Possible new plans for FLE?

[Figment632]

It isn't really anything right now. It is, as we say in computers, "vaporware". They could change it any number of ways at this point, including throwing it back into the vault.

True but what we have now is a thrilling dark ride not a coaster.

 

[Oglet]

The problem Disney has is they now have to live up to peoples expectations regarding the expansion. I know the WWOHP is thrown around a lot by many people but it also goes to show that Disney cant afford to not deliver on the exapansion and come out of this with people thinking that Universal done a much better job.

Whatever they do they need a WOW factor with it, simply throwing some things in there adding a few characters and saying this is it wont cut it. Disney from day 1 has built this thing up to be a massive project that will be amazing so there is far more on the line than just the expansion now, its their reputation as being the world leader in this industry and being able to deliver and exceed peoples expectations.

 

[Barb]

I know this isn't a big deal but I really wish they'd find a way to keep Mickey and Minnie's houses somewhere in Fantasyland. I think it's a shame they want to destroy the homes.

 

[Figment632]

I know this isn't a big deal but I really wish they'd find a way to keep Mickey and Minnie's houses somewhere in Fantasyland. I think it's a shame they want to destroy the homes.

Technically thier homes are in DL the ones in WDW were thier vacation homes.

 

[Faldred]

I know this isn't a big deal but I really wish they'd find a way to keep Mickey and Minnie's houses somewhere in Fantasyland. I think it's a shame they want to destroy the homes.

I still maintain that they ought to build an honest-to-goodness "toon town" in DHS, with subsections for classic animation (including M&M's houses), Playhouse Disney, Disney XD, and Pixar (extension of "Pixar Place"). The inclusion of the more modern sections would likely require them to design for adaptability, so they can turn over show-themed attractions reasonably quickly as shows come and go.

DHS seem to me the perfect place to be the main "tie in" to current Disney media offerings, especially Disney Channel / Disney XD / Radio Disney.

 

[NoLineOntheHorizon]

I still maintain that they ought to build an honest-to-goodness "toon town" in DHS, with subsections for classic animation (including M&M's houses), Playhouse Disney, Disney XD, and Pixar (extension of "Pixar Place"). The inclusion of the more modern sections would likely require them to design for adaptability, so they can turn over show-themed attractions reasonably quickly as shows come and go.

DHS seem to me the perfect place to be the main "tie in" to current Disney media offerings, especially Disney Channel / Disney XD / Radio Disney.

I agree with this. Let DHS showcase the more current items on Disney's agenda and Pixar and Toontown (why not a Roger Rabbit thrill ride? could include ALL Disney characters and other toon characters if they wanted) and let Magic Kingdom be CLASSIC Disney and Epcot be very minimal on the character theming and get it back to it's roots.

 

[nytimez]

Epcot be very minimal on the character theming and get it back to it's roots.

Will never happen.

 

[Faldred]

I agree with this. Let DHS showcase the more current items on Disney's agenda and Pixar and Toontown (why not a Roger Rabbit thrill ride? could include ALL Disney characters and other toon characters if they wanted) and let Magic Kingdom be CLASSIC Disney and Epcot be very minimal on the character theming and get it back to it's roots.

I don't mind character theming. But If I had the magic wand, I'd add more countries to Epcot World Showcase, especially from parts of the world not represented or under-represented (Eastern Europe, Africa, Oceania, and South America come to mind) and convert "Future World" into three distinct (and themed as such) sub-sections: 1) Natural Sciences (seas, land, energy), 2) Technology (spaceship earth, test track, etc.), and 3) Imagination (figment, innoventions).

DHS, as I noted, would be the place to showcase Disney (and partners) stage, screen (big and small), and music, and themed as such.

MK should be the ultimate "family park", getting to as close to Walt's original vision as possible, and paying attention to consistency in theming (yes, Tomorrowland, I'm looking at you).

DAK, on the whole, I like pretty much as-is. It just needs more. (Yes, I'm one of the weirdos who actually likes Chester and Hester.)

 

[BamaEd1]

The problem Disney has is they now have to live up to peoples expectations regarding the expansion. I know the WWOHP is thrown around a lot by many people but it also goes to show that Disney cant afford to not deliver on the exapansion and come out of this with people thinking that Universal done a much better job.

Whatever they do they need a WOW factor with it, simply throwing some things in there adding a few characters and saying this is it wont cut it. Disney from day 1 has built this thing up to be a massive project that will be amazing so there is far more on the line than just the expansion now, its their reputation as being the world leader in this industry and being able to deliver and exceed peoples expectations.

I really don't think that the FLE was designed as a Potter killer or even a sparring partner for the WWoHP. The Magic Kingdom's attendance was never going to suffer because of Harry; when people think of going to Disney World, they think of MK first and foremost-it has the castle. I think the FLE was for 2 things; 1, increase capacity in that section of the park and 2) after seeing pictures of the other park's Fantasyland, WDW's was probably the ugliest of all of them and that really needed a change.

