the Haunted Mansion.

Do we have to to have thrill rides everywhere? Plus, there are three other parks in which to put another one.

No, we do not need thrill rides everywhere, that's a good point, but this is essentially a third of the park where the only "thrill" rides are Barnstormer and Seven Dwarves Mine Train (and I believe the scenario is a land without Seven Dwarves?). There are three other parks in which to put another thrill ride, but Magic Kingdom needs a ton of capacity right now. (What were the exact figures for the capacity it was designed for vs. current attendance?)

Second, there is a vast difference between something thrilling or horrifying in a story and actually experiencing it on a ride or attraction.. This is true for some adults and especially for a child.

So? Are you trying to suggest that because some people don't bother to find out basic info about an attraction before going on it, and experience unnecessary fear because of their own choices, that Disney should not put in any attraction that features extreme thrills/scares because parents didn't bother to check if it might scare their children? Also, we're not talking about Rock 'n' Roller Coaster here.

Look what happened to Alien Encounter. A great show, but you did need a good grasp on reality.

I'm aware that smartphones didn't exist when Alien Encounter closed, but someone with common sense should have been able to tell that it wasn't suitable for their child.

I'm not against adding thrill rides. I just don't understand the thinking that what is conceptually and ecssentually a story book land and only one section of a much larger park,has to have one.

Like I said before, Fantasyland is huge. It doesn't necessarily have to be a toddler-friendly area. Small children who are adventurous but still are into the fairy-tale Disney movies and could handle a more thrilling experience would benefit from it. Also, in a mixed-age family, something for the older children to do in an area with such rides as It's a Small World, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and Journey of the Little Mermaid would be appreciated.

The adults are incapable of taking pleasure in what is there or in watching the enjoyment of their children? They are so easily bored? How sad.

That is not what this is about at all.

And, yes. The mine train could have been somewhat longer. But it isn't. Enough said.

That argument could be used in so many other ways that it turns ridiculous.

There could have not been a spinner in Adventureland. But there is. Enough said.

Future World might be a high-quality learning experience. But it isn't. Enough said.

Dino-Rama could have had a dfferent theme. But it doesn't. Enough said.

There could have been an update to Carousel of Progress. But there isn't. Enough said.

The Yeti could have been fixed. But it isn't. Enough said.

 

[Goofyernmost]

So it's not really about "families" then - but catering to those with....extreme fear. Given how many little children through adults and even seniors who ride SDMT every day, it's perfectly family oriented - just not oriented to your personal sensibilities.

I'd continue this discussion if you would only read what I have said and not what you think I have said. I believe that is exactly what I meant... It is a family oriented area, not to exclude a group because of intensity. Mild attractions can be enjoyed by everybody, not just the adrenaline junkie's. It's never exclusive to kids unless adults are immature enough to feel embarrassed about enjoying something with their children. I just feel that it is good to have one area where parents can be comfortable about all attractions and not end up with screaming kids. Tell me what better area would there be if not Fantasyland. If people want to push for the "thrills" there are plenty of other locations in WDW to have them. They don't have to be everywhere.

 

[Mike S]

Liberty Square does not have room for a thrill ride without ripping out Tom Sawyer's Island. I cannot come up with a possible theme for a thrill ride that would match the land, but there's no need to put in a thrill ride, because we have the Haunted Mansion.

Sleepy Hollow.

 

[Mike S]

Absolutely no one is saying this should be in Fantasyland.

What we're talking about is something like Pirates, Haunted Mansion, or for more recent examples, Poohs Hunny Hunt and Mystic Manor. These are experiences the whole family enjoys, unlike playing pretend with cardboard. SDMT could've easily been MK's fourth mountain and last I checked whole families love those attractions. Once the kid is tall enough they can't wait to ride in most cases.

 

[MKCP 1985]

It is a family oriented area, not to exclude a group because of intensity. Mild attractions can be enjoyed by everybody, not just the adrenaline junkie's. It's never exclusive to kids unless adults are immature enough to feel embarrassed about enjoying something with their children. I just feel that it is good to have one area where parents can be comfortable about all attractions and not end up with screaming kids. Tell me what better area would there be if not Fantasyland. If people want to push for the "thrills" there are plenty of other locations in WDW to have them. They don't have to be everywhere.

You seem to be describing the Casey Jr. area of Fantasyland - mild attractions like Dumbo & Barnstormer, plus the play area for toddlers. You seem to be overlooking the desires of families with middle school aged children and older. Kids of that age are the ones embarrassed to ride Dumbo and their parents still want to include them. Fantasyland is a very large area of the park and does not have to completely exclude a thrill type ride to meet the desires of families with children still in diapers.

