Re-furbish Tomorrowland in the 2020's!........please?

[DVCcurious]

A few years ago I wrote a thread about how I thought Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland should be something else. There was already a similar attraction in Hollywood Studios so I don't see the point of having duplicate attractions. One of the counter-arguments people gave was that Toy Story Midway Mania was so busy that you couldn't ride it as many times as you wanted and so a second shooting attraction wasn't overkill.

Now that Toy Story Land will open in a few years I think it's time to revisit my idea. With Toy Story Land and Star Wars land that should greatly increase the number of kid-friendly rides in HS. Currently there is only TSMM and Disney Jr. Live on Stage that is truly kid friendly (based on my DD6 who is tall enough for everything but won't ride TOT, RnR, or Star Wars). With Toy Story and Star Wars land we'll have
Dis Jr. Live on Stage
Toy Story Midway Mania (with a 3rd track)
Slinky Dog Roller Coaster
Alien Saucer Spin
Hopefully 1 kid-friendly Star Wars ride.

So we'll go from 2 TSMM tracks and 1 stage show to 3 TSMM tracks, 1 stage show, and 3 other rides. Basically tripling the capacity for kid-friendly rides. This should all result in very short waits for Toy Story Midway Mania to the point that you can ride it as many times as you want....and so the counter argument at the end of my first paragraph doesn't apply.

If they're going to replace Buzz I think that opens up a lot of possibilities with the area over the bridge from the tomorrowland entrance to the Astro Orbiter. Stitch and Monster's Inc could also be replaced along with Buzz. I also wrote a thread recently about how Monster's Inc. is repetitive and boring after the 4th or 5th time you've done it.

That's a lot of space (Stitch, Monster's, Buzz) that could become something better.

I don't know what it could become. But I think they did a great job with Fantasyland. If we could take away those three Tomorrowland attractions and replace them with attractions on caliber with 7 Dwarfs, ETWB, and Fairytale Hall then I think that would be a major upgrade.

 

[CAS239]

I don't view Buzz Lightyear and TSMM as the same ride. Sure their shooting rides and both Toy Story themed..but both completely different. If anything needs to be changed in tomorrow land it needs to be the Speedway. All that land being used, they could easily convert it into 2 different attractions over there. They also definitely need to remove Stitch and the laugh floor is a fun attraction, but I agree with changing it out for something different. For Tomorrowland I would pretty much only keep Buzz, Space Mountain, and Carousel of progress.

And if we're getting rid of similar rides..the 2 Dumbos, Aladdins Magic Carpets, and Astro Orbiter are essentially all the same

 

[Gina Starr]

I would be very disappointed if they got rid of Buzz. Tomorrowland is one of my favorite lands in MK and I don't even like 30% of the attractions there. I think a refurb might be a good idea but I agree with PP that the speedway, Astro orbiter, and stitch are the things that need to go.

 

[Delirium]

No one with children between 3 and 12 would/should vote to do away with the Speedway. Buzz may be showing some age, but it is still fun. I wouldn't mind updating Carousel of Progress, but never, under any circumstances, should it removed, or the concept changed. There's nothing wrong with Astro Orbiter. There isn't much different that you can do with that space.

 

[Skywise]

Aside from getting rid of Stitch which I think we can all agree upon - I'd like to see Tomorrowland's design and architecture restored to its original designs.

 

[Farps]

Stitch would be the only thing that I think should go !

 

[jamesez]

I wish Tomorrowland weren't just a vast sea of colored concrete with no shade.

 

[Sevey13]

There's a ton of room behind Tomorrowland. You could expand Tomorrowland two fold or even create a whole new land with all that area outside the berm. Disney's no fool, no doubt they know this land is there and could be used. Heck, there's already paths in place that could lead right into the new area. There's room to re-imagine the submarines into a higher-capacity ride like at Tokyo, for example. "Discoveryland" that bridges the whimsy of Fantasyland with the promise of tomorrow.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

So we'll go from 2 TSMM tracks and 1 stage show to 3 TSMM tracks, 1 stage show, and 3 other rides. Basically tripling the capacity for kid-friendly rides. This should all result in very short waits for Toy Story Midway Mania to the point that you can ride it as many times as you want....and so the counter argument at the end of my first paragraph doesn't apply.

