What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

[Bongo]

This question just crossed my mind. Carsland is based off the movie franchise Cars. Like any other franchise, it will soon get old and may/may not bite the dust. Some franchises get lucky and stay within the hearts and minds of people many generations later. Hey, Cars might be that franchise, but let's say it's not.

Let's say it's, I don't know, many many years into the future. The kids that watched Cars are now almost as old as you are. Cars is now a very old franchise and the debate has sparked up on what to do with Carsland.

- People who grew up with the ride and franchise (And maybe the next generation of Micechatters and what not) Say it should stay because it's an absolute classic and a fantastic E-Ticket ride.
- Some say that it should stay because it was extremely expensive to build and tearing it down would just be a waste of money, but retheme it to a generic Route 66 theme.
- Some say it should just stay the way it is because a lot of money was thrown at it and all it needs is upgrades and refurbishments
- Some say it should stay because the scenery is just stunning to look at. (I have heard some people say that)
- Some say it should go because the idea is old and worn, and a shiny new coat of paint isn't going to help it. Besides, Walt and the original Imagineers wanted the parks to keep on changing and they say Carsland has met his time.

Very recently, we've been getting more and more rides that are tied to a specific franchise. Some of them can adapt really quickly, such as the Submarine Voyage or Star Tours, but what about Carsland? The town is very iconic and can be immediately recognized. How easy would it be to convert that whole land to another movie, IF there is one that takes place somewhere in the South West United States along Route 66. And what about that Mountain Range? Another icon that can be as recognizable as Grizzly Peak or the Tower of Terror. How much would it cost to take down? Refurbishment costs? Will maintenance ever reach a state such as Splash Mountain? What will the public reaction be? MiceChat's reaction? Other Disney Fan Site reaction?

All of these cannot be answered at the moment with a clear end to it all. So that's why I call upon you. I want to know your opinion on this topic. Would Carsland last for a long time? If it didn't what would you say the verdict would be? Doesn't have to be anything I stated either; you can think up your own reason as well.

[ssaamm]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

What would happen to it? Probably the same thing that happened to Splash Mountain once Song of the South became outdated.

[planetsix]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

It will eventually get outdated, but that won't stop guests from entering the land to begin with. They'll still want to ride RSR (& maybe the other 2) and they'll flow in naturally I'd expect... I don't think guests will stop to think what movie Cars was if they don't know, and will enjoy the land anyway...

[Bongo]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

But do you ever think they'll, you know, tear the entire town and mountain down some day? Highly unlikely, but still plausible

[christianAdam]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

kind of an ironic question being that Cars Land represents the old "outdated" Route 66 feel of America...so therefore it was made to look and feel outdated already, right?

I know what you meant by the question I just couldn't help myself

I say let's just enjoy it and not worry about how long its going to last, it's only been open for almost 2 weeks and its funny that this topic is already coming up.

[planodisney]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

I have a 3 year old son who is absolutely obsessed with Cars and the characters and has been since he was 2. His other little buddies are even more obsessed than he is and there are literally millions of boys and even some girls, all across America who feel the same way. Someday these little boys will grow up and have families of their own. Cars and Carsland will be around for a VERY, VERY long time. Cars merchandise is as much a part of Toys r us and target toy shelves as lego or Hot Wheels. it's not going anywhere.

[Bongo]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

They will become the next generation of MiceChatters. Discussing in depth details of the parks and what not. Oh what a glorious day that will be.

[stevek]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

What would happen to it? Probably the same thing that happened to Splash Mountain once Song of the South became outdated.

Or Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Peter Pan, Alice In Wonderland....

Quality guest experiences/rides are timeless and Cars Land will be around long after many of us are dead and gone.

[QuiGonJ]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

When it becomes outdated, like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, they will just slap a Pixar character on it and call it new.... oh, wait.

[WorldDisney]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

I think what constantly gets missed is that even after the movies these rides are based on become old and outdated, the RIDES themselves become classics and timeless. People who are riding RSR today will more than likely think of the movie, but another generation will just remember growing up with the ride the same way people do who have ridden Toad, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White etc. I personally have never seen any of these movies, but I been riding the attractions for over 30 years now. I mean how many kids have seen the Twilight Zone or know who Rod Zierling is but believe me TOT will stay their favorite ride regardless. Roger Rabbit film came out 25 years ago now and not exactly considered timeless, but its still one of the coolest dark rides and can get up to 60 mins waits now.

As for the rest of CL, its one of the most immersive lands Disney has done. Its based on Rt 66, you dont need to know a thing about the movie to get it. Like NOS, BVS, MS, HL, etc, its based on a real location just very idealized. But yes, those buildings you see mightve come from the movie, BUT they were all based on REAL locations through out the actual Rt 66 giving them a true life feel. JUST like the imagineers who built BVS found inspiration in different areas of L.A. back in the 20s and 30s and based the stuff on real buildings and landmarks, some still around today, well guess what, the film makers did the exact same thing for Radiator Springs when they were designing the movie.

