As you read this, 2000 journalists are in the process of being wined and dined at Walt Disney World. The Mouse has really rolled out the red carpet for these reporters. Treating them to after-hours parties at the Florida theme parks, which feature live performances by top name entertainers. (This year, Tori Amos, Sugar Ray and the B52s are all slated to make appearances.) Not to mention giving these same writers private previews of WDW’s latest rides, shows and attractions.
Why does Disney do this? With the hope that — once these entertainment reporters and traveler writers get their fill of free shrimp — they’ll schlep their goodie bags back home to Dayton or Scranton or wherever … and then write articles that say very nice things about the Disney World resort. Which will (hopefully) compel the people who actually read this coverage to think “Gee, maybe it’s time that I finally took the family back to Orlando.”
It’s all part of the great circle of schmooze, people. And — in the spirit of full disclosure — I guess I should mention here that I’ve actually attended several of these events in the past. Though — because I have this awful tendency to ask awkward questions at press conferences (I.E. “Is it true that you guys cut the budget on this attraction twice while it was still under construction?”) — Disney tends to only invite me to every other press event.
Which is why (I guess) that maybe it’s a good thing that the Mouse opted not to invite me (or any other JHM reps) to this year’s WDW press event. That way, they got to avoid the embarrassment that I would have undoubtedly caused at “Mission: Space”‘s grand opening. Which is being held at Epcot tomorrow night, by the way. When I would have felt the need to stand up at the press conference and say:
“Look, I know that ‘Mission: Space’ already has a legion of hardcore fans. But wouldn’t it have been smarter in the long run to just build the version of Epcot’s ‘Space’ pavilion that WDI originally proposed?”
Now — following a question like that — I’m sure that there would have been an awkward pause at the press conference. But — given the way the PR reps at Disney World usually work — I’m sure they would have quickly tried to brush aside my somewhat rude sounding question. Swiftly change the subject. Try to refocus the press conference back on more positive things … like how Epcot visitors just seem to love, love, LOVE “Mission: Space” !!
You see, this is why the guys at WDW Media Relations really don’t like me. The Mouse likes reporters who are polite. More importantly, who have very short memories.
Whereas I — unfortunately — have a very L-O-O-O-N-G memory. And — because I don’t really care for free shrimp and/or goodie bags — I don’t always feel the need to be polite.
Which is why — if I were down in Orlando right now — I’d probably still continue to press this point: “You know, the version of Epcot’s ‘Space’ attraction that the Imagineers originally wanted to build? That Future World pavilion that WDI initially proposed as a companion to ‘Horizons,’ rather than as a replacement for that GE-sponsored ride.”
Once again, Disney’s PR reps would probably have tried to change the subject. Which is why I’d probably have been forced to pull out these photos … which — ironically enough — I was given back in October 1991 while I was attending WDW’s 20th anniversary press event.
Concept art for Epcot’s proposed Space pavilion.
Click image to view full size.
This is it, folks. The officially sanctioned photograph of what the interior of Epcot’s “Space” pavilion was originally supposed to look like. Which WDW press staffers happily handed out to reporters back then because they wanted us reporters to get all excited about what WDI had in the works.
Now some of you may recall the story that I wrote for MousePlanet back in October 2000 (and now is archived over at LaughingPlace.com) which went into great detail about this version of Epcot’s “Space” pavilion. Back when Future World visitors were supposed to be transported — via a “Star Tours”-like simulator ride — to a space station far off in deep space. (In fact, if you look closely on the right side of the drawing, you can actually see four simulators — stacked one right on top of the other — full of WDW guests. Who are supposed in the middle of their journey to this fabulous deep space outpost.)
And — of course — once you got to this space station, Epcot visitors would have been able to do all sorts of amazing things. Like — for example — walk in space …
Concept art for Epcot’s proposed Space spacewalk.
Click image to view full size.
So why did the Imagineers initially design “Space” to be such an ambitious addition to Epcot’s Future World? Because they were looking to top the “Living Seas” pavilion. Which — back when it opened in January 1986 — was considered the absolute height when it came to theming.
But that was back in the day when the Walt Disney Company felt that it always had to top itself. Back when the Mouse felt that it was its duty to make sure that every single new ride, show or attractions topped the ones that had come before.
But then Euro Disneyland opened in April of 1992. And — as that innovative and ambitious project quickly became awash in red ink — well … that’s when Disney Company officials lost their taste for innovation. That’s when “ambitious” became a dirty word in Burbank.
