Which Disney ride/attraction should be fixed next?

[lebeau]

I'm another one that doesn't see what all the fuss is about the characters... To me it's not who is in the ride that makes it a good ride, but how they tell the storey.

I think the fuss is that the characters seem to be something of a crutch for Disney these days. Rather than coming up with something unique and possible risky, they tend to slap a character on something. Worst case scenerio: Stitch's Great Escape.

I love seeing the characters at the parks. But I don't just want to see cartoon characters added to everything to make it seem fresh.

Looking around Tomorrowland, I see more cartoon characters than I do images of tomorrow...

[skull]

dont' get me wrong.. I still think there is lots of room for improvement.. but I don't think the characters are the biggest problem. Weather they use the characters or not, they still need to come up with a good story, which they have been lacking on for the most part lately.

[lebeau]

dont' get me wrong.. I still think there is lots of room for improvement.. but I don't think the characters are the biggest problem. Weather they use the characters or not, they still need to come up with a good story, which they have been lacking on for the most part lately.

I agree that the characters aren't the problem. It's just that they tend to use the characters to cover up poor story telling or a lack of innovative ideas. So, to a lot of people, the two go hand-in hand.

Also, some people just plain think the characters are over-done. While I don't object to the characters on principal, I do think those people have a point too.

[Captain Schnemo]

Story-wise, I am completely sick of either "oh no, we've got to find X!" or "oh no, something has gone wrong!". The first is just lame and the second is interesting only once.

I also think they might be too obsessed with "story" as such. For example, when you look at some of the most popular attractions (Mansion/Pirates/Toad/etc.) there is really no "story", it's just an experience. Rides don't necessarily need narratives. In a way, a narrative is pretty restrictive, in that once you know what happens, subsequent rides are less interesting. If the attraction is more of an experience, however, the focus is on the setting and all the exciting details to discover.

Additionally, a majority of the classic, iconic attractions have no need for outside movie characters. Pre-Depp Pirates, the Mansion, Imagination v1.0, Spaceship Earth, Horizons, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, etc.

If outside characters made attractions better, then you would expect the Studios to be the best park, but instead it is usually regarded as the weakest of the four WDW parks.

Character-based attractions have their place (namely, Fantasyland). Throwing cartoon characters into anywhere they are tangentially-related (especially Mexico and the Seas) is very insulting and creatively bankrupt.

Note that Everest has no movie tie-in and is extremely popular, because it is creative in other ways and provides a fresh and memorable experience. I also like that it is essentially a nod to the classic Matterhorn, another attraction that never needed cartoon characters to become extremely popular.

[lebeau]

Story-wise, I am completely sick of either "oh no, we've got to find X!" or "oh no, something has gone wrong!". The first is just lame and the second is interesting only once.

I also think they might be too obsessed with "story" as such. For example, when you look at some of the most popular attractions (Mansion/Pirates/Toad/etc.) there is really no "story", it's just an experience. Rides don't necessarily need narratives. In a way, a narrative is pretty restrictive, in that once you know what happens, subsequent rides are less interesting. If the attraction is more of an experience, however, the focus is on the setting and all the exciting details to discover.

Additionally, a majority of the classic, iconic attractions have no need for outside movie characters. Pre-Depp Pirates, the Mansion, Imagination v1.0, Spaceship Earth, Horizons, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, etc.

If outside characters made attractions better, then you would expect the Studios to be the best park, but instead it is usually regarded as the weakest of the four WDW parks.

Character-based attractions have their place (namely, Fantasyland). Throwing cartoon characters into anywhere they are tangentially-related (especially Mexico and the Seas) is very insulting and creatively bankrupt.

Note that Everest has no movie tie-in and is extremely popular, because it is creative in other ways and provides a fresh and memorable experience. I also like that it is essentially a nod to the classic Matterhorn, another attraction that never needed cartoon characters to become extremely popular.

I totally agree with everything you're saying here.

I was watching one of the WDW shows on Travel Channel the other day. I'm pretty sure it was "Imagineers". And they were talking about PoC and how it was one of the most story-driven attractions of all times. I was stunned.

I suppose if you make a distinction between "story" and "narrative", that would be true. There's a wealth of story, but not a lot of narrative.

Everest is a great example of what Disney should be doing. It doesn't rely on the "something goes wrong" cliche. There's lots of story elements (especially in the queue) but it's not hitting you over the head with a plot structure out of an introductory creative writing class.

[meticulus9]

Story-wise, I am completely sick of either "oh no, we've got to find X!" or "oh no, something has gone wrong!". The first is just lame and the second is interesting only once.

I also think they might be too obsessed with "story" as such. For example, when you look at some of the most popular attractions (Mansion/Pirates/Toad/etc.) there is really no "story", it's just an experience. Rides don't necessarily need narratives. In a way, a narrative is pretty restrictive, in that once you know what happens, subsequent rides are less interesting. If the attraction is more of an experience, however, the focus is on the setting and all the exciting details to discover.

