Disneyland Project Tracker

[Cheshire]

No, I get your point however I don't agree with it. Your point is their choice of theming the bank being "taken over" as an art gallery doesn't make sense and you would prefer they gut it and start new as just an art gallery. My point is only that I think you are being too critical over something that isn't as out of theme as many other aspects of the park are. Sure you and I may recognize that it may not be a perfect choice for how to best theme the art gallery's new home on main street, but the majority of guests (other than us who are of the "hardcore" nature) probably won't even give this a second thought. I would rather see them fix other more glaring theme issues than this since I think it can still be plausible, even if there are other options that may potentially work better. I prefer them keeping a reference to the main street bank intact as I have friends who used to work there when it was still an actual functioning bank. Since that isn't coming back anytime soon, why not try to keep some of the history of the building there? For all we know many aspects of this project may change anyway, and I think it is too early to lay judgement on something until we know what the final product will be.

I am happy that we are getting the gallery back, and though I wish it never was removed from it's location above pirates I will still be happy to see it return.

[Lore]

They could have made movies on Main Street in Walt's day. All the set dressing was there. Even the Cinema was playing "The Great Train Robbery" from 1903 because Walt knew perfectly well when Mickey cartoons existed and it wasn't 1903.

Today, Main Street maintains the expensive steam trains and horse drawn cars, but fails on the little things. It's really bizzare. It's like no one at Disney even remembers the turn of the 19th century anymore.

The Bank/Gallery is just one more small thing in a long line of small things.

[mycroft16]

Originally Posted by RCT3

"Taken over" doesn't necesariyl mean that the Bank wne tout of business, to me atleast. A business or restaurant may be "taken over" and be under new managment, but it doesnt mean its no the same place.

Does this mean they are adding Iago?

[DznyFan17]

Originally Posted by mycroft16

Does this mean they are adding Iago?

HAHA thats just too good
I nearly feel outta my seat.

PS on the whole bank as an art gallery, why couldn't they just make it look like you were going inside the vault because a wealthy person in town wanted to store there art collection. makes sense to me since... you know art is valuble

[RCT3]

Originally Posted by DznyFan17

on the whole bank as an art gallery, why couldn't they just make it look like you were going inside the vault because a wealthy person in town wanted to store there art collection. makes sense to me since... you know art is valuble

Isn't that what they are doing? Like I said earlier, perhaps one of the wealthy people in town decided to sell his art collection so the bank decided to open up the vault and hold an art show to sell the stuff. Then if they go that route, it makes sense why the bank stuff is still there... because its still a bank. I think it could work very well.

[MasterGracey]

Originally Posted by Cheshire

No, I get your point however I don't agree with it. Your point is their choice of theming the bank being "taken over" as an art gallery doesn't make sense and you would prefer they gut it and start new as just an art gallery. My point is only that I think you are being too critical over something that isn't as out of theme as many other aspects of the park are. Sure you and I may recognize that it may not be a perfect choice for how to best theme the art gallery's new home on main street, but the majority of guests (other than us who are of the "hardcore" nature) probably won't even give this a second thought. I would rather see them fix other more glaring theme issues than this since I think it can still be plausible, even if there are other options that may potentially work better. I prefer them keeping a reference to the main street bank intact as I have friends who used to work there when it was still an actual functioning bank. Since that isn't coming back anytime soon, why not try to keep some of the history of the building there? For all we know many aspects of this project may change anyway, and I think it is too early to lay judgement on something until we know what the final product will be.

I am happy that we are getting the gallery back, and though I wish it never was removed from it's location above pirates I will still be happy to see it return.

So, basically, to summarize:

- The thematic issues with the Bank-taken-over-by-Gallery are there, but not as big as other thematic issues, so it's not important.

- "Regular" guests "won't notice" so it doesn't matter anyway.

- They should keep the Bank-turned-Gallery looking like a bank just so former CMs who worked there can have a place to go and relive their memories

- It's too early to judge something, even though we're going off information provided by the Imagineers themselves.


I don't know. I don't think any of these points hold much water. I think the worst offenders in your argument are the first two points. I fail to see how, just because one thematic problem is "smaller" than another, that it isn't important. Why not do it right the first time? Even if the problem isn't as big as others, why add to the list of thematic mis-steps at all?

And the argument that "regular" guests wouldn't notice is probably something that Walt would slap an Imagineer for.

[The Disneylander]

^ So what would you do? Leave it as a "bank" with modern equipment such as computers and digital cameras that take pictures of guests for their Annual Passports...in 1903?

That, IMO is a much more flagrant violation of theme than an art gallery.

[MasterGracey]

Originally Posted by The Disneylander

^ So what would you do? Leave it as a "bank" with modern equipment such as computers and digital cameras that take pictures of guests for their Annual Passports...in 1903?

