Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand!

[Micoofy Duck]

Raising my hand here.

After looking at a picture of the new layout I figured there must be something wrong... why is Carsland so freakin' big and taking up so much space!

It wasn't that great of a movie to make that much of an impact... at least I don't think so. Why is this movie getting so much park devotion and space?

You tell me, please!

[MasterGracey]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

Raising my hand here.

After looking at a picture of the new layout I figured there must be something wrong... why is Carsland so freakin' big and taking up so much space!

It wasn't that great of a movie to make that much of an impact... at least I don't think so. Why is this movie getting so much park devotion and space?

You tell me, please!

Cars = Merch sales galore.

[ROBONICS95]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

Cars = Merch sales galore.

Indeed!

According to Disney:

According to Iger, Cars is the number one film ever made by Disney in terms of film merchandise sales.

Ever?? Wow!!

Source in the animation business:

Earlier this year, I was told "Cars is rapidly approaching Star Wars in the amount of merchandising sold".

[Anakin]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

Well, how else can they recycle, er, re-theme Epcot's Test Track, silly?

To design a SPANKING BRAND NEW attraction or adventure with SPANKING BRAND NEW technology based on an actual GOOD ANIMATED FEATURE would cost the Walt Disney Company another 1.1 billion dollars.

I'm still thankful, though.

*These are my genuine thoughts, not directed at any specific person.

[ROBONICS95]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

From blueskydisney.blogspot.com

Lots of people have noticed it... I know I've seen it. When "Cars" came out last year and only wound up making 462 million that everyone declared it a disappointment. But in the last six months I've noticed more and more "Cars" merchandise. Every time I see a group of kids, I notice one of them having a "Cars" backpack, Lighting McQueen T-Shirt or shoes with the logo. It seems I wasn't just having a hallucination... wondering to myself "Did I like that movie more than I thought?".

Take a look in Variety today for a nice article about the booming market for "Cars" and how it's not just continuing... it's really in demand:

"While many refuse to rank "Cars" as Pixar maven John Lasseter's finest two hours, its merchandising campaign has become a global phenomenon. A year after the motion picture release, a sojourn to a local Toys R Us will reveal collectors -- boys to men -- on the prowl for the new shipment of Mattel-made die-cast miniatures, with the movie's extensive ensemble of characters yielding an endless array of product iterations (Dinaco Blue Chick Hicks, anyone?)."

It's kind of shocked the experts and perhaps Wall Street will now take a second look at this:

"Do you think anybody knew it would have these kinds of continual legs? No way," says the merchandising topper for a rival studio. "I've just been impressed. It's doing this without anything supporting it in the marketplace."

Over a year after the movie was out in theaters, "Cars" is expected to pull in 2 billion dollars for the Mouse this year... that's "Winnie the Pooh" sized numbers there people. Uncle John appears to be having the last laugh on those critics lamenting the disappointment that "Cars" was for Disney.

Money talks and those Wall Street critics are speechless... or perhaps they'll act like Mater and say: "Dat gumb!"

[k_peek_2000]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

Complaining already about a park expansion being too big?????? My god.

[Pressler69]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

Complaining already about a park expansion being too big?????? My god.

What is the proper time to let pass before commenting on the size of the expansion?

[symbolic]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

MASTERGRACEY is the correct, DCA revamp is majorly flawed. But it wont stop me from hittin the park either. lets just face facts, Walt Disney is dead, kinda like Elvis, we will never see his genius again, and all the people on this board that have actual insight to what his vision was, well WaltDisney Corp. would never hire you. They dont care. The dream is encapsulated at Disneyland so love that place to death, its the best and will always be the place.

[Anakin]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

The Walt Disney Company will NEVER hire me?

But, people say I'm such a people-pleaser. I never know my own worth. I follow any leader mindlessly.

Come on, now. Give me a chance. Check out this idea, Restroom FastPasses. "We'll wait in line, while you play and dine."

*These are my genuine thoughts, not directed at any specific person.

[symbolic]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

My only reason for saying what I said was that I believe that people on MiceChat have great ideas, and Disney is bogged down by corporate B.S. Thats all, not a stab at future imaginears!
Keep your dreams!

[Coheteboy]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

I'm one of the many that are addicted to the Cars toys. Best Pixar toys EVER!

[symbolic]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

Cars are great, and the movie rocked, but what did every one say about the Pirate invasion of last summer?? I'm pretty sure most people dont want a generic Pirate land in Disneyland, so to me an entire Carsland just seems absolutly bad. seems like a cop out, like gee we couldnt come up with anything original but hey, didnt we just do a movie about computerized nascar cars??? Yea thats the ticket we will just sell these suckers on this movie and they will forget what Disneyland is all about and eat it up. Well guess what, Disneyland was MADE on rides like POTC, HM, Matterhorn, IASW. So I fell very let down on the sell out that is Carsland, and I do like the movie in fact I love it, but I love Disneyland a million times more, and wish they could get back to their roots, and have some IP's, some freash awesome takes on what DCA could be. And yes some of my alltime faves are based on movies, but man am I sick of the obvious sell out quick fix.
Sorry for the spelling =)

[Coheteboy]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

I'd rather have "Radiator Springs" over "Cars Land".

