Can the Rivers of America Be Saved?: What a Commentator on Youtube led me to explain.
Images taken by me on my IPhone at Magic Kingdom.
Hello Readers,
I normally don’t discuss my frustrations with you all in regards to the blindness in terms of Ignorance of a few Disney parks fans, but today I thought I would discuss this issue. Monday morning (04/07)I made a comment on a Youtube Channel, doing as I normally do, and discussed the ways Disney could replace their “Cars Land” comments. (which as we know is speculated not to be a full land but an attraction only) my comment was aimed to suggest the common consensus that Cars doesn't belong in Frontierland. Another of my peers in the youtube comments made a comment criticizing Disney, through my comment that they could save the Rivers of America. Through research I have learned very little about this however, what I do know is this.If we as Disney Parks Fans want A Villains Land,The Rivers of America isn’t saveable. According to this peer, on the youtube comment section. They are proposing that a series of bridges and paths extending from the location of the Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder Mountain be used to rescue the Rivers of America.
My comment in response to them was, of course, that would be claustrophobic. It wouldn’t be practical for crowd controls and out of liability of the River boat Crashing up against and into these paths which as many of us frequent park goers know would need to be more than 10 people wide, they might as well pave over the canal surrounding Tom Sawyer Island.
A second Youtube Commentator reluctantly chimed in and I am pleased to say they brought more information into this discussion further assisting my argument. The other youtuber, claimed, the water basin and structural damage in the canal basin would be an issue and brought up how Tom Sawyer Island isn’t up to code and as we already know is in a state of disrepair. As seen in the below image’s.
Image’s of the Disrepair at Tom Sawyer Island provided by S.M at Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom including chipped wood, chipped paint, and dirt.
According to this second Youtube Commentator, The Structural Damage is on the second floor since MK(Magic Kingdom) as mentioned in previous articles is built atop the Utilidor system, a second floor that is only noticeable from It’s A Small World at Magic Kingdom.
This first youtube commentator, in disbelief, of the second, protested, their goal being to agitate despite obviously having better knowledge of Disneyland better than The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, and at this point it became obvious.The First commenter still didn’t understand that, despite the utilidors not running under the rivers of America, the water basin against these walls is still damaged, and the rest of the park is still on a Second Floor, so for structural integrity purposes, it needs to be replaced.
This is why I brought this discussion here to my blog, to you my readers. After this weekend, when I visited the Magic Kingdom with this article in mind, an article of Concepts on what Disney can do instead of cars, land. Is there hope for the Rivers of America as Commentor A) exclaimed or as Commentator B) explained is there truly no hope for the Rivers of America and will it need to all be brought down in order to have Villains Land.
As you my readers know, my knowledge is only based on Magic Kingdom as well as Walt Disney World when it comes to imagineering concepts, and I like to think I understand Imagineering’s decisions for the most part, learning more and more from countless sources operating within and outside of the Walt Disney Company and within their Conglomeration. So let's dive into my concepts for what Disney can do in this area, with what we know about WDW in place of Cars Land as part of the Beyond Big Thunder Expansion.
Shrinking the Rivers of America?
Commentor A) discussed the idea of shrinking the Rivers of America, and obviously has either only been to Disneyland, or has limited knowledge of the Magic Kingdom at WDW. in their comments they discussed that they believe Imagineering can shrink the rivers of America, to save it.
The reason this doesn’t work is what is seen from above, isn’t what is actually happening below the waters of this man made canal.
As many would think the bridge connecting Tom Sawyer Island to Fort Langhorn, could easily be taken out as Fort Langhorn is absorbed into Villains land, we know that the shallows in this area and the way this bridge is built across from a view in the attached image, this cannot happen. The rock work surrounding this canal hides the fact that this canal basin is still a second story.
Screenshot from my IPhone on Maps
Building bridges from Haunted Mansion and from Big Thunder To Villains Land?
Commentor A) also discussed the concept of placing a bridge across the river to this new area from both the Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder Mountain, unfortunately. I see issues with this as well. As seen in the images attached. The concept of paving over the canal between Big Thunder and Fort Langhorn does work, however on the Haunted Mansion side this gets a little more tricky. In order for this to work, Guests would need to take the path below the boat house for the current steamboat ride, as it is then made to extend atop the river below the cue of the Haunted Mansion, before then expanding at the forested area near what is currently Fort Langhorn.
Screenshot from my IPhone on Maps
Picture of the bridge provided by S. M
As mentioned by Commenter B) the water basin in this area is damaged, and due to Hurricanes this area would be prone to Floods, and possibly to the Florida Wildlife, who in the past have taken up residence in this water way.
The reason this path would need to go down and back up, is because Disneen by Forest and brush even when Villains land is inevitably constructed.
Of course they could possibly do this is by redoing the entirety of the Haunted Mansions cue which borders the left side of the rivers of America as seen in the image above, to add space where the awning is now to allow guests to pass into the currently forested area and cross a Fort Langhorn, which in my opinion is still not as feasible as option the first option.
As Commentator B) also pointed out the Concept Art for the Maleficent/Villains Land Coaster also seems to want to use this area for their Roller Coaster in some capacity, based on Concept Art seen below(although this hasn’t been confirmed by Disney yet by Disney, based on the entrance Concept art for what is proposed to replace the Rivers of America that can be seen below.
Images taken from Google Images Search for Concept Art for Villains Land
As seen above the concept images released by Disney, leave little to speculate in regards to this space, however the complaint we all seem to be making is in regards to this car's attraction being placed in the middle of frontierland. What then can be done to satisfy Disney’s fans? Well below are my concepts for this.
