The January 17, 2020 opening of Rise of the Resistance can't come soon enough! All of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is an amazing accomplishment, but this new land within Walt's kingdom does need its star attraction to get folks to appreciate what the Disney Imagineers have accomplished. Cars Land wisely opened with its Radiator Springs Racers to critical and public acclaim. You can be sure the suits will not make the mistake of revealing a billion dollar expansion without its star attraction ever again.
Do they need an Intellectual Property to build such an amazing place? No. And here's the evidence. New Orleans Square and its E Ticket list of attractions is a high bar to surpass. The Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion in one land, fleshed out by the Disneyland Railroad, some terrific shops and entertainment, and a handful of wonderful places to eat. There's no pay-to-play attractions like Savi's Workshop. Just a whole list of one beautiful and accessible location after another. Sure, the land opened without Pirates, but that was a different era when marketing didn't rule the kingdom.
Imagineering produced some incredible concept art for this masterpiece. This one above by Herb Ryman is a piece designed exclusively for Disneyland Hotel.
Take a closer look at what's found here. You'll see a large amount of benches to encourage guests to sit and take in the scenery. The Mark Twain rounding the Rivers of America or the jazz musicians playing an upbeat rendition of When the Saints Go Marching In. Part of the area's charm lies in its ability to allow this rest and reflection, enjoying the gardens and fountains and the life of a simpler time and place. Visitors were encouraged to savor the whole experience. They didn't have to rush from one attraction to another to get their money's worth.
Walt Disney did what he did out of a love and respect for people. Making them a priority and always giving them more than they asked for, Walt knew this was the very best way to build a loyal following, generate a good public image, and yes, make money as a result. This man had his priorities straight- and his company made millions by never forgetting their roots and their purpose.
(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)
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