Thursday, April 23, 2009

Blue Sky Buzz: Toys For Everyone...


With every bit of good news sometimes comes the bad or at least indifferent...

I'm not sure how I exactly feel about this. At first hand, I don't like it, but I also understand that Disney is a business as well as a personal love. I also realize that many fans will look upon this as quite a positive development as well.

Remember how, if you've been reading this blog for a long time, that I mentioned attractions that can be found at just about every Disney theme park? Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain and Small World. All five are at almost every Disney theme park resort around the world... Anaheim, Orlando, Tokyo, Paris and Hong Kong(soon).

I know you're looking at that and saying it's only four. And you're right. I only listed four... the fifth is Toy Story Mania. The current plan by Disney Resorts fearless leader is to place the attraction in every park. We already have them in the American parks and Tokyo is getting theirs very soon, but Paris and Hong Kong are scheduled to get versions of this 3-D interactive attraction. I find the one we have here in DCA a very nice D-Ticket and by the middle of the next decade this little ticket will be in all five resorts... maybe six, but that's another story for another day.

I don't mind the parks having some attractions that are alike, I just don't want them all to be that way. I value the uniqueness of each park. I want there to be a reason to go to Orlando over Paris and a reason to see Tokyo over Anaheim. I don't mind certain attractions being cloned, I just don't want the parks cloned.

Jay Rasulo is not on my Christmas list as many may know, I only hope that addition of this attraction doesn't create a sense that everything has to go everywhere...

38 comments:

CheriBibi said...

The attractions you mentioned are not in every 5 resorts though... e-tickets present in the 5 resorts are very seldom actually (space mountain, it's a small world... and wait a minute that's it.

I can see your point, but on the other hand people seeing more than 1 disney parks are very seldom as well. Let's not sacrifice the others for them.

I'm mighty glad Disneyland Paris will get its Toy Story Mania for even If I go and see the other parks, I know I'll be able to ride that one often.

Michael said...

I was going to say the same thing - we've yet to see if HKDL will get its Pirates or Mansion.

I'm not excited about this idea. TSMM is a fun little ride, but it isn't so great that it deserves to be shoehorned into every resort. This is especially true when they have to cram it in regardless of theme, like in Florida. I'm sad that it's going in DisneySea - at least in Paris they'll probably dump it in the Studios there and who really cares... But where will they stick it in HKDL? Adventureland?

Anonymous said...

The Disney Park franchise doesn't exist solely to please your discriminating wish that each park fit your personal definition of unique. No one is forcing you to go to one, two or all Disney Parks around the globe. That you would deny locals on a budget an opportunity to experience a specific attraction just so that you--evidently with a much greater amount of disposable income than most--could feel there was a "valid reason" to visit another park smacks of the worst kind of pretension. Those of us who scrimp and save just to spend a week at the park closest to us have little empathy and even less patience for someone who whines that "Paris, Tokyo and Orlando are all the same." Might I remind you that you run a blog, not a multinational entertainment company. You are entitled to your opinion, and this comment section allows me to express mine.
Thank you.

Jeremiah said...

Re: Anonymous

I disagree. Its not pretentious to wish that Disney would stop homogenizing their parks. It makes perfectly good business sense to make each park unique enough so that people have a reason to want to visit them all, even if they can't afford it.

I don't have the money to visit Disney Sea, but it is such a unique park that if I did, I would definitely spend it there instead of Hong Kong Disneyland.

Its one thing for all of the Disneylands to be more or less the same, but where I get annoyed is when they take an idea from DCA and throw it into Fantasyland (Little Mermaid), or Animal Kingdom to DCA (Bug's Life).

Why not spend the money and resources developing attractions that enrich the overarching mission and theme of a particular park? Toy Story Mania in Hollywood Studios is a perfect example of a fun ride that has no thematical continuity with the rest of the area, while it fits perfectly in DCA.

Mark Floyd-Thaut said...

