Bob Chapek Was Right About This One Thing

For my money, it's Michael Eisner over Robert Iger, and it's Josh D'Amaro over Bob Iger, and D'Amaro definitely over Bob Chapek- with Walt Disney above all of them. But that doesn't mean that the short lived former Disney CEO everyone loves to hate got everything wrong. He didn't. In fact, I'd venture to say he got one thing very, very right.

When the mandate came down that Marvel absolutely had to go into Disney California Adventure, Chapek put the screws on. Whatever it was, it had to go in fast, under budget, and still be excellent. He had determined that the artists inside theme park attraction development took way too long to get it together and were next to reckless when it came to budget restraints. 

Imagineering's Joe Rohde was tasked with pulling off the transition of Twilight Zone Tower of Terror to Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout. Fans groused about the change, but it was coming like it or not. The result: Fans loved it! And to make things even better for the sharp pencil boys, the revised ride came in on time and under budget.

So here is where Chapek was right- Imagineering can in fact pull it off when it must. Perhaps, just perhaps, theme park fans won't have to see attractions based on beloved films come decades after their release. Maybe Imagineering can play the fast, under budget, and high quality game when they must. Maybe. I mean, a decade later, Guardians of the Galaxy remains the second most popular attraction in that park, right next to Radiator Springs Racers. Was Chapek right? In this case, yes, yes he was.

Days of Disney Past: Videopolis at Disneyland

On this day in 1985, Videopolis opened at Disneyland. When the new team of Michael Eisner and Frank Wells took over the leadership of the Walt Disney Company, job number one for the duo seemed to be "Make Disney cool again". The concept art here certainly worked!

This super high technology dance club was the most quick and easy addition of the new projects. It brought the crowds into a little used space in Fantasyland, but it was only the first move in a succession of big time hit attractions. Captain Eo starring Michael Jackson would open in 1986 and the first ever attraction based on Star Wars, the incredible Star Tours, would open in 1987. The next big splash was the fan favorite Splash Mountain. With almost one new attraction a year for the first four years, it seemed as if the gifts from the suits and the Imagineers would never slow down. But it did. The next big attraction was the Indiana Jones Adventure (and I was there opening weekend).

Will Disneyland see another season of heavy investment under Josh D'Amaro? Here's hoping! 
 

My Wish List: What I Want From Josh D’Amaro, Disney's New CEO

The man with the mega-watt smile and the infamous wardrobe is now CEO of the company we love and some of us love to hate. Fan of the parks and of Imagineering, "nice guy" Josh D'Amaro takes the helm of The Walt Disney Company today. An expanded Villains land aside, I'm not sure what he'll bring, but I know what I want. After giving the announcement some time to ruminate, here's my wish list as a theme park enthusiast.

Request: Return the Theme Parks and Resorts to Their Best Days

Reality Check: Josh will have much more on his plate than just theme parks and cruise lines. Still, this should be a priority as they are currently the biggest money makers for the company. This has nothing to do with the cast members and everything to do with providing real value for guests' hard earned dollars. Stop nickel and diming those who come to the properties for a relaxing, fun-filled vacation. Josh, you can pick and choose what changes, so think it through and take immediate action.

Recent Action Working Against Him: Do I really need to mention all the price increases??? If I do, this means the executives are even worse off than I thought when it comes to treating your paying customers as guests. 

Recipe for a Quick Win: Bring back some of the perks that have been taken away, and bring them back for free. In case the Company leaders have forgotten, that means at no additional charge to your customers already paying so much for a room at the resorts or for a park ticket. 

Bonus idea: Lower the cost of a character breakfast. Nothing says greed like this. Seeing Disney characters should be a perk of your park ticket and not an excuse to fleece the faithful flock. AND giving guests another choice or two for a quick service meal would help alleviate the frustration with the generally awful list of meals available at a fairly reasonable price.

Request: Let the Hard Core Disney Fans Know You're Listening

Reality Check: Josh has to listen to the Board and the investors as well. However, keeping the fans happy and keeping them coming back for more is something that just makes sense. It breeds long term success and not just short term gain.

Recent Action Working Against Him: Removing Rivers of America and taking the Muppets out and putting them back in where they do not belong.

Recipe for a Quick Win:  Two important steps here and one bonus idea. 1- Green light a new and exciting, thoroughly charming adventure with Figment and Dreamfinder. By doing this, Josh, you will instantly put lovers of the charming purple dragon and his mentor in a good mood and earn instant credibility with hard core Disney park fans (like me) that think the best Imagineering days are behind them. 2- Bite the bullet and give us a brand new Tomorrowland in Walt's park! It is a huge disgrace that original land of the future is a hollow shell of the great, big, beautiful 1967 version.  3- Follow it up by placing a version of Muppet*Vision 3D into the same courtyard as Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. It's all as easy as 1-2-3. I know, I know it's not, but you're the boss now, so make it happen.

