Bluey is way and away Disney’s hottest streaming present, and is a cultural phenomenon amongst households with young children. This leads many dad and mom to surprise the place at Walt Disney World their children can experience a Bluey attraction, expertise a present or dance social gathering or, on the very least, hug the lovely heeler pups from the well-known Disney+ present.
Properly…about that. Whereas it’s true that Bluey is the preferred present on Disney+, it isn’t Disney’s. Bluey is a morass of rights, however the backside line is that Bluey is managed and produced by Ludo Studio, and funded by the Australian Broadcasting Corp., BBC Studios, and native authorities businesses.
Disney licensed Bluey earlier than it grew to become an enormous hit as a method to spherical out the restricted lineup on its nascent Disney+ streaming service in 2019. Sadly, Disney doesn’t have the theme park rights to Bluey, and as such, the characters don’t seem at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or any of the worldwide parks. If all you need is the brief reply of the titular query, it’s nothing. However as you may’ve guessed, there’s extra to the story…
As talked about above, Bluey is a cultural phenomenon. It’s an worldwide generational hit, in style not simply in Australia and america, however just about in all places. In China, Bluey’s third season has been considered 100 million occasions because it appeared on iQiyi, the nation’s Netflix.
Individuals watched 731 million hours of Bluey final yr. It wasn’t simply essentially the most watched children’ present in america final yr, Bluey was the second most streamed present after Fits, which advantages from an extended format, far more episodes, and being on a number of streaming providers. The truth is, Bluey accounts for roughly 30% of whole TV present views on Disney+ (that means it’s not competing with Moana, Encanto, Frozen or different films).
Those that are already accustomed to Bluey want no rationalization of the present’s recognition. In case your children are hooked on it, you might be seemingly hooked on it. Bluey is all-consuming and omnipresent. However for those who’ve solely heard about Bluey in passing, the fundamental gist of the present is that it revolves across the each day lives of the Heeler household, consisting of 7-year-old Bluey and her (sure, Bluey is a lady–identical to Kevin from Up!) youthful sister, Bingo, in addition to their dad and mom Bandit and Chilli.
It’s onerous to articulate what, precisely, Bluey is. It’s sort of like Trendy Household however for young children, with the sensibilities of Sesame Avenue and Studio Ghibli. That’s an undoubtedly horrible rationalization, so I’d merely advise you–as another person did for me–to take ~8 minutes of your time and watch “Sleepytime.” That’ll do a greater job than I might fumbling for a proof with one other thousand phrases or no matter.
“Sleepytime” was my first publicity to Bluey, and with that, it immediately clicked for me. Bluey isn’t the standard obnoxious youngsters’s programming. It’s extra like the tv model of Calvin & Hobbes. It’s as a lot for fogeys as it’s children–maybe extra so–and guides everybody by means of the journey of childhood and parenthood abruptly.
The underside line, and level of all this, is that Bluey isn’t merely the flavour of the week in child’s tv. It’s the uncommon present that has managed to seize lightning in a bottle, and the collective consideration and imaginations of its viewers. Bluey is extra like Recreation of Thrones, The Workplace, Pals, or Seinfeld on this regard. Clearly, very totally different types of exhibits–however equally in style.
That is all related as a result of it implies that, in contrast to a flash-in-the-pan hit on Disney Jr., Bluey is totally different. It is going to nearly actually be enduring. And given Disney’s affinity for acquisitions, it’s solely a matter of time earlier than Bluey will get purchased or, on the very least, the corporate obtains the theme park rights to the franchise.
Talking of which, a supply accustomed to Disney’s unique Bluey deal in 2019 informed Bloomberg that the corporate’s client merchandise division had the possibility on the time to license the present’s merchandising and theme park rights from BBC Studios, however Disney opted to go on them. (Maybe Disney negotiated with GOB, who managed to keep up theme park rights to Mr. Bananagrabber, Child Bananagrabber, and every other Bananagrabber household character that may emanate there from.)
That very same report signifies that Disney now regrets passing on theme park rights to Bluey. As a result of, clearly they do. Disney purchased the rights to Bluey earlier than it grew to become an enormous hit–it’s honest to say passing over theme park rights was shortsighted. No less than, with the advantage of hindsight. If this weblog is getting questions on Bluey at Walt Disney World, you possibly can solely think about how inundated Disney is with these inquiries. Youngsters don’t perceive IP rights–they simply know they watch Bluey on Disney+, due to this fact, it’s Disney. It’s sound logic!
