Which brings us to the question of the week:
Pixarland should do quite well!
Now, the poster who referred to the rework of DCA as "polishing a turd", wrong. DCA has been a problem child, but, a diamond in the rough. And, that diamond is getting some pretty spectacular grinding and polishing during the
"Phase 1" period of re-development...now through 2010. The "Radiator Springs" area is an unbelievable development in and of itself. Have you studied the other sites and the press release information on this? The fact that it is third generation 'Test Track' technology is pretty dang cool. Tossing in a return of the classic "Flying Saucers" as hovering tires and hubcaps is snazzy, too. The Tow Mater Whirly Twirly thingy has already proved a hit over in the Studio Park in Paris. So - one high speed for above 42", one all family, and, one youngster element...good packaging.
Hollywood area at DCA and the central plaza getting a full re-do? a Red Line Trolley? Yeah - this is the Dland Main Street concept...but, it works...and, it is the traditional layout (Save Animal Kingdom, for the most part) that the Disney Parks are designed upon. And, given that Mickey's Philharmagic is slated to become a fixture (probably phase 2) in the Hollywood area, that is also pretty nifty. Sadly, Muppets have to go the way of many a previous attraction for that(which makes little sense to me as Philharmagic could go in the non-used save for corporate events Millionaire building....), but, the DCA visitors seem to tarry less with the Muppets than the Florida Studio Park vistors do.
The Boardwalk is getting more of a Victorian Theming, even slapping Mickey's face on the Sunwheel is reasonable...btw - that boardwalk design has been around since Disney Co. was first designing the Long Beach Port Disney Project...so, it has been in the offing quite a spell...the Maliboomer is going, going, gone...which takes that anachronism out of the place it should have never inhabited, Toy Story Midway Mania arriving next year...and, I gather that Orange Stinger the (Traver)Rocket Flyers, and most of the Route 66 nonsense is also going bye-bye for more of the LITTLE MERMAID overlay (I imagine that Jellyfish will stay and be developed into that area's perimeter as well...I am thinking a modified "Undersea Grotto" from DisneySea concept...with a major attraction that was originally designed for Paris Dland, conceptually visualized and presented on the LITTLE MERMAID deluxe DVD set a couple of years ago...with a major change being the conveying system being taken from a monorail drive unit (Peter Pan) to an omnimover system (people eater) - Whoopi Goldberg's California Dreams is gone, Walt Disney Story comes in at the Carthay Circle Theatre back over in the central hub...and we still have to work on the Condor Flats and Grizzly Wilderness in phase two.
This is more than "polishing a turd"...it is, effectively, rebuilding the whole blessed park. Getting it to and then going beyond a level originally imagined for that gates setting. Something "off-the-shelf" Braverman avoided.
Pooh's Play area at the Florida Magic Kingdom taking away the 20K Lagoon and NAUTILUS adventure...okay, now we can talk about turds...after all, it is called Pooh... ;)
Please! When Universal opens Potter it's attendance numbers will rocket.
Harry Potter is a story that's been told with words, and with motion picture. I can't wait to see how it's told through a theme park.
I Respond: Disney consistently closes and opens attractions in all of its parks. To claim that changes (significant or otherwise) justifies complete rejection of a park concept is ridiculous.
Derek: I'm sorry folks, but if the last Harry Potter book and movie really have been made, than Harry is on his way out of the limelight.
I Respond: "If?" Sounds like Derek is not familiar enough with the franchise to make comment. And if it is Derek's assertion that the release of the last book and the final film release in 2010 means the franchise is on its "way out of the limelight" then his reasoning has changed. His original comment was that the franchise is "dying from mass overexposure" not because the film and book series are ending.
Derek: The new area will be a success because Universal will make it look good, not because of Harry Potter.
I Respond: Are you sure? Don't you think that building the new area will only add to the franchise's "overexposure?"
(Chuckle)
I think the Potter stories were well-written, providing theme park designers with a wealth of material to draw from. I think the films introduced Potter to an even wider audience. And the films get better and better with each release. I have no doubt the Potter theme park attractions will be extraordinary.
As far as Harry Potter goes, I'm not really a fan as much as some others around here obviously are. I do know that the last book has been written, and that the kid who plays Harry Potter in the movie probably has a beard by now. I said if because quite frankly I didn't know the situation with the movies. If they make the rest, than time will tell just how much life Harry has left. I just think that he doesn't have much time left in the limelight, and that Universal should have done this project earlier. My comment about the project succeeding because IOA will make it look good is true. IOA breathed life into Dr.Seuss, Popeye, Jurassic Park and a handful of comic characters that most of the public had forgotten about. Harry Potter the franchise has peaked, and IOA will give it a nice place to retire, but it won't have near the impact it could have had.
I Respond: "If they make the rest?" Wow! Potter #6 is in production and slated for release in November 2008. The major cast members are already contracted for the last film which will be released in 2010.
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Though, I must say that the DCA revamp may actually finally get me over to Anaheim.