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When is it fair to report on the upkeep of New Fantasyland?
- Thread starter Patricia Melton
- Start date
Lee
Adventurer
Not clear at this point. You're likely pretty close.
the.dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
Lee
Adventurer
Nah...the menu is set. I just haven't been able to get the final list out of anybody.
the.dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
Lee
Adventurer
Possible, I guess.
I sure wouldn't want to be the one to explain such to the Chinese government...
the.dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
the.dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
JenniferS
When you're the leader, you don't have to follow.
We experienced ETwB during preview on November 9 or 10, at which time the wardrobe was not functioning. None of my SIL or 2 nieces realized that there was an element missing. The CM merely told the story and handed out the props. The only reason I was aware, was because I had previewed all things FLE on the internet before leaving for our trip.
And, truth be told, I don't even remember Lumiere at all.
The highlight was the oh-so-adorable Belle, and the 2 adult males chosen to be the guards.
Lee
Adventurer
I'll need to check some materials I have at home, but yes, I think that plot was previously designated as future expansion for TL.
Pixiedustmaker
Well-Known Member
Pixiedustmaker
Well-Known Member
In my estimation, they didn't have to build the exact same ride. The duplicate animatronic Ariels and Ursula could have been used, and expanded upon in a more lavish Mermaid for MK.
Technically, the rides were not designed together, as DCA's Mermaid has a very specific footprint, which includes making room for architectural remnants from Golden Dreams, i.e. the Palace of Fine Arts, as well as limited space in DCA.
Therefore, I think it would be much more accurate to say that DCA's Mermaid was retrofitted into MK's FLE. A custom Mermaid for MK would have utilized the blessing of space that MK has, but didn't use to its full advantage. Behind of Mermaid to the North is an expansion pad which may never be used.
I don't believe that the ride figures for a Shanghai Mermaid were built with MK and DCA, which were fabricated quite a while ago, and based on pictures of just two duplicates of the stuff in the warehouse I've seen.
the.dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
Weren't a fair number of FL's LM AA's built in-house?
Lee
Adventurer
I wish that was accurate...
The one in MK alone came in at close to $100mil, for ride system, building, groundwork, rockwork, etc.
When I first heard that figure here, I was shocked.
So I looked into it.
Sad, but true.
Pixiedustmaker
Well-Known Member
Well, you're adding on the exterior stuff.
DCA's Mermaid costed about $50 million. If they put the same thing in MK it would be $50 million. It think you might have your numbers confused as $100 million was for both rides.
Now, look at Mermaid's exterior queue. I would guess $10 million for rock work, maybe $5 million for plumbing, and maybe $5 million or more for the interactive elements. That would bring it close to $70 million, but this is just a guess.
Another insider confirmed that it was $100 for both rides, it was a marketing ploy by Disney to add into promotional material, I think for DCA, that the Mermaid is $100 million in development and construction. I guess they forgot to mention it was for both attractions!
Lee
Adventurer
Sigh...
They most certainly were designed together, using the footprint for DCA as a starting point. Both rides went through the process together, from the beginning. Like twins.
(There were existing plans for a LM ride in the 20k plot, but those were scrapped when the decision was made to do one in DCA as well. Thus the piggyback nature of the development, and the need for one design that would fit both footprints.)
I'm 90% certain, that the Shanghai figured and props were fabricated at the same, or nearly, time as the first two. (Same way they did Mansion in the late sixties.)
Lee
Adventurer
Link to that insider's quote. ( It may have even been me, back when I couldn't get my head around the numbers I was hearing.)
Can't be any more clear.
The final bill for MK's Mermaid ran to nearly $100mil. Everything included. That's nearly the cost of FJ, which was/is the point.
Pixiedustmaker
Well-Known Member
The footprint of the ride show building really had to be made to work in DCA given limited space, and special architectural considerations. Technically, MK has no such limitations. They could have designed a custom show building for Mermaid, utilizing the expansion pad. As is, Mermaid's show building is awkward in FLE, I hear that they are trying to cover up sight of it from around Gaston's! Another element, of course, was keeping the old wall from 20,000. But they didn't need to do this, the land north of this area is 100% suitable for development.
Lee
Adventurer
Yes. They had to use the DCA footprint as the starting point.
That's what I said.
They wanted two identical rides, and had to fit it into DCA.
In a sense, the MK version is a clone of the DCA one, since that one had the space restrictions. However they were totally designed at the same time.
That's what I said.
They wanted two identical rides, and had to fit it into DCA.
In a sense, the MK version is a clone of the DCA one, since that one had the space restrictions. However they were totally designed at the same time.