Disneyland Project Tracker

[FutureImagineer183]

Originally Posted by MasterGracey

If a real, working bank is no longer feasible on Main Street USA, then Disney should properly usher it into Yesterland. Remove it completely. If they want to make the space into an art gallery, then do it. Just do it right. Make it a proper gallery space as it would have been in the early 1900s. Not a 1900s-bank-turned-art-gallery. That makes zero sense and is another step towards eroding the overall Main Street USA theme.

In my honest opinion, I think this could work and I rather see them convert the bank to the art gallery paying homage to the fact that it used to be a bank then just demoing it and starting from scratch. But who knows, it could turn out that it will be exclusivley a art gallery with the bank sign removed, which is what I think will happen. Maybe the only refrence that it was a bank would be the vault and the teller windows. But we'll wait and see. I'm just really excited the gallery is coming back!

[MasterGracey]

The LA Times Funland blog has an interesting article on the new Flotsam and Jetsam characters in Fantasmic!

Flotsam and Jetsam eels to join Fantasmic cast at Disneyland

When Disneyland decided to incorporate Ursula’s evil eels Flotsam and Jetsam from “Little Mermaid” into the updated Fantasmic show, master puppeteer Michael Curry drew inspiration from a novelty shop wooden wiggle snake.

“I wanted a sense of swimming, of serpentine motion and menace,” said Curry, a long-time Disney collaborator. “Since it’s an underwater movie, it made sense to use the water as a stage.”

Curry’s puppets have appeared in the opening ceremonies of the 1996 and 2002 Olympics, the Super Bowl XXXIV halftime show, the Broadway production of “The Lion King,” the Cirque du Soleil production of “Love” in Las Vegas, the “Aladdin” stage show at Disney’s California Adventure and countless parades at Disney theme parks.

To tackle the task of bringing Flotsam and Jetsam to life, Curry and his crew employed an eel puppet mounted on top of a nimble high-performance Jet Ski.

The 34-foot-long aluminum pontoon sub-frame — built of military-grade super-lightweight carbon fiber and a stainless steel typically used in submarines — pivots at 14 points just like the toy snake.

The ingenious invention faced one huge hurdle: “Boats tend to turn over,” Curry said.

To avoid disaster on Disneyland’s Rivers of America, test puppeteers put the “Jetsam Ski” through its paces in a river near Curry’s production facility outside Portland, Ore.

The tests immediately revealed that the friction of the water turbulence put too much drag on the lightweight fabric attached to the subframe.

The solution: a weather-resistant awning-like fabric that pulled over the sub-frame like a pillowcase.

To avoid the robotic animations of computer-programmed audio-animatronics, Curry designed the Flotsam and Jetsam eels to be brought to life by puppeteers. The Jet Skis can operate in manual or automatic mode, depending on the physical demands placed on the driver/puppeteer.

“I always try to put the human at the heart of it,” Curry said.

The updated Fantasmic show, part of Disneyland’s Summer Nightastic promotion, makes itsofficial debut June 12 at 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. “Soft opening” previews of the Anaheim theme park’s all-new Magical fireworks show are underway.

[bfdf55]

Originally Posted by MasterGracey

Yeah, it makes sense if we're visiting an old Main Street in 2009... but when we step onto Main Street, aren't we supposed to be entering Main Street circa 1905? Why would this small town's big bank be out of business and taken over by an art gallery?

So much for traveling back to the turn-of-the-century.

Well, considering that the rest of Main Street has essentially become a mall, the Gallery in the bank isn't that much of an issue.

[MasterGracey]

Originally Posted by bfdf55

Well, considering that the rest of Main Street has essentially become a mall, the Gallery in the bank isn't that much of an issue.

Multiple wrongs don't make a right.

We don't need to go the route of the Magic Kingdom and let our fire station and Cinema become stores and Center Street become an Emporium extension.

[themur]

In my town there is an old bank building which is being used as a travel agency. It is clearly a bank building and actually looks good as a building in the context of the shopping district but it isn't a bank.

Thanks for the link regarding the new Flotsam and Jetsam additions to Fantasmic!

[bfdf55]

Originally Posted by MasterGracey

Multiple wrongs don't make a right.

We don't need to go the route of the Magic Kingdom and let our fire station and Cinema become stores and Center Street become an Emporium extension.

Well, I can appreciate your concern about the situation. I've also had intense reactions to their improperly messing with themes. Of course, while some (Pirates) just don't seem to be as critical, others (Tom Sawyer's Island) were not as easy to swallow or just downright wrong (IASW).