[symbolic]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

I like the cars ride concept but why cant they take that concept and make a real mullhuland maddness? Or Race thru Malibu on the PCH, I mean their are a lot of IP's that could be put to good use using the same technolgy, like L.A. To Chinatown in 60 seconds, well I hope you get my idea, first off DCA needs to be imersive, it needs transportaion, my very first thoughts of DCA were, why in the hell does the monorail not go thru here??? And then there is no transportation what so ever, and no imersive themed E tickets, even though Adventureland has only 2 rides, it is so emersive that you just want to be there, not one place in DCA does that. I doubt that Carsland will do it. Look at NOS, one radical ride POTC, and they made a couple billion at the box office because of it. Just give us a place to feel like were somewhere amazing.

[Morrigoon]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

I don't mean to be a jerk, but I am so tired of "who agrees with me" type threads.

That being said, I kind of wonder at the idea of having an entire land dedicated to a single franchise. I mean, when Walt built Disneyland...

Oooh, random thought, I take back what I was about to say. Why? True Life Adventureland. So I stand corrected.

But anyway, entire lands based upon a single concept, rather than a category of concepts (eg: Fantasyland) is introducing a high likelihood of becoming problematic in terms of keeping the concept fresh.

It's the biggest mistake I see suits and imagineering make (since I'm not sure who's really responsible for it). Entire parks based on a single concept, which then requires too much explanation to understand the differences between areas of the park (MGM, anyone? DCA much?), and also entire lands based upon a single concept, with later attraction ideas having to be shoehorned in.

If Disneyland didn't have a Haunted Mansion already, and you asked current management to put one in - do you think they'd come up with New Orleans Square, or a Villains land? Into which land does the HM make your fantasies seem more realistic? Going with the obvious choice is not always a good idea. (In other words, while it would fit thematically into a villains land, once you have a haunted house, what else can such a land have?) Imagine, instead, a desert land (Radiator Springs, if you wanted to go with the name) into which other desert-related concepts would fit, rather than an entire land dedicated to vehicles, and into which nothing but vehicles within that "world" (the Cars universe) would fit.

Funny, this ties in with some studies we've been doing on branding. One of the experts on branding points out that successful brands are specific, not generic; and also that one of the quickest ways to kill a brand's name power is to dilute it by putting it everywhere. So by putting the "Cars" theme all over an entire land, you dilute its ability to be special, especially since it now has to spread out all of its "magic" and ability to delight over a wider area, with less magic per square foot of exposure.

But that's not to say I'm not happy with the plan in general. Any improvement to DCA is welcome, and even an entire land just for Cars will help (Bugs Land wasn't too shabby, right? A bit rushed in terms of ride quality, but the theming is abundant and well executed).

Perhaps that's the real issue at hand... Disney rides have to start looking like DISNEY rides again. Hide the machinery, don't water it down, and create fully immersive experiences, not just imagery slapped on the sides of plain surfaces masquerading as theming. (Prime example of this would be park trash cans, which seem to get plainer and plainer as time goes by, where once they were highly themed and either custom made (TSI tree stump cans) or highly detailed (Main Street white-grey-and red cans).

What most encourages me about the concept artwork is the level of detail. Yes, the Cars ride is obviously just a rehash of Test Track, and yes, I'd prefer something unique. But I prefer a rehash to the empty walkways we have now, so I'm willing to give it a shot. And the Little Mermaid attraction... is that an OMNIMOVER I see? I am extremely excited to see that. Omnimovers are terrific ride systems in that they load continuously and can allow many more guests through an attraction per hour. People-eaters are wonderful things. DL could use a few more, honestly.

I would, however, have liked to see a return of the CBJ. Not with the crap movie characters, but the good old fashioned AA Vaudevillian music show we had in Critter Country (see? Because Bear Country was too narrow!) before Pooh moved in with his psychedelic hallucination of a C-ticket. (and Disney, before you get any ideas, for God's sake please do NOT try to "modernize" it or make it "relevant". You already ruined Florida's Tiki with that dreck)

[lazyboy97O]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

The news on Carsland information is quite mixed. Mickey's ToonTown comes directly from "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" but was expanded. So wait for more details says I.

To say Radiator Springs Racers is just a rehash of Test Track is a bit ridiculous. The layout seems nothing like Test Track. If technology is the sole basis than Pirates of the Caribbean is a rehash of "it's a small world".

[Micoofy Duck]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

I don't mean to be a jerk, but I am so tired of "who agrees with me" type threads.

That being said, I kind of wonder at the idea of having an entire land dedicated to a single franchise. I mean, when Walt built Disneyland...

Oooh, random thought, I take back what I was about to say. Why? True Life Adventureland. So I stand corrected.