I know I read this on some site a while back. Due to the budget constraints and the economy, they said that they save literally millions of dollars by doing multiple implementations of the attractions. As far as whether or not I like them putting the same attraction in each park, I'm kind of indifferent I guess. I primarily go to DL and not WDW as much.

swatsi said...

I agree that there should be more 'new' or 'unique' attractions for each individual park or resort.

I don't understand why doing so would be denying locals the opportunity to go on this quality ride? Why? Because if California has one quality unique ride, then Orlando would too, so would Paris and so forth.

Mind you, there are some attractions that almost have to be cloned, or make sense to be cloned.
POTC, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise and the similarly themed Fantasyland rides make sense.

Its all about saving some cash for Disney - which is understandable. Hopefully that would lead to the remaining money to move to other new projects?

Anonymous said...

I dont rides Cloned as well. However i understand why they do it.

Kevin Bruehl said...

I actually can't wait to see Hong Kong Disneyland's version of Pirates and Haunted mansion, plus they said they'd build the Indiana Jones Adventure. Each park has it's own unique attraction of copies, such as Paris' Pirates version, different facade and ride through, different attractions in Fantasyland added, though same outlook. Toy Story Mania is a great attraction when I first saw it and can't wait to see the one at Disney's Hollywood Studios. All the parks are different, but adding a new attraction to it or a familiar one like Toy Story is just as great, and I agree too, we'll be able to enjoy familiar rides while experiencing new ones.

Honor Hunter said...

I actually don't mind Pirates being cloned as it's really something to be expected in a Disney "experience" at their parks. Although if they had waited to build it in Florida we would have had another amazing attraction that was never built. The Western River Expedition never happened because it was put on hold so that POTC could please all the people complaining about it not being there.

I don't mind a few staple attractions showing up, but I would expect the majority to be unique and give the local area something that they can call their own. Something to say to the world: "Come see what we have" and that is in no way trying to deprive anyone of anything...

Steve Hofhine said...

Isn't Buzz Lightyear in all 5 resorts too? Although the one in Orlando is slightly different it's the same concept.

Cameron said...

Anyone will be able to play TSMM when it becomes available as a home video game anyway. Isn't Tower of Terror either built or been announced for all the locations but HKDL? For R&D and manufacturing costs it makes sense to clone things. At least the other locals can look forward to getting something new. It's all about spreading the brand and since there's going to be a third Toy Story movie & the first two re-released in 3-D, they are simply striking while its hot. Most folks will only ever travel to their closest park so why not allow them to get the best bang for their bucks.

Anonymous said...

Toy Story Mania in Hollywood Studios is a perfect example of a fun ride that has no thematical continuity with the rest of the area...Actually, it does fit in with the theme of the Pixar Place area.

swatsi said...

That's true about the video game coming out. Midway Mania might make sense to spread out the love. Hope its going to fit into the other parks.
Is it going into DisneySea in Tokyo?

It only really fits into Pixar Place because its a Pixar film and the area is.. supposed to be Pixar Studios.. It's a little weird on the inside, and I'm not sure if its supposed to have some kind of toy's taking over theme or something. Eh?

kirockk said...

It's not as bad as you think. Since this is mostly a computer based ride and the basic programming has been done, each ride can now have different lay overs for the games. Games could even have regional lay overs to make them more distinct. It's the one ride that can be different everywhere.

Mike said...

Isn't it strange that people complain when another park gets a cool new ride that your local park doesn't already have? You wish you had it too!

Isn't it strange that people complain when another park gets a cool new ride that your local park already has? You wish they couldn't have what you have already!

It goes both ways - always.

I think the thing with Disneyland is that us locals are always wanting our 'little' park to get some of the spotlight. Everybody picks on Disneyland. It's too small, Disneyworld is better, etc.

I would like to see only us get Mermaid, Cars Land, and other things - just for the sake of giving our park a sense of identity that it needs. It doesn't upset me though that they are spreading it across other parks. If I lived elsewhere, I would love to have the chance to ride a new ride - regardless of which other parks have it. New rides = more fun and exciting new things to see. We should encourage that for other fans of the park to partake in.