In that very same Bloomberg report, Disney declined to touch upon whether or not the corporate has explored trying to purchase Bluey. No remark is critical, although. Disney CEO Bob Iger loves acquisitions, and has continued down that path at the same time as the corporate has had monetary woes. There’s no method they haven’t tried to purchase Bluey.
No matter whether or not or not Bluey is acquired outright by the Walt Disney Firm, it’s solely a matter of time earlier than these passed-over theme park rights are acquired. Because the $2 billion empire continues to develop, Bluey merchandise is turning into extra ubiquitous, and its collective rightholders are dipping their ft into interactive experiences within the type of pop-up places around the globe.
The most important of those is Bluey’s World, a guided immersive expertise on the Northshore Pavilion in Brisbane, Queensland. Bluey’s World will supply a extra everlasting place to discover the Heeler household’s iconic Queenslander house, yard and past – in actual life!
Discover a number of rooms and play video games from Bluey, as you embark on an interactive journey together with your information by means of the colourful and playful world of Bluey. This expansive, multi-sensory expertise options real-life units, recognisable scenes, and beloved characters and video games from hit-show Bluey.
It appears inevitable that Bluey will proceed to broaden on these experiences, and Walt Disney World is a logical subsequent step for quite a lot of causes. At the beginning is that Disney actually wants the sort of a win. We’ve been discussing ways in which Walt Disney World can “compete” with Epic Universe, which is Common Orlando’s new theme park that opens in 2025. Spoiler alert: there isn’t a complete lot that matches a brand-new theme park in scale, scope, or potential recognition.
The checklist incorporates a whole lot of little issues and leisure choices which are achievable on a shorter timeline, together with hail marys like a Taylor Swift experience overlay of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster. Very like that, a substantive Bluey providing would resonate deeply with a specific, passionate viewers.
Suffice to say, Bluey is without doubt one of the only a few issues that wouldn’t essentially compete with Epic Universe, however would generate an enormous quantity of buzz and have large drawing in style for Walt Disney World in what is going to in any other case be a tough couple of years in 2025-2026.
As for what we might count on to see in such a theoretical state of affairs the place Walt Disney World is ready to use Bluey, one thing just like the Bluey’s World walk-through really makes a ton of sense. Imagineering was short-term displays like this with fast turnaround occasions–it’s exactly how Magic Kingdom ended up with the varied permutations of Toontown (RIP) within the first place.
Different practical choices embody one thing short-term again in Animation Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (there’s a whole lot of unused house, and even when Monstropolis goes again right here, this space might keep open for an additional yr or longer), a cavalcade at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or integration into World Celebration at EPCOT (bear in mind, Bluey is Australian, so it’s sorta worldly!).
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is essentially the most logical touchdown location for Bluey, however logic could not dictate the place the characters find yourself. Want might. Except Walt Disney World has one thing up its sleeve for 2025, the park most in want of an attendance enhance will likely be Animal Kingdom. About the one place I wouldn’t count on the characters is Magic Kingdom, as they merely aren’t wanted there.
In the end, it’ll be attention-grabbing to see the place Bluey finally ends up touchdown at Walt Disney World. Or if the present’s characters come to the parks in any respect. As you’ve in all probability gathered, my perspective is that this can be a matter of “when” and never “if.” Disney already regrets passing on the theme park rights to Bluey, Bob Iger loves synergy and acquisitions, Bluey’s present rightsholders are clearly open to immersive experiences, and Walt Disney World wants a near-term shot within the arm. The celebs are aligned, and it’s too excellent of a match for it to not occur.
Then once more, maybe that is wishful pondering on my half as the daddy to a toddler who will likely be Bluey age quickly. I’ve seen different youngsters’s televisions exhibits (for analysis), and they aren’t good. On the contrary, most are very dangerous. Loud, obnoxious, chaotic, and uninteresting. It’s no surprise children have behavioral and a spotlight points once they’re watching crap like CoComelon. However that’s nicely past the scope of this put up. The underside line is that Bluey is definitely worthwhile, and I’m selfishly hopeful that the present’s characters seem at Walt Disney World within the subsequent few years.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about accommodations on our Walt Disney World Motels Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every thing it is advisable know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider Bluey coming to Walt Disney World? Does the Heeler household deserve a presence within the parks? Assume Bluey leisure or characters could be good additions in Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, or Animal Kingdom? Hopeful that Bluey, Bingo, Bandit and different characters are added to leisure or as meet & greets ASAP? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
