Time-Lapse DL Construction Film

[Practical Pig]

TDS > DL.

Anyway it's great footage and I love Tony Baxter's amazing work. His knowledge of the parks is always awesome to listen to.

TDS is an amazing park, and like all the other ensuing Disney parks of whatever quality, it stands on tall, firm shoulders.

 

[__r.jr]

TDS > DL.

Tokyo DisneySea is the pinnacle of what Walt Disney Imagineering can do in terms of master urban planning, set design and application of layered detailing. However, WED did lay the groundwork and DisneySea is the logical conclusion to what WED set in motion six decades ago.

Although DisneySea is very different from what WED was doing, on something like Main Street, U.S.A., it is perhaps a very evolved version of what they were doing with New Orleans Square. It’s a remarkable culmination of over 40 years of themed entertainment experience. Tokyo's second gate is incredible because one can wander in that park and the vast majority of details feel so purposeful and well considered. This is painstakingly true in American Waterfront. Everything implies some sort of history or purpose and it all works to make the illusion real.

One can find examples of this just on the signage alone found throughout the land.

History and purpose without fan-service baggage. A sign is just a sign, doesn't have to be a reference to something or something else.

With the recent projects, somehow world building became synonymous with easter eggs and references and as a result storytelling in all mediums has been lessened for it. Projects such as the latest Matterhorn incarnation, Mission: Breakout and Pixar Pier all represent this; a regression. Where theming results to IP-based clutter or self-referential, fan-service type nonsense that doesn’t make any sense to the environment or attraction. Details have increasingly become in-jokes, trivia, and references to the past or other parts of the company, rather than elements that add depth and suggest believable histories for these places we know are fake but are paying to be tricked into believing are real. Details at Disney theme parks should sell the illusion, not call attention to the smoke and mirrors.

 

[SuddenStorm]

Tony Baxter has done a number of excellent presentations and interviews showing and talking about Disneyland history.

Here's a D23 presentation with lots of great footage:


And if you haven't heard them, the Season Pass podcast Tony Baxter interviews are phenomenal.

Here's their website:

http://www.seasonpasspodcast.com/archive/index.html

And here's the first part (currently 8 parts total for the Tony Baxter specific interviews)

Tony Baxter Part 1

 

[TROR]

Tony Baxter has done a number of excellent presentations and interviews showing and talking about Disneyland history.

Here's a D23 presentation with lots of great footage:


And if you haven't heard them, the Season Pass podcast Tony Baxter interviews are phenomenal.

Here's there website:

http://www.seasonpasspodcast.com/archive/index.html

And here's the first part (currently 8 parts total for the Tony Baxter specific interviews)

Tony Baxter Part 1

I can go to bed and make sure I'm well rested for my presentation tomorrow. Or I can watch an hour of Tony Baxter talking about vintage Disneyland...

I think the choice is clear.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

TDS doesn't have the Americana charm so I give it an F-

I get this is a joke but as a fan of Disney you should look at every Disney park that's not Disneyland as a continuation and evolution of Walt's Dream. I see so many diehard DL fans lose out on a ton of fun by closing themselves off from the other Disney Parks just because Walt never stepped in them (even though he did step in the construction site of MK and greenlit the designs for buildings in the park, in fact the last blueprint he ever signed was Main Street Station at MK). I also don't understand what American charm is considering TDS was designed by Americans. If you actually go there, you will understand it's a much better park than DL.

 

[Practical Pig]

Tony Baxter has done a number of excellent presentations and interviews showing and talking about Disneyland history.

Here's a D23 presentation with lots of great footage:


And if you haven't heard them, the Season Pass podcast Tony Baxter interviews are phenomenal.

Here's their website:

http://www.seasonpasspodcast.com/archive/index.html

And here's the first part (currently 8 parts total for the Tony Baxter specific interviews)

Tony Baxter Part 1

I've been enjoying exploring some of the various Tony Baxter Disney Lore media out there, and thanks for adding this. I hadn't watched that D23 presentation, and there were a lot of make-me-smile details. I'll explore the related podcasts from your links.

 

[SuddenStorm]

I've been enjoying exploring some of the various Tony Baxter Disney Lore media out there, and thanks for adding this. I hadn't watched that D23 presentation, and there were a lot of make-me-smile details. I'll explore the related podcasts from your links.

Report back when you've had a chance to listen! I can't recommend them enough.

 

[TROR]

I get this is a joke but as a fan of Disney you should look at every Disney park that's not Disneyland as a continuation and evolution of Walt's Dream. I see so many diehard DL fans lose out on a ton of fun by closing themselves off from the other Disney Parks just because Walt never stepped in them (even though he did step in the construction site of MK and greenlit the designs for buildings in the park, in fact the last blueprint he ever signed was Main Street Station at MK). I also don't understand what American charm is considering TDS was designed by Americans. If you actually go there, you will understand it's a much better park than DL.

It's definitely somewhere I'd love to visit someday. I do love the Americana aspect in both the theme of Disneyland USA as well as the park itself being a piece of Americana, but it's by no means a perfect park in the ways I would argue TDS just might be. As previously stated, it's masterfully laid out and detailed. As far as WDI is concerned it's definitely their peak and, while I hope they top it with a third gate in Anaheim or even a fifth gate in Florida, I don't see it happening that way.