I present for you tonight two ideas for attraction updates that I humbly submit would fit perfectly with the needs of Walt Disney World at this very moment. One idea is more serious than the other, I leave that for you to determine which is which.
As you may have heard Disney is expanding Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland (much needed) and construction is well under way on phase one. Phase 1 is composed of a Beauty and the Beast dining hall, a Belle meet and greet, a new queue for Winnie the Pooh, a clone of DCA’s Voyage of the Little Mermaid attraction, and an Ariel meet and greet (with feet, not fins, I understand). Phase 1b was to be a collection of castles where you could meet Cinderella and Aurora. Phase 2 was never really solidified, but would have likely included Tinker Bell and her fairy friends and a doubled Dumbo with next-gen queue.
Phase 1b and Phase 2 are rumored to be up in the air and under going some revision to make the offerings more boy friendly (and hopefully more tolerant to adult sensitivities as well). But construction will eventually begin, at least on the new Dumbo, and that will require closure of Mickey’s Toon Town Fair. Alas, that turns out to be the location of the quite popular meet and greet for three of Disney’s biggest stars, Mickey, Tink (and her friends), and the Princess Brigade. Which leaves Disney in a quandary. Where can they locate those popular characters.
Mickey, Minnie, and pals are rumored to be coming to Town Square in a new photo location. And the current rumor is that the princesses will be moving into the current location of the Snow White attraction. Although I’ve had multiple sources confirm this, I had a tough time believing Disney would make such a move. But just in case, I wish to offer this very logical alternate solution, one which would kill two birds with one stone.
Why not take the plans for Sleeping Beauty Castle in the Fantasyland Expansion and move them to the old Skyway platform? It fits with the story wonderfully. The facades of Peter Pan and It’s A Small World are already themed to the design and colors of Sleeping Beauty, so adding a scaled version (with appropriate forced perspective of course) of the castle at the end of that avenue would make a perfect weenie drawing guests down the street. The courtyard below could continue the festival theme and princesses would be available for a meet and greet opportunity there in. The biggest problem this presents is what to do with strollers, but I think they could be relocated to the other side of Village House, which is more central to Fantasyland anyway.
So that’s one idea. It saves Snow White from the hunter’s blade and rescues the princess meet and greet at the same time. Make it so!
For my second idea it’s time to go goodwill hunting.
There is a big need to bring up to date the message and science behind EPCOT’s Universe of Energy Attraction. It leaves off things like biofuel, ethanol, electric cars, and updated technologies for solar, coal, wind, and tidal power generation. Plus science has advanced on its understanding of the dangers of global warming, concepts like peal oil, natural gas reservoirs, etc.
Although I’m not sure Disney would be a willing partner, I humbly submit that BP can start repairing its reputation by giving Disney Imagineers and scientists from leading institutions carte-blanche to reinvent the attraction in a manner that will allow BP to do a little penance and push the world in the direction of independence from fossil fuels and toward a sustainable future.
It would be important that this money not come from BP funds that would otherwise go to reparations for people and businesses that were impacted by the oil spill. Nor should the attraction be expected to magically fix everything BP did wrong in the gulf. However, I do believe it would be a decent start at building up some goodwill in the community.
So those are my two humble ideas. Which should they build first?
Great ideas!!
The reason that Snow White is rumored to be getting replaced by princesses is that Disney is supposedly planning a Seven Dwarves-themed mine train coaster in Fantasyland. They can’t have two Snow White-themed attractions going at once, plus, they can reuse set pieces from Snow White’s Scary Adventures in the new ride. Still, I’d love to see something – anything – in the old Skyway building!
And Ellen’s Universe of Energy has gone from merely boring to downright cringe-inducing post-Gulf oil spill, so anything to replace that would be a blessing too…
Yeah, I neglected to mention the Mine Train attraction because it wasn’t on the original expansion plans. But I don’t believe the existence of a new Snow White themed ride means the old one should go away. Alice in Wonderland has two attractions at Disneyland and no one complains.
Really? Close Snow White? That just seems wrong since it is Disney’s first movie. However, the ride isn’t that great (leaps ahead of the Disneyland version, but still not that great.)
Two attraction ideas that could solve two big problems for Disney World – http://bit.ly/dwZFD2 Save Snow White and update EPCOT
Great ideas. I think the Universe of Energy comment could apply to a number of other attractions at Epcot to be honest…even the updated Spaceship Earth isn’t exactly bang up-to-date.
Don’t think Disney would touch BP with a bargepole – it would be good to see a company with a genuine commitment to alternative energy involved.
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Will Mickey and Minnie’s homes in Toon Town be relocated or just destroyed? I think it would be a terrible loss for kids (and adults) to not be able to “tour” them anymore.
Secondly, I personally am tired of “meet and greet”s. When I was a kid, I enjoyed walking though the park, never knowing which character you might come across and where. I don’t like that you can go to a specific location at a specific time to see specific characters. It’s takes away the Disney magic IMO.
I second what John said about the two Alice attractions.
I like the idea to reuse the Skyway station, I have long wanted to see the Fantasyland Skyway station at Disneyland replaced with a Dream Suite. It is dead space on both coasts.
I really don’t like all this bumping Snow White out of everything.. even merchandise with princesses on it contains Tiana instead. Snow White is a classic and it makes no sense to get rid of the ride whether there is a new ride eventually coming in or not.
The skyway idea is a great idea I just don’t know if they were looking to mix princesses that far out of the central area of Fantasyland.
The thought of Snow White’s Scary Adventures actually closing at WDW seems almost unbelievable to me. I hear a lot of folks say how the ride isn’t that great, but I strongly disagree. It’s a classic and runs in the same historical circles as Peter Pan’s Flight. I sure hope the Disney execs re-think any such corporate-driven plans to do away with it.
On the other hand, a second SW attraction such as a Seven Dwarfs-themed mine train coaster would be a great addition.
Interesting ideas.
I would be devastated if they closed Snow Whites Scary Adventure. It may not be the most aww-inspiring ride, but it is certainly enjoyable and takes you right into the movie it’s based on. I would be fine with them moving it if that was an option, but scrapping the ride entirely? Please no. It’s my second favourite next to Peter Pan in Magic Kingdom. The nostalgic excitement these rides create is fantastic.
As for Ellens Energy Universe, I actually quite enjoy it as it is. But I understand why most people don’t. I would say it’s too risky for anyone, especially Disney to partner with BP. There are other options out there. Companies with far less tarnished reputations to build a relationship with.
Two attraction ideas that could solve two big problems for Disney World http://bit.ly/dwZFD2 Save Snow White and update EPCOT
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I don’t know that Disney would touch BP right now, but I do agree that Universe of Energy needs a refurb. It’s been about 14 years since the last one. :/
I definitely love the idea of using the old Skyway for the princesses. I’m kind of curious, though, as to who your sources are for saying Snow White is closing down, because I happen to work that ride. Our managers try to keep us as up-to-date as possible on things–since a lot is going on in our area–and absolutely nothing has been said about getting rid of our ride. Unless the new Mine Coaster (which also hasn’t been mentioned at all, is added to the new construction area, I don’t see where they would even add that, given what is already going in. (Also, a Mine Coaster still says “Snow White,” rollercoaster or not, and I don’t see how that would add more boy stuff to the area.)
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