News Round Up 2017

[TheMaxRebo]

I'm good with this concept. I'd rather they have gone steampunk Tomorrowland, but I think it is inevitable that they change this theme to something that doesn't look so dated so quickly. I'm not buying all the extra attractions though. I just don't see the money being spent to have 2 attractions for each "theme". That would be an extra Monsters, extra Buzz, 2 Trons... I just don't see it. Even at DHS, getting essentially half a park face lift, they are building 4 rides total, and they are banking on SWL bringing in big new money to cover it. Redoing Tomorrowland in this fashion simply isn't going to be the draw of SWL, yet you would be sinking a comparable, if not larger, amount of money in it.

They need to do something with Tomorrowland, but I'm not buying this kind of investment.

Guess it depends what qualifies for "new attraction" .... there are already plans for replacing Stitch, so that is new, and if they replace the Speedway that is one more, so really only need one more on top of that to get to the low end of "3-4" ... and an update to Buzz would be good and a "new" attraction. Guess I am just saying they can get to "3 or 4" without there really being a bunch more rides than are currently there

 

[jknezek]

Guess it depends what qualifies for "new attraction" .... there are already plans for replacing Stitch, so that is new, and if they replace the Speedway that is one more, so really only need one more on top of that to get to the low end of "3-4" ... and an update to Buzz would be good and a "new" attraction. Guess I am just saying they can get to "3 or 4" without there really being a bunch more rides than are currently there

I think it depends what qualifies for "plans" as well. Stitch is a seasonal attraction right now with no permits filed and the WIR concept rumors have gone quiet and stale. That facility does not easily lend itself to a simple makeover. I don't know if there are really plans so much as we hope there are plans for the space. Same with Speedway, except that is still operating full-time. We have rumors they are considering something, but that is different than action. Regardless, to get to the low end, they still have to SPEND the money on 3-4 attractions. Whether it is simple makeovers of what is there, or actually building new ones, it's a big money concept that I find unlikely any time soon.

Other people might have different opinions, but 4 attractions is a huge expense even if they do it by cutting 2 or 3 current attractions. The same number of attractions is considered a massive makeover for DHS. And that also included closing some attractions so it isn't a net gain of 4 for that park either.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I think it depends what qualifies for "plans" as well. Stitch is a seasonal attraction right now with no permits filed and the WIR concept rumors have gone quiet and stale. That facility does not easily lend itself to a simple makeover. I don't know if there are really plans so much as we hope there are plans for the space. Same with Speedway, except that is still operating full-time. We have rumors they are considering something, but that is different than action. Regardless, to get to the low end, they still have to SPEND the money on 3-4 attractions. Whether it is simple makeovers of what is there, or actually building new ones, it's a big money concept that I find unlikely any time soon.

Other people might have different opinions, but 4 attractions is a huge expense even if they do it by cutting 2 or 3 current attractions. The same number of attractions is considered a massive makeover for DHS. And that also included closing some attractions so it isn't a net gain of 4 for that park either.

I don't disagree with any of this and is very fair points - it is more just the idea of room for 4 new attractions might not really be a net gain of 4 new attractions for Tomorrow, er, Discoveryland

 

[MommaBerd]

I really don't like "Discoveryland" - I know that Tomorrowland isn't about tomorrow, as in the REAL future, but more about what people may have thought the future would be like. I like to call it "retro-future". But, if WDW wants to add some rides that don't fit into the Tomorrowland theme, then I guess the path of least resistance is to change the name...

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I'd feel weird if it wasn't Tomorrowland anymore. No lands in WDW's MK have ever been re-branded, have they? I guess Toontown was removed completely so that is one. I still miss Minnie Moo.

I still don't really think the name matters so much as what it looks like/encompasses. No real reason to change the name, at least the way I see it.

 

[luisov]

In my opinion Discoveryland at Disneyland Paris is the single best version of Tomorrowland there is out there, though perhaps it is in the same level as the one in Shanghai. I just love the whole Jules Verne/steampunk feel, and it doesn't feel as dated as the rest of them.

