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

[Mike_M]

Originally Posted by ZeekSlider

Would you consider the Pirates in Paris a different ride because it has a sword fighting scene that wasn't in the original before Jack Sparrow came along?

I'd consider them different because it's more then just the sword fighting that's been added. The haunted grotto is at the end rather then the beginning. The burning jail is at the beginning. There are substantial differences that make it very different.

Phantom Manor also falls into this catagory for me since everything past the ballroom is nowhere close to any version of HM.

[ZeekSlider]

Originally Posted by Mike_M

Phantom Manor also falls into this catagory for me since everything past the ballroom is nowhere close to any version of HM.

I think you mean everything past the gate. Even the way the standby line is designed is totally different to any HM.

[animagusurreal]

Originally Posted by flynnibus

they don't care... its not the original so they haven't been bothered. Ironic huh?

For me, personally, because I've never been to the Hong Kong park, I don't have the same sentimental connection to it that I do to Disneyland. This doesn't mean that I think it's a good idea to add characters to their IASW, I'm just leaving it to the folks on the Disney Parks in Asia forum, the way I leave most of the WDW stuff to the people on the WDW forum (although I did argue against the infamous Hat of MGM/DHS.)

If I heard they were repainting the celing of the Sistine Chapel again, as an artist I would say, "that's terrible," but I would probably not seek out a Sistine Chapel online forum to discuss it on. My sentimental connection to DL is one of the things that motivates me to come here and discuss it, even though its not the reason I'm against the change to IASW.

Also, again, the Hong Kong IASW is featuring characters for the exact opposite reason that ours is - to introduce people to characters they are unfamliar with. While I don't think that Small World is the best place to do that, it makes more sense to me than putting characters on Small World because people supposedly can't comprehend or relate to it without the characters.

[ZeekSlider]

Originally Posted by animagusurreal

Also, again, the Hong Kong IASW is featuring characters for the exact opposite reason that ours is - to introduce people to characters they are unfamliar with.

What makes you think the Hong Kong people don't know who Aladdin or even Disney's representation of Mulan are? I'm pretty sure they know who Alice is, seeing how she was a character in Mickey's Water Works Parade this past summer.

[animagusurreal]

Originally Posted by ZeekSlider

What makes you think the Hong Kong people don't know who Aladdin or even Disney's representation of Mulan are? I'm pretty sure they know who Alice is, seeing how she was a character in Mickey's Water Works Parade this past summer.

This was Disney's rationale, not mine. It only sounded like it made slightly more sense to me than the exact opposite rationale used for our IASW - that people supposedly can't comprehend or relate to the ride without characters they're already familiar with. However, they're probably both just corporate excuses to turn the ride into an advertisement.

[flynnibus]

So you'll take the Disney explanation for HKDL at face value.. without any doubt. But anything about DL and they are wrong.. stupid... blasphemous... etc. Nice

[animagusurreal]

Originally Posted by animagusurreal

Also, again, the Hong Kong IASW is featuring characters for the exact opposite reason that ours is - to introduce people to characters they are unfamliar with. While I don't think that Small World is the best place to do that, it makes more sense to me than putting characters on Small World because people supposedly can't comprehend or relate to it without the characters.

Originally Posted by animagusurreal

This was Disney's rationale, not mine. It only sounded like it made slightly more sense to me than the exact opposite rationale used for our IASW - that people supposedly can't comprehend or relate to the ride without characters they're already familiar with. However, they're probably both just corporate excuses to turn the ride into an advertisement.

Originally Posted by flynnibus

So you'll take the Disney explanation for HKDL at face value.. without any doubt. But anything about DL and they are wrong.. stupid... blasphemous... etc. Nice

Did you even read my posts, Flynnibus?

I said that the HKDL rationale for characters on the ride made slightly more sense to me than the completely different and opposite DL rationale. In the first post, I said that I still didn’t think Small World in HKDL was the best place to introduce characters. In the second post, I even said that that was probably just a corporate excuse as well.

How on Earth did you jump from that to “taking the Disney explanation for HKDL at face value…without any doubt.”

And no, what they’re doing at DL is not “blasphemy.” It’s just slowly sacrificing Disneyland’s originality and distinctiveness under the guise of “change”, and turning the ride into a toy advertisement under the guise of “relevance.”.

Frankly, I have lost a great deal of respect for your opinions with this post.

[ZeekSlider]

Originally Posted by animagusurreal

This was Disney's rationale, not mine.

Sounds like Disney has officially lost touch with its customer fanbase.

