Disney Park Fans Leave with Mixed Feelings
With Destination D23 having come and gone, many Disney park fans, including myself, have been left with mixed feelings about what was revealed. For travelers to parks outside the US the announcements were fantastic, some of the most impressive lands ever built at a Disney park. On the other hand, for US park goers the announcements were lackluster by comparison. But, before I get too far into my thoughts, I feel it is important to set expectations. Many articles and discussions have
focused on how the announcements mean nothing in the face of Universal’s Epic Universe. How the new plans are too little too late for the waning park crowds. Or how Disney seems to have yet again presented ideas that may never come to pass. For the most part, I plan to leave those conversations to other commentators. Instead, I am going to give Disney the benefit of the doubt and treat each announcement as something they fully plan to carry to fruition, and before the heat death of the universe.
Let’s quickly get some of the easy ones out of the way.
Ahsoka and Asha Meet and Greets coming to Disneyland, Disney World and Disney Paris and Figment is now at Epcot. The Hatbox Ghost is
finally being added to the Haunted Mansion at the Magic Kingdom and the walls around Epcot are finally coming down along with the opening of both Moana’s Journey of Water and World Celebration. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is continuing development, as are two new Disney cruise ships. Finally, every park
outside the US is getting a new land (or lands). In Disneyland Paris and Disneyland Hong Kong, the World of Frozen. In Disney Shanghai, Zootopia. Lastly, in Disneyland Tokyo the Fantasy Springs featuring Peter Pan, Frozen and Tangled.
Now onto the more discussion worthy announcements, starting with Ahsoka coming to Star tours in Disneyland, Disney World and Disneyland Paris. Normally, I would be upset about this because it jumbles the already precarious continuity of the ride but, now that the sequel trilogy is included, who cares. Great, we can have some new flight patterns that equally make no sense in the context of the ride. One flight you are just before A New Hope with an adult Leia, Boba Fett, Darth Vader and a nearly
complete Death Star. On another you are flying over Jakku after escaping Kylo Ren before landing on Batuu. (Even though the queue includes references to a very absent Aldraan.) Now we can fly next to the Mandalorian and Ahsoka during the same general time period as the first Star Tours. It’s clear Disney sees this as a catch all Star Wars ride, and if that is how it’s going to be at least there is more variety.
That said, here is a freebie Disney. If continuity is not something the imagineers care about just put in an updated version of the original among the possible routes. Obviously, RX-24 “Rex” could not be present due to the need for C-3PO in the other routes. That doesn’t mean that with a few dialogue
changes such as this being Rex’s first flight or still getting used to his programming, the flight could not be nearly identical. (While maintaining lines such as passing the Endor moon or comets!) The ride is already capable of changing from flight to flight, such a feat should be relatively easy and would earn a lot of effort stars from park goers. I normally would not offer such a suggestion, but at this point if Disney doesn’t care about continuity may as well get the nostalgia points.
Next they revealed a ride vehicle for the California Avenger’s Campus E-ticket ride. Not much to go on, but considering the last I heard it was cancelled or shelved indefinitely, at least we know it is coming. This does exemplify a serious problem of Disney’s. I was excited for this ride when I was at D23 in 2019. Now four year later, the announcement comes across as “oh good, they didn’t cancel it.”
It’s no wonder people aren’t excited; when all things considered it should have been opened with the land. It is always amazing how Disney can see new lands as a disappointment when they only open half of the promised land. (Not even talking about performers or smaller details, this is an entire ride and the E-ticket one at that.)
Alright everyone, grab your pitchforks and torches and pull up the Flynn Rider meme. I am indifferent to a new Country Bear show, and to some extent welcome it. I don’t live in an area with country music, and frankly have no connection to it. Even at Disneyland, I greatly preferred the Vacation Hoedown and Holiday shows over the original because I was at least familiar with more than one song and enjoyed those I didn’t recognize. To this day, I actually like the Japanese version best because I can
focus on the music instead of the lyrics. I understand that Disney World locals may have more of a connection to Country Music than Disneyland locals. (Which is likely why it still exists there) But, Disney World is also the global Disney park destination for guests from all over the world. A new show can still include great country instruments and music styles but include songs more people can sing along to without having been to the show half a dozen plus times. I also understand for some people this will be like losing the Peoplemover, Submarine Voyage or the original Star Tours was for me,
I am sympathetic to that. That said, it’s 2023 we have the technology to swap these shows over night. There is no reason the original can’t remain an off season show during the times in January and February when mostly locals visit, and could offer extra incentive to do so. I do think the sing-along show should have songs that the
average guest can sing-along to and at a Disney park, Disney songs are the most qualified. But, if Disney is smart the original will simply be put into hibernation rather than removed.
