Disney to announce new attractions May 5

Working at a travel magazine has it benefits...got this in the mail today [excerpt]:

"During an unprecedented Media Sneak Preview Day you will witness first-hand the official debut of the celebration including the grand opening of all the new shows and attractions premiering for the [50th] anniversary, plus a star-studded celebrity party and the unveiling (May 5th) of plans for fun-filled new attractions coming soon to 'The Happiest Place on Earth.'"

My guess: Nemo for Disneyland and Monsters Inc for DCA.

*** Edited 3/23/2005 11:57:28 PM UTC by Mamoosh***

Bah, I'm still holding out for Western River Excursion ;)

In seriousness I'm glad to see the park is adding attractions.

So what do you think... With the changing of the guard at the top, the 50th celebration, new attractions... is this the start of a Disney theme park renaissance? I don't get to Disney parks enough to say the "magic" was ever gone in the first place, but the rat fans sure feel otherwise.

I think Disney parks are getting better...they might announce the plans for the recently cleared 20k site? Or more info on Everest?

Rob....many fans have been waiting 30+ years for that! (The articles onlin about it have been facinating!)

All I know is DL desperately needs an E-ticket ride. It's been 10 years since they got one. (The ill fated Rocket Rods were anything but an E-ticket...I thought they sucked big time)

DCA could use a handfull of E and D tickets!

DCA is getting Monsters Inc [where Superstar Limo was]...that's all but been confirmed by the park. And of course there have been Finding Nemo rumors for the Subs in Tomorrowland. While neither would be e-Ticket both would be welcomed additions.

My wish list?

I would love to see a combo dark ride/coaster themed to the California Gold Rush, built inside and outside the mountain that Grizzly River Rapids is on. There is already a mine shaft entrance into the mountain behind GRR. I envision ore-car cars, with the slow dark ride portion inside the mountain and a coaster section outside.

LoCoGrr?

;)

The "Disney Decade" was the best...worst thing they could have done.

Eisner and the gang set the bar pretty high during the 90's with new attractions, new parks, new hotels, etc. Frankly, the plan worked. The parks were looking great, the crowds were coming, etc.

Then, the Disney Decade was over. Building was going to slow down. Add the impact of 2001 (which many people don't like to use as an excuse but it just can't be ignored) and you have created a loud "thud".

While things in the parks were going gangbusters...Disney couldn't miss at the Box Office. Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King, etc all blew the doors down. I don't care how good you are, no studio is going to be able to keep that string of hits going.

So, I don't really fault Eisner when it comes to the parks. His inability to manage relationships with Pixar, Miramax, his own executives, etc is a whole other matter.

---

Jeff said:
So what do you think... With the changing of the guard at the top, the 50th celebration, new attractions... is this the start of a Disney theme park renaissance? I don't get to Disney parks enough to say the "magic" was ever gone in the first place, but the rat fans sure feel otherwise.

---

I'd say not yet Jeff. WDI from what I hear is still hesatant about putting forth big new attraction ideas to management still, and I'd say we'll find ourselves with more Winnie the Pooh (DL) and minor dark rides until October, when the new guy will probably put into plan more expensive projects, like the Austrailia land in AK, Indiana Jones updated for Disney Studios, and that ride in the old 20k lagoon...

---

wahoo skipper said:
The "Disney Decade" was the best...worst thing they could have done.

Eisner and the gang set the bar pretty high during the 90's with new attractions, new parks, new hotels, etc. Frankly, the plan worked. The parks were looking great, the crowds were coming, etc.

Then, the Disney Decade was over. Building was going to slow down. Add the impact of 2001 (which many people don't like to use as an excuse but it just can't be ignored) and you have created a loud "thud".

While things in the parks were going gangbusters...Disney couldn't miss at the Box Office. Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King, etc all blew the doors down. I don't care how good you are, no studio is going to be able to keep that string of hits going.

So, I don't really fault Eisner when it comes to the parks. His inability to manage relationships with Pixar, Miramax, his own executives, etc is a whole other matter.

---

The Disney Decade was very impressive, but not very much came to be from the inital plans. Anyone remember the Dick Tracey Crime Stoppers? How about Tomorrowland 2055? Simply put, DLP scared the **** out of Eisner. I'd love to see a new Disney Decade, but I don't think that is on the plate until we see the animation unit and movie unit pump out more hits.

---

TeknoScorpion said:
LoCoGrr?

---

You heard it here first!

Moosh, I thought the same thing! Especially with the tracks there. 'twould be very cool!

Edit: Sorry Moosh! *** Edited 3/24/2005 6:49:39 PM UTC by janfrederick***

Eric - I keep imagining the interactivity between a ride like that and the rapids ride below. I also imagine the coaster section on the opposite side of the mountain where than wonderful waterfall is [between the center "Sun" hub and Tough To Be A Bug]...ore cars popping in and out of the mountain there and droppnig down little drops.

Heck, the preshow could be a film about California's Gold Rush!

---

Jeff said:
So what do you think... With the changing of the guard at the top, the 50th celebration, new attractions... is this the start of a Disney theme park renaissance?

---

Absolutely Jeff. Whether it has anything to do with the new guard at the top or just the coming 50th anniversary change is all around. Little things like new paint EVERYWHERE, to bigger changes like the new floating Madam Leota head in the Haunted Mansion (which is a sight to see!) all add up to a much better place then it was a year ago. The additions of new Space Mtn. and Buzz will help as well.

I totally agree that the park needs a new E-ticket though. But for this year, the reopening of Space and especially the new fireworks show will suffice as that. (The new fireworks show will be AMAZING. Picture your favorite rides reproduced in audio and fireworks in the sky and all around you. How about a pirate battle between the Matterhorn and the Castle? Going to be some good stuff! Can't wait!)

---

ore cars popping in and out of the mountain there and droppnig down little drops.

---

I'd love to see it, pretty much the DCA version of Journey to the Center of the Earth! That's definitely not a bad thing.

The Mole: My thoughts exactly. I thought the "Disney Decade" was awesome, but what I read was initially announced for all parks I was shocked at what annoucned attractions were never built!

One reason many attractions didn't get built was the failure to lock in the Muppets after Jim Henson's passing. Blame can certainly be traced all the way up to Eisner for that one.

That had some amazing idea for Muppets attractions including a media spectacular where the Muppets were going to "take over" the park for an extended period of time. That would have been great stuff.

I don't think the Muppets stuff is dead, yet. Disney just needs to reinvigerate the Muppet brand, which has already started. They're popping up in commercials and an upcoming Muppets Wonderful Wizard of Oz for TV should help generate some buzz.

Disney should thank they're lucky stars for Pixar, though. The synergy should continue with the "Cars" re-themeing of Autotopia at DL and additional "Toy Story" attractions at WDW. And, I have little doubt that Imagineers are hard at work brain-storming some "Incredibles" attraction.

the monorail esq cars in Incredibles look like they could be peoplemovers...its sad that at DL they (the track) just sit there

IBsteve: Pixar is a big help to them...too bad Eisner screwed that up too the they divorce after Cars. Word is that one of Bob Iger's first things to do is to try and romance Pixar back into some sort of partnership.