Critter Country Expansion Idea

[filmfreak11]

O yeah, of course the music should be in the correct style. It would definately not just be straight from the film's soundtrack source.

Thanks for your replies and suggestions

[filmfreak11]

Would anyone buy into a new overhanging tram darkride? It would be an original attraction, nothing based on a movie. You get to have a sense of Universal's Kongfrontation and a taste of what used to be the Skyway and something similar to Peter Pan's Flight.

Maybe in this ride, you get to see real animals?

Or have more animal AAs and put a river raft ride underneath the tram ride. Slow of exciting raftride? I would think exciting, but you already have DCA's GRR. So perhaps another water or dry ride. Either indoors or out. What if it's an outdoor hanging tram ride and below is an outdoor kid-friendly version of Indy's motion simulator ride through. Better yet, have the ride system be trackless . If you refer to a satelite image of CC, you'll see from DL's trees to a backstage roadway, I think this area would be good for a new Country Bear show, and 1 or 2 rides.

I don't know, still brainstorming...

[filmfreak11]

I post WAY too many times on this thread...

How about a hang-gliding venture using an inverted family coaster ride tech such as this http://www.coastergallery.com/2000/pki62.html?

Then again, the coaster might be too noisy...

Or instead of hang-gliding, give the coaster a floor and call it a seaplane sightseeing tour?

Then put the overhanging tram over the Brother Bear-esqe landscape...

Mind you the train will be a whole level above the new Critter Country area so all this new stuff won't harm the current view you get in the back of ROA and so then Fantasmic is performed, guests wouldn't be able to look at the behind-the-scenes of F!

Wouldn't you like to walk through this for a little while between FL and CC around where the Indiana Village is now, minus the flooded ground of course: http://www.suwa.org/library/parunuweap,_james_kay.jpg

EDIT: Example pictures of the type of jeep ride I'm thinking of: http://www.4wheelingplus.com/images/line_of_jeeps.jpg
http://home.goldrush.com/obsoelyt/jeeps.jpg
http://www.jeeps-offroad.com/images/...t-homepage.jpg
http://www.myjeeprocks.com/jeeps/mil...10/17bacon.jpg
http://www.mymarmaris.com/sightseein...jeep/jeeps.jpg
http://www.kaibab.org/gc/pinkjeep/lg992001.jpg

[filmfreak11]

It's me again

Was thinking to maybe expand/extend the Indian Village scene so people from the train can see. Then northwest of the village are adobe homes and desert plant life surroundings on a rocky mountainside.

OR, put the Indian Village on the unused northern section of Tom Sawyer Island, then put a waterfall where the original Village is. The train crosses over on a wooden bridge. Same landscaping described above.

Did I mention where the train is next to Festival of Fools area, the walkway would slant down so the train passes over like in Critter Country? Well, the "bridge" would be themed as a desert rocky canyon theme. To go with the adobe and BTMRR theme.

yeah...

[filmfreak11]

It's me again

Just one little thought. If Cythnia Harris or Paul Pressler (who ever was in charge in 2001) didn't get rid of the Country Bears, the CB would be updated and this new Critter Country expansion idea would have been executed with Pooh's Hunny Hunt backstage between DL and the service roadway!! That area would probably have been big enough for the Pooh ride and another original darkride!!

AAAAHHHHH!!!!! That would have been perfect! Of course there's always the dream of returning Country Bears kicking Pooh out. The Pooh gets a new ride behind CB! Ah, Ha!!

[tloolgb]

I don't see them ever taking Pooh out and putting Country Bears back in, especially to make a Pooh ride somewhere else...
...but who knows maybe someday something from the CBJ might make it back to DL...

[Professortango]

I think the easiest and simplist way to add life to Critter Country is to close down the New Orleans Square Train Station and create a raised platform behind the Hungry Bear Restraunt. This would add a quick way both too and from CC. People don't like walking all the way out there for a silly dark ride, then hiking back. This train stop would open up a lot of life in that corner.

I would also love for them to remove Pooh when the crowds die down and put in another darkride combing the Pooh shoowroom as well as the closed up buildings across from Splash's exit (Teddy Berra Arcade, Mile Long Barr, etc). Maybe change the areas name from Critter Country and put in a Headless Horseman attraction over there, where you must cross the infamous covered bridge (Enterance from Country Bears)...or a ride exploring native american folklore such as the Wendigo and Sasquatch.

[filmfreak11]

I think the easiest and simplist way to add life to Critter Country is to close down the New Orleans Square Train Station and create a raised platform behind the Hungry Bear Restraunt. This would add a quick way both too and from CC. People don't like walking all the way out there for a silly dark ride, then hiking back. This train stop would open up a lot of life in that corner.

