Can't Disney release a SIMPLE one sentence statement and say: "The Muppets Courtyard will not be destroyed". Is it "not" that simple? Disney "should" just stop the debate and negative press....REALLY EASILY....right?
It looks to me like because this had two concept arts slapped on, makes this story into mystery into debacle into debate. Had there been just only one concept art then there would of been more backlash or none depending which concept art was featured.
In reality, it seems it hasn't been fully decided where Monsters will go. Fan backlash would be Disney's primary reason for not just using Muppets Courtyard. Disney execs clearly don't care about WDW's history since they're constantly replacing opening day attractions, their choices are obviously more informed by budgetary austerity. This is why Cars Land is going where it is, not beyond Big Thunder, because if Cars were beyond, then Villains would need to go outside the railroad, which costs significantly more to develop. Likewise, it would be MUCH cheaper to build Monsters in Muppets Courtyard and keep all the existing infrastructure than it would be to demolish a large office building, permanently relocate staff and re-build. I genuinely hope Tom is right though! And if he's not, I hope they relocate the land/show!
We're happy to support anything WDWNT. My wife and I were super stoked to have met Tom at D23. Here's a little something to say thanks for doing what you do.
The person who's depicting Deadpool at DCA should at least get credit for staying in character and going for a joke that Deadpool would ABSOLUTELY go for. Damn that's insane, it's not Ryan Reynolds under the mask so I would wager he quite possibly got told off or something at least. Management should definitely have a sense of humor. I mean, Disney allowed Deadpool & Wolverine to happen and they took shots at Disney in that movie so they should know this is what comes with Deadpool. Especially since it was not punching down on the victims, it was punching up at Disney.
Getting rid of the Red Car Trolley is like getting rid of the horse drawn carriages on Main Street. Disney getting removing atmosphere for the sake of IP regardless of costs is just gross.
@@StromboliTastesGood The Red Car trolleys existed *way* before Who framed Roger Rabbit tho, just because they appeared in the movie doesn’t mean Disney added it because of that.
Agreed. Some attractions aren't about capacity but the character they bring to the area. The Red Car Trolley is the kinetic heart of the entrance. Removing it is like removing the People Mover. It wasn't about capacity, it's the mood it set for the whole land.
@@NatetheProtogenoh I didn’t know that it was a real thing I’m not from around there and I have never been there. I just thought it was from the movie.
I haven’t gotten to that part of the video. Are we talking about the ones at DCA? Those opened with the park and honesly are hit and miss if they are running, to the point I didnt know they were still there for like 3 years. If you mean the ones at Disneyland those are the ones ones from Roger Rabbit. But in the movie Roger Rabbit, there were RED cars that were actually historically in LA. They put the toon version in Toontown but the red cars at DCA are there because they celebrate that time in Hollywood when Walt came to California and those trollies were around in LA then. DCA has gone so far away from its original vision with it being about old Hollywood that I am honestly ok with it.
Dude what is the deal with you bashing people that feel the rivers of America should stay!? Every castle park has it. It’s essential! Let me ask you would walt approve of this random out of place cars land in cohesive pile of trash frontier land? No river = a hot park even hotter and less Disney esk … I’m done IT’s rediculous
It’s been disappointing that so many of my favorite Disney content creators aren’t pushing back about the loss of RofA. MK is my “Disneyland”. I’m not comparing it to the rest of the parks. Many families vacation every year or every other year, through generations, to WDW. Our nostalgia for MK has value too. It’s already upsetting once I started watching Disney news online, to find out how much more love Disney puts into Disneyland vs WDW. MK is the most visited park, it should be getting premium treatment. They really need to revisit their plans & accommodate the concerns of “Magic Kingdom” fans. We are the ones planning weeks long trips, staying in their overpriced resorts.
It seems you are bought and paid for …. A few years ago you would be supportive of the Rivers of America, and they would have looked for other options with the outcry. Now you are in line like a good little soldier. And then you ask for money so you can travel the world to support them. Why don’t you ask them, you seem to be in their pocket.
The Rivers of America provide site-lines for the Haunted Mansion, Libert Square, Frontier Land, Tiana's, and Big Thunder Mountain. It adds incredible beauty and ambiance to the park. It's peaceful and soothing, and provides some much needed cooling to combat the heated concrete. Plus, Americana has been such a big part of Walt's parks, as he had such tremendous love for America.
Just watched you video, love your channel. But about the Rivers Of America and Tom Sawyer island, love them also just to sit and watch them throughout the day is beautiful, Iconic. There is so much area beyond Thunder they could use for many lands and it wouldn’t destroy the beauty of this park. Also about Skyway, yes people would still be riding that ride , loved looking down at the park. Veronica and Todd
I think taking out a body of water in Magic Kingdom is not smart with how hot the park is in Florida. There is other area that could be developed with out having to do so much expensive demolition and changing the character of the park forever.
Anyone who praised Disney over TSI/ROA changing to talking cars with faces, splash mountain to TBA, country bears, that joke of an Epcot overhaul, and etc it’s all their fault for allowing Disney to change that, which then made Disney think “we can change anything we want”, and the excuse “but this is the last thing Henson worked on!”…..so? They’ve been destroying Walt’s stuff for years, you think Henson isn’t free range?
DCA peaked in 2015 with an improved entrance while retaining Paradise Pier, Tower of Terror & Bugs Land. Beyond imitating MGM Studios with the entrance I’m not sure how Iger “fixed” the park, especially considering a Cars Land was planned prior to park premier. DCA’s still a 3/4 day park too, so maybe a couple hrs of capacity added, but way less puns😢😂
I’m convinced that Bob Iger is not capable of making any rational decisions that will benefit the Walt Disney company. I’m not sure if the American parks can survive destruction until the next director vote
Disney knows that Muppet Vision 3D is beloved and that it makes more sense to locate Monsters Inc. land at the Animation Courtyard. So I guess it's goodbye Muppet Vision.
If underutilization of MV3D is an issue, they could rotate the show with a 15-min Jim Henson documentary like One Man’s Dream. That would be fantastic. And let’s get that store back open, with some museum-like elements. Seeing actual screen-used muppets would be incredible.
I know it's not news and a bit of inside baseball, but I'd love to see a small behing the scenes series about WDWNT as a business. How you run your operations, etc. I know it wouldn't be for everybody, but I'm weird like that and would find it interesting 😅
Absolutely, Dining or character meet & greet. Some jazz playing, it would be awesome. Preserve a little bit of water there for the ambience & cooling effects. I think this would help ease the concerns of many. Even if the boat just had seating on it (it could then help to still function as that get away from the crowds space)
Agreed! I said the same thing to my wife when this was announced. Make it a permanent quick service. I really hope care is more towards get back they leave the water in the front.
Would be a good option. That's what's happen with two paddle steamers in California...most notably the Delta King in Sacramento. Great venue for a restaurant and live music.
I actually care MORE about Rivers of America, even though I also feel worried about Muppets. It is unique and irreplaceable. But filling in a gorgeous, peaceful river is LUDICROUS. Shoving cars next to the frontier strip is horrifying. Potentially hearing engines from the Haunted Mansion would be an affront (let’s hope that’s not possible!!!). And basically we take 1/3 of the Magic Kingdom and turn it into Legoland or Peppa Pig. CONCRETE KINGDOM. No thanks. Please complain more. Your voice is louder than ours so to speak!!