And I agree - it is saving the company loads of money. They can use the same marketing, construction plans, and whatnot - cutting back on the money it takes for creating new marketing campaigns, ride designs, trial and error testing, etc.

In closing, it's safe to say that perhaps Disneyworlders complain less because they already have the cool Epcot stuff, Test Track, and Everest. Sometimes it just seems we lag behind out here in California. We need a shiny new beacon that will make people want to visit our park. If everyone else gets the same ride, what reason do they have? Disneyland is destined to stay a local's park if this continues.

Anonymous said...

I have no problem with cloning, especially a core selection of rides that everyone wants to enjoy...like Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Small World, etc. If I was living in country XYZ that got a new Disney resort, I would be pretty miffed if it didn't have all the classics and I still had to travel to some other country or continent to experience it. That being said...it would be great for every park have a couple of major attractions and perhaps one major show or parade that are unique to it. This would be sufficient to satisfy most Disneyphiles who have the wealth or opportunity to travel to Disney resorts in foreign countries. Having a core of clones - (they don't have to exactly alike...just the way Paris' Pirates differs from DL's) - as well a couple of unique E-tickets at each individual park - would make good business sense both by cutting costs on "frachise" attractions plus offering enough variation to attract well-heeled hardcore fans.

Also - in response to anonymous above - I respectfully disagree with the statement that Toy Story Mania fits the theme of Pixar Place at DHS...because I feel that Pixar Place doesn't have a theme...at least in the way I understand "theme". Being a Pixar film isn't a theme.

Cheers - Tasman

Anonymous said...

Toy Story Mania seems like the ideal attraction to clone the basic concept of but to use different themes and characters in each park. Much the way Body Wars was basically Star Tours, it would be great if when a Toy Story clone opened, the basic ride system and tech was used with a different set of characters. I certainly don't find the Toy Story characters or theme to be very engaging at all, and the tech and concept of this attraction is all that would get me to ride again, though not nearly as often as a Pirates or Mansion. If they could change up the theming a bit I'd probably be convinced to ride more.

Anonymous said...

i think it's okay to clone attrations from domestic parks overseas. i just don't like it when they clone stuff between california and florida.

Matt said...

Re to Abominable Snowman:


I agree that Disneyland should have some attractions exclusive to it, all the theme parks should. The only thing I disagree with is TLM attraction. I really really want The Magic Kingdom to get this. Why? Because that park has not had a new E-Ticket in 18 years. Disneyland constantly gets updates, especially lately. It'd be nice if The Magic Kingdom got a new attraction worth going to the park for.

Mr. Rosado said...

it doesnt matter how many parks have the same ride walt walked in disneyland and that can never be duplicated

ICanHasPixieDust.com DisneyLOL said...

Okay, Honor, how about if Disney grants your wish by making the Tokyo version MUCH better?!? ;-D
8=o)

Spokker said...

Disney Parks guests demanded a one-Disney experience, didn't you hear?

"Okay, Honor, how about if Disney grants your wish by making the Tokyo version MUCH better?!? ;-D
8=o)"

It probably will be.

Spokker said...

"I really really want The Magic Kingdom to get this. Why? Because that park has not had a new E-Ticket in 18 years."

Keep hoping. It's not an E-Ticket. And Disneyland hasn't seen a new E-Ticket for 14 years.

Anonymous said...

Honor Hunter, I thought you blocked Spokker the Jerk from posting here. :'(

Get that rat out of here before he scares away the rest of us!!!

Anonymous said...

Also - in response to anonymous above - I respectfully disagree with the statement that Toy Story Mania fits the theme of Pixar Place at DHS...because I feel that Pixar Place doesn't have a theme...at least in the way I understand "theme". Being a Pixar film isn't a theme.It's not just that.

It fits the Pixar Place theme at DHS not just because it's a Pixar film, but for a variety of other reasons that I can't quite put my finger on at the moment.

