Just a thought on ride rehabs and new rides.

Admiral01 · Post by **Admiral01** » Apr Tue 14, 2009 2:52 am

Prior to Nemo and Turtle Talk with Crush, there was ABSOLUTELY NO ATTRACTIONS in Epcot that I could state to my daughter (4) and she'd recognize and want to see.

I first visited EPCOT when I was 2 years old in 1983. When I was a young kid, and I mean young, that park was my favorite. It was unique. It didn't have lots of Disney characters thrown into the attractions and as a child I actually LIKED that. WDW is NOT for kids alone. And, as a kid growing up on EPCOT Center (the original) I learned things in a way that I didn't even realize...and it was fun. I visited Muir Woods recently. That is a National Park just north of San Francisco. As soon as I read the name I knew who it was named for. John Muir, the naturalist who is in the scene with Teddy Roosevelt in the American Adventure. That is just one example of how EPCOT actually taught me things in a fun way. I can say the same for my first memory of studying DNA (thank you Wonders of Life) or stuying nuclear energy and solar cells (thank you original Universe of Energy) or studying aquaculture and hydroponics (thank you The Land) or studying terraforming (thank you Horizons). The Seas is a ride in FUTURE WORLD. What about Nemo and friends has anything to do with technology and living in the future? Nothing. I've said it before and I will say it again and again and again: EPCOT does NOT need to have a bunch of Disney characters forced in, thus destroying the original attraction concept, to make them more interesting to kids or anyone. EPCOT has lost it's way and needs to get back on track.

theBIGyowski · Post by **theBIGyowski** » Apr Tue 14, 2009 9:23 am

Great point Admiral01...great point!

napastoy · Post by **napastoy** » Apr Tue 14, 2009 12:19 pm

I've said it before and I will say it again and again and again: EPCOT does NOT need to have a bunch of Disney characters forced in, thus destroying the original attraction concept, to make them more interesting to kids or anyone. EPCOT has lost it's way and needs to get back on track.[/quote]

Thank You! So well put! I am so tired of this " It needs to appeal to the kids" crap. When are we going to stop "dumbing down" our kids? I never had a problem with my kid in Epcot, she thrived on it. We don't need a "toon suit" at each attraction (same as we don't need a bad remake of every Disney classic on record) I'll say what I've been saying ever since I left Disney as an cast member;

They need to get back to doing what they do best...tell a story, imaginate a dream and showcase the wonder of the world.

If they would stop throwing money into the ultimate black hole (California Adventure) and concentrate on re-tuning and redefining what they have in place, they can still recapture the magic.

Get the magic back and the pixie dust will take care of itself.

momeja · Post by **momeja** » Apr Tue 14, 2009 5:46 pm

I actually like having a park that isn't geared to little kids because it gives us something new to explore with each visit. We haven't even begun to explore Epcot fully (although that could be because I keep getting lost there, but that's another story). One great thing about WDW for us is that different parks have appealed to us at different times in our life, and we can mark our visits by which parks we visited most that trip.

On the refurb question:
I'm waiting for a good refurb of HM. I like DL's version so much better.
I liked the refurb of Pirates very much, although they could have said the name "Capt. Jack Sparrow" a few less times and we still would have gotten the picture. Love Davy Jones.
I'm nervous about the Space rehab because I love the single rider seats and the Matterhorn feel of the whole ride.
I thought the IASW rehab was top-notch.
Also thumbs up to the Living Seas rehab. The Nemo-mobiles are such an improvement, although I know that not everyone agrees.
So, I guess that overall, I think Disney has done pretty well.

Except for the Tiki Room...
And Stitch (although that wasn't great as Alien Encounter either...)

theBIGyowski · Post by **theBIGyowski** » Apr Tue 14, 2009 7:21 pm

momeja wrote:On the refurb question:
I'm waiting for a good refurb of HM. I like DL's version so much better.

I am confused by this. The HM refurb was amazing. I have been to both several times in the past 18 months and the one at WDW is better...especially because of the refurb.

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » Apr Tue 14, 2009 7:49 pm

momeja wrote:On the refurb question:
I'm waiting for a good refurb of HM. I like DL's version so much better.

