Mary Poppins

[DizBelle]

I bought the 40th anniversary edition of Mary Poppins on dvd and I've watched the movie with the commentary and I've watched the "behind the scenes" featurettes.

Here's what I'm wondering... Apparently "Mary Poppins" is the crown jewel of Walt's career. He was extremely involved with its production and it won 11 academy awards. It had amazing music and ground breaking technological effects. Why isn't there an attraction dedicated to it?

 

[Maleficent13]

A very good question! I never thought about it before. Perhaps getting the rights to an attraction are separate from getting the rights to a movie and Travers wouldn't let him? (Just a guess...)

 

[msr709]

Hear, hear! I concur wholeheartedly, being its my favorite of the Disney movies I always wondered this also. I remember seeing it 3 times in a row when I was 11 yo, with my cousin. My Mom and Aunt left us at the movie theater to go shopping and gave us money to see two other movies, but we just stayed in the theater in the same seats and watched it over and over. It was a local movie theater and they knew me so my Mom felt safe leaving us there and we just loved it. We used the money for candy and popcorn. We came out knowing all the words to the songs, even Supercalifragilisticexpialidoucious [sp?] (I said I could say it not spell it LOL!) But it does brings back great childhood memories for me. I can't wait to see the DVD!!

 

[gigi1313]

my kids soooo loved mary poppins (much to my delight) that we literally wore out FOUR video tapes watching it over and over and over! i would LOVE for wdw to have a MP attraction of some sort!

 

[SnackyStacky]

By the time the movie was released in 1964, Walt had already started plans on the Florida Project.

He probably was more concerned about his EPCOT vision at that time than he was about a Magic Kingdom addition.

Just a guess based on the timeline. I have no clue why one was never created.

 

[sodaseller]

I bought the 40th anniversary edition of Mary Poppins on dvd and I've watched the movie with the commentary and I've watched the "behind the scenes" featurettes.

Here's what I'm wondering... Apparently "Mary Poppins" is the crown jewel of Walt's career. He was extremely involved with its production and it won 11 academy awards. It had amazing music and ground breaking technological effects. Why isn't there an attraction dedicated to it?

How were the additional features? We have the VHS version and decided not to get the DVD because my DD8 now prefers "advennture" films like Mulan. But she also loves pieces on how movies were made, and if there was a lot on that movie, might be worth getting

 

[Giagie]

I loved this movie, I should definitley get it on DVD! It would be really cool to have a Mary Poppins ride.

 

[sodaseller]

When my daughter was little and would ride Cinderella's Carousel every visit, I would tell her to "take off" and fly around the Park like in Mary Poppins.

A Ride that "simulated" that might be fun

 

[DavidNYC]

Well, I cannot say for certain but I have a pretty good idea why . . .

Walt Disney spent over 10 years obtaining the rights to the Mary Poppins character from PL Travers before she finally agreed to allow Disney to make the movie. The relationship was not great however and she is often quoted as saying that she thinks Disney misrepresented her characters and ruined the story. In fact, this dispute is the reason that it has taken so long for a stage musical version of the story to get done (for those who don't know - a large and lavish production based on the Disney movie - but with much add'l material from the original stories and new songs is opening in London this week).

I would assume that it would have been difficult for Disney to acquire any additional rights to make any sort of ride based on the movie or stories in light of the relationship. If the play is successful (which from the buzz I hear already is likely), I'd be curious to see if there might not be something Poppins related Disney's future.

 

[Greg K.]

...that the Imagineers did indeed have plans for a Mary Poppins attraction of some sort at WDW, but money (as usual) got in the way.

 

[DizBelle]

Well, I cannot say for certain but I have a pretty good idea why . . .

