Making Memories vs. Paying the Bills - What the Future Holds for Disney Parks

Disney's business has been making money off of nostalgia and "remembering the magic" tugging on tear ducts as we remember our first time visiting the vacation kingdom(s). That feeling when you experience Peter Pan's Flight for the first time or hear the trumpeting fanfare of the Main Street Electrical Light Parade with anxiety and curiosities through your child's eyes even though you have seen it dozens of times. 

We all have our favorites but at what point is it time to say goodbye? Surely no one is thinking that Disney is expected to keep all shows and attractions operating as they were on October 1, 1971? Right? Can you imagine how boring that would be? 

There definitely is some discord with fans and guests with some of the recent announcements and rumors going around regarding the future of Disney theme parks. Let's take a look at some of these projects and see how people feel about them.

Current Attraction: THE TWILIGHT ZONE TOWER of TERROR 
Location: DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE   
Will Become: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY -  MISSION: BREAKOUT!
GUEST REACTION: HOT and WARM but cooling
 

Copyright Disney

 

When the rumor/news originally broke on WDWMagic.com by WDW1974, about this refurbishment for the Tower in Florida, people were outraged. Disney denied it and the attention quickly shifted focus to California (and eventually Paris) to concert their Tower attraction into Guardians of the Galaxy. When it was realized that the entire area around the Tower of Terror will be re-themed around Marvel then it makes sense. The California and Paris versions of Tower of Terror pale in comparison to the Florida and Tokyo versions so this actually may be a welcomed change. People are still upset but tempers are cooling as this refurb plays part of a much bigger project including a RnR-coaster/Cap America refurb plus more.

Current Attraction: THE TWILIGHT ZONE TOWER of TERROR 
Location: DISNEY'S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS   
Will Become: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY -  MISSION: BREAKOUT!
GUEST REACTION: NUCLEAR

Since Universal has the lock on 99.9% of all Marvel properties in the East Coast this does not make sense for Disney to pursue since "GotG" would stick out like a sore thumb at the end of Sunset Blvd.. Unlike DCA, this would not become a Marvel themed area and if it did would be pretty minimal. You may have heard this idea is dead...it is not.

Current Attraction: Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
Location: Epcot   
Will Become: Disney - PIXAR Attraction Based on "Coco"
GUEST REACTION: UNKNOWN

  
It appears Donald & Co. will be waiting for their eviction notice in the form of box office totals once "Coco" is released in theaters Fall 2017. No details other than what you can currently dig and find from "Marni1971" and friends on WDWMagic.com. 


Current Attraction: The Great Movie Ride
Location: Disney Hollywood Studios   
Will Become: The Great Mickey Ride
GUEST REACTION: Split - Happy & Confused

 

 "If you are not going to update it, then put it out of it's misery" seems to be the sentiment of many online. Sure "The Great Movie Ride" will be missed but guests will be wowed with a new ride system (rumored to be borrowed/based off of the new Star Wars ride next door) based on the main mouse himself. This rumor has been bouncing around for years and seems to be finally materializing faster than the Wicked Witch of the East in Munchkin-land...or at least for now anyway. There is excitement in that they are FINALLY building a ride around Mickey Mouse but at the cost of a Disney classic. We will see what happens but I feel people will be ok with this one once they see what they come up with.

 

Current Attraction: The Universe of Energy
Location: Epcot   
Will Become: Guardians of the Galaxy
GUEST REACTION: Confused & Mad 

If the Tower of Terror (DHS) to Guardians of the Galaxy overhaul is nixed...this is "Plan B." How does this make any kind of sense for Future World much less Epcot? Anyone? Anyone? Please, if you have a sound reason or theory of how this fits we will be more than happy to publish your theory of how this supports the vision of Epcot.

So....what are your thoughts? Good? Bad? What are they thinking?  

Drop us an email at DisneyCastBlast@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

Ho'ohuhu

© Walt Disney Company

"Ho'ohuhu" is the latest hurdle faced by the Walt Disney Company with the upcoming release of "Moana." Reports coming out (http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/07/06/rocks-husky-polynesian-god-disneys-moana-gets-mixed-reviews-165048) has Disney under the microscope for portraying Polynesian demi-god "Maui" as a stereo-typically obese. 

