News Tron coaster coming to the Magic Kingdom

[lentesta]

Have you heard if the train will open before Tron or they will open at the same time?

I haven't heard. But guest walkways have to be done first, and that includes the area around the railroad. So I'd expect the railroad back first.

 

[Rich Brownn]

To me, what makes Disney special is that the parks themselves traditionally weren't the only area considered to be on stage. The resorts and (non-bus) transportation felt like they were part of the whole experience. While I agree that the parks probably have bigger issues, I think letting TRON, Cosmic Rewind, and Ratatouille go unaddressed sets a precedent that is both dangerous and unworthy of the premium pricetag associated with the experience.


Literally anything that is not simply a warehouse. On the cheaper end, they could round the corners and subtly pattern it like the grid, or cover it in large-scale dimensional hexagonal tiles that echo the LED arrays under the canopy. On the extremely expensive end, they could build a scaled-down futuristic city skyline that complements the lines of Space Mountain and provides interesting vistas from the train and PeopleMover. Or they could do anything in between, as long as it feels intentional. The problem is that it is obviously unthemed, not that it is simple or generically futuristic.

At Disneyland, the Pirates building and Haunted Mansion building have always been visible from the monorail, as were several other support structures, and this was when Walt was alive, so obviously that wasn't a concern for Walt as long as it was hidden on stage.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Have you heard if the train will open before Tron or they will open at the same time?

The only reason to delay the WDWRR would be if marketing wants both on the same date. There’s no operational or safety-related reason for delay. Recent activities on the rails suggest the WDWRR will return rather soon. By Halloween, I’d guess.

 

[ToTBellHop]

At Disneyland, the Pirates building and Haunted Mansion building have always been visible from the monorail, as were several other support structures, and this was when Walt was alive, so obviously that wasn't a concern for Walt as long as it was hidden on stage.

I would argue the parks peaked after Walt died, anyway. WDW was incredible in the early ‘90s.

 

[lazyboy97o]

At Disneyland, the Pirates building and Haunted Mansion building have always been visible from the monorail, as were several other support structures, and this was when Walt was alive, so obviously that wasn't a concern for Walt as long as it was hidden on stage.

“Blessing of size”

 

[Incomudro]

I actually wrote a really long post a day ago in this thread explaining how the Fantasyland show buildings are part of their rides' design conceit. But even still, Disney went to the trouble of obscuring the large, uninteresting walls those buildings sometimes created because they knew the area would be improved by it.

As I've said about 6,000 times, and as others have echoed, the TRON showbuilding should either be themed OR hidden. If the people on Disney's payroll truly can't come up with any way to justify the Big-Box-Store show building that fits within the theme of the ride, then they should either hide it from guest's view, design a different ride that doesn't require a big, "unthemeable" box, or consider other employment. This isn't an impossible assignment. And for a $300+ Million Dollar ride it shouldn't even be a challenging one.

There are so many potential options here to keep a building like this from towering over the Magic Kingdom, and they chose none of them.

It is hidden.
You only see a sliver of it.
And if themed, themed as what?
There's nothing to theme it as.
Maybe put a big DELL logo on it.

 

[gorillaball]

Seems like we are due for an opening date prediction/poll in this thread aren't we?

 

[lazyboy97o]

It is hidden.
You only see a sliver of it.
And if themed, themed as what?
There's nothing to theme it as.
Maybe put a big DELL logo on it.

Almost the entire north side is visible in Storybook Circus. The better part of an elevation is not a “sliver”.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Almost the entire north side is visible in Storybook Circus. The better part of an elevation is not a “sliver”.

That’s the biggest issue for me. A corner of a building from some points in Tomorrowland is sloppy but relatively minor. The view from Barnstormer‘s queue is inexcusable. I expect that sort of thing from the top of a lift hill where the view lasts 2 seconds, but not as the main focus while I’m in a 30 min line. It’s a major eyesore.

 

[Incomudro]

Almost the entire north side is visible in Storybook Circus. The better part of an elevation is not a “sliver”.

The trees will grow in, just as trees grew in to hide show buildings previously seen in other areas of the park.
And again - it isn't masquerading as anything that needs to be hidden.
It's not an old haunted house, or pirate place.
And as a personal note: I'll never be on the Barnstormer line, unless there's some day in my distant future where I have grandchildren and am at WDW with them.
If that ever becomes the case, I'll cherish the moment rather than focus in on the view of the building.