I personally think that's the right choice, though I recognize that my love for the Verne canon plays a big role in there.

In reality, I don't think that's the theme they're going for at WDW. I think they'll go for a sci-fi/retro-future kind of theme.

 

[linzbear]

I'd feel weird if it wasn't Tomorrowland anymore. No lands in WDW's MK have ever been re-branded, have they? I guess Toontown was removed completely so that is one. I still miss Minnie Moo.

I still don't really think the name matters so much as what it looks like/encompasses. No real reason to change the name, at least the way I see it.

Toontown was previously birthdayland and starland, so it has been rebranded a few times

 

[crazy4wdw]

An interesting bit of news, LucasFilm evidently has changed course as now Carrie Fisher slated to appear in Star Wars episode IX.

Episode IX of the ‘Star Wars’ saga is set to wrap up the main series, and even though Princess Leia actress Carrie Fisher died in December before filming, her brother says she will still appear in the final film. Todd Fisher spoke with New York Daily News about the final chapter, and said that he, along with Carrie’s daughter Billie Lourd, gave the studio permission to use his sister’s likeness in the film.

“She’s as much a part of it as anything and I think her presence now is even more powerful than it was, like Obi Wan — when the saber cuts him down he becomes more powerful,” he said. “I feel like that’s what’s happened with Carrie. I think the legacy should continue. I’m not the only part in that equation, but I think the people deserve to have her. She’s owned by them.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/late-carrie-fisher-final-star-wars-movie-article-1.3030154

http://www.indiewire.com/2017/04/ca...final-movie-todd-fisher-interview-1201803393/

 

[PaintsWithAllTheColors]

Yeah that I'll agree with. Right now it sticks out like a sore thumb in Hollywoodland.

So sorry that I'm jumping back to this (progress of Mission: Breakout!), but I was in DCA today and was horrified at the sight below. For context, Soarin Over the World is to my left. The white building is the Carthy Circle Theater/Restuarant building. This is just so much more jarring to me than the ToT look and it struck me on a few occasions today.

 

[Irish_Mike]

New Disney Springs maps starting tomorrow

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2017/04/updated-disney-springs-maps-to-be.html

 

[rteetz]

Guess it depends what qualifies for "new attraction" .... there are already plans for replacing Stitch, so that is new, and if they replace the Speedway that is one more, so really only need one more on top of that to get to the low end of "3-4" ... and an update to Buzz would be good and a "new" attraction. Guess I am just saying they can get to "3 or 4" without there really being a bunch more rides than are currently there

Speedway is enough real estate for two attractions.

 

[rteetz]

So sorry that I'm jumping back to this (progress of Mission: Breakout!), but I was in DCA today and was horrified at the sight below. For context, Soarin Over the World is to my left. The white building is the Carthy Circle Theater/Restuarant building. This is just so much more jarring to me than the ToT look and it struck me on a few occasions today.
View attachment 230235

Yep.....

 

[rteetz]

An interesting bit of news, LucasFilm evidently has changed course as now Carrie Fisher slated to appear in Star Wars episode IX.

Episode IX of the ‘Star Wars’ saga is set to wrap up the main series, and even though Princess Leia actress Carrie Fisher died in December before filming, her brother says she will still appear in the final film. Todd Fisher spoke with New York Daily News about the final chapter, and said that he, along with Carrie’s daughter Billie Lourd, gave the studio permission to use his sister’s likeness in the film.

“She’s as much a part of it as anything and I think her presence now is even more powerful than it was, like Obi Wan — when the saber cuts him down he becomes more powerful,” he said. “I feel like that’s what’s happened with Carrie. I think the legacy should continue. I’m not the only part in that equation, but I think the people deserve to have her. She’s owned by them.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/late-carrie-fisher-final-star-wars-movie-article-1.3030154

http://www.indiewire.com/2017/04/ca...final-movie-todd-fisher-interview-1201803393/

Yep, still no CGI though.

 

[MommaBerd]

@PaintsWithAllTheColors - That picture definitely captures how out of place it looks. By itself, I like the way the tower looks and I'm excited to one day get to see and experience it. However, it really sticks out like a sore thumb!