Over the years Disney has portrayed characters in various forms that have met criticism (see "Aladdin," Princess and the Frog" and "Pocahontas"). Looking at this a little closer, how much of a big deal is this? Is Disney really trying to offend people? 

This is a tough call. I can see how some may be offended but I see the flip side where this movie could bring attention to a lesser-known culture. I know it is just an animated film, and not a documentary, but hopefully it may inspire some to want to learn more about the legends and culture of these great people.

© Walt Disney Company

 

It is hard to give a full opinion, based on a preview and not seeing the entire movie. 

Do you think Moana has unfair characterizations of heritage and culture based on the certain depiction of a demi-god? Will you ignore the "outrage" and see the movie anyway?

Drop us an email at DisneyCastBlast@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

R.I.P. EPCOT Center/Epcot '94/Epcot '95/Epcot

Picture by "Justin at EPCOT" - http://justinatepcot.blogspot.com/2016_03_01_archive.html

By now you have probably heard the rumors of "new and exciting" additions coming to the Experimental Proto...aw hell who are we kidding...Epcot. On one hand the new additions excite me, replacing old stale attractions that need to be updated more than being replaced. It was once said:

To all who come to this place of joy, hope and friendship, welcome.

Epcot Center is inspired by Walt Disney's creative genius. Here, human achievements are celebrated through imagination, the wonders of enterprise, and concepts of a future that promises new and exciting benefits for all.

May Epcot Center entertain, inform and inspire. And, above all, may it instill a new sense of belief and pride in man's ability to shape a world that offers hope to people everywhere. —E. Cardon Walker, October 24, 1982 

 Epcot is quickly becoming Magic Kingdom 2.0 with a bar and all you can eat buffet (for a price). With Donald and friends moving in at the Mexico pavilion and Elsa converting a pavilion based on a real nation into a fictitious land goes against everything Epcot stands for. Nemo at the Seas? It is cute but by no means gives you the excitement of our seas and what the depths of our planet have to offer.

Enter the latest rumors of converting one or more Future World pavilions into "Guardians of the Galaxy." It does not fit. It does not make sense. It does not celebrate human achievement through the "wonders of enterprise." The only place this ever could have fit within Epcot was when the "Great Movie Ride" was planned to be built next to the Journey into Imagination pavilion. 

 

But the Universe of Energy is old and boring and needs to be replaced. Yes you are correct...it does. Not at the expense of the concept and them of Epcot. You can't tell me with innovators like Elon Musk that human vision and ingenuity cant be expressed in new shows and attractions throughout the park. There is no reason Guardians of the Galaxy should be considered unless all options of the true spirit of Epcot have been exhausted. 

Society may be to blame. People no longer care about the nostalgia, history, vision and heritage of what the Imagineers and Walt Disney set out to do. I understand Walt did not have direct input on the theme park Epcot, however his ultimate vision of EPCOT led to the development of the theme park known as EPCOT Center/Epcot '94/Epcot '95/Epcot. People want quick thrills and no longer have the patience for story and dialogue that have made Disney (and Universal) attractions special. 

Putting Guardians in Future World is as bad as putting a Circus in the middle of...oh wait...nevermind. Not exactly the best fit.

Am I against the "Disney-fication" of Epcot? No. I do remember a time when Epcot had no characters except a few robots and a small dragon with his friend that found dreams. It wasn't until the outcry of guest feedback that led to the Fab 5 to enter the Future and the showcase of culture from other lands. I am willing to bet that there has never been an outcry by guests to add Guardians of the Galaxy.

Sure the new additions may be entertaining but doesn't exactly offer "hope to people everywhere."  

What are your thoughts? Will they eventually change the Epcot Dedication Plaque as Epcot continues to make changes away from its original vision?

Drop us an email at DisneyCastBlast@gmail.com

 

When Reality Sets In

 Photo by Izzy's Squiggles

 

At this point we are all aware of the tragedy that struck a family visiting Disney's Grand Floridian Beach Resort & Spa last week. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those involved.

