1906 - Earthquake at DCA Attraction?

[IMAGINE]

An Earthquake attraction, is a horrible idea. To put guests in a situation of peril? Wheres the magic in that? A natural disaster attraction? There may be a problem with the term Disaster and Disney, most obviously the fact of Disney and Disaster in the same sentence. To have an attraction centered around such an event is horrible.

[Zoe Necrosis]

Seriously, does anyone actually think an earthquake-themed ride in DCA is a possibility? I know that theming and cohesiveness are artifacts of a different era, but I just can't see anyone thinking a glamorized rendition of destruction fits in the spirit of a Disney theme park.

Okay, Mulholland Madness fits more in a carnival run by people who smell like cabbage rather than a multi-billion dollar park, but this is just not the same thing.

Plus, what if "the big one" hits any area of California and the television networks are flooded with images of death, destruction, and destroyed lives? It won't seem so much fun anymore, will it?

[disneysnout]

Different strokes for different strokes....

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Originally Posted by techskip

Someone had previously posted a concept for a coaster, basically a runaway trolley car tossed loose by an earthquake. Sounded interesting and possible... I don't think anyone was thinking about the whole tram show at Universal.

Sounds cool. Just because Universal has an attraction with an earthquake theme doesn't mean they can't do a 1906 attraction at Disney that could be even better.

[sediment]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaAdventurer

Sounds cool. Just because Universal has an attraction with an earthquake theme doesn't mean they can't do a 1906 attraction at Disney that could be even better.

Well, the Universal "attraction" was more about how they make special effects in movies. Of course, it also made a movie about an earthquake, called, um, wait, let me imdb it.....
"Earthquake."

How would Disney Disneyify it? Not sure. They could make it subconsciously edutainmental, noting what to do in a real earthquake, etc. Have omnimover roll under a desk or through doorways at just the right moments. Show dad or mom turning off the gas on one side of the omnimover, while on the other side someone's house blows up because they didn't turn off the gas.
Add some appropriate Disney characters.
(It's a good thing I'm not an Imagineer.)

[techskip]

Ultimately I would go for the fountain replica and memorial explaining it's importance. I am not a big Disaster sort of person. I feel that a generalized Disaster theme is possible provided it is not a specific event that is being represented i.e. San Fran 1906, Titanic, Katrina etc. On that note, A natural disaster should not prevent a theme park or amusement park from making an attraction. If that were the case then Wild River and Raging Waters would never use the word tsunami, and would remove their wave pools. Amusement parks would remove words like Twister and Hurricane, Universal would remove Earthquake... list goes on. When a disaster strikes there is an immediate need for sensitivity, but in the overall scope of things the subject can be approached in a general sense provided you approach said subject with respect. Think of it like a rollercoaster accident because they happen with about the same frequency... wouldn't want to remove EVERY coaster because one crashed.

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

I don't want to see anything along the lines of a plaque or memorial.

But an all-new attraction based on the movie would be cool.

[techskip]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaAdventurer

I don't want to see anything along the lines of a plaque or memorial.

But an all-new attraction based on the movie would be cool.

The "memorial" would be an exact replica of the original fountain that would actually enhance the theme of the entire area and provide a simple, nice, water feature. The "plaque" could be as simple as a brass plaque explaining what the fountain is and why it is important. The average guest wouldn't bother to read it but would probably appreciate the fountain for it's beauty. Aside from there there was no formal memorial or plaque... just a fountain and something explaining it.

While I despise Wiki this is everything in a nutshell

"Lotta's fountain was dedicated in 1875 at the intersection of Market Street where Geary and Kearny Streets connect in downtown San Francisco, California. The cast pillar with a drinking fountain at its base was donated to San Francisco by the entertainer Lotta Crabtree. It served as a meeting point during the 1906 earthquake and fire. Commemorations of the earthquake, including a dwindling pool of survivors, are held every year at 5:12 a.m. on April 18th at the intersection."

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Originally Posted by techskip

The "memorial" would be an exact replica of the original fountain that would actually enhance the theme of the entire area and provide a simple, nice, water feature. The "plaque" could be as simple as a brass plaque embedded on the outer edge of the fountain wall explaining what the fountain is and why it is important. The average guest wouldn't bother to read it ....

Nyet Nyet, Soviet.

[rgrant999]

Originally Posted by techskip

The "memorial" would be an exact replica of the original fountain that would actually enhance the theme of the entire area and provide a simple, nice, water feature. The "plaque" could be as simple as a brass plaque explaining what the fountain is and why it is important. The average guest wouldn't bother to read it but would probably appreciate the fountain for it's beauty

Whew! This AND the Carthay Circle Theater? - now, that's exciting!

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Techskip: If you can turn your fountain into a themed overlay for THE MALIBOOMER I might be willing to work with you a little on this.