Bonus idea: Bring back some of the entertainment that's been closed since pandemic times. You know, that big empty theater in Disney California Adventure? That'd be a good start.

Request: Encourage Imagineering to Tell Original Stories

Reality Check: Intellectual Property use will always be on the burner when it comes to theme park expansion and enhancements. Instead of bad films making poor choices for attractions, work the other direction and save a great concept for the park, then turn it into a film. Would this work? Hard to say. It's a gamble, but maybe it is one worth taking.

Recent Action Working Against Him: About every Pixar film in recent release. And some lackluster recent attractions. Want some help? Take a long, hard look at how the Company screwed up Tiana's Bayou Adventure and never let something like that happen again. Inviting in one of your greatest Imagineers, Tony Baxter, to coach the project team and then blow off his suggestions is a misfire if not an outright disgrace. The Princess and the Frog is a terrific film with incredible characters and great music! It should never have been wasted on such a poorly scripted plot for the attraction. Aside from the last scene, the entire execution feels off. Need more to consider as further evidence? How about dumping the original memorable trilogy film of Star Wars for something else for Galaxy's Edge? What was everyone thinking? Certainly, someone in the building had to say it to the team planning it all. Well, at least Disneyland is going to try to fix some of the mistakes. Do I need to talk about Avengers Campus?

Recipe for a Quick Win: None. Brainstorm, innovate, work at it until you get something very, very good. Can it be done? Walt did it. You probably can as well! By chance if the movie comes first, don't wait decades to come up with a park attraction built on it.

Notable and Quotable: Michael Eisner

“I'm not wild about the fact that it is so expensive now to go to Disneyland or Disney World.”

                 Michael Eisner, Former CEO of The Walt Disney Company

Neither are we, Michael. And this is only the beginning of what he has to say to Graham Bensinger of In Depth.  

Should we even care about what Eisner says? Yes, and incoming leader Josh D'Amaro should pat attention. Eisner's the man who brought a second golden age to Disney animation as well as theme parks. Think The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King. On the park/ themed entertainment side, he brought us Disney-MGM Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Pleasure Island and Euro Disney aka Disneyland Paris. This all includes Splash Mountain, Star Tours, and the Indiana Jones Adventure attractions among many others. (Yes, he brought us Disney California Adventure, but I'll forgive him for that, since he also brought Tokyo DisneySea!)

Watch this segment of the interview below:

25 Years of Disney California Adventure? Looking Back at a Disastrous Past

Disney California Adventure park celebrates 25 Years! I was there shortly after opening. By the time I had my first visit, I had seen the reviews and wasn't sure what the actual experience would be like. But how often do you get to go to a brand new Disney theme park? I had to see it with my own eyes. My very wonderful father in law had worked for Kodak, a longtime sponsor of Disneyland, so he wanted to take our family of six to the new park on his dime. Now fully retired, I didn't want him to waste his money, so I told him I would go check it out myself first. Then, if it was worth the cash, I'd happily let him follow through. Thankfully, he trusted my instincts. My youngest daughter who was almost 15 talked me into taking her. Off we went.

The original souvenir map.

I really wasn't expecting to be as shocked as I was. Could it really be as cheap looking as they say? Certainly, Disney CEO Michael Eisner wouldn't build something on par with Six Flags next to the original and perhaps greatest Magic Kingdom!

Opening the park guide map revealed
a small park with cheap carnival attractions and retread films from Walt Disney World.

The night before, I drove off to the Disneyland Resort as it was now known, to buy my ticket and grab a map. Then I could be getting right at the park's gate before opening. 

One of the most creative parts of the park.

 

Seeing the entrance to the park from the Esplanade, I wasn't sure I got what they were going for. Even if the tile work work beautifully done in places, a cheap knockoff of the Golden Gate Bridge just felt out of place. Going in for a closer look, I was even more confused.

Just inside the gates. 

Disney must have scored huge discounts on corrugated metal.

It was everywhere.

Peeking through the park gates, it just screamed fast and cheap. Very un-Disney. What had they done? This tacky area was the one the suits wanted to show as a preview of what the park would hold? Certainly, the suits had lost their minds. What exactly were they smoking in my Colorado mountains when they planned this park to replace of the originally planned Westcot?

I walked in and hoped for the best.

Yes sir, the stores along the Sunshine Plaza entry street looked "hip and trendy" and just like any other theme park- but not a Disney one. Corrugated steel sides, lots of very loud neon and not a bit of warmth and charm.  Clearly the targeted look was something that would appeal to teens going into Hot Topic. Limited audience at best. It had to get better than this, didn't it?

