Originally Posted By FerretAfros I agree that the setting was clearly the Pacific Northwest (likely in Canada or Alaska), but it still seemed to fit the overall theme pretty well. Being from the east coast originally, it all kind of blends together to me, much like how many people can't tell the "big rectangle" states in the middle of the country apart. It's not quite right, but still seems like a much better fit than the urban/suburban/South American settings of Up. As for the BB DVDs being in the bargain bins, that may be true but the film managed to do well enough to qualify itself for a direct-to-DVD sequel. And I don't have a problem with Pixar additions because I simply don't like Pixar; in fact I really like most of the stuff they've done. I don't like how Pixar is being added simply because its Pixar. Nearly every Pixar film has representation in the parks, yet there is a huge number of traditionally animated films with nothing. Since Toy Story was released in 1995, how many Pixar additions were made permanent to the parks? And how many Disney-branded permanent additions? Here's a quick list off the top of my head: Pixar: Toy Story: Pizza Port restuarant at Studios in WDW Toy Story Playland at Studios in Paris and HKDL (includes 3 attractions) a bug's life: It's Tough to Be a Bug at DAK and DCA Flik's Fun Fair at DCA (with 5 attractions loosely themed to the film) Finding Nemo: Permanent stage show at DAK The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Epcot Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at DL Turtle Talk with Crush at DCA and TDS Crush's Coaster at the Studios in Paris Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters/Space Ranger Spin at all 5 MK-style parks Toy Story Midway Mania at DCA, WDW Studios and in-progress at TDS Toy Story Zoetrope at DCA Monsters Inc: Monsters Inc Mike and Sulley to the Rescue at DCA Monsters Inc Ride and Go Seek at TDL Cars: Luigi's Tire-something-or-another at Studios in Paris Carsland in DCA, including 3 attractions and large themed area Up: Overlay to Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in DCA Toy Story 3: Upgrades to Midway Mania Disney: Lion King: Circle of Life Film at The Land in Epcot Rafiki's Planet Watch in DAK Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management at MK (also includes Iago from Aladdin) Festival of the Lion King permanent show at DAK and HKDL Lilo and Stitch: Stitch's Great Escape in MK 'Turtle Talk' with Stitch at Studios in Paris and HKDL Stitch Tiki Room overlay at TDL Little Mermaid: Mermaid Lagoon at TDS (includes 8 attractions) Little Mermaid: Ariels Undersea Adventure at DCA and MK The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: Pooh's Hunny Hunt at TDL Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at DL, MK, and HKDL Tarzan: Tarzan's Treehouse at DL and HKDL Aladdin: Aladdin A Musical Spectacular permanent show at DCA Flying carpet spinner at MK, Studios in Paris, and TDS Magic Lamp Theater at TDS Royal Caravan carousel at TDS Tiki Room New Management at MK (shared with Lion King) Brother Bear: Challenge Trail overlay at DCA These don't include attractions, shows and parades that are a compillation of many films (like the Animation Building or WOC at DCA), but it seems like the numbers are about equal for the two lists. However, Disney has a much larger set of films to draw inspiration from (50 features, all with different characters except Rescuers/Down Under) compared to Pixar's 11 (or 9 if you group the Toy Story's). While they are high quality, it just seems like an overabundance in the park, relative to the material to draw from. Now, I think it would be really interesting (though maybe depressing) to consider a third list of attractions in this same period, without any character/film tie-ins. I think that's the root of the problem here, and Pixar just seems to embody it more clearly than the Disney-branded films.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "And at least those five kids in the picture are now in college and have completely forgotten they ever sat through that." Ouch. LOL. "There was plenty to criticize in early DCA, but that little show, which recalled the old DL Indian Village for me, wasn't one of them." I'm wondering how well received the Brother Bear show was, specifically in regard to the characters in the show. It's not like anyone besides a die-hard Disney geek knows much, if anything, about that movie.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 It would have been nice if they would have used Californian Indians pre-Brother Bear. We have plenty of stories that could have fit in. Instead of mid-West. Heck it could have been Yosemite themed with a proper Indian Village.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 "I'm wondering how well received the Brother Bear show was, specifically in regard to the characters in the show." I was referring to the show that preceded it, actually. As Dug said, it was well done.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Right, and my question is was Brother Bear more popular than the original show. I'm guessing that it wasn't.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo It was a while ago now (4 years) but when we went to the Brother Bear show, the place was full, and this was in Feb. It was ok.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt That figures though because by then the popularity of DCA was on the upswing. My point is that, like so many cool things that they hastily removed at DCA, they should have just let the original show stay until the park got its footing.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "The issue is how much Pixar is being used" Why? Aside from the Toy Story trilogy they are all pretty distinct movies. "and its not like Disney hasn't recently created a couple of well recieved movies. Yet I'm still waiting for that Princess and the Frog or Tangled ride to be announced. Those movies are too recent. And the Princess and the Frog was something of a disappointment at the box office. Tangled has a pretty elaborate meet-n-greet. I'd be willing to bet that Tangled is as much a candidate for a future attraction as any Pixar property is. "And I don't have a problem with Pixar additions because I simply don't like Pixar; in fact I really like most of the stuff they've done. I don't like how Pixar is being added simply because its Pixar." Is it? I'm assuming they're adding Pixar because Pixar has been amazingly successful. Who has ever had a run of movies like Pixar? "Nearly every Pixar film has representation in the parks, yet there is a huge number of traditionally animated films with nothing." Pixar is more contemporary. And far more popular. The answers all seem to come from a Pixar vs. Disney mindset.