Goodbye Electronica...Hello...uh...Mad T Party!?!?!

[bumblebeeonarose]

Also, I did not know that the original purpose of GlowFest and ElecTRONica were to keep people busy while they waited for World of Color.

That was the purpose of Glow. I think TRON came about because Glow was so popular and made so much money.

[dban3]

I wanted to comment on both of these thoughts. While the nighttime events have certainly brought in plenty of coin, I think that merely reveals an untapped demographic rather than "the lowest common denominator". Perhaps it is time for a west coast version of Pleasure Island?

I've wondered this myself... In the end, what was/is the real purpose of ElecTRONica? - a high energy multi-media sensory assault to promote a big budget movie that would hopefully have "legs" strong enough to be a Disney cornerstone franchise in other future endeavors (funny, you don't hear too much said about a TRON attraction anymore)? Was it another alternative for busy nights necessary to provide crowd relief from World of Color, Fantasmic, or Fireworks. Or is it a highly profitable revenue stream (built on the sale of high priced "cocktails" with profit margins of 1000% or more)?

The answer is probably all 3 but second two reasons are why the ElecTRONica will have lasted close to 2 years by the time it is through and why it also has to be replaced by something and the enormous success of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland (with its billion dollar box office) seems like a popular choice. But does the street party type entertainment have to be inside DCA? Why not a real Club Disney in Downtown Disney? I don't think anyone ever plunked down the 100 dollar daily admission with the thought that their day was going to be capped of by ElecTRONica. The street party demographic was primarily aimed at local annual pass-holders of a younger demographic with hopes they would come in on weekend evenings and spend spend some money. For casual park visitors and vacationers, ElecTRONica was a curiosity, a diversion, more than anything else.

So why not a facility external to the parks owned and run by Disney? With permanent structures for staging and lighting, Disney could change the theming on a regular basis to promote whatever they wanted. Provide a club atmosphere with alcohol sales, small scale food items, dancing, side-show entertainment, maybe even live music, it would blow away whatever Downtown Disney currently has to offer. Have it only open evenings to provide an alternative to park crowding at night, charge a nominal cover admission that gets substantially discounted for pass-holders and those who have valid park-hopper tickets.

Just a thought...

[oregontraveler]

On top of that, GlowFest was produced and staffed by a 3rd party. That might have been done as an afterthought and TDA thought their staff couldn't pull it off with a quick turn around. But when it came to the new TRON theme, it was definitely going to be done in house.

[Chessur]

I never really 'got' GlowFest or ElecTRONica. Neither one was really my thing, but I appreciated that it diverted some of the crowds to a low-traffic corner of DCA and I thought the arcade tokens at the FastPass machines were a good idea. I think the fact that Disney is turning to Alice, which between Tim Burton and the classic film is probably one of their franchises with the most dedicated fans, is an indication that this idea of DCA dance parties are at least a semi-permanent fixture. From the artwork, it looks like they're investing a fair amount of time and money to this, and that it's not directly tied to a current film like ElecTRONica was at the beginning would also seem to point in that direction. I will say that I was a little bit surprised by the language in the casting call - I'm sure it will still be very tame, but they're definitely not being coy about marketing to the rave crowd.

Personally, I really like dban3's idea of a club in Downtown Disney where they could have the infrastructure more or less fixed and then change out the theme every so often. Maybe let people in free with their DLR ticket or AP and charge a modest cover for those without; as long as it was marketed well, I suspect it would be really popular and a big moneymaker. I agree with ImitationOfLife that leaving the infrastructure up in DCA makes the area look cluttered and sloppy during the day, and it seems like a Club Disney would be a big draw for Downtown Disney.

[MadasaHatter]

I didn't really get it either but from EVERYONE I have talked to here is my theory....and it's a good one:

GLOWFEST/ElecTRONica/MadTParty are for families (and maybe SoCal teens that I am NOT sure of) because all my friends that have gone with kids love it. The parents get a cocktail and get hear thumping night club music (which they don't hear anymore because they have kids) the kids have never been to a night club so they love it. If you have ever been to a night club they are never as cool as what Disney does ( at least in the lights and dance and costume part....they may be cooler in the sweaty sexy part but that really isn't what Disney is doing). I am living in a big city and can go to a night club ANY time I want to (and I am generally too old for it anyway...I can make a cocktail better at home and crank the music and dance around in my underwear and offend no one but the neighbors so for me it is done)

I went to the ElecTRONica when it was in full swing and loved what I saw but I didn't buy a cocktail and I didn't dance because I was at DLR and I was tired and sensory over loaded by that time and wanted to watch the twinkling lights of MAIN ST. or feel the woosh of the evening wind on SCREAMIN' at that point. So to each hisorher own and if it does decrease the crowds the more power to it! Of course this could be a bunch of ballyhoo because after all.....I am mad.

