[Fun] A Good Old-Fashioned Imagineering Thread!

[Antonio Lopez]

With the park closures, and no new topics springing up, I though it would be fun to do another imagineering thread! Simple rules being:

1. It must be feasible and semi-reasonable to build at Disneyland or California Adventure.
2. They’re allowed to use IP’s but let’s face it, it’s more fun without
3. Use great detail to describe your vision!
(You can even employ use of Concept Art, but it’s not required)
and have fun! With us all stuck inside we have time to dream up our own ideas for the parks!

I’ll definitely be uploading my own ride idea soon, but I’d like to see other ideas as well!

also a fun story- in 2017, in the thread “Tell us your all-original ideas for new attractions, shops, and etc.” I came up with this idea of an outdoor sit down restaurant,

"The Bird's Paradise"- I had an idea to close up Aladin's Oasis. He will have a smaller meet and greet near the exit of Tarzan's tree house. Close up the Entrance to the oasis,(the one random Arabic building in what appears to be an american jungle outpost. Make the new entrance by using the balcony of the tiki room near the exit, but expand it all around the building. Beautify that area with totems, plants, and AA birds like inside.Clear off the old stage and the blcony are from the old oasis. Then, make a sit-down style restaurant in the space. The kitchen can be placed toward any side of the now sit-down restaurant. Decorate with torches, tikis, and AA birds, who do a mini show every 10 minutes. Possibly even extend the jungle river to the restaurant (not as wide) and put a fountain. A beautiful sit-down in the heart of the jungle

and about 2 years after the Tropical Hideaway opened. I’m just saying.... (that was a joke ).

[Spongeocto4]

Some time ago there was an idea of using the Country Bears AAs in Grizzly River Rapids, but as regular Bears. This gave me an idea:

The Country Bears River Tour at Grizzly Peak's Airfield.

The Country Bears return to DCA, and start 'a 360 musical river tour' of the scenic peaceful Grizzly Peak River. However, a (faux) leaky dam has caused an overrun of the river and causes rapids. During the ride guests past each 'musical act', which are detailed using pratical effects and projections, to give a different experience each time, no matter where you sit.

However the rapids have cause the acts to 'fall apart' from the river overrun(Band members are performing in floating barrels, fish are jumping out of the piano, Teddi Berra swing is spinning out of control before the final 'spin' drop). In the Ensemble finale, as the country music hits the 'high notes', the rafts go through the geyers and adds to the final number.

The music would be either be existing 'themed' country music or new original music written for the ride. And finally this ride, would allow the Country Bears to be introduced to the next generation of Disney fans and keep the tradition up!

[Antonio Lopez]

Some time ago there was an idea of using the Country Bears AAs in Grizzly River Rapids, but as regular Bears. This gave me an idea:

The Country Bears River Tour at Grizzly Peak's Airfield.

The Country Bears return to DCA, and start 'a 360 musical river tour' of the scenic peaceful Grizzly Peak River. However, a (faux) leaky dam has caused an overrun of the river and causes rapids. During the ride guests past each 'musical act', which are detailed using pratical effects and projections, to give a different experience each time, no matter where you sit.

However the rapids have cause the acts to 'fall apart' from the river overrun(Band members are performing in floating barrels, fish are jumping out of the piano, Teddi Berra swing is spinning out of control before the final 'spin' drop). In the Ensemble finale, as the country music hits the 'high notes', the rafts go through the geyers and adds to the final number.

The music would be either be existing 'themed' country music or new original music written for the ride. And finally this ride, would allow the Country Bears to be introduced to the next generation of Disney fans and keep the tradition up!

Just reading that idea made me so happy! I think that’s a really cool and cute idea!

[MrGoat]

I'm always wondering why Imagineering doesn't go underground to make space for more rides. Anybody have any ideas/know any reasons for that? I mean, they obviously dig down a bit for some rides (POTC, HM, Little Mermaid, etc). And doesn't the Indy queue go under the RR tracks?