Speaking of changing shows Luminous will be replacing Harmonius at Epcot. While we don’t know the music we do know the death halo and death tacos are being removed, so it’s guaranteed to be an improvement. As for the music, it will likely be more Disney music. Like Star Tours, I would normally be upset, this is Epcot and the World Showcase not Fantasyland. However, it is clear Disney is not interested in park continuity. (Ratatouille, Frozen, Guardians) I don’t have to watch the show, but at
least I don’t have to see those stupid barges.
The final new show is a Zootopia show set to replace It’s Tough To Be A Bug at Animal Kingdom. I am acknowledging this because it would be negligent not to. That said, I have never seen the current show even when it was at Disneyland. I could not tell you where the entrance to the stage even is. So any opinion I could have would be ill informed. What I will say is, changing the show likely will not make me any more likely to visit. (Now a Muppet show on the other hand…). On a similar note, while not a new show, the Tortuga Tavern at Magic Kingdom seems to be getting a re-theme with the Barker Bird set to be included. Now is not the time to discuss the US parks
food issues, so as long as the price and quality are decent I don’t see a downside. Though, it does make one wonder, is this the best use for Disney’s budget? Do they think this will bring more guests or is it a veiled downgrade in order to lower costs? This one may just have to be a wait and see.
The next big announcement is a re-theme of Test Track that is inspired by World of Motion. While I never had the chance to ride the original World of Motion, I do welcome anything that brings back the spirit of Epcot. I will miss the neon light virtual feel of the current version but, this next version
will hopefully be better. I will say I hope the beginning feels more like a dark ride and less like a crash
test. I’m sure there are people who enjoy the sudden stops and swerving but it makes Epcot’s my least
favorite of Disney’s three Test Track type rides.
The final two announcements are a bit more nebulous. The first is “beyond Thunder Mountain” which included very little substance, only that they are working hard and it might be even bigger than new Fantasyland. The other is a South American themed land in Animal Kingdom featuring Indiana Jones and Encanto. This new land is planned to replace the aging Dinoland USA. Dinoland has had a troubled history and the proposed changes could be it’s own article so I’ll be brief. Is this the worst thing they could do with the space? No, a South American themed area is the only major animal environment not already within the park. (Excluding polar or oceanic wildlife) If the Dinosaur theme disappears, the Dinosaur ride would potentially be out of place, so a replacement will be needed. Since Dinosaur and Indiana Jones are already nearly the same ride it is low hanging fruit. This begs the question, how lazy will the retheme be? It can’t be an exact clone of Temple of the Forbidden Eye as that is clearly placed in India. They could steal Temple of the Crystal Skull from Tokyo, since that has a South American feel, but more than likely they will need to make a third theme. (Hopefully a green one) Overall, the announcements were not underwhelming but not amazing, just whelming. They do however show some of the problems Disney has been falling into. Everything listed for Disney World are remodels and rethemes nothing new, no new space with the exception of the beyond Thunder Mountain. Which is so far away, a solid plan can’t be revealed. Disneyland got one real announcement, which is a ride coming in the unknown future. Meanwhile, the overseas parks are all getting a brand new land. It is no secret that travelers spend more than locals. If Disney wants that money they need to be looking to do one of two things. Build something that is worthy a taking an otherwise unplanned trip.
This is usually brand new lands like Pandora, New Fantasyland or Galaxy’s Edge. Or, they need to build things that make people need longer trips. This can be from repeating great experiences or simply adding more to do. I am no more likely to ride Test Track if they update it, I like it either way and will probably ride it half a dozen time per trip. Why not invest in something like Journey Into the Imagination which I otherwise may ride once? Instead my trips will be to Tokyo and Paris.
The second problem is a clear disregard for cohesive themes. Whether it is the location of the Hatbox Ghost, Ahsoka in Star Tours, or the proposed changes to Dinoland, Disney seems content to make any changes they think up regardless of what excuses they have to make to justify it. Tiana’s Bayou is in a towering salt dome, who cares when Star Tours takes place, Indiana Jones could take place in South America. I know this isn’t a revolutionary new idea but these are not the actions of a healthy
company. Knott’s, Universal, and Sea World don’t seem to have these problems. Perhaps it is a lack of imagination which prevents unifying themes. Perhaps it is a lack of budget, or simply executive meddling. Either way, as long as Disney allows these issues to persist every D23 is going to be met with yawns. I don’t care if you have one or a hundred announcements if they feel forced there won’t be any
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