[dban3]

As AVP has been hinting at, Disney Parks Blog had the official announcement yesterday that ElecTRONica will shut down the Portal permanently April 15th. Removal of another DCA eyesore. It just keeps getting better and better as summer gets closer.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blo...llenge-begins/

[Iceman]

Removal of another DCA eyesore. It just keeps getting better and better as summer gets closer.

I think you mean "Removal of another loved and uniquely Disney experience. What a step in the wrong direction as summer gets closer."

[dban3]

I think you mean "Removal of another loved and uniquely Disney experience. What a step in the wrong direction as summer gets closer."

Yes.... the tons of metallic lighting and speaker towers, carefully concealed video screens, hardly noticeable stages and dance platforms, and a video arcade added so much to the immense charm to the facades and attractions of the the Backlot area.

[ogold72]

Yes.... the tons of metallic lighting and speaker towers, carefully concealed video screens, hardly noticeable stages and dance platforms, and a video arcade added so much to the immense charm to the facades and attractions of the the Backlot area.

Well then you must be against the upcoming Mad Tea Party also, since that also has nothing to do with the theme/land. I try to see it as instead of the Backlot overlayed by Electronica or Mad T Party, that the area "transforms" so it becomes a new world/theme. I will be back at the beginning of April so I will look at Electronica as an opportunity that I will never get to experience again, so i will try to spend some time there. I will definitely spend time at Flynns!

[dban3]

Well then you must be against the upcoming Mad Tea Party also, since that also has nothing to do with the theme/land. I try to see it as instead of the Backlot overlayed by Electronica or Mad T Party, that the area "transforms" so it becomes a new world/theme. I will be back at the beginning of April so I will look at Electronica as an opportunity that I will never get to experience again, so i will try to spend some time there. I will definitely spend time at Flynns!

Word on the street is that Mad T Party will be much more confined and not nearly as obstructive. Instead of sprawling all over the Backlots area like ElecTRONica, Mad T Party will sit out of the way back by the Stage 17 building and the surrounding plaza area. We shall see.

[IllusionOfLife]

Judging from the concept art it will, at the very least, extend from Stage 17 to outside Monsters, Inc. and the main stage area will be right there in front of MI. Also don't count on it being any less of an eyesore, I'm certain that it will use a lot of the same infrastructure from Glow Fest/ElecTRONica just with a new paint job. If Disney manages to integrate it in a way that hides it while it's not in use I'll eat my hat, but I'm fairly confident that there's no chance of my hat getting anywhere close to my mouth based on the concept images combined with previous experience.

We're really just replacing one eyesore for another. I liked ElecTRONica, but it was an eyesore.

[bumblebeeonarose]

I'm not into dancing/rage scenes, but I thought Electronica was neat. However, it definitely took over the entire back-lot. I imagine they will need to keep the TParty in the "hidden" area of Holllywoodland. That area is difficult to see, part of the reason I think Monsters Inc is always a walk on. If they keep it back in that area, it will not be as BAD as Electronica as far as intruding. With that lightening affect and the drink carts up and down the street, you couldn't be in the back-lot without feeling a part of Electronica, even if you didn't want to.

[dban3]

I imagine they will need to keep the TParty in the "hidden" area of Holllywoodland. That area is difficult to see, part of the reason I think Monsters Inc is always a walk on. If they keep it back in that area, it will not be as BAD as Electronica as far as intruding.

Which leads to an interesting point and slightly off topic. If it wasn't for the dance parties, special promotional events, and stage shows, would there ever be any reason to go back in that corner to see Monsters Inc. For for a dark ride, the Monsters Inc. show building is absolutely cavernous and could house something of higher impact say.....Marvel. Just saying.... not looking for a trip to the woodshed for a beating.

[IllusionOfLife]

Which leads to an interesting point and slightly off topic. If it wasn't for the dance parties, special promotional events, and stage shows, would there ever be any reason to go back in that corner to see Monsters Inc. For for a dark ride, the Monsters Inc. show building is absolutely cavernous and could house something of higher impact say.....Marvel. Just saying.... not looking for a trip to the woodshed for a beating.

Monsters, Inc. itself deserves much more E-Ticket treatment from that, but considering it was a quick-fix re-skinning of one of the worst travesties WDI has ever created it's actually pretty decent. As for Marvel, I still think we're several years away from people being in a mindset to not patently reject a Marvel addition to the parks. The nerds are only just barely starting to accept the fact that Disney buying them has not led to any major changes, and almost every time I'm in a store in the parks that sells Marvel merchandise there's at least one passer by who is wondering aloud why Disney would possibly be selling Marvel stuff in their theme parks.

[bumblebeeonarose]

Truly I think they should leave Monster's Inc. alone. But I think they need something else back there. Put something in the Millionaire building. I was looking at WDW stuff the other day, and there are a LOT of shows at their Hollywood park. I saw a cute Goofy show on the stage back by Monster's Inc. once. It was several years ago (probably 2005), before there was Monster's Inc. back there. I know it's a small stage, but something is better than nothing.

