Disney News, Discussion & an Element of Fun - 2024 Edition

[HokieRaven5]

You know, the more I think about it, I think the outrage is focused in the wrong places. The Tropical Americas would be the perfect place for an Emperor's New Groove ride, and that fits better with Encanto. I don't know if they could have reworked Dinosaur into that, but I don't see why not? I get why they are doing Indy, but, ehh, I'd rather have had something different.

Quetzalcoatl and the Aztecs can still work for finally adding a fantastical being to Animal Kingdom. Plus plays into Indy’s fear of Snakes.

 

[BrianL]

Quetzalcoatl and the Aztecs can still work for finally adding a fantastical being to Animal Kingdom. Plus plays into Indy’s fear of Snakes.

No, no, no - it should be a coaster themed to getting to Yzma's Secret Lab - "Pull the lever, Kronk!"

 

[HokieRaven5]

No, no, no - it should be a coaster themed to getting to Yzma's Secret Lab - "Pull the lever, Kronk!"

Yes, I’ve advocated for that idea numerous times on here. Was just saying the feathered serpent from Aztec Culture still technically fits the theming idea of Tropical Americas

 

[BrianL]

Yes, I’ve advocated for that idea numerous times on here. Was just saying the feathered serpent from Aztec Culture still technically fits the theming idea of Tropical Americas

No it totally fits, it's just not as cool! Am I saying that The Emporer's New Groove is better than Indiana Jones? Maybe....

 

[Smugpugmug]

I really hope it's Animation Courtyard. I would hate to see The Muppets go away - it's way more important than the Rivers of America! I know they were worried about getting booed, but didn't the crowd boo the Cars concept art too? I know that they can't just make decisions based on a small section of hardcore fans, but I wonder if it gives them any pause at all? They are already starting to file permits, so I don't know.

Situations like this make me super curious as to what Disney sees for guest satisfaction scores - are the Muppets and the show more of a hardcore Disney parks fan thing or do the "normies" love it just as much as that first group?

Replacing Muppets before an entire waste of space land is an insanely dumb decision but this is the same company that closed GMR so lol

 

[Smugpugmug]

They knew and they knew there would be blowback, and lots of it. Yesterday afternoon, they filed for permitting, along with engineering drawings that had been obviously worked on for some time.

It was a very dishonest move on the part of Disney.

Were permits filed for HS? I only saw permits being filed for MK.

 

[jpeterson]

Situations like this make me super curious as to what Disney sees for guest satisfaction scores - are the Muppets and the show more of a hardcore Disney parks fan thing or do the "normies" love it just as much as that first group?

Replacing Muppets before an entire waste of space land is an insanely dumb decision but this is the same company that closed GMR so lol

I love the muppets and would be sad to see it replaced. I also hope it's animation courtyard just because very little happens there and they could rehome the Disney Junior meet & greets somewhere else.

But if they do keep the Muppets, I hope they show it some love. The gift shop has been closed since COVID, the movie isn't popular (even if I love it) and the quick service is terrible. The Muppets deserve better.

 

[BrianL]

Situations like this make me super curious as to what Disney sees for guest satisfaction scores - are the Muppets and the show more of a hardcore Disney parks fan thing or do the "normies" love it just as much as that first group?

Replacing Muppets before an entire waste of space land is an insanely dumb decision but this is the same company that closed GMR so lol

I mean, GMR did need some work and updates, but it was still reasonable popular. At least what we got was pretty cool. But, yeah, they could have built MMRR in Animation Courtyard and given us the El Capitoon like they have at DL!

 

[BrianL]

I love the muppets and would be sad to see it replaced. I also hope it's animation courtyard just because very little happens there and they could rehome the Disney Junior meet & greets somewhere else.

But if they do keep the Muppets, I hope they show it some love. The gift shop has been closed since COVID, the movie isn't popular (even if I love it) and the quick service is terrible. The Muppets deserve better.

They recently upgraded projection and such in the theater, so I hope that means it stays. It still seems reasonably popular - moreso than some other shows like it.

 

[fatmanatee]

I really hope it's Animation Courtyard. I would hate to see The Muppets go away - it's way more important than the Rivers of America! I know they were worried about getting booed, but didn't the crowd boo the Cars concept art too? I know that they can't just make decisions based on a small section of hardcore fans, but I wonder if it gives them any pause at all? They are already starting to file permits, so I don't know.

My sense of why the crowd wasn't happy with Cars:

- The feeling that it might be a copycat attraction from DCA
- Uncertainty about where it was going in Frontierland and what might disappear as a result
- There were already rumors about this happening so it wasn't that much of a surprise for that crowd

On the other hand, Monsters Inc was more of a surprise and since they didn't offer any information about where it might go, people guessed it could either go to a space that was either underutilized (Animation Courtyard) or arguably due for a big overhaul (RnRC).

 

[Smugpugmug]

I love the muppets and would be sad to see it replaced. I also hope it's animation courtyard just because very little happens there and they could rehome the Disney Junior meet & greets somewhere else.

