I got a number of e-mails just like this one (from Bruddah Bear) last week
Jim —
You know that you’re coming across as kind of an ass with this whole attacking-Lance-Hart thing, don’t you? So Screamscape ran a rumor that you disagree with. Big deal. Does that actually give you the right to attack the guy in print? I don’t think so.
I think I speak for a lot of JimHillMedia.com readers when I say: I don’t come to your website to see you getting in p*ssing contests with other webmasters. I come by JHM for the great stories that you tell. Or should I say that you used to tell?
So less fighting, more writing, Hill, Capice?
Dear Bruddah Bear–
Okay. I admit it. Maybe I did come across as “kind of an ass” last week with both of those “Western River” related stories that I wrote. And maybe I was a little too quick to judge Lance Hart. Based on the dozens of e-mail that I received from people defending Screamscape.com’s webmaster, I’m guessing that he really is a pretty honorable guy. More importantly, if Lance is still standing behind this DCA WRE story … Well, then he must have a pretty good reason. He must be pretty confident with his source within the Walt Disney Company.
But — that said — I still think that this whole Disney’s-California-Adventure-is-going-to-get-a-“Western-River-Expedition”-type-ride story is a crock. Why for? Well, to quote an Imagineer insider:
You missed out on the most obvious reason why that “Western River” story is a total hoax: Where’s the character tie-in? We don’t build anything these days unless there’s a direct tie-in to a preexisting Disney film or TV franchise.
Which — I have to admit — is a pretty compelling argument, folks.
I mean, think about it. Better yet, let’s go over the last few years of additions & rehabs at the Disney theme parks. At Disney’s California Adventure:
- “Steps in Time” was replaced by “Blast!,” which was then replaced by “Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular.”
- “Lights! Camera! Chaos!” was replaced by “Goofy’s Beach Party Bash.”
- The “Soap Opera Bistro” restaurant was replaced by the “Playhouse Disney Live!” stage show.
- Wolfgang Puck’s “Avalon” restaurant was replaced by “Ariel’s,” a character themed restaurant.
- “The Redwood Challenge Creek Trail” received a “Brother Bear” themed overlay.
- “Bountiful Valley Farm” received “A Bug’s Life” overlay.
- “a bug’s land” added to DCA.
- “Mulan” characters brought into DCA to help with that theme park’s Chinese New Year celebration.
Now let’s talk about some of the rides, shows & attractions that have been proposed for DCA:
- “Toy Story Trolley” (featuring the “Toy Story” characters) to begin operating in DCA’s “performance corridor.”
- Daily “Block Party Bash” parade featuring characters from the Muppets, “Lilo & Stitch” & “Monsters, Inc.”
- “Monsters, Inc.” themed thrill ride proposed for DCA’s “Pacific Wharf” area
- “The Little Mermaid” themed nighttime lagoon show reportedly to be added to Paradise Bay in 2006.
- “The Little Mermaid” themed spinner (featuring Ursula the Sea Witch) reportedly to be added to Paradise Pier in 2006.
- “Grizzly River Rapids” is eventually supposed to receivea “Brother Bear” themed overlay.
Meanwhile, over at Disneyland:
- “Circlevision 360” was replaced by “Rocket Rodds” queue area, which was then replaced by “Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin”
- “The Country Bear Playhouse” was replaced by “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh”
- “The Swiss Family Treehouse” was rethemed to become “Tarzan’s Treehouse”
- “The Tahitian Terrace” restaurant was rethemed to become the “Aladdin’s Oasis” restaurant, which now serves as a place for an “Aladdin” themed storytelling area.
- “The Haunted Mansion” receives a seasonal “Haunted Mansion Holiday” overlay featuring the “Nightmare Before Christmas” characters.
- “Animazement” replaced by “Snow White: A New Musical”
- “Big Thunder Ranch” rethemed as “Home on the Range” petting zoo
- “Believe” fireworks replaced by “Imagine,” which will eventually be replaced by “Remember” (Which will feature Tinker Bell & Jiminey Cricket)
Still not buying this theory? Then let’s talk about some of the attraction redos that have recently been proposed for Disneyland:
- According to one WDI proposal, the “Rivers of America” was supposed to be rethemed as the “Rivers of American Legend” ride, which was to have featured vignettes with figures from American history & folklore like Pocahontas, John Henry & Paul Bunyan.
- Back in the late 1990s, the Imagineers toyed with reworking “The Jungle Cruise” so that it could become the “George of the Jungle Cruise”
- According to “Amusement Business” magazine, the Imagineers are seriously looking into reopening the “Submarine Voyage with a “Finding Nemo” overlay
- Likewise, the Imagineers are said to be looking into reworking the “Autopia” so that this Tomorrowland favorite could feature the characters from Pixar’s 2005 release, “Cars”
Even at Walt Disney World, this pattern holds:
- The Magic Kingdom’s “The Enchanted Tiki Room” show becomes “The Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management” featuring Zazu from “The Lion King” & Iago from “Aladdin.”
- Tomorrowland’s “The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter” is currently reworked to become “Stitch’s Great Escape,” a new sensory show featuring the obnoxious alien from “Lilo & Stitch.”
- “Aladdin’s Magic Carpet” spinner ride added to Adventureland’s lineup for rides, shows & attractions.
- The Magic Kingdom’s “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks extravaganza has been replaced by “Wishes,” a new fireworks show that prominently features various Disney characters.
Even more telling, Walt Disney World has replaced older Magic Kingdom attractions featuring Disney characters with newer theme park rides & shows that prominently feature more modern and/or more popular Disney characters:
- The Magic Kingdom’s “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” dark ride was replaced by the “Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” attraction.
- Fantasyland’s “The Legend of the Lion King” puppet show was replaced by the “Mickey’s Philharmagic” 3D movie.
Even overseas, this pattern holds. With the new “Raging Spirits” roller coaster that’s being built at Tokyo DisneySea. That Lost River Delta attraction will reportedly feature design elements lifted directly from Disney’s recent animated feature, “The Emperor’s New Groove.”
And — for Phase II at Hong Kong Disneyland — you’ll never guess what the Imagineers are thinking of adding to that theme park: A version of “Pirates of the Caribbean” that would prominently feature Jack Sparrow and the other characters from Disney’s recent smash-hit live action film, “The Curse of the Black Pearl.”
You see what I’m saying here, folks? The Walt Disney Company has become increasingly cautious over the past 10 – 15 years. Which is why the management of the Mouse House has become really reluctant to okay construction of any new rides, shows and attractions for the theme parks UNLESS that project prominently features characters from a preexisting Disney film or TV franchise.
Truth be told, this is the main reason that why many Disney executives feel that Disney’s California Adventure is so unpopular with the public. That this theme park has so few obvious ties to Disney’s library of characters.
Which is why we’re seeing the Imagineers putting these character-themed overlays into preexisting areas like “Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.” And why WDI is reportedly looking into ambitious change-outs like turning DCA’s “Pacific Wharf” area into Monstroplis, the city that Mike & Sully live in “Monsters, Inc.”
So — when it comes right down to it — this is why I feel that there’s just no truth to the Disney’s-California-Adventure-is-getting-a-“Western-River-Expedition”-type story. Where’s the character tie-in?
I mean, if there were a preexisting “Western River Expedition” Disney movie, then MAYBE this idea might make sense. But — with the Walt Disney Company of today being running by a set of super-cautious accountants — I just don’t see how an E Ticket of this size, scope and (more importantly) cost could ever get greenlit without an obvious tie-in to a preexisting set of characters from a popular Disney movie or TV show.
But — hey — I could be wrong.
What do you folks think?