 

[lazyboy97o]

The trees will grow in, just as trees grew in to hide show buildings previously seen in other areas of the park.
And again - it isn't masquerading as anything that needs to be hidden.
It's not an old haunted house, or pirate place.

Trees don’t grow in roads.

Neither The Haunted Mansion nor the Pirates of the Caribbean show builds are masquerading as anything. They’re not visible. Why would there be a giant metal box behind an old American train station? It’s not an issue of “what would it be themed as?” because nothing else similar tries to pass off the large showbuilding as something else.

 

[J4546]

I think the trees will block the view from barnstormer pretty soon, so im fine with it. Plus barnstormer is meh and hopefully they redevelop that area with Barnstormer, Dumbo, and toon circus into something better sooner rather than later

 

[lazyboy97o]

I think the trees will block the view from barnstormer pretty soon, so im fine with it. Plus barnstormer is meh and hopefully they redevelop that area with Barnstormer, Dumbo, and toon circus into something better sooner rather than later

Where will they put these trees?

 

[Stupido]

I think the trees will block the view from barnstormer pretty soon, so im fine with it. Plus barnstormer is meh and hopefully they redevelop that area with Barnstormer, Dumbo, and toon circus into something better sooner rather than later

While I'd personally love to see this area reworked, I think the nostalgia for Dumbo will keep it exactly as is for at least a decade. I can't see them getting rid of or moving Dumbo anywhere, and I don't think any theme would better support Dumbo than a Circus Area. Dare to dream, but I think Fantasyland won't be touched for a long time.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Where will they put these trees?

Quick! Stand in front of me!

 

[JoeCamel]

Where will they put these trees?

Mythical berm

 

[lazyboy97o]

Since it keeps coming up, the chances of any sort of berm and/or trees in the construction area to block the views from Storybook Circus are slim to none.

https://apps.sfwmd.gov/entsb/docdownload?object_id=0900eeea8a5f3b47

Above is the link to the plan submitted to the South Florida Water Management District. Sheets 3C-201 and 3C-202 show the area around the restroom building and north of the showbuilding. The bulk of this area is shaded grey, labeled "Proposed Asphalt Pavement".

Now yes, these drawings are dated 05/14/18 and Disney loves to change things. It is possible that Disney has modified the site plan in ways that no longer correlate to these drawings and also are not materially significant enough to require new drawings and further modifications to the permit. Building less asphalt area in favor of more landscape area is actually just such a change. The problem with this hypothetical that Disney could decide not to build the area as asphalt is Florida Fire Prevention Code NFPA 1 18.2.3 which requires fire department access to buildings. Disney can't decide to build a berm or even just plant a bunch of trees because then there would be no required access to the new restroom building. There are also no available alternatives to coming from the East along the north of the gravity box as coming from the south is blocked by the coaster launch. The railroad tunnel and all of the walkways prevent access from the west. Access from the north would require running parallel to the train tracks, something that would required significant modification to the retention pond and likely changes to the drawings. So no, there is not some big plot in the construction area that could become a lush forest to hide the showbuilding, it will instead almost certainly be beautiful asphalt for people to look at from the coaster, the walkways and the Walt Disney World Railroad.

 

[James Alucobond]

At Disneyland, the Pirates building and Haunted Mansion building have always been visible from the monorail, as were several other support structures, and this was when Walt was alive, so obviously that wasn't a concern for Walt as long as it was hidden on stage.

Disneyland isn't comparable. They aren't charging a premium for castle-view resort rooms. Even if the interior of the Magic Kingdom had immaculate sightlines, it would be a failure if the castle appeared to be surrounded by metal boxes from outside. That's the precedent TRON sets.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Disneyland isn't comparable. They aren't charging a premium for castle-view resort rooms. Even if the interior of the Magic Kingdom had immaculate sightlines, it would be a failure if the castle appeared to be surrounded by metal boxes from outside. That's the precedent TRON sets.

Those boxes are gifts from Fairy Godmother just waiting to be unwrapped*!

*with $18 Individual Lightning Lane purchase

 

[J4546]

new video shows a cage like structure being assembled around central planter area. also a lot of concrete put down on right side of entrance as well. Oh and fencing along raised pathway