Additionally, a majority of the classic, iconic attractions have no need for outside movie characters. Pre-Depp Pirates, the Mansion, Imagination v1.0, Spaceship Earth, Horizons, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, etc.

If outside characters made attractions better, then you would expect the Studios to be the best park, but instead it is usually regarded as the weakest of the four WDW parks.

Character-based attractions have their place (namely, Fantasyland). Throwing cartoon characters into anywhere they are tangentially-related (especially Mexico and the Seas) is very insulting and creatively bankrupt.

Note that Everest has no movie tie-in and is extremely popular, because it is creative in other ways and provides a fresh and memorable experience. I also like that it is essentially a nod to the classic Matterhorn, another attraction that never needed cartoon characters to become extremely popular.

I totally agree with everything you're saying here.

I was watching one of the WDW shows on Travel Channel the other day. I'm pretty sure it was "Imagineers". And they were talking about PoC and how it was one of the most story-driven attractions of all times. I was stunned.

I suppose if you make a distinction between "story" and "narrative", that would be true. There's a wealth of story, but not a lot of narrative.

Everest is a great example of what Disney should be doing. It doesn't rely on the "something goes wrong" cliche. There's lots of story elements (especially in the queue) but it's not hitting you over the head with a plot structure out of an introductory creative writing class.

you hit the major point... there is a diff btwn narrative and story...good attractions have a story but no narrative (e.g. everest or pirates vs the seas clammobiles). a good attraction needs some story otherwise (thats the difference btwn splahs mountain vs your regular flume ride). the story allows the immagineers to immense the rider

[DIAC1987]

"Note that Everest has no movie tie-in and is extremely popular, because it is creative in other ways and provides a fresh and memorable experience. I also like that it is essentially a nod to the classic Matterhorn, another attraction that never needed cartoon characters to become extremely popular."

Everest is Walt Disney World heading in the right direction: strong attention to detail, original storyline, no dependence on movie characters. Hopefully the company sees that rides like this provide better word-of-mouth than something like Nemo and Friends or Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor (Animal Kingdom hit record attendance last year).

[Admiral01]

Its time for the Universe of Energy. The current ride feels more like a half hour after school special than an EPCOT ride. Get rid of Ellen and bring in some alternative energy ideas. Lets see a cool discussion and inspiration of the future of fuel cells, batteries, wind, solar, hydroelectric, nuclear fission, and nuclear fusion.

The original ride would seem dated today too, but bring back the original format with the current future of energy. Make me walk out of the Energy Pavillion with the sense of wonder and discovery that I used to have. Lets see the future again in Future World.

[Admiral01]

And its time for Nemo to depart the Living Seas.

[DIAC1987]

Its time for the Universe of Energy. The current ride feels more like a half hour after school special than an EPCOT ride. Get rid of Ellen and bring in some alternative energy ideas. Lets see a cool discussion and inspiration of the future of fuel cells, batteries, wind, solar, hydroelectric, nuclear fission, and nuclear fusion.

The original ride would seem dated today too, but bring back the original format with the current future of energy. Make me walk out of the Energy Pavillion with the sense of wonder and discovery that I used to have. Lets see the future again in Future World.

I say it should be a long, giant, interactive episode of Bill Nye: The Science Guy, but i don't think I will have many people agreeing with me

But yes, Ellen needs to go..sorry Ellen....

[SWHorn]

I voted for the Speedway. As it is, that thing is a big waste of space, IMHO. Given, it does take up a chunk of like 100 people standing in line for like an hour.

I can agree with refurbishing rides like Space Mountain to an extent. The problem is, the way Disney has been doing refurbs lately, they have been making massive* changes to the attractions. I don't want them to gut and rebuild SM like some prefer. If they clean/spruce it up here and there to keep it updated, fine. But, I don't want a whole new attraction. And I don't trust Disney with that.


*the term "massive" depends on your perspective.

[anim8rguy72]

"Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" is my pick. This franchise is so old and I'm not sure a lot of younger audiences have even watched this franchise. With the new technolgies in "It's Tough to be a Bug" and "Mickey's Philharmagic", I can see them doing something really cool for the Hollywood Studios park.

[abrcrmbegrl20]

I voted for Jungle Cruise. I know it's a staple of the park but it could use some new animals. I agree with the person who called it Jungle Snooze. I guess it's a good rest off of your feet though

[secondstar]

I voted for Tom Sawyer's Island. I haven't been there in several years, but I feel this area is a "missed opportunity" to do something special.

[DIAC1987]

I voted for Tom Sawyer's Island. I haven't been there in several years, but I feel this area is a "missed opportunity" to do something special.

Totally agree, you can really do something unique and special with the land there. I half-jokingly mention how Big Thunder Mountain Railroad would be even better if they expanded the ride and had it run through Tom Sawyer Island. It would make the ride longer, potentially faster, and would pretty much advertise a portion of the park that is missed/skipped very often.

But I know I'd be in the minority in terms of supporting the idea

However, Tom Sawyer Island stands as one of the best spots in Disney for taking excellent pictures and for relaxation.