Disney Announces a Kim Possible attraction at Epcot

Post by **rdeacon** » Nov Fri 14, 2008 11:01 am

I was misquoted! hahaaa

I should clarify that when I said...

Rdeacon said that a "World Adventure" with out a tie-in to a popular character wouldn't sell shirts.

I was speaking from the Disney Marketing Team perspective. I think Disney takes the easy road out here 9 times out of 10. By using an existing character they feel they gave a quick tie in that can sell merchandise. I feel they should focus more on the core value/focus of the land/park and theme attractions based on that. The Kim Possible might be a really cool kid concept to make Epcot more kid accessible. But the theme is completely wrong. I think a Epcot world explorer theme would have worked so much better for Epcot. And the back story would have been pretty easy really. A world explorer, done correctly would have allowed them to come up with a new line of merchandise. Sadly they took the easy road.

I do think the mobile phone updates are a cool technological addition to the parks, and a good way for customers to get up to the minute updates, etc. It might even cut down on the number of park maps they have to produce each year. A nice "green" side benefit. BUT where this idea went off the tracks is the exclusive Verizon contract. Why make certain features exclusive. I know I know for the money. But that just takes away some cool features to a large portion of guests. Exclusive deals does not equal Disney is a place for everybody

For the record I have Verizon, but feel that the features for all, not for just some. And if they want Verizon money, just make Verizon a pavilion sponsor ( Wonders of Life = Wonders of Wireless? ) or make them the "Official" wireless carrier of WDW or something like that.

Rich

One quick note

Jsays1 · Post by **Jsays1** » Nov Fri 14, 2008 11:46 am

To me, the concept of an electronics driven scavenger hunt sounds fun, but neither myself or my teen sons have ever watched Kim Possible - maybe they could have integrated Tom Morrow or even TinkerBell into it!

Anyway, I personally work in the cell phone industry but am not a Verizon subscriber. I barely talk on my cell phone preferring the other uses it has and get annoyed at others who create "ear pollution" with constant banter while I'm trying to enjoy the parks. Having a select group of folks receiving free or specialized content while in the parks will make those who don't receive the content feel slighted.

JMHO.

If I am able to use the Epcot provided "Kimmunicators" while I am there in January, I'll try out the game just for fun.

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Nov Fri 14, 2008 1:49 pm

I know they aren't Disney characters, but it would make more sense with a Dora the Explorer or a Blue's Clues theme. They are at least semi-educational and would tie in well with the overall theme of EPCOT Center.

elizabethswann · Post by **elizabethswann** » Nov Fri 14, 2008 2:32 pm

I am pretty sure they're characters over at the Universal Studios parks so that wouldn't work. I know Dora's been around Universal quite a bit and Blue has been for a while though I'm not sure if she still is.

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Nov Fri 14, 2008 2:49 pm

They could have done it with Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego or maybe Duck Tales. They traveled all over solving mysteries.

Lumiere · Post by **Lumiere** » Nov Sat 15, 2008 10:04 am

Jacca5660 wrote: What's next "Marriott's Tower of Terror Hotel and Suites", "CSX's Disney railroad", "Carnival's Jungle Cruise and Casino", "Georgia Pacific's Tree of Life"?

It's just another sad happening in Disney History. I'll get off of my soap box now. Thank you for reading. ;=(

\

PLEEZE.....don't give them any ideas

Jason L. Rinckel · Post by **Jason L. Rinckel** » Nov Sat 15, 2008 2:10 pm

I am of the thought that if you do not like it then don't participate. I don't think Disney having a Verizon tie in is anything new or bad. We had "If You Had Wings" and "Dreamflight". Each were a commercial for airlines. I liked both of them. We have the Coke attraction at EPCOT. I love hearing Frito Kid and Klondike on this very radio station, but that also was a commercial. Unfortunately, we have to deal with sponsorship. Disney is trying to entertain with that sponsorship. We may not have Marriott's Tower of Terror, but we have seen in the past sponsorships from Kraft, Kodak, United Technologies, AT&T, American Express, and General Electric.
As far as Kim Possible goes I remember a time when none of the characters were at EPCOT. I wrote a letter as a child suggesting that they introduce characters like Robin Hood and Pinocchio into World Showcase. I don't think that took away from World Showcase, in fact it enhanced it. Everybody can still cry at the American Adventure, get mad when people walk past the movie "The Spirit of Norway, and marvel at the wonders of China. Those who want to can run around with communicators because they like Kim Possible.

