Tomorrowland re-do?

[belloq87]

I'm kind of over the whole "replicate Oga's" template, honestly. Having to reserve time weeks/months out, only to then be crammed into tables with strangers (and perhaps even made to stand!) is just not that appealing, even if the thematic design is very high-end. If I'm jumping through hoops to get in, and then paying very inflated beverage prices, at least let me relax!

 

[HandsomePete]

I'm kind of over the whole "replicate Oga's" template, honestly. Having to reserve time weeks/months out, only to then be crammed into tables with strangers (and perhaps even made to stand!) is just not that appealing, even if the thematic design is very high-end. If I'm jumping through hoops to get in, and then paying very inflated beverage prices, at least let me relax!

Maybe the solution to not having to reserve a time weeks/months out is to build more bar/lounge capacity.

Combining threads here, but my hope is that they view the Villians Land investment as an MK-wide endeavor - over-indexing on ride capacity in the new land while scattering some of the incremental F&B or Merch capacity across the whole park. It’s something they’ve traditionally failed at staying focused on achieving across the Studios and then Epcot overhauls.

 

[Freak]

If there really is nothing else that can be done in venue, just bring back Alien Encounter.

C’mon guys, Ockham’s Razor!

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I'm kind of over the whole "replicate Oga's" template, honestly. Having to reserve time weeks/months out, only to then be crammed into tables with strangers (and perhaps even made to stand!) is just not that appealing, even if the thematic design is very high-end. If I'm jumping through hoops to get in, and then paying very inflated beverage prices, at least let me relax!

I agree, which is why this space is perfect for a bar due to its size. People love just "hanging out" in the parks, especially where beverages can be served as proved in just about every recent bar/lounge project (Nomad, Beak, Geo82, etc.)

Oga's is easily my least favorite bar, but something more akin to Nomad is fine by me.

Maybe the solution to not having to reserve a time weeks/months out is to build more bar/lounge capacity.

100% I know the purists will hate this concept, but I really think Disneyland should receive a large lounge that celebrates the park's history somewhere. Think of a giant lounge with different themes tied to each of the park's different sections. Maybe in Tomorrowland? All the locals/fans/APs would flock there. The non-fan/APs will have less people in the way. Win win.

I've said the same for Universal as well. How we don't have a proper bar themed to classic Universal films (and less popular ones) is beyond me. Imagine a room themed to Amity Island, a room with Doc Brown's experiments, etc.

Combining threads here, but my hope is that they view the Villians Land investment as an MK-wide endeavor - over-indexing on ride capacity in the new land while scattering some of the incremental F&B or Merch capacity across the whole park. It’s something they’ve traditionally failed at staying focused on achieving across the Studios and then Epcot overhauls.

This is currently happening with permits & projects starting. Permits were recently filed for an expansion of the Magic Kingdom side of the ferry boat landing. I hinted at a minor, yet important, project like snack kiosk improvements (like what UOR is doing) elsewhere in the park, and permits were just filed today.

Hollywood Studios is the park that desperately needs something of similar scale. With the loss of Muppets, it lacks an attraction that you can just walk up to and experience (One Man's Dream is unfortunately not pulling in anyone).

 

[Streetway Again]

Space Bar

Alcho Orbiter

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

I agree, which is why this space is perfect for a bar due to its size. People love just "hanging out" in the parks, especially where beverages can be served as proved in just about every recent bar/lounge project (Nomad, Beak, Geo82, etc.)

Oga's is easily my least favorite bar, but something more akin to Nomad is fine by me.

Since Villains is probably going to have something on the level of Oga's/Beak & Barrel, a more casual version of Geo 82 would be great in Tomorrowland and balance out the lounge offerings in the park down the line. Every land except Tomorrowland and Frontierland serves alcohol in some way at this point, so it's probably a matter of "when" not "if."

(also on that note, a saloon experience in Frontierland would be amazing)

 

[DOOMBOT]

If there really is nothing else that can be done in venue, just bring back Alien Encounter.

C’mon guys, Ockham’s Razor!

Alien Encounter just never fit Magic Kingdom in either of its' iterations. Even the friendlier Stitch version was just too generally frightening for being in such a major spot. It's one of the very first attractions most guests entering the Magic Kingdom will walk by. If it was in DHS, ... it'd have probably been removed in 2017 like everything else haha, but it would've fit the demographics far better there.

