Magic Kingdom Parking Lot Makeover

[Polynesian Princess]

http://www.wesh.com/themeparks/29256417/detail.html

Basically, they're changing the names of the parking lots from the classic Disney characters to heroes and villains (Woody, Aladdin, Peter Pan, Simba, Mulan and Rapunzel for Heroes and Zurg, Jafar, Hook, Scar, Cruella and Ursula for Villains) to "make it easier" for people to remember where they parked.

My thoughts:
- I don't see how this is going to make it any easier. If they forget Mickey, how are they going to remember Zurg?
- The selection is better than I feared it would be when I first saw the title of the article. At least they did include some older films and not just the new/Pixar ones.
- It's kind of sad to see the Fab 5 taken away. Especially in light of yesterday's announcement.
- It's kind of odd that some of them were chosen in pairs, but others don't have a match or anything in common.
- ALADDIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Len90]

Wow Diseny is really trying to mess with people now. I really don't understand how you could forget where you parked your car using the old naming system. The next thing you know we will have Spiderman and Superman holding meet and greets at EPCOT!

[Polynesian Princess]

I really don't understand how you could forget where you parked your car using the old naming system.

I can understand how you could forget - you're excited to get to parks, making sure you've got everything, trying to control your bouncing kids, etc. and someone glances at the sign. Some probably don't even notice there are signs. Then after a long day in the park, every member has a different answer for "where did we park?" and no one is 100% sure. I know when we've gone, I've had to make a conscious effort to remember where we parked and usually just end up taking a picture so I don't have to worry about it. Obviously the new names aren't going to help people remember, unless they're thinking it will appeal to the kids more? But my husband pointed out that more people won't have seen some of those movies, so that will make it less memorable than the Fab 5.

The next thing you know we will have Spiderman and Superman holding meet and greets at EPCOT!

I think you're on to something! I mean Superman can fly and Spiderman kind of flies about when he's swinging, and flying is how you would travel to another country, so it totally fits the global perspective of World Showcase!

[Wizzard419]

Do they use the same parking things they have at DLR? Almost no one uses them properly (you mark the area you're in on it and take it with you) and leaves them on their dashboard.

[Polynesian Princess]

Not that I've ever seen or been given. There are a few big signs along the middle edge of the section that will say the section name and the row numbers it would include. I don't know what numbers went with each character or how many rows are in each group, but it might be "Mickey 1-25", for example. It will also have a picture of that character on the sign. Then as you walk down the row, painted on the ground of each row in a shaded section says your section name and row number like "Mickey 23". The sections are also specific to a side of the road, so "Mickey 1-25" may be on the left side and "Minnie 26-50" will be directly across from it on the right, with the trams running in the center.

When you board the tram, they will state what section you came from, mention which rows you're most likely on based on where people are currently parking, and encourage you to remember this for when you return home. Of course, with those speakers, crowd noise, the cast member's accent, etc., how well you can understand that information varies each time.

[Amy]

I really don't understand how you could forget where you parked your car using the old naming system.

I can understand how you could forget - you're excited to get to parks, making sure you've got everything, trying to control your bouncing kids, etc. and someone glances at the sign. Some probably don't even notice there are signs. Then after a long day in the park, every member has a different answer for "where did we park?" and no one is 100% sure. I know when we've gone, I've had to make a conscious effort to remember where we parked and usually just end up taking a picture so I don't have to worry about it. Obviously the new names aren't going to help people remember, unless they're thinking it will appeal to the kids more? But my husband pointed out that more people won't have seen some of those movies, so that will make it less memorable than the Fab 5.

The next thing you know we will have Spiderman and Superman holding meet and greets at EPCOT!

I think you're on to something! I mean Superman can fly and Spiderman kind of flies about when he's swinging, and flying is how you would travel to another country, so it totally fits the global perspective of World Showcase!

What the heck? There is no way I could remember those less familiar character names Good thing we stay on property and let Disney do the driving!!
Spidey and Superman probably will be showing up soon ~ they're Marvel aren't they?

[Polynesian Princess]

What the heck? There is no way I could remember those less familiar character names Good thing we stay on property and let Disney do the driving!!

It also may prove more of a challenge for visitors from other countries. I don't think characters always necessarily have the same name in other languages. Ones that come from a fairy tale or other written known story, are more likely to be the same or similar, but still could be pronounced so completely differently that they may have a hard time making the connection with the American pronunciation. It's hard enough for many Americans to understand British English - imagine how hard it could be with an even more significantly different language.

Someone like Zurg who it wouldn't really matter what his name was, is more likely to have been drastically modified to a point where it is unrecognizable so that it's something more appropriate in that language. I did a little research to try to find out more information, but couldn't really find any lists of character names in different languages. I did find this website, which shows just how different the titles are which you can use to compare those titles which are character names - http://www.d-zine.se/en/movies/multilang_titles.html Check out Cinderella, for example.

And yes, the Fab 5 have different names too, but they are more likely to know the English names for them than this random assortment of characters.

Spidey and Superman probably will be showing up soon ~ they're Marvel aren't they?

I think they are ...

[Jacca5660]

It seem a waste of money. It's like one of those we have this money in our budget for parking lots so lets do this. It just makes little sense.
I just did an English to about 15 different languages and they all came out pretty much the same.

[Amy]

Gosh, I hadn't even thought about the foreign visitors. I would think they would have an easier time remembering Mickey, Minnie, Donald, etc., but maybe those names are no easier for them than the new ones. Good point on the characters having different names in different languages. I wonder if Disney if just trying to get people to expand their character horizons? Or maybe they want to make more parking lot sections so people can remember their section easier?

[Polynesian Princess]

I just did an English to about 15 different languages and they all came out pretty much the same.

I wouldn't think an English to other language translator would be a reliable source for the character names. Whatever it decides to translate it to is not necessarily their names. It's more of a dictionary than a reference tool. Plus, when it doesn't have a word in the database, it just puts the exact same word you entered in the foreign language column, which in this case would give the impression that the name was the same.

I would think they would have an easier time remembering Mickey, Minnie, Donald, etc., but maybe those names are no easier for them than the new ones.

They are at least more likely to have been exposed to the English name before. Plus they have the pictures on the sign - everyone knows Mickey and the gang. It's harder to remember or describe "We're at that purple lady..." or such if you don't know the character.

[Jacca5660]

Mickey Mouse is Topolino in Italian!!
Goofy is Sciocco.
Michael Eisner is Cazzo.

[Amy]

Mickey Mouse is Topolino in Italian!!
Goofy is Sciocco.
Michael Eisner is Cazzo.

Hey, watch the language, there are children present

[Jacca5660]

Mickey Mouse is Topolino in Italian!!
Goofy is Sciocco.
Michael Eisner is Cazzo.

Hey, watch the language, there are children present

What???

[boilerbabe]

I don't really see how changing the naming system is supposed to help people remember where they parked their car?! Sad to take away the Fab 5!

[Amy]

Mickey Mouse is Topolino in Italian!!
Goofy is Sciocco.
Michael Eisner is Cazzo.

Hey, watch the language, there are children present

What???

Nice try at looking innocent Mr. Italian ~ tsk, tsk, tsk...