 

As you begin reading this post you may think the picture above was a poor choice associated with the current topic. The intention of this post is not to criticize the family or Disney, but to shed some light on a few realizations that many guests do not realize when visiting the most magical place in the world. It appears that Disney has started removing mentions of alligator jokes (Jungle Cruise) and other mentions of alligators in marketing and promotions across property. Out of respect for the family this is probably a great idea however not a solution to the problem.  

 

Walt Disney World has had an alligator problem for years and unfortunately not much has been done over the years to prevent the gators from infiltrating guest areas...in my opinion of course. Take for example years ago, prior to the Magic Kingdom opening for the day, a large alligator was found in a restroom in Tomorrowland. As hard as it is to believe, it is true. Many wonder how on Earth could that happen?  What many people probably do not realize is that many parts of Walt Disney World property are connected with small canals, waterways and retention ponds. No you won't see boats traveling these waterways and they are not intended for transportation. They exist to assist in drainage and are part of the infrastructure required to support the build-out of the numerous theme parks and resorts across property.

 

Why is this important? In a way these canals act as a funnel for water and wildlife including turtles, fish and alligators. Who lived there before the Dole Whips and Mickey Premium ice cream bars? Animals. 

 

True story. One day I was driving home from work traveling down World Drive and near the Osceola Parkway I quickly hit the brakes because there was a minivan parked halfway in the road off to the side. Being concerned that something was wrong I stopped to see if everything was ok. Before I opened my car door I noticed two people bending over with a camera trying to take a picture of an alligator. The gator was about four feet long and the tourists were closer than the length of the gator. I rolled down my window and explained they needed to get back in their car due to the danger. They laughed and continued to try to get the perfect picture explaining that it was just a small alligator. What they did not realize is that alligators are one of the fastest land animals in the world for short distances. I consider four feet (or less) a short distance. I shook my head, rolled up my window and drove off. This clip from "Jaws" immediately came to mind:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9AuBsvkZRw

 

With the knowledge of guests feeding the animals, I think there may be a bit of neglect on Disney's part in educating guests. If guests living in areas where alligators don't have no idea what to expect, then Disney should do a better job than just posting "No Swimming" signs on their beaches. See, when people enter Disney they enter a magical world where they feel safe. Why shouldn't they? They are paying premium rates for services that are known for "taking care of everything." The problem is how do you take care of nature? It is impossible for Disney to eliminate all gators off of property. It is not impossible for them to educate visitors on the "do's and dont's" when coming in contact with wildlife. 

 

What I hope does not happen is Disney eliminating content from the resort dealing with alligators ignoring the real problem. Does erasing "Ice Gator" and "Lagoona Gator" (pictured above) solve any problems? Does removing references of alligators from shows and attractions make it any safer? No. What does help is limiting the access, to the best of your ability, of alligators in guest areas while at the same time educating your guests on safety measures including areas to avoid and what to do in the event they come across one of these animals. How do you expect Disney to educate guests? They have done it in the past...

Copyright Disney

 

They could easily add another panel to this flyer exclaiming you should "respect" wildlife and other measures you may take to avoid unplanned animal encounters. Yes, Disney has erected a temporary fence at the Grand Floridian, but what will they do to keep them from funneling into the Rivers of America? or guest feeding them from the new Polynesian Bungalows? The fence is a public relations move respectfully, but gators can still get in guest areas. To fully prevent gators in the area they would have to build a fence from the edge of the Grand Floridian (closest to the Magic Kingdom) all the way around the Seven Seas Lagoon on BOTH sides of the resort. What? You mean to tell me there are gators by Shades of Green and golf courses? Yes. What about in EPCOT's World Showcase Lagoon? You mean the lagoon that is connected to the International Gateway and then travels all the way to the main entrance of Disney Hollywood Studios past woods and other non-guest areas? I wouldn't swim it. 

This blog post was not meant to try to scare anyone from going to Disney. Be smart. Be safe. If you see a gator, walk away and observe it from a safe distance.

 

What do you think? Should Disney do more to prevent potentially dangerous wildlife in guest areas? 

