#permanentresident

http://click.exacttarget.change.org/?qs=565dd9ba9c6811c0ca2e8028199f1223af4537b3cbed59a715d5db5373103e2ccb45fff016f81adf

This was my rant on Instagram, which expresses how I feel about the change, and why I’m so angry about it. It’s less that change is occurring, more that it doesn’t make sense, and it’s an obvious money grab. Sigh.

First of all, why? While ToT is not my favorite, the attraction is hardly outdated or unpopular. Some may argue that it is, since many Young People™ aren’t familiar with the show, if they have even ever heard of it. This doesn’t matter. While Disney no longer believes that attractions not based on a pre-existing film/product franchise can be popular and beloved by the public (and profitable), the fact is that they are. The only thing I can think of is they can sell more crap that can also sell well on the outside than the limitations of an original attraction. Kids want cuddly Rocket Raccoons more than deadpan bellhop dolls that otherwise have no more meaning to them once they leave the park.

Next is theme. The Hollywood Tower Hotel makes perfect sense in a CA-themed park. A futuristic alien museum, however? Not at all. Unless there are long-term plans execs haven’t announced yet. Admit it, the Bug’s Life land also has no specific thematic ties to California. It’s a franchise that isn’t as beloved as many other Pixar properties. A desperate company wanting their latest cash cow to make them more millions is going to want to cull anything that isn’t a big draw. They can’t in Florida because of Universal, but California is fair game. I predict a retheming of that area of the park into something about Hollywood blockbusters.

How will that work? Well, I’m not sure. The world of “Guardians..” takes place in space, not earth. It’s also a lesser-known franchise compared to say, the Avengers. Unless they can somehow tie in the museum into a land that synthesizes all the Marvel properties and still make it relevant to CA in some way, I’m at a loss at how this area of the park is going to mesh with all the investment made so far into turning the park into a cohesive story.