Unfortunately, what I found for myself was true to what I'd read. The park was a reuse of other Disney attractions from Florida, far too many films, and a heavy dose of pure and simple carnival rides. There were only three noteworthy attractions and a whole bunch of "What the Hell were they thinking?" additions. Certainly, the executives had lost their minds. Certainly, the Imagineering team was embarrassed by the end result, and most certainly, the suits were now taking their guests' loyalty for granted. 

Just ahead of the entry was the golden, gilded sun icon including a very nice fountain around it.  I thought the sculpture to be pleasant, but as the landmark icon for the new park, it fell flat.  

The California Zephr. I really did love this being in the park. 

The main drag was no Main Street U.S.A. It was diminutive at best and quickly led guests into an entry into the park's other areas. The surprise to be found was the rather elegant and old school California Zephyr train. It housed another store (naturally), but it also held a clever coffee shop where they roasted the beans on site. Giving the whole entry area a burnt smell that I found either very intriguing or rather distracting  depending on my mood. But I loved the train itself. I even think Walt Disney would have loved it being in the park. Of course, since this was California Adventure, guests couldn't ride it, they could only walk in and make a purchase.

Then president Paul Pressler filled the park with highly detailed shops that reflected his retail preferences. Restaurants were also well themed and even quite expensive. Somehow, the real stars- the attractions themselves- were bare bones and a secondary experience in his eyes. He'd forgotten exactly why guests went to Disney.

The first fully desert themed land in a Disney park.

Straight ahead was Condor Flats and the park's best and centerpiece attraction Soarin' Over California. 

A rather plain but fitting exterior.

As they say, the pickings were slim, but the attraction was (and may still be) the best in the park. At the time, it was the new park's only true "E" Ticket. The Imagineers selected the perfect scenery to represent California, and the ride mechanism couldn't fit the attraction any better. I have to admit I got a little misty eyed flying over the state I grew up in. Nostalgia of a different kind than Disney is normally known for. As far as Disneyland's younger sister park went, it was mostly downhill from there.

GRR, somedays brr...

Moving on and with it warming up a bit, I was ready for a ride on Grizzly River Run. With a beautiful setting, I was expecting another true headliner, but without the expected but never delivered Audio-Animatronics, it's a solid "D Ticket" at best. 

Still a Disney girl deep down.

Tons better than Animal Kingdom's Kali River Rapids, though. A more complete and lengthier experience. 

One of my favorite photographs of the park at opening.

This section of the park is one of its most beautiful areas. It also is the one with the views from the overpriced Grand Californian Resort. As a day visitor, there's still geysers, waterfalls, dense forests and hidden paths to explore.  We then headed into what looked like San Francisco. What a misfire and an insult to the very beautiful city it's supposed to represent.

What the small walkway led to is the worst land in any Disney park ever: "Paradise" Pier.

Was this Disney or did I stumble into some alternate universe?

Just as certainly as the suits had forgotten what a Disney park was all about, the Imagineers had to be sorely embarrassed by what they were allowed to build. Barry Braverman was over the project. The great Tim Delaney, who had done such incredible work for EuroDisney aka Disneyland Paris was put in charge of the new park's carnival themed land, so he had to make the best of a bad decision. Fortunately, the faux wooden coaster that defined the land, California Screamin', was a hit due to his great engineering. To make matters even worse, they were placed front and center to promote their work in Disney promotional pieces. 

New lows in Imagineering design!

There seemed to be a sale on vinyl as well.

What I found for myself was true to what I'd read. The park was a reuse of other Disney attractions from Florida, far too many films, and a heavy dose of pure and simple carnival rides. There were only three noteworthy attractions and a whole bunch of "What the Hell were they thinking?" additions. Certainly, the executives had lost their minds. Certainly, the Imagineering team was embarrassed by the end result, and most certainly, the suits were now taking their guests' loyalty for granted. 

Aside from a wide range of flat rides, there was a row of cheap looking carnival games and the park's greater thrill ride, California Screamin'. And what a great, smooth, coaster it is! It's not really unthemed because of where it is placed, but it did take me awhile to get used to everything being exposed. (For the record, the move to Incredicoaster was a downgrade in the overall experience.)

 

A "love letter" to California's farmers.

This structure is now in Paradise Gardens.

(This photo is from a later trip. 

Notice the new theming based on A Bug's Life

 and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in the background.)

We liked the look of Pacific Wharf, but we were surprised to find it really was just a well themed food court, albeit one with great food. A bakery and tortilla tour masquerading as attractions? Laughable. 

