Themed Lands

jtizzle1023

Member
Original Poster
So with the addition of the WWoHP what would you like to see Disney do that is similar. What movie or franchise would you like to see them create into a full immersive experience. Star Wars? Indiana Jones? Or something new?
 

erasure fan1

Well-Known Member
I think starwars is the clear choice. It would be endless the amount of things you could do with SW universe. Its a franchise that is well established and is extremely beloved. Just think, put the jedi training academy in the actual jedi temple with a state of the art yoda AA. WooooHooo!!!!! Bring on starwars land!
 

Spike-in-Berlin

Well-Known Member
Actually I believe that they can think about new lands when the PRESENT ones are equipped equally. As long as TL in MK is a major problem and AL had no major addition since the 70ies!, WS is concerning rides the most boring part of the world and DAK hat still to few attractions to guarantee a full day of fun, I would think if you really have to build a new land wait until the existing ones are up to date and then build an improved Beastly Kingdomme for DAK. Improved because after the opening of WWoHP no one at WDI will want to build a double dragon coaster anymore and they need a new weenie for BK.
 

jmani56

Member
As amazing as WWoHP looks, I don't think it's wise to make an entire land based on one franchise. Historically, Disney has never done that, even with its largest franchises (to my knowledge). Star Wars would be cool though, or maybe something based on Neverland/Peter and the Starcatchers.
 

sorcerergoofy

New Member
I don't think there should be an entire land based on a single franchise (Star Wars could be cool though), but I do think that there needs to be an entire land dedicated to the Villains! That is one think WDW has always been lacking IMO.
 

wolf359

Well-Known Member
I think Disney's various lands and worlds succeed and are able to become timeless because they manage to blend together different attractions and experiences through a general theme as opposed to a particular brand.

While I think it's necessary to represent what's "hot" in the theme parks to some degree I think going all out into an entire land is asking for trouble in the long run. While it would be relatively easy to replace or retheme a single attraction or show once the luster is gone (Millionaire's transition to American Idol, as an example) the expense and headache of the eventual changeover of an entire land would be problematic at best.
 

sorcerergoofy

New Member
I think Disney's various lands and worlds succeed and are able to become timeless because they manage to blend together different attractions and experiences through a general theme as opposed to a particular brand.

While I think it's necessary to represent what's "hot" in the theme parks to some degree I think going all out into an entire land is asking for trouble in the long run. While it would be relatively easy to replace or retheme a single attraction or show once the luster is gone (Millionaire's transition to American Idol, as an example) the expense and headache of the eventual changeover of an entire land would be problematic at best.

I thought Millionaire was where TSMM is...am I wrong? :shrug:
 

JohnLocke

Member
I think Disney's various lands and worlds succeed and are able to become timeless because they manage to blend together different attractions and experiences through a general theme as opposed to a particular brand.

While I think it's necessary to represent what's "hot" in the theme parks to some degree I think going all out into an entire land is asking for trouble in the long run. While it would be relatively easy to replace or retheme a single attraction or show once the luster is gone (Millionaire's transition to American Idol, as an example) the expense and headache of the eventual changeover of an entire land would be problematic at best.


I think Harry Potter should work for a long time, but the only franchise I think that Disney could really focus one land on right now would be an expansion of the Muppets in the Studios. I would much rather them keep the Star Tours/Indiana Jones area as more of Lucas Land than just going with a general Star Wars theme.
 

wolf359

Well-Known Member
I guess my fact checkers need a "talking to." :lol:

Still, my point is that there should be a limited amount of theme park space given over to tie-ins with current trends. To have a large section of a park devoted to a single specific property isn't what Disney needs to do.

To have an area capable of embracing different and changing ideas without having to completely start over from scratch is what Disney has so beautifully done right from the start.
 

JohnLocke

Member
I don't think I would call Potter, Lucas, or the Muppets current trends, though. I think they're here to stay for a good long while, just like most of the animated classics. Millionaire was a trend, I still really like it and had fun at Play It!, but they oversaturated it long before it was even placed in the parks.

