I read a tweet the other day (follow me @notestowalt) asking the twitter-verse what they would do if they were an Imagineer and were tasked with making a "Frozen"-themed attraction. My mind raced to the rejected dark, boat ride themed after the Snow Queen called " The Enchanted Snow Palace" thought up by Marc Davis (http://mobile.dudamobile.com/site/jimhillmedia?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjimhillmedia.com%2Feditor_in_chief1%2Fb%2Fjim_hill%2Farchive%2F2013%2F01%2F03%2Ftitle.aspx#3122).
But then my mind started drifting and I started thinking about Disney's proposed Mineral King Resort, a development based in the Mineral King Valley of California. The resort was centered around skiing, nature activities, and shopping areas. Ultimately, the park was scrapped due to conservationalists' protests over the resorts potential impact on Sequoia National Park (http://www.yesterland.com/mineralking.html). My thinking is, why not try again, some place else?
I'm picturing a large ski resort in Colorado themed around the kingdom of Arendelle, with Elsa's castle as the centerpiece (the non-ice-crystal one). Various attractions themed around winter concepts would be found around the castle. Attractions like the "Enchanted Snow Palace" ride (imagined using Frozen characters), a bob-sled roller-coaster aka the Matterhorn, figure skating demonstrations, and a tea-cup-like ride featuring ice cubes spinning around on a sheet of ice, and the "Snowmen Serenade," among other attractions. Families could play together here as they would in the Magic Kingdom. However, I should say that I do not picture this "Frozen Kingdom" to be the same size as any of the other parks as this would be intended for people staying at the resort, not day visitors.
To one side of this play district, the town could feature shopping districts with a wide variety of shops and outlets. Imagine a place similar to Downtown Disney, but with a greater focus on stores. While all of the wonderful stores that can be found at DD would be here, I can also see more common outlet-style shops here.
To the other side of the play district, the greater town area would feature a water park in a manner similar to Blizzard Beach with lazy rivers, water slides, and wave pools. This would help attract families during the off-season when skiing is unavailable.
Behind the town would be one large, grand hotel which could feature a variety of amenities. Various room sizes and capabilities would allow Disney to make this large hotel cover price ranges from value all the way up to deluxe in one facility.
Around the town could be nature walk spaces for hiking, horseback riding, and campgrounds. People would be able to appreciate the nature of the landscape away from the park areas.
When winter sets in, the resort could become a full-fledge ski resort catering to families looking for an all-encompassing resort with several ski-runs, spas, hot tubs, shopping, and several of the in-door attractions from the summer season.
All of this is right from the top of my head and heavily inspired by other ideas like Mineral King and the "Enchanted Snow Palace" but I still believe a Disney-themed winter resort could work and what better way to theme it than with the Mega-hit Frozen?
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