thank you for your perspective, Jim. What is your take on the Pride Rock Version just announced at D23 for Paris? Are you happy with the idea of reusing the ride model? Or do you think they could have done something different?

Many years ago I got to ride the mules. It is one of my most special memories.

Need to watch all!!!

I largely agree with the points in this vlog. I think the only positives as a whole are the end of cloned attractions. I think that creative killing brand synergy has hobbled storytelling at attractions. We coukd have had another dang Frozen land announcement this year. At least PrideLands and Villains and Cars are different from each other. Avatar isn't a clone and Indiana Jones won't be either. Making the Rivers of America which has 4 iterations across the world with WDW being by far the least well implemented and least popular being replaced by a unique version centered around "Purple Mountains Majesty" and "The Fruited Plains / Great Plains" That COULD be good. Cars is just a terrible IP to create even remote cohesion Rivers currently tries to do.

No the first track u showed is supposed to be a drop track

Jim thanks so much for your expert insight on Disney [specifically Disneyland] future development... learning a lot from you! Looking forward for your next vlog!

As a Anaheim native, i now supremely regret to say Casey Jr was under refurbishment during my first summer visit to DLP. I can’t wait to go back and admire all the tunnels!! ❤

Wow

It's gonna be a construction mad house in & around the Disneyland resort area for the next few years. 😵‍💫

I always take a tour of the tree house. The Swiss Family Robinson version has always been my favorite. More so than the Tarzan one. 😁

Back in early 1985, when I was about 9 & my younger brother 8, our parents took us to Disneyland. During that visit, we got on the the Mark Twain steamboat. That's when we noticed that you could paddle a canoe! We got on the canoes after & went all around the river. Then we noticed the Mike Fink keel boats that took you to Tom Sawyer Island. We got on one after & went to the island. We spent a good +-3 hours on the island exploring everything. I remember having a blast all around the Rivers of America area. The steamboat, keel boats, & island were all great. My dad still says that out of all the times he has ever visited Disneyland, that time in 1985 was the best for him. He really enjoyed watching us explore the entire island & river areas. I do hope that the river never gets replaced with something else. Even at 48 today, I still get a kick out of that area. 😃

I would love to see a revamped version of the People Mover at Disneyland. I got on that ride every single time I went to Disneyland back in the day. It was a nice +-16 minute ride that gave you access through a lot of interesting places. Same thing with the old Skyway. I miss that ride too. ☹

I get lots of nostalgia looking at this video. I loved the tranquility of the place, compared to the rest of the park. The Hungry Bear restaurant before the Star Wars land expansion was also a nice semi-quiet place when you sat in the far corner of it.

The River always seemed to be evolving as i grew up in the 2000s-from always looking to scope a new animal along its banks or finding a new nook to explore on Tom Sawyer’s Island. I appreciate you sharing a little of your childhood perspective ❤️

As long as it doesn't replace Muppet Vision 3D

Utterly devastated right now

Just watching this morning after reading that Magic Kingdom will be filling in their Rivers of America for... checks notes... Cars. Not only will this destroy the beauty of the rivers themselves, but I'd imagine the sightlines of everything it touches-Big Thunder Mountain, Tiana's Bayou Adventure (meant to splash down into the river), the Frontierland promenade, and of course Liberty Square and the Haunted Mansion, a stately manor once overlooking the riverbed-will now overlook... anthropomorphic cars. What is going on here?

Brilliant use of that ride system

I agree with the comment that Baxter’s Discovery Bay should have been built behind ROA 😔 and the Indiana jones triplex in Adventureland would have been amazing too

I still hope for the people mover in some form or another. There was something magical about the way rides used to interact with each other. Also, Galaxies Edge seems like it needs a 3rd attraction.

I wish more than anything your Magic 8 ball would see the Peoplemover returning to Disneyland!

I don’t know what your opinion on this, Mr. Shull. If this is what you want, I will respect your support for Carsland for Beyond Big Thunder, but this is nothing but forced product placement and does not belong next to Big Thunder let alone anywhere in Magic Kingdom. Yes, Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland deserves more love. Hell, having a Pueblo or Indian village fits better for the theming for the old American Wild West (even if Disney forces in an IP tie in with the land, like Coco). Honestly would much prefer having a 15-20 acre space reserved for the Disney Villains, something that guests have been wanting for years.

