In a brand new survey, Disney is asking friends for suggestions concerning the potential sights, lands, or meet & greets that includes The Simpsons at Walt Disney World and their theme parks. This shares particulars of the survey, the chance of Common Studios Florida dropping its Springfield land, and our commentary concerning the chance of the characters making their strategy to Disney’s Hollywood Studios or one other park.
Let’s begin with the survey, which was noticed by friend-of-the-site Drew Smith the Disney Dude on Twitter. Smith shared a screenshot of the survey asks about varied manufacturers and franchises owned by The Walt Disney Firm and asks: “Which of the next choices do you need to hear extra about from The Simpsons?”
Company can choose from solutions together with “Character meet & greets on the Disney theme parks” and “New lands or sights on the Disney theme parks.” It additionally contains a number of choices that aren’t related to this website, comparable to “dwell motion TV” (eww) in addition to “immersive experiences outdoors of the Disney theme parks” (I suppose that one is theme park adjoining and will imply standalone choices like ESPN Zone or DisneyQuest, however revolving round The Simpsons.)
The Simpsons just isn’t at the moment represented at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or any of the worldwide parks. The Simpsons Experience opened at Common Studios Florida (USF) and Common Studios Hollywood (USH) in 2008, following the closure of its Again to the Future attraction. Common later added fully-fledged Springfield lands at USF in 2013, adopted by USH in 2015.
The land contains Quick Meals Boulevard, which options a variety of eating choices, with probably the most notable being Lard Lad Donuts, Krusty Burger and Moe’s Tavern (though I’m keen on Cletus’ Hen Shack). There are minor variations between the USH and USF variations of the land, which is barely bigger in Orlando due to the Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl spinner journey (and that park merely having extra space).
After a heated bidding conflict between Disney and Comcast (Common’s mum or dad firm), Disney introduced in late 2017 that it will purchase twenty first Century Fox for $71.3 billion. Probably not germane to this submit, however I actually want Comcast’s $65 billion provide would’ve gained out. Whereas Iger and co. made a variety of good acquisitions which have paid for themselves a number of instances over, the Fox deal arguably just isn’t one in every of them. Justifying that buy is perhaps exactly why we’re seeing this survey.
In any case, the Fox acquisition gave Disney possession of The Simpsons, which have since featured prominently in Disney+ advertising and marketing efforts. The franchise has been highlighted on residence screens and a push for the brand new vacation particular nearly satisfied me to present it a watch.
The identical day that the Walt Disney Firm’s acquisition of twenty first Century Fox was introduced, Common issued its personal assertion that the deal would “don’t have any impression on our journey or our visitor expertise.” It’s extensively believed that Common’s contract provides them theme park rights to The Simpsons for 20 years, that means it ends in 2028 except it’s voluntarily terminated earlier.
To that time, there have been rumors by way of Alicia Stella of Orlando Theme Park Cease that Common Orlando would substitute Springfield with a Pokémon-themed space. This was a part of a bigger-picture bundle of rumors about Common Artistic’s medium-term plan for its present gates, which is seemingly in flux as totally different redevelopment ideas have been explored.
It’s notable that Common Studios Japan already has a long-term strategic alliance with The Pokémon Firm that has borne fruit by way of the park’s parades, merchandise, and meals & beverage bought at within the park. USJ has additionally had seasonal occasions with a powerful Pokémon focus.
Most significantly, it’s an open secret that USJ’s model of The Superb Adventures of Spider-Man, which closed earlier this yr regardless of being comparatively new, goes to get replaced by a Pokémon attraction. I’m actually shocked there hasn’t been an official announcement but, however maybe USJ was ready till Donkey Kong Nation lastly debuted after a multi-month delay. That has occurred, that means an announcement might come quickly.
It would make extra sense for Pokémon to exchange Marvel Tremendous Hero Island and its Superb Adventures of Spider-Man attraction, which might permit for a direct clone of the USJ attraction. However I don’t know what that may imply for that land’s thrill rides, which most likely are usually not fairly as conducive to Pokémon (or any Nintendo franchise) sights.
