Originally Posted By Sweeper As for how Poca fits in California theme...to quote a lesser character, "Don't know, don't care."
Originally Posted By Westsider TSI is in DESPERATE need of help. It's very ugly, ratty and worn out over there. It's embarassing that it's a part of Disneyland really. They drain the River next winter, do we get a TSI rehab then? I don't mean to sound negative, but the first thing I thought of when I read the blurb about Meeko in a new stage show in DCA was.... "Meeko is from Virginia." There was even a big stage show in Disneyland a few years ago that very clearly stated many times that they were in Virginia colony. John Smith and the boys even sang a song about it. Does anyone know when they will actually add something to DCA that is (you better sit down for this) themed to, um, California? Everything they have been doing to fix this Park has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO with the original theme of California. Let me guess... Meeko took the Santa Fe Super Chief to California for a vacation and now he's here in the Awhanee Camp Circle to tell us a story about his train ride? This info about an advanced AA Meeko sounds great, but why isn't it in Critter Country or Frontierland? Why not put it in the Festival Arena? I'm sorry if I sound negative or too critical, but if I'm not the only one who immediately thought "Meeko is from Virginia", then there may be a small problem. I'm not the smartest guy in the bunch either, so hardcore Disney and Pocohontas fans, along with anyone who ever took a history or geography class in High School, will probably notice this trans-continental inconsistency also. Tomorrowland is just a complete basket case. I won't believe, or get my hopes up, about anything ever happening there until the new stuff has been opened for two years and they have already retired the ride's inaugural attraction pin over at the Town Square pin cart. The person in charge of 1998's New Tomorrowland should be fired, simple as that. Fun update Fab! Thanks.
Originally Posted By jonvn "The person in charge of 1998's New Tomorrowland should be fired, simple as that." Yeah, he should. I kind of thought the same thing about the Meeko, but hey, whatever. They are building TOT, and that's themed to California.
Originally Posted By TP2000 I also read the Meeko thing and thought "How did a racoon from Virginia get to California?". There is a problem there. I can't wait to see this show and hear the chipper human actor or actress that accompanies these Character things give some 30 second spiel about how Meeko is visiting his relatives in the Redwoods or something. Or maybe they will just avoid the indelible folklore link Pocahontas has to Virginia and the mid-Atlantic region entirely? Put Meeko in surfer shorts and Ray-Bans? Bring Poca in on a pink jeep and she can talk about saving the coastal marine life and not flushing motor oil down the storm drains? Heck, get Poca some backup singers and she can sing "Do You Know The Way To San Jose". The baby boomers will like that number. It could work. Really.
Originally Posted By jonvn You know, maybe it will just be a nice kids thing for youngsters to enjoy. I think that, and that the AA figure is stand alone is kind of nice.
Originally Posted By tmonee11 <<<Did anyone notice what Marty said about the Bug rides, that they were making sure they would fit both children and adults?>>> This does not address the concern of a previous report that said adults could only ride WITH a child. Is this still the case, or will adults be able to ride without a child with them?
Originally Posted By Westsider I don't have a child. Am I not allowed on the Flik's Fantasy Fair rides? That's how it works on a lot of rides at Legoland. It would be a shame if they pulled the same stunt at DCA.
Originally Posted By woody There's also the issue of capacity. Would the Bug's Land rides handle lots of adults and kids riding separately? From the descriptions, adults might ride individually because the seats can't handle two adults on a bench seat.
Originally Posted By Britain Even though it was quite a tease of an article, it hit on several issues which I felt have been ignored, and the mere fact that they have acknowledged them warms my heart and gives me hope: 1. Walt didn't want to be stuck on that bench eating peanuts. He wanted to be with his kids on the rides. I'm very grateful this issue was specifically addressed for Bug's Land. 2. Tom and Tommorow. One a hidden embarassment, the other, an unavoidable one. Bring these two parts of Disneyland back to life and ...oh my gosh! I think the park will be better than ever! This will take a lot of work and time, but the issues are being addressed. Wonderful! 3. Innovative Fruits of Research and Development. This free-standing, mobile AA of Meeko. I don't care if Poca and Meeko are from Virginia. I've always figured they would have to stretch to get popular and fun themes to fit into California Adventure. The point is this is something new in terms of entertainment technology, and I whole-heartedly welcome it. There was the impression that since Test Track and Rocket Rods, Imagineering would avoid new technologies. It still appears that they are (as far as ride vehicals are concerned). I was also afraid that the era of spectacular AA-based attractions was over. But, if this is successful and practical, who knows what amazing things are on the horizon? Perhaps some of the 50th enhancements for Pirates, Mansion or (more likely given the four-legged development already completed for the tricertops) Jungle Cruise will incorporate these Independant AA's! To sum up, not too many specifics. But enough little insights to make me assured that SOME people at Disney know the current problems, and that they are addressing them.
