Which Recent Disney Films Deserve a Spot at the Theme Parks?
As we speak, Disney Imagineers are working on ways to integrate intellectual properties like Moana and Zootopia into the parks.
But park space remains limited. Even if/when Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort expand, strategists still face hard limits.
Photo: Disney
So, park planners often perform a kind of triage wherein they determine which Disney stories should extend into theme parks.
Since everyone reacts differently to art, park officials typically use hard data to determine the stories that belong.
Photo: Disneyplanning.com
Let’s examine the discussion from their perspective to determine which recent Disney releases deserve a place at the parks.
About the Process
Photo: Disney
Let’s be realistic about the fact that Disney has already chosen a few offerings.
For example, we know that Encanto is coming to the parks, as Disney has said as much.
Photo: Disney
While nobody knows the exact form yet, the decision itself is obvious.
Encanto has dominated streaming charts as well as Billboard music charts.
Anything with such tremendous crossover appeal unquestionably deserves a larger park presence.
Still, Disney faces some limitations. For example, no matter how much park officials may desire an Avengers presence at Walt Disney World, it’s not currently possible.
Photo: Disney
Disney had to jump through hoops to build a Guardians of the Galaxy ride, and that’s likely all we’ll get in the short term.
For this reason, we’ll primarily focus on Disney and Pixar animated movies and any live-action title that has generated a buzz.
Credit: Freeform
Also, I’ll exclude anything that Disney has based on existing IP like Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, The Incredibles II, Cruella, Mary Poppins Returns, or Ralph Breaks the Internet.
Those last two inclusions matter greatly, as Disney has either announced these attractions or they were long-rumored. Neither appears to be moving forward, though.
Finally, I’ll consider anything from 2017 through 2023, as that’s the new hotness Disney generally prefers.
So, based on these criteria, here are a few contenders.
Coco
Photo: Disney
Did you know that Coco already has a presence at Disney parks?
Yes, Disney has already answered this question for us by hosting Plaza de la Familia as part of Spirit of Día de Los Muertos from September 1st through November 2nd.
Photo: Disney
Similarly, Disneyland Paris recently introduced Casa de Coco – Restaurante de Familia.
This knowledge aids us in the discussion, as it hints at what a Disney film needs to earn a park presence.
Photo: Disney
In the case of Coco, the film is currently 97 percent on Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an Audience Score of 94 percent.
For those of you unaware, the Fresh rating comes from chosen critics. The Audience Score reflects how fans think of the project.
Coco has also earned a bit under $800 million in global box office, but that’s not feasible for most pandemic/post-pandemic releases.
I’ll use its domestic box office take of $210 million as a better guideline for the others.
Still, as you can see, Coco already holds a solid park presence, and future expansion strikes me as a certainty.
Elemental
Photo: Disney/Pixar
You didn’t expect this one to earn a spot on the list, did you?
Well, that statement indicates how much many Disney fans have paid attention since the opening weekend of the absolutely exceptional Elemental.
Photo: Disney/Pixar
I tried to tell people at the time that plenty of critics had missed the point here.
Elemental is an instant classic and a more than worthy addition to the Pixar library.
Plenty of metrics support this statement. While critics only graded Elemental at 73 percent, audiences are much bigger fans of this crowd-pleaser.
Its Audience Score of 93 percent rivals Coco’s grade! Also, the film has become Pixar’s biggest hit ever in South Korea!
Photo: Pixar
Nobody would have expected this after a sub-$30 million opening weekend, but it will finish north of $150 million domestically.
Worldwide, the film has grossed more than $425 million, reinforcing the fact that it’s a hit! Even better, its staying power proves people love the film.
You can reasonably expect an Elemental presence in the parks at some point, likely after a movie sequel arrives.
Free Guy
Okay, here’s an oddball suggestion, but it’s not that far outside the realm of possibility.
Originally a Fox release, Free Guy debuted during the pandemic as a Disney title. And it delighted audiences with its hysterical conceit.
Photo: Disney
A videogame programmer enters the universe she helped create and meets a non-player character (NPC) who has started leveling up on his own.
