DCA Gets A Worthy Overhaul Budget

[Wizzard419]

Ok got back, star tours was excclent (did it 9 times) and technically they could make the claim it's impossible to have the same trip twice (don't want to spoil it as to why). They were a little odd though, I think they were trying to break it since they only had about 1/4 a load of people (it was walk on all during my window) but everyone was loaded into the front right corner rather than spread out.

Little mermaid... kill it from space with fire. It was underwhelming, and that's being generous. Like being given an applebee's gift card in a hand wrapped box from Tiffany & Co.

The size of the queue area is way too large considering that in about a year it will probably be walk on.The biggest thing that makes the ride terrible is that there is no real conflict nor subsequent resolution. So it goes from "Girl makes shady deal with sea witch and almost causes a coup in her homeland" to "girl makes a transaction and all things go well". The only ariel figures that looked good were all the above water ones, you can really smell all the rubber used in everything, and to top it off Ursula's left arm already has a tear in it from all the flexing.

Oh and they really crapped out on the cars, rather than having it be a shell that closes on you, it's a lap bar your have to pull down rather than the automatic system all the other omnimovers use.

I knew it would be bad, but not this bad.

Oh forgot one thing, they really should have thought one thing through when landscaping the mermaid area. They planted Nadked Lady/Firestick plants (or some people call the lawsuit plant), the sap (if you touch it) can cause severe burning, blindless (if you wipe your forehead and some gets in your eyes via sweat) or death (if ingested) and care for the plant requires lots of protective clothes.

[Amy]

Ok got back, star tours was excclent (did it 9 times) and technically they could make the claim it's impossible to have the same trip twice (don't want to spoil it as to why). They were a little odd though, I think they were trying to break it since they only had about 1/4 a load of people (it was walk on all during my window) but everyone was loaded into the front right corner rather than spread out.
Little mermaid... kill it from space with fire. It was underwhelming, and that's being generous. Like being given an applebee's gift card in a hand wrapped box from Tiffany & Co.
The size of the queue area is way too large considering that in about a year it will probably be walk on.The biggest thing that makes the ride terrible is that there is no real conflict nor subsequent resolution. So it goes from "Girl makes shady deal with sea witch and almost causes a coup in her homeland" to "girl makes a transaction and all things go well". The only ariel figures that looked good were all the above water ones, you can really smell all the rubber used in everything, and to top it off Ursula's left arm already has a tear in it from all the flexing.
Oh and they really crapped out on the cars, rather than having it be a shell that closes on you, it's a lap bar your have to pull down rather than the automatic system all the other omnimovers use.
I knew it would be bad, but not this bad.
Oh forgot one thing, they really should have thought one thing through when landscaping the mermaid area. They planted Nadked Lady/Firestick plants (or some people call the lawsuit plant), the sap (if you touch it) can cause severe burning, blindless (if you wipe your forehead and some gets in your eyes via sweat) or death (if ingested) and care for the plant requires lots of protective clothes.

That is interesting about your Star Tours experience. You're probably right that they probably are trying to stress the attraction vehicles to see how they will perform before opening to the general public.
That is sad that Ursula is already shows signs of wear and tear. And the overall smell of plastic ~ ick. I wonder if the different type of omnimover vehicle, with a lap bar as opposed to the clam shell closing, is simply a way to keep maintenance costs down? Less moving parts to wear out.
Are you certain about that plant in the landscaping? Many plants look a lot alike and I can't imagine Disney would put something out there that the public could possibly touch, or that their CM's would have to hazmat suit-up to work with

[Wizzard419]

It looked exactly like the ones I've seen before (the naked lady is known for the distinct colors and stick like formation).

Also, were they handing out free lap dances or something at the embarcadero (the new shop that opened in the SF facade)? There was a line out the door and down to the wine country tratoria.

[Amy]

It looked exactly like the ones I've seen before (the naked lady is known for the distinct colors and stick like formation).

Also, were they handing out free lap dances or something at the embarcadero (the new shop that opened in the SF facade)? There was a line out the door and down to the wine country tratoria.

Maybe it was the line for the bathroom?!