Tile representation of Northern California. 

Next up was The Golden State, the area of the park that was to most strongly represent the culture of California. The main attraction was Golden Dreams, a look at its history. This was another place where the budget for the park was cut, and it is very obvious to anyone paying attention. The presentation was originally to elements similar to the American Adventure at Epcot, but instead ended up being a glorified film. It wasn't a bad show, but without the Audio-Animatronics to ground it, the attraction certainly wasn't even close to repeatable. In addition, if you're not a fan of actress Whoopi Goldberg, you probably won't like she plays the main character. 

Nor will you like that Whoopi appears in not one but two attractions at California Adventure. Where? The Hollywood Pictures Backlot.

Retread films, a great animation pavilion, 

a strange stage show, and the worst attraction ever built.

 

Superstar Limo is the strangest attraction to ever be built at a Disney park. It represented everything wrong with California Adventure. Imagine running into Hollywood celebrities with distorted faces while you try to reach a premier where you end up being the star that is celebrated. Whoopi is there as is Tim Allen, Jackie Chan, Cher, Drew Carey and a long list of mainly B list types. It's snarky and full of industry inside jokes if you're part of the messed up Hollywood scene. Thankfully, the attraction was short-lived due to the fact it became the laughing stock of themed attractions as did the newest Disney park itself.

 

What did we see that we liked in this weird little park? Well, Eureka was truly a great parade. Puppets, performers on trampolines and roller skates and pogo sticks, made it a high energy presentation we really enjoyed. Almost Epcot like. Well almost. Only the oh-so-trendy theme song revealed what the park really wanted to be, and frankly, that was something that we just did not like. The Animation area was very well done, but a great mid-level attraction is not enough. I particularly enjoyed the Seasons of the Vine film. 

My daughter's assessment proved how well she understood the art of Imagineering: "It's like they forgot what made Disneyland great in the first place!" I could not have said it any better.

DCA 1.0 was a dinosaur soon to be extinct.

Dinosaur Jack's Glasses of Distinction, actually.

We left the park after about 4 hours, and even that included a leisurely lunch. We went to Guests Services to explain our disappointment in paying a full price for a cheapened experience. We were not expecting what happened next. Without us asking, we were offered tickets to Disneyland free of charge for the rest of the day. We jumped on it. I'd find out later this was the standard offer for other guests expressing their displeasure. 

We went home after visiting Disneyland, so thankful that the original and best Imagineers had designed the place under Walt's leadership. My father in law was glad I had him hold off, saving him time and money.

My daughter and I told our tales of California Adventure, but it led to a surprise: My ten year old son was now certain he had to visit the park!

WHAT??

 
What a difference a few days and a few years can make. 

As a ten year old boy, his thoughts on the park were vastly different. Very different likes and perspective than his sister. In fact, he loved the place. LOVED it.

We got there about a half hour before opening. At the time the gates opened, we were ready to go. Beginning our day with Soarin', it was a huge hit, and it still was with me. Then, time for a snack. Really, just coffee for me, and you can guess where we went. That beautiful little train was calling me. Next up was It's Tough to Be a Bug. Another hit. It seemed like it didn't fit the park in my mind, but for my son, it was just a fun film. No winery and no Seasons film because the thrills of Paradise Pier lured him in. On to the carnival! All the rides there were just taken in excitedly as part of the vibe. A huge serving of soft swirl ice cream was a must. The now long gone cement dinosaur was cool, very cool in fact. Even the quirky and cheap Mulholland Madness was something he loved. I still thought this part of the park was an ugly waste, but I didn't say so. He was having a great day already.

Grizzly River Run meant two rides in a row and one later that night. Riding in the evening is a whole different, much better experience. We spent some time at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, but we left as he was quickly bored. Lunch was darned good at the Lucky Fortune Cookery.  He even found the Tortilla factory fun. Who doesn't love fresh and hot little cakes of goodness?

From climbing the C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A letters at the front of the park gates, to getting drenched on Grizzly, to three rides on Screamin' in a row- the last one without me (thank God!) and just about all we did in between, it was very different experience with my son.  

Through his eyes, Eureka was a great parade. From flying cream pies in Muppets to more Bugs, each 3D film made him laugh. Superstar Limo, however, was not his favorite or even funny in his mind, proving even a ten year old can have good taste!

Pluto makes the day fun!

There it was! I had an enlightened thought. California Adventure was a "Ten Year Old Boy Park". He didn't want or care for great theming, layers of detail, or sophistication. He didn't miss the animatronics. He didn't miss the love put into designing the place. He just wanted to have fun. Although I could have just taken him to Knott's Berry Farm, I started to see the park through his eyes. My perspective on the park remained it was far from Disney's best work- perhaps its worst (that was until I saw Walt Disney Studios Paris for myself- but in spite of its shortcomings, we had a great time together. 

