Save the Rainforest - Keep "it's a small world" a classic.

[The International]

Originally Posted by mrfantasmic

I was never a fan of the "Oh you don't really truly appreciate Disneyland, so your opinions have no merit" argument.

I would stop reading Master Gracey posts then.

[HBG2]

I agree with the various posters who think adding an American scene is not in itself a betrayal. I understand the argument that the original ride encourages Americans to think globally rather than nationally, but this message is subject to a big misunderstanding too: i.e., IASW is a look at exotic lands, a world "out there," not our world but another world. Yes, putting in an American scene could be misconstrued as "Yee haw, there we are, and ours is the best," but it can also be understood as enforcing the message that our country is only one part of the world. There's only one world, after all, and we can't ignore it because we are part of it (gee, I sound like Merry in LOTR).

On other points: Losing a Mary Blair-designed scene is regrettable, but putting in Disney figures reeks.

Yes, projects can be halted in their tracks, even at fairly advanced stages. Once upon a time an ambitious project to remodel the load area in the DL HM was cancelled for budgetary reasons just days (I am told) before it was set to go forward. Such cancellations are usually for financial reasons, but if a well-done protest leaves the impression that it isn't nostalgia but positive distaste that has fans up in arms, I'll bet a project CAN be reconsidered at any point.

[MasterGracey]

Originally Posted by mrfantasmic

I was never a fan of the "Oh you don't really truly appreciate Disneyland, so your opinions have no merit" argument.

That's not what I was saying, was it?

I'm just wondering what, as a Disney fan and an active member of the online Disney community, do they get out of going t Disneyland if they don't acknowledge the artistic value of the park?

Disneyland relies heavily on artistry and showmanship. Saying that attractions like "its a small world" aren't art is a strange statement, especially coming from a Disney fan. I can understand if you don't like the art, but to dismiss it entirely as nothing more than a boat ride is simply absurd.

[KISSman]

This effort is being conducted by a vocal minority and isn't going to hault anything. If they believed that most people would be bothered by it, they wouldn't do it.

To my knowledge, Disney has never altered their plans because of a group of fans who object to park changes. The best lead effort was to save Mr. Toad in WDW and he's long gone.

There's no good reason why IASW shouldn't evolve as other classics have inside of the park. IASW shouldn't remain stale just because a small group of people/purists feel it should remain as-is for their own satisfaction. The masses will flock to see the updated attraction.

While I don't support all of Disney's decisions, I do support their effort to make this tired attraction more interesting.

[CAspace]

Marketing drives the organization. The MBA's ascertain if they modify Small World and have a whole huge ad campaign about "The World just got a whole lot smaller" New for 2009 "It's A smaller World" at Disneyland they will sell X number of additional tickets. They will have billboards everywhere for the "new and improved small world" radio adverts, tv commercials. Just like they did with the relaunch of Space Mountain. They sell more tickets. As for upsetting the hard core fan base, they don't care much. All the buzz and controversy just turns into more free advertising. Our only hope is this, that John Lasseter and Tony Baxter having final say in the redux and hopefully will make for certain that it is done tastefully. Hey folks I am upset about this to, to tell you the truth I wish they would turn DCA into Disneyland 2.0 and leave the current Disneyland Park version 1.0 with all the classic attractions and occassional new E-Tickets but not changing the gems. They could release the Disneyland 2.0 park with updates and redux's every single year for all I care. If it were up to me, Disneyland would be a museum with very very well taken care for attractions and occasional new "E-Tickets" without replacing the bread and butter.
But unfortunately it is not up to me it's up to MBA's and whole bunch of other suites crunching numbers and running spreadsheets. Thankfully we still have a really creative guy in a Hawaiian shirt to add some creative sense into the mix.


EVERYONE PLEASE CALL DISNEYLAND RIGHT NOW, VOICE YOUR DISSAPROVAL TO GUEST RELATIONS, WRITE A LETTER AND SEND A E-MAIL, IF ALL OF US DO THIS IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AT LEAST WE WILL HAVE TRIED.

C A L L
Disneyland Resort Public Relations: (714) 781-4500

W R I T E
Walt Disney Company
Attn: Robert Iger
500 S. Buena Vista St.
Burbank, CA 91521-9722

Walt Disney Imagineering
Attn: Tony Baxter
1401 Flower Street
P.O. Box 25020
Glendale, CA 91221-502

Disneyland Resort
Attn: Ed Grier
1313 South Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim , CA 92802

[mousechild]

Originally Posted by MasterGracey

That's not what I was saying, was it?

I'm just wondering what, as a Disney fan and an active member of the online Disney community, do they get out of going t Disneyland if they don't acknowledge the artistic value of the park?

Disneyland relies heavily on artistry and showmanship. Saying that attractions like "its a small world" aren't art is a strange statement, especially coming from a Disney fan. I can understand if you don't like the art, but to dismiss it entirely as nothing more than a boat ride is simply absurd.

