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 probably be a family-friendly “search and sniff” journey in Storybook Circus. (Up to date March 18, 2024.)
No have to examine the calendar, it’s not April 1st. Sure, that is actual. As you’ll be able to see from the idea artwork above, a brand new statue impressed by the “Pink Elephants on Parade” from Dumbo will probably be added exterior 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 probably be different statues all through Storybook Circus. Who actually is aware of, although. Smellephants is shrouded in secrecy. That’s, till now…dun dun dun!
The most recent replace about Smellephants on Parade is that Walt Disney Imagineering filed a building allow in mid-March 2024 for the set up of present units at an handle that corresponds with Storybook Circus. Along with this, Disney has cleared out a few of the planters the place smellephants may take form. Based mostly on our powers of deduction, we’re going to exit on a limb and conclude that Disney didn’t do that for the smelluvit, and as a substitute it’s for the brand new scent and sniff journey.
Anyway, the allow lists the set set up as being finished by ThemeWorks, which has finished quite a lot of themed work with Walt Disney World and Common, together with however not restricted to Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Pandora – The World of Avatar, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Bike Journey, and extra.
Even with how few particulars we’ve in regards to the undertaking, I can promise you that Smellephants on Parade will probably be completely nothing like all of these envelope-pushing lands, sights, and so forth. Even amongst ardent elephant aficionados, that is going to be nothing particular. I point out this as a result of we’ve observed an odd quantity of curiosity about Smellephants on Parade and, it appears, Disney followers is perhaps anticipating an excessive amount of.
We’ve seen some feedback lamenting that this gained’t be a fully-fledged trip (which is true) and as a substitute that it’ll “solely” be like Moana’s Journey of Water or Batuu Bounty Hunters. That’s nonetheless too optimistic. No matter your expectations, take into account reducing them. That is going to be like a type of seasonal Easter Egg hunts at EPCOT, however in a smaller space. It could possibly be a cute little plussing and a briefly fulfilling diversion for teenagers, however that’s about it.
Actually, I absolutely anticipated to solely ever write one publish in regards to the attraction (this one), then locate the smellephants statues sooner or later this 12 months, say “oh yeah, that’s a factor I assume” to myself and overlook about it endlessly 5 minutes later. This isn’t an enormous swing–or perhaps a bunt–by Imagineers dreaming about limitless prospects or no matter. The explanation it exists is due to a company alliance–an MLM paying to do some good ole long-established status laundering.
Anyway, what follows is the unique announcement about Smellephants on Parade and our commentary. You possibly can sit up for it arriving sooner or later soon-ish…
“Smellephants on Parade” will start with a casting name from Timothy Q. Mouse, who’s looking for a “Whiff-sistant” to hitch Dumbo’s latest act. On the ticket sales space in entrance of Huge Prime Souvenirs, Forged Members will present visitors with a free map and sticker sheet to information visitors within the sport.
Whiff-sistants will discover Storybook Circus to search out quite a few 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 reasonably than a typical press launch or publish on the Disney Parks Weblog. The social media publish ended with Disney teasing, “keep tuned for ‘relephant’ particulars.”
No opening date or time-frame for the “Smellephants on Parade” interactive expertise have been shared. If current precedent is any indication, we anticipate 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 enlargement to Tremendous Nintendo World at Epic Universe!
It’s doable 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 doable 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.) That company alliance is the one cause it will exist within the first place.
For these unfamiliar with multi-level advertising, these firms 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 one of these factor bothers me, as the corporate lends its credibility to the MLM and, in so doing, offers a bit of brand name consciousness and legitimacy to the MLM.
This would possibly find yourself as growing 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 apply previously, so I gained’t proceed to belabor the purpose.
When it comes to different commentary…I dunno, it’s type of powerful to take this significantly?
On the one hand, I very a lot suppose 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 onerous to think about that “Smellephants on Parade” is that factor. At finest, I believe we’re a number of cute statues of colourful elephants that perhaps scent good or one thing. Principally, a pleasing excuse to satisfy a partnership deal. Win-win for Disney and the corporate; non-factor for many visitors.
The worst case is that “Smellephants on Parade” truly turns into a factor, and tons of of visitors are strolling round Storybook Circus, aggressively sniffing statues which are simply out of attain. Just like the arm-flailing that occurs as visitors 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 probably be, “who cares, they scent and look good.” That’s, earlier than historians dig up historic weblog posts like this and uncover their true goal. However nonetheless, they’ll scent good.
On a barely much less cynical (however nonetheless considerably cynical) notice, let’s all be grateful that this wasn’t introduced at 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 enlargement or information about nighttime spectaculars, the large reveal throughout Vacation spot D23 had 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 had been the solely factor he did, and nothing else had been introduced. (With that stated, if Josh D’Amaro needs to carry a child elephant on stage at D23, I’ve zero objections and/or criticism.)
With that stated, we’re not out of the woods but. These “relephant” particulars are coming quickly, and D23 is quickly.
Finally, 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 sorts of scavenger hunts is completely wonderful by me. Participating visitors–particularly children–with energetic and sensory experiences sounds nice, and could possibly be antidote to the entire display screen time the parks now encourage. (I’d counsel a Disney Lorcana card sport tie-in to the parks, however I’m involved that’ll have a super-obsessive fanbase that may make it a poor candidate for a theme park sport.)
I simply don’t suppose “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 visitors’ heads, however not a lot else. Right here’s hoping I’m improper, and “Smellephants on Parade” will probably be a pleasant diversion that’s fleshed out and a enjoyable approach for households to spend an hour or so in Magic Kingdom. Wanting ahead to taking part in it with Megatron after they’re a young person!
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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 if you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