It was just what the suits were hoping would happen, but this didn't mean everyone would come. The numbers were dismal, and change was on the horizon even after a couple of high profile additions.

What do I think of the park 25 years later? The addition of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street are fantastic and worthy of the Imagineering name. Since that, the place has unfortunately gone back to its old ways.

I'm not all that interested now. As a theme park fan, I will keep tabs on the place, but it will not get my hard earned money. I haven't returned since 2018. My daughter returned once in 2011. The last group of family that went- including my son who visited when he was ten- all else first timers in 2022, decided the park was not worth the money and not at all close to Disney quality.

Will I go back soon? Only if Coco is great! Otherwise, not until Pandora shows up- and even then, I might delay a visit.
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Want more Disney California Adventure? Here you go!

Bargain Basement Imagineering - 1.0

Bargain Basement Imagineering  - 1.5

Bargain Basement Imagineering (or Back to the Drawing Boards)

Imagineering A New Dream- DCA  2.0 - The 2017 Announcement & Reimagining

California Adventure's Cool Retro Attraction Posters

20 Years of DCA: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Disney's Real California Adventure: The Challenge and the Reputation at Stake

Ten Years of Disney California Adventure

A California Adventure Christmas- and More Dirty Secrets of Disneyland 

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft. Concept art and maps copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

 

Beastly Kingdom Never Made It Off the Drawing Boards

The best laid plans of mice and men get put aside by budget restraints, an uncertain economy, and just plain old fear or greed. Such is the case with Beastly Kingdom, the once planned land for Disney's Animal Kingdom. When budgets had to be slashed due to cost overruns and the higher than expected money it took to take care of live animals, Michael Eisner decided to choose between building DinoLand U.S.A. or Beastly Kingdom. The dinosaurs won, and visitors had a chance to go back in time for a Countdown to Extinction. Multiple attractions were designed for Beastly Kingdom, but they fell by the wayside.

Disney's Animal Kingdom has a fascinating history! My multi-part series is among the most beloved articles on the Insights and Sounds blog. Take a look at Part One here. (And eight more parts afterwards. Part Nine is on the way!) It's full of concept art, photographs, and it's a combination trip report\/history of the park that you won't want to miss.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The Best Journey into Imagination Video I've Ever Seen

That most beloved attraction of all time at Epcot: The Original and Greatest Journey into Imagination. Imagineer Tony Baxter created the charming Figment and his pal Dreamfinder as guides for the most fantastic, magical attraction since the park's opening. Have you ever seen a video as great as the one below?

The first five minutes of the ride video are muted due to copyright issues, but after that, you get the full attraction experience. And it's just wonderful! If the above ever disappears, go here.

Thanks to Disney Dave for taking this way back when. Enjoy!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

No Laughing Matter: Introducing Disney’s California Adventure!

Do you remember this television ad? "Come to California Adventure! We have a Ferris wheel, lots of flat rides and spinners, and an entry area that brings you back to the malls from the 1970s and 1980s. Ignore that old school park across the way- Disneyland is outdated while we are hip and edgy with B List celebrities and Beach Boys music. So, come to Disney’s California Adventure where you can have the best of what Knott's Berry Farm has to offer- All at Disney's inflated prices." No, I don't remember it either, but it could have happened.  

Disney California Adventure has quite the history. It was the laughing stock of the theme park industry when it opened in 2001, especially compared to the jaw dropping beauty of Tokyo Disneysea which opened a few months later. Yet, Anaheim's second park looked like an absolute Imagineering masterpiece when placed up against the Walt Disney Studios Paris park. 

I was there opening year, and the park was an unmitigated disaster. It was so bad and so against everything Walt Disney stood for, that I walked out just a couple of hours later and asked for a refund. Instead, I took the offer to get into Disneyland for the rest of the day. I was not alone. Word of mouth spread quickly. The park built on the cheap by then CEO Michael Eisner was a disaster. The press had a field day.

The very ugly concept art for a very ugly park.

The quickly announced budget version of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror open in 2004, but it wasn't enough to bring in the crowds or give it an authentic Disney park feel. 

On October 17, 2007 new CEO Robert Iger announced a total redesign of the park and to thunderous response. It was a "brand withdrawal" in his words- not up to par with what a Disney park should be. 

The project took many years. It brought the amazing Cars Land and Radiator Springs Racers, the brand new entry Buena Vista Street, an evening show on the lagoon World of Color, and a new dark ride based on The Little Mermaid. When the last stage opened in 2012, the crowds responded favorably and attendance went way, way up.