Anyway, I keep thinking about a Princess and the Frog boat-based dark ride/minor thrill ride (ala Splash Mountain), in NOS. I think I'd start the queue by entering the LeBouf house, inside the berm, then an indoor queue leading under the berm, then going on into the swam, maybe through Tiana's neighborhood, as you approach the loading area. After that, a ride through the swamp, encountering Louis, the redneck fishermen (a thrill here?), then Ray and friends (another thrill as they show us the way to Mama Odie?), and finally Mama Odie and the transformation back to human as the rides re-enter the loading area.

Granted, I haven't really looked at maps to see if it could fit anywhere near there, but I think it would make a fun and thematically appropriate addition to the area

[Reef Pilot]

Transit Depot USA

DCA's Hollywoodland is a sad joke, especially the awful dead corner where Philharmagic, Monsters Inc., and Captain Marvel now live.

I propose leveling all those barely used, boring areas for a gigantic transportation depot complete with all the real life trappings of a terminal.

I'd re-route the Red Line Trolley into the Captain Marvel/Black Panther/Hangar thing as it's home station/repair barn which is plussed up with QR codes for scanning like Galaxy's Edge. The food truck & outdoor bar thing get moved inside & rethemed.

Next, the monorail would get a stop inside in the former Stage 17/Philharmagic buildings, which are joined into the massive Elias Terminal. Also, a cool character that's basically a monorail with a moustache and a raspy smokers voice named Juan Track has a meet & greet and Laugh Floor type show shoved in here.

Monsters Inc would get gutted for Wild Taxi Run, a whimsical, trackless fury that takes you on a rollicking journey from your home in Hyperion Village to the Transit Depot for departure to a cool vacation. (It gets themed seasonally for Xmastime & Summertime jaunts.)

The outdoor stage and phony facades are all replaced by a real gift shop and "information kiosk" that operates a scavenger hunt game. Award Wieners is renamed Travel Wieners.

[Spongeocto4]

I'm always wondering why Imagineering doesn't go underground to make space for more rides. Anybody have any ideas/know any reasons for that? I mean, they obviously dig down a bit for some rides (POTC, HM, Little Mermaid, etc). And doesn't the Indy queue go under the RR tracks?

....

Granted, I haven't really looked at maps to see if it could fit anywhere near there, but I think it would make a fun and thematically appropriate addition to the area

I think the reasons on the aversion to underground rides are that: California is Earthquake county and it's expensive to dig.

Regarding the ride. It does sounds nice. The big caveat is that NOS is a bit landlocked. Both Pirates and Haunted Mansion take up a huge chunk of the land. The only possible location would be the NOS Train Station, which might needed to be removed entirely. In a addition, a new overpass/underpass would need to be built to bypass the tracks. The backstage would have to be shifted, but a small dark ride could hypothetically fit.

[Antonio Lopez]

I think the reasons on the aversion to underground rides are that: California is Earthquake county and it's expensive to dig.

Regarding the ride. It does sounds nice. The big caveat is that NOS is a bit landlocked. Both Pirates and Haunted Mansion take up a huge chunk of the land. The only possible location would be the NOS Train Station, which might needed to be removed entirely. In a addition, a new overpass/underpass would need to be built to bypass the tracks. The backstage would have to be shifted, but a small dark ride could hypothetically fit.

Just went on Google Maps to look and yes! I think an underpass into a small New Orleans Neighborhood (Pictured)- albeit rather condensed- would fit in so well! The space is there!

[greenalfonzo]

I think the reasons on the aversion to underground rides are that: California is Earthquake county and it's expensive to dig.

Regarding the ride. It does sounds nice. The big caveat is that NOS is a bit landlocked. Both Pirates and Haunted Mansion take up a huge chunk of the land. The only possible location would be the NOS Train Station, which might needed to be removed entirely. In a addition, a new overpass/underpass would need to be built to bypass the tracks. The backstage would have to be shifted, but a small dark ride could hypothetically fit.

I've see the opportunity for a ride in that spot as well. You have both a large cooling/hvac building back there, along with a structure right behind the HM showbuilding.

My choice would be for a thrill ride based on the Rescuers, with the swamp speeder or dragonfly leaf vehicles, and the crocodiles, half-sunk riverboat, and pirate cave. Fits both NOS and CC perfectly.