I agree completely. I’ve been very disappointed how most of the Disney content creators have been accepting of the loss of Rivers of America. Muppets doesn’t matter to me (so I only care about the loss of that, because it means a lot to others). But RofA 😢. I think what these creators are failing to understand is that Magic Kingdom is my “Disneyland”. I’ve never been to anywhere but WDW & probably won’t get the opportunity to go to any of the other parks. My family memories & Nostalgia through 3 generations included RofA & TSI. I’d be ok seeing TSI improved/rethemed. I’d live with seeing RofA shortened or even made into a crescent lake with the Boat docked & repurposed. These compromises would take up less land & at least preserve some of the history & theming that we all love. I’m really not excited for a Cars ride. I liked those movies but it was a long time ago. My son who’s 12 was never really even into them, so I don’t buy their generational appeal. We aren’t even getting Radiator Springs, which is the cool part. How tall will kids need to be to ride this? Feels more aimed to young Disney adults at the expense of Families that travel to WDW for vacations. I feel like most people would have preferred a shorter RofA loop, make TSI better & then get on with building Villians land behind. That’s the land people really want. That would preserve the views from the Haunted Mansion & Big Thunder Mountain. Instead, this whole area is going to be wrecked under construction for years & I don’t trust them to make it fit right. If they fail, it will RUIN Magic Kingdom. In which case I might as well just drive to Cedar Point vs fly to Orlando
I’m also into Universal for the thrill aspect-it has always been more about the adventure/“cool” factor than the beauty. Their walking paths and hotels are lovely, but nothing breathtaking and fanciful like Animal Kingdom or Cinderella castle. I believe Epic Universe is finally going to address that. The Constellation Carousel alone is sooooo gorgeous, and surrounded by waterfalls etc. I believe they are going to get this right. I think they got better creatives in this current generation-OR perhaps let them off the leash more. Hope you come check it out when it opens if MK goes downhill. I am really hoping they cancel this whole concrete fiasco though! In fact, cars would be really cool if they antiqued them, EXPANDED TS’s island and had them racing over bridges and back to a peninsula by big thunder mountain. That would be fine for them to anthropomorphize the cars if they were antique turn of the century cars and suited the vibe. Make a new Ip. Gosh they could make a new movie out of that 🤣
Rivers of America provides a beautiful sightline from not one but 2 lands, and 3 e ticket attractions. It provides a breeze in a park where people complain about heat. They should just park the boat and build cars on the island and possibly fill in half the river. But disney is playing with its fundamental rules of sight lines and its beauty which has always been its upper hand against universal. The negative space provided by the river makes disney feel more like a premium experience and less like a tacky concrete jungle. It also takes away the adventurous spirit of being in a far away place when riding big thunder, tiana’s, or waiting in line for mansion. It is a big shame. It goes against what we know about both theme park design and the design of public spaces in general. In a world where everyone is overstimulated, being in the presence of a serene body of water which psychologically whisks you away to a far away place is more precious than ever.
The moments of witnessing quiet beauty and having those serene moments to take it in is what makes castle parks magical. It’s what makes us come back to the hustle and bustle of waiting in lines in the heat all day. Because it takes us out of it and we don’t remember our whole day as a stressful overstimulating day. These understated moments improve guest satisfaction more than people realize. This is the barges in world showcase all over again. Except this time, it’s permanent and far more of an eyesore.
Moreover, If they park and refurbish the liberty bell into a restaurant, they can drastically lower maintenance costs, turn the liberty bell into a profit, not have to empty the river as often, and they can get rid of the liberty bell maintenance dock and use it for park space. They can do everything they set out to do AND PROFIT from it without removing the water.
I usually respect your opinion even though I don’t always agree but disney world is the most visited disney park. It’s most people’s introduction to the parks. Our scenery is just as important as disneyland’s but in a completely different way. Disneyland holds the importance of having reverence for the history. Disney World is Disney’s representation to the world. Doing this will only solidify people’s recent perception of disney parks being souless and tacky. It will stray us even further from the days where the world looked to disney with awe and wonder.
What they need to do is 1 turn that meh Backyard BBQ into a quality Pizza Planet 2 turn Pizza Rizzo into a Muppet Lab Kitchen with Bunsen and Beaker and have fun Muppet inspired food 3 resurrect Muppet Mobile Labs and have it roaming the area throughout the day 4 bring back the meet and greets…not the creepy ones 5 turn that abandoned store into a museum as you suggested 6 bring back the Great Moments in History if only for special events…yes that was MK but still a fun show Jim did so much in his short life and despite HBO changing everything Sesame Street is still going strong
You're really fooling yourself if you think Muppetvison, or anything else at the parks is "untouchable," especially when Disney has underutilized the Muppets for almost the entire time they've owned them. Just because Disney *knows* how much people love them, doesn't mean they actually *care* about them, and it's as funny as it is sad that you think they're a permanent fixture.
It’s DUMB to remove the Red Car Trolly after spending so much money building it in the first place. How many millions did they waste on that only to yank it a decade later now? That’s not a real good return on investment. I have a hard time believing they are doing this. Also, the trolly is more than just 10 guests, it’s kinetic atmosphere which is something that can’t be replaced as well as something they use for shows and have Mickey and Minnie on. As to where they could build another barn, the answer to that is next to Guardians. There is room, they just have to reconfigure things.
I was really sad that they took MuppetVision 3D away in California Adventure. It was one of my favorite attractions. I will have to make it to Orlando one of these days. Thanks for all the work you all do to bring us this information.
Why isn’t Disney flat out saying that the Muppets is staying? In my opinion, the only reason why Disney hasn’t told the public that Muppets is safe is because Monsters Inc is going there or they’re seriously considering it. If the land is going on Animation Courtyard, it can’t be that expensive to draw some more concept art to keep fans from speculating. While I hope the backlash can convince them otherwise, I’m resigned to the fact that Muppets will be replaced.
Open a park map for Hollywood studios. The animation courtyard is a very small, underwhelming area and as Tom said, office space and parking garage behind it. AC will become monsters inc land. Once that area is rethemed and expanded, Hollywood studios will have much improved guest dispersement throughout
The Skyway is not gone because it wasn't a well-liked fun experience. People love the Skyliner now and view it as something more than just transportation. Your revisionist history on the River of American defies the facts. The DL version was constructed at some expense and great difficulty. The trouble they had with keeping the water from draining is an often-told story and constructing a river boat was not a budget friendly decision. The river is an integral component of the story Walt wanted to tell. The budget cutting choice would have been to leave the area as some dirt, trails, trees and call it the West. WDW as a copy of DL has ROA because it is telling the same story. Disney can tell a new story if they wish but stop portraying ROA as some kind of an insignificant waste of acreage.
I really enjoy Muppet Vision and I would maybe put it in my top 5 Attractions at DHS, but I just dont quite understand the pedestal that people put it on, even if it was Jim's last project. To each their own but I feel that Rivers of America/Tom Sawyer Island/Liberty Square Riverboat is a far greater loss than if they would close MuppetVision. Saying that the Frontierland trio is no longer relevent is a statement I cant get behind. The Rivers of America is the most beautiful area of the Magic Kingdom, and I think an area where kids and adults can explore and get away from the crowds will never go out of date. Not everything has to be a high-profile thrill attraction.
The closure of the trolley just shows the lack of direction with DCA 2.0. They had no idea they were going to convert Tower of Terror, Avengers campus was going to be built, and now Avatar likely taking over the 'backlot' area. They continue to develop areas in DCA with no cohesive plan for what they are doing.
Disney California Adventure sadly lost its coherent theming. The Tokyo parks are the only Disney parks in the whole world that will maintain its theming and consistency.
I for one, will miss the mechanical marvel known as the Red Car Trolley. Although I only travelled on the streetcar once, I would watch it pass by every single time it came my way. It is/was awesome to look at, and as you remarked, the kinetic energy it provides to Buena Vista Street will be missed. Nice update today. Thanks!