If they honestly believe that nobody in Hong Kong even knows who Woody and Buzz are, they seriously need a reality check of the kind that would knock them on their butts. That's just insulting to the people of Hong Kong, retrofitting a ride with Disney characters the company claims nobody going to the park is familar with.

It's almost as insulting as the fact they forcefully put HSM2's What Time Is It? in Tokyo's 25th Anniversery parade. As if the Japanese don't know what HSM is...

[bfdf55]

Originally Posted by animagusurreal

This was Disney's rationale, not mine. It only sounded like it made slightly more sense to me than the exact opposite rationale used for our IASW - that people supposedly can't comprehend or relate to the ride without characters they're already familiar with. However, they're probably both just corporate excuses to turn the ride into an advertisement.

As far as Hong Kong is concerned, how is putting characters into IAM going to increase the exposure of them??

If they aren't known, then people won't recognize them in the attraction. If they are known, then the effort is wasted. Most of the characters have, or will have, other more effective opportunities (their own attractions, character meet & greets, etc) to make themselves known to the guests. The ONLY result of putting barely recognizable (for the most part) characters in IASM is pretty much counter to their assertion that it will help guests relate more or give characters more recognition.

[Lore]

It's seems pretty clear that "attractions" are no longer designed at the concept stage to be compelling experiences as much as they are designed to be comercials. Once the conceptmercial is approved, it's up to the poor imagineers to pull it off as best they can.

[HBG2]

The Hong Kong version stinks. If the same thing happens at DL the stench will be all the greater since it represents a total disregard of its artistic message.

By the way, can we stop repeating this mindless bromide about IASW being a "prayer for peace"? It's a prayer for communal identity as human beings. Peace is one reasonable outcome of that, of course, but "peace" per se is not the central theme.

[ZeekSlider]

Originally Posted by HBG2

The Hong Kong version stinks.

It's not even open yet. How can you say that when the most any of us have seen are press release photos of said changes?

Wait until the YouTube videos come in next week when it officially opens, and then you can say it stinks. At least then you have more to go on than just photographs.

[flynnibus]

Originally Posted by ZeekSlider

It's not even open yet. How can you say that when the most any of us have seen are press release photos of said changes?

Wait until the YouTube videos come in next week when it officially opens, and then you can say it stinks. At least then you have more to go on than just photographs.

There are videos posted already... including here on micechat

[MasterGracey]

Re-Imagineering has posted another open-letter from the Blair family, this time from Mary Blair's nieces --

Blair Family Memories
http://imagineerebirth.blogspot.com/...-memories.html

We would like to speak from our point of view as Mary Blair's nieces.

We have been impressed and deeply touched by the eloquence and outpouring from the hearts of so many people who want to keep 'Small World' as it is. And now the Artists! Amazing. A HUGE thanks to all of you!

Our thoughts are the same. PLEASE keep the integrity of Small World--the children of all nations and its message of world peace. It is a completely unique experience, in and of itself. Our intention is not a 'put down' to the imagineers, who have made Disneyland a fabulous, magical place for children and adults---something for everyone. 'Small World' however, doesn't need fixing. It isn't broken. Bring back it's original color and sparkle. Mary loved 'sparkle'. She also loved children.
We have enjoyed the 'special memories' that many have written about Small World. We have one also. In 1978, several months before Mary died, my sister Maggie and I, along with my family, began planning a surprise 50th wedding anniversary party for our parents. Maggie and I met with Mary at a favorite restaurant of Mary's near her home in Soquel, California to discuss the plans. She introduced us to the hostess saying, 'these are my two nieces, whom I adore'. We adored her as well.

As part of the party plans, Lee put together a slide show, and we taped our parent's favorite 'old' songs, putting the music from 'It's A Small World' in several places. We did that to honor Mary, but also to make the party more fun. (And no, it didn't make us crazy.)

When the party was over and most guests had gone, Maggie and I were doing 'cleanup chores'. We looked up in time to see Mary, a lone figure in the middle of the dance floor. She had a gentle smile on her face, eyes closed, and was turning slowly around and around to the music from 'It's a Small World'. Two weeks later she was gone.

Again, our family appreciates very much your kind words and heartfelt feelings.

Our Best,
Jeanne Chamberlain & Maggie Richardson

With such a huge outpouring from the Animation industry, fans of the attraction, and Mary Blair's own family, as well as a lot of press coverage (a lot of it negative) -- Disney is really bold to continue to push through with the plans.

[1FoolishMortal]

Whoever tipped the Blair family off this time must've gotten their info straightened out, cause the letter makes no mention of them removing the rainforest section. Oddly, though, it makes no mention of the Disney characters either. Not sure what that's about.