[Antonio Lopez]

I think we all see that with the Runaway Railway coming to DL, all of ToonToown will receive a facelift to compliment the new ride. My suggestion...

Goofy’s Barnstormer 2.0

Yes a barnstormer attraction already exists, but with Disney mirroring ideas from one park to another, it’s not a stretch to see. However, my concept for the Barnstormer is much grander. It will occupy the space currently used by Gadgets Go, Donald’s Boat, Goofys House, and Chip And Dale Treehouse. The idea is to move Donald’s Boat to where Goofy’s house is (and hopefully making it more interesting too). Then, Building Goofy’s farm there. You start by boarding a rather sketchy looking plane. After going into a barn, with AA chickens, you burst through a crash doors roof and head down into a cave, and burst out a huge rabbits hole. You circle around the barn, and go into a huge seed dispensary (I think that’s what that is lol). After coming down, you fly on a track which covers the entrance, and go around the stables, past a water tower which sprays guests. After going into the second cave, it stops. Goofy would be talking to the guests the whole time through a walk-in talkie “duct taped” onto the cart. He’ll say your cart is stuck, and a small compartment opens up with buttons, levers and keys. After a few seconds of him yelling to push the buttons and flip switches, you zoom out again and head back to the stables. This would make that rode worth going down, and would bring more guests to that part of the park. I also think, if Disney was willing, they could expand slightly into the Galaxies Edge expansion pad to make the whole ride larger and more open, also having an interactive queue through Goofy’s Farmhouse. (some doodles and rough drawings down below)

[ThatGuyTGFF]

Can i do magic kingdom at wdw, since to my knowledge there is not a active thread equivalent to this one?

[Antonio Lopez]

Can i do magic kingdom at wdw, since to my knowledge there is not a active thread equivalent to this one?

I don’t believe there’s anything against you doing that, to my knowledge, so dream away!

[ThatGuyTGFF]

I have an idea to build a land behind Frontierland in the magic kingdom, located in the spot behind the railroad. It would be called discovery bay, and would be a parallel to the futuristic Tomorrowland on the other side of the park.
I don’t have any concept art yet, but I will soon. I also at working on a wall-e trackless dark ride to replace the space occupied by the carousel of progress and the galaxy palace theater. Don’t worry, I will move the Cop to a new location, where the speedway currently sits.

[BillFraser29]

When walking from the NOS area towards Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, just past the loading area for Mark Twain Riverboat, there is a good sized tree lined area. What if we turn that area into seating for F! You can move center stage for F! to in front of the new seating area. It would provide dedicated seating for F! while maintaining the ambiance on the Rivers of America, while helping relax the choke-point that NOS turns into before, during, and after F!

[MRaymond]

Everyone wants to rip out the submarine attraction but it is a perfect candidate for a facelift. First, get rid of the Nemo theme and replace it with something closer to the original. There is so much going on under the sea that is unknown, so we should be exploring the dark depths of the ocean, hydroponic farming communities or exploring a sunken ship that looks realistic (think Titanic imagery).
The tech that was created for Nemo could make the new theme look as realistic as possible, add movement or add some comic relief (like the sea monster used to).

One of the subs biggest issues is the loading time. How about a redesign of the sub itself? The simplest redesign is to take the folding seats out and replace them with seats similar to swiveling bar stools. This would allow the center column to be removed and create a center aisle. Advantage? Guests could enter from the front and exit out the rear, speeding load times. The driver would have to be relocated OR his seat would fold away during loading. This would also allow the driver to access the passengers quickly in an emergency.

A bigger redesign could be to replace the submarine with a newer one.
First, imagine if a bus could be underwater with forward facing seats and large windows on both sides instead of port holes. There wouldn’t be a need to duplicate the views on each side of the sub because people on the right could see out the left side.
Second, by having everyone facing forward, the center aisle would speed loading.
Third, move the conning tower forward so the driver isn’t in the way during loading, this would be similar to some research subs.