Again, to the point of this thread, Imagineering under its former direction and in response to park leadership under Rasulo and Ryan and company may have erred on the side of "too little thrills" in its development of the Magic Kingdom park. I will watch with hopeful anticipation to see what is announced following changes in top management at Walt Disney World Parks & Resorts. Nunis was in charge when I worked there and he believed in balancing the family atmosphere with thrill rides on a Disney scale - not necessarily a 6 Flags scale. More of that direction would be a welcome change, even if I am too old to enjoy whatever may come by the time it is built.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

Alien Encounter missed the mark? Not at all!

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Speaking of Hunny Hunt...
Robert Niles just wrote a good history of the LPS trackless system in light of Luigi's Rollicking Roadsters (eventual?) opening at DCA. Unlike some folks who would play it down, he rightly notes that LPS first appeared at Tokyo Disneyland, as Hunny Hunt's ride platform, almost TWENTY years ago.
http://ocregister.com/articles/ride-703060-trackless-disney.html

 

[Goofyernmost]

You seem to be describing the Casey Jr. area of Fantasyland - mild attractions like Dumbo & Barnstormer, plus the play area for toddlers. You seem to be overlooking the desires of families with middle school aged children and older. Kids of that age are the ones embarrassed to ride Dumbo and their parents still want to include them. Fantasyland is a very large area of the park and does not have to completely exclude a thrill type ride to meet the desires of families with children still in diapers.

Please stop adding word and thoughts to my posts. As for the highlighted area... there you have 7DMT plus all the rest of WDW. Fantasyland is Fantasyland and it is directed to the younger audience, just as Adventureland and Tomorrowland is directed an older group. Fantasyland isn't all of MK, it has a purpose and everyone seems to be wanting to alter that purpose to fit their agenda.

I am an older person, almost 68 to be exact. There is nothing in Fantasyland that makes my heart go pitty pat and it should stay that way, because that is the Fantasy of Magic Kingdom. That wouldn't stop me from taking my grandchildren in there and sharing their fun. I wouldn't want to force them to sit through CoP with me either unless they wanted too. There is enough to do for all ages and the defined lands serve that purpose.

 

[Mike S]

Speaking of Hunny Hunt...
Robert Niles just wrote a good history of the LPS trackless system in light of Luigi's Rollicking Roadsters (eventual?) opening at DCA. Unlike some folks who would play it down, he rightly notes that LPS first appeared at Tokyo Disneyland, as Hunny Hunt's ride platform, almost TWENTY years ago.
http://ocregister.com/articles/ride-703060-trackless-disney.html

Although I was very small or not even born yet, I miss when Disney debuted the best new stuff in the states rather than overseas

 

[FigmentJedi]

I hate Disney's obsession with live-action remakes, but damn this is actually a good trailer

 

[Mike S]

I hate Disney's obsession with live-action remakes, but damn this is actually a good trailer

That looks good. Real good.

Animal Kingdom anyone?

 

[Smiddimizer]

I hate Disney's obsession with live-action remakes, but damn this is actually a good trailer

Mowgli's got better survival skills than Simba anyway.

 

[Smiddimizer]

Clicks "show ignored content" to see who everyone is arguing with, sees the user in question, and this is my reaction

There's no need to be rude.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Clicks "show ignored content" to see who everyone is arguing with, sees the user in question, and this is my reaction

Never click that.

They've earned the troll list, let them live there.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I hate Disney's obsession with live-action remakes, but damn this is actually a good trailer

Disney's cartoon Jungle Book isn't that great a movie to begin with (seriously, go sit down and watch it if you haven't in over 10 years. It's pretty threadbare and dull for the most part) so I do have faith that this version will be an improvement.

Although this is technically the second live-action Jungle Book they've done.

 

[Little Green Men]

If I were that CM, it would have been all I could do to not say "Koo-koo-ka-choo, Mrs. Robinson".

Which is probably why I was never a CM.

Drunk hotel guests are something else, since they aren't interviewed and hired by the Walt Disney Company, and that basic scenario plays out with handsome young hotel employees in at least a couple dozen hotels around the country every day.

But theme park CM's swearing into a PA system at an attraction is something entirely different. Which is what we were talking about.

You make it sound like sleaze balls are the only people to visit/ work at Orlando, I'm only pointing out that it can happen anywhere. Yes that CM was stupid to do that, but why does one CM equate to how classy (or not) Orlando is?