New (possible) Nighttime Ride Changes

Post by **subsonic** » Nov Mon 14, 2005 1:51 pm

To quote myself from Mouseplanet,

Enough of what's Politically Correct. They were PIRATES, it's what they did. The whole PC thing is just stupid. People don't do that now and others should realize that... onward...

I'm appalled by the thought of changing POTC to be based on the movie. It's official, Disney has run out of original ideas. Other than Expedition Everest nothing seems unique. It appears everything is based on their best selling movies. Keep those as dark rides.

I'm all for upgrading attractions, the effects and audio described in the article sound fantastic. YES, upgrade POTC! NO, don't base it on the movie. Attractions like this are successful because they aren't dated. Once, you put elements from "the popular thing of the year" into an attraction they get dated. What's to happen 10 years down the line? "Man, what happened to that actor? Remember when he Overdosed on drugs? (or something to that extent)" You never know.

Someone mentioned that Small World / Haunted Mansion Holidays are very sucessful. I wholeheartedly agree, but it's not permenant. You get a new attraction for several months but it returns to what we've known to love. Imagine if they decided to replace ghosts with Eddie Murphy...forever.

It doesn't matter what I say anyways. Disney doesn't listen to the little people anymore. I just needed to vent. Thanks for reading...

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Nov Mon 14, 2005 9:58 pm

Well, that officially sounds pretty awful. I guess I know what to make of Iger now.

G2-4T · Post by **G2-4T** » Nov Sun 20, 2005 5:46 pm

Geez-if they actually go thru and mess with Pirates there will be fallout. Come on - is nothing sacred? I can see the need for fixing - a coat of paint and general repairs are needed thanks to those years of neglect but if the main ride ain't broke why fix it? People still love it, they still are lining up to see it, so why mess? Like has been mentioned by Sub, etc. - they are selling out and taking the easy, short-sighted road. It could easily turn out to be an embarassment when the movies lose interest, fade away, or the actors do something stupid. They better get their acts together and not do something really stupid again, they already have done that enough times by messing with success that you'd think they would learn by now...

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Nov Mon 21, 2005 12:13 am

...if they actually go thru and mess with Pirates there will be fallout.

I think the one thing they have learned is that there won't be.

Would anyone here stop going if they did this?

Well, there's your answer.

I haven't gone back to WDW for 7 years, but I'm an irrelevant minority. I was considering going back this year, but since reading here what they've been up to, I've decided against it. But it doesn't really matter.

G2-4T · Post by **G2-4T** » Nov Mon 21, 2005 7:47 pm

This isn't WDW, the folks out in CA are different it seems. Come on - they can do the whole tiki room by heart. Its scary, they know these rides end to end, word for word. They don't exactly need the bad publicity right now during their big 50th - the talk shows ripped into them the last time Pirates changed and got people riled, I would imagine you'd see the same again...

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Nov Tue 22, 2005 2:28 am

A ruckus might be raised, but that would only be free publicity. The vast majority of Disney-goers are not freaks like us, but people who couldn't tell you the correct name of that haunted house ride or tell you what movie Splash Mountain is based on. Every time Disney makes one of these changes, people like us get all riled up and then...nothing really happens.

None of the typical Disney-goers will stop going, and as many people as I know who have become upset with changes to WDW over the years, I'm the only one I know who's made a point of not going any more.

I know Disneyland has a lot of hardcore fans, but 1) they're an inconsequential percentage of visitors, and 2) they'll keep going anyway, they'll just complain more when they're there.

I've only recently accepted that Disney is never going to be cool again. For years I kept thinking that as the quality fell, surely people would notice...even if they weren't fanboys like us and weren't upset about philosophical inconsistencies ("Nemo in Tomorrowland?"), they'd at least notice that they enjoyed the experience a little bit less each time and would be less inclined to revisit.

But then you look at the attendance numbers and you can see that hasn't happened, or maybe it has, but there are enough new customers that the impact has been insignificant.

That being the case, I don't really see why Disney wouldn't go out of their way to please their fanbase, while at the same time doing stuff that will bring in the crowds that will lap up anything that's new. I suppose that the fans are simply not a factor in the decision-making process, and all this BS about "synergy" is just the new way of thinking.

And, I suppose, doing things right is harder than cheap thrills, so you might have to pay more for the talent. Or, y'know, just work harder, neither of which compute to bean counters.

Post by **subsonic** » Nov Tue 22, 2005 4:55 pm

Very insightful Captain Schnemo. You're right, as upset as I get, I'm not their market. AP's make up a small percent of what the Disney parks make. I've only thought on occasion of not renewing my pass. But what's one loss to them? Pehaps 1000 dollars lost from me a year? That's nothing to Disney.

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Nov Wed 23, 2005 5:14 am

I would guess it's safe to say that those of us with APs (or who used to have them anyway) are the biggest Disney fans, but also their smallest source of revenue. They lose money on the ticket prices, we're not going to buy souvenirs for Aunt Edna, it's likely to be a day trip for us so no lodging money, day trippers aren't as likely to splurge on a nice memorable sit-down meal, no exorbitant parking fees, etc.

