Iran for world showcase?

Originally Posted By The Big Ragu

Whose bright idea was it to try and give us an Iranian pavillian? That is one of the strangest ideas that the Disney people have ever toyed with. What do you think?

 

Originally Posted By Goofyernmost

I don't know...seems like there could be a really exciting ride put there.

Ayatollah you that you'd like it. You will like it infidel.

 

Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom

The World Showcase would benefit more countires being represented. Although I would like to see the middle east represented, I'm not so sure Iran would be a favorable choice at this time. I'm glad that the folks at Disney considered Iran. But, my understanding was that Iran's consideration was back in the days of the Shah of Iran and not recently. Times have changed, things have changed. We are now a much more enlightened and informed world. Most people are very much aware that regardless of where you are in the middle east, it is a war zone.

 

Originally Posted By WilliamK99

Disney could turn it into a nightly show when the U.S. pavilion invades the Iran pavilion, plenty of fun for everyone.

 

Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom

Too funny WilliamK99!

The bigger question here is if Iran would now consider having a pavallion in the World Showcase area of EPCOT. I'm thinking "no".

 

Originally Posted By Autopia Deb

A pavilion for Iran wouldn't work well for two reasons... no beer and no BACON. Booze and pork, booze and pork, wait throw in some donuts and you get the Homer Simpson pavilion.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

The world cries out for Ahmad's Flying Donuts!!

 

Originally Posted By MrDisneyGeek

my understanding was that the Iran pavilion was planned before the revolution in '79

 

Originally Posted By disney pete

Who even started that rumour ?

 

Originally Posted By Manfried

Under the guise of "it's a small world" we should get Iran and Israel to put pavilions into World Showcase...and locate them right next to each other.

 

Originally Posted By dagobert

>>>But, my understanding was that Iran's consideration was back in the days of the Shah of Iran and not recently.<<<

Didn't the Shah of Iran even visit Disneyland in Anaheim?

 

Originally Posted By mrkthompsn

I'd like to see Egypt and Saudi Arabia

 

Originally Posted By mrkthompsn

There was an Isreal planned.

 

Originally Posted By tashajilek

I would love to see a Egypt pavillion!

 

Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad

<<<Disney could turn it into a nightly show when the U.S. pavilion invades the Iran pavilion, plenty of fun for everyone>>>

This could be the new nightly fireworks show!

 

Originally Posted By Disneymom443

^^Haha, I would go and see that.^^

 

Originally Posted By The Big Ragu

"Didn't the Shah of Iran even visit Disneyland in Anaheim?"
but i think you are missing my point. you see its not america's relations with other countries or other countries politics and government that counts for showcase material. what counts is if the parkgoers find those countries interesting. and the best marker to guage interest is how many poeple want to see the sights of those countries. what does iran have that generates world interest. nothing really. and it had nothing in shaw's time
iotola's time and still in present day.

what was disney doing toying with the idea of an Iran pavillian. strange when you think about it.

 

Originally Posted By mrkthompsn

I do think that next country should be exclusively funded by Disney. They need to get off this the-host-nation-should-fund-the-pavillion nonsense. That made sense in 1981

 

Originally Posted By FerretAfros

I think it's a balance of finding funding, and picking countries that would be interesting to 'visit'. I doubt that many people would have picked Morocco off of a list of countries to include in the park, but it's one of my favorite pavilions. Sadly, most guests seem to bypass it, but it has a lot of really neat details that really transport you to another place. On the other hand, some of the big-name tourist countries have the most bland pavilions (I'm looking at you, Italy and Germany!)

While it would be nice to not need to wait on outside funding for a new country, I think it's also good to have someone there to supervise the design. Sadly, I really don't trust Disney right now to create a new country pavilion without having a ton of characters included. The El Rio/Gran Fiesta swap just proves my point, though I think that it was done relatively well (since you can completely miss the caracters if you skip the ride).

I fear that if Disney were to build a pavilion on its own, it would likely be something like "Greece - featuring the Magic of Disney's Hercules." While I'm fine with a small meet and greet of characters from each country, I don't want the entire pavilion based on a film franchise. Since Iger took the helm, this seems to be increasingly common, which makes me like that Disney needs outside funding for a new country. It keeps them accountable for what they're doing.

 

Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom

My understanding is that Disney management doesn't feel that compelled to put another asian themed pavilion in the World Showcase for right now expecially when there are other continents and areas of the world not represented.

As for WDW parks included Epcot inundated with Disney characters. I have no problem with that. They way I look at it I know many people around the world enjoy the Disney charatcers as much as I do. I don't think it is necessary but it certainly is entertaining.