Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Absolutely, and if you imagine the undersea world recreated in the sub lagoon, that could have been awesome. Put in a people mover with dark ride elements that either take us on a journey through time ala Spaceship Earth or tablo from futuristic living. Mix in the non videogame elements of Innoventions and the House of the future with small scale wonders of science exhibits (like using peppers ghost effects for holophones). Mix in a high tech eatery where the serving systems are automated and food is delivered to your table via conveyer belt systems (kind of like in sushi bars, but straight to the table). Make the autopia hover cars. With a reasonable budget, they could reinvent tomorrowland and keep it to theme.
Originally Posted By Bellella Technically, the Matterhorn is part of Fantasyland. The underwater colony subs sound really cool, as a ride. The ocean certainly doesn't need any more pollution. Innoventions needs some serious updating, and Tomorrowland should be the first land in D-land to go all solar.
Originally Posted By Bellella And by the way, remember the Flying Saucer ride? It was way before my time, but I heard that it closed due to operating problems. I say we keep the Autopia cars on the ground, and just turn them electric.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo They are building a version of the flying saucers in cars land. Hover technology has come a long way, in the UK, Hovercraft are used as well as hydrofoils and ferries (not so much in the US though).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo And Tl cannot be all solar, there is not enough space for it to be tenable. It takes huge space to generate enough power.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Bob Gurr had an article here once in which he talked about the trouble the flying saucers had, but said that today they ought to be able to work much better. I hope so, because the concept art for the "Luigi's Tires" ride in Carsland looks for all the world like an updated version of the old Flying Saucers. I can't wait to try them, actually, since I just missed being able to ride the originals (my first trip in 1966 still had the saucers, but they were - predictably - out of order). <so cool, I thought it happened post opening. But that is a really cool link Dabob2. Did he ever ride the attraction at DL, and if so, what were his thoughts?> Yes, he rode it in 1967 when they visited us in CA. It was summer and they waited over 2 hours for them, which I remember being the longest wait of the day. I think he appreciated them for what they were (and for how his son liked them) even though, obviously he'd seen the real ocean and the real polar ice cap from a sub.
Originally Posted By Bellella If you look at an overhead shot of the whole Disneyland park, you'll see flat roofs everywhere. If every flat roof was covered with solar panels, they'd very likely have enough power for the whole park.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt >>I just dont get why it is suddenly so hard to envision the future. Geez, think about a trip from one galaxy to another with a shortcut through a black hole. Or how about some time travel theming? Perhaps a visit to a culture billions of light years away.<< But that's not science fact, which was the basis for Tomorrowland's attractions circa 1967. What you describe is more like science fiction. Not that there's anything wrong with that as a theme, but it really is something very different than the so called "living blueprint of our future" that Walt Disney envisioned Tomorrowland to be.
Originally Posted By oc_dean Well .. there's plenty of inspiration out there. Just take the Science channel for one. If anyone watches it ... You'd see there's so much programming that offer food-for-thought. But blatant cartoon commercialization is apparently more "relevant to today's youth". And for the record - I have enjoyed using that word to stress the point it's actually the lamest excuse and not the truth. It's just they'd rather exploit their cartoon character franchises because it's cheaper, and it's easier. What? Send your imagineers out in the real world to search for what IS truly relevant to all ages? Like that's going to happen!!
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt Maybe the area could be some sort of science based land that focused on the current "green" trend. The subjects could range from ocean conservation, to interplanetary travel, to public transit, to climate change.
Originally Posted By Bellella Cartoon commercialization is certainly "relevant" if they toon up every single ride there (heaven forbid!). I'm in favor of the imagineers researching new scientific developments and incorporating them into Innoventions. Maybe they could build a new House of the Future that's solar-powered. There are many ways that Tomorrowland could be improved, ways that would keep the original message of the place alive. P.S. Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters is totally LAME! I rode it once, and that was enough.
Originally Posted By Bellella Hans Reinhardt, I love your idea of a "green"-themed Tomorrowland! It would be completely relevant to the theme of future development. As long as Space Mountain and Autopia remain, it would be a wonderful idea.