Intriguing. That would be great. So no more Hungry Bear? And I assume when you say create a raised platform you also mean a platform long enough for the train to let people on and off. What to do with the New Orleans Square train station??

Hmm... let's think for a moment on this and return to post.

[Professortango]

Intriguing. That would be great. So no more Hungry Bear? And I assume when you say create a raised platform you also mean a platform long enough for the train to let people on and off. What to do with the New Orleans Square train station??

Hmm... let's think for a moment on this and return to post.

I would keep Hungry Bear, but maybe have a que that leads to left of where you order, and having the actual station be part of the expanded upper deck of the Hungry Bear.

In other words, add a little more to the second story, have the station behind Hungry Bear with a cue that extends down to the main walkway.

And as for the old Frontierland/New Orleans station, Disney could expand the Haunted Mansion que to make it a little less clustered in the back section, maybe bring back the cemetary with a few spooky AAs facing the train for passerby's. Or you could expand the cafe's seating area.

Tieing into another idea of mine, the area could be used to enhance the train experience. The train would become more of an attraction as they passed through scenes relative to their land. Examples:

Adventureland: Having apes "attack" your car using AA's a surround sound speakers on board to make it sound like they are on the train roof as well.

New Orleans Square: Old Captain AA from POTC leads a naval assault on train or something from the HM or something original

Critter Country/Frontierland: After the new Critter Country Station, you encounter wolves, Indians, and outlaws.

Behind Big Thunder Ranch: You pass through a small showroom where the Country Bears are still performing

Fantasyland: Encounter Unicorns, mermaids, and travel through a cave with a fire-breathing dragon.

Tommorland: Grand Canyon is removed for the Hall of Innoventions (a tribute the recently removed innoventions) where Tom Marrow tells you about the amazing inventions you see before you, including a Time Machine. The train is zapped, and sent back to the time of the Dinosaurs.

[filmfreak11]

That is quite interesting, Professortango.

So your suggesting Hungry Bear be where it currently is and train station be on the other side of the tracks?

The land infront of Frontierland train station is quite a lot isn't it? Well, until then. Your idea is good. I'd like to hear if something else can be done for this area though. Something new to offer in New Orleans Square.

I'm not sure about the Country Bears still performing for the train...

Not sure where you can put the Fantasyland additions. The point from Toontown to Tomorrowland is that you get a glimpse of the monorail track and Autopia. So not so sure on that one.

I kinda like the Tomorrowland enhancement. Although just a bit sad to see the Grand Canyon go as well. I was also thinking what if the train was teleported to Grand Canyon and then sent back in time when dinosaurs lived with more lighting, fiber optic, and mist effects... How about Tom Morrow is really interested in these various inventions but he really wanted to demonstrate the Time Travel Machine. So the train goes back to the dinosaurs temporarily using SFX. Then after the climax, SFX to get back to Main Street. Or was this your original intent?

Anywho, GREAT IDEAS!

[A Disney Dreamer]

I think the easiest and simplist way to add life to Critter Country is to close down the New Orleans Square Train Station and create a raised platform behind the Hungry Bear Restraunt. This would add a quick way both too and from CC. People don't like walking all the way out there for a silly dark ride, then hiking back. This train stop would open up a lot of life in that corner.

I would also love for them to remove Pooh when the crowds die down and put in another darkride combing the Pooh shoowroom as well as the closed up buildings across from Splash's exit (Teddy Berra Arcade, Mile Long Barr, etc). Maybe change the areas name from Critter Country and put in a Headless Horseman attraction over there, where you must cross the infamous covered bridge (Enterance from Country Bears)...or a ride exploring native american folklore such as the Wendigo and Sasquatch.

Eh, leave the train station where it's at at NOS...CC just needs a few more attractions (NOT HEADLESS)...leave that for Villain Land. In some ways, if CC becomes a worthy land, people wouldn't mind walking all the way over there, and plus if you create a walkway encircling the ROA all the way to BTMR, it would become much easier for all guests (instead of the 'end of the line' we have now in CC). Maybe even tie into that walkway an Indian Village of some sort- details later .

[filmfreak11]

Is there a specific year New Orleans Square is supposed to represent? Thinking it through, the NOS station is fine. CC doesn't need the station. Besides, if a new station is in CC, that will also need a water tower for the steam engine.

The best thing would be to expand the land encircling ROA.

If NOS station did go, could that area be used for a small Mardi Gras with costumed performers. No floats. OR like someone said, extend Haunted Mansion's queue so it's not cluttered. Which means relocating the Fastpass machines. Maybe theme the new queue like this(minus the water): http://americablog.blogspot.com/cemetery.jpg . And maybe one or more statues between Mansion, Café Orleans, train, and ROA.