A final redesign would be to re-engineer the entire area. The main lagoon would stay but the waterfalls entrances would be sealed up. The exit waterfall would be moved closer into the lagoon and also sealed. This would leave the entire area, behind the waterfalls, dry. The remaining lagoon would stay and one of the old subs would be parked and redressed like a research sub waiting to launch. The new “submarine” ride is dry and behind the waterfalls.
If you’ve seen video of the sub ride at Tokyo Disney Sea, this ride will use the same tech but the subs would look like research subs with a large domed glass in front. Six people would be in each sub and the sub is ‘flying’ over realistic scenery. This ride could be a fantasy under the sea, OR a sub ride through a ancient shipwreck. The “deep water” area of the current sub is a large show building so the possibilities are endless.

[sbk1234]

The idea I’ve had for a few years dealt with a Tomorrowland attraction where you explored an alien planet.
This would be about where the Innoventions building is, and could utilize current backstage areas.
it would start off with you in the large mothership for the preshow, where you are briefed on your mission to explore the alien planet you’re approaching. The preshow could incorporate part of the line like Haunted Mansion, so you aren’t even aware that you’re still in line.
Before you get into smaller vehicles, something happens to your mothership, like being severely damaged in an unexpected ion storm, struck by a meteor, or some other such contrivance. Your mission now has changed from simply exploration to needing to find a necessary supply from the planet like an energy source or something to repair your mothership before its orbit decays and it crashed into the planet.
You would get into smaller “pod-type” vehicles ( Actually an omnimover) and would now take the actual ride-part of the attraction where you fly over and through the alien landscape of the planet, looking for the “red herring.” Along the way, there’s plenty of opportunities for seeing alien creatures, cities, and different types of dangers before finally retrieving the necessary item to save the ship.
for added suspense/excitement, of course there’s a tight time limit to accomplish the goal before everyone is doomed.
The attraction would feature many animatronics, and would not be any more of a thrill ride than Pirates of the Caribbean (which isn’t very restrictive ) so most everyone could ride, without worrying about health restrictions.

[MRaymond]

As a shift worker, I have time to think about stuff other than work, while at work. My vision of Disneyland has wasted my time, many times.
The attraction that needs changing is the return of the Carousel of Progress to Disneyland. The classic attraction at WDW uses this order:

Stage 1 - Preshow and Intro
Stage 2 - Act 1 - 1900s
Stage 3 - Act 2 - 1920s
Stage 4 - Act 3 - 1940s
Stage 5 - Act 4 - 21st century
Stage 6 – End and Exit

The updated (new) version at Disneyland will change to:

Stage 1 – Intro and shortened 1900s
Stage 2 - Act 1 - 1920s
Stage 3 - Act 2 - 1950s
Stage 4 - Act 3 - 1980s
Stage 5 - Act 4 – Near Future
Stage 6 – Epilogue and Exit upstairs

Like WDW, the outside queue will display a brief history of the attraction and display the layout of the theater and where to sit.

STAGE 1
As guests enter Stage 1 they will see the darkened 1900s stage and our host watching them enter. As the seating area darkens, the stage will light and our host will give them a shortened version of the original act of life in the 1900s.

STAGE 2
Identical to the original 1920s but he host should be aged so we know it’s the same guy, just 20 years older.

STAGE 3
This new act is set in the 1950s. Our host is now the son of the original host. WW2 has ushered in rapid leaps in technology, air travel, and automobiles. Steam trains are on the way out as diesel locomotives gain prominence but passenger trains are losing favor because of the new freeways (under construction). And don’t forget television. “And that Disney guy is building an amusement park in California. It’ll go bust.”

STAGE 4
This new act is set in the 1980s. The home computer is a new thing (put a Commodore 64 on the desk). The Space Shuttle has started flying on a regular basis. Everyone has a microwave oven. And Disco is booming.

STAGE 5
This act is similar to the last act of the original but not set so far into the future. It’s set only about 5 years into the future, so it will have to be constructed to allow for updates without a major overhaul. As an example of an act set in the near future, video walls are commonplace, the average home computer uses a large display that is fully 3D capable, voice activation of EVERYTHING is built into new homes (grandfather hates them and tries to trip them up). People don’t drive at all, they get into their electric vehicles and tell them where to go.

