It’s been easy for veteran Walt Disney World fans to get a bit discouraged. Annual passes keep getting more expensive, and favorite attractions disappear for less exciting replacements. It’s hard to think of many new updates that won’t make a huge impact on the bottom line. Bob Iger can sell the financial value of a Star Wars land to the shareholders. Disney is a business, and leadership focuses on capital investments that will move the needle. Adding vintage audio-animatronics to a boat ride doesn’t fit that description, and that’s why it’s such a rare treat.
It might feel strange for some to watch the squeals of delight on Twitter and other social media this past Friday. Replacing a screen with animatronics of The Three Caballeros in EPCOT seems minor on the surface. The scene at the end of the Mexico ride is pretty short, and it won’t dramatically change the modest lines. Even so, the fact that Disney made this change offers hope for the future. There was no fire that took down the previous set and forced them to act like at the Tiki Room. Disney made the choice to add a cool nod to a long-gone attraction. The new version recalls a time when animatronics and physical sets were the norm on Disney attractions.
The Surprise
The thrill for me was having no idea this upgrade was coming. The Internet has made it easy to follow every change at the parks, even when they’re years away. Minor updates to menus become daily news, which makes visiting the parks less novel. I had no idea Disney was considering this move, and that surprise made it more exciting. It was cool to just enjoy something great.
Another positive was the excitement of the Disney fan community. My Twitter feed included joyful reactions and not the usual snarky comments. We weren’t focused on disappointments with FastPass Plus, higher prices, or lost attractions. Instead, everyone was just having fun and raving about the new animatronics. It’s easy to get disenchanted with the constant focus on branding at Disney, and this move felt separate from all the selling.
A Vintage Connection
What made this change even more enjoyable was the connection to the Mickey Mouse Revue. That opening day attraction at Walt Disney World was closed in 1980 but operated in Tokyo until 2009. I’m too young to remember this audio-animatronic show, but old-school fans still fondly recall it. The new animatronics in the Gran Fiesta Tour are refurbished versions of The Three Caballeros from the Tokyo show. It’s a cool way to incorporate an early part of The Magic Kingdom into a current attraction. While many guests won’t recognize this callback, it’s a clever nod to fans.
There’s a tricky balance for Disney management given the expectations of passionate fans. Fans expect Disney to keep adding new rides, but not at the expense of current attractions. Even if a ride doesn’t have long lines, it will still have a dedicated group of fans. Recent moves have tilted the scales a little too much towards the new. I hope there are other moves coming that will continue to respect the past without treating the parks like museums.
A Brighter Future?
There are several new additions coming to EPCOT, most notably the Frozen expansion in Norway. Crowds will flock to that area, but many pavilions need help. I’d love to see small moves that revitalize the entire park. Capital investments are going into the Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. EPCOT won’t have the same budget, but there should be room for little upgrades that improve the experience. They would help to better distribute crowds and deliver more beyond the headliners.
I’m not asking for the moon here either. Installing a new Ellen animatronic and even a few nods to modern technology would help at the Energy pavilion. Spaceship Earth could really use some physical sets within its descent. EPCOT’s 35th anniversary is coming in 2017, and I’d love to see enhancements on par with Disneyland’s 60th.
Maybe we can’t gut Journey Into Imagination, but creating a new scene or adding effects might help. Disney used to be masterful at finding ways to keep attractions from going stagnant. The Three Caballeros offer an intriguing model for improving EPCOT in the near future. I hope Disney recognizes the opportunity and keeps provide a better experience at a park with so much potential.
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It was a surprise! I rode it the first day they were in not even realizing, so I was really caught off guard! Very cool.
That’s awesome! This will definitely be something that I’ll be excited to see when we go early next year.