 

What are your thoughts? Drop us an email at DisneyCastBlast@gmail.com
 

 

 

Are You Ready for the "Tower of Groot?"

RUMOR TIME!

*DISCLAIMER*
First...before we begin...things that we have been told and that we know...

1. Disney cannot have Marvel properties in Florida 
2. Disney cannot have Marvel properties in Florida

and finally

3. Disney cannot have Marvel properties in Florida

This post is based on a news tip from poster "WDW1974" over at www.WDWMagic.com. It appears that this deal includes ONLY "Guardians of the Galaxy" and nothing more. It also involves the beloved "Twilight Zone Tower of Terror" on both the west and east coast Disney resorts. 

THE SCOOP


Seems as though there are plans in the works to convert both Tower of Terror attractions into "Guardians of the Galaxy" attractions to take advantage of the popularity of the (soon to be) franchise. Now you can blast the idea as nothing more than complete B.S. but remember Disney has done crazier things. Looks like California is pretty much a done deal however Florida has a few more hurdles and may be a little more problematic.

OUR TAKE

Probably not the best idea for a "redo" in recent theme park times. The "Twilight Zone Tower of Terror" is a timeless classic that is arguably one of the last true unique Disney attractions ever built. Why mess with it? To me it seems to only hurt the surrounding theme of the area. We are not sure how the new theme will fit into the surrounding area, in Florida or California, but it is going to take one hell of a storyteller to pull it off. We like the Tower of Terror the way it is...leave it alone.

YOUR TAKE?
 
What are your thoughts? Good idea? Bad idea?

What are your thoughts? Drop us an email at DisneyCastBlast@gmail.com

STAR WARS LAND: What Could the Force Bring?

At this point the disturbance in the force has calmed down quite a bit from the long awaited Star Wars announcement at this year's D23 convention. Wow...what an announcement it was. Time for the rumors and speculation to begin. 

Before we dive into what could be coming I want to state that this is all opinion. None of this...NONE OF THIS...has been leaked or announced. It is all opinion and not necessarily opinion of what we think WILL happen but what COULD happen. We know a lot of our readers, like ourselves, can be passionate and want to initiate dialogue and have fun. Pour yourself a plastic cup of blue milk and let's get started.

 The announcement at D23 mentioned that the overall expansion will include 14 acres and only two new attractions were mentioned. This is great! or is it? Here are a few scenarios when a good thing isn't as good as it seems.

The 14 acres 
14 acres is a pretty big space especially for Disney-MGM Studios/Disney's Hollywood Studios/Disney's Hollywood Adventure (or whatever it will be?) but what has to be questioned is how much will be expansion vs. re-purposed? 

Expansion versus re-purposed? What does it matter? We still get new stuff right? Yes and no. We could be talking about the difference between new structures housing new rides, shows and attractions or existing areas with nothing more than painted concrete. The area around Echo Lake (in front of Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular) could easily be re-themed and painted as a transition area leading into the new Star Wars area. No...nothing of real substance but could and would easily be included in the 14 acres. 

A rumor going around the internet is that American Idol or the old Sounds Dangerous stages will be re-purposed as a Jedi Training Academy. (*Interesting side note that some rumors suggest that an advanced audio-animatronic Yoda figure will be incorporated into the new show.) That building is pretty big and easily contributes to the overall 14 acres.

Even with the general transition area (Echo Lake), American Idol and Sounds Dangerous areas you probably still have 12 acres or more to play with.

To be fair the announcement did not mention how much of the 14 acres was guest area and how much was backstage. To prove my point when Disney's Animal Kingdom opened it was herald as "the largest Disney theme park ever built." What guests did not realize was that even though it was the largest park most areas were designated as backstage animal areas and the park opened with the smallest guest area of any Disney park at that time.

Two "NEW" Attractions

The Indiana Jones First Order / Rebellion Adventure

For years fans have wanted a version of the Indiana Jones Adventure from Disneyland to be built in Florida (even though you have Dinosaur...but I guess it is not good enough?). Well, your wish is about to come true...sort of.