One reason that I can come up with, however, is the fact that Pixar Place is based on and resembles the real-life Pixar animation studio in Emeryville, California.

Besides, the entire thing is indoors anyway, so the theming remains unsabotaged even more.

Anonymous said...

^^ So basically you could put a ride based on any Pixar film over there, and it would be thematically consistent?

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad the Studios got a meaningful new ride after a long time. But for me some plain brick buidlings with a passing resemblance to the Emeryville complex does not add up to an immersively themed environment. I had hoped at least that they would use this opportunity to widen the cramped alleyway that was never intended for public use in the original layout of Disney-MGM. But this is the future of DHS I guess.

- Tasman.

Spokker said...

Every ride fits at "Studios" theme parks because they can theme it to a movie set, or in this case, Pixar Studios.

That's way I've always hated the idea of MGM or DCA's Hollywood Backlot. They aren't fully realized worlds, just "sets." It kind of ruins the immersion.

Anonymous said...

^^^ Even taking all that into consideration, when you look at the themes that D-MGM originally started out with - which were basically 1) tinseltown circa 1930s / 1940s and 2) a celebration of the art of cinema - there is so much more that could have been done with these ideas. There were all the great concepts from the 1990s that for one reason or another had to be abandoned - like a Roger Rabbit / Maroon Studios area, Dick Tacy's crimestoppers plus Muppet Studios area with Great Muppet Movie Ride spoofing moments from classic movies - that would have been thematically coherent to much greater extent than what has since been built. Some rides / shows that went elsewhere...like Mickey's Philharmagic with it's review of classic Disney features or Golden Mickeys (a stage show spoofing the oscars) would also be a good fit. And of course, as originally conceived...the main attraction of Disney-MGM was supposed to have been the backlot tour which would have continually changed on its own and would have given returning guests new experiences even in the absence of new rides. Of course we all know how that went.

- Tasman

Anonymous said...

The backlot tour at DHS may be going away soon, if you believe the rumors, to make way for an expansion of Pixar Place.

Anonymous said...

^^^ I do believe it (which is for the best, since the current tour is a poor shadow of the original). However this means that the area will probably come to look like what Toon Studios at WDS Paris - each attraction with its own disparate theming...since they obviously cannot fill that entire area with plain red brick buildings looking like the Emeryville complex (or can they?). I was thinking at least that the land mind have a cohesive layout, but the Pixar Place that has been built so far simply follows the layout of the backlot buildings, which is not conducive to pedestrian flow. For one thing the layout of pathways is complex and guests can get lost. Also they kept the cramped alleyway in front of TSMM - what kind of entrance is that for a "land" that is supposed to occupy a large chunk of the park?

- Tasman

Anonymous said...

The fact is that Disney hasn't built a real high-power attraction since Tower of Terror. Sure, there's Everest, but given that the much-hyped Yeti A1 turned out to be such a disaster, I don't count that one as part of the parks' classics.

The Toy Story ride is cute, but nothing special. It's just a reworking of Buzz Lightyear. (shrug)

sgt. tibs said...

is the 'sixth' park you refer to the one there are rumours for in turkey honor?

Anonymous said...

The fact is that Disney hasn't built a real high-power attraction since Tower of Terror.Sorry, Mr. Negative, but that's not true and you know that that's not true.

End of story.

Spokker said...

End of story? Wow, I didn't know you were the authority on Disney parks discussion!

Anonymous said...

"Sorry, Mr. Negative, but that's not true and you know that that's not true."

Care to elaborate?

Honor Hunter said...

You sure know how to stir them up Spokker...

Everyone play nice. I've had a bad week and can't we just all get along?

Life is short, get the extended warranty...

Spokker said...

Extended warranties are a bad idea. They are often a waste of money and are hard to collect on if your item should break.

Think of it this way, if you buy the extended warranty for every single piece of electronics you'll buy, you'll spend more than if you just replace your stuff as it breaks.

The manufacturer's warranty is good enough.

Honor Hunter said...

You obviously weren't at Blue Sky Headquarter this last week, Spokker...