August 12, 2009

The Land Time (and Budget) Forgot

Right in the middle of Disney's D23 convention plans, I'd like to pose a question: What is to become of the original land of the future?

It's probably common knowledge that the long overdue Star Tours 2.0 is on its way to California's Disneyland, but it is anyone's guess what will happen to a land Walt loved. After the revision of that Star Wars attraction, what will come? Imagineers are tight lipped with leader Tony Baxter hopefully directing a crew from Imagineering to bring this land back to life.

As for right now, Tomorrowland at Walt's park is an unfortunate forced breeding of the old and new, the once cutting edge and the commercial, the fantasy inspired and the future invaded by animated hit movies. Space Mountain meets Finding Nemo meets Innoventions meets R2D2 meets an empty Peoplemover meets Buzz Lightyear. It's a misguided mess of epic proportions.

Yes, California Adventure is getting the budget and revamp it needs to move the park from a long time joke to something worthier of the Disney name. (Same can be said for Hong Kong Disneyland as well.) However, it is time for a real plan to come into clear view.
(Concept art copyright the Walt Disney Company)

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