I usually respect your opinion even though I don't always agree but as someone who has always stood up for having “reverence for your past”. I don’t seem to understand how you are okay with disney ignoring its fundamental rule of sight lines when it comes to rivers of america. Obviously regular people do not even know what the waterway is even called and if you tell someone “they are taking away the rivers of america” they wouldn’t know what you’re talking about. However, popularity is not the point. The rivers psychologically whisk us away to the far away places that are the frontier and a remote desolate mansion. Walt knew that witnessing quiet beauty and having those serene moments to take it in is where a lot of the magic lives. Just listen to the recording of what he had to say about the tranquility of disneyland at night. This understanding is what separates a castle park from a studios park. I agree with you that the liberty bell and tom sawyers island may be outdated, and i’m not a purist that believes that they should exist as is. They can park the boat and possibly fill in half the river to make new use of tom sawyers island but the removal of the waterway is going to take away from the magic and it is a loss. Whether we are aware of it or not these serene moments take us away from remembering our park days as hot sweaty stressful days of waiting in lines. The water provides breeze as well in a park where heat is one of the main complaints by the average joe. Removing the water goes against every precedent in the design of enjoyable public spaces and will only solidify people's recent perception that disney parks are tacky concrete jungles that can only be enjoyed by children. It will stray us even further from the days where people of all ages looked to disney with awe, wonder, and respect for successful and innovative urban design. So yes, I believe preserving disney magic and the sight lines of 2 lands and 3 e ticket attractions is more important than muppets.
@@ellenpeterson6017 I believe he’s not swayed by the media passes and things. He’s still very honest about alot of things that don’t paint disney in the most positive light.
Saying "speed" in response to mobility issues is a weird non sequitur. people who have trouble walking very often have to sacrifice time for accessibility.
Maybe the Rivers of America isn’t relevant, but is the World Showcase Lagoon really relevant? That could be prime attractions space right there. Maybe there isn’t the same level of capacity issues in Epcot, but would paving over this element in the environment be any more tragic there than optimizing the most luxuriously peaceful spot in the Magic Kingdom?
To me Disneyland Park really needs more love than just reimagining existing attractions. I was really disappointed that the rumours about adding new attractions didn’t come true at D23. I hope they will be giving more love to that park after the expansion of Walt Disney Studios Park soon to be Disney Adventure World has been completed and become a success.
At least it is historically accurate that the Red Trollies are going away. For those that dont know, LA had a Red Car trolly that was running I believe up until the 1920’s. They were bought out by a portion of the automobile industry and promptly closed so they could push cars more. This was really one of the last times LA had a good public transit system. You can say they have tried to work on that but they still have a ways to go. Maybe they will hurry and get stuff done before the Olympics but I doubt it. Anyway the Trolly would have been around when Walt came to California so that is why it was a good fit but Im not surprised that they are closing it. It would be nice if they have the car out for a photo op. I actually liked parts of the original DCA. I like the second version too but there are things I miss. The Deadpool thing is for sure on brand and you should expect that when you bring in Deadpool to the parks. I hope they keep it permanently because I wont be going out for a month or two. I am excited to see things done that were closed the last time I was there like the Treehouse.
Can you please add the News Today logo back to the thumbnails for News Today? It feels like a guessing game whether it’s a review or vlog or ride video when I’m just trying to watch the news
The removal of the trolley. The removal of the River of America at the Magic Kingdom. Man, there's nobody at Imagineering or parks who gets what makes a place a place. Instead of removing the trolley, they should reroute it down the parade route, down to the San Fransokyo/Little Mermaid area, and then have it return to the front of the park.
It would be fun to have the Trolley run to the Paradise Gardens and eventually to the Disneyland Forward space where a new barn could be built closest to the Southern Disneyland Hotel tower. The Trolley could then be used as a special entrance/exit for hotel guests for early morning bonus time in the park.
They could run the trollies with far fewer employees. Do they really need people to man “stations”? They’re also always calling into dispatch when they move? Meanwhile the Main Street vehicles are mostly ran by just the driver.
With Disney so focused on merchandising I’m really surprised they don’t keep that muppets store open. I’d be more likely to spend money in that store than a lot of other stores in the parks.
We love you tom and wdw news!! Liking and always sharing the word with friends for support! Wdw news has helped me and my fiancé so many times to learn about new mugs coming out and then registration dates for run disney, oogie boogie etc. we needed to set a calendar reminder for, without the team our Disney experiences wouldn’t be the same
Just wanted to add that I really enjoyed this content in this episode of the news. I really like when Tom add more detail, history, commentary, and even the occasional rant or approval of a Disney decision to the news stories. I check the app daily for the main story, but news is where I look for a bit more. Even when Eric covers, when he added something to the story it is so much better received. I really enjoy Tom & Eric together on the podcast and who doesn’t love the adventure of Nana.
Any possibility that Disney is essentially floating a trial balloon for the eventual removal of MuppetVision? Measuring the outrage in advance. I really don't think the space is big enough for what the Monsters land should be. I wish they would just create some new episodes of the Muppet show to go in the MuppetVision theater. Imagine if they went the StarTours route and had a rotating set of 3D episodes with different guest stars. It would be AMAZING.
I think that's a possibility, especially because it's not like people have been dying for a Monsters Inc ride. It does look like a fun concept, and it is one of my favorite Pixar movies, but I don't think it has the popularity of many of the other ones to really justify replacing anything, let alone the Muppets.
Dude, usually i agree with mostly everything but the skyway not being popular.... you are bugging. Clearly you never go to any other theme parks that still have skyways. The lines are always crazy long. Always. Its a beautiful view, on a hot day it is nice and airy, it gives you a bit of a backstage view. And, the last time I was in Disney when the skyway still existed, it was the same situation. Always a long line, a nice break from walking and an easy way to get across the park without hoofing it. Comparing it to muppets is apples to oranges.
Why 😭 is Disney getting rid of it's transportation history that's insane we need the Red car I have high blood pressure and it's transportation Is important to me I need to ride transportation Walt Disney was a patriot and a transportation buff he whould roll over in his grave over messing with transportation
I think the writing is absolutely on the wall, Muppets is gone, it's time to deal with as a cold hard fact. The company that was more than willing (and may still) fill in the Rivers of America you think is going to get nostalgic about a muppet show? please. Red Car Trolley, yeah that needs to go for any expansion over there, no tears for it going who rides that more than once in a lifetime? That's Deadpool, without all the swearing, I think it's absolutely perfect for the character. Whether or not you want the character is another question all together, but while he is in the park expect the "edgy" nature of what he says to be normal. If you don't like it, don't take your kids there.
Why do you keep talking about the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island as if it was designed to be high capacity? If it was supposed to be high capacity you wouldn’t need to board a raft to get over there. You don’t design an area with a large body of water to be high capacity. It about the vista, placemaking ambiance and you know that. Stop trying to shift the focus to how many people are visiting Tom Sawyer Island. Very disingenuous.
I’m not happy about the lack of fight about RofA BUT I’m not sure WDWNT has been the main pushers of the increased capacity view. Some others have though. But all of these creators have the privilege of also going to Disneyland & overseas parks. I personally think that is why they don’t seem as attached to these “classic” pieces of Magic Kingdom as some of us are.
@@WDWNT I understand that you haven’t spoken much about capacity on this issue and have focused more on utilization of this space in order to have more space to expand and possibly increase guest satisfaction. However, as someone who has always spoken out about having “reverence for your past”. I don’t seem to understand how you are okay with disney ignoring its fundamental rule of sight lines when it comes to rivers of america. Obviously regular people do not even know what the waterway is even called and if you tell someone “they are taking away the rivers of america” they wouldn’t know what you’re talking about. However, popularity is not the point. The rivers psychologically whisk us away to the far away places that are the frontier and a remote desolate mansion. Walt knew that witnessing quiet beauty and having those serene moments to take it in is where a lot of the magic lives. Just listen to the recording of what he had to say about the tranquility of disneyland at night. This understanding is what separates a castle park from a studios park. I agree with you that the liberty bell and tom sawyers island may be outdated, and i’m not a purist that believes that they should exist as is. They can park the boat and possibly fill in half the river to make new use of tom sawyers island but the removal of the waterway is going to take away from the magic and it is a loss. Whether we are aware of it or not these serene moments take us away from remembering our park days as hot sweaty stressful days of waiting in lines. The water provides breeze as well in a park where heat is one of the main complaints by the average joe. Removing the water goes against every precedent in the design of enjoyable public spaces and will only solidify people's recent perception that disney parks are tacky concrete jungles that can only be enjoyed by children. It will stray us even further from the days where people of all ages looked to disney with awe, wonder, and respect for successful urban design. So yes, I believe preserving disney magic and the sight lines of 2 lands and 3 e ticket attractions is more important than muppets.
