If Disney were a recipe, it would read: one part nostalgia, two parts magic, a sprinkling of churro dust, and a heavy pour of intellectual property. Over the past decade, IP has moved into the parks like that one quirky uncle at your holiday party; you are glad they are there, but they don’t need to be in every single conversation you have. From Frozen in EPCOT’s Norway to Guardians of the Galaxy saving the day in Disney California Adventure, the parks are now bursting with familiar faces. But is this change enhancing our experience or taking away from the original uniqueness of Disney attractions?
There’s something thrilling about walking into a fully realized alternate universe where you’re a part of your favorite story. However, there is also a downside to trading originality for marketability, as our beloved, unique experiences are slowly replaced with cookie-cutter commercial tie-ins. One park where I see this most evident is Walt Disney World’s EPCOT, where many of the uniquely independent attractions are now morphing into character collaborations. Though I enjoyed the subtle character upgrades made to ‘it’s a small world’, and the new areas being themed toward the Disney stories we love, there is something about losing those distinctively individual rides that are strong and popular in their own right. I’m starting to wonder, where is the line?
Disney fans were up in arms only months ago, coming to terms with the realization that the Rivers of America in Magic Kingdom would be replaced with two Cars-themed attractions. I can’t help but question, when does this IP extension go too far? When you think about it, some of our favorite attractions are still somehow untouched by any or excessive IP. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, what’s next? Will we soon see Soarin’ filled with character locations instead of real-world locations? Dinoland USA is already in the process of transforming into an ode to the newer Disney characters. While the area will be getting a much-needed upgrade, it’s sad to see the uniqueness of Dinoland go.
Is it bad that I want both of them? I would love to see a magical balance of both those original Disney creations and the new world of Disney, which is full of character representation, coexist. Maybe there’s a sweet spot where both can live happily ever after—a harmonious kingdom where Moana can find her place next to a Figment.
Let me know your thoughts. Does your Disney experience get better with more or fewer IP integrations?