I hadn't thought of it before, but there actually might be a slight benefit to p*** us off. We're also the ones ready to go to war when they open a McDonald's on property or try to remove something that most other tourists don't even notice, so we generate more than our share of unpleasant noise. Not sure customer complaints are even a factor any more, but driving us away would certain cut down on them.

I used to complain at City Hall every time I visited about 20,000 Leagues still being closed. Lot of good that did anyway...they just paved over it.

Also I should probably explain that I'm not making a statement by ditching my AP and not returning. I just hit a breaking point when I realized nearly all my favorite stuff was either closed or ruined and I didn't like the new things.

I just thought to myself, "Why do I still come here? I just get angry every time I visit and see what cool thing has been removed or what awful thing has been added."

For years I've been hoping things would turn around, but nearly every new thing I hear sounds terrible. There have been glimmers of hope that at least someone there still gets it...that Xmas Mansion sounds very nice and the renovation of Space Mountain, while not spectacular, sounds like the sort of upgrading that should be done from time to time to keep things fresh.

In WDW, the Animal Kingdom Lodge is very cool. I'm sure there must be other small nice things, but the only thing I'd want to do in Future World these days is sit out by the fountain and reminisce. Sort of a lot of money to just be sad, and there are lots of places in the real world I've never been. Might be time to file to this one away in the scrapbook.

Just close my eyes and listen to Subsonic Radio, dreaming of better times. It's certainly a cheaper course of action.

tuxinator · Post by **tuxinator** » Nov Wed 23, 2005 7:54 am

subsonic wrote:To quote myself from Mouseplanet,
Enough of what's Politically Correct. They were PIRATES, it's what they did. The whole PC thing is just stupid. People don't do that now and others should realize that... onward...

I'm appalled by the thought of changing POTC to be based on the movie. It's official, Disney has run out of original ideas. Other than Expedition Everest nothing seems unique. It appears everything is based on their best selling movies. Keep those as dark rides.

I'm all for upgrading attractions, the effects and audio described in the article sound fantastic. YES, upgrade POTC! NO, don't base it on the movie. Attractions like this are successful because they aren't dated. Once, you put elements from "the popular thing of the year" into an attraction they get dated. What's to happen 10 years down the line? "Man, what happened to that actor? Remember when he Overdosed on drugs? (or something to that extent)" You never know.

Someone mentioned that Small World / Haunted Mansion Holidays are very sucessful. I wholeheartedly agree, but it's not permenant. You get a new attraction for several months but it returns to what we've known to love. Imagine if they decided to replace ghosts with Eddie Murphy...forever.

It doesn't matter what I say anyways. Disney doesn't listen to the little people anymore. I just needed to vent. Thanks for reading...

Ditto

Post by **subsonic** » Nov Mon 28, 2005 12:39 pm

I was having a discussion with my fiancee if we have kids would we get annual passes and take them constantly. I know, since I've had my AP, that visiting Disneyland isn't as special to me as it used to be. I don't get giddy the day before; I only visit for a few hours, not all day. I want Disneyland to be special for my kids not just something to do.

disneydreamer58 · Post by **disneydreamer58** » Nov Mon 28, 2005 4:30 pm

G2-4T wrote:This isn't WDW, the folks out in CA are different it seems. Come on - they can do the whole tiki room by heart. Its scary, they know these rides end to end, word for word. They don't exactly need the bad publicity right now during their big 50th - the talk shows ripped into them the last time Pirates changed and got people riled, I would imagine you'd see the same again...

I am one of the So. Cal people (transplanted now to Massachusetts) but you are totally correct, I can sing the Tiki Room show almost by memory and IASW, and PoTC, and.........ha ha ha scary it is! I say we all write a letter to Disney, now all I have to do is fine the correct place to write.........why oh why did they make Roy take down SaveDisney.com it had great reference pages 8)

Post by **subsonic** » Nov Tue 29, 2005 1:48 pm

There's now www.saveddisney.com

disneydreamer58 · Post by **disneydreamer58** » Nov Tue 29, 2005 3:02 pm

Groovy! Thanks Sub I will definately check it out!! Thanks.

zenmondo · Post by **zenmondo** » Feb Fri 03, 2006 1:24 pm

Its now official. Disney has issued a Press Release detailing the changes to this classic ride.

In short, they are adding Jack Sparrow, Barbosa and Davy Jones.

The attractions at both Disneyland and WDW will close in March. Disneyland's pirates will be back on June 24th, and WDW will open on July 7.

Sarah Turp · Post by **Sarah Turp** » Feb Fri 03, 2006 1:42 pm

I've got mixed feeling over this change. I think that The Pirates of the Carribean could do with some updating as some of the technology in it seems a little old fashioned now. It doesn't exactly look life like especially a lot of the movements, and it would be great to see some of the characters from the film introduced, having said that it is one of the old classics. It would be a real shame to lose that!
All in all I think its a nice idea and for all new visitors to Disney who wont have seen the original it would be great, but for those of us with fond memories of the ride it would be a real loss.