@@Emily-lb7rf maybe not so much in this particular video (certainly made that point a lot stronger in his Rivers of America video) but he did say TSI is not relevant. Not relevant meaning that’s why nobody is going there and that’s why it’s expendable. I’m saying that how many visitors TSI gets is a moot point. Not only was it never designed to be high capacity but the value of the River complex is immeasurable to the atmosphere of that part of the park. The ambiance in that area will be completely altered. You can tell what the imagineers think of the Cars ride going in Frontierland/ Liberty Square. They’re building a ring of trees around the whole thing. Lol
What? No trolley? You serious? That's it for me. No more Disney. Trolley is the only reason I ever went to DCA. I paid hard-earned money to go to that park just to ride the trolley. I'm done with 'em! 😁
One benefit of removing the trolley is having no restriction on the height of parade floats. I mean, what they did with the Little Mermaid float in Paint the Night was just...
What would help guest dispersement at Hollywood Studios is if they had more smaller dark rides and such that weren’t on LL that would be used as filler rides. Right now there are very few filler rides at the park which bumps up those wait times on all the other rides. Like Alien Swirling Saucers should not be on LL. Neither should any of the shows. I understand why they have the LL but they could really help the guest experience even for those that pay for LL by adding low density rides to balance the experience for all.
Iger needs to retire. Ten years and a CEO should HAVE to move on. Eisner was the same. All of these “ charm changes” hurt the feel of the park. These changes - starting with Pandora at AK - are reactionary to Universal rather than proactive for quality parks and experiences.
If the Red Car goes away, they need to haul one of the trolley cars to Florida, and make it a static display. It can go in that empty nook in Hollywood Studios by the front entrance, where there's nothing, for a photo op.
WTF is up with charging for EVERYTHING! Remember when extra magic went until 2am and was free if you stayed at a resort. I have so many great memories with my wife staying til 2am
As usual, good news segment with good analysis. I have seen a lot of people saying, "I miss this ride". Tom, you about the Great Movie Ride or Offhand Disney's obsession with the PeopleMove at DL. The Redcar is meh for me. When I went to MGM Disney Studios in '95, it wasn't there. I like the ideas offered by Brickey about how cool transportation fitted into Walt's vision of things moving (e.g. Skyway, PeopleMover, Autopia, the submarines and the monorail at DL). But I think I road the Redcar in a subsequent trip. Everyone has their favorite ride, a lot of which no longer exist. Me, as a kid in the 60's in Disneyland, the boats and any of the Autopias, well, they didn't make it. Yes, I miss the Skyway. I tried to get my daughters to ride the SkyLiner with me on my last trip to WDW, but no-go. Hey, it's even free! Reminds me of how we considered the DL tram a "ride" from those old days. Heck, the Tiki Room was my Mom's favorite "experience" and when Iago and Zazu took over, I thought it was ridiculous. Things have to change, or WDW (or any Disney park) will become that sad, empty place that Arthur C. Clarke talked about in a book version of 2001. Hey, when the star child goes back , I guess Dave Bowman was being nostalgic. I'm glad you have a balanced view on the subject. And having Brickey come to your "station", well, that was also cool.
I really wish they would fix the air conditioner in Space Ship earth. When we used to bring the kids when they were little, it used to be freezing in there. Now you go and it’s barely cooler than the outside, even in winter. Since moving here, I haven’t gone on one day that it wasn’t hot and that is the park I go to the most. I really hope they redo the ride but keep the concept and just making it a better version. If it is overhauled and changed a bunch I will not be ok.
Disney just casually out here destroying their Orlando parks. First Epcot, and now Magic Kingdom by removing the Rivers of America. About time they created some original attractions rather than using IP all the time..
Wasn’t the Animation Courtyard supposed to be the museum of how cartoons were made? We can see what Disney thinks of non-revenue-generating areas, they get removed as fast as the Star Wars Hotel. As much as you or I would love an exhibit like that, I would rather see the Muppets Gift Shop reopen with some unique merch. Or just “Hard Rock Cafe” it up and blend the two as a walk through store.
Yo, I was probably 7 when the skyway closed. I still get angry when I think about it (same with Mr. Toad). I guess the skyliner makes it a little less upsetting.
Tiny bit of feedback -- can you bump the audio level by ~3dB, so that it is in the expected range (so I don't have to turn up the volume every time)? I believe RUclips wants a range of -5dB .. -6dB, but you are running at -9.4dB. From "Stats for Nerds" for this video: 100% / DRC (content loudness -9.4dB)
Tom! Disneyland is my home resort. Totally agree with you on the red car trolley. And, I miss the newsie show so much. The atmosphere on Buena Vista st prior to Covid was so beautiful.
Anything can happen. Look at all the rehab work to the ferry and rivers of America. It's still getting removed it seems. I don't feel Muppets are safe even with the rehab work.
Can't Disney release a SIMPLE one sentence statement and say: "The Muppets Courtyard will not be destroyed". Is it "not" that simple? Disney "should" just stop the debate and negative press....REALLY EASILY....right?
It looks to me like because this had two concept arts slapped on, makes this story into mystery into debacle into debate. Had there been just only one concept art then there would of been more backlash or none depending which concept art was featured.
They're too smug for that. Remember, Iger actually hates the biggest fans. He already has their money -- it the other money he is looking for.
In reality, it seems it hasn't been fully decided where Monsters will go. Fan backlash would be Disney's primary reason for not just using Muppets Courtyard. Disney execs clearly don't care about WDW's history since they're constantly replacing opening day attractions, their choices are obviously more informed by budgetary austerity.
This is why Cars Land is going where it is, not beyond Big Thunder, because if Cars were beyond, then Villains would need to go outside the railroad, which costs significantly more to develop.
Likewise, it would be MUCH cheaper to build Monsters in Muppets Courtyard and keep all the existing infrastructure than it would be to demolish a large office building, permanently relocate staff and re-build.
I genuinely hope Tom is right though! And if he's not, I hope they relocate the land/show!
We're happy to support anything WDWNT. My wife and I were super stoked to have met Tom at D23. Here's a little something to say thanks for doing what you do.
So nice of you guys!
The person who's depicting Deadpool at DCA should at least get credit for staying in character and going for a joke that Deadpool would ABSOLUTELY go for. Damn that's insane, it's not Ryan Reynolds under the mask so I would wager he quite possibly got told off or something at least. Management should definitely have a sense of humor. I mean, Disney allowed Deadpool & Wolverine to happen and they took shots at Disney in that movie so they should know this is what comes with Deadpool. Especially since it was not punching down on the victims, it was punching up at Disney.
...and it is a damn good joke.
31:47 "The trolley can't go to Pandora." I died!🤣
Getting rid of the Red Car Trolley is like getting rid of the horse drawn carriages on Main Street. Disney getting removing atmosphere for the sake of IP regardless of costs is just gross.
Isn’t red car trolly ip? Who framed Roger rabbit?
@@StromboliTastesGood The Red Car trolleys existed *way* before Who framed Roger Rabbit tho, just because they appeared in the movie doesn’t mean Disney added it because of that.
Agreed. Some attractions aren't about capacity but the character they bring to the area. The Red Car Trolley is the kinetic heart of the entrance. Removing it is like removing the People Mover. It wasn't about capacity, it's the mood it set for the whole land.
@@NatetheProtogenoh I didn’t know that it was a real thing I’m not from around there and I have never been there. I just thought it was from the movie.