We are a kindred spirit. I love your heart and narration! Big Thunder Ranch was EXACTLY as you described it. I didn’t know what we had there….until it was gone. Then I missed (and still do miss it) terribly. I was sad to see it go and was one of the fortunate few to see it operational and participate in the BBQ, and say we ate at the long wooden tables, took in the live music, watched the last of the running of the goats. This was so wonderful to watch. Thank you.

Ratatouille and tower of terror are basically the only good rides and don't get me Started on avengers campus that look like a industrial district

great picture of the haunted mansion's "skeleton" at 3:40

i would trade galaxy's edge back for big thunder ranch any day.i loved the petting zoo,the bbq, and mickey moo! it was just a nice,quiet place to get away from the busy parts of the park. the only area like that now is tom sawyer island.

Have a lot of fond memories of eating at Big Thunder BBQ and watching Billy Hill and the Hillbillies. Thank you!

When the bbq was there, it was the best food available in the park

Painted Desert was my favorite when I was a kid.

Wow, this was great 🥲👏👏👏 I agree about the hunchback overlay, but as a kid I loved it 😆

You think the updated Hungry Bear BBQ well have similar options that the fanch had?.. BTR was one of my favorite places to eat at.

The thing I will always love about Disneyland is there clever use of space. Everything is compact and walkable, just look at how they squeezed in Indiana jones and runaway railway.

Honestly, Big Thunder Ranch reminded me of western chuckwagon dinners - bbq and baked beans. Wholesome and delicious. A respite it the back corner to hang out. Loved it! My kids loved it!

As a citizen of battu i wish i could've ate at big thunder ranch bbq. Who knows if hungry bear will be half as good as BTR sounded 😊

Great video! I LOVE that you had Farley the Fiddler in his duster in your thumbnail for this video. He created sooooo many memories and so much joy for me and my family. That’s the kind of priceless Disney magic that the park is sorely missing.

Sure do miss Big Thunder Ranch. The cool characters that came out during the Holidays. Along with the Bbq 😫

Loved Big Thunder Ranch. It was where we always had lunch.

5:28 - "Proceed at your own pace". That was really the magic of this area. I regret that I never ate at the BBQ place, I just assumed it would always be there and I'd catch it next time. Owen and Dolly Pope's house was just on the other side of Casey Jr, and across the dirt frontage road back in '55 but it moved and can still be seen from TDA's small public "business only" parking lot.

Hopefully the Big thunder ranch BBQ becomes Country Bear BBQ that was recently announced! And Jim will u be at the D23 expo this year?

Thanks for posting. Content idea: Would you consider making a video about what is what like to be an imagineer? What was a normal week like? How difficult of a job was it? What was the best part of working there? The worst? What are you most proud of accomplishing? I have a million more questions if you are ever stuck for ideas…

I didn't get to go to Disneyland until Big Thunder Ranch was already gone and I wish all the time I could've seen it!

@2:35 I would love to learn more about River Town. What it was supposed to be and what it might have contained.

The early frontier Land was my favorite and still is. The Wagon Rides the Stagecoach Ride the Train Rides the Mule’s ride, and real animals, the OLD Big Thunder Ranch and BBQ, The old settler's cabin, the Gun Fights in front of the old The Golden Horseshoe's Saloon, etc.etc. what great memories, I’ll NEVER forget.

Well, there were cows and goats, in Medieval France, probably Paris itself, but i doubt there wrre log cabins and split rail fences...😉

No. D23 is a joke with many announcements never being built. Plus, modern Disney needs an IP to tie it to. I loved People Mover and riding it oh so many times in the 80's and 90's.

Does Disney do anything now that isn't tied to a major franchise? People Mover return seems unlikely.. but I wish it would - a smoother, quiet, relaxing way to view the park.

Looking forward to all you have to share!

Great video, very interesting info on this nice walkthrough attraction

best trailer i’ve seen in a long time. Can’t wait!

They had rumors going around that it could come back as like a pod system like from the first incredible movie. That would be really cool I think.