Starwars and Carsland in WDW

[lockedoutlogic]

I think it was all a matter of budget. Disney was working on MyMagic+ and doing some different projects at Disney parks around the world, so they weren't ready to spend lots of money in a short period of time. They took 3 years partly because the area, like you said, was on an isle in the middle of an area crowded with people who didn't want to hear noise during their vacation, but it also took that long because they wanted to extend the ''novelty'' status of New Fantasy Land and because they probably wanted to dose their budget so it wouldn't feel like a huge expenditure.

agree with your take except "budget"

but that still makes them look greedy and lame at the same time

 

[lockedoutlogic]

When talking about how ling it took to build the mine train, remember WDW builds for permanence. Is the history of WDW how many rides have had to be rebuilt, or have any major work done to the structures themselves outside of cosmetic level differences.

Universal on the other hand despite being around for a far shorter time have had a lot of attractions either torn down or rebuilt for various reasons.

i'm sorry...someone spiked your koolaid on this one...

universal has built cutting edge ride technology...with theming unlike some past efforts...in about 18 months...

disney has spent 3-5 years on clones/rehashes/and fairly pedetrian technological systems for its additions...

nothing really close to innovative since mission space...and that was an eisnerian hail mary...

disney built better quality for a much longer history...but in recent years its honestly not even close.

no matter how much i love the rapunzel bathrooms...and i do

 

[StarWarsJez]

Disney announce early and then build sloooooooowly because they've convinced themselves that this is the best way to appear like they're investing in new attractions.

They look at Universal and arrogantly tell themselves that Uni has a lot of catching up to do. They may be right, but I really hope crowd figures for the new Harry Potter experience gives Disney execs sleepless nights.

Disney's Orlando park development ethos over the past ten years has been unambitious, penny-pinching, short-sighted, grudging - and quite frankly boring!

Star Wars Land - expect to be disappointed in 2020!

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Disney announce early and then build sloooooooowly because they've convinced themselves that this is the best way to appear like they're investing in new attractions.

They look at Universal and arrogantly tell themselves that Uni has a lot of catching up to do. They may be right, but I really hope crowd figures for the new Harry Potter experience gives Disney execs sleepless nights.

Disney's Orlando park development ethos over the past ten years has been unambitious, penny-pinching, short-sighted, grudging - and quite frankly boring!

Star Wars Land - expect to be disappointed in 2020!

I see you've been hanging out in my brain...
Make sure you pick up your goodie bag when you leave...

 

[TexasErin]

I wonder how much of the success of Carsland is due to the Cars theme, or just the fact that it added much needed attractions to DCA.

My family and I (regular WDW visitors) went to Disneyland at the beginning f the summer and Carsland was one of the major reasons. We're going back again next May.

IMHO, the major reason for the success of Carsland is the Cars theme. It is just like stepping into the movie. It is great during the day, but phenomenal at night!! And the ride is a lot of fun. The dark part of the ride makes you feel like you're actually in the movie and the outside part is amazingly fun.

Sorry to gush, but we enjoyed Carsland so much that I hated the thought of choosing WDW over DLR!

 

[StarWarsJez]

Please continue to gush!! We were lucky to have the opportunity of going to DisneyLand in April and were amazed at how brilliant Cars Land is. It's a fantastically themed land with awesome 'E' Ticket ride as it's focus.

It just goes to show how great Disney CAN be IF they're prepared to spend a bit of money.

 

[TexasErin]

Please continue to gush!! We were lucky to have the opportunity of going to DisneyLand in April and were amazed at how brilliant Cars Land is. It's a fantastically themed land with awesome 'E' Ticket ride as it's focus.

It's just absolutely amazing!

It just goes to show how great Disney CAN be IF they're prepared to spend a bit of money.

Can I get an AMEN!!!!

 

[BriarRabbit]

Some day, Disney could have a lot of fun with construction droids on the outside of the Star Wars Land work area.

 

[luisov]

Please continue to gush!! We were lucky to have the opportunity of going to DisneyLand in April and were amazed at how brilliant Cars Land is. It's a fantastically themed land with awesome 'E' Ticket ride as it's focus.

It just goes to show how great Disney CAN be IF they're prepared to spend a bit of money.