I haven’t gotten to that part of the video. Are we talking about the ones at DCA? Those opened with the park and honesly are hit and miss if they are running, to the point I didnt know they were still there for like 3 years. If you mean the ones at Disneyland those are the ones ones from Roger Rabbit. But in the movie Roger Rabbit, there were RED cars that were actually historically in LA. They put the toon version in Toontown but the red cars at DCA are there because they celebrate that time in Hollywood when Walt came to California and those trollies were around in LA then. DCA has gone so far away from its original vision with it being about old Hollywood that I am honestly ok with it.
Walt Disney -
*”it’s takes a lot of funds to go to Japan every other month”*
Amen…. Spend you’re money wisely sir. 😊
The Animation Courtyard is such a better location and the buildings behind it they can build another admin building backstage
Disney likes to take the charm out of all the parks nowadays.
Dude what is the deal with you bashing people that feel the rivers of America should stay!? Every castle park has it. It’s essential! Let me ask you would walt approve of this random out of place cars land in cohesive pile of trash frontier land? No river = a hot park even hotter and less Disney esk … I’m done IT’s rediculous
It’s been disappointing that so many of my favorite Disney content creators aren’t pushing back about the loss of RofA. MK is my “Disneyland”. I’m not comparing it to the rest of the parks. Many families vacation every year or every other year, through generations, to WDW. Our nostalgia for MK has value too. It’s already upsetting once I started watching Disney news online, to find out how much more love Disney puts into Disneyland vs WDW. MK is the most visited park, it should be getting premium treatment. They really need to revisit their plans & accommodate the concerns of “Magic Kingdom” fans. We are the ones planning weeks long trips, staying in their overpriced resorts.
It seems you are bought and paid for …. A few years ago you would be supportive of the Rivers of America, and they would have looked for other options with the outcry. Now you are in line like a good little soldier. And then you ask for money so you can travel the world to support them. Why don’t you ask them, you seem to be in their pocket.
The Rivers of America provide site-lines for the Haunted Mansion, Libert Square, Frontier Land, Tiana's, and Big Thunder Mountain. It adds incredible beauty and ambiance to the park. It's peaceful and soothing, and provides some much needed cooling to combat the heated concrete. Plus, Americana has been such a big part of Walt's parks, as he had such tremendous love for America.
Just watched you video, love your channel. But about the Rivers Of America and Tom Sawyer island, love them also just to sit and watch them throughout the day is beautiful, Iconic. There is so much area beyond Thunder they could use for many lands and it wouldn’t destroy the beauty of this park. Also about Skyway, yes people would still be riding that ride , loved looking down at the park. Veronica and Todd
I think taking out a body of water in Magic Kingdom is not smart with how hot the park is in Florida. There is other area that could be developed with out having to do so much expensive demolition and changing the character of the park forever.
Irritated by this guy taking the Disney bait to censor the truth. Sellout grifter!
A jim henson museum would be amazing!
There is a Jim Henson museum at the museum of the moving image in New York. They also have a traveling exhibit.
Muppetvision closing at night makes sense because of the live actor. Still an ominous absence in this era
They better not remove Muppet Vision 3D otherwise I will riot
It’s happening. 😞
Anyone who praised Disney over TSI/ROA changing to talking cars with faces, splash mountain to TBA, country bears, that joke of an Epcot overhaul, and etc it’s all their fault for allowing Disney to change that, which then made Disney think “we can change anything we want”, and the excuse “but this is the last thing Henson worked on!”…..so? They’ve been destroying Walt’s stuff for years, you think Henson isn’t free range?
Seems likely unfortunately
Form an angry mob, that’s my answer
We would never go to Hollywood again. It’s mostly garbage. Muppets vs Monsters? Muppets are classic. Watch Rainbow Connection.
Man, why are you scaring me with that title? I’m already worried for Muppets! Disney, please don’t take my Muppets!
To get you to watch just a great episode of WDWNT! is all 😂
They use clickbait titles.
They gotta do it for the gram
DCA peaked in 2015 with an improved entrance while retaining Paradise Pier, Tower of Terror & Bugs Land.
Beyond imitating MGM Studios with the entrance I’m not sure how Iger “fixed” the park, especially considering a Cars Land was planned prior to park premier. DCA’s still a 3/4 day park too, so maybe a couple hrs of capacity added, but way less puns😢😂
I’m convinced that Bob Iger is not capable of making any rational decisions that will benefit the Walt Disney company. I’m not sure if the American parks can survive destruction until the next director vote
Disney knows that Muppet Vision 3D is beloved and that it makes more sense to locate Monsters Inc. land at the Animation Courtyard. So I guess it's goodbye Muppet Vision.
you just said two opposing things that don’t make sense together at all. 😭😂
If underutilization of MV3D is an issue, they could rotate the show with a 15-min Jim Henson documentary like One Man’s Dream. That would be fantastic. And let’s get that store back open, with some museum-like elements. Seeing actual screen-used muppets would be incredible.
I know it's not news and a bit of inside baseball, but I'd love to see a small behing the scenes series about WDWNT as a business. How you run your operations, etc. I know it wouldn't be for everybody, but I'm weird like that and would find it interesting 😅
you are not the only one!
The Mister Roger’s/Red Trolley joke made my night 😂😂thank you
IPs make the parks WORSE not better
I think they should keep the Liberty Bell permanently moored and converted to a dining/entertainment venue across from Tiana’s Bayou.
Absolutely, Dining or character meet & greet. Some jazz playing, it would be awesome. Preserve a little bit of water there for the ambience & cooling effects. I think this would help ease the concerns of many. Even if the boat just had seating on it (it could then help to still function as that get away from the crowds space)
Agreed! I said the same thing to my wife when this was announced. Make it a permanent quick service. I really hope care is more towards get back they leave the water in the front.
Would be a good option. That's what's happen with two paddle steamers in California...most notably the Delta King in Sacramento.
Great venue for a restaurant and live music.
Good idea!
I actually care MORE about Rivers of America, even though I also feel worried about Muppets. It is unique and irreplaceable. But filling in a gorgeous, peaceful river is LUDICROUS. Shoving cars next to the frontier strip is horrifying. Potentially hearing engines from the Haunted Mansion would be an affront (let’s hope that’s not possible!!!). And basically we take 1/3 of the Magic Kingdom and turn it into Legoland or Peppa Pig. CONCRETE KINGDOM. No thanks. Please complain more. Your voice is louder than ours so to speak!!
I agree completely. I’ve been very disappointed how most of the Disney content creators have been accepting of the loss of Rivers of America. Muppets doesn’t matter to me (so I only care about the loss of that, because it means a lot to others). But RofA 😢. I think what these creators are failing to understand is that Magic Kingdom is my “Disneyland”. I’ve never been to anywhere but WDW & probably won’t get the opportunity to go to any of the other parks. My family memories & Nostalgia through 3 generations included RofA & TSI. I’d be ok seeing TSI improved/rethemed. I’d live with seeing RofA shortened or even made into a crescent lake with the Boat docked & repurposed. These compromises would take up less land & at least preserve some of the history & theming that we all love. I’m really not excited for a Cars ride. I liked those movies but it was a long time ago. My son who’s 12 was never really even into them, so I don’t buy their generational appeal. We aren’t even getting Radiator Springs, which is the cool part. How tall will kids need to be to ride this? Feels more aimed to young Disney adults at the expense of Families that travel to WDW for vacations. I feel like most people would have preferred a shorter RofA loop, make TSI better & then get on with building Villians land behind. That’s the land people really want. That would preserve the views from the Haunted Mansion & Big Thunder Mountain. Instead, this whole area is going to be wrecked under construction for years & I don’t trust them to make it fit right. If they fail, it will RUIN Magic Kingdom. In which case I might as well just drive to Cedar Point vs fly to Orlando
I’m also into Universal for the thrill aspect-it has always been more about the adventure/“cool” factor than the beauty. Their walking paths and hotels are lovely, but nothing breathtaking and fanciful like Animal Kingdom or Cinderella castle.
