[Idea] Dumbo's Circusland to Baum Brothers Circus?

[MANEATINGWREATH]

With the advent of the internet and books about all things Disney, almost everyone knows about the unused concept of Dumbo's Circusland. Walt Disney loved the circus and at some point around the conception of Discovery Bay, Imagineers had actually planned to bring an entirely new land themed around a circus to Disneyland, featuring Dumbo, Casey Jr., a hot air balloon ascent, Mickey's Madhouse, a Pinocchio dark ride (this was before the Fantasyland remodel of the 80's), and Circus Disney, a humongous animatronic show featuring countless characters in a circus-like production. Although the idea never fully materialized, Storybook Circus over at WDW has definitely proven that the circus and Disney theme parks go hand-in-hand. And then there's Oz: The Great and Powerful coming to theaters next year. Judging by the fantastic trailer, the movie starts out in a Kansas circus which has somewhat of a resemblance to Dumbo's Circusland and is appropriately labeled "Baum Bros. Circus" (after L. Frank Baum respectively). Then take a look at the rumored plans for an entire Oz-themed land taking up the space occupied by Big Thunder Ranch. Put all these things together and what do you get? Circusland.

Although I'm not necessarily a humongous fan of an entire land themed to an entire movie inside Disneyland itself (DCA is fine), my solution for the Oz Land would be none other than the inclusion of Circusland. Imagine if Big Thunder Ranch and a portion of the Fantasyland Theater became an old circus located somewhere near or in Kansas. Here would be a relocated Dumbo (possibly a dueling Dumbo?), Casey Jr. train station, Mickey's Madhouse, the Circus Disney animatronic show, and last but not least, the rumored Oz ride.

It's not necessarily the best idea in the world but it's the only thing I can think of to compromise the whole Oz Land rumors. Why not just make a Circusland instead of making an Oz Land?

[bfdf55]

Re: Dumbo's Circusland to Baum Brothers Circus?

With the advent of the internet and books about all things Disney, almost everyone knows about the unused concept of Dumbo's Circusland. Walt Disney loved the circus and at some point around the conception of Discovery Bay, Imagineers had actually planned to bring an entirely new land themed around a circus to Disneyland, featuring Dumbo, Casey Jr., a hot air balloon ascent, Mickey's Madhouse, a Pinocchio dark ride (this was before the Fantasyland remodel of the 80's), and Circus Disney, a humongous animatronic show featuring countless characters in a circus-like production. Although the idea never fully materialized, Storybook Circus over at WDW has definitely proven that the circus and Disney theme parks go hand-in-hand. And then there's Oz: The Great and Powerful coming to theaters next year. Judging by the fantastic trailer, the movie starts out in a Kansas circus which has somewhat of a resemblance to Dumbo's Circusland and is appropriately labeled "Baum Bros. Circus" (after L. Frank Baum respectively). Then take a look at the rumored plans for an entire Oz-themed land taking up the space occupied by Big Thunder Ranch. Put all these things together and what do you get? Circusland.

Although I'm not necessarily a humongous fan of an entire land themed to an entire movie inside Disneyland itself (DCA is fine), my solution for the Oz Land would be none other than the inclusion of Circusland. Imagine if Big Thunder Ranch and a portion of the Fantasyland Theater became an old circus located somewhere near or in Kansas. Here would be a relocated Dumbo (possibly a dueling Dumbo?), Casey Jr. train station, Mickey's Madhouse, the Circus Disney animatronic show, and last but not least, the rumored Oz ride.

It's not necessarily the best idea in the world but it's the only thing I can think of to compromise the whole Oz Land rumors. Why not just make a Circusland instead of making an Oz Land?

While the Oz expansion would be based on the circus in the upcoming movie, it in no way encompasses Dumbo, Casey Jr or any other of the circus elements from the Discovery Bay concept. The Oz expansion is more of an adjunct to Frontierland with no connection to Fantasyland.

If you've seen the movie trailer, you can see that the circus is essentially a traveling show that ends getting caught up in Kansas weather. While not a perfect fit for Frontierland, it does fit the Frontierland timeframe.

I don't really see this as an actual land, but rather an expansion of Frontierland that encompasses story elements from a prequel of Wizard of Oz.

[MANEATINGWREATH]

Re: Dumbo's Circusland to Baum Brothers Circus?

You know what...I actually like the idea of it being a Frontierland expansion much better. In my eyes it does work. But we'll just have to wait and see if it's pulled off right.