Mermaid Lagoon for MK?

Originally Posted By FoxHound

Of course, Disney did announce the Little Mermaid dark ride for Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom as part of the "Disney Decade" in the early nineties. The material from Disney said it would be in Mickey's Starland---not sure where exactly. Sadly, most of the attractions that were announced never saw the light of day.

 

Originally Posted By oc_dean

Actually ... that was for Disneyland in Anaheim. Not WDW. It was 1989 when Eisner introduced "The Disney Decade" ideas with TL:2055, Young Indiana Jones stunt show, Dick Tracy Crimestoppers attraction in some "Hollywood Land" area, and of course - Little Mermaid attraction. ALL of which, never saw the light of day.

 

Originally Posted By oc_dean

As I'm thinking beyond just a TDS copy of the indoor Mermaid Lagoon in the same location of the old 20K footprint .....

Walt Disney World property is so huge .... with 20K gone ... this creates an opportunity to expand Fantasyland into the future .. by making it stretch further north to the railroad track, and even beyond.

Wasn't Leemac is brought up crowding issues in the "MK" park?

Just off Google Earth is an image from above: <a href="http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4208477&a=32103298&p=74828930" target="_blank">http://albums.photo.epson.com/
j/ViewPhoto?u=4208477&a=32103298&p=74828930</a>

Like Disneyland's Fantasyland ... there's a "promenade" that leads back to where 'it's a small world' is ... why can't an expanded Fantasyland create more space .. and still do TDS' version of Mermaid Lagoon .. ALONG with several other additions that help eleviate crowding.

Sure it's ambitious .. but that's why they should do it in piece meal over time.

 

Originally Posted By oc_dean

oich .. here I go again with the typos...

Wasn't IT Leemac WHO brought up crowding issues in the "MK" park?

-pardon me

 

Originally Posted By oc_dean

You all see how compacted Fantasyland is. But with 20K gone ... they can create a "promenade" that could end up actually doubling the size of the land. Even if they only did one ride at the tail north end ... the co. has the next 20-30 years to create whatever they dream up.

 

Originally Posted By irishfan

Reports are flying around all the WDW websites at the moment. I've read a report that states a major attraction will be announced in October for the 20k sight. It also suggests that Space will go down in Autumn 2007 and reopen Christmas 2008.

 

Originally Posted By TDLFAN

>>I'd love to see Disney try to build something that didn't involve speed or a movie, and with multiple AA's. I know that's a TALL order.<<

They already did. TDS' Sindbad ride. (at least not based on a Disney-produced movie)

>>I hope they don't insult TDS by installing an inferior ML in the MK.<<

I don't think anyone at TDS or OLC would be insulted by an inferior ML. Only WDW guests would be insulted, but hey.. they would not even know it. Likewise...the MK's Cinderellabration was the laughing stock of japanese Disney fan sites...so the joke is more on Disney and their patrons..

 

Originally Posted By brotherdave

I'm pretty sure the "Disney Decade" was also announced for Walt Disney World as well. I remember getting a handout of all the attractions listed when I visited EPCOT's Information Exchange in 1990. (I really wish I had that handout now!)

Anyway, from what I remember listed on there...

Disney/MGM Studios:

Dick Tracy's Crimestoppers
Hollywood Tower Hotel (Tower of Terror)
Maroon Studios at end of Sunset Blvd. (where Rock n' Roller Coaster is now)
- Roger Rabbit's Toontown Trolley simulator
- Baby Herman's Runaway Baby Buggy ride
Muppet Movie Ride

EPCOT Center:
Space Pavilion (to be built INSIDE the existing Horizons pavilion)
Switzerland, complete with Matterhorn Bobsleds

Magic Kingdom:
Splash Mountain (already under construction)
Little Mermaid Ride
Plecto's Galactic Revue (to replace Carousel of Progress)

Plus a few resorts which DID happen like the Wilderness Lodge and Yacht & Beach Clubs, I just wish I had the list in front of me now!!!!

 

Originally Posted By trekkeruss

<<They already did. TDS' Sindbad ride.>>

LOL. As if I didn't know that already. But as amazing as I think Sinbad is, I know Imagineering can do even better. I just want then to BRING IT ON!