But I'd rather keep it the way it is.

One more thing, if the remaining Nature's Wonderland/ Casade Peak was made into a dock for Columbia, could a new Casade Peak exisit as well as a new dock beside it? Meaning, could there be room for a new Casade Peak AND Columbia dock?? Oh yeah, the dock or Casade Peak would be new locations for canoes and new keelboats.

[Professortango]

Eh, leave the train station where it's at at NOS...CC just needs a few more attractions (NOT HEADLESS)...leave that for Villain Land. In some ways, if CC becomes a worthy land, people wouldn't mind walking all the way over there, and plus if you create a walkway encircling the ROA all the way to BTMR, it would become much easier for all guests (instead of the 'end of the line' we have now in CC). Maybe even tie into that walkway an Indian Village of some sort- details later .

I think the only reason people will walk that far off the beaten path is for an E-ticket, this is why Splash Mountain works. The problem is, space is limited in that corner, so squeezing in an E-ticket que, let alone an E-ticket turns into a major headache.

And as for a walkway around ROA, I don't think that would work. Not only would Disney have to move more buildings and parking areas (this is where performers enter the park such as High Schools bands and such), they would also have to create some major attractions to cover that long walk. Look at the picture:
http://www.disneypix.com/Multimedia/...dPark_Full.jpg

That is some distance around the ROA, estimating about the same distance between the front gates and the hub. Disney would have to delve a lot of time and money into creating reasons to take this route. And while the distance isn't phenomenal, its enough to keep people away. The same reason I rarely venture into toontown, espeically to the uptown section, off the beaten path, too far out of the way, and not enough reason for me to want to walk that far out of the way.

If Disney serriously wanted to do this, Id say great, but I just dont see them investing that much energy/time/money when they have to fix Tommorowland, California Adventure, Toontown, and fill in areas such as Big Thunder Ranch as well as maybe the Fantasyland Theatre.

Changing the train station could be done in a few months with very little cost and would definately lead to more people milling around that empty square at the Splash Mountain exit.

[filmfreak11]

I think the only reason people will walk that far off the beaten path is for an E-ticket, this is why Splash Mountain works. The problem is, space is limited in that corner, so squeezing in an E-ticket que, let alone an E-ticket turns into a major headache.

And as for a walkway around ROA, I don't think that would work. Not only would Disney have to move more buildings and parking areas (this is where performers enter the park such as High Schools bands and such), they would also have to create some major attractions to cover that long walk. Look at the picture:
http://www.disneypix.com/Multimedia/...dPark_Full.jpg

That is some distance around the ROA, estimating about the same distance between the front gates and the hub. Disney would have to delve a lot of time and money into creating reasons to take this route. And while the distance isn't phenomenal, its enough to keep people away. The same reason I rarely venture into toontown, espeically to the uptown section, off the beaten path, too far out of the way, and not enough reason for me to want to walk that far out of the way.

If Disney serriously wanted to do this, Id say great, but I just dont see them investing that much energy/time/money when they have to fix Tommorowland, California Adventure, Toontown, and fill in areas such as Big Thunder Ranch as well as maybe the Fantasyland Theatre.

Of course they would need to improve TL, DCA, TT, before getting into CC & BTR expansion. The expansion would connect BTR with TT (maybe Valley of Villainy in between them) making no dead ends with CC and TT.

I hope you didn't think in my original post I wanted the CC expansion to fill ALL that backstage area. No, not at all. I meant to the left of ROA & above Pooh building and to the right of the backstage roadway, that could be used for a 2 or even 3 show buildings. Perhaps a new version of Country Bears. But if Pooh wasn't where it is now and Country Bears was still here, most of that backstage COULD have been Pooh's Hunny Hunt.

Does anyone know what these buildings are used for currently? And does anyone know if the current Pooh ride actually takes up all the room used by Country Bears? Because I remember there were 2 large showrooms for that show.

And then the area between ROA, the parked tram, and (I think it's called) Circle D, this could be the Brother Bear landscape themeing. No attraction buildings here.

One of the reasons many would like to see a pathway around ROA is because of the crowd issues during Fantasmic!

Do you understand what areas of the CC expansion idea I would like to use, or u did understand but still feel it is not possible?

[Brer Bear]

I love your ideas, but I wouldn't go too heavy on the Brother Bear stuff, since it didn't hit too big.

Yeah, sounds like a perfect idea for California Adventure...that didn't hit too big either.

Knowing about WDI in the past, I don't think they would want to 'go back' to "Nature's Wonderland". There was a dock considered years ago when they were talking about doing "Discovery Bay", with an "Island At The Top Of The World" attraction". The hits just keep comin'....