Kingdom Hearts in the Disney Parks

[Green Sparrow 795]

Jim Hill, host of the podcast "Disney Dish Podcast", recently held a live Q & A at Disney's Coronado Springs in Orlando, Florida. Jim has multiple inside sources not only at Disney Parks, but Universal as well, and frequently gives insight into future announcements and the thought process of Disney in regards to the parks (he discussed the Guardians of Galaxy ride, Mickey's Runaway Railway, and other park attractions MONTHS before they were announced by Disney themselves). In the recent Q & A session, an audience member asked about why Kingdom Hearts didn't have a larger presence in the parks.

Jim explained that, while Disney acknowledges there is a large and passionate fanbase behind the series, interacting with the series is complicated. Parts of the Kingdom Hearts series are shared between Disney & Square Enix (most likely the original characters like Sora & Aqua), and therefore twice as many meetings are needed for approval on creative decisions.

The length of game development is cited as an issue as well. The Disney properties in any given KH game are set in stone so far in advance, that there's little chance of proper cross promotion (which Disney loves to do). Jim notes an example of how there is nothing substantial in KH3 to support the theatrical releases of Ralph Breaks the Internet or Mary Poppins Returns.

Jim hopes that the sales of KH3 will encourage Disney to give it more support in the parks, but to not hold your breath. There's nothing insanely new, but I just thought it was interesting. The link to the session is below. The KH section starts at 11:06 and ends at 13:50.

https://disneydish.bandcamp.com/track/fine-tooning-with-drew-taylor-episode-16-q-a-recorded-live-at-wdw

[Arielle Mobley 15]

*sigh* I feel like the answer that was given is so lukewarm? I mean I get some of the reasons, sure, but I feel like the cross promotion reason for Disney properties is a little weak as an argument. I get that Disney loves to do it, but do they have to? I think it would be better if Disney cross promoted Kingdom Hearts instead, heck it doesn't have to be a whole song and dance about it, just something as minor as sea salt ice cream at the ice cream parlor would be enough. Also the fact that the Keepers of the Magic Kingdom card game at Magic Kingdom was originally called Codename:Kingdom Hearts says a lot,  that and the fact that Shinji Hashimoto said he's going to fight for more park appearances for the franchise would support the fact that Disney and Square are willing to do SOMETHING more than just a dumb pin, but it is going to take a lot, and a leap of faith too.

[ienzo628 548]

As fans we deserve some sort of recognition in the Parks.  By the way, I've never been to a Disney park; always too broke.

[Arielle Mobley 15]

Looks like we're getting some representation in the Disney Parks! Looks like times are changing!

[ienzo628 548]

59 minutes ago, Arielle Mobley said:

Looks like we're getting some representation in the Disney Parks! Looks like times are changing!

Represented or not, I am sure Disney can't kick you out if you're cosplaying as Kairi.  You can probably start a conversation and introduce some people to Kingdom Hearts by doing that.

Edited December 6, 2018 by ienzo628

[Arielle Mobley 15]

I'm talking about the exhibition they are having next month 

[ienzo628 548]

2 hours ago, Arielle Mobley said:

I'm talking about the exhibition they are having next month 

Hopefully, Disney lowers their ticket prices.  I mean, this event could be good advertisement to get people into the parks that usually can't afford the tickets, the hotels, and so on.

[Arielle Mobley 15]

Hopefully if a ton of people show up then that could be the spark they need to make Kingdom Hearts have a bigger presence in the parks.

[ienzo628 548]

I would love if Square Enix encouraged their fans to go to the Disney parks by giving out tickets with the purchase of KH3 but that would likely never happen because of a number of factors.