[elizabethswann]

Mousewait has shown aerial views of the Little Mermaid lines and they were as long as they were yesterday when I went. I'm with Wizzard on that it was a little underwhelming. I mean it's okay to see it once but Scuttle was pretty much the highlight for me.

[Wizzard419]

It's pretty pathetic when a bird with alzheimers is the best thing about the ride... well the talking sebastian figures were nice too but I think they used the original actor's replacement (if I recall he, like bill nye, is no longer a friend of the company).

[mindflipper]

Like being given an applebee's gift card in a hand wrapped box from Tiffany & Co.

I have to admit - I love this analogy. It sums up perfectly one's feeling about a disappointing ride.

Here's my question: is the problem with the ride is that it did not have enough space to tell a good story? It's not like that's a very large area. I wonder if they will have a larger area over at WDW MK's Fantasyland Expansion for the ride? Learn from the mistakes they made at DCA perhaps?

[Wizzard419]

The sad part (or sign of real acting) will be when they do the media event for it. They built this stage with bubble makers, and so forth, right in front and they will probably parade out the living cast members saying how epic the ride is.

Oh anyone know if the media events will not be on friday? They were already doing radio stuff for star tours today and there were tons of spotlights set up on the roofs on main street (as well as various light rigs in front of the castle)

[Amy]

Like being given an applebee's gift card in a hand wrapped box from Tiffany & Co.

I have to admit - I love this analogy. It sums up perfectly one's feeling about a disappointing ride.
Here's my question: is the problem with the ride is that it did not have enough space to tell a good story? It's not like that's a very large area. I wonder if they will have a larger area over at WDW MK's Fantasyland Expansion for the ride? Learn from the mistakes they made at DCA perhaps?

I would hope they would at least not include a twisty curl cone headed Ariel in the WDW version
To me, I think the disappointment is how grand and beautiful the outside of the show building is, and then inside seems a little...underwhelming. To be fair, I won't reserve judgement until I can see the attraction in person, but from the videos and personal accounts of people who have gone on the attraction, it doesn't sound as wonderful as it could have been. I know I have read much about the Little Mermaid not being an E ticket too, so maybe people are just a bit disappointed that Disney could have gone and done just that little extra to make this a fabulous attraction instead...

[mindflipper]

I think the problem is that TLM is in the wrong place. DCA is the wrong place for TLM. If it was in Fantasyland where it should be, then people would compare it to other Fantasyland rides - Peter Pan's Flight, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, etc. Now if you compared that ride to those rides, then how would it compare?

[Wizzard419]

It would still suck out loud, I was thinking about the ride by itself (as if it was the only thing there), it's just a bad ride. It also was a bad idea to even consider doing a mermaid ride now since the material is way too old, by date it's closer to the moon landing than it is to today.

Unless they can have a complete plot for the WDW version, I wouldn't get too excited about it either, I think that was the true kiss of death for the ride.

[mindflipper]

It would still suck out loud, I was thinking about the ride by itself (as if it was the only thing there), it's just a bad ride. It also was a bad idea to even consider doing a mermaid ride now since the material is way too old, by date it's closer to the moon landing than it is to today.

Unless they can have a complete plot for the WDW version, I wouldn't get too excited about it either, I think that was the true kiss of death for the ride.

True, but do even the current Fantasyland lands have a "complete plot" or are they just "reduced storylines" of the original?

[Wizzard419]

Yes, they do have the key point of conflict and resolution. Alice is captured and escapes from the red queen, toad goes to prison, escapes, goes to hell, escapes again, peter pan rescues people and escapes, snow white's evil queen is killed, pinnochio is captured escapes, eaten and escapes again, sleeping beauty does it's thing too.

[MmeLeota]

These are all about the same comments I have heard about TLM so far. I am trying to not judge it too much until we go in August, but the storyline (or lack thereof) alone has me concerned from the get go. Maybe we'll plan to ride TLM first, but then be blown away by ST2...

[mindflipper]

These are all about the same comments I have heard about TLM so far. I am trying to not judge it too much until we go in August, but the storyline (or lack thereof) alone has me concerned from the get go. Maybe we'll plan to ride TLM first, but then be blown away by ST2...

That way, there's no way to head but up....