Trying to decide what is art is a philosophical discussion that could easily swamp this board. Enough books have been written about this subject to fill IASW building. The amount of hot air expelled on the subject is probably a leading cause of global warming. Suffice it to say that we can't answer that question here.

The Disneyland universe is pretty small, and there is still room for disagreement on what is art and what is kitsch within the Disneyland Fan universe. While many may appreciate IASW it is quite possible that as many or more see IASW as nothing more than a bad 3-D cartoon. I am not a big fan of IASW, I am against the addition of Disney characters, not because it will harm a wonderful ride, but because the wanton addition of Disney characters to rides is a bad trend that seemingly will continue unabated until the park is unrecognizable.

The recent addition of Pixar characters to the Subs is just one more step along the path. But as far as art goes IMHO IASW is barely art, yet I still like Disneyland.

[Anders]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned this, but the rainforest scene was already removed from it's original location in the attraction. At the World's Fair it was a small section of the Latin America room. When the attraction was moved to Disneyland, the rainforest was made cut from it's original location and just put into an empty space for lack of anything better to put there.

The rainforest was out of place from the day it opened at Disneyland, if anything removing it and replacing it with a fully realized section improves the attraction thematically.

[Mr Wiggins]

I think those of us protesting the additions of Disney characters in IASW are asking for change. For a change from years of hack merchandising. A change from cheap, generic theming. A change from quick-buck Marketeering to real, creative Imagineering.

Originally Posted by KISSman

This effort is being conducted by a vocal minority and isn't going to hault anything. If they believed that most people would be bothered by it, they wouldn't do it.

It's ironic that those words have been said by every business and government to every protest group since the dawn of civilization. "You're in the minority and your protest won't make a difference. And it's unnecessary -- if what we're doing was wrong, we wouldn't be doing it."

[lazyboy97O]

dl1955pounds, have you experienced Spaceship Earth before and after these "major" changes? I rode the attraction in December and yesterday. The changes were minimal at best.

[The Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by Anders

The rainforest was out of place from the day it opened at Disneyland, if anything removing it and replacing it with a fully realized section improves the attraction thematically.

/sarcasm
No this can't be true. The theme will be ruined...the sky is turning black and falling. The only reason this will be bad is because it's different from what I've known all my life. I never want to park to change and reject the fact that Walt would ever change anything inside Disneyland. Everyone who thinks differently from this obviously doesn't like DL and shouldn't ever go again.

[CAspace]

Originally Posted by Mr Wiggins

I think those of us protesting the additions of Disney characters in IASW are asking for change. For a change from years of hack merchandising. A change from cheap, generic theming. A change from quick-buck Marketeering to real, creative Imagineering.
..........."[/I]

BRAVO Mr. WIGGINS!
Well said!

[lazyboy97O]

I would love it if one, just once, a member the "all change is good" birgade would adress the concept of positive and negative change instead of merely mocking those who disagree.

[MasterGracey]

Originally Posted by Mr Wiggins

I think those of us protesting the additions of Disney characters in IASW are asking for change. For a change from years of hack merchandising. A change from cheap, generic theming. A change from quick-buck Marketeering to real, creative Imagineering.



It's ironic that those words have been said by every business and government to every protest group since the dawn of civilization. "You're in the minority and your protest won't make a difference. And it's unnecessary -- if what we're doing was wrong, we wouldn't be doing it."

Originally Posted by lazyboy97O

I would love it if one, just once, a member the "all change is good" birgade would adress the concept of positive and negative change instead of merely mocking those who disagree.

Hear, hear!

[fo'c's'le swab]

Originally Posted by Anders

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned this, but the rainforest scene was already removed from it's original location in the attraction. At the World's Fair it was a small section of the Latin America room. When the attraction was moved to Disneyland, the rainforest was made cut from it's original location and just put into an empty space for lack of anything better to put there.

The rainforest was out of place from the day it opened at Disneyland, if anything removing it and replacing it with a fully realized section improves the attraction thematically.

I truly didn't think this was an issue that had a bearing on proposed changes at hand. The incarnation we have at DL now is essentially the same one Walt Disney created for the DL audience. Yes, he edited and changed his World's Fair offering to better suit its new audience and surroundings, without changing its message. In essence, today's IASW is the attraction Walt Disney intended for DL guests to see.

[MasterGracey]

Originally Posted by fo'c's'le swab

I truly didn't think this was an issue that had a bearing on proposed changes at hand. The incarnation we have at DL now is essentially the same one Walt Disney created for the DL audience. Yes, he edited and changed his World's Fair offering to better suit its new audience and surroundings, without changing its message. In essence, today's IASW is the attraction Walt Disney intended for DL guests to see.

Well said, Swab