Except!! That the new rides are expected to have a height requirement which Buzz does not; that makes them roughly 4+ or 3.5 if you have a super tall kid. That's not the same level of family friendly as other parks on Disney property. There will still be quite a demand for Buzz, especially since they aren't putting him in toy story land (not an accident, I suppose) and toy story 4 is going to come out and make toddler boys fall in love with Buzz all over again. Target still sells the same buzz lightyear my brother got for Christmas 17 years ago, that's insane to me. Buzz is a superstar.

 

[MrsHammer]

I just think the whole atmosphere of Tomorrowland should be updated. It is still 'tomorrow's vision from the '70's. We went to the carousel of progress a week and a half ago, and I swear it was exactly the same as when I went in 1987. The whole area just needs to reflect today's vision of tomorrow.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

But I am totally down for getting rid of tomorrowland speedway. It doesn't make sense to me and adding in something new.

 

[bryanb]

I wish Tomorrowland weren't just a vast sea of colored concrete with no shade.

Totally agree. Epcot's Future World is built to the same aesthetic. In Walt Disney's time, the vision of the 2000's future was one in which man subdued nature. Where trees grew, they had to grow in a strictly controlled, confined manner. Today we have a different view which is more about harmony with nature. Less concrete and more natural looking materials.

They could probably update the area to keep that nostalgic feel but make it also more modern.

As for the Tomorrowland Speedway, driving my own gas powered car was such a cool experience as a kid. I wouldn't mind if it was gone today, but be careful of the folks who would cry fowl at messing with their childhood memories!

 

[rastahomie]

Stitch needs to go - it is universally panned and it's a blight on Tomorrowland. The Speedway needs to go, for two reasons. 1) It doesn't fit in with Tomorrowland's story, and 2) It's a midway attraction that I can ride at Six Flags. I know that Carousel of Progress has its fans, but from where I sit it's an aging relic (the seats I sat in were stained, ripped and threadbare).

But beyond that, Tomorrowland doesn't need any refurbishment. It's beautiful as it is! Especially at night!

 

[pa. dad]

I like Buzz and I get good scores there. But I voted to redo Tomorrowland also.
I'm okay with the carousel but redoing the last scene could be good idea.
Stitch - do something else. I liked the original Alien Encounter but I understand that small children were terribly frightened so do something else.
Monsters Comedy Club- It's not that bad but I could never figure out how that ties in to Tomorrowland?
Speedway- PLEASE get rid of that thing and put on 3 new things in all the space it takes up.
Space Mt, Buzz and TTA- just keep them the same. I did like the old Timekeeper attraction and not sure why they got rid of that one.

 

[cyre]

Speedway needs to be switched over to natural gas, or whatever DL's Autopia runs on...those fumes are nauseating at WDW! Carousel needs a refreshing, esp in the last scene. Stitch needs to go. Laugh floor is fun, don't see that going anywhere. As for all that land behind tomorrowland that someone shared, sure def could be used... but potentially could be area not deemed to be solid enough to build on... i.e. sinkhole.

 

[dkrauss]

I would think at minimum a refurb/clean up will occur before or by Oct 2021. You'll want the park to look magical for its 50th........right

Doug

 

[Robo]

We went to the carousel of progress a week and a half ago, and I swear it was exactly the same as when I went in 1987.

GOOD!
And, I really wish it was exactly the same as it was in 1964!

"Updates" have often been proven, time and again, to be disappointing.
Some, downright TRAGIC!

Consider the current version of Epcot's "Journey Into Imagination."

 

[Robo]

I know that Carousel of Progress has its fans, but from where I sit it's an aging relic (the seats I sat in were stained, ripped and threadbare).

So, fix the seats.

(BTW, the seats in Mickey's Philharmagic are not exactly in showroom condition, either.)

 

[Minnie-Mickey]

I think Buzz is a better ride than toy story. For my parents, who are older ie almost 80, it is too jerky. They want to do stuff with my kids but it is tough with all the jerky movements. Buzz you can control. We like the speedway. It is something that can be done with kids and parents and is fun. My teens still go in the car with me and we have a blast. I don't always think the upgraded rides are any better.

 

[Robo]

My teens still go in the car with me and we have a blast. I don't always think the upgraded rides are any better.

How many enjoy "Stitch's Great Escape" compared to "Alien Encounter?"

Back at the time, so many guests were begging for Disney to "please close AE and replace it with something else."

SGE is something else.