Originally Posted By pecos bill I honestly feel sorry for the Imagineers working for Disney right now. It is a certainty that these people have delivered a lot of great ideas to management, only to have them rejected time after time. I mean, the biggest news at Disneyland in recent years has been a minor retooling of the sub ride with some video projection technology that a fifth grader could figure out. Then Small World gets what amounts to a Small makeover, with some plywood cutouts and the same simple mechanics that have been with the attraction from day one. From an Imagineers standpoint, thats not much to crow about. The DCA overhaul has the potential to be superb, but I just cant muster much optimism.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt “Maybe they could build a new House of the Future that's solar-powered. There are many ways that Tomorrowland could be improved, ways that would keep the original message of the place alive.” Yep. I think if they were to explore the science aspect green technology (instead of the broad term “futurism”), and present it in entertaining way, Tomorrowland would have a strong message that would resonate with today’s audiences while remaining true to Walt Disney's ideals. I would even be okay with incorporating Disney characters into the mix so long as they delivered the message and the attractions were not specifically about the characters themselves. That is the problem right now: all of the new attractions are about "Disney" rather than the themes of the lands in which they are placed.
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs I'd like to point out Conan O'Brien still kept his futuristic theme when doing his "In the Year 2000" sketches
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Make the autopia hover cars. With a reasonable budget, they could reinvent tomorrowland and keep it to theme.*** I think that including hover cars pretty much blows any sort of "reasonable budget". ;p Speaking strictly of budget here though, I do believe Tomorrowland (as well as Epcot) SHOULD have the largest budget by far in order to live up to what they're claiming to provide...a glimpse into the future. That ain't cheap. (just ask those poor suckers who just HAD to own an iPhone in the first six weeks and ended up paying double lol)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Actually, hovercraft are not that expensive. We built one at my high school, it was great (and it was not a rich school).
Originally Posted By Moon Waffle I can't help but think that they TRIED to do exactly what everyone is complaining about with TL98. True the budget was cut. True there were too few attractions. True those attractions that did arrive in '98 were inferior quality. But the idea and concept of TL98 at least was about the future - or perhaps that future as seen from the past - but regardless, it wasn't about cartoon characters. There was an actual attempt at science and education, regardless of how poorly it was done. "Tomorrowland" isn't a dead concept. The problem is that Disney is choosing to ignore it and go the easy route with characters and movie tie ins. It's what Disney is all about these days and it probably makes the company more money in our very short-term attention span society that cares more about movies than education anyway. I can't say I blame Disney for going this route, they are after all a business and trying to make money. The more they make, presumably more gets funneled back into the parks. But the cost is that the parks are more geared to the little ones via endless characters and cartoons. I don't see this necessarily as a BAD thing, just different. Personally I would like to see a Tomorrowland that is a true effort to focus on science, progress, and the future. I believe it can be done. But we will no doubt instead see more and more character based attractions, which will make my kids happy. By comparison, it is not up to where it could be, but the general public seems to not care about being educated and entertained at the same time. They only want entertainment and that is much easier to do when you have Mickey & co at your disposal. I guess I have come to the point where I accept that Disneyland is not the same - or even trying to be the same - today as what it was even 20 years ago. The vision is different, the intent is different. Maybe it will change again at some point in the future. Maybe not. For better or worse though, it has changed.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well it is happening across the globe. At DLP, there is Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. It is one of the greatest things Disney has ever created, a faithfully reproduced version of the show that toured Europe over 100 years ago. It recreates one night it was hosted at the base of the Eiffel Tower. It has real buffalo as well as rodeo riding and stunts. Last night was the very last show in it's traditional form, and as a tribute they added more native american songs and dancing. When it reopens on Friday, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and the crew will be a part of the show. To me, this shows that it is over. Edutainment is pretty much dead. Well, it was the edutainment that inspired me as a child and adult (man, I druelled when they were building Epcot). I am looking for a new obsession now.
