New Themed Walkway in Adventureland Extends to Swiss Family Treehouse - See the Progress at Magic Kingdom

utilidors20 days ago

This you, re: Rivers of America? ↓ Like this, my statement was an exaggeration that wasn't intended to be taken literally. I agree with Epcot81Fan, there are more things that unite us than divide us. Edit: judging from some earlier reactions, I cannot believe it but feel I need to clarify my earlier post to state that I wasn't actually saying Disney would ever consider unleashing mosquitos in Adventureland to improve the theme. I'm using that as an example of something which, would *technically* improve realism of a theme, but would -- of course -- not be done. I think we'd all recognize that. I hope. Walking over new pavement with cracks is nowhere near the same level as worrying about getting malaria from mosquitos, of course. But I do think it's a small step in the direction of things that could be done that would improve realism that could take someone out of a fictionalized fantasy world with no problems. A world where you forget about real life problems like your cracking driveway back at home while you gladly fork over $15 for a Dole Whip. Or maybe y'all are better with your driveway upkeep than I am. I salute you all but mostly America.

Epcot81Fan20 days ago

Guys, guys, let’s step back and focus on the things all of us can agree on. There is more that unites us than divides us. For example, we can all agree that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure does indeed NOT improve the experience in any measurable way for any single guest. There, doesn’t that feel better?

peter1143520 days ago

Everything like that is on a schedule and sometimes there may be extenuating circumstances that move certain areas ahead or behind in the queue.

peter1143520 days ago

I’m not the one here attempting to speak for everyone. The content in this very thread should be enough to prove to you that your statement that it “doesn't improve the experience in any measurable way for any single guest” is false.

utilidors20 days ago

With all due respect, I think that makes two of us. I think as fans, we need to pull back sometimes and realize that we notice things that 99% of the park's visitor base does not notice. That leads sometimes to criticism that probably isn't deserved, like when a single light bulb is out. I don't think it's fair to expect perfection. But when greater resources are being spent on something of questionable value to the typical guest when there are much bigger things that should probably be addressed first, I think it's okay to point that out. The pavement isn't just being replaced, it's being converted into something designed to be more realistic. That changes the theme even if it's just incremental. I know I'm in the minority of folks -- in the Animal Kingdom, I can point out tons of examples where Disney did a fantastic job of making you feel like you're in a certain place, like in the soon to be former Dinoland where there are intentional cracks in asphalt pavement. It nails the theme. It's just not a theme that I enjoy as much as a more whimsical setting where I don't have to look at cracks that remind me of my morning commute to work. You don't have to agree with me and that's fine. But even if you disagree, respectfully, I can point out pavement in other places that are far worse and probably deserve to be higher up the replacement queue.

peter1143520 days ago

The concrete needed replaced anyway so there really isn’t any waste of resources. I don’t think you speak for every guest when you claim that it doesn’t improve the experience for any of them.

utilidors20 days ago

Yes. It's not the best use of resources and doesn't improve the experience in any measurable way for any single guest. My counterarguments to the points you raise: 1.

Incomudro20 days ago

That's what you got out of some themed pavement?

999th Happy Haunt21 days ago

This is crazy!

Sir_Cliff22 days ago

Yes, I think I was actually the one who complained about the exposed cameras at WDW. The ones on the Mexico Pavilion have always particularly bothered me. Epcot in particular was always the kind of place where rocks would open up and show infrastructure would appear rather than it just sitting out there exposed with no attempt to hide it. I think this is great, though, and exactly the sort of refreshing that adds new details that they should be doing.

Mr. Sullivan22 days ago

There are some people on this forum who genuinely and thoroughly offer criticism, and it comes from a place of genuine desire to talk and discuss. There are also some who just actually hate this company and the parks now and will find something to hate about absolutely everything, no matter how innocuous. Every single thing will be wrong to them. There will be nothing done that they consider correct. It is unfortunate that the latter group makes the former have to walk on pins and needles to express how they genuinely feel when that group never wants to just be negative just because. It’s especially unfortunate how draining of an environment the latter group makes the whole forum. This thread is mostly pretty fair, and I feel more in line with the former group than the latter group thankfully. The ADA comment especially seems a reasonable thought, even if I personally find the pavement beautiful. But it is a rare thread that hasn’t been taken over by that one group, so enjoy it while it lasts.

HauntedPirate22 days ago

You should go read my comments about the Plaza refurb.

HauntedPirate22 days ago

That there is. I remember hating pushing a stroller on it, at AK in particular, but we did it. Epcot and DHS never seemed terribly problematic, for whatever reason.

utilidors22 days ago

"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should" - Jurassic Park Yes, this pavement looks more realistic. But at some point, I think it's important to pull back and question if stuff like this is (1) the best use of resources, and (2) a good idea regardless of point (1). Magic Kingdom has always been a fantasized (i.e., not entirely historically accurate) version of real worlds from real times (well, I'll have to ask you to give me the benefit of the doubt with Tomorrowland!). Main Street is set in an 1890's small mid-western American town. It avoids showing the dark side reality of the Gilded Age where 11 million of 12 million families were below the poverty line, and crime and filth were common. Draw a line from 0 to 1, where 0 is fiction and 1 is non-fiction (i.e., reality) -- an intentional crack line in pavement gradually takes Adventureland a little farther from 0 and a bit closer to 1. I think everyone would recognize that the extreme point along that continuum -- where Adventureland has boarded up windows and (intentionally) has mosquitos everywhere -- is going too far. ...But I'd argue that the point of "going too far" hovers not terribly far from intentional cracks in pavement.