However, as the bank will probably never be a bank again, this option is definitely more palatable than their turning it into another plush or pin shop. Maybe by accepting the Gallery, we can exert pressure to correct some of the other mistakes (Penny Arcade, watch shop) that have been made in the past.

[MasterGracey]

Originally Posted by themur

In my town there is an old bank building which is being used as a travel agency. It is clearly a bank building and actually looks good as a building in the context of the shopping district but it isn't a bank.

Thanks for the link regarding the new Flotsam and Jetsam additions to Fantasmic!

Your present-day town is repurposing the former bank for a new business. That's fine. Your town isn't trying to transport its residents and guests to 1905. Main Street, U.S.A. is.

Originally Posted by bfdf55

Well, I can appreciate your concern about the situation. I've also had intense reactions to their improperly messing with themes. Of course, while some (Pirates) just don't seem to be as critical, others (Tom Sawyer's Island) were not as easy to swallow or just downright wrong (IASW).

However, as the bank will probably never be a bank again, this option is definitely more palatable than their turning it into another plush or pin shop. Maybe by accepting the Gallery, we can exert pressure to correct some of the other mistakes (Penny Arcade, watch shop) that have been made in the past.

I have absolutely no problem with the Bank of Main Street becoming the new Disney Gallery. Considering the proximity to the Opera House, and the accessibility for artist signings, it makes perfect sense.

My issue is that if they're going to repurpose the location and turn it into an art gallery, then they need to do that. This is not Main Street USA circa 2009. This is still Main Street USA circa 1905. It makes no sense why this turn-of-the-century town would no longer need their main town bank anymore. This town is, thematically, just getting started!

If Disney wants to use the Bank of Main Street for the Disney Gallery, then they should completely remove all remnants of the bank -- pretend Main Street never had a bank. It should look like the town's art gallery, and it should feel like the town has always had this art gallery. It shouldn't feel like this town has an art gallery setting up shop in a out-of-business bank.

[AaronInCal]

I like the idea of the Gallery in the Bank. It will still be keeping the bank building, which every Main St in small towns have. Just like the Emporium sells typical theme park stuff hardly found way back in the 1900s. The bank has not really been an actual bank for some time. So it's not like it would be that drastic a change, like if they were to make the Cinema in to a shop. Now that would be huge.

[Tomorrowland Tourist]

I had no idea the Magic Kingdom converted their Fire House into a store -- that's really a shame.

Just because a bank is an art gallery does not mean we are not in turn-of-the-century America anymore. It would have been most appropriate for Disney to change the name of the Bank to the "Main Street Gallery" or something of the sort, but there are many options Disney can take to make the gallery's new location work.

Option A involves Disney doing nothing, and I think this the most likely option. What I mean by nothing is that Disney will install their gallery exhibits without doing anything to the bank's infrastructure or signage. The risk is that a few guests, in addition to a good majority of Disney nuts and AP's, will collectively scratch their heads at this addition. Furthermore, the latter group would most likely flood City Hall angry mob style. However, the display of art in a bank could have easily been something they did in turn-of-the century America. I'm not saying it did happen, but who is to say it didn't?

Option B involves Disney trying to spin a narrative based on what Tony Baxter said in the D23 press release:

Originally Posted by MasterGracey

"We have a bank, and certainly people thing of banks as rarified places where you protect and keep things. And it has an incredible antique vault that you can walk into. So it becomes this exquisite, shall I say elegant and prestigious, room.

So it's obvious that such a statement is a stretch of what people normally think of when they think bank, but you cannot deny the correlation between an art gallery and money. Individuals could always purchase art at galleries, and it was a great way to drive revenues for artists that reside in a city or town, and in this case, a turn-of-the-century town modeled after Marceline, Missouri. In fact, I would argue that the bank was relevant as an AP processing center. Money was exchanged (kind of, since you buy the AP at the gate), and a service is provided. This is very similar to how you can receive different services from banks (e.g. notary services, buying stamps).

Anyways, option B would see Disney attempt to implement this as a story for the attraction. They would still call it the Bank of Main Street via exterior signage, but maybe The Disney Gallery at the Bank of Main Street is what we would see on the park map. The idea that makes most sense is if the vault is sealed. This could represent the Bank being closed, as if it was a national holiday or a Sunday, and reverting to a gallery setting instead.

Finally, option C is where Disney would change the Bank to an actual Gallery. I guess this is the best option, but it is also the most unlikely. They would have to take out the teller counters, the vault, and change exterior signage.

Nevertheless, I still wish the Disney Gallery was above Pirates, what I imagine the majority opinion is on MC. At least we are getting it back in some form.