Actually, it most likely doesn’t matter what replaces what. The previous Again to the Future journey has an getting older journey system that has seen higher days, and it’s gotta be nearing the top of its helpful life regardless. It might most likely limp alongside till 2028, which probably is probably the most wise possibility since Common actually has greater fish to fry in its two present gates earlier than turning its consideration to Springfield. The Simpsons space continues to be strong, and a worthwhile land for now.
Past that, there’s no manner Walt Disney World builds something associated to The Simpsons earlier than 2028. Tropical Americas isn’t coming till 2027, with different lands opening yearly at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom after that in 2028 by means of 2030. That leaves a everlasting addition for The Simpsons someday within the 2030s, if it occurs in any respect. The one nearer-term various can be leisure or one thing non permanent.
Our Commentary
To “reply” the titular query, quite a lot of issues might occur. However that doesn’t imply they may occur or are even more likely to occur. The Simpsons won’t come to Walt Disney World or Disneyland in any significant capability. Not all surveys result in one thing. On the contrary, most are dead-ends. The one motive we determined to debate this one was because of the rumors revolving round Common changing The Simpsons, and followers drawing the conclusion that this was the logical finish level. In our view, it’s not.
On the threat of stating the plain, The Simpsons just isn’t as fashionable because the franchise as soon as was. It’s featured on Disney+ due to its voluminous again catalog, that means the present is an efficient candidate for racking up a number of minutes considered if previous followers or new ones binge the sequence. Past that, the present simply isn’t that fashionable anymore. Viewership numbers for brand spanking new episodes have been falling for many years (actually!), so it’s not only a more moderen phenomenon pushed by cord-cutting.
The argument might be made, I suppose, that that is exactly the kind of franchise Disney Parks ought to be that includes. Not flavors of the month, however established ones with endurance that can stand the check of time. I’ve used this very same rationale to justify Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice being constructed at Walt Disney World, and the identical might be mentioned for the upcoming Automobiles and Monsters, Inc. lands, to not point out the Villains land, relying on what it contains.
The Simpsons is totally different. It isn’t timeless. There are some episodes that actually are, and the early seasons are classics. However I don’t suppose right this moment’s youth are referring to Bart Simpson like my technology did, and I don’t see Millennial mother and father introducing their youngsters to The Simpsons in the identical manner they may the Disney and Pixar animated classics, or authentic trilogy of Star Wars. It was an enormous hit within the Nineties that captured the collective zeitgeist due to how totally different it was. That’s not the case due to South Park, Household Man, Futurama, and so on.
I say this as somebody who was big into The Simpsons. Again when my home first received AOL dial-up, I spent hours and hours on micro fan-sites dedicated to particular characters. I regarded ahead to Adobe Flash updates to one in every of my favorites that revolved round Treehouse of Horror. I made my very own cowl artwork for VHS tapes of episodes I’d recorded from over-the-air. You get the concept. As needs to be apparent from these particulars, that was within the late Nineties.
I’ve sturdy nostalgia for The Simpsons, however most of that’s pre-9/11. I’ve solely watched a handful of episodes within the final 20 years, and actually, that was principally accidentally after I couldn’t discover the distant after Fox NFL Sunday ended. (No joke.) I don’t suppose I’ve made it by means of any of them, looking for out the distant as a result of they’ve been so dangerous. Not The Simpsons I remembered.
Possibly I’m extrapolating an excessive amount of primarily based alone private historical past with The Simpsons, however I’d hazard a guess that the nicely of nostalgia for The Simpsons just isn’t that deep. And it’s solely drying up. To the extent that Gen X and Millennials have fond reminiscences of The Simpsons, we’ve most likely principally moved on. I’m extremely skeptical that the franchise, at this cut-off date, has adequate recognition to justify any theme park illustration.