So again, this concern people have CL will suddenly feel outdated is just strange to me. The area is based on real life stuff like many lands in Disney theme parks are, so how do they become 'outdated'? On top of that, I'm guessing there will be millions of people who will have walked through this area in the years to come who has never seen the movies anyway, but will love it just because its so well detailed and life like and they are on RT 66. I dont see it truly becoming an issue anytime soon, especially if RSR become a classic like Indy, Splash and Star Tours, ALSO rides based on movies but they clearly have become beloved attractions on their own now.

But someone else said it, CL has been open a week! I dont get why people are concerned whats going to happen DECADES from now! I'm sure other things can have the same issues, but they will figure it out. For the moment they have a HUGE hit on their hands we got a cool new area to enjoy, so lets enjoy it!

[TylerDurden]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

I thought a lot about this too before the land opened, and thought for sure that Disney had just backed themselves into a corner by theming such a large portion of the park (which had so much potential) to one franchise.

All of those concerns went away when I stepped into the land. I oftentimes forgot that it had anything to do with Cars...the architecture, the music they played, it all takes you back to good ole Route 66. The only major presence of Cars is in RSR, but there are several rides at DLR that are based on outdated franchises that still thrive. I think the main concern was the land as a whole, but really that conveys a whole different feeling that doesn't have to do exclusively with the films.

Even if it does become an issue, naive young guests can just assume the area is Route 66 with marketable talking cars. Kinda like how they manufactured talking cars for Autopia--everyone accepts those and NO ONE finds them familiar.

[aashee]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

Cars to kids now, it the Peter Pan of an older generation. For them it will never get old, in fact it will remind them of their childhood when they are raising kids of their own. I don't see it happening.

[MrsMonroe]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

perhaps the ride will keep people interested in the movie

[ColonelWalrus]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

People still ride Mr.Toad even though most children have no idea who he is. The land offers enough immersion in its environment; it'll be able to be successful years from now.

[SavannaQueen]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

Sometimes I lie awake at night wondering what would happen to the Matterhorn if guests ever forgot about Third Man on the Mountain. They'd have to tear it down and replace it with something more timeless, like a regular mountain. Curse those movie tie-ins!

[Susan Hughes]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

I know a number of people who have never seen Cars and they love Cars Land. That should be an indication of the staying power of this land. Unlike Avatarland they're planning for Animal Kingdom. That movie has already lost it's popularity and it only came out a few years ago.

[plumiegirl]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

Sometimes I lie awake at night wondering what would happen to the Matterhorn if guests ever forgot about Third Man on the Mountain. They'd have to tear it down and replace it with something more timeless, like a regular mountain. Curse those movie tie-ins!

I actually have a copy of Third Man on the Mountain on DVD. I found it used on amazon and wanted to see the story behind the attraction and it was decent movie from it's time period. I have always loved the matterhorn because it is fun, cool, and its the mountain. I have been lucky to have seen the real mountain on a european trip. The whole question of outdated is silly because most if not all the disney rides are based on classic stories that each generation can read and enjoy. Boring people should be outdated right!

[vnormth]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

Seems like you've just described Toon Town. Just saw the movie again recently and it still boggles me that an entire land was built around that one single mediocre movie...and Toon Town is starting to get awfully long in the tooth.

And how many people "get" the Roger rabbit ride do you think, btw?

[fravitmonk]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

I know a number of people who have never seen Cars and they love Cars Land. That should be an indication of the staying power of this land. Unlike Avatarland they're planning for Animal Kingdom. That movie has already lost it's popularity and it only came out a few years ago.

I feel like what you said directly contradicts itself. You basically said that the success of Carsland is not based on the whether or not the movie is popular, but the success of Avatarland WILL be based whether or not the movie is popular. So which one is it?

Sometimes I lie awake at night wondering what would happen to the Matterhorn if guests ever forgot about Third Man on the Mountain. They'd have to tear it down and replace it with something more timeless, like a regular mountain. Curse those movie tie-ins!

^Best commment ever. You win at Micechat.

[ChessurInWonderland]

Re: What will happen to Carsland once it is deemed outdated?

Seems like you've just described Toon Town. Just saw the movie again recently and it still boggles me that an entire land was built around that one single mediocre movie...and Toon Town is starting to get awfully long in the tooth.

And how many people "get" the Roger rabbit ride do you think, btw?

Are there really people that haven't seen Who Framed Roger Rabbit? I grew up watching that movie, and my brothers (aged 5 and 11) watch it all the time, as much as they watch newer movies like Cars and older Disney films.



Anyway, I agree with what many others in this thread have said about the land's immersion being enough to keep it going for a long, long time. Also, I can't imagine people not watching the movie anymore. Pixar's films are classics, I think they're on the same level as Walt Disney's classics, they're timeless. Do you know anyone who hasn't seen Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs? I don't, and that film came out back in 1937. Pixar's movies may not be fairytales but I still think they have the same timeless power to stay popular years into the future.