 

[Flyerjab]

So sorry that I'm jumping back to this (progress of Mission: Breakout!), but I was in DCA today and was horrified at the sight below. For context, Soarin Over the World is to my left. The white building is the Carthy Circle Theater/Restuarant building. This is just so much more jarring to me than the ToT look and it struck me on a few occasions today.
View attachment 230235

Ugh! I have never been to DL but that is jarring! I have no problems with a Marvel Land per say, but the lack of space they have in DL creates issues like this. That does not look so hot.

 

[mom2rtk]

So sorry that I'm jumping back to this (progress of Mission: Breakout!), but I was in DCA today and was horrified at the sight below. For context, Soarin Over the World is to my left. The white building is the Carthy Circle Theater/Restuarant building. This is just so much more jarring to me than the ToT look and it struck me on a few occasions today.
View attachment 230235

Every bit as awful as I feared.

 

[rteetz]

Photo update

Leaked photos from inside Pandora

http://blogmickey.com/2017/04/photos-leaked-images-pandora-construction-site/

 

[loutoo]

Even at DHS, getting essentially half a park face lift, they are building 4 rides total, and they are banking on SWL bringing in big new money to cover it. Redoing Tomorrowland in this fashion simply isn't going to be the draw of SWL, yet you would be sinking a comparable, if not larger, amount of money in it.

They need to do something with Tomorrowland, but I'm not buying this kind of investment.

I think it depends what qualifies for "plans" as well. Stitch is a seasonal attraction right now with no permits filed and the WIR concept rumors have gone quiet and stale. That facility does not easily lend itself to a simple makeover. I don't know if there are really plans so much as we hope there are plans for the space. Same with Speedway, except that is still operating full-time. We have rumors they are considering something, but that is different than action. Regardless, to get to the low end, they still have to SPEND the money on 3-4 attractions. Whether it is simple makeovers of what is there, or actually building new ones, it's a big money concept that I find unlikely any time soon.

Other people might have different opinions, but 4 attractions is a huge expense even if they do it by cutting 2 or 3 current attractions. The same number of attractions is considered a massive makeover for DHS. And that also included closing some attractions so it isn't a net gain of 4 for that park either.

I think it is correct that we won't see the type of budget layout for this project that items such as Star Wars Land, Pandora, Or even Toy Story Land commanded. That being said, I do believe that these rumors are extremely likely. The board has already approved approximately $350 million for improvements at MK (as well as a relatively equal amount for Epcot). This money was, at one point, rumored to go to a Frontier Land expansion, but that seems unlikely now. I think the bulk of this budget is going to go into the Tomorrow Land re-imagining. We are not talking about building a new immersive world like Star Wars Land or Pandora. We are talking about most of that budget going to new attractions with some lighter retheming to flush out the over all new concept. If you consider New Fantasy Land cost approx $425 Million and added SDMT, ETwB, JotLM, a second Dumbo Spinner and wait area, Be Our Guest, Gaston's Tavern, and new theming to that whole area, I think a lot can be accomplished with $350 Million. No, we are not talking about 3 or 4 new E ticket rides. We are talking, most likely, about a single new low side E Ticket, with two to three new/re-purposed attractions. The idea that Tomorrow Land would get a similar level of work that HS or AK is getting is crazy. MK does not need that. It does need a refresh to keep up (as does Epcot). I think that is exactly what we will see, and when it is not the single best land at WDW, everyone should be perfectly fine with that.

 

[Rivergirl2005]

Rumor

https://twitter.com/carouselof/status/850750143896879107

Carousel of Progress on twitter says Tomorrowland will get a new name. Discoveryland.

3 or 4 new attractions

A tron attraction is one of them but not the coaster. The coaster is being considered as a last resort.

New area lighting.

New BGM

I'm sorry but what is BGM?

 

[jlundeen]

I'm sorry but what is BGM?

Thank you, I was thinking I was the only one who couldn't figure that out...even looked at the list of attractions on the Disney site!