Originally Posted By yatrim >>his Pocahontas show sounds really cool, but I have one question - how does this fit into California Adventure - Pocahontas took place in Virginia???<< Well, we could make it a stretch! I mean, the 'tale' of Pocohontas is all about California! glamourizing the Frontier and popularizing/justifying manifest destiny, of which California is is the Ultimate Symbol... and all that. And how California evolved to really become all these folk tales (Hollywood!) as a response.. ...Or maybe they just figure if there's a really cute meeko AA, everyone will forgive them.
Originally Posted By disneylandking <<The person in charge of 1998's New Tomorrowland should be fired, simple as that.>> Wow, fire Baxter, that's harsh!
Originally Posted By jonvn Didn't take long for this thread to turn into a bash fest. This bulletin board is becoming mostly a waste of time.
Originally Posted By leemac Wow! Love that racoon...the best thing in that movie by far. I remember the horrendous queues that used to accompany the Poca show in the summer and how Meeko used to walk the lines for hours it seemed....and with all that fur!! The indy AA is interesting. The last I heard was that the power drain on the test models was so high that it was virtually impossible for them to use them effectively. I wonder if they have developed a new battery that will last longer (cue the Energiser tie-in!)? Maybe he will still be corded. Only sad thing is that the existing show is going then I presume. Even as a so-called fully grown and mature adult (yeah right) I found the Chip n Dale show to be really cute and the kids loved the interaction with the characters. Can you imagine the crowds if this Meeko is a real techo-geek dream come true? Wow, that theater will be swamped! Glad to see the Tomorrowland issue is being addressed. I'd rather see the cash go there than on Ton Sawyer Island........maybe Rocket Rods v2.0 is on its way...yippee, count me first in line.....(ducks to avoid the backlash).
Originally Posted By plpeters70 I'm sorry, but I don't think it's bashing at all to point out that Pocahontas has nothing to do with California at all. Does the show sound great - YES, but that doesn't mean it should be in DCA. Disney chose to theme the park to California - and in doing that they need to stick to that theme, or drop it all together. Jonvn, it's the same as your complaints about Pooh going into Critter Country - wrong theme for that area of the park. I think the problem they are running into with DCA is that they can't play the synergy game with most of the park. They want to put characters and movie-related rides and shows into the park, but they really don't have many that have a California theme to them, so they are just ignoring that and putting them in anyway - ie. Bug's Land and Pocahontas. They probably feel that they need to put something that people recognize and want to bring their kids too, and I can't blame them for that. But I can blame them for being short-sited and choosing a theme that restricts them in so many ways. Yes, they could add a lot of attractions based solely on the California theme, but then they couldn't tie them in with new movies, and people wouldn't instantly recognize them. So I have a feeling that, just like at Epcot's Future World, they are going to ignore theme and just add what they want.
Originally Posted By JimG Thanks for the latest update, Fab. Where the heck is the "new amphitheatre in Frontierland"? I last visited Disneyland in the latter half of 2001 but was not aware of this. Perhaps that is the latest appellation for the former Big Thunder Ranch/ Festival of Fools area? Thanks in advance. Keep those updates coming!
Originally Posted By damon63 >This does not address the concern of a previous report that said adults could only ride WITH a child. Is this still the case, or will adults be able to ride without a child with them?< Why would a grown person want to ride a kiddie ride?
Originally Posted By leemac <<running into with DCA is that they can't play the synergy game with most of the park. They want to put characters and movie-related rides and shows into the park, but they really don't have many that have a California theme to them, so they are just ignoring that and putting them in anyway - ie. Bug's Land and Pocahontas>> I would not include Bug's Town in that. The min-land fits perfectly into the Bountiful Valley Fam section. I don't remember there being any reference to a true location in the movie, so it could work anywhere. With the Poca theme, who's to say they will use any of the other characters from the movie? It might just be Meeko, and I see him fitting into any forest theme being just a fat ole 'coon, so the Redwood Creek Trail would be perfect for him. I cannot believe that that tiny theater is going to have elaborate all-singing all-dancing Poca show (God I hope not either.....)
