#for real if you like the artistry and creativity behind theme park design I am begging you: Universal is better

[stupid-sloot-headcanons]

I'm going to sound like the MOST spoiled brat but I'm lowkey dreading the Disneyworld trip my Mimi and family are doing in a few weeks. Like I love the history and artistry of Disney's parks and that's why I fucking hate how much they've declined in quality. The current philosophy is so corporate driven, with decisions saying "We'll make cheaper things with lower quality at higher prices because fuck you, Disney has been a highly regarded brand"

(Ranting about theme park bullshit way too much)

EPCOT has always been my favorite resort and the original theming has been gutted. Whenever Chapek talks about things being "more Disney", he means "Let's slap a bunch of Disney characters on our shit regardless of the theming that has been established for DECADES, so kids will beg their parents to come on an expensive vacation". The Frozen ride that replaced Maelstrom has no business in the Norway pavilion other than a paper-thin connection via Arendelle being based off Norway visually. The World Showcase was made to...you know. Showcase cultures around the world in a respectful way. Adding Disney characters at the cost of the original message of the area is cheap and it's ruining an already crumbling brand integrity. It compromises the creative integrity that the parks had that made Disney parks fantastic and historic.

My favorite Disney ride used to be The Great Movie Ride at Hollywood Studios. This thing was a love letter to classic cinema and had Disney tie-ins added seamlessly along with non-Disney-owned IPs, because its purpose wasn't to push Disney characters in your face and sell merch to gullible kids. It was the centerpiece of the park area, which was built entirely as a living homage to the glitz and glamor of romanticized Hollywood: Eisner called it "the wonderful Hollywood that never was" and that theme is perfectly encapsulated in The Great Movie Ride.

What's there now? A bland dark ride that's 90% screen projections on blank walls. And it's themed around Mickey and Minnie with no thematic tie-ins to Hollywood Studios because fuck you, you're here to see Mickey and Minnie right? Look, wanna visit the gift shop outside and buy Mickey and Minnie shit?

And Galaxy's Edge is such a slap dash effort to ape the success of Universal's Harry Potter area that it's ridiculous. It's the height of Chapek and Iger's era of mediocrity and creative bankruptcy, a glorified mall with a few attractions based off the sequels to encourage your stupid kids to want to buy merchandise based off the recent films.

Anyway EPCOT is still my favorite but that's because Spaceship Earth and Soarin' are still there, and with the additional dining areas all over the place it's basically just a giant Disney-themed bar. If I'm gonna be bitter then I can at least be buzzed yk?