Originally Posted By u k fan It's a genuine question. I'd like to know why Toy Story Playland seems to be so hated. I visited TSPL for the first time last year and thought it was a lot of fun. The theming was a step up from the rest of WDSP (not exactly a feat in itself) and I thought there were a lot of fun touches, especially in the queue areas. I rode RC Racers and Slinky and enjoyed them both (the Parachutes had a long line and I was visited with a non-rider so I skipped it). Sure, they're dressed up carnival rides, but so are Dumbo and the Teacups and the Carousel - so that's nothing new. It's defintely part of the "too much Pixar" argument, but in my mind that seems to be it's only crime. I dislike "lands" with a narrow theme, but to me TSPL is part of Toon Studio so that's not relevant. Disney do sometimes like to bill TSPL as it's own land, but on the official park map it seems to be shown as part of Toon Studio so I think that's the case. I do see where the confusion could happen though. What are your thoughts? Do you hate TSPL?!!!
Originally Posted By dagobert I experienced TSPL for the first last year as well. We rode RC Racer and the Parachute Drop and I have to admit I really enjoyed RC. What I like about TSPL is, that it brought some much needed greenery to the concrete desert named WDSP. My problem with TSPL is, that the rides are carnival rides with a cheap theming. These rides aren't special. I do understand that WDSP needed some rides for families, but for me it was a cheap addition. I guess I would have been much happier without the ugly green drop towers.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Oh, now I know what TSPL stands for. Thanks. I've never experienced TSPL, but I share your curiosity about why people like to hate on it. It doesn't look like something that I would make a beeline to see, but it looks well designed and fills a gap for families with kids. It's the same with the Little Mermaid attraction at DCA... it's a cute little dark ride and I never understood why fans on the internet dislike it so much.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip 1) It's Toon based. 2) No animatronics... the absolute best 60's technology had to offer. Yea, it's silly but such is an uber-fan.
Originally Posted By u k fan TSPL did certainly add some greenery to the concrete wastelands of WDSP. I guess in TSPL we got 3 rethemed carnival rides over TS Midway Mania so they probably were cheap when compared to something like that, but to me they look like they would have cost more than something like The Magic Carpets which has very minimal theming and only painted flats as a backdrop. So IMHO, the rides were cheaper than an E or D attraction, but not cheaper than other comparable rides. I think people want to hate it because it represents what we got at WDSP instead of what we COULD have got. Complaints about how it looks plastic and fake are clearly from people who don't understand the theme!!!
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>I think people want to hate it because it represents what we got at WDSP instead of what we COULD have got. <<< That sums it up. TSPL was a continuation of cheap, in financial terms, rides. WDSP was built as cheap as possible and you could see that when it opened. TOT and the 2007 additions (CC, Cars Race Rally) were a step in the right direction. Suddenly TSPL was announced and in my opinion it was done to add a few rides as cheap as possible. Disney should have saved the money for a bigger ride that can accomodate more visitors than TSPL. The backstory of TSPL is strange as well. I mean what has Andy's backyard to do with WDSP.
Originally Posted By tonyanton I think part of the issue with Pixar is that it would be difficult to group together the films outside of a generic "movie studio" theme. I think we'd all complain less about TSPL in Paris (or HK for that matter) if these redressed carnival rides supported a more complex "anchor" attraction, like TSMM (not unlike how the original Fantasyland dark rides were supported by the carousel, tea cups, Dumbo.
Originally Posted By u k fan TSMM is still very much rumored for WDSP and has been seen on long term plans that leaked (or made up by a fan - you decide). I agree that the theming of Andy's garden seems a little out of place, but no more that the new Rat area. This could have been fixed very easily by making it a "hot set" and adding a few movie cameras, lights, clapperboards etc. to make it look like a filming location. This would tie it into thw Toon Studio concept of it being where the toons "work". This could still be done and would be very easy and cheap to do, but I doubt they will!!!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I agree with pretty much all of the comments in this thread. It's not that it's bad (it's one of the more charming parts of that park), but it just seems like a missed opportunity. Its location is somewhat removed from other areas of the park, which would have been perfect for a large show building for a grand dark ride; instead we get some dressed-up carnival rides And as for the theme itself, I agree that a big part of the dislike is that it's more focus on toons rather than anything else, even if it's in Toon Studios. Personally, I'm just so completely over the Toy Story franchise (and have been for years) that it was a disappointing choice In many ways, it reminds me of Flik's Fun Fair at DCA. The park needed a certain type of attraction, and this was a quick and easy fix that helped raise the bar a little bit and bring in some charming details. Plus, they're both full of oversized props from a Pixar movie! : )
Originally Posted By u k fan I wonder if Ratatouille had been built first, i.e. a single attraction that's more advanced and added better dining as most people wanted, if people might view it differently?!!!
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Probably. Considering that HKDL has basically the same area and another is currently being built in Shanghai with little outcry from fans I'm inclined to think the hate is driven by the overall mediocrity of DSP.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I seem to recall a relative lack of enthusiasm for the HKDL version, but not nearly as bad as in WDSP. But given that it was also offset by Grizzly Gulch and Mystic Point, rather than being a standalone addition, it helped get rid of the sting Was TSPL part of the original plans for Shanghai? I know that they've added some things to the plans recently, and TSPL seems to be a classic last-minute addition, so it might fit that bill
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Iger did say recently that some phase 2 projects for that park had been bumped up to be ready for the opening day launch, so maybe it was a part of that change.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Its location is somewhat removed from other areas of the park, which would have been perfect for a large show building for a grand dark ride; instead we get some dressed-up carnival rides<<< That wouldn't have been possible, because TSPL was built in the small forest and Disney was not allowed to chop down the trees. They were allowed to chop some, but not that many to accomodate a huge show building. They got a special permit for the Ratatouille building, but now they have to keep the rest of that little forest intact. >>>I wonder if Ratatouille had been built first, i.e. a single attraction that's more advanced and added better dining as most people wanted, if people might view it differently?!!!<<< I think it would. WDSP was lacking infrastructure, like a good restaurant, shops or toilets. Rat adds all of them, while TSPL added three rides with poor capacity.
Originally Posted By u k fan <<<Considering that HKDL has basically the same area and another is currently being built in Shanghai with little outcry from fans I'm inclined to think the hate is driven by the overall mediocrity of DSP.>>> I have a theory that most of Disney fandom is less and less bothered by what Disney does the further from North America it's happening. If DCA had been anywhere near as bad as WDSP was on opening there might have been riots, but because most fans will never see it Disney management got a relative pass!!!
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA The new Ratatouille ride is now open. Looks fun! <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.insidethemagic.net/2014/06/ratatouille-ride-debuts-at-disneyland-paris-with-bistrot-chez-remy-restaurant-and-new-themed-area/">http://www.insidethemagic.net/...ed-area/</a>
Originally Posted By Malin The problem I have is that for the entire cost of TSPL you could most likely build Toy Story Mania. For what it offers it's a waste with poor capacity and loud rides which can be overheard in the fantastic new Place de Remy next door. TSPL was only ever seen as a quick fix to add some kind of capacity to what is otherwise a park lacking in any actual rides.
Originally Posted By oc_dean "Magic Kingdom" parks typically spell 'class' throughout their design .. and this just looks so tacky and out of place - that's why I don't like it.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I agree Dean, but modern MK parks aren't always so classy. Take Tomorrowland for instance. TSPL looks like a creative masterpiece in comparison.
