Tomorrowland Makeover

[Moonliner]

I've heard there are plans for a Tomorrowland makeover in the works.

They are going to have to do some serious sh1t to keep up with the competition. The Harry Potter expansion (http://www.orlandoinformer.com/universal/harry-potter-expansion/) in Florida looks redonkulous.

[Stan4dSteph]

Star Wars is coming.

[cirquelover]

The teen enjoyed the star tours makeover this weekend. He was really bummed to not get a dole whip though, guess it is under renovations.

They were all hoping to see George Clooney on Monday, when they were filming in the park! They didn't.

[Moonliner]

Star Wars is coming.

I hope to one day Marvel at what they do in Tomorrowland.


(See what I did there?)

[Alex]

No, can you explain it to me?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Dude, that Harry Potter thing is EPIC.

[RStar]

I'm really wondering if Tomorrowland has overstayed it's welcome. When the park opened it was rare to see futuristic stuff, except in comics. The TV and movie contributions were pretty lame (but acceptible for the time). Through media we get so much of the future that it has become almost blasé. Don't get me wrong, I love futuristic Sci-Fi, and changing one of Walt's original lands is blasphamy, but can they keep it fresh and interesting? History says no. Is the future of Tomorrowland "Starwarsland"? Or "Spaceland"? "StarMarvelLand"? "Movieland"? :confused:

[innerSpaceman]

Paris' attempt to avoid the march of Tomorrowland-devastating time by making it Discoveryland themed to Steampunk was not a success to my mind. Neither is ignoring the Futuristic and going with a Sci-Fi(ish) movieland consisting of Buzz Lightyear and Star Wars, Star Wars, Star Wars.

Sure, "Tomorrowland" is not the Americana kick it once was in the '50's and '60's. I got news for ya: neither is Frontierland. But we still make due with whatever Americanic nostaglia that area brings, though the height of that is long, long gone. By that measure, Main Street, U.S.A. has nothing like the effect it once had when it was an actual memory for many visitors, instead of just another bit of time-period history.

So the passage of time affects nearly all of Disneyland's original lands ... yes, Tomorrowland most acutely of all. But Walt Disney's genius was picking timeless iconic adventures for his Park. Pirates. Haunted House. Jungle Expedition. He did the same with Tomorrowland and, imo, Disney would be wise to play on those Walt instincts with amazing updates to Walt's ideas. Because no matter how far in the future we get, it will remain exceedingly rare for people to venture where life support is needed (or impossible). I believe an amazing outer space attraction, an amazing under-sea attraction, and an amazing inner space attraction can STILL be exciting to modern audiences, and remain so for practically ever. And with Walt Disney's penchant for change and update, Tomorrowland could have been kept relevant AS Tomorrowland.

Le Sigh, Le Sigh, Le Sigh.

[Moonliner]

Which makes "Star Wars" a good choice because it is now a fixed point in time. Twenty years from now, mos eisely will still look like mos eisely, Vader will still look like Vader.

What I would have trouble with is a Star Wars themed land containing an Iron Man attraction or some generic type of futuristic theme that includes both.

Star Wars is big enough to take over Tomorrowland all by itself, save Marvel for a new park.

[RStar]

I agree with all of the above. And there is a purist in me that would hate to see Tommorrowland go, and the subs not return from the rehab, and the lagoon paved over. But a part of me likes the idea of paving over the lagoon and tearing out Innoventions to make a fantastic new E ticket in it's place. I'm not a huge fan of the subs, and I think they could make better use of the soundstage in DCA's Hollywoodland for the Marvel meet and greets.

I feel the 1998 makeover of Tommorrowland was a dismal failure. And I hope they can do better than steampunk (though I did kind of like Paris Tomorrowland a little). But staying ahead of "Tomorrow" is increasingly difficult as technology marches on at an exponentially quick pace, making the large investment in a makeover less appealing to Disney. So what is the fix? Anyone? Class??

