The Re-Imagineering blog (Pixar and Disney employees anonymously debating the revitalization of the Disney parks) has an amazing post on why some humorous redesigns of Park rides work, while others fall flat. They hold out particular excoriation for the piss-poor remake of the Tiki Room in Walt Disney World, which now sports off-scale versions of Iago and Zazu complaining about how much the ride sucks and telling the audience that they're idiots. This is not a very successful remake.
Once the [new] show opened, it received one of the most negative guest responses to any in Disney history.
…When the [original] show premiered, it felt like magic. That's why it was called the Enchanted Tiki Room. It needed new technological enchantment. It needed something that made the guests ask, "how'd they do that," just like they did back in 1963. But, and this is an important 'but,' any changes must be consistent with the mood, style and flavor of the original attraction. This can only be done by someone who understands why the attraction was charming to guests in the first place; it can only be done by an artist who understands the original artist's intent.
(via The Disney Blog)