It is really easy to use an existing ride system ( a good one at that) as the backbone of an epic battle between the Empire (First Order) and the Rebellion. Imagine being loaded onto Rebellion emergency evacuation vehicles escaping peril until something goes terribly wrong putting you in the middle of peril. 

Of course this would probably be Indy 2.0 but this is our take and wish on what we would like this attraction to materialize into being. FYI the Indiana Jones Adventure in California is right under 1.5 acres.They can even use the same exact ride layout as Indy. It's not like they haven't done it before...right?
 

Millennium Falcon Tours

"Take the controls of the Millennium Falcon" can mean so many things. That could mean almost anything. When you whiz around the track at the Indy Speedway in Tomorrowland you are technically "taking the controls" of the car but then again you also "take the controls" in Mission: SPACE at Epcot. The point is even if you "take the controls" you really...don't. Our guess is you will "take the controls" in the new Millennium Falcon attraction just as much as you do in Star Tours which brings us to an interesting point... (hold on to that Millennium Falcon attraction thought for just a moment)

Say Goodbye to Star Tours 
Disney Cast Blast what are you talking about? Did you not see the announcement? They announced new destinations for Star Tours! It's not going anywhere...or is it? Our theory is that Star Tours is not long for our galaxy and here is why.The new destination(s) announced is merely something to whet the appetite until the first "new" attraction is open. (see Indiana Jones First Order/Rebellion Adventure - IJFORA). Once the IJFORA opens Star Tours will go dark and retrofitted to reopen as the "new" Millennium Falcon attraction. Quite easy to retrofit the cabins to look like the Falcon cockpit allowing you to "take control"...blah, blah, blah...

Something else to support this theory requires us to take a look at Disneyland. We know Disneyland is getting an almost identical version of the announced Star Wars Land. What we know is that it is NOT going into Tomorrowland. What is currently located in Tomorrowland? Star Tours. It does not make sense to have a Star Wars attraction separate from a sparkling brand new multi-billion dollar addition to the park. They will shut it down, convert the simulators into Millennium Falcon simulators and re-install them into the new land in their new location in the park. This will create a huge empty spot in Tomorrowland but that is not for us to discuss what they will do with that spot right now in this post.

There is our take on what was announced. We know there are some things cooking that were not announced. Don't get us wrong. We are excited about the announcement and cannot wait to see what is in store. Hopefully we are wrong about a few things and in a way we wouldn't mind seeing some of the things above actually happen.

Even though what we mentioned is a conservative look of what could happen we could be totally wrong and they could add four attractions on a plot that is a true 14 acre expansion. Most of the fun of announcements is the speculation and excitement of what is coming. The problem is we will probably not see any of this come to fruition any sooner than 2021.

 What are your thoughts? Drop us an email at DisneyCastBlast@gmail.com.

10 Cast Questions: WDW Monorail Cast Remembers Austin Wuennenberg

• 

  
  
  Happy 4th of July! Today we launch a new feature where we ask past and present Disney Cast Members about their experiences in a whole new light.
  
  For our first post we decided to put the spotlight on Walt Disney World Cast Members and how they are remembering Austin Wuennenberg and the tragic accident that occurred in 2009. In honor of Austin, an honorary WDW Monorails tribute was created. Even though this design was not created officially by Disney, it shows the tight bond that Cast Members have for one another.

  
  1. Laura, how long did you work as a Transportation Cast Member in Monorails at Walt Disney World?
  
  From 1999-2004. I started on the Walt Disney World College Program. When I did the Program, they only selected seven students into the Monorail Department out of the thousands College Programmers. I was thrilled because it had always been my dream from the age of 3 to drive the Monorails. I don't know why I always wanted to drive them. I just did. 
  
  
  2. As Walt Disney World is known as a place where families go to visit, it seems there is quite a family environment within the workplace. How is that different than most "normal" jobs?
  