I believe Epic Universe is finally going to address that. The Constellation Carousel alone is sooooo gorgeous, and surrounded by waterfalls etc. I believe they are going to get this right. I think they got better creatives in this current generation-OR perhaps let them off the leash more.
Hope you come check it out when it opens if MK goes downhill. I am really hoping they cancel this whole concrete fiasco though! In fact, cars would be really cool if they antiqued them, EXPANDED TS’s island and had them racing over bridges and back to a peninsula by big thunder mountain. That would be fine for them to anthropomorphize the cars if they were antique turn of the century cars and suited the vibe. Make a new Ip. Gosh they could make a new movie out of that 🤣
The other influencers/streamers get freebies from Disney so they are never going to tell the truth
Rivers of America provides a beautiful sightline from not one but 2 lands, and 3 e ticket attractions. It provides a breeze in a park where people complain about heat. They should just park the boat and build cars on the island and possibly fill in half the river. But disney is playing with its fundamental rules of sight lines and its beauty which has always been its upper hand against universal. The negative space provided by the river makes disney feel more like a premium experience and less like a tacky concrete jungle. It also takes away the adventurous spirit of being in a far away place when riding big thunder, tiana’s, or waiting in line for mansion. It is a big shame. It goes against what we know about both theme park design and the design of public spaces in general. In a world where everyone is overstimulated, being in the presence of a serene body of water which psychologically whisks you away to a far away place is more precious than ever.
The moments of witnessing quiet beauty and having those serene moments to take it in is what makes castle parks magical. It’s what makes us come back to the hustle and bustle of waiting in lines in the heat all day. Because it takes us out of it and we don’t remember our whole day as a stressful overstimulating day. These understated moments improve guest satisfaction more than people realize. This is the barges in world showcase all over again. Except this time, it’s permanent and far more of an eyesore.
Moreover, If they park and refurbish the liberty bell into a restaurant, they can drastically lower maintenance costs, turn the liberty bell into a profit, not have to empty the river as often, and they can get rid of the liberty bell maintenance dock and use it for park space. They can do everything they set out to do AND PROFIT from it without removing the water.
I usually respect your opinion even though I don’t always agree but disney world is the most visited disney park. It’s most people’s introduction to the parks. Our scenery is just as important as disneyland’s but in a completely different way. Disneyland holds the importance of having reverence for the history. Disney World is Disney’s representation to the world. Doing this will only solidify people’s recent perception of disney parks being souless and tacky. It will stray us even further from the days where the world looked to disney with awe and wonder.
Tom: the red car trolley can’t roll through Pandora!
Also Tom: cartoon Jeeps in Frontierland? It’s about damn time!
What they need to do is
1 turn that meh Backyard BBQ into a quality Pizza Planet
2 turn Pizza Rizzo into a Muppet Lab Kitchen with Bunsen and Beaker and have fun Muppet inspired food
3 resurrect Muppet Mobile Labs and have it roaming the area throughout the day
4 bring back the meet and greets…not the creepy ones
5 turn that abandoned store into a museum as you suggested
6 bring back the Great Moments in History if only for special events…yes that was MK but still a fun show
Jim did so much in his short life and despite HBO changing everything Sesame Street is still going strong
You're really fooling yourself if you think Muppetvison, or anything else at the parks is "untouchable," especially when Disney has underutilized the Muppets for almost the entire time they've owned them. Just because Disney *knows* how much people love them, doesn't mean they actually *care* about them, and it's as funny as it is sad that you think they're a permanent fixture.
It’s DUMB to remove the Red Car Trolly after spending so much money building it in the first place. How many millions did they waste on that only to yank it a decade later now? That’s not a real good return on investment. I have a hard time believing they are doing this. Also, the trolly is more than just 10 guests, it’s kinetic atmosphere which is something that can’t be replaced as well as something they use for shows and have Mickey and Minnie on.
As to where they could build another barn, the answer to that is next to Guardians. There is room, they just have to reconfigure things.
Just a quick reminder that not that long ago, Disney executives were quoted as saying “There are no more sacred cows.”
I was really sad that they took MuppetVision 3D away in California Adventure. It was one of my favorite attractions. I will have to make it to Orlando one of these days. Thanks for all the work you all do to bring us this information.
Why isn’t Disney flat out saying that the Muppets is staying? In my opinion, the only reason why Disney hasn’t told the public that Muppets is safe is because Monsters Inc is going there or they’re seriously considering it. If the land is going on Animation Courtyard, it can’t be that expensive to draw some more concept art to keep fans from speculating. While I hope the backlash can convince them otherwise, I’m resigned to the fact that Muppets will be replaced.
Open a park map for Hollywood studios. The animation courtyard is a very small, underwhelming area and as Tom said, office space and parking garage behind it. AC will become monsters inc land. Once that area is rethemed and expanded, Hollywood studios will have much improved guest dispersement throughout
If they close muppets I’m boycotting the parks
Less people in the parks. I’ll take it. Remove it
Muppetvision is the best show in any theme park ever (my opinion)
Good riddance!
I never really liked the Muppets that much but I like the show.
Completely agree with the comments about Jim Henson and how amazing would a museum to his legacy be. I love muppets.
The Skyway is not gone because it wasn't a well-liked fun experience. People love the Skyliner now and view it as something more than just transportation. Your revisionist history on the River of American defies the facts. The DL version was constructed at some expense and great difficulty. The trouble they had with keeping the water from draining is an often-told story and constructing a river boat was not a budget friendly decision. The river is an integral component of the story Walt wanted to tell. The budget cutting choice would have been to leave the area as some dirt, trails, trees and call it the West. WDW as a copy of DL has ROA because it is telling the same story. Disney can tell a new story if they wish but stop portraying ROA as some kind of an insignificant waste of acreage.
I really enjoy Muppet Vision and I would maybe put it in my top 5 Attractions at DHS, but I just dont quite understand the pedestal that people put it on, even if it was Jim's last project. To each their own but I feel that Rivers of America/Tom Sawyer Island/Liberty Square Riverboat is a far greater loss than if they would close MuppetVision. Saying that the Frontierland trio is no longer relevent is a statement I cant get behind. The Rivers of America is the most beautiful area of the Magic Kingdom, and I think an area where kids and adults can explore and get away from the crowds will never go out of date. Not everything has to be a high-profile thrill attraction.
The closure of the trolley just shows the lack of direction with DCA 2.0. They had no idea they were going to convert Tower of Terror, Avengers campus was going to be built, and now Avatar likely taking over the 'backlot' area. They continue to develop areas in DCA with no cohesive plan for what they are doing.
NO! THEY SHOULDN'T CLOSE THE TROLLEY!! and the MUPPETS ARE A CLASSIC!!!
Shut up! They weren’t a good and plus, nobody ever pays attention anymore!
Disney California Adventure sadly lost its coherent theming. The Tokyo parks are the only Disney parks in the whole world that will maintain its theming and consistency.
I for one, will miss the mechanical marvel known as the Red Car Trolley. Although I only travelled on the streetcar once, I would watch it pass by every single time it came my way. It is/was awesome to look at, and as you remarked, the kinetic energy it provides to Buena Vista Street will be missed. Nice update today. Thanks!
I like that Deadpool isn’t worried about being on the media list. 😂
I love Muppet Vision 3D. I would be pretty upset if Disney closed it.
I’m so glad the fairy tale boat ride is reopening and I’m thrilled about Up, but I am really sad Oz has gone. I adored the Oz scene.
Happy to help, love the content!
