I've been working in Tomorowland quite a bit lately. Last night I wrote this while I was on my break.
The trouble with Tomorrowland is that no matter how innovative, how futuristic the plans for it are, it's going to be outdated at some point. Tomorrow will come, and the theming will look silly. Tomorrowland was designed to show the promises and the challenges of the far-off 1980s. As we are now elbow deep in 2013, we may as well rename it "80s Land." Aside from the newly updated Star Tours, and the edible landscaping, Tomorrowland couldn't be further from "futuristic." But is its retro charm enough to entertain and impress?
Captain EO, the 1986 3D short featuring Mr. 80s himself, Michael Jackson, is hilarious and endearing, as the technology does not stand the test of time, the now outdated idea of the future is charming, albiet obscure to those born from 2000 on. This concept of the past looking at its future is what Tomorrowland has become, for better or for worse.
Aside from its inevitably outdated idea of the future, Tomorrowland is also victim to the gloomy remains of the extinct attraction, the People Mover, that was axed thanks to safety issues. (Read: careless guests) Now that it no longer operates, its skeleton remains. Its track and queue sit there dead and empty like the ultimate crypt of the future. The track is the roots of Tomorrowland, metaphorically and literally, and it stays, silently reminding us of Tomorrowland's potential.
Autopia and Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, two fairly dull rides, eat up a large area of Tomorrowland. Engineering issues, as well as Tomorrowland's ironic nostalgia, the two aren't easy to get rid of. First off, they will both have to go if one does. Innoventions, another reminder of our silly vision of a utopian future, has so much potential space, but as of yet, no great ideas as to what should go there.
Walt Disney was quoted as saying, "Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world." Because there is an end to any concept of tomorrow, as tomorrow will come, I suggest we disregard the idea that Tomorrowland will be a utopian model of the future (or, the unfortunate reminder of the 80s that it is now) and focus on some of the great space-themed films and characters that Disney has to offer.
We have the entire Star Wars and Marvel universes at our disposal, Using the structure of Innovations, we could build the Stark Expo. The People Mover, with improved safety and show features, could come back to Tomorrowland. Autopia and Nemo can make way for more thrilling rides, bringing back the young adults that head to California Adventure for "big rides." Space Mountain's queue could be greatly improved for efficiency and show. The "concourse" area of the queue could be used for something more exciting and useful, such as a meet and greet with characters from Star Wars, Marvel, or even Buzz and the Little Green Men. Wall-E and Eve could have a 3D show in the Captain EO theater, and could be an opportunity to educate guests about Environmentality. There is so much potential.
This is both a love letter and an intervention. The charm and fun of Tomorrowland surely exist, but are hanging by a thread. The 80s, sadly, are becoming smaller and smaller in our rear view mirrors, becoming even more of a part of the past rather than the future that Tomorrowland promises. Guests no longer yearn for a glimpse at a more environmentally friendly, forward thinking, technology rich future because it is already at our fingertips in the real world. Disneyland should always represent a fantastical version of the real world, and Tomorrowland should follow the same idea.
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