How Disney nearly Brought Doctor Who to Disneyland, just before Star Wars soared into theme parks - Polidicks

[quote=Inside the Magic] Today’s news that Doctor Who attractions may be on the way to a new British theme park afforded a perfect opportunity to share a story that nearly brought that popular franchise to Disney’s parks. At D23′s recent Destination D: Attraction Rewind event at Walt Disney World, I ran into Disney historian Jim Korkis who shared an interesting tale of a Disney attraction that almost was. As we eagerly await the trailer release for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” this week from Disney and Lucasfilm, it’s hard to imagine a day when the two companies weren’t in partnership. But before that deal was signed in the 1980s, another major franchise was being considered. [B]“Michael Eisner intended to buy the ‘Doctor Who’ franchise and install it in Tomorrowland before George Lucas and ‘Star Wars’,” said Korkis. “At that point, the Doctor Who franchise hadn’t been active and Eisner was looking for something to get people excited about Tomorrowland.”[/B] Ultimately, of course, we know that Star Tours opened at Disneyland in 1987 with a grand character-filled ceremony, a result of that Lucas deal. But can you imagine seeing Mickey dressed as the Fourth Doctor instead of an astronaut? [B] “One of the things Imagineers designed was a TARDIS, where you would enter the TARDIS and of course as you exited on the other side you were into a warehouse building – because we all know the interior of the TARDIS is so much larger,” added Korkis. From there, guests could have boarded a Doctor Who themed dark ride, according to Korkis, that would take them on adventure through through time and space. “Eisner also intended to make a Doctor Who movie and at the opening of the attraction he was going to announce who was going to be playing Doctor Who in that,” noted Korkis.[/B] Ultimately, of course, a longtime partnership was formed with George Lucas and the Doctor Who franchise slipped away from Disney’s grip. Years later, it would be revived and continues to thrive today, leaving its fans wondering if any theme park will pick up the popular property. [/quote] [url=http://www.insidethemagic.net/2014/12/how-disney-nearly-brought-doctor-who-to-disneyland-long-before-star-wars-took-to-tomorrowland/]Source[/url]. This is a pretty crazy historic bombshell that Disney almost bought Doctor Who from BBC back in the day, with the full intent to bring him to the theme parks.

Glad that trash didn't make it in. Let the BBC open their dorky tumblr-fandom theme park. [editline]10th December 2014[/editline] Keep Disney pure.

Yikes. I can't imagine how the show would have turned out if it were owned by Disney... Considering the content they put out in the mid 2000s, I probably don't want to, either.

I'd like to see the Imagineers' attempt at the Tardis, especially considering how well a job they did making the main street seem longer than it actually was.

[QUOTE=ironman17;46688179]Yikes. I can't imagine how the show would have turned out if it were owned by Disney... Considering the content they put out in the mid 2000s, I probably don't want to, either.[/QUOTE] You can get a taste of what it would have been like if you look up [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-9_%28TV_series%29]The K-9 TV spinoff TV series[/url].

[QUOTE=Take_Opal;46688174]Glad that trash didn't make it in. Let the BBC open their dorky tumblr-fandom theme park. [editline]10th December 2014[/editline] Keep Disney pure.[/QUOTE] Dude, Tumblr already got Frozen, along with like every third Disney movie that comes out. Keep up with the times.

[QUOTE=ironman17;46688179]Yikes. I can't imagine how the show would have turned out if it were owned by Disney... Considering the content they put out in the mid 2000s, I probably don't want to, either.[/QUOTE] Starring Tim Allen as the Doctor!

[QUOTE=Fangz;46688191]You can get a taste of what it would have been like if you look up [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-9_%28TV_series%29]The K-9 TV spinoff TV series[/url].[/QUOTE] Ugh, don't remind me...

[QUOTE=ironman17;46688231]Ugh, don't remind me...[/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu7OiJpnlUs[/media]

This is interesting and all but the Who nerd in me would like to point out that Doctor Who was active in 1987, granted it was during that dark age but it was still there!

[QUOTE=Ithon;46688950][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu7OiJpnlUs[/media][/QUOTE] Oh dear merciful christ cunt on a stick

[QUOTE=Take_Opal;46688174]Glad that trash didn't make it in. Let the BBC open their dorky tumblr-fandom theme park. [editline]10th December 2014[/editline] Keep Disney pure.[/QUOTE] Good thing thing the Homestuck Kingdom deal fell thought then.

[QUOTE=Ithon;46688950][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu7OiJpnlUs[/media][/QUOTE]That intro looks really well planned out and doesn't at all look like they ran out of money.

[QUOTE=RoboChimp2;46696111]That intro looks really well planned out and doesn't at all look like they ran out of money.[/QUOTE] For a moment there I didn't realize you were being sarcastic :suicide:

[QUOTE=ironman17;46688179]Yikes. I can't imagine how the show would have turned out if it were owned by Disney... Considering the content they put out in the mid 2000s, I probably don't want to, either.[/QUOTE] Yeah, Disney might make it some cheesy, borderline cartoonish family show or something.

[QUOTE=Take_Opal;46688174]Glad that trash didn't make it in. Let the BBC open their dorky tumblr-fandom theme park. [editline]10th December 2014[/editline] Keep Disney pure.[/QUOTE] ah yes, the tumblr of the 60s through 80s was just the [I]worst[/I], always fucking fangirling over the brigadier what are you on about

[QUOTE=Irockz;46698919]ah yes, the tumblr of the 60s through 80s was just the [I]worst[/I], always fucking fangirling over the brigadier what are you on about[/QUOTE] Superwholock Which is actually as dumb as it sounds.

Everybody agrees that if they bought it DW would have turned worse but still...I want the Doctor in Kingdom Hearts.

[QUOTE=Swilly;46698934]Superwholock Which is actually as dumb as it sounds.[/QUOTE] Yes, I use tumblr so I've heard a shitton of dumb shit like that, but he's being really weird about Doctor Who and I'm not sure if he's being sarcastic or not

[QUOTE=Mingebox;46697143]Yeah, Disney might make it some cheesy, borderline cartoonish family show or something.[/QUOTE] Or shove the doctor in a Phineas and Ferb Musical. and that is how Doctor Who would have died.

[B]Fun fact:[/B] Disney was also briefly interested in making a movie based off the Doctor Who serial [URL="http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Marco_Polo_(TV_story)"]Marco Polo[/URL]. Sadly this serial is now missing from BBC archives, which is shame because it's supposed to be quite good.