Too Much Pixar?

It seems as though over the last several years, new attractions at Disneyland Resort parks are more likely than not to have tie-ins to Pixar animated features. One of the most recent examples of this is the Finding Nemo: Submarine Voyage. There's no question but that it's fantastic to see the long dormant lagoon that resides along the border between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland active once again, but is this an example of too much Pixar?

2008 also saw the introduction of Toy Story Mania at Disney's California Adventure. It's an interactive 'shooter' game in 3D (along the lines of Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters). My initial reaction is to be more critical of this attraction than of the Nemo ride. Why? Toy Story Mania strikes me as a less creative piece of work, nothing that stretched Imagineers very much -- just something that has been done before. What's more, the Pixar tie-in is a quick way to make it seem more exciting. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of elements to both parks at Disneyland Resort that don't get anywhere close to the 'E' Ticket threshold for ingenuity and impact. Take the vehicles that prowl up and down Main Street: the fire engine, omnibus and trolley. None of them is a brilliant stroke of design or Imagineering, but I would absolutely hate to see any of them taken away. They're all a crucial part of the overall effect of the area -- complementary elements, if you will. My feeling about Toy Story Mania is that Disney is looking to pass a lesser attraction off as something more exciting and substantial than what it really warrants.

This is precisely the reason I feel so much better about the Nemo attraction. Nemo is far more involved and required a greater degree of creativity. Sure, it follows the storyline of the film and didn't have to invent any new characters. Sure, it worked within the physical structure already in place from the former Submarine Voyage. But keep this in mind: It follows the best tradition of Disney attractions when it comes to full commitment to an idea and encompasses technological applications that impress and enhance the experience.

And here's where I come down on the Pixar question. There's no doubt that John Lasseter and the other creative forces behind Pixar films have put out some terrific work. They are engaging and inventive with wonderful characters and great story lines (sound like another collection of animated features you know?). I have been increasingly impressed with them over the years and expect that feeling to continue with each new movie they release. Why not take the same approach to Pixar-inspired attractions at the park as Pixar takes to their film projects? Incorporate the same degree of commitment and passion. Look for ways to do something new, try to surprise people with something they haven't seen before. I'm convinced that if Disney Imagineering applies these measures to their approach in any notions for more Pixar rides, the results will be easier to embrace. I also feel that there will be fewer Pixar inspired attractions because the notion of dressing up a mediocre idea with a Pixar theme won't pass the 'smell-test'.

I know very well that there are a great many people out there who are big fans of all the Pixar themed attractions and I don't mean to denigrate their favorites. Everybody has their opinion about this stuff. I only mean to suggest that Disney shouldn't allow the Pixar veneer to be a shortcut through designing an attraction the best way possible.