Post by **js3901** » Nov Sat 15, 2008 5:24 pm

rdeacon wrote: For the record I have Verizon, but feel that the features for all, not for just some. And if they want Verizon money, just make Verizon a pavilion sponsor ( Wonders of Life = Wonders of Wireless? ) or make them the "Official" wireless carrier of WDW or something like that.

I think, that by doing the exclusive features, that's exactly what they're doing. though, they really don't say a specific product is "Official" anymore - after the American Express contract ran out...

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Nov Sun 16, 2008 3:08 am

Wow, I go away for three months, and the first thing I click on in the "news" to see what's going on is something that flips my (admittedly, quite-easily-flippable) Rage Switch.

Actually, I agree that they could have done something tasteful with the scavenger hunt (and I'm not going to yammer away about cartoons in Epcot for my first post back in so long), but at least it doesn't do permanent damage to the park.

Eventually it will end, and the kiosks will be removed, and calm will return to the world and my addled nerves. Until the next thing.

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Nov Sun 16, 2008 3:33 am

Captain Schnemo wrote:Wow, I go away for three months, and the first thing I click on in the "news" to see what's going on is something that flips my (admittedly, quite-easily-flippable) Rage Switch.

Actually, I agree that they could have done something tasteful with the scavenger hunt (and I'm not going to yammer away about cartoons in Epcot for my first post back in so long), but at least it doesn't do permanent damage to the park.

Eventually it will end, and the kiosks will be removed, and calm will return to the world and my addled nerves. Until the next thing.

Schnemo what a disappointment! After reading you post all these years, that's it? What ever happened to some of the best writing on these boards? I've read most all of you post and I can't believe with the blasphemous short sightedness of this attraction, that; that's it.

Come on and say what you really feel, please! I for one have been looking forward to it!

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Nov Sun 16, 2008 3:52 am

While I'm always appreciative of a good rant and often like being goaded into one of my own, the Kim Possible thing is so similar to other stupid moves they've done that you could recycle most of my old rants and hardly know the difference.

Overly-restrictive demographic? Check. Over-reliance on existing property? Check. Insulting creation in direct opposition to the original theme? Check.

At this point, I almost feel bad picking on them, if only because my rants have got to be boring after a while.

Mainly, I'm sticking with my initial assessment...it's no worse than a lot of things they've done recently, and most importantly, it's temporary.

No classics were harmed in the making of this attraction...only dignity.

Jason L. Rinckel · Post by **Jason L. Rinckel** » Nov Sun 16, 2008 8:00 am

A Ducktales Theme would be pretty cool.

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Nov Sun 16, 2008 1:00 pm

Captain Schnemo wrote:While I'm always appreciative of a good rant and often like being goaded into one of my own, the Kim Possible thing is so similar to other stupid moves they've done that you could recycle most of my old rants and hardly know the difference.

Overly-restrictive demographic? Check. Over-reliance on existing property? Check. Insulting creation in direct opposition to the original theme? Check.

At this point, I almost feel bad picking on them, if only because my rants have got to be boring after a while.

Mainly, I'm sticking with my initial assessment...it's no worse than a lot of things they've done recently, and most importantly, it's temporary.

No classics were harmed in the making of this attraction...only dignity.

I wasn't trying to goaded you! I just truly enjoy your writing. Even when we don't agree and we have had some moments in the past. You just have a very unique and enjoyable style of writing. You are one of the few people I look forward to reading!

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Nov Mon 17, 2008 11:35 pm

Thanks, I do appreciate it. I just didn't feel the topic justified a full-scale rant, although, lucky you, someone pressed my Rant button in the WDW section of the forum, so you can read more of my incessant whining down there if you choose to.

Post by **subsonic** » Nov Tue 18, 2008 1:10 pm

Jason L. Rinckel wrote:I am of the thought that if you do not like it then don't participate.

And this is why Disney keeps failing. People are starting to NOT participate at all because Disney keeps putting in attractions aimed at a specific demographic instead of making attractions for "children of all ages". How many more attractions does Disney need to put in where I decide to not visit Disney at all because I don't like anything? It's starting to get to that point.

"If you don't like it then don't participate" is exactly the short-sightedness we're starting to expect from Disney.

Schnemo! Welcome back to the forums. So strange that you come back soon after I start becoming active as well.