Originally Posted By bayrr326 Why (For) Disney doesn't feel all that bad about missing out on the theme park rights to "Harry Potter" ? Jim Hill's back with even more answers to your Disney-related questions. This time around, Jim talks about why the Mouse was willing to abandon its negotiations with J.K. Rowling, what rethemed rides you can expect to find when you visit the "Wizarding World of Harry Potter," as well as what Disney's response to IOA's new addition might be. As you might expect, I got an awful lot of e-mail yesterday concerning that "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" project that Universal Studios just announced. That $500 million re-theming of the "Lost Continent" section of Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park. First up, Kurt G. wrote in to say: Boy, Disney is going to regret passing this one up ! Dear Kurt G. Actually, I don't honestly think that this is really the case here. You have to remember that Disney was trying to make a deal with J.K. Rowling back in late 2004 / early 2005. During those dark, depressing days when Steve Jobs & Michael Eisner were openly sniping at one another and it genuinely looked like WDFA & Pixar weren't going to renew their highly successful co-production pact. The rest is here- <a href="http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2007/06/01/why-for-today.aspx" target="_blank">http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/ jim_hill/archive/2007/06/01/why-for-today.aspx</a>
Originally Posted By bayrr326 Ah, the old Raging Spirits rumor returns. They will not put this ride in at MK. They would be idiots if they did. Raging Spirits/Indy is considered a horrible coaster and has crappy capacity. How they got OLC to put it in DisneySea is beyond me. I don't mind having a new coaster but for the love of god it better be a different one than the Raging Spirits/Indy ride. That would be a disaster. You know if they are going to build a new Pirates restaurant why don't they just build one. I know they have plans for HKDL to build Tortuga with a restaurant. I just don't see them converting Adventureland into Pirateland. That would be just awful. If they want to build a separate pirate are like Tortuga nest to POTC I think that would be great. Now if they would just get all those rehabs/upgrades done to HM, SM and JC that would be great. Then bring over HMH and IASWH and maybe MK would actually be an enjoyable park during the holidays. Thus ends my rant.
Originally Posted By brotherdave A pirate makeover sounds very underwhelming and, well...cheap! Another 'Band Aid' for the park. I'm not against them plussing POTC and it's surrounding area, but pleeeease DON'T let them add a Raging Spirits clone to the Magic Kingdom!!!! It's just a bad idea. If they do the pirate makeover to all of Adventureland, I'll be really depressed. Adventureland is one of my favorite areas in the Magic Kingdom, probably because it has some of the most immersive theming of the park (minus the Magic Carpets, that is). I LOVE the Swiss Family Treehouse, the Jungle Cruise, and the Tiki Room (I still prefer the original Tiki Room show, but even the current show is better than no Tiki Room!). Although a walk-thru Black Pearl sounds intriguing, I think I'd prefer to see a ride-able version on the Rivers of America similar to the Columbia at Disneyland. If they add a walk-thru Black Pearl, I'm afraid it will be just another playground for the kids. But, if they were to add it, couldn't they keep the Treehouse as part of that 'play area'? I just really hate to see the treehouse removed entirely. It is classic Disney! The only plus to this is the resurrection of the Adventureland Veranda eatery as a Pirate's tavern. That was my favorite counter service facility in the MK. Plus, it will be a welcome 'new' eating establishment. Personally, I'd rather see them focus on the largest parcel of prime real estate to develop, Pooh's Playground and beyond! THAT is where the next major attraction(s) should go!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I don't want to rip Jim Hill (well, yeah I do ... no, I don't ... yeah, I do ...) but just don't believe everything you read. His story isn't all wrong. But it's a jumble of mixed up pieces and half-truths that make the reader jump to a conclusion that just won't hold water. Yes. As I mentioned in the Harry Potter thread, there has been talk of rebranding (I HATE this TERM!) Adventureland into an all purpose PoC Land. And, yeah, everything he mentions was likely tossed around by Tom and his minions at some point. But that's as far as its gone. And some of it is pure absurd. Does anyone know how much it would cost to remove the Treehouse due to the infrastructure and tunnels in the area for example?
Originally Posted By kennect Spirit, Read your other post before reading Jim's article....Is it possible that maybe it is time that a new little land got squeezed into the MK? The talk of the Pirate expansion at HK seems like a perfect addition to it...But a redo of the original Adventureland seems so absurd...Regardless, I do think there is somewhat of a possibility Disney has to step up and counter the IOA news....
Originally Posted By jmuboy It could be very easy, and I could see Disney expanding the Carribean Plaza area (not sure if there is room beyond the tracks) and making a new POTC area. This part of the park would be PERFECT for a NOS Square stlye small theme area built around the POTC theme. I would love to see this idea come to life. from the Tiki room back toward Main Street could get a spruce up and remain "Adventureland" as we know it. As for the idea of turning all of "Adventureland" into a POTC land......totally against that idea.
Originally Posted By jmuboy lots of typos in the post above....sorry. I'm tired from a short night's sleep.
Originally Posted By Moderation Speaking as a Harry Potter fanatic, I think DL trying to build a theme park around the books would be a disaster. Traditional DL fans are going to hate it because it isn't disney, a large portion of HP fans are going to be disapointed in it no matter what is done becasue our regard for the books is so very high, the proportion of adults who follow/like HP is much lower than for Disney characters ( kids can buy a book, but do they decide where the family vacations? Well a few, but....), JKR isn't the easiest person to work with, and once the series is over, who's to say that the concept will have 'legs' with the general public- it's a static concept.
Originally Posted By Elderp I think the Magic Kingdom needs to kick out the "Managers" of the Tiki Room.
Originally Posted By smctopia I do because I caught him using pix from Walt Dated World and claiming they came from "Google Images" and want to make sure he doesn't pull that again. (He did apoligize though and changed the caption after I e-mailed him, see the Walt Dated World blog for more info.) Visit Walt Dated World <a href="http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com" target="_blank">http://waltdatedworld.bravepag es.com</a>
Originally Posted By DlandDug SMC-- how do we get to the blog? And the site is looking better all the time!
Originally Posted By BlueOhanaTerror >>>Who wastes their time reading Jim Hill?<<< His ex-wife? Moving on... How about a separate expansion, featuring a revisited Discovery Cove "hybridized" with a Pirates Theme? That could be pretty amazing.
Originally Posted By smctopia DlandDug: It is available on MySpace. There is a link to it on the front page of Walt Dated World. And thanks for your kind words. Check out the revamped Circle-Vision page that just went up tonight. Visit Walt Dated World <a href="http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com" target="_blank">http://waltdatedworld.bravepag es.com</a>