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Yep, I think it comes down to popularity. Every Pixar film has been a huge hit. Disney's other feature animation has been hit and miss, in terms of box office numbers at least. So it seems reasonable that they'd put the most effort into the most popular characters.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Tangled has a pretty elaborate meet-n-greet." And a featured float in the new parade.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Should be interesting to see the new Winnie the Pooh opening weekend up against final Harry Potter. Do they have odds for that in Vegas?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>So it seems reasonable that they'd put the most effort into the most popular characters.<< This mindset never made any sense to me. Yes, you have the immediate tie-in with the character/film franchise, but other than that, it has no effect on the potential for a quality attraction. I'm going to go back to the classic comparison that seems to get overused so often, but nobody knows of Mr Toad these days but the attraction is consistently highly rated. Everybody knows who Winnie the Pooh is, but the attraction is considered to be a stinker. if the character tie-in leads to a good attraction, then I really don't mind it. Indiana Jones is a perfect example of this, IMO. The concept of the ride was clearly inspired by parts of the films, and makes it more fun for people who have seen them, but it's still a great attraction either way. Then there are attractions like Toy Story Midway Mania, where the characters have literally nothing to do with the attraction itself. All of those games could have been created with any other set of characters (or heaven forbid, without characters at all!), but the Toy Story crew was chosen. While this choice doesn't necessarily make the attraction any worse, it really doesn't add a whole bunch to it either. It seems like the Pixar characters' representation in the parks are overwhelmingly this type of addition. Turtle Talk could have been done with any character, but it was a Pixar one; having it hosted by Crush makes the attraction no stronger, or fit in better with its surroundings, than any other character (just look at how easy it was to adapt to Stitch for HKDL and the Studios in Paris). With very few exceptions (Monsters Inc dark rides, It's Tough to Be a Bug, and Nemo stage show), the Pixar attractions are all like this. When the characters are applied appropriately, I really don't mind them too much. It just seems like the Pixar ones especially are being put in places that don't always have a clear connection to it. When used well, I think that characters can really strengthen an attraction. They also seem really unnecessary when used in most of their applications, like Midway Mania. It just seems like the majority of the times we see the Pixar crew, it's in the spots that could have gone to any characters (or no characters at all, but I've just about given up hope on that ever happening again).
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "This mindset never made any sense to me. Yes, you have the immediate tie-in with the character/film franchise, but other than that, it has no effect on the potential for a quality attraction." I think Disney looks at it the other way: the theme parks exist partially as an extension of their various franchises. I can think of no better example of this than Disney's foray into China with HKDL and Shanghai DL. These ventures are being specifically being developed to augment the company's growth strategy to introduce China's growing middle class consumers to the company's character brands through a network of parks, television, film and other media. I think it is unlikely that Disney would invest an attraction based on an unproven character like Mr. Toad or Darkwing Duck or Perry the Platypus today at any of its parks no matter how fabulous the ride was, including DL. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride may be a popular classic, but they also aren't selling 5,000 Mr. Toad trinkets a day in the gift shops or millions in advertising on the tube for a Mr. Toad television show. One of the reasons why I eased off of the “I hate so many characters in the parks” bandwagon is because a) there’s not much anyone can do about it and b) a lot of what they do that I don’t like pays for the stuff that I do like. All of that stupid Pirates merchandise that they sell all over the place puts money in the bank for things like WOC and Trader Sam’s. At least that’s how I like to think about it.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance "Should be interesting to see the new Winnie the Pooh opening weekend up against final Harry Potter. Do they have odds for that in Vegas?" Pooh's gonna get the stuffing kicked out of him.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance "One of the reasons why I eased off of the “I hate so many characters in the parks” bandwagon is because a) there’s not much anyone can do about it and b) a lot of what they do that I don’t like pays for the stuff that I do like. All of that stupid Pirates merchandise that they sell all over the place puts money in the bank for things like WOC and Trader Sam’s. At least that’s how I like to think about it. " I didn't have anything to do with it? ;0
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt CC I realized how pointless it is to keep complaining about something that is an integral part of the company's strategy for financial growth. It actually seems to be working, so whatever.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance In other words, I had everything to do with it. Gotcha. <):-< ^^^ That's the cowboy from The Village People.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "In other words, I had everything to do with it." I was getting on your nerves, wasn't I? Just admit it.