To be honest, I've had zero desire to visit California Adventure since I've seen Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout.  Nothing they have added/subtracted at the park has been a draw. And frankly, more Marvel won't do it for me.

There's been many changes and additions since, some good, some bad, and some very bad.  A Bug's Land gave way to Avengers Campus, while Paradise Pier became Pixar Pier. the rustic and attraction free Pacific Wharf (bakery tour and sourdough bread exhibit aside) became Big Hero 6's San Fransokyo. You judge for yourself whether these were great moves or not.

The little park that was the step child in Anaheim has a fascinating story to tell- and when you look through the concept art, you can see it was all Bargain Basement Imagineering at its finest. (Worst?) 

Follow the full story by reading at the series below. Look at the tons of concept art and evaluate it all. You'll be shocked at the park's awful  design and beginning compared to what it is now. Will the D23 in August help the park go forward or backward? We shall see.

Bargain Basement Imagineering - 1.0

Bargain Basement Imagineering  - 1.5

Bargain Basement Imagineering (or Back to the Drawing Boards)

Imagineering A New Dream- DCA  2.0 - The 2017 Announcement & Reimagining

Various other articles on the park:

California Adventure's Cool Retro Attraction Posters

Our First Visit to California Adventure in 2001

20 Years of DCA: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Disney's Real California Adventure: The Challenge and the Reputation at Stake

Ten Years of Disney California Adventure

A California Adventure Christmas- and More Dirty Secrets of Disneyland 

Steps in Time: California Adventure's Grand Opening

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Figment Asks "Can They Imagine, too?"

Now that Imagineer Zach Riddley's EPCOT seems almost complete, like many fans of Figment, I'd make a hard to disprove case that the original EPCOT Center attraction Journey into Imagination is the most beloved Disney attraction created since Pirates of the Caribbean. Before that, I say the most beloved attraction title was given to Disneyland's opening day classic Peter Pan's Flight. I'll be very, very curious to see how the revisions to the second park at Walt Disney World bring in the crowds, ie. increased attendance or flattened. Are Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, The Journey of Water inspired by Moana and the new night time show Luminous enough?  Will all the changes enhance Epcot's reputation among guests too young to remember when it was great? If it doesn't succeed, the Imagineers can always come back to Figment as they always do when they need a boost in revue and fan excitement. Fans of the purple dragon and his friend Dreamfinder will lap it all up. This one included.  

(Photograph copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Walt Disney on the It's A Small World Construction Site

Walt Disney was certainly a visionary, but he was also very hands-on! When it came to building the Disneyland version of It's a Small World,  he relied on two of his most distinctive Imagineers to bring it all together: Mary Blair and Rolly Crump. Mary was chiefly responsible for the style and color palette of the interior, while Rolly contributed to the attractions iconic exterior. 

Walt directed the ship- and the park was better for it- but he also knew what it took to "sell" his projects. Not only did he get Pepsi to invest in the attractions creation when it came to the New York World's Fair, he got the rights to bring it home to Anaheim's Fantasyland, and his team brought in yet another sponsor there. Smart guy! In the photo above, he's shown with sponsor Bank of America's head honcho as the attraction's exterior was being completed. 

Walt was savvy! He wanted to best for his guests, and he creatively found ways to enhance the park. The focus on excellence resulted in happy investors in the company. It's certainly a strategy that paid off. Something that future CEO's did at times understand and sometimes not at all. Where would you rank the three most recent: Michael Eisner, Robert Iger, and Bob Chapek? I'd say it was most definitely a mixed bag. Truth is, there is still no one like Walt!

Imagineering Theme Park Wars: Michael Eisner vs. Robert Iger vs. Bob Chapek

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny may not be the biggest smash Disney and Lucas hoped for, but the company that Walt Disney loved just released a great looking new video of the classic Indiana Jones Adventure. If you're an Imagineering fan or a fan of Tony Baxter specifically, you know that this single attraction is one of the finest created under the incredible first-half leadership of Michael Eisner. 

When it comes to Imagineering success and the U.S. parks, Eisner was king for his first season. Robert Iger left them mostly to rot as he was busy buying up other intellectual properties like Pixar and Marvel. Chapek barely made a dent- thankfully.

The real Imagineering wars are taking place right now between Universal Creative and the Walt Disney Company. The upcoming Epic Universe will has the potential to take one more day from tourists visiting Disney with its stellar lineup of Super Mario Brothers land, How to Train Your Dragon, Classic Monsters, and of course, the next installment of the king of them all- Harry Potter and his incredible adventures.

