This is THE attraction that will be such an instant hit at Disneyland Paris that it could boost the park attendance like Space Mountain did, back in 1995: Indiana Jones Adventure and the temple of the forbidden eye. All DLP fans know that the room to built it was kept in Adventureland, but the hope to see it built for real is vanishing...
As you will see on the document below, WDI Imagineers not only have think about bringing IJA at DLP, but already did some blueprints. Although this one was probably done many years ago, when the park will decide to built the ride - translate: when they will have the money to do it - you can be sure that all DLPI imagineers will be happy to create this beloved attraction at DLP.
To say the truth, all Imagineers that i've met since twenty years agree that bringing Indiana Jones Adventure at DLP will not only be one of the best choice - in terms of popular attraction - that DLP management could make, but also that it will be an instant hit among DLP visitors. And they're right, but the main problem is... the price : Indiana Jones Adventure is not only a very expensive attraction but also - and this is an important point - the maintenance cost of the attraction is very high, too. And i remind you that maintenance costs at DLP are already very high. How much would be the cost to build Indiana Jones Adventure ? Frankly, i don't know the real price but probably close to $200 M, now.
To come back to the document below, you will see that the building envisioned for Indiana Jones Adventure will take a big part of the land still available in Adventureland, with its back walls close to the Pirates of Caribbean building. The ride entrance will be through another small temple - like in Anaheim - located in front of the "Temple du péril".
To give you a better idea, here is a satellite view of the park with the blueprint upon it, and it's more easy to locate exactly where will be what, if someday the ride is built.
When i've posted this article for the first time six years ago, i was saying: "Later this month another big E-ticket will open at the Walt Disney Studios : the Tower of terror. Although the TOT is cheaper than Indiana Jones Adventure, for DLP its cost is really important. So don't expect another big E-ticket before the 20th anniversary in 2012. But if DLP management want to do a good choice for this future celebration, "Indiana Jones Adventure and the temple of the forbidden eye" will not only be a good one, but simply the BEST choice they could make".
We're now in 2013, DLP Disneyland Park didn't received a major E-Ticket ride since Space Mountain in 1995 - and none in 2012 - and i'm afraid we'll have to wait a long time before eventually getting Indiana Jones Adventure at DLP Adventureland. But what i was saying in 2007 - "Indiana Jones Adventure and the temple of the forbidden eye" will not only be a good choice, but simply the BEST choice they could make" is still valid.
Photos and document : copyright Disney
12 comments:
Did Tower of Terror significantly boost park attendance?
Mark, although i don't have the numbers, for the Walt DIsney Studios i think the answer is positive. But probably not as much as Space Mountain did for DLP MK.
It would be awesome, but I think it's too expensive for DLRP.
What about the Little Mermaid Darkride? I think it's a very popular film in Europe and compared to Indy, this would be a cheap alternative - that could also boost attendance.
When you first posted this article a few years ago, I completely agreed with you. But now I'm not so sure anymore that Indy would be the best choice for DLP, because ...
1) Like you said: too expensive to build + very high maintenance cost (does it still break down so often in Anaheim?).
2) It's WDS that needs at least 1 or 2 big investments to become a full day park. DL is already a full day park, so not a priority.
3) Is Indy still relevant for the contemporary young generation? For me he still is an icon of popular culture, but is he still such a big name for today's youth? Today Pixar-attractions are easy to sell for the marketing department, but is this still the case for Indy? Yes for the older generation, maybe not for the younger generation.
In my opinion, the best choice to fill the huge open space in Adventureland with a big investment is ... Jungle Splash Mountain (a Splash Mtn. with a Jungle Book theme), because ...
1) Finally a Splash in DLP, and with a unique theme (could be the first Jungle Book attraction in the world).
2) Still a very popular film, and with very attractive music (+ it contains a 'waterfall-splash'-scene)
3) Set in India, like the Temple of Peril, so a perfect match.
4) Apeals to a much bigger audience than Indy, because it's less scary, so much more family-friendly.
So if DLP wants a 2nd Space Mountain effect, I think they should invest their money in a Jungle Splash Mountain.
I think it can be a big hit, IF they do their marketing like with Space Mountain. In june 1995, Space Mountain was everywhere, on tv, in magazines, in the streets, newspapers, everywhere, no-one didn't know it was coming.
With Tower of Terror almost nobody knew it was new, DLP didn't advertise with attractions, but with the "Disney feeling" and then "oh yes, we forgot to mention, if you come here to take your picture with Mickey Mouse and see the castle, we ALSO have a new attraction you might want to see"...
IF they ever build Indy, which I doubt, they need to make marketing efforts AND (very important) make the people clear that this is not the roller coaster ride, but something new. Which might be another reason they will not build it: people know DLP has an Indy ride, but they can not understand the difference between the "new" one and the old one...
I think the best choice would be a major Star Wars Land with a big update for Star Tours and a new Star Wars Attraction. It's attractive too young and old.
Personally I also would like to see the Indy Dark Ride. *wishing* But it I also think that they can use that money for other investments wright now.
Considering winter in Ile de France lasts approximately 6 months, I don't think we'll ever get a Splash Mountain type of attraction, the climate is just way too cold. A Pandora themed part would be more likely, although I still dislike the idea of avatarland in AK
A Splash Mountain, and although WDI did plans a long time ago to bring it at DLP, is out of question as i've been told that recently even the Imagineers themselves were suggesting to DLP management to DON'T build it because of the weather problem.
As for a Star Wars land don't worry about it, if you can wait until 2022 ( as it is planned so far ) you'll get it!
For IJA the problem of having already an Indy ride is indeed supposed to be a problem to promote IJA. Well, that's what the marketing dept is saying. For me i have to say that it has always been a very bad excuse to don't build IJA at DLP. They're very good to promote an entire season when virtually almost NOTHING is happening and they couldn't convince people to comein the park if they were opening one of the best attraction in the world? Frankly, it's a bad joke from the marketing dept, it simply doesn't have any sense.
The best choice would be a new, original attraction (jungle book sounds great) - of course that means development costs, but I´m sure Imaginnering will charge DLP millions even for the old blueprints for the Anaheim or Tokyo attractions... With 150 million USD, or even more, it simply must be possible to create sth new - is there anybody out there who has not ridden the Indiana Jones ride a million times already? However, in the end, we will end up with Star Wars, most likely - not a good choice in my opinion - as DLP is a *family* park, and a quick survey in my own family brought results like "darth who?" and "Oh, you mean that horrible simulator? Well, maybe for kids..." ure, it´s important to cater to the kid´s tastes - but in the end, it´s Mommy and Daddy who pay for the trip, so you have to give them sth they can enjoy, too...
Indy would be nice, but I's rather have them build something unique for DLP. Maybe they could build an updated Jungle Cruise Ride in that spot. Make it more exciting by using new technology. Imagine if they could use the test track/carsland technology but on boats. First part would be a gentle boatcruise; (indoor) and then, suddenly, you have to escape something and the boats start speeding over the water.
let them build the indy ride but subtract the flying carpets from wds and add them to adventureland as well.
think about it, it should fit great between le giraf curieus and hakuna matata restaurant.
to fill the empty spot in wds they could do the same ride system with a planes theme.
I Always felt that the flying carpets did not belong in wds but in dlp as they do in the magic kingdom.
I would have thought it is WDS that needs more investment. I think IJA is nice to have, but it may not be WDC's priority right now. (Well, no new IJ films are planned!)
I think if there is money available, then maybe a Marvel attraction in WDS would be much more of a boost for that park.
WDS can take HKDL's Iron Man Experience and share the design cost, I don't mind!
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