It’s typically been mentioned that theme parks – and Disney theme parks particularly – usually are not museums. Not solely is it not unusual for sights to be re-themed if not outright changed, it’s arguably a part of the very design. In recent times, nonetheless, we’ve seen Disney World undergo some fairly radical adjustments. Many imagine the resort has gone too far, and that features the director of a brand new documentary movie that features a dialogue in regards to the preservation of theme park sights.
Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is on the verge of a historic transformation that features the redevelopment of Frontierland’s Rivers of America into a brand new Automobiles-themed space. For a lot of followers, this can be a step too far, and it’s feared the replace will eternally change the park for the more severe. I just lately spoke with Joshua Bailey, director of the brand new Disney World documentary movie Stolen Kingdom and requested him about all of the adjustments that have been happening. For him, probably the most vital change at Disney World has already occurred. He mentioned,
I do not know if there may be any stability on the Walt Disney Firm facet today, it simply looks like they may tear down something. I misplaced all hope once they tore down Nice Film Journey. I believed there was no method that they’ll tear down the icon attraction in a theme park that defines its total mission assertion, however they did.
When Disney’s Hollywood Studios first opened as Disney MGM/Studios, it was a park devoted to the historical past of cinema. It included a backlot tour not not like the one which led to the creation of Common Studios Hollywood. The Nice Film Journey was a large attraction that recreated quite a few iconic moments from cinema historical past utilizing animatronics. Constructed into a duplicate of L.A.’s well-known Chinese language Theater, it was, as Bailey says, the Mission Assertion attraction for the park.
Right this moment, the present constructing is residence to Minnie and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. The attraction isn’t unhealthy in itself (it’s really fairly good), however the transformation was a sign of a significant shift in pondering for the park.
Bailey’s film Stolen Kingdom is a brand new documentary at present on the pageant circuit. It focuses largely on the recognition of city exploration in defunct theme park sights, in addition to the black market that surrounds the sale of items of Disney World historical past. However all that’s partly because of a want by some to protect sights that Disney World has closed down.
I like Minnie and Mickey’s Runaway Railway, nevertheless it’s really a much better attraction at Disneyland. It suits in Mickey’s Toontown in a method that it simply doesn’t at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
To a sure extent, the lack of The Nice Film Journey was inevitable as soon as the connection between Disney and MGM ended, however even then the trip might have been reworked right into a extra Disney-focused attraction whereas nonetheless protecting the basic Hollywood really feel. With out it, it is tough to argue that Disney’s Hollywood Studios simply does not really feel like the identical park.
Stolen Kingdom will display subsequent on the Florida Movie Competition in Orlando on April 11.