Imagineers are still totally capable of creating fantastic rides and well themed areas. Carsland, Ratatouille or Mystic Manor are all very well done, and Shanghai DL does sound promising as well. The question here is why was WDW paid dust for so long? Let's hope Avatarland and whatever they bring to DHS will change that.

 

[MarknStitch]

Radiator Springs looks incredible and it has worked wonders for the park. I can't wait to get back there and experience it. Would I like to see it replicated in DHS. No... Please no. Leave it as a unique experience that you have to visit California for. This is despite the fact it would be far easier for me to experience it in Florida (if it were there) than in California. I'd be happy enough to visit it of course but it wouldn't be as 'special' - I am also aware that in business, decisions are not really made to just keep it 'special'.

I appreciate that certain staple attractions have to appear in all the resorts but I also feel that they should keep these ETicket on steroid attractions unique. I've just always felt it lessens the impact if you can visit it everywhere, to a degree.

I used to work at Madame Tussaud's in London and once upon a time it was unique, special and people had to visit London to see it. Now you can see it in half a dozen cities around the world which just makes it all less special. Yeah, I get it, drive business and make more money but still.

I'd rather see Star Wars get a proper good look at and a whole area that could easily outstrip HP. It's the most powerful Franchise that Disney own to a degree. The turn out for Star Wars weekends for a franchise that is now 37 years old speaks volumes of its power. Evergreen is an understatement. In terms of the films the franchise is 2nd only to Harry Potter but I reckon that will shift back with the new movies now well on the way. Still, I agree with what has been said before, do they need to build anything at all? I'm not convinced they do.

Yes Universal have struck gold with HP but has it really dented the top line figures of the WDW resort? I doubt it. With MK alone having attendance figures that still outstrip the entire Universal Resort by far. And then you have the fact that a large number of tourists coming from around the world to see HP are still going to stop in and do WDW too it probably isn't marginal. I'd even argue that HP is actually going to benefit WDW overall because any major attraction in Orlando is going to have some kind of benefit all of the resorts. Yes, I desperately want to get out to see the new HP stuff from here in the uk but that also means a full vacation where I will still end up spending far more time on Disney property.

In terms of the top line, do Disney really need mass development? I honestly believe they are still a long way off it being a requirement.
In terms of being masters of the craft, the visionaries, the leaders in the industry, all of which are more emotional and nostalgic reasons then yes I agree, they could really do with stepping up and showing that they will always win the creative battle. Unfortunately I don't think that is a big enough justification for them to snack that kind of capital investment.

Let's hope I am completely wrong and we see pod racing across Tatooine in the not too distant future. Gotta keep positive.

 

[boltfan]

Star Wars would be awesome. Totally not into Avatarland. Hoping they finally scrap that idea and actually do something that will stand the test of time.

 

[MaestroTK]

Dear Disney,

Go Star Wars Land, and go big! This is a no brainer. Then sit back and watch the attendance & revenue skyrocket!

Retract Avatar Land. I have talked to not one person who would be excited for this. Star Wars Land however I have not talked to one person who wouldn't be excited for it.

Sincerely,
The entire world

 

[rteetz]

Dear Disney, Go Star Wars Land, and go big! This is a no brainer. Then sit back and watch the attendance & revenue skyrocket! Retract Avatar Land. I have talked to not one person who would be excited for this. Star Wars Land however I have not talked to one person who wouldn't be excited for it. Sincerely, The entire world

I am excited for avatar and not because I liked the movie because I didn't.

 

[luisov]

I don't care about the Avatar IP, I care about new attractions. Star Wars and Carsland don't even fit with Animal Kingdom's theme anyway.

The park really needs the expansion, and not many IPs fit with the park's concept. In regards of its popularity, I always think of Song of the South and the fact that it has one of the most popular attractions in WDW.

 

[rteetz]

I don't care about the Avatar IP, I care about new attractions. Star Wars and Carsland don't even fit with Animal Kingdom's theme anyway.

The park really needs the expansion, and not many IPs fit with the park's concept. In regards of its popularity, I always think of Song of the South and the fact that it has one of the most popular attractions in WDW.

I agree. Avatar is also bringing new experiences, like the nighttime safari, the rivers of light, and then a new area and attractions of course.

Ill bet half the people that ride splash don't know what the song of the south is, especially todays youth.

 

[MarknStitch]

I agree. Avatar is also bringing new experiences, like the nighttime safari, the rivers of light, and then a new area and attractions of course.

