Lasseter quote... a little scary

[DaddyB]

Of his new role at Imagineering, where Disney rides are conceived, Lasseter said: "I never understood why you wouldn't start designing a ride when you start making a film, so two months after a film comes out you have a ride."

This is kind of a scary statement. Obviously coming from a man who has never released a failed movie.

Has he never seen "Atlantis" or "Treasure Planet"? Can you imagine the wasted MILLIONS if Disney had been imagineering a ride based on these movies?

Or would it have been a waste? Is any new ride (even based on a bad idea) going to be a plus to Disneyland???

[linklewtt]

that's what i thought as well when i first read that i think on jimhillmedia. that's so risky to build a ride as a movie is being made. what if for whatever reason it is a failure? then Disney is stuck with a ride with a theme everyone hates! no, if you're gonna make a ride based off of a movie, it is essential that you make sure the movie is a hit before you make the ride. what Lassester said is just plain idiotic!

[disneyson]

Egg-zactly!

[protostars]

Maybe this will yield a really good ride from a really bad movie someday....

[TopCat8]

I'm not sure which park (maybe Disneyland Tokyo) but they have a Black Cauldron walkthough in the castle, like how we used to have Sleeping Beauty in ours. They designed it as the movie was being made, and as we know, The Black Cauldron didn't do well when it was released. Therefore, that is a bad idea.

[dc8781]

the movie....Haunted Mansion for instance.

cmon Lasseter

[Chris]

There have been attractions from failed movies before.. Look at the Matterhorn (3rd Man on the Mountain, anyone ever seen it?). If Disney can get back to creating rides that are not directly related to a movie, I think a lot can come out of this. Pirates of the Caribbean was inspired by aspects of Treasure Island, and honestly, how many kids have ever seen Song of the South?

I honestly think it's a little naive to think that every production that Disney puts out with John Lasseter's magic touch is going to be a smashing success, but I think at the same time we can avoid some of the micro managing (Eisner) that shot down all the good ideas that would have improved both Atlantis and Treasure Planet. Also, the public is more forgiving to have a good attraction based on a not-so-good movie, as long as the attraction is really kick-butt. Personally I don't see an attraction, based on a movie, opening years after the movie has come out, as a good thing either.

We'll just have to wait and see, I suppose. I think what John was hinting at was that this situation would be the ideal, and perhaps only for things they saw as a 'sure winner'.

[TimmyII]

Well, first of all, let's make sure if we quote someone, you quote the whole thing! THIS is what he said at the annual shareholder's meeting:

"I never understood why you wouldn't start designing a ride when you start making a film so two months after a film comes out you have a ride," Lasseter said. "I promise you we are not only going to make great motion pictures we are going to make great rides."

Which is trying to generate more interest in Disney movies and tying that experience into the park and vice versa! So far "knock wood" NONE of the Pixar movies have sucked.....so as long as the movies are good, and they DO make great rides from them, then so much the better!

[PeoplemoverMatt]

We should also remember that not every ride design conceived makes it past that room's trash can much less gets approved and built in a park. I could start designing a ride right now, but I'd have a much better chance sprouting wings and flying to work today than getting that design approved.

-- PMM