I usually respect your opinion even though I don't always agree but as someone who has always stood up for having “reverence for your past”. I don’t seem to understand how you are okay with disney ignoring its fundamental rule of sight lines when it comes to rivers of america. Obviously regular people do not even know what the waterway is even called and if you tell someone “they are taking away the rivers of america” they wouldn’t know what you’re talking about. However, popularity is not the point. The rivers psychologically whisk us away to the far away places that are the frontier and a remote desolate mansion. Walt knew that witnessing quiet beauty and having those serene moments to take it in is where a lot of the magic lives. Just listen to the recording of what he had to say about the tranquility of disneyland at night. This understanding is what separates a castle park from a studios park. I agree with you that the liberty bell and tom sawyers island may be outdated, and i’m not a purist that believes that they should exist as is. They can park the boat and possibly fill in half the river to make new use of tom sawyers island but the removal of the waterway is going to take away from the magic and it is a loss. Whether we are aware of it or not these serene moments take us away from remembering our park days as hot sweaty stressful days of waiting in lines. The water provides breeze as well in a park where heat is one of the main complaints by the average joe. Removing the water goes against every precedent in the design of enjoyable public spaces and will only solidify people's recent perception that disney parks are tacky concrete jungles that can only be enjoyed by children. It will stray us even further from the days where people of all ages looked to disney with awe, wonder, and respect for successful and innovative urban design. So yes, I believe preserving disney magic and the sight lines of 2 lands and 3 e ticket attractions is more important than muppets.
Tom has lost his clear vision thanks to Disney - who a while back bought him. 😖😰😡
@@ellenpeterson6017 I believe he’s not swayed by the media passes and things. He’s still very honest about alot of things that don’t paint disney in the most positive light.
As a puppeteer I agree with you about MuppetVision 3D
Saying "speed" in response to mobility issues is a weird non sequitur. people who have trouble walking very often have to sacrifice time for accessibility.
I concur. 😇 Unfortunately, those who are not disabled will not truly understand that. 🤔
That deadpool actor is absolutely fired lol
People want the parks to compete with universal but don't want to let go of 35+ year old attractions. I don't get that
Maybe the Rivers of America isn’t relevant, but is the World Showcase Lagoon really relevant? That could be prime attractions space right there. Maybe there isn’t the same level of capacity issues in Epcot, but would paving over this element in the environment be any more tragic there than optimizing the most luxuriously peaceful spot in the Magic Kingdom?
To me Disneyland Park really needs more love than just reimagining existing attractions. I was really disappointed that the rumours about adding new attractions didn’t come true at D23. I hope they will be giving more love to that park after the expansion of Walt Disney Studios Park soon to be Disney Adventure World has been completed and become a success.
At least it is historically accurate that the Red Trollies are going away. For those that dont know, LA had a Red Car trolly that was running I believe up until the 1920’s. They were bought out by a portion of the automobile industry and promptly closed so they could push cars more. This was really one of the last times LA had a good public transit system. You can say they have tried to work on that but they still have a ways to go. Maybe they will hurry and get stuff done before the Olympics but I doubt it. Anyway the Trolly would have been around when Walt came to California so that is why it was a good fit but Im not surprised that they are closing it. It would be nice if they have the car out for a photo op. I actually liked parts of the original DCA. I like the second version too but there are things I miss.
The Deadpool thing is for sure on brand and you should expect that when you bring in Deadpool to the parks. I hope they keep it permanently because I wont be going out for a month or two. I am excited to see things done that were closed the last time I was there like the Treehouse.
Can you please add the News Today logo back to the thumbnails for News Today? It feels like a guessing game whether it’s a review or vlog or ride video when I’m just trying to watch the news
We were advised to clean our thumbnails by our RUclips consultants
Agreed
Very confusing to figure out
I’ve almost skipped watching not knowing what each video was
Shame, I was really hoping The Country Bears would take their Playhouse back from Pooh.
The removal of the trolley. The removal of the River of America at the Magic Kingdom. Man, there's nobody at Imagineering or parks who gets what makes a place a place. Instead of removing the trolley, they should reroute it down the parade route, down to the San Fransokyo/Little Mermaid area, and then have it return to the front of the park.
It would be fun to have the Trolley run to the Paradise Gardens and eventually to the Disneyland Forward space where a new barn could be built closest to the Southern Disneyland Hotel tower. The Trolley could then be used as a special entrance/exit for hotel guests for early morning bonus time in the park.
They could run the trollies with far fewer employees. Do they really need people to man “stations”? They’re also always calling into dispatch when they move? Meanwhile the Main Street vehicles are mostly ran by just the driver.
With Disney so focused on merchandising I’m really surprised they don’t keep that muppets store open. I’d be more likely to spend money in that store than a lot of other stores in the parks.
Same. I'd buy a boatload of Rizzo merch for sure.
You are soooooo right about the Muppets. Muppetvision and the rivers of America are not the same. I wish Disney would do more with the Muppets.
WIGS membership is 100% worth it! Love the Discord discussion.
We love you tom and wdw news!! Liking and always sharing the word with friends for support! Wdw news has helped me and my fiancé so many times to learn about new mugs coming out and then registration dates for run disney, oogie boogie etc. we needed to set a calendar reminder for, without the team our Disney experiences wouldn’t be the same
Just wanted to add that I really enjoyed this content in this episode of the news. I really like when Tom add more detail, history, commentary, and even the occasional rant or approval of a Disney decision to the news stories. I check the app daily for the main story, but news is where I look for a bit more. Even when Eric covers, when he added something to the story it is so much better received. I really enjoy Tom & Eric together on the podcast and who doesn’t love the adventure of Nana.
Any possibility that Disney is essentially floating a trial balloon for the eventual removal of MuppetVision? Measuring the outrage in advance. I really don't think the space is big enough for what the Monsters land should be. I wish they would just create some new episodes of the Muppet show to go in the MuppetVision theater. Imagine if they went the StarTours route and had a rotating set of 3D episodes with different guest stars. It would be AMAZING.
I think that's a possibility, especially because it's not like people have been dying for a Monsters Inc ride. It does look like a fun concept, and it is one of my favorite Pixar movies, but I don't think it has the popularity of many of the other ones to really justify replacing anything, let alone the Muppets.
Dude, usually i agree with mostly everything but the skyway not being popular.... you are bugging. Clearly you never go to any other theme parks that still have skyways. The lines are always crazy long. Always. Its a beautiful view, on a hot day it is nice and airy, it gives you a bit of a backstage view. And, the last time I was in Disney when the skyway still existed, it was the same situation. Always a long line, a nice break from walking and an easy way to get across the park without hoofing it. Comparing it to muppets is apples to oranges.
Hey Tom! Absolutely love your idea for a Jim Henson museum as part of the Muppets land👍
Why 😭 is Disney getting rid of it's transportation history that's insane we need the Red car I have high blood pressure and it's transportation Is important to me I need to ride transportation Walt Disney was a patriot and a transportation buff he whould roll over in his grave over messing with transportation
I think the writing is absolutely on the wall, Muppets is gone, it's time to deal with as a cold hard fact. The company that was more than willing (and may still) fill in the Rivers of America you think is going to get nostalgic about a muppet show? please.
Red Car Trolley, yeah that needs to go for any expansion over there, no tears for it going who rides that more than once in a lifetime?
That's Deadpool, without all the swearing, I think it's absolutely perfect for the character. Whether or not you want the character is another question all together, but while he is in the park expect the "edgy" nature of what he says to be normal. If you don't like it, don't take your kids there.
Thank you so much for all of the great content you provide. 😊
Why do you keep talking about the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island as if it was designed to be high capacity? If it was supposed to be high capacity you wouldn’t need to board a raft to get over there. You don’t design an area with a large body of water to be high capacity. It about the vista, placemaking ambiance and you know that. Stop trying to shift the focus to how many people are visiting Tom Sawyer Island. Very disingenuous.
What are you talking about…
@@WDWNT Riiiight
I’m not happy about the lack of fight about RofA BUT I’m not sure WDWNT has been the main pushers of the increased capacity view. Some others have though. But all of these creators have the privilege of also going to Disneyland & overseas parks. I personally think that is why they don’t seem as attached to these “classic” pieces of Magic Kingdom as some of us are.