Ryan Reynolds delights as the suddenly self-aware character, Guy, who realizes he lives inside a videogame.
Photo: DIsney
As a theatrical release, Free Guy exceeded every reasonable box office expectation in becoming one of the few $100 million releases in 2020/2021.
From a quality perspective, its Audience Score of 94 percent matches Coco and edges Elemental.
Photo: DIsney
Disney has greenlit a sequel, and its relationship with Ryan Reynolds appears comically strong.55An attraction based on Free Guy could easily surpass what Disney originally intended for Ralph Breaks the Internet.
We could enter a Disney metaverse that tells the story of Guy and his programmer, Millie Rusk. It’d be gorgeous and probably quite thrilling.
Luca
Now, we discuss some of the more complicated offerings.
Due to the pandemic, Luca never earned a theatrical release, instead debuting on Disney+.
Photo: Disney
While Luca earned a spot on the Nielsen Streaming charts under the Movies listing on many occasions, it didn’t earn a spot on the annual list.
Critics loved Luca, rewarding it with a 91 percent Rotten Tomatoes score. However, its Audience Score of 85 percent is lower than the other titles we’ve discussed.
The film’s best chance at a park presence would involve the Italy pavilion at the World Showcase.
After all, the setting for Luca is Portorosso on the Italian Riviera. Hmm, I guess it could play a role at Disney’s Riviera Resort, too.
I mean, most people either like or love Luca. So, it deserves something.
Onward
Photo: Disney +
Here’s a film that deserves a better fate.
I wrote a naively positive review of Onward that MickeyBlog published on March 2nd, 2020.
Photo: Disney/Pixar
Nine days later, the entire planet took a two-year sabbatical, thereby eradicating Onward’s box office potential.
This film finished with only $142 million in global box office, a performance that wasn’t its fault in the least.
Most people quite liked Onward. Its Rotten Tomatoes score of 89 percent and Audience Score of 95 are absolutely glowing.
Photo: Pixar/Disney
Also, among the films we’re discussing, Onward would provide some of the most tantalizing theme park implementations. It’s a fictional town comprised of mythological beings.
Then again, if Disney wanted to do that, it’d probably pick Zootopia instead.
Raya and the Last Dragon
Photo: Disney
Among all the films we’re discussing today, Raya and the Last Dragon claims THE best Audience Score.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, 97 percent of viewers love the film. Honestly, it could have been the next Frozen if not for the pandemic.
Photo: Disney
A stunningly beautiful film with a sublime story, Raya and the Last Dragon embodies the best of Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Frankly, I’m stunned that Disney hasn’t announced a sequel for it yet.
Photo: 2020 Disney
Yes, rumors persist, and Raya’s voice actress, Kelly Marie Tran, has expressed optimism.
This one should be a no-brainer, though. Sisu should have a strong park presence already, and I’m confused why the adorable dragon doesn’t.
Get on this one, Disney!
Soul
Photo: Disney
From an artistic perspective, Soul is among Disney’s most impressive films. Its metrics rival anything on this list.
Like Coco, Soul has already had a presence at the parks. Also, Disney is currently casting performers to play Joe Gardner.
So, we know this one is happening.
Strange World
Photo: DIsney+
Be serious.
Turning Red
Photo: Pixar
Evaluating this one isn’t easy. Nineteen out of every Rotten Tomatoes critics recommended the film, but its Audience Score is lower at 68 percent.
I suspect this one has fallen victim to those weirdos who review bomb things they hate like…teen girls who turn into pandas?
Image Credit: Walt Disney Animation Studios
Yeah, I don’t know what the goal is there, and I will never understand people with such strange motives.
What I can say is that Turning Red earned a spot as one of the most streamed movies of 2022.
Photo: Disney/Pixar
So, the quality justifies park placement, and the demand is there from consumers.
Sadly, I think several of these pandemic-era films will fall through the cracks and never gain the theme park placement they deserve.
Photo: Disney
As you can see, most of these films are quite good. It’s what they symbolize that park strategists don’t seem to love.
They sadly bring back memories of a terrible time for society, even though the stories themselves exemplify Disney magic.
Photo: MickeyBlog
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