 

Originally Posted By TDLFAN

>>I just wish I had the list in front of me now!!!!<<

Brotherdave, if my home wasn't a wreck at this moment, I would run down to my underground Disney Vault Archives and find the Eyes & Ears which announced the Disney Decade, but it would take me a little while to do that now.. However, one of the hotels that was mentioned back then was the Kingdom Suites, which was to be built in the grassy area between the Contemporary and the MK bus drop off terminal.
Also, there was supposed to be the Noah's Arch nightime show at MGM, and Andrew Llyod Webber was supposed to be composing the music for that.... Hmmm...

 

Originally Posted By leemac

<<I did. Nice Tarzan pic on the cover..but must he be so covered in cloths??>>

The Tony Baxter article is in the next issue which is about TDS at five.

 

Originally Posted By TDLFAN

Oooops!! Caught me! But I did see the Tarzan cover photo sitting on my Disney friend's coffee table.

 

Originally Posted By LindsayC

<LOL. As if I didn't know that already. But as amazing as I think Sinbad is, I know Imagineering can do even better. I just want then to BRING IT ON!>

And talking of the next issue of Tales - there is an interview article on this too! With some great photographs of the ride’s new addition...

 

Originally Posted By TDLFAN

I have to admit, that photographer is quite talented and handsome, right LindsayC?

 

Originally Posted By brotherdave

>>Brotherdave, if my home wasn't a wreck at this moment, I would run down to my underground Disney Vault Archives and find the Eyes & Ears which announced the Disney Decade, but it would take me a little while to do that now.. However, one of the hotels that was mentioned back then was the Kingdom Suites, which was to be built in the grassy area between the Contemporary and the MK bus drop off terminal.
Also, there was supposed to be the Noah's Arch nightime show at MGM, and Andrew Llyod Webber was supposed to be composing the music for that.... Hmmm...<<

Thanks, TDLFAN! I knew that there were other things on that list that I had forgotten about! Wasn't Noah's Ark going to be performed in Echo Lake? Or were they going to build a new venue for it (like Fantasmic) for it?

 

Originally Posted By FoxHound

Yes, The Little Mermaid ride was announced for WDW----I have an information packet from Walt Disney World listing the additions park by park. Others from this forum have mentioned some of the other attractions. They even announced years for the rides----The Muppet Movie ride, for example, was supposed to open in 1993. The packet also listed shows, including "One Man's Dream" and "Mouseketeer Music Blast." There were a lot of shows, rides, and hotels that just never materialized.

 

Originally Posted By leemac

<<Yes, The Little Mermaid ride was announced for WDW>>

To be crystal clear the Tony Baxter-conceived attraction on the upcoming DVD was for DLP/DL only. As far as I recall TLM attraction for WDW was never even in conceptual phase.

 

Originally Posted By Skellington88

hmmm what if John Lasseter greenlit Tony Baxter's Little Mermaid ride for Magic Kingdom? It would be something good.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

There were many things announced for WDW for the Disney Decade that didn't take place ... A Little Mermaid attraction was one of them. I don't know any more about it.

But it did include an elaborate Noah's Ark show for the Studios that never came to fruition.

The BoardWalk was supposed to have actual attractions (ala Paradise Pier) before timeshare became the focus for the area.

Some things almost saw construction. There were painted fences up announcing the Muppet Movie Ride and David Copperfield's restaurant/illusion club at the Studios for instance.

Other things like the two Roger Rabbit themed attractions and the Journey to the Center of the Earth attraction (a ride-thru via tram on the Backlot Tour) never even got to that stage. Although concept renderings of all were shown in the Walt Disney Story exit area in the late 80s/early 90s.

There was a new show for the CoP theater tossed around featuring aliens, Plectu's Intergalactic Revue. That was also supposed to wind up in Anaheim.

New resorts, for the most part, that were announced were built except for the Kingdom Suites and the Mediterranean Resort.

But there were MANY plans ... it was an exciting time to be a Disney fan. Unfortunately, Euro Disney opened to difficulty, Frank Wells died in an accident and after buying CapCities/ABC, Michael Eisner lost interest in the parks.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

And some version (have no idea whether they were the Baxter original idea for DLP) of Little Mermaid was also announced for HKDL and considered as quick fix for DCA's PP area.

If those weren't the original design, it would seem a waste of resources when there was an attraction completely designed. Not that WDI was/is ever wasteful ...