@@WDWNT I understand that you haven’t spoken much about capacity on this issue and have focused more on utilization of this space in order to have more space to expand and possibly increase guest satisfaction. However, as someone who has always spoken out about having “reverence for your past”. I don’t seem to understand how you are okay with disney ignoring its fundamental rule of sight lines when it comes to rivers of america. Obviously regular people do not even know what the waterway is even called and if you tell someone “they are taking away the rivers of america” they wouldn’t know what you’re talking about. However, popularity is not the point. The rivers psychologically whisk us away to the far away places that are the frontier and a remote desolate mansion. Walt knew that witnessing quiet beauty and having those serene moments to take it in is where a lot of the magic lives. Just listen to the recording of what he had to say about the tranquility of disneyland at night. This understanding is what separates a castle park from a studios park. I agree with you that the liberty bell and tom sawyers island may be outdated, and i’m not a purist that believes that they should exist as is. They can park the boat and possibly fill in half the river to make new use of tom sawyers island but the removal of the waterway is going to take away from the magic and it is a loss. Whether we are aware of it or not these serene moments take us away from remembering our park days as hot sweaty stressful days of waiting in lines. The water provides breeze as well in a park where heat is one of the main complaints by the average joe. Removing the water goes against every precedent in the design of enjoyable public spaces and will only solidify people's recent perception that disney parks are tacky concrete jungles that can only be enjoyed by children. It will stray us even further from the days where people of all ages looked to disney with awe, wonder, and respect for successful urban design. So yes, I believe preserving disney magic and the sight lines of 2 lands and 3 e ticket attractions is more important than muppets.
@@Emily-lb7rf maybe not so much in this particular video (certainly made that point a lot stronger in his Rivers of America video) but he did say TSI is not relevant. Not relevant meaning that’s why nobody is going there and that’s why it’s expendable. I’m saying that how many visitors TSI gets is a moot point. Not only was it never designed to be high capacity but the value of the River complex is immeasurable to the atmosphere of that part of the park. The ambiance in that area will be completely altered. You can tell what the imagineers think of the Cars ride going in Frontierland/ Liberty Square. They’re building a ring of trees around the whole thing. Lol
What? No trolley? You serious? That's it for me. No more Disney. Trolley is the only reason I ever went to DCA. I paid hard-earned money to go to that park just to ride the trolley. I'm done with 'em! 😁
I also will never go back to DL. RCT sets entire feeling for Buena Vista St.
Thanks!
One benefit of removing the trolley is having no restriction on the height of parade floats. I mean, what they did with the Little Mermaid float in Paint the Night was just...
What would help guest dispersement at Hollywood Studios is if they had more smaller dark rides and such that weren’t on LL that would be used as filler rides. Right now there are very few filler rides at the park which bumps up those wait times on all the other rides. Like Alien Swirling Saucers should not be on LL. Neither should any of the shows. I understand why they have the LL but they could really help the guest experience even for those that pay for LL by adding low density rides to balance the experience for all.
Love that Gertie! ❤ 🦕 Good luck at Food and Wine!
Enough with those MuppetVision rumors already!
Do you want Disney to ruin Jim Henson's reputation?
MuppetVision closing in Hollywood Studios would be enough for me not to go to Hollywood Studios anymore and go to Universal for a few days instead.
Iger needs to retire. Ten years and a CEO should HAVE to move on. Eisner was the same.
All of these “ charm changes” hurt the feel of the park. These changes - starting with Pandora at AK - are reactionary to Universal rather than proactive for quality parks and experiences.
Disney has lost it under this management.
If the Red Car goes away, they need to haul one of the trolley cars to Florida, and make it a static display. It can go in that empty nook in Hollywood Studios by the front entrance, where there's nothing, for a photo op.
WTF is up with charging for EVERYTHING! Remember when extra magic went until 2am and was free if you stayed at a resort. I have so many great memories with my wife staying til 2am
39:50 I just want to say that Return to OZ is my 5 year old daughter's favorite movie!
As usual, good news segment with good analysis. I have seen a lot of people saying, "I miss this ride". Tom, you about the Great Movie Ride or Offhand Disney's obsession with the PeopleMove at DL. The Redcar is meh for me. When I went to MGM Disney Studios in '95, it wasn't there. I like the ideas offered by Brickey about how cool transportation fitted into Walt's vision of things moving (e.g. Skyway, PeopleMover, Autopia, the submarines and the monorail at DL). But I think I road the Redcar in a subsequent trip. Everyone has their favorite ride, a lot of which no longer exist. Me, as a kid in the 60's in Disneyland, the boats and any of the Autopias, well, they didn't make it. Yes, I miss the Skyway. I tried to get my daughters to ride the SkyLiner with me on my last trip to WDW, but no-go. Hey, it's even free! Reminds me of how we considered the DL tram a "ride" from those old days. Heck, the Tiki Room was my Mom's favorite "experience" and when Iago and Zazu took over, I thought it was ridiculous.
Things have to change, or WDW (or any Disney park) will become that sad, empty place that Arthur C. Clarke talked about in a book version of 2001. Hey, when the star child goes back , I guess Dave Bowman was being nostalgic. I'm glad you have a balanced view on the subject.
And having Brickey come to your "station", well, that was also cool.
I really wish they would fix the air conditioner in Space Ship earth. When we used to bring the kids when they were little, it used to be freezing in there. Now you go and it’s barely cooler than the outside, even in winter. Since moving here, I haven’t gone on one day that it wasn’t hot and that is the park I go to the most. I really hope they redo the ride but keep the concept and just making it a better version. If it is overhauled and changed a bunch I will not be ok.
Love your Muppets ideas Tom,hope Disney is listening!
Didn't the Skyway cut across the Park? Wasn't *that* the point? A restful, scenic trip to somewhere else in the Park.
This is wild! I can’t believe some of the responses to comments - “it’s a bold move cotton, let’s see if it works out for him!”
Roger Rabbit is now officially a documentary....
Disney just casually out here destroying their Orlando parks. First Epcot, and now Magic Kingdom by removing the Rivers of America. About time they created some original attractions rather than using IP all the time..
Mickey's RARR doesn't compare to the GMR.
Epcot logic: Let us get rid of the Figment feet but let’s restore the lightning bolt!
Wasn’t the Animation Courtyard supposed to be the museum of how cartoons were made? We can see what Disney thinks of non-revenue-generating areas, they get removed as fast as the Star Wars Hotel. As much as you or I would love an exhibit like that, I would rather see the Muppets Gift Shop reopen with some unique merch. Or just “Hard Rock Cafe” it up and blend the two as a walk through store.
Yo, I was probably 7 when the skyway closed. I still get angry when I think about it (same with Mr. Toad). I guess the skyliner makes it a little less upsetting.
Tiny bit of feedback -- can you bump the audio level by ~3dB, so that it is in the expected range (so I don't have to turn up the volume every time)?
I believe RUclips wants a range of -5dB .. -6dB, but you are running at -9.4dB.
From "Stats for Nerds" for this video: 100% / DRC (content loudness -9.4dB)
Remember when Bob iger spent 2 billion dollars on California adventure to fix it. Including a plaza and was also the one to add the red trolleys.
‘Fix it’ I think you meant
Tom! Disneyland is my home resort. Totally agree with you on the red car trolley. And, I miss the newsie show so much. The atmosphere on Buena Vista st prior to Covid was so beautiful.
Anything can happen. Look at all the rehab work to the ferry and rivers of America. It's still getting removed it seems. I don't feel Muppets are safe even with the rehab work.
We do love doing muppets but our kids love it and that’s what goes the distance.
I upgraded my Patreon/WIGS from $7 to $33 - happy to help out.
Next time you are in NYC, visit the Jim Henson exhibit at the museum of moving image.