That, IMO is a much more flagrant violation of theme than an art gallery.

No, I've already outlined the solution. If they want to put in an art gallery, then do it right. They need to completely repurpose the space and make it look like a real gallery. Take out the bank completely, pretend it was never there. Make it seem like this art gallery has always had a place on Main Street, make the concept work.

The convoluted gallery-invaded-a-bank idea/story is a waste of time, and is probably only being done for budgetary concerns.

As much as I appreciate Disneyland history, and that Walt procured an authentic antique bank vault for his Bank of Main Street, I think the creative integrity of Disneyland is more valuable. Move the bank vault door to the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. Put it on display somewhere at the Disneyland Hotel. But don't try to "save" it by keeping it where it is -- it no longer belongs, it's time to move on.

Obviously I'm in the minority here, but frankly, I think the transformation of the Bank into a Gallery/retail store is nearly as offensive as the Magic Kingdom's conversion of Center Street, Main Street Cinema, and the Firehouse into stores.

[Alpoe001]

Originally Posted by Lore

They could have made movies on Main Street in Walt's day. All the set dressing was there. Even the Cinema was playing "The Great Train Robbery" from 1903 because Walt knew perfectly well when Mickey cartoons existed and it wasn't 1903.

Today, Main Street maintains the expensive steam trains and horse drawn cars, but fails on the little things. It's really bizzare. It's like no one at Disney even remembers the turn of the 19th century anymore.

The Bank/Gallery is just one more small thing in a long line of small things.

I absolutly agree! Main Street USA is now just like every other themed shopping center in the world. The only things that take you back to 1900 is the architecture and the vehicles.

CM costumes are so generic now... not to mention leads do not make sure they are fitting correctly. Fashion, especially for women, was very strict during the turn of the century. Now you have the ugly photopass costumes all over the place... and the security has a regular set uniform (Bring back the keystone cop costumes! - heck costumeing still has the helmets sitting on a back shelf)

and what happened to when the shops were unique and had the feel of small town shops? the only shops that are well themed are Emporium, Mad Hatter, Fortuosity, Clothiers, and Market House.... everything else is too modern and Disney Store at the local mall.

Main Street needs more exhibits and attractions to focus the Turn-of-the-century theme. and why no barber shop? Photo salon with backdrops?

Each land was meant to be like a movie set - thats why its called "On Stage" and the workers are "Cast Members".

I just find it saddening that the Paris and Tokyo resorts have better themeing

[bfdf55]

Originally Posted by MasterGracey

No, I've already outlined the solution. If they want to put in an art gallery, then do it right. They need to completely repurpose the space and make it look like a real gallery. Take out the bank completely, pretend it was never there. Make it seem like this art gallery has always had a place on Main Street, make the concept work.

So, what does a turn-of-the-century gallery look like? If someone in that period decided to open a gallery in the location of a former bank, do you really think that they would tear the bank down and start from scratch? I seriously doubt that they would. They would just convert the bank space to their needs.

As people have recognized Main Street for over a half century with the bank in that location, they would expect any changes of occupancy to use the original facilities as much as possible.

[MasterGracey]

Originally Posted by bfdf55

So, what does a turn-of-the-century gallery look like? If someone in that period decided to open a gallery in the location of a former bank, do you really think that they would tear the bank down and start from scratch? I seriously doubt that they would. They would just convert the bank space to their needs.

As people have recognized Main Street for over a half century with the bank in that location, they would expect any changes of occupancy to use the original facilities as much as possible.

That raises the question that I've already mentioned here a couple times -- Why would the primary bank of this idealized turn-of-the-century town go out of business?

People need to do their banking, right? This is THE bank of the town. I see no reason why it would go out of business.

Therefore, if they must put the Disney Gallery in that location, they should be eradicating all traces of the bank and pretend it never existed and make it appear as though this is a nice little fine art and curios store that's always had its place there.


As for people expecting the Bank to be there and expecting the original facilities to be used as much as possible -- I don't buy that. I would imagine people would prefer cohesive theming and story over repurposing leftover theming from something Disney couldn't find a better use for.

[TrevorD]

Are you saying that it is impossable for a bank to go out of business at the turn of the century? Banks could go out of business at any time for untold numbers of reasons, its not that far fetched an idea.

[lazyboy97O]

Originally Posted by TrevorD

Are you saying that it is impossable for a bank to go out of business at the turn of the century? Banks could go out of business at any time for untold numbers of reasons, its not that far fetched an idea.

A failed bank does not exactly mesh with an idealized turn of the century, mid-American small town.

[TrevorD]

Thats why its an art gallery now

[ICe101]

Why do you guys overanalyze everything?