Ill bet half the people that ride splash don't know what the song of the south is, especially todays youth.

But to be fair we can hardly hold that against them. Song of the South is rarely if ever shown on TV and hasn't had a DVD release.

I do not care for the Avatar IP but I'm happy for the new attractions and shows that it will bring. I just don't see Avatar being a film franchise that has staying power or longevity. Sure the CGI is incredible by today's standards but will it still have a huge core following in years to come? Not convinced... Yet!

 

[dinolounger]

Mystic Manor are all very well done.

Just my opinion, but Mystic Manor promises much more than it delivers. The exterior looks wonderful, but once you enter you are rushed through a cursory backstory and a rather uninspired, repurposed version of the HM stretching room. You then board a ride vehicle and experience about two and half minutes of well intentioned 1960s era effects, with a very predictable finale. The sense you have on leaving is that the Disney designers really wanted to build a great and somewhat retro dark ride, but just didn't have enough inspiration, budget, or both.

BTW, the two truly great attractions at HK Disneyland are Big Grizzly (a marvelous, improved version of Big Thunder that utilizes a start of the art switching coaster design) and their version of Space Mountain. The latter features Disneyland dual seat type cars and a wonderful, coordinated pounding soundtrack. The bulk of the ride is in pitch blackness and has a much faster, thrilling bat-out-of-you-know-what feel than either of the U.S. versions.

 

[GFShelley]

Dear Disney, Go Star Wars Land, and go big! This is a no brainer. Then sit back and watch the attendance & revenue skyrocket! Retract Avatar Land. I have talked to not one person who would be excited for this. Star Wars Land however I have not talked to one person who wouldn't be excited for it. Sincerely, The entire world

Yes!

 

[Ulysses]

This hasn't been talked about much, but what if the Avatar-land addition is really awesome, whatever it is, and renews a sense of interest in the property?

Just a thought. Just because a certain property isn't particularly salient in the minds of right-now's audience, doesn't mean it can't be really good.

I've never seen the movie Avatar, but I know it's filled with themes of global ecology and something about culture vs. modern development or something, which would fit in really well overall with AK's overall theme (or EPCOT, for that matter).

Splash Mountain and Tower of Terror rides were hugely, hugely popular when they debuted in the parks, but in the 1990s, Twilight Zone had been reduced to a setup for cheap observational humor and Song of the South hadn't been seen on TV in more than a decade. Yet those rides are a big part of the experience now, and still generating queues with 1-2 hour wait times.

So who knows? I'm waiting to see what they produce before resorting to comparing it to Harry Potter Diagon Alley or anything else. It might - wait for it - be incredible! Or it might be horrible. We don't know much about what is planned, but I really see no need to be pessimistic.

 

[Kimosabe]

Dear Disney,

Go Star Wars Land, and go big! This is a no brainer. Then sit back and watch the attendance & revenue skyrocket!

Retract Avatar Land. I have talked to not one person who would be excited for this. Star Wars Land however I have not talked to one person who wouldn't be excited for it.

Sincerely,
The entire world

Agree on Star Wars, and I can appreciate the sentiment on Avatar, but as others have said, with or without the Avatar movie connection, the attractions and effects are looking to be pretty incredible. If they had created this new fictional world as an original "Imagineering" concept (translate: the original Beastly Kingdom idea), we would all be very happy, so I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt that what they've decided to create along with James Cameron will be top shelf stuff. Cameron has also said that he's putting out two or three sequels to Avatar, and I can't imagine he's going to let anything go out that is sub-par, so we can hope that the movie franchise gets refreshed and has some staying power for a while. However, even if not, the world that will get created will still fit in well with the overall DAK theming even if nobody gives two squats about the actual movies. Heck, the official DAK logo has a dragon right smack in the middle of it, so it even fits in with that (if we will be allowed to pretend that those animals on which the Na'vi flying around are dragons...close enough!).

With Avatar/Pandora, a night safari and the River of Light night show, DAK can likely be left alone for a while and be considered "fixed" (at least in the minds of those of us who think it could use some help). I'd personally still like to see a Scar-themed "flying" (pouncing) coaster at DAK to give just one more E-ticket in addition to the Soarin'-like attraction going into Avatar/Pandora, but I'll take what I can get, especially if they eventually get started on DHS (Star Wars and more Pixar) and maybe some upgrades to Future World in Epcot.