Walt Disney spent over 10 years obtaining the rights to the Mary Poppins character from PL Travers before she finally agreed to allow Disney to make the movie. The relationship was not great however and she is often quoted as saying that she thinks Disney misrepresented her characters and ruined the story. In fact, this dispute is the reason that it has taken so long for a stage musical version of the story to get done (for those who don't know - a large and lavish production based on the Disney movie - but with much add'l material from the original stories and new songs is opening in London this week).

I would assume that it would have been difficult for Disney to acquire any additional rights to make any sort of ride based on the movie or stories in light of the relationship. If the play is successful (which from the buzz I hear already is likely), I'd be curious to see if there might not be something Poppins related Disney's future.

From the info on the dvd, the books were published in 1934. Walt started seeking the rights to make a movie in 1938. 25 years before the movie was finally released. Even so, it was under stringent conditions of the author. Julie Andrews described P.L. Travers as a "crisp" woman.

Interesting tidbit I learned. The first shot of Mary Poppins flying in to be the nanny for the Banks childeren is NOT Julie Andrews. It sure looks a lot like her but Julie Andrews herself says that it is not.

 

[Greg K.]

This comes from disneyforever.com ... about some planned attractions (for Disneyland) from the '90s that never materialized.

"There were also plans for a new dark ride in Fantasyland, which mixed characters into a non-linear storyline. Not much is known about this attraction, other than the fact it was to have a very MTV feel to it. Other lesser-known attractions planned for Fantasyland included a Mary Poppins dark ride, which was to replace both Pinocchio and Snow White attractions and a Fantasia based attraction in the old Motor Boat Cruise waterways. Garden of the Gods was to be a leisurely cruise around beautiful waterfalls and gardens inspired by Walt Disney's original Fantasia animated feature film. Sorcerer Mickey would have been conducting water fountains as guests passed by."

 

[Jridou]

Mary Poppins *SO* gets no respect. When we were in Epcot she was in the Great Britain pavilion and kids were totally ignoring her to get their masks stamped and color.

 

[trstno1]

Mary Poppins is one of my daughters favorite characters, and one of my favorite movies. I can't wait for the stage musical, and I hope an attraction soon follows.

 

[Greg K.]

Mary Poppins is one of my daughters favorite characters, and one of my favorite movies. I can't wait for the stage musical, and I hope an attraction soon follows.

If you wander over to the News and Rumors forum, I've posted a review from the Times of London -- a rave!

 

[vjc715]

If I remember this right; I was reading the the latest Disney magazine...... the imagineer that designed Thunder Mountain Railroad, did have a ride in mind but never came to fruition ~ It was an awesome article

 

[marypops!]

i read that article too he made big thunder mountain up he used to sell popcorn at 1st also he helped (i think) make splash mountain in his house he has a picture of a scene from sleeping beauty only 2 were made and the other is in slepping beauty castle at paris i can't remember the rest but this is off topic so anyway
in England at the world showcase they have a room dedicated to her (like her bag with a lamp coming out of it and a book) a bit like the winnie the pooh part and she also has a scene in the GMR but it would be great to have a mary poppins ride in WDW like the horse carousel that you sit on a horse and takes you over the story (a bit like peter pans flight only with a horse and you on the ground) thats what i think

 

[LibertyLover]

My DH just bought the DVD for our 2 year old. She loves the music and dances to it. It's a good movie.

 

[Beth8266]

Kinda OT, but one of my favorite pictures ever is my mom and I with Mary Poppins at Disneyland sans kids!! It was a quick trip to go see her and my sister and Mom and I popped into DL for the day before heading to LA. Thanks for letting me relive that trip!!

 

[dpic]

I've always thought MGM should have more of an emphasis on Disney live action movies. There are so many out of date attractions at MGM, and Disney has so many great live action movies: Mary Poppins, Flubber, 20,000 Leagues, Parent Trap, Love Bug, Babes in Toyland, etc, etc. To me, the MGM connection is not Disney. It would give them a great way to promote their inventory, and many adults loved those older movies. Babes in Toyland was the first movie I ever saw--I never saw a show in color before, it was magical.