It's Time For A New Frontierland

[Moonliner]

Don't really know how Disney is going to restore public trust in BTM, but if they choose not to try at this point, I won't be dissappointed.

I've never been that happy with BTM. I remember "Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland". Yes, it was a sleepy slow train ride past a lot of simple annimation, but it was still a nice ride.

BTM is simply not that great of a roller coaster. It jerks around and you spend way to much time being hauled up lifts. The annimation and special effects are minimal and dated.

What's the answer? Well, I predict that after another investigation and some minor modifications and improved training, the ride will reopen.

What would I like to see? Walt's orignal concept for Frontierland was intended to capture the feeling of the old west. That's why there were mule rides and stagecoach rides along with the original mine train ride.

I remember discussing the Discovery Bay concept with Tony Baxter in the late '70's. I still think it's the best concept for the area next to a new Frontierland with a new roller coaster and a slower Pirates-type ride. For those who don't know about this design, it had some nice features.

A continuous path from Critter Country to Frontierland and over to Fantasyland.

A San Francisco-style shipping town (1880's) where the Columbia would be docked.

Most notable was an underground roller coaster that looped above ground inside a giant pulsing electromagnet.

There were also several smaller rides, like a shooting gallery where the targets were boxes of fireworks and a lazy balloon ride.

Not all rides need to be 2000+/hour mega-movers. A mix of attractions overlaping each other in interesting ways is the way Disneyland used to be. That's what I'd like to see happen again.

[Nemo88]

A San Francisco-style shipping town (1880's)

that would actually be pretty cool for DCA.

[Moonliner]

And while they're at it...


How about moving the Fantasmic Show to the backside of Tom Sawyer's Island?

6,000 seats in a nice arena that moves back out of site during the day...

[Lindemann]

And while they're at it...


How about moving the Fantasmic Show to the backside of Tom Sawyer's Island?

6,000 seats in a nice arena that moves back out of site during the day...

That would be cool and very useful (to reduce crowds at NOS as soon as the sun sets), but there's probably 500 things wrong and conflicting with it.

[ExClub]

Tomorrowland must come first. Although if BTMRR needs to get the ol' heave ho, it might be fun to reimagine the NW corner of the park, including a new E-ticket.

[WrongWay]

I don't think they need to remove BTMRR. It is a great ride for the "less thrilling set". Put the new more thrilling coasters into DCA.

The dedicated Fantasmic theater would be AWESOME. A walkway around the north edge of the river would be great. More work on TSI, like new Fort Wilderness and new Cascade Peak would do wonders, and make the boat and canoe rides more fun again.

Any new rides should go into festival of fools and Big Thunder Ranch areas.

Before we get a new Frontierland, DCA needs a total makeover, then a new Tomorrowland.

[disneyfreak62]

6,000 seats in a nice arena that moves back out of site during the day...

I love Discovery Bay, but the Fantasmic theater, no. They have this big stadium theater for Fantasmic at WDW, and it horrible! It's like going to see a rock concert, not "magical" at all. At DL, the show kind of "emerges" out of an area that you pass by all day long, it just kind of appears. Yes, it makes for huge crowds and congestion, but the show is so much better. Now, maybe if there were an area in back of TSI, where people could lay blankets, and stand, maybe have some "rock formations" for seating, something that looked natural, and fit into Frontierland...that might be OK, but that concrete & steel monstrosity they have at WDW...no way.

[bbmm]

I like the fantasmic thearter beacue it would be eaiser to sit and enjoy it more and i don't think people can wait 4hrs for the show to start

[WrongWay]

I love Discovery Bay, but the Fantasmic theater, no. They have this big stadium theater for Fantasmic at WDW, and it horrible! It's like going to see a rock concert, not "magical" at all. At DL, the show kind of "emerges" out of an area that you pass by all day long, it just kind of appears. Yes, it makes for huge crowds and congestion, but the show is so much better. Now, maybe if there were an area in back of TSI, where people could lay blankets, and stand, maybe have some "rock formations" for seating, something that looked natural, and fit into Frontierland...that might be OK, but that concrete & steel monstrosity they have at WDW...no way.

I think the biggest drawbacks to MGMs are:
No Twain/Columbia/Rafts, etc.
Too Vertical. That is, the stage is narrow and the seating is narrow but deep putting all but a select few far from the action.
aliminum and cement seating.

So, would it be as bad if Disneyland's:
Still put the stage on the island, and still used the Twain, Columbia, rafts, etc.
Did a wide stage, with multiple sets of water screens.
Had the lowest levels as terraced open areas with open "camping" like along the rivers.
Then did the stadium seating only in the upper levels with reserved seating for hotel guests, and maybe an upper deck with the dessert buffet type thingy.

While I think this would slightly reduce the quality of the show, I think the trade off of being able to get to Pirates, Mansion, Splash, etc, during the show is way more than a fair trade off.

[disneyfreak62]

Still put the stage on the island, and still used the Twain, Columbia, rafts, etc.
Did a wide stage, with multiple sets of water screens.
Had the lowest levels as terraced open areas with open "camping" like along the rivers.
Then did the stadium seating only in the upper levels with reserved seating for hotel guests, and maybe an upper deck with the dessert buffet type thingy.

This would be fine, as long as the "stadium seating" could somehow be themed, or more attractive than WDW's "Staple Center". The Columbia, Mark Twain and DLRR would enevitably pass by this area, so it would be nice if it wasn't an industrial eyesore. Like I said, if it could be made to look like rock, or even old, wooden benches...something other than bare metal.