   Disney Cast Members do seem to form a bond and have more of a sense of family than most "normal" jobs. I have had two non-Disney jobs and I have never felt a sense of coworkers being like my family as I did at Disney. Even though it's been ten years since I left the company, I still am very close with a lot of my former coworkers. I am closer with them than the current coworkers I have spent the last ten years with. My current boss said Disney brainwashes the Cast. I disagree. People who have never worked there don't understand and will never understand. I don't think it is so much the Company promoting the family atmosphere in the workplace as it is a byproduct of a unique environment. Is it perfect? Not by any means! Just like a normal family, there is going to be some amount of dysfunction. But overall, it is a very unique environment in which you form tight, lasting bonds with many of your coworkers. You are sharing experiences in an environment that isn't found anywhere else on Earth. Countless families, including my own, are also created when working for Disney. Many of the members of my extended "family" met their spouses while working at Disney. Is Disney really responsible for these relationships? Probably not, but you do have to be a special kind of person to work for the Mouse. So in the long run, maybe Disney is somewhat responsible...
  
  3. As another sad anniversary approaches, WDW Transportation Cast Members are still honor Austin Wuennenberg who was involved in the tragic accident on July 5, 2009. Did you know Austin personally and do you care to share any thoughts or memories about him?
  
    I did not know Austin personally. I only met him once while riding in his front cab when I was just a regular guest. I was with several former Pilots and we started quizzing him and grilling him on everything we could think of pertaining to Monorails. He was entertained and happy to play along. He was also very happy to show off his vast knowledge of the Monorail System. You could tell he truly enjoyed his job. I know that he must have been a wonderful person after seeing the pain I saw in my former coworkers after the accident.
  
  4. The WDW "One Family" Monorail Logo you recently created pays homage to Austin. What inspired you to create this work of art?
  
  

  

  Walt Disney World "One Rail, One Family" Austin Wuennenberg Memorial Design by Laura

   
   I cannot take credit for designing the wings. The wings are based on the wings the pilots wear. After the accident, someone replaced the "Monorail Pilot" on the pilots' wings with "One Rail, One Family" in a graphic image. It has been used by many pilots on their Facebook pages on the anniversary each year. Because the original image has been shared through Facebook so many times, the quality has degraded. As an amateur graphic designer, it irritated me to see this. It seemed disrespectful to the reason we were all doing it, and through no fault of our own. It is the nature of Facebook pictures. Since I don't have the original image and I don't know who created it, I was trying to do everyone a favor and clean it up to make it look better again. While I was working on doing that, the inspiration hit to create a new overall design we could use that incorporated the wings and the ribbons. The design will evolve over the years as I am always learning new techniques that inspire new ideas.
  
  5. What is the significance of the pink and purple ribbons on wither wing of the Monorail Pilot Wings?
  
  The ribbons represent the two Monorails that were lost in the accident - Monorails Purple and Pink. Monorails Purple and Pink were retired by Disney and replaced by Teal and Peach. After the accident, at the memorials held for Austin, many of us wore our pins with ribbons attached to the backs as a symbol of the accident. The ribbons have been symbolic since and I thought they should be incorporated in the design.
  
  6. Do you have additional plans to continue to show the strong bond that Monorail Cast Members have and have had in honoring Austin?
  
  I plan on remembering and honoring Austin each and every year. Even though I was no longer a Cast Member when the accident happened, it still had a great impact on me. It could have happened when I was there and it could have happened to any one of us. It is something that will remain with me and haunt me for the rest of my life for a lot of personal reasons. 
  
  7. What is the biggest thing you miss about being a WDW Monorail Pilot? 
  
   Driving the monorails, of course!
  
  8. If you have any advice for an aspiring Monorail Pilot what would you suggest?
  
  Have fun and enjoy every moment of your time there. It's an experience like no other. Treasure the friendships you make! It truly is like a family. 
  
  9. Which is your favorite color train and why?
  
   My favorite train was whichever train I was driving! Although all of the trains were my favorite, Monorail Purple was and will always be my true favorite train for no other reason than purple is my favorite color. I was always a little happier at work when I saw Purple was my assigned train for the day. 
  
  and finally...
   
  10. Who is your favorite Disney character?
  
   Animated or human? Animated would be Stitch. He's mischievous, but is lovable and just wants to be accepted. Human would be Jack Sparrow because he's just awesome! He's not afraid of what other people think and he's free-spirited.