I’d additionally hazard a guess that Common has realized as a lot, which is exactly why there are rumors that they’re exploring the concept of ending the licensing settlement early. In contrast, there are zero credible rumors that they’ve any intentions of extending. That might be the trail of least resistance if the land has drawing energy, as (once more) there are extra urgent issues and areas ripe for redevelopment at each USH and USF.
The Simpsons was an older franchise even when the Common parks launched it again in 2008. That was nearly twenty years in the past. By the point Disney will get round to doing something with it, we’re realistically 25 years. And never from the franchise’s peak, however from a time when it was already waning in recognition.
It’s potential that Walt Disney World or Disneyland will do one thing less-permanent with The Simpsons. Meet & greets, leisure, or eating might make sense. Moe’s Tavern might possibly generate some income, however the the factor there’s that the idea has already been achieved by Common. Would it not have the identical impression the third time? Uncertain.
Actually, that is one more reason why I’d be reluctant to pursue the concept if I have been Disney. Springfield at Common Studios Florida and Hollywood is ideal passable. It’s an excellent miniland so far as retrofits go, nevertheless it’s nothing particular. Accomplishes a little bit of want success and offers individuals my age just a few enjoyable picture ops and meal choices.
Even with Imagineering’s skills and sources, I’m skeptical Disney might do Springfield a lot better. That’s much less an indictment of the inventive arms of every and extra the low-ceiling on the idea itself. Pre-Pandora, we talked up how that truly can be an ideal match for a theme park, because the land was a stupendous surroundings to discover. The Simpsons provide the antithesis of that. Springfield is, by design, center class suburbia. What Common already did roughly maxed out the land’s restricted potential. It doesn’t want or deserve extra.
As for leisure, the issue there turns into one in every of thematic cohesion. The Simpsons characters don’t actually work nicely alongside conventional Disney animation or Pixar. It’s noticeably jarring, even to non-fans. That hasn’t stopped Disney from doing the identical with Star Wars, Marvel, Pirates of the Caribbean and live-action remakes in sure nighttime spectaculars, however the distinction there’s one in every of recognition. Folks love all of these franchises. Do they nonetheless love The Simpsons?
The opposite problem with all of those non permanent choices is the chance value. Any of the “finest” concepts for Walt Disney World or Disneyland to make use of The Simpsons within the near-term might be utilized to Bluey as a substitute (nicely, aside from the bar). As you’re probably conscious, Disney simply acquired theme park rights for Bluey, which was an excellent albeit overdue determination.
Why put The Simpsons in Animation Courtyard or one other limited-time providing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios when you would use Bluey as a substitute? The return on funding for every greenback spent on Bluey can be exponentially increased than the identical cash spent on The Simpsons.
The query of thematic cohesion and appropriateness for the Disney Parks is the place I think most followers will focus their reactions and (frankly) frustrations about this Simpsons survey query. I’m largely ignoring that right here as a result of, as we’ve discovered, that doesn’t typically make a lot of a distinction to the corporate. What does is model consciousness and drawing energy, and I simply don’t suppose The Simpsons actually strikes the needle in any considerable manner for Walt Disney World or Disneyland. It’d be extra bother and expense than it’s price.
That’s why I think that is extra more likely to be a survey query aimed toward shutting down the concept, relatively than supporting it. As talked about above, Disney is probably going searching for methods to additional justify the Fox acquisition’s price ticket, and this survey was probably a fruitless fishing expedition, with The Simpsons as a possible possibility thrown on the market. Personally, I’d wager that we’ll sooner see Planet of the Apes or Alien within the parks than The Simpsons…and I don’t suppose both of these franchises are all that probably, both!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the possibilities of The Simpsons coming to Walt Disney World? Does Springfield deserve a spot within the parks? Assume The Simpsons leisure or characters can be good additions in Hollywood Studios? Hopeful that characters are added to leisure or as meet & greets ASAP? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
