What does "The Little Mermaid" have to do with California?

[mharrington]

In the past, I had brought up why so many people here think that Frozen Ever After is thematically inappropriate for EPCOT (i.e., a fictitious realm in a pavilion otherwise all about a real country), that it should have gone in, say, Fantasyland or maybe even the Studios (because it's a movie, so anything goes in the Studio). While they do bring up a point, I don't think it's really that bad a fit. They did research, and even the name "Arendelle" is based on a real Norwegian location. So you can't say they didn't try to fit it in.

In the same thread, I had also brought that there have actually been many other thematic inconsistencies in the park, yet most of them seem to get overlooked or get a free pass. One of them is the question of how the Little Mermaid ride fits in the California Adventure. Where are the criticisms based on that? About the only connection to California that "The Little Mermaid", a European story, has is that it was made entirely in Southern California. I could be mistaken, but I don't believe the animators ever went to Denmark or anywhere to do research on the movie.

Yet many people here seem to be less bothered by that ride being in the CA Adventure than Frozen Ever After being in EPCOT. How is it that the Little Mermaid in the CA Adventure gets a free pass, while Frozen Ever After in EPCOT does not?

 

[asianway]

The ocean or sumfin

 

[MoonRakerSCM]

Fish.

 

[mickEblu]

Redheads and drag queens

 

[disneyC97]

It’s dark ride on a pier.

Hence the facade and loading mural differences from Florida.

 

[mharrington]

But how can the Little Mermaid ride get a free pass while Frozen Ever After doesn't? Where are the complaints about thematic inconsistencies?

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Because nobody cares about DCA whereas EPCOT was the greatest theme park ever built.

 

[Rich T]

But how can the Little Mermaid ride get a free pass while Frozen Ever After doesn't? Where are the complaints about thematic inconsistencies?

DCA has been a thematic disaster for a looongggg time. Most of us have just shrugged and faced the reality. It’s a fun park that should be renamed and won’t be.

What does Mermaid have to do with CA? Nothin’. Monsters Inc.? Nothin’. Avengers Campus? Nothin’.

My problems with Mermaid have nothing to do with placement; the problem is that it’s a dull ride about a spoiled brat going on a date.

Disney has no problem making their parks worse on both coasts these days. And, personally, I think the best location for Frozen Ever After is a dumpster.

 

[lazyboy97o]

But how can the Little Mermaid ride get a free pass while Frozen Ever After doesn't? Where are the complaints about thematic inconsistencies?

Paradise Pier was not a strong theme and it basically allowed for almost anything.

 

[PiratesMansion]

This isn't an apples to apples comparison.

When it was conceived, Little Mermaid also solved two problems people allegedly had with the original DCA: no elaborate dark rides, and no Disney IP.

No one was going to be mad about this being added to Paradise Pier (at the time) because the park needed something like this, it was advertised as something of a centerpiece of the park overhaul, and, frankly, having a dark ride that has nothing to do with the rest of the area around it is very in keeping with actual pier amusement parks. Also a net win for overall park capacity: replacing a movie no one cared about with an omnimover. Generally, something that could be seen as an overall upgrade, even if many don't think Mermaid is all that great.

Frozen didn't add any capacity, was explicitly thrown into the place where they could get it open fastest rather than what made the most sense for the property OR the parks, and no matter how much Disney (or its enabling fans) twist themselves to say so, Arendelle is still, famously, Not. Actually. Norway. While the same cannot be said for Future World, it was the first time and still most significant time that something major was done that went against the thematic integrity and spirit of World Showcase. I'd say for many it was the point when their hope that someday Epcot would be restored to what it once was died forever. And for what? A mediocre ride that could have and should have been built in Fantasyland. It's not like WDW doesn't have the room, y'know?

So, naturally, both are going to be regarded very differently.

 

[Sharon&Susan]

Most people who would've complained about this sort of thing would've been more annoyed at them lightly retheming the Pier instead of replacing it with something far better.

 

[CaptinEO]

But how can the Little Mermaid ride get a free pass while Frozen Ever After doesn't? Where are the complaints about thematic inconsistencies?

It doesn't get a free pass at all. Neither does Guardians of the Galaxy, "Incredicoaster", or Monsters Inc. No one likes how California Adventure doesn't know what its own theme is.

Disney doesnt even know what its doing with the park based on their handling post 2016.

 

[_caleb]

Solvang is the connection.

 

[No Name]

DCA was bad before and this was part of what made it better, that’s why it gets a pass. In fact I’ve come across quite a few people who have an overly inflated opinion of movie IP as THE key element in a good theme park (instead of, you know, quality or theme) because of how they associate each with DCA, which is understandable and also unfortunate. But that’s why you’re not going to hear an argument against it.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

DCA is like Hollywood Studios. Every movie can fit because movies are made in California.

 

[Disney Analyst]

It’s a dark ride along a pier “amusement” park area. Basically Disney could put anything there and it wouldn’t be out of place… and at least it’s decent quality, despite its flaws.

And it added to DCA something it really needed.

 

[Consumer]

Y’all are over thinking this. It’s a land themed to pier side amusements and the beach, and the Little Mermaid takes place in an ocean. Is it perfect? No, but it’s not horrifically egregious, either.

 

[mickEblu]

Y’all are over thinking this. It’s a land themed to pier side amusements and the beach, and the Little Mermaid takes place in an ocean. Is it perfect? No, but it’s not horrifically egregious, either.

Right. If we re going to talk about things being out of place at DCA let’s start with Mission Breakout.

 

[Professortango1]

The difference is EPCOT was great and can continue to be great, but they have turned against the very spirit of the park to insert Disney wherever they can. EPCOT was the reason behind hidden Mickey's, because they didn't want characters and movies overshadowing the experiences in the park.

DCA was a hot mess since jump street. While the park almost saw a glimmer of hope with Buena Vista Street, and the the redone Paradise Pier, Grizzly Peak, Condor Flats, and Hollywoodland; it was sadly short lived. With Mermaid, it wasn't what we wanted, but at least it was a darkride. Ideally, it would have gone in Paradise Pier where the bandstand currently is to tie into the theme.

 

[Suspirian]

Y’all are over thinking this. It’s a land themed to pier side amusements and the beach, and the Little Mermaid takes place in an ocean. Is it perfect? No, but it’s not horrifically egregious, either.

Right. This thread is a bit ridiculous. It's no more out of place than Midway Mania or Turtle Talk with Crush in the American Waterfront area of TDS.