My thought has always been to adapt the space into a mini-show / Meet N' Greet, even if just for seasonal Not-So-Scary use like Disneyland does for their face-character villain performers. But I doubt we'll see anything like that. Until substantial rumors come along, I imagine this will continue to be a CM breakspace.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

(also on that note, a saloon experience in Frontierland would be amazing)

From what I've seen, The Diamond Horseshoe is being eyed for a renovation project tied to adding a bar/lounge there pending business results from Beak and Barrel. There is a serious initiative within the company to start maximizing existing spaces to improve capacity (and revenue obviously). A reversal of the previous policy to limit attendance for the sake of reducing operating costs.

Diamond Horseshoe and the Liberty Tree Tavern seem to be the only two restaurants that always have availability and signage out to promote walkups.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I’d ride CoP sometime in June if you enjoy the current version of the show.

 

[OrlLover]

I’d ride CoP sometime in June if you enjoy the current version of the show.

Announcement imminent for the refurb?

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Announcement imminent for the refurb?

That's how I read it, but unclear.

 

[belloq87]

They turned around RNRC Starring the Muppets in about ten weeks, which involved new AA installations. If Carousel of Progress closes starting in July, outside chance the new version might be ready for November (four solid months of work).

But I'm not counting on it! Would definitely be a bummer if Carousel and Horror Makeup (and JP River Adventure, which is already assured to not be ready) are all still down during my trip.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow: The Ever-Changing Carousel of Progress

For the last 60 years, the Carousel of Progress has served as a powerful reflection of optimism, innovation, and family over time.

disneyparksblog.com

 

[belloq87]

I think changing the entire attraction is a pretty big risk. I do not trust modern Disney to write the new scenes with the gentle charm of the original versions.

Also, WDW will no longer have its single attraction that Walt himself oversaw. It will literally not be "Walt Disney's" Carousel of Progress in any way now.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I trust the imagineering team behind this.

 

[Brian G.]

I think changing the entire attraction is a pretty big risk. I do not trust modern Disney to write the new scenes with the gentle charm of the original versions.

Also, WDW will no longer have its single attraction that Walt himself oversaw. It will literally not be "Walt Disney's" Carousel of Progress in any way now.

I’m just surprised CoP last this along. It’s been obsolete for about 20 years.

 

[Mad Dog]

We actually love CoP. It doesn't get much attendance but it's a very comfortable long attraction with nice air conditioning. Kind of a perfect hot afternoon attraction. I don't mind the upgrade, but I will mostly miss the early scenes of the attraction. They were nice glimpses into a past that we didn't live, or experience. What was dated though were the last two scenes that tried to be relevant but weren't really effective when they refurbed them. I'd rather Disney do subtle refurbs like this than close an attraction.

 

[kingmantis]

Compared to some of the other closures at Disney lately I'm actually pretty okay with a refresh of Carousel of Progress. Love it to death but it was only coasting on being a museum-piece at this point. Happy its not going away completely and I think Imagineering does a nice job with "love-letter" projects so I think there's enough fans on the team that the new scenes should work nicely.

I'm actually more concerned about the future scene than replacing the old scenes. I don't know how much "AI is the future" talk I can actually stomach if they go that route, and wouldn't be shocked if there's an exec or two behind-the-scenes pushing for it.

 

[belloq87]

I trust the imagineering team behind this.

What else have they worked on?

I’m just surprised CoP last this along. It’s been obsolete for about 20 years.

Ideally the last scene should have been updated every ten years.

WDW's management, however, has been too cheap to do that.

We actually love CoP. It doesn't get much attendance but it's a very comfortable long attraction with nice air conditioning. Kind of a perfect hot afternoon attraction. I don't mind the upgrade, but I will mostly miss the early scenes of the attraction. They were nice glimpses into a past that we didn't live, or experience. What was dated though were the last two scenes that tried to be relevant but weren't really effective when they refurbed them. I'd rather Disney do subtle refurbs like this than close an attraction.

I think the ideal fix would have been:
1900s
1940s
1980s
Near Future

That way you keep two classic scenes, and get two new scenes. You'd still have to get new voice actors (which is probably the really scary part of all of this, because you can't do better than the Jean Shepherd version in terms of the voices).

 

[Parkscope Joe]

What else have they worked on?

Carousel of Progress.