[Moonliner]

But staying ahead of "Tomorrow" is increasingly difficult as technology marches on at an exponentially quick pace, making the large investment in a makeover less appealing to Disney. So what is the fix? Anyone? Class??

Like I said, theme it to original series Star Wars movies. Twenty Plus years from now it will still be Star Wars and still look cool just like Potterland over at Universal will also stand the test of time.

[RStar]

Like I said, theme it to original series Star Wars movies. Twenty Plus years from now it will still be Star Wars and still look cool just like Potterland over at Universal will also stand the test of time.

That's what Disney already has planned. But if all of Tomorrowland becomes Star Wars, is it still Tomorrowland? Won't it be Starwarsland instead? And what's "futuristic/tomorrow" about a place from a long, long time ago? Granted, Tomorrowland always had something about space travel (which was futuristic in the 1950s and 1960s) and Star Wars and even Buzz Lightyear fit that bill. And your comparing it to "Potterland" brings it back to my point, should it then be renamed if it is 80% Star Wars? I'd be real surprised if Disney would ever go that far though.

I do think it will look cool, and I'm all for it if they remove the rock outcroppings and put the Rocket Jets back on top of a building, opening up the bottlenecked entrance!

[alphabassettgrrl]

Because no matter how far in the future we get, it will remain exceedingly rare for people to venture where life support is needed (or impossible). I believe an amazing outer space attraction, an amazing under-sea attraction, and an amazing inner space attraction can STILL be exciting to modern audiences, and remain so for practically ever.

Yes! I agree, absolutely. Space travel, alien worlds, undersea creatures, giant octopi and squid, high seas adventures! Could be totally cool.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Walt himself was frustrated with Tomorrowland and instantly wanted to update it. The idea of multi-million dollar attractions that become outdated in 7 years is not sustainable. Tomorrowland's updates even in Walt's day were crazy expensive and didn't last long.

Wishing for a Tomorrowland that always stays fresh isn't going to make it a reality. The concept of Frontierland has been less than exciting for many years but at the very least it's a fixed point in time. Building Big Thunder was one of the smartest moves in the entire park history - a ride that fits the theme and is entertaining in perpetuity. Space Mountain comes close in that way, it just takes more updating (though one could argue they spend as much keeping Big Thunder's show elements going).

At the very least, they could truly commit to "Science/Fiction Land" instead of Tomorrowland. That way you can keep your Buzz and your Tours and do a Quantum Mechanics Inner Space Ride and a Black Hole attraction, and a hands-on science center...which I would love.

Oh wait, the Black Hole attraction I just pitched is already completely outdated. I think I'm going to sue Stephen Hawking for damages.

Anyway, as we all know, something has changed things drastically, and that is CARS LAND. Cars Land wasn't cheap, but it is Permanent with a Capital P, every bit as Permanent as a Star Wars Land, I'd wager. The popularity of the franchise is staggering.

We all want new things, we want big ideas, we want gambles. It would be nice if they did that. But who can blame them? They are sitting on a gold mine just waiting to be tapped.

The real battle now is - WILL THEY DO IT RIGHT?? Will they spend the money to make Star Wars land just as real as Radiator Springs is? I mean, seriously, I'm watching the Cars movie RIGHT NOW, and every time I do, it feels like a film of a place I HAVE BEEN TO. IT DESERVES ALL CAPS.

Build whatever you want, Disney. But build it right.

[RStar]

Sure, "Tomorrowland" is not the Americana kick it once was in the '50's and '60's. I got news for ya: neither is Frontierland. But we still make due with whatever Americanic nostaglia that area brings, though the height of that is long, long gone. By that measure, Main Street, U.S.A. has nothing like the effect it once had when it was an actual memory for many visitors, instead of just another bit of time-period history.
Was that really the idea for Main Street? To have people relive their past? It was never my past, and I felt it worked because it took me to another time and another place. It still is sucsessful in that repsect. Same with Frontierland (though, as you pointed out the Old West is no longer as popular as it once was), but the "Old West" is still the Old West, therefore valid. The problem with the future (and I know this has been beat to death already) is that it never quite reaches what we invision or comes to pass, therfore becomming invalid or old news.