This is when the era of “Less is More” at the stateside Disney theme parks began. When attractions like “Kitchen Kabaret” (which was loaded with Audio-Animatronic figures) began to be replaced by obviously lesser shows like “Food Rocks” (which featured minimatronic figures … which were much cheaper to build and maintain).
Which was why the Imagineers’ ambitious initial plans for Epcot’s “Space” pavilion were descoped (translation: nickeled and dimed to death) to the point that all that eventually remained was the trip out into outer space. That magnificent recreation of a space station that WDW visitors were supposed to find at the end of their journey? It disappeared into a budgetary black hole, never to be seen again.
Now some might argue (particularly you “Mission: Space” fans out there) that what we’ve got now is good enough. Well … I remember a time when the Walt Disney Company just didn’t settle for “good enough.”
Take for example, this quote that I found while reading a 1980 Tokyo Disneyland presentation book. Which was prepared in order to woo Japanese firms to become sponsors on the project:
“Tokyo Disneyland will include the most popular attractions from Disneyland and Walt Disney World, as well as unique new attractions and facilities of its own. Just as Walt Disney World was not a carbon copy of Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland will not be an exact duplication of its predecessors in America. At Walt Disney Productions, we pride ourselves on improving each new project – learning from our past experience and applying it to new products.”
That spirit is still alive at WDI. You only have look at the innovative and ambitious attractions that the Imagineers created for Tokyo Disney Sea to realize that these guys are still capable of creating absolute wonders. But — sadly — when it comes to creating rides and shows like this for Disney’s stateside theme parks, WDI is hobbled by a management team that’s far more interested these days in meeting the expectations of some Wall Street analysts than it is in pleasing and surprising the public.
Okay, I know. Not everything that the Walt Disney Company has built for Disneyland and Walt Disney World in the past few years is total crap. Just look at Disneyland’s incredibly popular “Haunted Mansion Holiday” or WDW’s “Wishes” fireworks extravaganza (which has its official world premiere at the Magic Kingdom tonight at 10:15 pm). And — as I mentioned earlier — “Mission: Space” does already have its fans. As does “Mickey’s PhilharMagic.”
But then I look at those beautiful conceptual paintings for the original version of Epcot’s “Space” pavilion. Where WDW guests would have found dozens of intriguing exhibits to explore and interact with inside of a five story tall mock-up of the interior of a space station … and I compare that to “Mission: Space.” Where — after they’ve been spun by the centrifuge and played a few computer games — Epcot visitors are usually heading for the exits after just 15 – 20 minutes, looking for something new to entertain them now.
Of course, there are some Imagineers who will insist that this is actually a good thing. That Disney’s own market surveys show that theme park visitors no longer like long shows in the park. That they actually prefer rides that are shorter and intenser.
Me personally? *Sigh* … I don’t know. I just can’t see how the Walt Disney Company can continue to do this. Continue to cut corners, delivering just okay attractions when it’s still capable to producing extraordinary rides and shows. Settling for less because it thinks that the public doesn’t notice.
But here’s Disney’s problem: The public does notice. And we do remember when Disney announces initially ambitious projects — like the original version of Epcot’s “Space” pavilion, or the first version of DCA’s “Hollywood Studio Backlot” area (which initially was supposed to feature elaborate recreations of an 1930s movie palace as well as the LA theme building) and DAK’s Beastly Kingdom — only to substitute lesser quality products … like Epcot’s “Mission: Space” pavilion, DCA’s bare bones backlot and DAK’s Camp MinnieMickey.
Mind you, I still have hope that the Walt Disney Company can eventually turn this situation around. I mean, when I look at the concept painting for “Expedition Everest” for Disney’s Animal Kingdom …
Concept art for Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest.
Click image to view full size.
… I can’t help but think that maybe Disney’s “Less is More” era really is coming to an end.
But then I have visions of standing up at some other WDW press event in the not-so-distant future, waving that photo around, as I say “Remember when they said they were going to build this ambitious attraction? And what did we get instead? Gadget’s Go Coaster Goes Himalayan?!”
Sorry to rant and rave here. But again … in advance of what I’m sure will be a veritable tidal wave of positive press for Epcot’s “Mission: Space” attraction, I just wanted to remind you guys of what we almost got. What the Imagineers had originally wanted to build in Future Word … before Disney Company management decided that the bottom line was now their top priority.
So I ask you … when it comes to the Walt Disney Company, when is “good enough” good enough? Or do you — like me — long for the days when “We Make the Magic” used to be the words that Disney’s Imagineers lived by. Rather than that division’s new unofficial slogan: “We Settle for Less.”
Your thoughts?