Disney's America

Post by **js3901** » Mar Wed 07, 2007 5:37 pm

TikiTikiRoom wrote:when I think of Disney, i don't think of our nation's history.

TikiTikiRoom wrote: It just makes History sound tacky and gaudy.

by this logic, The American Adventure show in Epcot, or just about the entire World Showcase should never have been opened, right? They are Disney products, showing each country's history/culture, after all. The Disney's America project would have just expanded on the American Adventure pavillion in Epcot, just in a different place.

AKLRULZ · Post by **AKLRULZ** » Mar Thu 08, 2007 7:48 am

TikiTikiRoom wrote:when I think of Disney, i don't think of our nation's history. I think of vacation resorts in a tropical climate and a bus transit line taking visitors to well-cared for theme parks, not a historic battlefield. It just makes History sound tacky and gaudy. If I were to do a research paper on the battle of Bull-Run i wouldn't go down to Virginia and interview Mickey Mouse about it. I'd get online and research it from well-to do sites. Sorry, it's not my kind of an idea for a park.

You've entirely missed what the concept of this park was to be - sure it was an entertainment venue, but history can be entertaining. Walt Disney was all about history and it's evident in his theme parks - especially attractions he had a personal touch on.

yoyoflamingo · Post by **yoyoflamingo** » Mar Sun 25, 2007 8:36 pm

I bet if they had decided to make this in California or Florida as the second or fourth gate, respectively, people would not be so against its construction. But, to each his or her own. I can totally respect the reason why people reacted the way they did.

kgmadorin · Post by **kgmadorin** » Mar Mon 26, 2007 2:06 pm

I think there are very few organizations that respect culture and history as much as the Disney company.

Walt was a huge nostalgic himself, and always kept a keen interest in preserving the past. Not only would I argue that Disney, whether it be Walt's-era or the contemporary leadership, would do a fine job in presenting American history, I think they can do it better than anyone else. Unfortunately, the historical attractions in and around Jamestown, Yorktown, and Colonial Williamsburg have some extraordinarily influential backers, and they were determined to see Disney driven out of Virginia. I think it was a loss for that area, and a loss for the country as a whole.

CDAbleson · Post by **CDAbleson** » Mar Tue 27, 2007 6:26 am

More excellent Concept Art and thoughts...Thanks!

Esmeralda · Post by **Esmeralda** » Mar Tue 27, 2007 4:08 pm

I finally got time to look at the concept art and skim through the news realease originally posted by Disney's America. They looked amazing! I would have been really impressed by this park, especially as the Disney execs were advertising it as a compliment to and not a replacement of the other historic attractions in DC.

rocketman · Post by **rocketman** » May Mon 07, 2007 11:28 am

I think the park could have been really cool. I wasn't terribly crazy about the idea of location though, right near actual Civil War battlefields? What's the point there? Does Disney really need to draw business away from a national monument? They should build the America park at WDW, there's certainly space for it and there's always a rumor about a fifth park. We were given a look at many of the concepts while I was still working at the studio and there were some amazingly cool looking plans.

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » May Mon 07, 2007 2:12 pm

Seeing as they've proven that Disney parks can make it through winter conditions with Europe and Tokyo, I say they re-visit this idea and find somewhere in the North East for this park. It's different than WDW or Disneyland, so it probably wouldn't take away too many people from visiting those parks. Pennsylvania and New York have a lot of wide open space... or better yet Connecticut.

Post by **js3901** » May Mon 07, 2007 3:03 pm

Cheshire Cat wrote:Seeing as they've proven that Disney parks can make it through winter conditions with Europe and Tokyo, I say they re-visit this idea and find somewhere in the North East for this park. It's different than WDW or Disneyland, so it probably wouldn't take away too many people from visiting those parks. Pennsylvania and New York have a lot of wide open space... or better yet Connecticut.

one of the original places Walt looked before decinding on FL was in Niagara Falls, NY. I think they should revisit that idea, as this area could use a good park here.

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » May Mon 07, 2007 3:14 pm

js3901 wrote:one of the original places Walt looked before decinding on FL was in Niagara Falls, NY. I think they should revisit that idea, as this area could use a good park here.

You just don't want to drive far to get to the parks, don't you....

I'm just messing with you. I would love a park where I can get some snow on a Cinderella style castle. That would really make it look like Neuschwanstein.

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » May Mon 07, 2007 3:27 pm

But it does remind me of Freedomland, an old theme park in New York City that my mom remembers going to in the 1960s.

I remember that place!! I was a child but, if I remember correctly, it was a typical old style amusement park. Sort of in the style of the parks that used to be in the Lake George area of up state NY

BuDz211 · Post by **BuDz211** » May Mon 21, 2007 2:56 pm

Man, if they actually followed through with this park, I would move there. I'm very patriotic and enjoy anything that celebrates the U.S.A.

JWG · Post by **JWG** » May Mon 21, 2007 3:23 pm

If you're going to a non-traditional site, by which I mean weather is variable, then I would think the midwest would be a stronger choice. Easier access for more of the country and more open space (ie Dakotas).

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » May Mon 21, 2007 7:08 pm

All Disney has to do to move anywhere is buy a mall, a stand alone mall not a strip mall, don't renew the leases for the stores and let it empty out. Then tear it down and build the park. All in all it is a sound plan as long as they get the zoning permits, the funds, the approval of the neighborhoods in the area, etc.

I heard Franklin Mills Mall is up for sale, it is 1 mile long not including the parking lots around it. I'm not sure how big the lot is, has to be at least 200 acres.

rmorton50 · Post by **rmorton50** » Sep Tue 04, 2007 9:58 pm

I'll bet Disney would put 1000% more effort into interpreting history than any other Hollywood movie studio would. You can't get any two or three historians to agree about what effect any action has had on our great country. I'll bet Oklahoma City would love to have the park. There's plenty of land here, good people with friendly faces and good work ethic; patriotic people who appreciate what a blessing it is to have land aplenty, clean air, and a great climate that allows nearly year round operation. I'd quit my job and go to work there in a second.