DHS What should they do with Animation Courtyard?

[Splashin' Ryan]

Going back to the Simpsons idea, I find it really hard to believe any land that current-day-disney would make of that intellectual property would live up to its legacy, humor, and overall feeling at WDW.
The Simpsons is filled with adult innuendos, sometimes culturally (in)sensitive figures like Apu, just to name one, and manyyyyy other stereotypes. I for one don't mind that The Simpsons has poked fun at these over the decades, but given that Disney has seemed to veer heavily away from carrying these issues into the parks recently - like with the complete erasure of splash and zip a dee doo dah, changing "ladies and gentlemen" announcement scripts to name some - I don't see them faithfully executing a simpsons land. Heck, people even got mad about a secluded adults-only bar at EPCOT just recently.
Of course, I guess they could just build a sterile version of the Simpsons universe, but would that really be worth their time and $ then? As others have said, Animation courtyard is likely the most valuable piece of land at DHS for shaping the future of the park and its overall layout, and I just don't see this working there.

 

[infloencer]

I for one don't mind that The Simpsons has poked fun at these over the decades

Wow what a privileged point of view

 

[Brer Panther]

Five bucks says at one point during the Simpsons attraction, Bart does his crappy Mickey Mouse impression.

I don't see them in a rush to include Blue Sky Studios stuff as the studio closed immediately after the purchase

Didn't they only shut down Blue Sky Studios over the main character of Nimona kissing another guy? I distinctively remember an article claiming that...

Family Guy, despite an extremely edgy tone, is popular with the Gen Z audience that the recent WDW wave of announcements is trying to court.

If they put a Family Guy attraction in Hollywood Studios, I'm never setting foot in that area of the park again.

like how Moana is getting more than the walk through.

Is the ride in Adventureland back on?

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ]

what about one man's dream?

Expanded with the AA figure, it'd make a proper attraction...

Nothing mentioned as of yet, but moving to the Mickey Shorts "Vacation Fun" old Sounds Dangerous building could work, currently DHS lowest GSATs attraction.

Alternatively, could be moved to MK or EPCOT as either a preshow or standalone attraction. I don't see them scrapping it.

 

[CoastalElite64]

Has Disney actually done anything good with the Simpsons since buying 20th Century FOX? I haven't heard much if any praise for the episodes released since then, the general consensus regarding the Disney Plus shorts is that they're lousy... does Simpsons merchandise even still sell that well?

Do you notice these hats in the park? Imagine them at DHS lmao



I think one of the holiday episodes got good buzz from fans, but I can't remember which one.

 

[peter11435]

Expanded with the AA figure, it'd make a proper attraction...

Nothing mentioned as of yet, but moving to the Mickey Shorts "Vacation Fun" old Sounds Dangerous building could work, currently DHS lowest GSATs attraction.

If you want to make it into a proper attraction why move it into a smaller venue?

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

Ignoring the discussion of whether Simpsons is good for WDW or not, I find it kind of shocking that anybody thinks the Simpsons area at USF is good? The ride only gets worse as the years go on, going on it today is just a poor experience. I think it is easily among the worst attractions at Universal as a whole. The carnival games surrounding it are extremely cheap for what's supposed to be a world class theme park, even if they're "in theme". Fast Food Boulevard is fun to walk through. Lard Lad, Moe's, and even the Duff stand are well done, but the rest is very cheap. The actual quick service inside is full of things that either do not reflect how they looked in the series or weren't in the series at all, short of Moe's. I can respect that they did the best they could with the infrastructure they inherited (and certainly a limited budget), but if Disney were to do it themselves they could pretty easily outdo Universal at anything they did with the IP.

 

[RosR9]

I just feel like if they add Simpson as opposed to a different IP, what is there for families with small children? As a family with a 2 and 4 year old we already skip DHS and a Simpsons land wouldn’t change that.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ]

Zootopia is more likely I feel but I also think another IP or IPs thematically linked up with Mermaid is the better play.

Toontown Wharf anyone?

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ]

I feel like IF Marvel were to ever happen it'd be Echo Lake, not AC.

 

[Fox&Hound]

I feel like IF Marvel were to ever happen it'd be Echo Lake, not AC.

Yes plenty of room for expansion there too!

 

[Fox&Hound]

Mermaid and Disney Jr (Bluey?) could work in a Zootopia land as part of a theatre district (at least on the outside).

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ]

Yes plenty of room for expansion there too!

Hero IPs to start out... with potential to expand into parking lot for Marvel properties.

 

[Tha Realest]

I feel like if Zootopia 2 does a billion the conversation will swing back that way. A Simpsons ride somewhere in the park…I guess if they have to. But please not an entire land.

There are so many iconic locations I think Simpson’s lends itself more to a full “land” than many other properties.