 

Back to the last three Disney leaders-Aside from the groundbreaking Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, I'd put up any E Ticket attraction built under Michael Eisner's first half next to anything for the U.S. parks created under the Robert Iger or Bob Chapek regimes. Splash Mountain alone beats out much of the newer rides. So does Expedition: Everest or Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. 

What would you say?

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I have SO many posts on this blog regarding the excellent Indiana Jones Adventure- and I was there at Disneyland on opening weekend! You can find rare concept art and more. Happy exploring!

The Late Great Walt Disney Company 1923 - 2023

Greed, power plays, and a loss of great original content have killed The Walt Disney Company. But what a company it once was! From the creation of Mickey Mouse to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to modern classics like Tangled and Frozen, movie goers could count on consistently excellent films. The exceptions were few and far between, and even those such as Alice in Wonderland gained respect in the years following its initial release. 

Even the once wonderful Pixar has lost its way. What are we up to now, Toy Story 13? The acquisitions of Pixar, Lucasfilm, and Marvel may be wise business decisions, but the original imaginative and very compelling content from these companies has been traded in for movies designed to drive streaming subscriptions and merchandise sales - to the detriment of what made these franchises so beloved in the first place. Pixar used to be the modern pinnacle of creativity. Now, it's just another animated film company. Having "Marvel Fatigue" was something I never expected.

The theme parks are as crowded as ever, and the Company is right there to fleece the guests by demanding more money in order to have a full and satisfying park experience. Lightning Lane, Genie+, and its ilk exist to create a caste system of guests. Disney corporate can talk all they want about equity, but when it comes down to it, it's all about the bucks, and they are talking out of both sides of their mouth. 

It was once leaked that Disneyland research revealed guests felt they had a full day, a worth the money experience, if they got on nine or ten attractions. All you have to do is look at the vastly underdeveloped third (Disney's Hollywood Studios) and fourth (Disney's Animal Kingdom) parks at Walt Disney World to see the suits running the show are standing still behind this calculation. 

It's a very sad day when Tokyo Disney Resort- a company run by the Japanese- maintains higher quality show and more stellar attractions than the parks in the U.S.A.  (Today May 1 is the anniversary of the 1989 grand opening of Disney-MGM Studios. The largest post ever written on this blog looks at the park's history. Read it here.) It's an even sadder day when we see the Walt Disney Company kneeling before Mother China, a country known for vast human rights abuses, just to get a piece of the money pot via Shanghai Disneyland.

Disney Imagineering is hamstrung instead of released to create. The bungled Epcot revisioning tells the story clearly. Universal Creative is turning out better attractions more quickly. The coming Epic Universe will again show they can hold their own with the house Walt built... and guests can have a great theme park vacation without all the unnecessary pre-planning and add-ons that are required when visiting Walt Disney World. I'm not even mentioning the great resort hotels of all types for more than a third less than what you'll pay on Disney property.

Wherever you stand on the political spectrum, there are no winners when it comes to Disney getting involved. Robert Iger, Bob Chapek, and others like them think Disney fandom will get stronger when their choices divide their audience?! Foolish thinking at best. In house fighting is just as bad! Quit the showboating and get back to your original business. Give me the first ten Michael Eisner years any day.

So, Rest in Peace, Walt Disney Company. The one Walt Disney built is dead even if the name remains. I'll pick and choose where my dollars go instead of purchasing animated movie tickets for opening day, park memorabilia, and other experiences like the old days. And I'm not the only one.

A Plan For Epcot Borrowed By Universal Orlando Resort

What's this? A double ringed World Showcase at Epcot? Absolutely! The Disney Imagineers initially proposed this design so there would be room for the many, many countries that they had planned on adding. Check out all the concept art for Australia, Costa Rica, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Spain, Philippines, and more. The World Showcase Lagoon would be very large with the walking path around it enabling thousands of guests to comfortably explore each nation's pavilion. Look at Imagineer Harper Goff plans and drawings for a great buildout. And even more here. Much like the current additions to France, there were incredible plans to expand the Japan showcase. Check this out. Yes, this is the EPCOT Center as originally proposed. 

Forty years later and only two new additions to World Showcase? What a travesty! Only Norway and Morocco joined the initial line-up. But they had never planned to let the international section go stagnant for decades as it has. 

Certainly, the other half of the park, then known as Future World, had its share of great attractions. As the Imagineers proved early on, technology could not only be used for educational purposes, it could be entertaining as well. 

The Disney suits once had a real in-theme vision for this park. But we can't solely blame the likes of Robert Iger and Bob Chapek or even Michael Eisner for this change in direction. We are also the reason Epcot has changed. I make a strong case for this here.

