Disney Listens: Theme Park Announcements Reflect Shift in Company Approach
Disney has made a significant shift in its approach to theme park fandom. Over the weekend at D23, the company unveiled a slate of new ride announcements and updates that demonstrate a newfound understanding of what fans want.
The announcements were met with excitement from fans who have been calling for changes to improve the overall experience. One of the key themes across all the announcements is that Disney is listening to its fans.
Specifically, some announcements were in reaction to long-standing fan complaints. For example, the Yeti inside Expedition Everest will finally be fixed, and Tomorrowland at Disneyland needs a major overhaul to reflect Walt Disney's original vision for the land.
This shift in approach is a welcome change from the past, when Disney focused on injecting current intellectual property into the theme parks without regard for fan feedback. The new announcements show that Disney leadership now sees fans of the theme parks as a legitimate category of fandom, equal to fans of Marvel, Star Wars, and Disney Animation.
The impact of this shift is already being felt, with Disneyland bringing back classic attractions like 'Remember... Dreams Come True' fireworks show and committing to improving other rides based on fan feedback.