Bluey is much 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 occasion or, on the very least, hug the cute 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 companies.
Disney licensed Bluey earlier than it turned an enormous hit as a approach 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 quick reply of the titular query, it’s nothing. However as you would possibly’ve guessed, there’s extra to the story…
As talked about above, Bluey is a cultural phenomenon. It’s an worldwide generational hit, well-liked not simply in Australia and the US, however just about all over the place. In China, Bluey’s third season has been seen 100 million occasions because it appeared on iQiyi, the nation’s Netflix.
Individuals watched 731 million hours of Bluey final 12 months. It wasn’t simply probably the most watched children’ present in the US final 12 months, 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. In actual fact, Bluey accounts for roughly 30% of complete TV present views on Disney+ (that means it’s not competing with Moana, Encanto, Frozen or different films).
Those that are already acquainted with Bluey want no clarification of the present’s reputation. In case your children are hooked on it, you’re doubtless hooked on it. Bluey is all-consuming and omnipresent. However when you’ve solely heard about Bluey in passing, the fundamental gist of the present is that it revolves across the every day lives of the Heeler household, consisting of 7-year-old Bluey and her (sure, Bluey is a lady–similar to Kevin from Up!) youthful sister, Bingo, in addition to their dad and mom Bandit and Chilli.
It’s exhausting to articulate what, precisely, Bluey is. It’s form of like Fashionable Household however for young children, with the sensibilities of Sesame Avenue and Studio Ghibli. That’s an undoubtedly horrible clarification, 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 may 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 kids’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 the journey of childhood and parenthood all of sudden.
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, Buddies, or Seinfeld on this regard. Clearly, very totally different kinds of reveals–however equally well-liked.
That is all related as a result of it implies that, not like a flash-in-the-pan hit on Disney Jr., Bluey is totally different. It’s 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 acquainted with Disney’s unique Bluey deal in 2019 instructed Bloomberg that the corporate’s shopper 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 take care of theme park rights to Mr. Bananagrabber, Child Bananagrabber, and some 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 turned an enormous hit–it’s truthful 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 may solely think about how inundated Disney is with these inquiries. Children 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 making an attempt 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 means 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 changing into extra ubiquitous, and its collective rightholders are dipping their ft into interactive experiences within the type of pop-up areas 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 provide a extra everlasting place to discover the Heeler household’s iconic Queenslander dwelling, 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 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 increase on these experiences, and Walt Disney World is a logical subsequent step for various causes. At first 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 reputation.
The record accommodates quite a lot of little issues and leisure choices which might be achievable on a shorter timeline, together with hail marys like a Taylor Swift experience overlay of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster. Very similar to that, a substantive Bluey providing would resonate deeply with a selected, passionate viewers.
Suffice to say, Bluey is among the only a few issues that wouldn’t essentially compete with Epic Universe, however would generate an enormous quantity of buzz and have enormous drawing well-liked 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 may anticipate to see in such a theoretical situation the place Walt Disney World is ready to use Bluey, one thing just like the Bluey’s World walk-through truly makes a ton of sense. Imagineering was once non permanent displays like this with fast turnaround occasions–it’s exactly how Magic Kingdom ended up with the assorted permutations of Toontown (RIP) within the first place.
Different lifelike choices embrace one thing non permanent again in Animation Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (there’s quite a lot of unused area, and even when Monstropolis goes again right here, this space may keep open for one more 12 months or longer), a cavalcade at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or integration into World Celebration at EPCOT (keep in mind, Bluey is Australian, so it’s sorta worldly!).
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is probably the most logical touchdown location for Bluey, however logic might not dictate the place the characters find yourself. Want may. Except Walt Disney World has one thing up its sleeve for 2025, the park most in want of an attendance increase will probably be Animal Kingdom. About the one place I wouldn’t anticipate 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 most likely gathered, my perspective is that it is 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 probably be Bluey age quickly. I’ve seen different kids’s televisions reveals (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 focus points after they’re watching crap like CoComelon. However that’s properly 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.
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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 can 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 once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