One last interesting observation- If you turn this image upside down, it looks a lot like the site plan for Epic Universe, proving once again, good ideas never really die.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Bob Out, Bob In

Well my phone lit up last night when the news of Bob Chapek being replaced by Robert Iger was announced. Beyond a temporary jump in stock price, what will this bring? From a theme park lover perspective, what we need is a man with the interests and skills and vision of a first decade Michael Eisner. The same hold true for Disney's live action film division. 

I have less hope for Disney animation as they've been churning out good but not great features for years now- both Disney branded and Pixar. Marvel's not much better and Star Wars seems to struggle as well. Creativity is what fuels the company, but that's been lost. 

Elsewhere, Imagineering needs freedom to create and a huge boost in morale. But the old second generation pros are mostly gone, leaving a team that needs much work to excel. Will Walt Disney World begin to be magical again? It better do something with Epic Universe on the way.  Disneyland remains the heart and soul of the parks. Honestly, Shanghai Disneyland was a vanity project that's now biting them where it hurts. Epcot's a mess, and California Adventure is moving backwards.

Next year should prove very interesting.

 

Every Day is Earth Day at Disney's Animal Kingdom: 24 Years of Incredible Adventures, Missteps, and Surprises

Almost 25 years ago today on earth Day, Walt Disney World's fourth theme park, Disney's Animal Kingdom opened to the public. Long before Expedition Everest thrilled its first guests, Disney Imagineers under the leadership of Joe Rohde planned attractions to thrill, delight, amaze and scare guests- to keep them coming back year after year. Though not the colossal failure Disney would see a few years later with Disney California Adventure and the Walt Disney Studios Paris theme parks, the wild creature focused world was also not as well received as 2001's Tokyo Disneysea. 

My first visit to see Florida's fourth Disney park for myself resulted in the multi-part in-depth look at its creation and evolution. Part history, part trip report, and part image gallery, you'll find concept art, photos and more. Today, we go back to the beginning of one of my most popular blog series...

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Disney's Animal Kingdom: A True Life Adventure (Part One)

Earlier this year, Disney’s fourth and largest Florida theme park celebrated ten years of delighting, thrilling, or frustrating Walt Disney World guests. Plans for the future have yet to be made public, but let’s look back at the past, discuss the present, and speculate on the future of this wonderfully imagineered playground.

Why is there such a deep appreciation and an equal disdain for Disney’s Animal Kingdom? It stands distinctly different from the Mouse’s other playgrounds in the Sunshine State. For its fans, the combination of a brilliant and daring design, consistent theme, and faithful execution brings new and unique adventures and environments. Its detractors would counter there are too few attractions to hold their interest for an entire day. Both sides agree the park is a beauty to view. However dazzling this combination zoo, botanical garden, and theme park is to behold, there are also the intangible factors that draw us to it when we can look past the limited number of adventures: there is a deep emotional connection that comes from our love for nature and animals. It meets our desire to run away from the concrete jungles of modern day life and reality- if only for the day! The park is a unique entity among Disney’s theme park roster, one that will probably never be duplicated.

Beginning with Mickey himself, animals of all types and depictions continue to be a great and profitable fit with Disney. According to company lore, Walt’s well-known love for animals and exotic locales, evidenced by the inclusion of Adventureland at Disneyland, California, and his True-Life Adventure films formed the emotional heart of Animal Kingdom long before ground was ever broken. In reality, when discussion began about the creation of this park in 1989, it may have truly been a strictly business decision that brought it to fruition.

The Magic Kingdom was a concept unique to Disney, successfully capitalizing and expanding upon the reputation of its older sibling in California. The next park, EPCOT Center, conceptually different in Walt’s mind but with its execution clearly inspired by world’s fairs and corporate America trade shows, transformed Walt Disney World from a single day destination to one that could consume a traveler’s entire week. Disney-MGM Studios debuted and was the least original of the three parks, taking ideas from Universal Studios in California and Disneyland, including a new Main Street of a different era for its entrance plaza.

Michael Eisner, brilliant or be damned, was the driving force behind the creation of a nature focused park. Bringing a competitive, and some would say greedy, nature to the business, he guided the company into direct battle with his once friendly neighbors, desiring to capture all the time and money any visitor may have in Central Florida. Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park had just successfully launched to square off with the soon-to-come Universal Studios. Pleasure Island was Disney’s answer to Orlando’s popular Church Street Station, Typhoon Lagoon their response to Wet N Wild, and myriads of resort properties were added to the entire Disney complex to grab a large share of the hospitality industry’s bread and butter. Earlier in the decade, Epcot’s Living Seas pavilion took a swipe at Sea World, and now Disney’s Animal Kingdom was looking to take a large bite out of Busch Gardens popularity in nearby Tampa.

Continue reading Part One here.

Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven

Part Eight