[Fun] Walt for a day: Re-theming Splash Mountain and Environs.

[Jar.Jar.Abrams]

I've been giving this some thought over the past few days, and as somewhat sad Splash Mountain is going to be rethemed (I'm gonna miss listening to Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah floating down the lazy flume),but it's going to happen.

So, I thought, "What if I was Walt Disney for a day and I could revamp SM and Critter Country?"

This is what I came up with (some details need refining) and it is pretty much my elevator spiel.

First. I would not base it off any current Disney IP. I would demand of my Imagineers to be creative. Think outside the box. Do not have the idea of merchandise tie-ins. Create their own "IP", and they would have my 100% backing. Bean counters stay at home.

Since SM and CC are along the banks of "The Rivers of America" – pretty much representing the Mississippi River – what if we traveled "up river" a bit, from "New Orleans", and themed Memphis? I know some of you are thinking, "Really? Memphis? What, are you going to have a bunch of Elvis impersonators?" No. Stick with me. Memphis has a rich tradition of music, way before Elvis. I'm talking Blues. In fact there is a style of Blues called "Memphis Blues" (W. C. Handy, the "Father of the Blues", published the song "The Memphis Blues" in 1914).

Now, just as New Orleans Square is fashioned off the French Quarter, my "Memphis" would be fashioned after "Beale Street"– replete with rich Blues music, history, and food. Oh my Lord, the food! There could be a themed restaurant in the vein of the Blue Bayou and Golden Horseshoe, serving the cuisine of Memphis, while live musicians perform songs and music from the likes of Frank Stokes, Sleepy John Estes, Furry Lewis and Memphis Minnie.

As for the layout of the "Land". SM would be razed (I'll deal with that later on below). As you pass the Haunted Mansion, you enter "Beale Street". It would have displays of the history of the Blues, shops, and eateries. Main Street-esque if you will. For some of the buildings lining the riverbank, they would have patios extending over the water. The architecture would reflect mid to early 20th Century with bright colors and neon signs. The "area music" would be rich Blues and Jazz.

Without sounding like I am pandering, I do believe it would need to highlight the contributions of African Americans and milestones in Civil Rights (In 1889, NAACP co-founder Ida B. Wells was a co-owner and editor of an anti-segregationist paper called Free Speech based on Beale Street.)

This is where things get fuzzy and frankly, probably the most controversial. The "Attraction". What would it be? Well, some people would want another "thrill" ride. Others, like me, would prefer something along the lines of "The Pirates of the Caribbean" – some "thrill", but a lazy flume type ride.

What would be the theme? Well, that is where my Imagineers will have to do some of their "Imagineering" shi...stuff. But it could be a ride like a timeline of Memphis and the "Birth of the Blues", the contributions of the Chickasaw Indian tribe...(think of Spaceship Earth at EPCOT, but not so linier and slow). It could have a storyline similar to the movie "Coco" but with a blues theme. Who knows? An Imagineers vision is endless.

Anyway, that's all I can pull off the top of my head for now.

What do you think?
Where am I wrong?
Do you have any ideas?

I think this would be a fun "brain storming" task.

Thanks for your time.

[Laugh-O-Grams]

I think it's impossible, ridiculous and insane! I wish I'd thought of it first.

+100

[stovk]

I believe that's how Imagineering used to work.

1. Think of the "Land" the Attraction will fit.
2. Think of likely themes that would fit in that "Land".
3. Brainstorm those ideas.
4. Sketch-up some concepts.
5. Get approval.
6. Build prototypes.
7. Get final sign off.
8. Construction starts.
9. Marketing under-promises.
10. Attraction opens and WDI over-delivers.
11. Guests are amazed.

Now it's:

1. Corporate wants to push IP "X"
2. Consumer Products/Merchandising starts working on products.
3. WDI is informed by Corporate their budget is "Y".
4. WDI is informed by Corporate what the theme will be.
5. Marketing starts promoting the "New Attraction"
6. WDI is informed what the Concept will be.
7. WDI is micro-managed by Corporate every step of the way.
8. Construction starts.
9. WDI is informed by Corporate that some attractions eliminated/changed.
10. Opening date is delayed.
11. Marketing goes into hyper-promotional phase.
12. Attraction opens to tepid reception.
13. Park is flooded with new Attraction merchandise.
14. Corporate blames WDI for Attraction not meeting expectations.

(Sorry, didn't mean to derail your thread.)

[Mr Wiggins]

I believe that's how Imagineering used to work.

1. Think of the "Land" the Attraction will fit.
2. Think of likely themes that would fit in that "Land".
3. Brainstorm those ideas.
4. Sketch-up some concepts.
5. Get approval.
6. Build prototypes.
7. Get final sign off.
8. Construction starts.
9. Marketing under-promises.
10. Attraction opens and WDI over-delivers.
11. Guests are amazed.

Now it's:

1. Corporate wants to push IP "X"
2. Consumer Products/Merchandising starts working on products.
3. WDI is informed by Corporate their budget is "Y".
4. WDI is informed by Corporate what the theme will be.
5. Marketing starts promoting the "New Attraction"
6. WDI is informed what the Concept will be.
7. WDI is micro-managed by Corporate every step of the way.
8. Construction starts.
9. WDI is informed by Corporate that some attractions eliminated/changed.
10. Opening date is delayed.
11. Marketing goes into hyper-promotional phase.
12. Attraction opens to tepid reception.
13. Park is flooded with new Attraction merchandise.
14. Corporate blames WDI for Attraction not meeting expectations.

ka-BINGO.

[Sun Bonnet]

I like your idea, Jar Jar. My mother was a Blues fan and she would have loved it, so that earns it extra points in my book. But since I can't go to DL for awhile, I've been dreaming up new Disney phone games to pass the time during pandemic instead. I am getting tired of Disney Emoji Blitz and want to play a Disney merge characters game instead. Can an imagineer make that game for me please?

[sbk1234]

Great idea. I agree that we need more attractions closer to Pirates of the Caribbean in tone, rather than thrill rides. There’s a reason such masterpieces as POTC and Haunted Mansion have lasted for more than 50 years!