The WWoHP is going to hurt Disney but not at MK. I think it will hurt AK and DHS, especially AK since there are so few attractions (only 7 by my count if you count the train and the planet watch section seperately...I was being generous). I know they say the purpose of AK is to slow down and explore and that's fine. I just don't feel like slowing down and exploring at an $85 a day theme park; I can do that at my local zoo for $10 a visit or a $75 annual pass. Our touring plan for AK takes us from rope drop to just after lunch and then we're done and off to something else. They need to FIX THE YETI and other effects at EE and then start to develop something else with actual attractions be it the (rumored) Beastly Kingdom area, Australia, South America, or even Antarctica (just wishful thinking for summer visits ) to start to duel with Harry.

 

[nytimez]

I really don't think that the FLE was designed as a Potter killer or even a sparring partner for the WWoHP.

The internal nickname for the project was "Potter Swatter."

Believe me, they care very deeply about WWoHP. They know the people will still come to WDW, obviously, and in large numbers -- but instead of 6 days on property they now risk losing people to Universal for a day or two of that.

 

[BamaEd1]

I think it will hurt AK and DHS, especially AK since there are so few attractions (only 7 by my count if you count the train and the planet watch section seperately...I was being generous).

I'm sorry; I forgot to count all of that Chester and Hester stuff because, well, it's pretty forgetable. Maybe we can get Harry Potter over to AK to make that area disapear completely

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

If they were backing off of the whole "too girly" thing, adding an attraction based on Snow White, and extending Dumbo, I do not believe will hit that target.

New coaster, great, MK can always use more thrill-type rides, but I still don't see this being the fix. Dumbo is popular, but not popular enough for an annex of that size.

BTW ITA with adding a real Toontown to DHS. It's the best place for it and they can use the model from Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

 

[Oglet]

Just to clear on my previous post, I never intended to make a point of I believe that the FLE was a potter killer or anything, I was simply trying to state that no matter what happens or whatever spin Disney puts on it people will compare the two expansions to each other so Disney better deliver with something that exceeds what people are expecting.

 

[Barb]

Technically thier homes are in DL the ones in WDW were thier vacation homes.

Ok I "get" that. But a child won't, especially a child who knows the houses used to be there.

 

[DulcetDiscord]

IMO, Disney is missing out on something that would unite the princess theme WITH the desire to appeal to a broader base - Prince Phillip!

He SLAYS A FREAKING DRAGON for goodness sakes! Where's my dragon slaying adventure ride? They could add Aurora and the 3 good fairies to it, but you can't tell me that wouldn't appeal to little boys. Dragons are one of the hottest things right now, but they're also timeless.

And there are OTHER classic movies that are underrepresented. Movies like Pinocchio and Robin Hood that would both fit in fantasyland AND appeal to more people. (seriously Robin Hood is one of the MOST retold stories in history, why isn't he more present in the parks?)

 

[Figment632]

Ok I "get" that. But a child won't, especially a child who knows the houses used to be there.

You can still meet them on MSUSA.

 

[Josh Hendy]

A mine car ride done up as a mild coaster could be very pleasant, and a big hit with all ages (even teens/20s if you do it right). Something like an indoor version of Big Thunder Mountain, but with more theming and less scary. A couple of small but exhilarating drops, about the size of the small drops in Splash Mountain or in Pirates.

You get in the mine car to visit the dwarfs' mine singing Hi Ho Hi Ho ... you see a lot of glittering jewels, etc. ... but then something goes terribly wrong (LOL) ... you pass a magic mirror (oddly) which foreshadows trouble by giving you a mysterious warning (or a cool liquid hologram effect in which the mirror speaks to you from inside a sheer waterfall) ... you find Snow White hiding in the mine because She Who Must Not Be Named has chased her there ... you "participate" in her rescue, experiencing a couple of mildly thrilling drops and turns ... after saving the day you pass through another glittering room with beautiful stalactites, deep reflecting pools of water, hot springs, etc. then pass into the bright sunshine where singing birds and animals are happily awaiting you ... finally you exit into the gift shop where plastic jewels and mine car toys and T-shirts that say "I survived the 7 dwarfs mine" are prominently displayed.

 

[SueM in MN]

WOW..thanks for the update!
I hope to God they do not have clowns roaming around the Dumbo area or there are going to be a lot of freaked out, screaming, crying kids and upset parents in that area or avoiding it altogether!

Clowns! Why does it have to be clowns!

I would probably not go into a Dumbo themed area.

I'll withhold judgement, since we have way too little information to go on anyway, but my concern this could be yet another thrill ride which excludes too many people who tour the WDW parks daily (seniors, young children, those in poor health, us chickens...). A tame coaster-type ride, even if more like a dark ride than a roller coaster like Big Thunder Mountain, may exclude certain groups while also not appealing to those looking for more thrills in theme park attractions. A "thrilling dark ride" is probably much better (again, we just don't know yet), but this has commonly been referred to (on that other site, especially) as a "family coaster" - which is often a contradiction in terms.

I also hope if they are doing something like this that it will be “family friendly” and disability/age friendly.

DAK, on the whole, I like pretty much as-is. It just needs more. (Yes, I'm one of the weirdos who actually likes Chester and Hester.)

I’m also one of the Chester and Hester appreciators.

 

[Oglet]

True original Disney would come up with someone none of us on here could even imagine and leave us saying WOW!

 

[eyeshadow]

I am wondering why they do not plan a special cottage area for Snow White. I also would be curious to know why she is not with the rest of the princesses in the meet and greet area. Snow White is such a classic and I feel needs more exposure in MK.