Expanding The Bayou
As expressed by others, we as fans wouldn’t be entirely disappointed in the expansion of the Bayou area of Frontierland, creating a sort of New Orleans Square in the area directly across from Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, in between The main Part of Frontierland and Big Thunder, in the area currently on the banks of the Rivers of America.
While I am not implying disney go ahead and build this:
Images taken from Google Images Search for Tiana’s Palace
I am thinking that Disney has the opportunity to build a restaurant, and a few attractions inspired by New Orleans in this area, including a version of Tiana’s Palace or perhaps a restaurant aboard, River Boat.
Images taken from Google Images Search for Riverboat from Princess and The Frog
In the final part of the story from Princess and the frog, the heroes find themselves on a river boat, and what an experience it could be to make a restaurant on the water in this area, inspired by this river boat, and foods of New Orleans. This of course would rectify and rescue part of the rivers of America, as the rest of it and Tom Sawyer Island are paved over for this Expansion.
Not only this but as mentioned in two previous articles now, I believe Disney can really highlight on blending Villains Land with Frontierland through the Use of A Magic Show, Featuring none other than Doctor Facillier.
Images taken from Google Images Search for Doctor Facillier
As far as we know, there are currently no plans to include the Shadow-Man in villains land, and to incorporate him into a magic show, on the border of Frontierland and Villains land could be just the attraction needed to be placed in this area.
Following the magic show however, what would be best is a return to Disney Tradition, as Guests enter Doctor Facillier’s Parlor and can purchase magic tricks similar to what was seen in the show that they can then learn, and Disney can make a profit off of.
A Haunted Mansion Town as Part of Liberty Square
Opposite, the Haunted Mansion sitting on this area, across from the Rivers of America, perhaps we can get a whole area, a Ghost Town dedicated to expanding the Lore of the Haunted Mansion and its historic Connection to Big Thunder.
As we know Disney recently made a whole Lounge aboard the Disney Treasure, perhaps opposing the Bayou Concept, Disney can dedicate this area to the Haunted Mansion’s Lore. perhaps a Haunted Mansion themed Restaurant or Lounge in the Magic Kingdom can fill this space, perhaps a gift shop greater than Momento Mori and an extended Haunted Mansion Cue could be exactly what this area needs in this area?
Image of The Haunted Mansion Lounge aboard the Disney Treasure Collected from Various Sources on Google Images.
Expanding The Villains Land
As we know from the announcement Villains land will consist of, only a singular Darkride, and A Thrill Ride/Coaster, as part of this new land aside from Shopping and Proposed Restaurants most likely, a single sit down, and a quick service window, similar to what is seen in Fantasyland, however, why not save the money they would use on Cars and Expand Villains land further.
Currently the villains announced for this land are as follows based on this concept art for the land, that was officially revealed by Disney.
Images taken from Google Images Search for Villains featured in Villains Land(Also this is Lorcana Card Game Art???)
This however leaves quite a few villains out. While Disney has obviously hit on the major leading villains of Disney as a franchise, they can give rides to characters such as Ursula, Captain Hook or The Queen of Hearts or perhaps add additional villains to this land. My picks would be Scar, Share Khan, The Big Bad Wolf, Stromboli, Monstro(The Whale) or the Horned King just to name a few who may be the missing residents of Villains land that would be needed to push this land over the top and make it truly great.
Just picture an attraction where Guests are chased by Scar and Hyenas following Nala and Simba through the Elephant Graveyard or a Pinocchio themed Show run by Stromboli. The amount of villains for this land alone could be limitless, if they dropped Cars Land and gave us a greater Expansion then we had hoped.
What other IP can be placed in this area aside form Cars
The question really is what other Disney IP can be placed in the area between Frontierland and Liberty Square aside from Cars, that would excite guests. My thought of course points to a few characters.
On the liberty Square side, perhaps the Return of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride or an updated Dark Ride Attraction of this same IP can sit in the area, between Haunted Mansion and The Hall of Presidents where the Riverboat station for the Rivers of America is currently placed. Perhaps the Nightmare before christmas’ Halloween town can take residence across from Liberty Square with A Tim Burton Land centered between Frontierland, Villains’ Land and Liberty Square.
On the frontierland side however, we don’t have much to go off of. Woody and Jessy could possibly have a Woody’s round up show in this area, but Toy Story has kind of been overused for the last couple years and is the most overused IP in the Disney Parks, being at Both Magic Kingdom(Buzz lightyear Space Ranger Spin) and Toy Story Land existing in Hollywood Studios. Perhaps Disney can use the Lone Ranger or John Carter(not entirely a western more Sci-Fi) despite the fact that the films had bombed at the Box office, or Home on the Range, which I forgot was a Disney Film until this moment. If Their SteamPunk Genre films would make sense(Atlantis or Treasure Planet) in Frontierland those could perhaps be options for Disney to put in this area, unfortunately they would be best utilized if at all in Adventureland.
Conclusion:
Perhaps Disney does do Cars and it actually works, despite the criticisms of fans, but as we know from Tiana’s Bayou, which we ourselves criticized prior to its change from Splash Mountain. Disney doesn’t take pushback from fans well, and we were absolutely right about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
But what do you think about the discussion I had on Youtube this morning? Do you agree with Commentor A) or do you find yourself more inclined to agree with Commenter B) or are you logically looking at this like me, as a commentator who literally doesn’t want anything to do with Cars, in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, and would you(like me) rather have the ideas above created for Magic Kingdom in the future?
Will Villains Land live up to the hype,do you want Villains Land? At what cost do we get Villains Land at?
Special Thanks: To Source/Reader/Friend and Photographer S. M. who offered to take some of the Photographs of Magic Kingdom for me for this article, who will remain anonymous as to not give away his identity.
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