But if they do keep the Muppets, I hope they show it some love. The gift shop has been closed since COVID, the movie isn't popular (even if I love it) and the quick service is terrible. The Muppets deserve better.

I know many people love the Muppets but I was wondering if that love is universal or if it's a hardcore Disney parks fan thing. If it's the latter, then I could realistically see Disney giving the show the ax. To clarify I do not support that decision and think it would be very stupid.

I saw rumors of a Muppet overlay for HOP on Twitter this morning which peaked my interest. I have not seen that show in maybe 15 years so that would make me enter that building again for sure...

 

[jpeterson]

I know many people love the Muppets but I was wondering if that love is universal or if it's a hardcore Disney parks fan thing. If it's the latter, then I could realistically see Disney giving the show the ax. To clarify I do not support that decision and think it would be very stupid.

I saw rumors of a Muppet overlay for HOP on Twitter this morning which peaked my interest. I have not seen that show in maybe 15 years so that would make me enter that building again for sure...

I don't think they are that popular but I think it's in large part to Disney never really seeming to know what to do with them. Movies have dried up, last couple shows weren't great. Though Muppet Haunted Mansion was fun, I was glad to see that.

I think the younger generation really doesn't have much of a connection to the Muppets at all and that's unfortunate.

 

[BrianL]

I know many people love the Muppets but I was wondering if that love is universal or if it's a hardcore Disney parks fan thing. If it's the latter, then I could realistically see Disney giving the show the ax. To clarify I do not support that decision and think it would be very stupid.

I saw rumors of a Muppet overlay for HOP on Twitter this morning which peaked my interest. I have not seen that show in maybe 15 years so that would make me enter that building again for sure...

Honestly, HOP needs to go or be vastly changed. In today's climate it feels out of place, and of course, idiots in the audience can't keep their opinions to themselves either. I say make it a show that focuses just on a few historic presidents - Washington. Lincoln, etc. - and I think I could handle it if it were told through a Muppet lens.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I don't think they are that popular but I think it's in large part to Disney never really seeming to know what to do with them. Movies have dried up, last couple shows weren't great. Though Muppet Haunted Mansion was fun, I was glad to see that.

I think the younger generation really doesn't have much of a connection to the Muppets at all and that's unfortunate.

This is how I feel too and was wondering if that's what Disney sees in their data. 100% agree that Disney seems lost on what to do with the Muppets.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Honestly, HOP needs to go or be vastly changed. In today's climate it feels out of place, and of course, idiots in the audience can't keep their opinions to themselves either. I say make it a show that focuses just on a few historic presidents - Washington. Lincoln, etc. - and I think I could handle it if it were told through a Muppet lens.

Didn't the Muppets do something outside of the show building? I vaguely remember that being entertaining. If it was like that, then I would be okay with it.

 

[BrianL]

This is how I feel too and was wondering if that's what Disney sees in their data. 100% agree that Disney seems lost on what to do with the Muppets.

Yeah, it's too bad. When they first did the "comeback" movie, The Muppets, that was so great and it seemed to be popular and inject some new life into the franchise. The follow-up, Most Wanted, was okay, but not that great. Then these TV shows are all missing the mark. They weren't necessarily bad - Electric Mayhem was good - but they were off the mark. The Late Night with Piggy concept was good, but the execution was so terrible at first. They changed gears, but it was too late. Honestly, what people want is THe Muppet Show. That's it. Just do that. SNL has been on for 50 years now - the format of sketch comedy and music is infinitely renewable.

 

[BrianL]

Didn't the Muppets do something outside of the show building? I vaguely remember that being entertaining. If it was like that, then I would be okay with it.

They did "Great Moments in History" in the windows above Liberty Square. It was great and used actual puppets with a pre-recorded soundtrack and one live, human actor who interacted with them. It was awesome, but caused traffic issues in the area.

 

[wabbott]

Were permits filed for HS? I only saw permits being filed for MK.

MK, only, I think.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

I know many people love the Muppets but I was wondering if that love is universal or if it's a hardcore Disney parks fan thing. If it's the latter, then I could realistically see Disney giving the show the ax. To clarify I do not support that decision and think it would be very stupid.

I saw rumors of a Muppet overlay for HOP on Twitter this morning which peaked my interest. I have not seen that show in maybe 15 years so that would make me enter that building again for sure...

While I would be incredibly sad to see the Muppets go, I think they need to stay for more practical reasons, too. HS is already really light on all ages attractions. Pulling something with the capacity of Muppets for a height restricted rollercoaster would make the situation worse!

 

[Smugpugmug]

While I would be incredibly sad to see the Muppets go, I think they need to stay for more practical reasons, too. HS is already really light on all ages attractions. Pulling something with the capacity of Muppets for a height restricted rollercoaster would make the situation worse!

100% agree. Especially if that coaster is not a huge people eater. The model shown at the expo makes it look like a low capacity attraction.