The Oriental Land Company, the company that owns and operates Tokyo Disney Resort, has revealed early concept art for Adventureland and Port Discovery expansions that are soon to come to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea respectively. While nothing concrete was announced the concept art revealed that certain attractions like the Jungle Cruise and Aquatopia might be on the chopping block.
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This announcement came as part of the OLC’s 2035 Long Term Management Strategy presentation where they not only talked about their record-breaking recent fiscal year, but also that they had plans currently in place to change Adventureland and Port Discovery.
Based on the concept art, it looks like the area that is currently home to the Jungle Cruise, Tiki Room, the Western River Railroad, and the Swiss Family Treehouse will be repurposed for rides centered on properties like Up and the Incredibles. This means that only the New Orleans area with Pirates of the Caribbean will survive the changes.
In Tokyo DisneySea, it seems like an extended, Victorian-looking area will be built where Aquatopia stands and will extend to the back of Cape Cod. While it’s not evident what attractions will be included in this expansion, it does look like the Nemo and Friends SeaRider will survive the changes.
Now as for what I think about these changes, I have to say that I’m excited for the Port Discovery expansion but disappointed with the Adventureland expansion. These come as no surprise, however, as recent expansions have proven to be very profitable for the resort, which means reimaginings and expansions of other lands are a no-brainer.
The Port Discovery expansion was sorely needed as that land was always the weakest land in Tokyo DisneySea. Hopefully the new area really rounds out the land and makes it a stronger overall experience. While I love Aquatopia, if we get an amazing, state-of-the-art dark ride from it then I won’t be too disappointed.
The Adventureland reimagining, however, really disappoints me. It points to an unsettling new trend from Disney and Imagineering where nothing is sacred and anything can be put on the chopping block.
The Jungle Cruise is THE quintessential Adventureland attraction. Losing it would be like losing the heart of that land. The Tiki room loss would also be bad for the park as it brought a lot of charm to that area of Tokyo Disneyland. Gutting the Western River Railroad would also be taking out one of the things that tied the park to Walt’s Vision.
I understand that Disney parks aren’t meant to be museums, but there has to be a certain respect for their legacy. These attractions are the backbone of what makes Disney great today, and losing them would be catastrophic for the parks.
Plus the fact that they’re shoehorning IP in these lands makes it worse. Not everything needs to be tied to IP. Disney’s most beloved rides around the world are so beloved because they were original ideas that captivated the imaginations of millions of people. This seems like a giant step back for Disney, especially with the Rivers of America and MuppetVision 3D closing at Walt Disney World.
What do you think of the Adventureland and Port Discovery Expansions coming to Tokyo Disney Resort? Comment down below.
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