What ride most needs a refurb?

[Earl Sweatpants]

That type of ambitious thinking is all but dead at WDI, especially themes that are based on practical predictions of the future. While it all sounds high minded and cool, whatever they built would be dated the day it opened, and Disney would end up neglecting it because it wouldn't be driving valuable IP.

I like these ideas on paper, but I question WDI's ability to deliver them, and I don't see them going over big with the general public. For a number of other reasons I think Disney would be better off completely dropping the future as a theme at its magic kingdom parks and going full throttle science fiction in Tomorrowland rather than building a mini EPCOT.

Sadly, I think you're right. Its a true travesty too because WDI has stood for SO much creativity and innovation, yet their main focus now seems strictly on forcing synergy for the sake of synergy and a CEO's ego. I don't truly see a new generation of X Atencio's, Claude Coats', Tony Baxter's, or John Hench's being fostered. At least not during the tenure of the current regime.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

ts a true travesty too because WDI has stood for SO much creativity and innovation, yet their main focus now seems strictly on forcing synergy for the sake of synergy and a CEO's ego.

Meh, I think it's too simple to brush it off as stroking Iger's ego while disregarding current popular culture and trends in the theme park industry.

Let's be honest, despite good intentions WDI has literally never been skillful at telling the story of the future, Disney Park's management has never been good at maintaining and keeping it fresh, and the public has rarely responded as positively to the classic Tomorrowland theme as it has to popular studio driven IP like Toy Story, Star Wars, or Marvel. Don't blame Iger. He is delivering what the public wants and what WDI and the WDCo does best; popular Hollywood escapism.

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

Meh, I think it's too simple to brush it off as stroking Iger's ego while disregarding current popular culture and trends in the theme park industry.

Let's be honest, despite good intentions WDI has literally never been skillful at telling the story of the future, Disney Park's management has never been good at maintaining and keeping it fresh, and the public has rarely responded as positively to the classic Tomorrowland theme as it has to popular studio driven IP like Toy Story, Star Wars, or Marvel. Don't blame Iger. He is delivering what the public wants and what WDI and the WDCo does best; popular Hollywood escapism.

I would only challenge your statement by saying the first decade of Epcot's life was about as close as they ever got...and could have maintained, had things not gone the "please the Wall St. fat-cat" way. No, Iger alone isn't to blame...but he surely isn't helping.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

I would only challenge your statement by saying the first decade of Epcot's life was about as close as they ever got...and could have maintained, had things not gone the "please the Wall St. fat-cat" way.

I was at EPCOT on opening day and it really did feel like something marvelous and momentous was happening, something way beyond an ordinary theme park or even Disneyland. At the time EPCOT seemed as groundbreaking to me as how I imagine Disneyland did when it opened.

That said, rather than fulfilling Walt's ambitious plans for what it was supposed to be EPCOT Center played to the WDCo's strengths as a theme park planner and operator instead. The fact that by opening day in 1982 Disney's management had taken Walt's grand (and impractical?) concept and turned it into a second theme park gate at WDW in place of a literal experimental city of the future should have been the writing on the wall for what was to come.

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

I was at EPCOT on opening day and it really did feel like something marvelous and momentous was happening, something way beyond an ordinary theme park or even Disneyland. At the time EPCOT seemed as groundbreaking to me as how I imagine Disneyland did when it opened.

That said, rather than fulfilling Walt's ambitious plans for what it was supposed to be EPCOT Center played to the WDCo's strengths as a theme park planner and operator instead. The fact that by opening day in 1982 Disney's management had taken Walt's grand (and impractical?) concept and turned it into a second theme park gate at WDW in place of a literal experimental city of the future should have been the writing on the wall for what was to come.

Fair point. Epcot (in any of its stages of life) was never truly what Walt had envisioned. But despite that, truly showed the scope and magnitude of what WDI could do when given such an audacious basis. I doubt we'll ever see anything quite as grandiose.

 

[jaxonp]

There's something about the raw, jerky, oldness to the Matterhorn that I just love. It reminds us how old Disneyland is and how far its come. I also love the new updates to the ride... Those AAs are creepy good!

 

[truecoat]

There's something about the raw, jerky, oldness to the Matterhorn that I just love. It reminds us how old Disneyland is and how far its come. I also love the new updates to the ride... Those AAs are creepy good!

It was much more comfortable to ride with the older vehicles. The newer ones make it almost un-rideable to me.

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

It was much more comfortable to ride with the older vehicles. The newer ones make it almost un-rideable to me.

You mean with a person shoved up in your lap too?

 

[Californian Elitist]

You mean with a person shoved up in your lap too?

Guests weren't forced to do lap sitting.

The previous sleds were definitely better. They had lots more room.

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

Guests weren't forced to do lap sitting.

The previous sleds were definitely better. They had lots more room.

Not forced no, but if you were a teenage boy with a group of your friends and in particular the girl you thought was cute and so you strategically placed yourself next to her in line so that you could share the cab with her...well then it was a great time!

 

[Phroobar]

Not forced no, but if you were a teenage boy with a group of your friends and in particular the girl you thought was cute and so you strategically placed yourself next to her in line so that you could share the cab with her...well then it was a great time!

Is that a selfie stick in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

 

[Figments Friend]

This should be a permanent thing in Tomorrowland.

Especially this:

Yes..yes..YES!
More 'Tron' please.


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