STAGE 6
Our host makes an appearance on the side of the stage telling how optimistic the future is but WE have to make it that way. He then directs us up a moving sidewalk to the second floor or points out the exits if you want to leave now. “Have a wonderful Disney Day and a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.”

SECOND FLOOR
The EPCOT model is long gone. What exists here is a small museum to past technologies mentioned in the show OR a display of future tech (this would have to be updated a LOT), OR a very large, fully animated, model of Disneyland. But this Disneyland is similar to the one at the Disney Family Museum, not an exact copy of the current park. And by fully animated I mean moving Skyway, Peoplemovers, Autopia cars, Mark Twain, DLRR, Big Thunder, etc. The narration played in this area would describe how technology has changed the park over time. (I would go as far to make Big Thunder into a hybrid of the MTTNW & BTMRR, just for fun).

[Spongeocto4]

MRaymond, that sounds like cool idea! I would shift the acts slightly to 'eras' vs decades. So in my opinion it should be:
Act 1-Turn of the Century/Early 1900s

Act 2- Age of the Baby Boomers/1950s-1960s

Act 3- Birth of the Internet & the new Millennium/1990s to early 2000s

Act 4- Future World 2055(Set 100 years after Disneyland opens)

[DisneySpaceAce]

I think it'd be cool if the ride tech used for Avatar: Flight of Passage at WDW was used for a Speeder-Bike attraction at Galaxy's Edge.

[sbk1234]

Another Tomorrowland idea I’ve toyed around with has been a remake of the People Mover. In this version, it would be combined with a dark ride. The ride would be seen as more of a tour of the living community of Tomorrowland. When going inside buildings, guests would see scenes of “actual” parts of the futuristic community, such as homes, gardens, offices, facto, schools, whatever, but all from a futuristic perspective. I see it more on the whimsical side, like from The Jetsons or something.
in addition to just being fun, restful, and different, this would help flesh out Tomorrowland as a living, breathing community. Something that I feel all the other lands have, but Tomorrowland does not.

[MRaymond]

I'm on a roll. I've already presented my vision for the Carousel of Progress and the Submarine Voyage. So her we go with THE AUTOPIA. My Autopia updates are simple but expensive.

1 - Go electric. A golf cart runs all day on a charge. The track can be electrified so it keeps the batteries peaked. When loading and unloading the cars would be on battery so a HOT rail could not be accidentally touched. On light rain days the cars would go completely on batteries. An alternative would be to give the cars inductive motors so the cars wouldn’t need a battery and could draw power right from the track.

2 - Electric cars are relatively silent so sound effects could be added to the vehicle to enhance the theme.

3 - With no engine exhaust, part of the track could go under cover or indoors if desired.

4 - Tracking and avoidance control software can be added to the system to keep things moving and/or keep kids from rear ending each other.

5 - With cars that have the potential to align themselves you could have them drive parallel to a moving sidewalk so they wouldn't have to stop to load and unload. Similar to the PM or GRR.

6 - Don't like the cars? Skirt them and soften the suspension so they look and drive like hover-cars.

Alternative Autopia Idea 1: This idea came from a comment to expand Fantasyland. Take the area that used to be Fantasyland Autopia (and isn’t over the Submarine Voyage) and cover it. The Autopia cars might need headlights but now they would be inside a show building. All kinds of things could be added to the ride. A Fantasyland expansion could be done on the second floor (or higher). The Monorail may need to be rerouted.

Alternative Autopia Idea 2: Here’s a wild idea and it’s a big, expensive, stretch: Integrate the Peoplemover track with the Autopia. Here’s the setup; remove the PM tracks except for the bases throughout TL and shorten the Autopia track to free up an area for something else. A new, elevated, track will be built on the existing PM bases. A new route can be created so it isn’t the full PM route but it should still go through a few buildings.
The scenario: Autonomous cars are the future. You still drive your car around your neighborhoods and local area, but instead of freeways we have autonomous expressways. ‘Junior’ drives the car around for a bit then the cars enter the elevated ‘expressway.’ On the expressway the car drives itself. The car takes a lap around TL then goes back to ground level, where Junior takes control again. While cool, the problem is that teenagers are morons and someone will jump out of a car while on the elevated track. A good restraint system will need to be installed.