But anyway, entire lands based upon a single concept, rather than a category of concepts (eg: Fantasyland) is introducing a high likelihood of becoming problematic in terms of keeping the concept fresh.

It's the biggest mistake I see suits and imagineering make (since I'm not sure who's really responsible for it). Entire parks based on a single concept, which then requires too much explanation to understand the differences between areas of the park (MGM, anyone? DCA much?), and also entire lands based upon a single concept, with later attraction ideas having to be shoehorned in.

If Disneyland didn't have a Haunted Mansion already, and you asked current management to put one in - do you think they'd come up with New Orleans Square, or a Villains land? Into which land does the HM make your fantasies seem more realistic? Going with the obvious choice is not always a good idea. (In other words, while it would fit thematically into a villains land, once you have a haunted house, what else can such a land have?) Imagine, instead, a desert land (Radiator Springs, if you wanted to go with the name) into which other desert-related concepts would fit, rather than an entire land dedicated to vehicles, and into which nothing but vehicles within that "world" (the Cars universe) would fit.

Funny, this ties in with some studies we've been doing on branding. One of the experts on branding points out that successful brands are specific, not generic; and also that one of the quickest ways to kill a brand's name power is to dilute it by putting it everywhere. So by putting the "Cars" theme all over an entire land, you dilute its ability to be special, especially since it now has to spread out all of its "magic" and ability to delight over a wider area, with less magic per square foot of exposure.

But that's not to say I'm not happy with the plan in general. Any improvement to DCA is welcome, and even an entire land just for Cars will help (Bugs Land wasn't too shabby, right? A bit rushed in terms of ride quality, but the theming is abundant and well executed).

Perhaps that's the real issue at hand... Disney rides have to start looking like DISNEY rides again. Hide the machinery, don't water it down, and create fully immersive experiences, not just imagery slapped on the sides of plain surfaces masquerading as theming. (Prime example of this would be park trash cans, which seem to get plainer and plainer as time goes by, where once they were highly themed and either custom made (TSI tree stump cans) or highly detailed (Main Street white-grey-and red cans).

What most encourages me about the concept artwork is the level of detail. Yes, the Cars ride is obviously just a rehash of Test Track, and yes, I'd prefer something unique. But I prefer a rehash to the empty walkways we have now, so I'm willing to give it a shot. And the Little Mermaid attraction... is that an OMNIMOVER I see? I am extremely excited to see that. Omnimovers are terrific ride systems in that they load continuously and can allow many more guests through an attraction per hour. People-eaters are wonderful things. DL could use a few more, honestly.

I would, however, have liked to see a return of the CBJ. Not with the crap movie characters, but the good old fashioned AA Vaudevillian music show we had in Critter Country (see? Because Bear Country was too narrow!) before Pooh moved in with his psychedelic hallucination of a C-ticket. (and Disney, before you get any ideas, for God's sake please do NOT try to "modernize" it or make it "relevant". You already ruined Florida's Tiki with that dreck)

Oh please [about your first statement], you know how many threads I'M tired of... don't get me started. pssst, don't even get me started. [Roll my eyes]

They should really put the new Cars ride in the parking lot, with the cars. I think I'll never be happy with the Carsland thing. Never. Wasn't a fan of the movie and still not a fan of this devotion.

Why not wait for an Wall-E release and make something futuristic in DCA... Now that I would love to see.

People in general can talk about someone already complaining but someone had to do it first and I sure as heck won't be the last.

Now I'm praying that only Disneyland gets Cars stuff and it stays away from Disney World. Disneyland can have Cars.

[petesimac]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

Such an odd complaint. Common sense dictates that a large ride, i.e., the race track, requires more space than a smaller ride. At least 1/2 if not more of the Carsland space is taken up by the race track.

Duh.

Besides, how can you objectively measure how much space a certain attraction should take up? Base in on movie income? Base it on interest or popularity? How about basing it on how much space is required to make it a good attraction.

Duh.

"Change DCA, change DCA!" Such a common thread here; like a never ending drumbeat. Then they change it, spending over a billion dollars. What does Disney get in response: "You didn't change it right. Even though it hasn't even been completed yet, I know I'm going to hate it! Change it again!" Geesh! Some of you don't deserve anything.

[PragmaticIdealist]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

Real estate is certainly at a premium at D.C.A., so I agree with you that Disney won't be getting as much bang for its buck with an overly expansive Carsland. It seems like an inefficient use of land to me.

[lazyboy97O]

Re: Who Else Here Thinks CarsLand Is Getting Way Too Much Park Space? Raise Your Hand

If one were too look at the concept art, the official "Toy Story Mania!" is billed as "Toy Story MIDWAY MANIA". There is a lot of this and that regarding the boundaries of Paradise Pier. I think it is clear that the Press Releases were written by marketting and that what we are seeing now is not close to the whole story. Adventureland comes from the True Life Adventures series, but it not 100% focused on the series. There is no reason that Carsland cannot be inspired by Cars and still not be all about Cars.