I don't know where I would place American Idol, they certainly didn't open it when it was at it's peak, but it should still have at least 3-5 more good years in it. Who knows how it's going to go without Simon, though.
 

Ziffell

Member
As amazing as WWoHP looks, I don't think it's wise to make an entire land based on one franchise. Historically, Disney has never done that, even with its largest franchises (to my knowledge). Star Wars would be cool though, or maybe something based on Neverland/Peter and the Starcatchers.

I don't think there should be an entire land based on a single franchise (Star Wars could be cool though), but I do think that there needs to be an entire land dedicated to the Villains! That is one think WDW has always been lacking IMO.

I'm curious... both of you have stated that you don't think its a good idea to base an entire land on one franchise, but why do you think that? I personally think it's a very innovative new spin on the themed land concept.
 

MarkTwain

Well-Known Member
As amazing as WWoHP looks, I don't think it's wise to make an entire land based on one franchise. Historically, Disney has never done that, even with its largest franchises (to my knowledge). Star Wars would be cool though, or maybe something based on Neverland/Peter and the Starcatchers.

Carsland? :lookaroun

Generally I agree; basing an entire land around just one franchise is risky business because the land will lose interest as quickly as the franchise does, and for the most part won't appeal to many more people than those that are fans of the franchise in the first place. But on the other hand, some franchises are so vast that they are entire universes within themselves, and can therefore be effectively made into lands that explore different facets of that universe. Star Wars is a great example, as would be Indiana Jones, Marvel, the Muppets, or even non-Disney properties like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. I think any of these could be great lands in a theme park, Disney or not... many of them already are!

You could also look into the franchises of yesteryear, or those that don't necessarily have a trademark on them anymore. Walt capitalized on these with the works of Mark Twain :)D) in Disneyland, with the Mark Twain riverboat and Tom Sawyer's Island; perhaps this is a world that could be revisited again. Then you've got other works that are still popular today, like Sherlock Holmes, the works of Hans Christian Andersen, or Greek mythology.
 

SuperSaint

New Member
I think starwars is the clear choice. It would be endless the amount of things you could do with SW universe. Its a franchise that is well established and is extremely beloved. Just think, put the jedi training academy in the actual jedi temple with a state of the art yoda AA. WooooHooo!!!!! Bring on starwars land!

I heavily agree with this. Star Wars seems like a given to theme a land after. The big souvenir shop, the Tatooine Trader, is a great example of what they could do. I think things like a Cantina themed restaurant, space port with some sort of x-wing ride like Dumbo, and having storm troopers regularly on patrol would be a huge hit.

Then again, I'm a star wars nerd and would love to see that happen. But as big as Harry Potter is, it'll never be as big as Star Wars. And SW deserves a land.
 

PurpleDragon

Well-Known Member
Seeing as Lucas has spent years working on a ton of backgroud and lore for his Star Wars Universe, I think that franchise would be the best option if Disney were to actually do a land based on a single franchise. The potential posibilities for different attractions, themed restaurants, stores, etc.. would be immense. There could even be seperate areas representing different planets in the Star Wars Universe.
 

Evil Genius

Well-Known Member
People keep referencing WWoHP as a touchstone in how WDI should or shouldn't be developing new "lands" or refurbing existing attractions...and it keeps bringing me back to a thought I've had about WWoHP since first researching what Universal's done and seen the end result...

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will end up as a catastrophic failure.

Now before people jump all over me for saying let me give my basic thoughts as to why I feel this is the case.

1) The marketing has been completely screwed up. If you look at any main stream press on this new area it is being referred to as a new park for Universal. Which we all know simply isn't the case. This is going to turn off fans and vacationers quickly once they're down there and realize what a small actual footprint WWoHP has.