[MasterGracey]

Originally Posted by AaronInCal

I like the idea of the Gallery in the Bank. It will still be keeping the bank building, which every Main St in small towns have. Just like the Emporium sells typical theme park stuff hardly found way back in the 1900s. The bank has not really been an actual bank for some time. So it's not like it would be that drastic a change, like if they were to make the Cinema in to a shop. Now that would be huge.

So, just because the Bank has been misused for years now, another different, but equally, if not more inappropriate use of the venue is perfectly okay?

This kind of reminds me of the "Well, Buzz Lightyear is a space-themed toy" arguments for his inclusion in Tomorrowland. Sorry, but it just doesn't fly.

[Tomorrowland Tourist]

^Can you think of a better example than Buzz Lightyear though? I feel that a space toy in a land celebrating the future is a glaring thematic failure.

An art gallery in a bank is not as big of a deal. A bank is charged with protecting assets, and maybe they are exhibiting the art that its town's citizens created. I think it's up to Disney to make it clear why a bank is exhibiting models and artwork.

[FutureImagineer183]

Originally Posted by MasterGracey

So, just because the Bank has been misused for years now, another different, but equally, if not more inappropriate use of the venue is perfectly okay?

This kind of reminds me of the "Well, Buzz Lightyear is a space-themed toy" arguments for his inclusion in Tomorrowland. Sorry, but it just doesn't fly.

WHOA! You cannot use the Buzz as reference, that is something COMPLETELY different. Buzz is WAY off in theme, a gallery in a bank is not that much of a departure in theme at all.

[Uncle Bob]

I have mixed feelings about the bank and gallery. I would probably prefer to go the way MG suggests, but I also feel like the bank is one of those critical elements that a small town should have. While I don't think most people would really notice it missing, it really should be there, and on some level it would be missed. I don't really find the Emporium arguement strong because it is a retail location, as are most of the shops. I guess in a sense what remains of the bank can be looked at as part of the gallery, just additional pieces of Imagineering history on display, and the exterior can keep the feel of that presence of a bank in town square. I don't know, it may not be perfect theming, but for all the good aspects it brings and the fact that loosing the bank completely or some of the items inside would be a shame, I'm not going to complain.

[MasterGracey]

Originally Posted by Tomorrowland Tourist

Option A involves Disney doing nothing, and I think this the most likely option. What I mean by nothing is that Disney will install their gallery exhibits without doing anything to the bank's infrastructure or signage. The risk is that a few guests, in addition to a good majority of Disney nuts and AP's, will collectively scratch their heads at this addition. Furthermore, the latter group would most likely flood City Hall angry mob style. However, the display of art in a bank could have easily been something they did in turn-of-the century America. I'm not saying it did happen, but who is to say it didn't?

How the signage issue will be handled is unknown at this time. I can see it going a couple ways -- the gold "Bank of Main Street" sign on the facade might be removed and be replaced with similar lettering that says "The Disney Gallery." Or, we might see a banner stretched across the front of the Bank sign that says "Now Showing: The Art of Disneyland" - which, considering Baxter description of a Gallery taking over the Bank, would make sense.

As for bank infrastructure -- the article says that the distinctly bank features will remain intact. Art will be hung up on the shuttered teller windows, the antique vault will become a walk-in closet for the Gallery's most special paintings. Every indication will be that we are still in a bank, but for some reason, an art Gallery is now leasing the place, and didn't take the time or money to make the place a real gallery space.

Originally Posted by Tomorrowland Tourist

Option B involves Disney trying to spin a narrative based on what Tony Baxter said in the D23 press release.

I'm sure there will be some convoluted underlying narrative about the Bank-turned-Gallery... ugh. Imagineering loves to call themselves storytellers.

[MasterGracey]

Originally Posted by Tomorrowland Tourist

^Can you think of a better example than Buzz Lightyear though? I feel that a space toy in a land celebrating the future is a glaring thematic failure.

Perhaps Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island, then?

The basic infrastructure of Tom Sawyer Island remains intact, and references to Tom are still there, but Pirates have invaded making little sense to the overall theme, much like the art gallery in the bank.

Originally Posted by FutureImagineer183

WHOA! You cannot use the Buzz as reference, that is something COMPLETELY different. Buzz is WAY off in theme, a gallery in a bank is not that much of a departure in theme at all.

A gallery in a bank is a significant departure if you actually consider the temporal setting of Main Street USA. Again, why would this booming town's primary bank be out of business and now be leased out by an art gallery? It might make sense for a lot of present-day towns' downtown districts, but Main Street USA is NOT set in the present day, it's still set in the turn-of-the-century.