Playground Trip Report!

[Jose Eber]

So what were all those Buzz rides, the Pooh rides, the subs re-hab at Disneyland, the Monsters Inc ride at Disneyland?

 

Oh, and you're wrong about being able to take a small child on Tower of Terror. The height restriction is only 40" so basically a 4 year old can ride it. Whenever we go on Tower, we always see small kids riding it! And LOVING it!!!

 

--Robb "While IMO we haven't seen a new E-ticket on the level of the original Tower, there has been a LOT of new rides in development!" Alvey

 

The kiddy rides you've mentioned are only refurbs --- tearing down old maybe unsuccessful attractions and putting up new ones. That's not new construction on new land. EE, RNR, TOT, Soarin -- that's new territory new attractions.

 

If you look at the attractions at the opening of Disneyland and you look at the attractions of opening the latest Disneyland in Hong Kong -- you'll see how the rides differ in that HK has considerably more height restrictions.

 

Its o.k to admit things have changed. We don't have a culture that caters to kids as much. There just aren't as many around (in ratio) to adults -- so that's why Disney builds for teens and young adults more than infants etc.

 

things have changed.

[ChrisZer0]

OK disneyphiles, lets be candid, this area is probably a shorter-term attraction until they decide to build a new e-ticket in the space in a few years. For everyone whos braying about this and saying this isnt "up to snuff" for disney, two words Lighten Up. Theres a helluva lot worse things to worry about outthere these days(gas prices,economy,natural disasters,ect..) than a kids playground at WDW. It was built for the tikes(2-5) in mind, not the fat ACErs and ACEr wannabes who visit MK for their steak,potato and mickey mouse ice cream bar fix. I apologize for going off,but people who argue about the petty things (like park land use)get under my skin.

[disneyfan1313]

If you look at the attractions at the opening of Disneyland and you look at the attractions of opening the latest Disneyland in Hong Kong -- you'll see how the rides differ in that HK has considerably more height restrictions.

 

I have a map from HKDL in my hand right now (if anyone is curious I can take some pics of it - it's actually pretty cool!) The only attraction with a height requirement is Space which is 102 CM. As far as I know the concept of posted hight requirements did not exist in 1955 when DL opened - If it did the Autopia would have had one to drive the cars just as they do here.

[AllisonY2K]

that looks to be a great, great place for the little ones to run around and burn off some energy while the parents take a rest. do they have a stroller parking lot like It's a Small World? they'll need it!

[SLUSHIE]

(A little off topic, but I got thinking about it after all the family ride talk.)

 

Lets face it, most of Walt's original ideas and dreams for the Disney parks have faded. I agree that his dreams of Disney parks being for familys has faded a little in the sence of the newer rides they are building, but Disney parks as a whole are in no way not oriented for familys.

 

Another one of Walt's dreams that I think is nothing like his origional dreams is WDW. I don't think Walt ever wanted to make the Macig Kingdom what it is. I've seen the travel channel specials and everything, and I don't belive that Walt didn't leave anything behind to base it off of, other than Disneyland. EPCOT is other thing. EPCOT is nothing like how he wanted it to be. Experimental? No. Prototype? No. Community? No. Views of the future? No, other than Mission Space and Inoventions. Walt left behind a model of what he invisioned EPCOT to be, and this model can be found above Buzz in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom. Why Imagineers threw all that out the window and made a "Worlds Showcase" Is beyond me.

 

Anyway...

[ChrisZer0]

^Walt also intended EPCOT to be a self-enclosed city with underground parking as well . I agree its more of a place for adults to relax,hang out and enjoy your time away from the "kids". MK has always been for the kids and the new pooh playground reflects that. Its greatly themed and it give them a place to strech their little legs anf play.

[Jeezus Juice]

^^ Well, I know that I for one would definately rather have a prototype community to visit instead of 4 themeparks.

 

Think of the Pooh playground that would've been in the shopping center of EPCOT as Walt planned it origionally.

 

World Showcase bahh...It could've been a Target! I could have bought a sweater for $9.99!! Walt must be spinning in his grave.

[moinab]

Tell you what, go to a Disney park with a family (I do!) and you'll see!

 

Very well said, Robb!!!! It seems to me that those who are complaining about this have not been to WDW with the 2-5 year old set. Having made 17 trips to WDW last year with a 1-2 year old and a 3-4 year old, I can say that this attraction is definitely fulfilling a need for a major WDW demographic - families with young children. This allows the little ones to run around and burn off pent up energy. It's tough on toddlers and preschoolers to constantly be in strollers or standing in lines, or sitting still on rides. They need unrestrained romping time.

 

Walt died almost 40 years ago. Society has changed quite a bit in that time. The American family has changed quite a bit in that time. If Walt had survived another 20-30 years, his vision would have changed, too. Yeah, he probably would have done it differently, but since he's gone, there's no way of knowing what he would have done.

 

But, wallow in nostalgia if you must. In the meantime, I'm going to take my kids to have a great family getaway at WDW.