I think maybe some people don't even know Monster's is there. Have you realized it isn't properly labeled on the interactive online map. And you don't exactly see it when you walk down the main street. Also, even if you do know it's there, it is a bit of a treck if you don't plan on doing anything else over there. It isn't that close to the TOT, and a lot of the attractions in the Hollywood backlot (land) are kind of one time attractions. I mean how many times do you need to watch Muppets in one visit? We like Monster's Inc. though, and we usually ride it after getting our Disney Visa picture taken. Often twice because there is no line.

[MadasaHatter]

I think that the new theme of HOLLYWOODLAND would be a good use of an off the page sort of section there like the history of ANIMATION that WALT'S JOURNEY begins....then Monster's Inc. makes sense....especially if there is a lot of different styles of animation back there. I am not sure if that means another dark ride or a re-do of the MUPPETS or even a GREAT MOVIE RIDE in the Millionaire Building.....these are just ideas off the top of my head but the ROOM back there is as big as FANTASYLAND is in DL and I love Monster's Inc. and would hate to see it go away due to theming but I am all for change too and oh dear I am now rambling and this has nothing to do with the mad T party except oh my look I am MadasaHatter.....literally.....no room at the table.

[olegc]

Mad tea Party will definitely be less infrastructure - they can't have anything interfere with the Red Car Trolly so you won't see anything on the main avenue of Hollywoodland.

I agree that without other "things to do" that back corner would be empty. There are no "weanies" drawing you back there. However, how would you explain Marvel in 1930s hollywood, unless when you cross from the main avenue to the "backlot" you're supposed to time travel to a present backlot. It would be weird from an overall theme perspective. I am not apposed to putting Marvel somewhere in the parks - but please don't shoehorn it in "just because"...

And, about Stage 17, I think TDA folks like the fact they have a location that can do large meetings, events, and seminars "inside a theme park". They have had this for years and never once did it get picked for modification. I think it will stay an open sounds stage for flexibility and private-party reasons for a long time.

[dban3]

Latest from Disney Parks Blog on the Mad T Party. Withholding comment for now (but its hard, so very hard not to..... ) oi!

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blo...dventure-park/

[IllusionOfLife]

Latest from Disney Parks Blog on the Mad T Party. Withholding comment for now (but its hard, so very hard not to..... ) oi!

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blo...dventure-park/

I feel so embarrassed for the Cast Members who have to wear those outfits…

[oregontraveler]

Agreed, man do I feel old. It will be worth checking out at least once, but I don't think I will be too impressed.

[jananafish]

Aww I like it ^_^ but I especially love Alice's look and the white rabbit. I have never been to elecTRONica but would definitely be into Mad T Party

[shna]

I think the costumes look awesome!

[Iceman]

Ummm, wow. After looking at those costume pictures and the marketing-speak for the characters themselves? Yeah. Oh, boy.

I have learned over time not to underestimate Disney. Often I am unsure of something (like a movie based on the trailer) and then it turns out to be wonderful. And I am really, REALLY trying to keep an open mind about the Mad T Party. But I won't be surprised if the thing is a total disaster, especially after the amazing job they did with ElecTRONica. Are the same people responsible for planning both concepts? Because while ElecTRONica was perfectly suited to the idea of a nighttime entertainment district, and absolutely perfectly executed from decor to music to costumes, etc., Mad T Party just looks like a mish-mash of stuff thrown together like a pathetic high school prom gone awry.

Nope! I said I'm going to try to keep an open mind! Let's just see what Disney actually comes up with--maybe it will blow me away and I will gladly apologize for doubting!

[MadasaHatter]

I too want MAD T PARTY to be awesome but the movie is a bit LAST YEAR! For real. TRON did not do as well at the box office as ElecTRONica did at DCA so maybe they can pull it out of the HAT!!!! HAT!!!! GEt it! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha....Oh dear. I'm mad.

[dban3]

OK... I may be in the minority, or maybe the majority (but in the end my vote doesn't count) but tonight brings a merciful end to ElecTRONica, a spectacle that should have had a shelf life of 6 months tops but somehow managed to live close to a year and a half. I guess there are some dance-off finals going on but in my world, I'm just doing a quiet happy dance because the production is being shown the exit door, don't let it hit you in the rear on the way out. Imagine, no more tweets from Disney to my cell phone announcing who tonight's DJ is going to be. I can't hit the DELETE button fast enough for these.

And so ElecTRONica is gone only to be replaced by something that seems to be even more savagely attacked by bloggers and forum posters - this Mad T Party, which only saving grace may be that it promises to be less obtrusive and occupy a smaller footprint in the new Hollywood Land than its predecessor. Disney missed the boat. This would have been the perfect time to bring in an Avengers audio-visual spectacle with the anticipated blockbuster hitting the movie screens in a few weeks. Kids would have ate it up as would their parents unless they are part of the "KEEP MARVEL OUT" contingent. Then again, with all thats going on with DCA this summer, did Disney really need to bring in something that would have brought even more people into a park that may present opportunities for grid-lock?

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