Besides, I feel like like Disney prefers to expand out their investment into lands or mini lands, or retrofit the areas they’re build into to match the new attraction being built.

 

[JackCH]

My ideal would be a “superhero bay” over by Echo lake with Incredibles, Big Hero 6, and whatever Marvel they could do for now and maybe expand later. (Dr Strange I know has been mentioned). That would also allow an easy Star Tours retheme if it is also in the area.

For AC, I think something more kid oriented and maybe girl oriented would be great. That’s why I’m more open to Moana than other people on here. It would also add water and greenery.

 

[JackCH]

Ignoring the discussion of whether Simpsons is good for WDW or not, I find it kind of shocking that anybody thinks the Simpsons area at USF is good? The ride only gets worse as the years go on, going on it today is just a poor experience. I think it is easily among the worst attractions at Universal as a whole. The carnival games surrounding it are extremely cheap for what's supposed to be a world class theme park, even if they're "in theme". Fast Food Boulevard is fun to walk through. Lard Lad, Moe's, and even the Duff stand are well done, but the rest is very cheap. The actual quick service inside is full of things that either do not reflect how they looked in the series or weren't in the series at all, short of Moe's. I can respect that they did the best they could with the infrastructure they inherited (and certainly a limited budget), but if Disney were to do it themselves they could pretty easily outdo Universal at anything they did with the IP.

I hate the Simpson’s ride and find the area bland and normally skip it. It’s part of why I’m so cold on it coming to DHS. But I know I’m not part of the Simpson’s demographic.

 

[eddie104]

Going back to the Simpsons idea, I find it really hard to believe any land that current-day-disney would make of that intellectual property would live up to its legacy, humor, and overall feeling at WDW.
The Simpsons is filled with adult innuendos, sometimes culturally (in)sensitive figures like Apu, just to name one, and manyyyyy other stereotypes. I for one don't mind that The Simpsons has poked fun at these over the decades, but given that Disney has seemed to veer heavily away from carrying these issues into the parks recently - like with the complete erasure of splash and zip a dee doo dah, changing "ladies and gentlemen" announcement scripts to name some - I don't see them faithfully executing a simpsons land. Heck, people even got mad about a secluded adults-only bar at EPCOT just recently.
Of course, I guess they could just build a sterile version of the Simpsons universe, but would that really be worth their time and $ then? As others have said, Animation courtyard is likely the most valuable piece of land at DHS for shaping the future of the park and its overall layout, and I just don't see this working there.

Exactly.

The Simpsons doesn’t fit the vibe of current day WDW at all. With this political climate and potential backlash I don’t think Disney is touching that IP with a ten foot pole.

Ignoring the discussion of whether Simpsons is good for WDW or not, I find it kind of shocking that anybody thinks the Simpsons area at USF is good? The ride only gets worse as the years go on, going on it today is just a poor experience. I think it is easily among the worst attractions at Universal as a whole. The carnival games surrounding it are extremely cheap for what's supposed to be a world class theme park, even if they're "in theme". Fast Food Boulevard is fun to walk through. Lard Lad, Moe's, and even the Duff stand are well done, but the rest is very cheap. The actual quick service inside is full of things that either do not reflect how they looked in the series or weren't in the series at all, short of Moe's. I can respect that they did the best they could with the infrastructure they inherited (and certainly a limited budget), but if Disney were to do it themselves they could pretty easily outdo Universal at anything they did with the IP.

Luckily it’s on its way out within a few years and hopefully will be replaced by a higher quality attraction(s).

 

[Moth]

If "political climate" was an issue, Disney wouldn't be positioning The Simpsons as a major Disney IP.

 

[Fox&Hound]

If "political climate" was an issue, Disney wouldn't be positioning The Simpsons as a major Disney IP.

But building in the parks is different. If they just got rid of Song of the South, changed Pirates, Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan, and soon Tom Sawyer’s island for outdated references I don’t see them doubling down on Simpsons.

 

[Moth]

But building in the parks is different. If they just got rid of Song of the South, changed Pirates, Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan, and soon Tom Sawyer’s island for outdated references I don’t see them doubling down on Simpsons.

Song of the South has been off limits for a whole lot longer than what people believe (Disney Infinity wasn't allowed to touch it and that was in development late 2000s, early 2010s), and much like Pirates, Jungle Cruise and Peter Pan, The Simpsons has cleaned its act up and mostly sanded down its edges, and outside of Apu (which they've removed from the show entirely in the last decade), hasn't had a big controversy.

Modern Simpsons and the way the brand is presented now and viewed by others is perfectly toothless, inoffensive, and completely fair game, and not comparable to the heated debate around Song of the South or Tom Sawyer.