No must test the calendar, it’s late July–not April 1st. Sure, that is actual.
Walt Disney World has introduced a brand new interactive expertise referred to as “Smellephants on Parade.” Coming to Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom, “Smellephants on Parade” will likely be a family-friendly “search and sniff” journey in Storybook Circus.
As you may see from the idea artwork, a brand new statue impressed by the “Pink Elephants on Parade” from Dumbo will likely be added outdoors that attraction. Nonetheless, it’s not a lot of an journey if the entire looking out and the entire sniffing is finished round one trip–so we’re guessing there will likely be different statues all through Storybook Circus.
“Smellephants on Parade” will start with a casting name from Timothy Q. Mouse, who’s in search of a “Whiff-sistant” to affix Dumbo’s latest act. On the ticket sales space in entrance of Large High Souvenirs, Solid Members will present friends with a free map and sticker sheet to information friends within the recreation.
Whiff-sistants will discover Storybook Circus to search out plenty of smelly elephant statues, every with a singular and circus-inspired perfume. (Popcorn is an instance of one of many scents. Hopefully Disney didn’t get inspiration from Babylon for any of the opposite scents.)
Apart from that, particulars in regards to the “Smellephants on Parade” search and sniff journey are unknown. Disney Parks opted to make this announcement through social media fairly than a typical press launch or submit on the Disney Parks Weblog. The social media submit ended with Disney teasing, “keep tuned for ‘relephant’ particulars.”
No opening date or timeframe for the “Smellephants on Parade” interactive expertise have been shared. If latest precedent is any indication, we count on groundbreaking to happen by mid-2025 and the looking out and the sniffing to start in earnest shortly earlier than the tip of the last decade. So begin planning your 2029 journeys round “Smellephants on Parade” and the primary growth to Tremendous Nintendo World at Epic Universe!
It’s potential that Disney Parks opted to quietly share this on social media as a result of it’s very small scale and unlikely to excite…anybody? It’s additionally potential that they’re not precisely pleased with their partnership with a MLM firm, which is the sponsor of “Smellephants on Parade.” (Disney made a deal to publicize the model title; I’ve no such obligation to supply free promoting for it.) There’s an affordable likelihood that company alliance is the one purpose it will exist within the first place.
For these unfamiliar with multi-level advertising, these corporations are primarily authorized pyramid schemes. As for why Walt Disney World is partnering with MLMs, your guess is nearly as good as mine–however it isn’t the primary time! Disney doing this sort of factor bothers me, as the corporate lends its credibility to the MLM and, in so doing, supplies a little bit of repute laundering and legitimacy to the MLM.
This may find yourself as getting older in addition to all of crypto sports activities and stadium sponsorships, which wouldn’t be the primary time a Disney-MLM partnership ended badly. However I’ve been important of this observe up to now, so I gained’t proceed to belabor the purpose.
When it comes to different commentary…I dunno, it’s sort of robust to take this severely?
On the one hand, I very a lot assume that Magic Kingdom may use a everlasting scavenger hunt, interactive journey, or no matter you wish to name it. One thing to fill the void left by Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, which has now been gone for a few years.
One the opposite hand, it’s exhausting to think about that “Smellephants on Parade” is that factor. At greatest, I believe we’re a couple of cute statues of colourful elephants that perhaps odor good or one thing. Mainly, a nice excuse to meet a partnership deal. Win-win.
The worst case is that “Smellephants on Parade” truly turns into a factor, and lots of of friends are strolling round Storybook Circus, aggressively sniffing statues which are simply out of attain. Just like the arm-flailing that occurs as friends attempt to activate the MagicBand+ scavenger hunt with these fiftieth Anniversary statues, however with noses.
So actually, the higher consequence right here is “Smellephants on Parade” being a nothingburger that’s by no means spoken of once more and rapidly forgotten till elephant statues randomly pop-up in Storybook Circus a decade from now. At which level, followers will query “why are these right here?” To which the response will likely be, “who cares, they odor and look good.” That’s, earlier than historians dig up historical weblog posts like this and uncover their true function. However nonetheless, they’ll odor good.
On a barely much less cynical (however nonetheless considerably cynical) notice, let’s all be grateful that this wasn’t introduced at Vacation spot D23. After the entire hype in regards to the $17 billion funding at Walt Disney World and DisneylandForward in California from CEO Bob Iger and Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro, it feels like we’re standing on the precipice of one other “Disney Decade” for the theme parks, with main bulletins coming quickly.
Are you able to think about if, as a substitute of Animal Kingdom growth or information about nighttime spectaculars, the large reveal throughout Vacation spot D23 have been “Smellephants on Parade”? It could be like when Bob Chapek trotted the Goal canine up on stage on the D23 Expo…but when that have been the solely factor he did, and nothing else have been introduced. (With that mentioned, if Josh D’Amaro needs to carry a child elephant on stage at Vacation spot D23, I’ve zero objections and/or criticism.)
With that mentioned, we’re not out of the woods but. These “relephant” particulars are coming quickly, and Vacation spot D23 is quickly.
In the end, all snark apart, I actually do strongly consider that Magic Kingdom and each different park may use extra interactive experiences that don’t require expertise. Imagineering testing out new kinds of scavenger hunts is completely advantageous by me. Partaking friends–particularly children–with lively and sensory experiences sounds nice, and might be a great antidote to the entire display time the parks now encourage. (I’d recommend a Disney Lorcana card recreation tie-in to the parks, however I’m involved that’ll have a super-obsessive fanbase which may make it a poor candidate for a theme park recreation.)
I simply don’t assume “Smellephants on Parade” is more likely to be that factor. My guess is that it’ll be superficial; a great way to get the sponsor’s title into friends’ heads, however not a lot else. Right here’s hoping I’m incorrect, and “Smellephants on Parade” will likely be a pleasant diversion that’s fleshed out and a enjoyable approach for households to spend an hour or so in Magic Kingdom. Trying ahead to taking part in it with Megatron after they’re an adolescent!
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Your Ideas
What do you consider “Smellephants on Parade” coming to Storybook Circus? Are you considerably excited or very excited for this search and sniff journey? Would you prefer to see extra interactive experiences in Magic Kingdom and the opposite parks at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even once you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!