I believe an amazing outer space attraction, an amazing under-sea attraction, and an amazing inner space attraction can STILL be exciting to modern audiences, and remain so for practically ever. I do agree, but are you saying they should bring back classic attractions with modern makeovers? This sounds like a good idea to me, and I know some of that has been kicked around at Disney, and have been done (Flying Saucers). But should they redo the subs? Back to the original idea, only with a more modern take (Loosing Nemo, anyone?)? I remember hearing of an idea of taking the subs to Atlantis, getting off the sub and loading onto a second ride system in a show building built next to the exsisting one. But I don't know if a ride with two loading points is even possible.

[Alex]

I pitched this idea the other day. The problem ultimately is tht Disneyland is too small.

They should find a giant tract of orchards out in Lancaster, go buy it. Build a new park, and then give this one back to Anaheim like the Navy leaving the Bay Area.

[innerSpaceman]

Pfft, they keep coming back around to Walt Stuff anyway. Close the subs, open the subs. Get rid of the Peoplemover, bring back some sort of peoplemover. Put the rocket jets on the ground, put them back up high where they"belong." Can you imagine how fast they'd get back to Pirates and dinosaurs and haunted houses and jungle expeditions if those attractions were somehow closed out of a desire to change the Park?

The only reason Disney doesn't go to the expense of keeping up the Tomorrowland in a park that charges nearly a hundred dollars a day to attend is that Mr. Disney is long dead.

[RStar]

I picture Walt walking down Main Street facing the castle, and at the hub turning his head to the left slightly, avoiding eye contact with Tomorrowland. Then heading straight over to Frontierland, his favorite land.

Come to think of it, I don't recall ever seeing a picture of him in Tomorrowland. I have seen pictures of him on Main Street a lot, Frontierland plenty, I think Fantasyland, but I can't think of a single piture of him in Tomorrowland.

[Alex]

http://icanhaspixiedust.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/waltdisneynixons.jpg

[Morrigoon]

Of course, it'd involve trains.

[RStar]

That's right, thanks Alex! I forgot about that one. I guess it's because it was up on the station platform rather than on the ground.

[BarTopDancer]

Which makes "Star Wars" a good choice because it is now a fixed point in time.
Well now I want a Doctor Who land.

[RStar]

Hey, good idea!

But if we get one, it would be in England. :(

But that would be a good reason to go!

[Ghoulish Delight]

It already exists, but not in this time and dimension.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Here's the bad news - you have to go to Cardiff (http://www.doctorwhoexperience.com/experience.php).

The good news is that from what I read it's awesome and immersive. Crap, they have kids' birthday parties there?? Not even fair.

[RStar]

Now I really want to go!!

[alphabassettgrrl]

I'd go to Cardiff.

Though this weekend, I'm going to Gallifrey. :)

[RStar]

Try to plan the timing well, or you'll be in for an explosive good time!

[3894]

Main Street, U.S.A. has nothing like the effect it once had when it was an actual memory for many visitors, instead of just another bit of time-period history.

For the guests from the Midwest, Main Street U.S.A. does still strike a chord. Here are photos from the Main Street (actual name) of my current (and soon to be former) town. This is not a remarkable town; there are thousands like it.
http://photos3.zillow.com/p_d/IS1vd66kgig3e77.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4WICLQ0ZJgY/Ttun71Zy7aI/AAAAAAAAAXg/1NNounqLoTc/s1600/Stevens%2BPoint%2BWI.jpg

http://avatars.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/20111205/src:images.bbonline.com/get/fullsize/2/0/9/4/6/0/2/dreamsofyesteryear.jpg