2) The size of WWoHP. It really is a metric ton of theming and construction squeezed into a rather small foot print. I know it asthetically looks fantastic...but once that place starts busting at the seams with guests this summer and no one can move or really enjoy it...it's going to metaphorically collapse in on itself.

3) If you really look at what WWoHP offers...it isn't much. You have tons of theming...a few new shops and dining opportunities...a few re-themed rides...and one new (although apparently ground breaking) attraction. I'm really not convinced this is enough to make the island a success. Again once guest get down there and experience what there is to experience...what return value is there? Save for attraction in Hogwarts...I'm not seeing much.

4) Lastly...I'm not convinced Harry Potter as a franchise really has the legs as an iconic property. Once the last two films are released...I'm of the opinion that the clock will start ticking on the "hot" factor the frachise has. It's enjoyed a lengthy run of popularity, but at its heart it is a book series and once the films become passe (and they will) I don't think the books themselves will be enough to keep the WWoHP a financial success.

Again this is one man's opine. Take it for what it's worth.
 

PurpleDragon

Well-Known Member
People keep referencing WWoHP as a touchstone in how WDI should or shouldn't be developing new "lands" or refurbing existing attractions...and it keeps bringing me back to a thought I've had about WWoHP since first researching what Universal's done and seen the end result...

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will end up as a catastrophic failure.

Now before people jump all over me for saying let me give my basic thoughts as to why I feel this is the case.

1) The marketing has been completely screwed up. If you look at any main stream press on this new area it is being referred to as a new park for Universal. Which we all know simply isn't the case. This is going to turn off fans and vacationers quickly once they're down there and realize what a small actual footprint WWoHP has.

2) The size of WWoHP. It really is a metric ton of theming and construction squeezed into a rather small foot print. I know it asthetically looks fantastic...but once that place starts busting at the seams with guests this summer and no one can move or really enjoy it...it's going to metaphorically collapse in on itself.

3) If you really look at what WWoHP offers...it isn't much. You have tons of theming...a few new shops and dining opportunities...a few re-themed rides...and one new (although apparently ground breaking) attraction. I'm really not convinced this is enough to make the island a success. Again once guest get down there and experience what there is to experience...what return value is there? Save for attraction in Hogwarts...I'm not seeing much.

4) Lastly...I'm not convinced Harry Potter as a franchise really has the legs as an iconic property. Once the last two films are released...I'm of the opinion that the clock will start ticking on the "hot" factor the frachise has. It's enjoyed a lengthy run of popularity, but at its heart it is a book series and once the films become passe (and they will) I don't think the books themselves will be enough to keep the WWoHP a financial success.

Again this is one man's opine. Take it for what it's worth.


I think there is some truth to what you say, BUT look at Star Wars. Star Wars started out as a single movie and that's all it took for it to get a large cult following. Harry Potter has a dedicated fan base of cult fanatics all its own, so its possible that the cult following may be enough to keep the franchise alive for many many years. While it may not retain the popularity it has today, it may still hold some merit in the years to come, enough to keep the WWoHP successful for a significant time. We cannot predict the future, it may go either way, but there is nothing wrong with Uni trying to profit from the franchises popularity.
 

Evil Genius

Well-Known Member
I think there is some truth to what you say, BUT look at Star Wars. Star Wars started out as a single movie and that's all it took for it to get a large cult following. Harry Potter has a dedicated fan base of cult fanatics all its own, so its possible that the cult following may be enough to keep the franchise alive for many many years. While it may not retain the popularity it has today, it may still hold some merit in the years to come, enough to keep the WWoHP successful for a significant time. We cannot predict the future, it may go either way, but there is nothing wrong with Uni trying to profit from the franchises popularity.

I'll buy that.

But I hesitate to put Potter in the same breath as Star Wars in terms of franchise and pop culture ranking. Perhaps in time Potter would reach those levels...I just fear it was too soon to be sinking so much capital into the venture.

But then it was probably a "now or never" thought process which I can't argue with either.
 

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