Disneyland President on the Past, Present, and Future: More Theme Park Shenanigans Incoming!
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
IGN South Africa snagged an interview with the Disneyland President, and we're diving into the park's 70th-anniversary celebrations, future expansions, and the magic that (allegedly) makes it all tick. Get ready for a ride through nostalgia and a sneak peek at the shiny new attractions coming down the pipeline!
Right, so Disneyland's turning 70, eh? Fair dinkum, that's older than my nan's tea set. To celebrate, IGN South Africa (bless their hearts) nabbed an exclusive chinwag with Disneyland President Thomas Mazloum. And what did we learn? Well, buckle up, buttercup, because it's a wild ride through nostalgia, future plans, and enough corporate speak to make your head spin (in a good way, hopefully).
Mazloum, bless 'im, seems genuinely chuffed to be at the helm of the Magic Kingdom. He's all about the "impact" – 102,000 jobs supported, $16.1 billion injected into Southern California. Crikey, Disneyland's practically a small country at this point. But it all started with a mouse, as they say (and a park bench – don't forget the park bench!).
Now, the early days? Bloody hell, a disaster. Blacktop melting under ladies' heels, counterfeit tickets galore, even the Mark Twain riverboat decided to take an unscheduled dip. But Walt, being Walt, turned it around. He famously said Disneyland would "never be complete as long as there is imagination left in the world." Sounds like a challenge to me!
So, what makes Disneyland tick? Mazloum reckons it's four things: the cast members (not just employees, mind you, they're performers!), the attractions (not just rides, they're gateways to stories!), a clean environment (Walt hated dirty theme parks!), and the food (fried pickles, anyone?).
And speaking of stories, they've got this new "Walt Disney - A Magical Life" attraction at the Main Street Opera House. Apparently, it brings Walt back to life as an Audio-Animatronic. Creepy? Maybe. Awesome? Absolutely. It shows his successes *and* failures, reminding us he was a real bloke, not just a logo. Good on 'em for that.
But what we *really* want to know about, right? DisneylandForward! This is the big one. A minimum of $1.9 billion being chucked into Anaheim over the next 10 years. What's it all for? New experiences from Marvel, Avatar, and Coco. I reckon this is where the fun really begins.
Avengers Campus is getting a double-dose of awesome with two new attractions: Avengers Infinity Defense (team up with the Avengers to take down King Thanos!) and Stark Flight Lab (fly like Iron Man!). Mazloum promises it'll feel like Galaxy's Edge, but with more spandex.
Then there's Avatar. They're bringing Pandora to Disney California Adventure. Expect something "extremely unique" and "unlike anything you've ever seen before." Colour me intrigued. Though, I've seen a few things in my time...
And finally, Coco. A new attraction inspired by Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. Guests will join Miguel on a trip to the land of the dead. Spooky, but beautiful. And apparently, a new parking structure (who gets excited about a parking structure?!) is paving the way for Coco's arrival. Go figure.
Mazloum also teased more stuff from Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Walt Disney Animation Studios. New movies, new attractions... the possibilities are endless. (Unless they run out of parking space, then we're all doomed.)
Ultimately, Mazloum reckons it's all about making people *feel* something. Creating a place where the world is OK, everyone is welcome, and people can reconnect. Corny? Maybe. But who am I to argue with the President of Disneyland? Sounds like fun. Thanks to IGN South Africa for giving us the lowdown!
Tags: Disneyland, Theme Parks, Disney, Avengers, Avatar
Original article: IGN South Africa