Which Disney Attractions Could Get The Great Movie Ride Treatment?
Disney fans treasure their experiences on two new attractions, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
Still, we cannot help but reminisce about the attractions they replaced, Ellen’s Energy Adventure and The Great Movie Ride.
That’s the brutal aspect of modernizing an outdated attraction. What’s lost will never return.
Which Disney attractions are in danger of getting the Great Movie Ride treatment? Here are five attractions you should ride while you can.
DINOSAUR
First, I should discuss the reporting on this article. Some of it is pure conjecture, while others stem from paperwork filings and leaked documents.
In the case of DINOSAUR, a replacement has been rumored for some time. In fact, I know that I’ve mentioned at least two variations.
The most popular assertion involves the claim that Disney will redesign this attraction with an Indiana Jones theme, bringing it in line with Disneyland’s Indiana Jones Adventure.
My understanding is that this plan has fallen by the wayside. In its place, Disney has committed to Moana and Zootopia for this side of the park.
In fact, from what I’m hearing, it was a coin flip whether Disney would confirm the project at D23.
Since the financing didn’t work immediately, Disney wisely waited until next year to confirm.
Still, barring something unforeseen, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will gain a rebalancing in a few years.
The current DinoLand U.S.A. side of the park will turn into a combination of Moana and Zootopia theming.
Some people don’t think Moana will receive an entire themed land, but that doesn’t make any sense to me.
Still, presuming that these plans occur, DINOSAUR is likely to change from its current theme based on a movie nobody remembers.
In place of that, we’d get a new version of DINOSAUR that somehow fits the story of Zootopia. So, yes, DINOSAUR’s days could be numbered.
Then again, we’ve all heard that before, haven’t we?
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
I’m hearing less about this project than I was a couple of years ago. However, a few factors remain in play here.
Disney doesn’t own Aerosmith because several Constitutional Amendments prevent that sort of thing.
I’m being cheeky here, but the underlying legal issue is all too real. At some point, Disney must renegotiate the rights to the Aerosmith license.
Since multiple members of this band live in danger of getting canceled, it’s a dicey proposition.
Yes, Steven Tyler loves Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and probably wants it to stay. However, he’s 74 years old.
So, nobody really knows what to expect here. Would you bank on Aerosmith music remaining popular into the 2030s?
I probably would, but I still don’t think I’d sign anything long term. That’s half the issue right now.
On the other side, Disney has already re-themed the version of this ride at Disneyland Paris. It’s now an Avengers roller coaster.
Would Disney rather add intellectual property (IP) it owns? Before you start railing against the idea, please remember that Disney performs countless park surveys.
The company possesses ample data suggesting that tourists prefer more IP. I recognize that’s not the conventional wisdom of park zealots, but it’s true.
For this reason, Disney is weighing its options about the roller coaster theming they want in this space.
For legal reasons, Disney probably cannot add anything based on The Avengers, but other possibilities remain.
As such, I always treat my last ride of every park visit as potentially the last time I rock out to Love in an Elevator.
Space Mountain
The first two attractions I’ve mentioned are legitimately rumored to change, possibly even within the next few years.
With Space Mountain, I’m guessing based on international events. As we’ve discussed, the Tokyo Disneyland version of this ride is changing soon.
That park will tear down the entire mountain and start from scratch. That’s an ambitious, wildly expensive approach.
However, officials at the Oriental Land Company seek to reinvigorate the Tokyo Disneyland version of Tomorrowland. A new Space Mountain look achieves that goal.
I doubt that either Space Mountain attraction in the United States will undergo such a dramatic overhaul.
Still, I’ve heard the discontent regarding the ride, just like you. I know that many guests consider it uncomfortable and outdated, both of which are fair assessments.
Disney’s decision to reboot another attraction we’re about to discuss, Splash Mountain, demonstrates that the company isn’t afraid to mess with its most popular rides.
For this reason, I suspect that management is at least toying with the notion of a new Space Mountain, one that feels Tomorrowland-esque rather than 1975-ish.
Splash Mountain
Okay, this one’s a cheat, but it still counts. Early in 2023, Disney will close Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom forever.
In its place, Disney will introduce Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. My understanding is that this ride could open by the middle of 2024.
For that to happen, Disney would need to close Splash Mountain soon. So, I fully expect that we all have only three or four months to enjoy this ride.
If you haven’t scheduled a park visit for late 2022/early 2023 yet, you should.
Otherwise, I’m sorry to inform you that you’ve already ridden Splash Mountain for the last time.
That’s a tragic thought, but you can avoid that fate by visiting soon! Then, you’ve got one more opportunity to crush that Splash Mountain photo op!
TriceraTop Spin
This change ties into the one I discussed with DINOSAUR. Management is currently negotiating budgets for the impending park updates.
Those conversations often lead to cutbacks and cancellations. I say this because the current talk suggests that Animal Kingdom’s changes will happen in two phases.
As a reminder, we’re still waiting on the initial Animal Kingdom phase two that Michael Eisner promised in 1998.
So, when I hear that one part of a project will happen first, I immediately presume it’s the only one that’s guaranteed.
Currently, DINOSAUR changes could or could not happen, as Zootopia sounds like it’s coming second.
Moana will happen first, and one of its themed attractions will utilize the space currently held by the former Primeval Whirl and the current TriceraTop Spin.
Strangely, some people suggest that Primeval Whirl could keep some of its current structure, but I don’t buy that for a second. It’s a spinner with a small footprint.
If/when Disney adds Moana, this ride almost assuredly turns into something bigger and better. You’ll want to ride it while you still can!
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