What should happen to Winnie the Pooh?

[__r.jr]

Revive the Country Bear Jamboree, for no other reason than to rectify the thematic coherency for Critter Country in terms of sight, sounds and music that Winnie the Pooh broke nearly two decades ago. The Country Bears are already established intellectual property with a built in audience, even if it may only be perceived at a niche level. And it would be also be an excuse to not only place Pooh in Fantasyland where he belongs but give him a better executed attraction.

As for the medium for the Country Bears attraction, perhaps a darkride, for broader guest accessibility, with a substantial portion of physical sets, mixed practical and digital effects and an assortment of audio animatronics. However, as a personal preference, I'd be receptive for a revised family coaster a la Magic Kingdom's Seven Dwarfs Mine Train with elements from Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars from Hong Kong. It would be wonderful to expand the geography of a Dixieland South with antebellum hilltops, lush flora and kinetic water ways.

 

[Rich T]

As much as I think Black Cauldron is a really weak film, I agree it could make an outstanding dark ride.

 

[TROR]

I think it works just fine for a DL dark ride...people get too hung up in the comparisons to the other versions and yes, we did get an inferior version.

Big agree.

It's still a good fit for that area of the park

Big disagree.

I also second the Bambi dark ride, since I don't believe there's ever been anything Bambi in the Disney parks.

Bambi's been represented in World of Color, both the original and one of the Christmas versions. Beyond that I can't think of anything significant, however.

 

[Rich T]

Revive the Country Bear Jamboree, for no other reason than to rectify the thematic coherency for Critter Country in terms of sight, sounds and music that Winnie the Pooh broke nearly two decades ago. The Country Bears are already established intellectual property with a built in audience, even if it may only be perceived at a niche level. And it would be also be an excuse to not only place Pooh in Fantasyland where he belongs but give him a better executed attraction.

As for the medium for the Country Bears attraction, perhaps a darkride, for broader guest accessibility, with a substantial portion of physical sets, mixed practical and digital effects and an assortment of audio animatronics. However, as a personal preference, I'd be receptive for a revised family coaster a la Magic Kingdom's Seven Dwarfs Mine Train with elements from Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars from Hong Kong. It would be wonderful to expand the geography of a Dixieland South with antebellum hilltops, lush flora and kinetic water ways.

If they replaced Pooh with a Country Bears version of Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, I would forgive Disney for every addle-brained, money-grubbing, long-term-brand-harmful decision they've made over the last several years.

 

[Phroobar]

If they replaced Pooh with a Country Bears version of Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, I would forgive Disney for every addle-brained, money-grubbing, long-term-brand-harmful decision they've made over the last several years.

I wonder if there is room to do such a thing back there. There might be. It would make a nice transition with SWL.

 

[TwilightZone]

I wonder if there is room to do such a thing back there. There might be. It would make a nice transition with SWL.

As long as they keep it short and/or compact, I think there's enough room for it.

 

[Phroobar]

I think there is plenty of room for a BTMRR type ride there.

There is even more space if you eat into Critter Country. Splash Mountain is just long and skinny. A huge ride could be put there.

 

[DisneyLostBoy03]

For me, Winnie the Pooh is a very sweet and charming ride. I would say leave it be. Although, if I were to add a new attraction to Critter Country, it would hands down be a Princess and the Frog dark ride. Think of it as a trackless dark ride where you ride on a lily pad and go through the bayou with Tiana and Naveen to be human again. It would complement well with Splash Mountain since that attraction takes place in a bayou as well.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I first experienced Disney Land as an adult knowing only the Disney Land Sing Along VHS videocasette tape, the official website in the late 90s and early 2000s and the defunct Intercot West website with descriptions of the various attractions. I had been going to Disneyworld since I was a child but despite the similarities to The Magic Kingdom, Disney Land is so tonally different they're very unalike. DCA is also extremely different than the other Disneyparks.

That being said, I had experienced the Country Bear show at Disneyworld but it was one of those things you'd tend to skip because it was a boring daffy stuffed robot bear show that even Disney made fun of in the Goofy movie. I never particularly cared for the Poo ride but I thought the Disney Land version was alright enough. It has a really nice exterior and there's never a line. I don't have any connection with the source material and the ride doesn't exactly inspire one to.

 

[Rich T]

I think there is plenty of room for a BTMRR type ride there.

I agree. They'd have to get really creative with the layout and build up rather than the stretched-out ride at HK, but--Yeah! Well worth ditching Pooh for! (HK's layout is boring anyway!)

 

[Phroobar]

I agree. They'd have to get really creative with the layout and build up rather than the stretched-out ride at HK, but--Yeah! Well worth ditching Pooh for! (HK's layout is boring anyway!)

If you look where the ROTR building is, it is a huge amount of land. They could easily build something really spectacular there.

 

[brb1006]

Now that'd be cool, and unique. Bambi doesn't get utilized inside the parks, it'd be nice to see that happen.

The only representation Bambi gets from the parks currently is just Thumper and Miss Bunny becoming meetable characters. Flower used to be seen at the parks up till the late 1970s.

 

[brb1006]

Isn't Tokyo's version like 20 years old? It's definitely a good ride, but I'd love to see a pass at a 2019 level Pooh dark ride.

Currently Pooh's Hunny Hunt is 19 years old at this point since it opened September 4, 2000.

 

[luther10]

What about Beauty and the Beast? The ride can start outdoor with a forest area, and then move to the indoor building with the Beast castle on top...
I know it fits better in Fantasyland, but if the ride can't find sufficient space there, then why not consider Critter Country?

 

[SuddenStorm]

What about Beauty and the Beast? The ride can start outdoor with a forest area, and then move to the indoor building with the Beast castle on top...
I know it fits better in Fantasyland, but if the ride can't find sufficient space there, then why not consider Critter Country?

Because there's literally no way to make BatB fit in Critter Country...

 

[mickEblu]

I think it works just fine for a DL dark ride...people get too hung up in the comparisons to the other versions and yes, we did get an inferior version. It's still a good fit for that area of the park...thrill(ish) ride and family ride across from each other. I say keep it and update it a bit.

Yeah that’s how I feel about it. Although I’d like more than just a simple update. Don’t you think that they ll eventually take a look at Pooh if the numbers don’t start going up after SWL?

They could leave the front of Pooh as is and move the meet and Greets to where the load area is now. Opening up some room in front of the Pooh store. Then make the entrance to a new Star Wars D ticket on the other side of the Pooh show building facing SWL. I don’t know the layout or if this possible. It also wouldn’t be my first choice. I would want a new fitting IP, CBJ dark ride or upgraded Pooh before another SWL attraction but from a capacity standpoint it would make sense.

 

[Stevek]

I think there is plenty of room for a BTMRR type ride there.

There is even more space if you eat into Critter Country. Splash Mountain is just long and skinny. A huge ride could be put there.

Maybe the X wing/Tie Fighter Coaster.

 

[rebelk73]

I think turning it into a new pooh ride is the best decision. Personally Country Bears fits Florida better than California, both attraction-wise and culture-wise. Plus, it becoming a part of SWL would also mean the rest of Critter Country would become SWL, which is not ideal. And, maybe by bias, I do kind of like the Pooh ride. I have too many memories of it to really hate it.

What? Our state animal is a bear!

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Yeah but the redneck caricatures are more suited to Florida audiences than Disney Land.

 

[mickEblu]

Maybe the X wing/Tie Fighter Coaster.

Bye Pooh. I’m not one to want more acreage devoted to Star Wars but I can’t say no to an indoor coaster.