What needs to be refurbed? Like theBIGyowski said it was just refurbed a year ago or so. It is longer than the DL version and now has new features that DL doesn't have, ie the staircase and library,

momeja · Post by **momeja** » Apr Tue 14, 2009 8:17 pm

Dr. Ravenscroft wrote:
momeja wrote:On the refurb question:
I'm waiting for a good refurb of HM. I like DL's version so much better.
What needs to be refurbed? Like theBIGyowski said it was just refurbed a year ago or so. It is longer than the DL version and now has new features that DL doesn't have, ie the staircase and library,

And now, the fact that our last two Disney trips have been to DL and that we haven't been to WDW in over 2 years becomes apparent to all.

(of course, now I'm excited to see it, since I never understood the fuss about HM until I rode DL's HM.)

One big question I have about the refurb: did they add the Black Widow room?

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » Apr Tue 14, 2009 9:34 pm

momeja wrote: One big question I have about the refurb: did they add the Black Widow room?

You mean the attic scene? I believe so, but I haven't ridden it yet since the refurb, but I think it was switched to the new attic scene.

After reading another thread about the Haunted Mansion Refurb yes they did add it.

viewtopic.php?t=4280&start=0

Admiral01 · Post by **Admiral01** » Apr Tue 14, 2009 10:04 pm

I was at WDW in January and at DL just last week. Both rides seemed nearly identical. The WDW version is a bit longer, but both have the widow scene in the attic.

theBIGyowski · Post by **theBIGyowski** » Apr Wed 15, 2009 8:56 am

Yeah they are both very similar now, with the edge going to WDW. You just can't top the stretching room now at WDW. You'll have to see it for yourself. The attic scene is great and they use new technology without it looking out of place. I think you'll love it.

DaRkNeSs · Post by **DaRkNeSs** » Apr Wed 15, 2009 9:16 am

The hm refurb I enjoyed alot the attic and room with the stairs with the ghostly footprints. I also agree that the living seas was ruined by nemo, I also believe that Universe of Energy was ruined by adding the annoying ellen. I went to Epcot when I was young and loved it. Even without all the characters being crammed down my throat! I used to love kitchen cabera, the land ride, living seas, universe of energy. Even the world I thought was awesome, but at that age alot of walking hehe!
I also agree that horizons shouldnt of been removed one of favorite rides there, wish that could of been a refurb!

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Apr Wed 15, 2009 10:01 am

DaRkNeSs wrote:The hm refurb I enjoyed alot the attic and room with the stairs with the ghostly footprints. I also agree that the living seas was ruined by nemo, I also believe that Universe of Energy was ruined by adding the annoying ellen. I went to Epcot when I was young and loved it. Even without all the characters being crammed down my throat! I used to love kitchen cabera, the land ride, living seas, universe of energy. Even the world I thought was awesome, but at that age alot of walking hehe!
I also agree that horizons shouldnt of been removed one of favorite rides there, wish that could of been a refurb!

I love the Universe of Energy with Ellen! The original was great also. The technology for the first one was well ahead of it's time. I wish they could bring back Horizons and Kitchen Cabaret. The Land ride is one of my favorites. I liked it better when they had a CM on it.

Future Guy · Post by **Future Guy** » Apr Wed 15, 2009 1:54 pm

Universe of Energy just underwent a small rehab, and I understand that they've restored the original red-to-orange color scheme on the outside of the building. It's still the same show inside, though. I don't really have a problem with the Ellen show; it's kind of a nice piece of '90s nostalgia. Still, if/when Disney decides to update it, I imagine it'd be easier to do than your normal animatronic dark ride. And if they keep Ellen in it, then they won't have to touch the dinosaur diorama at all.

DisBeamer · Post by **DisBeamer** » Apr Thu 16, 2009 4:32 am

Future Guy wrote:Universe of Energy just underwent a small rehab, and I understand that they've restored the original red-to-orange color scheme on the outside of the building. It's still the same show inside, though.

Does anyone else find this trend kind of weird? They did something similar with JII didn't they? Slapped up the old symbol for it somewhere... I can't remember if I saw the picture here or elsewhere.

I don't understand what they're trying to accomplish by putting up the old symbols/color schemes and leaving the insides the same. I mean, I like seeing the original symbols used but that doesn't change the fact that the inside is nothing like it was.

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Apr Thu 16, 2009 6:31 am

Future Guy wrote:And if they keep Ellen in it, then they won't have to touch the dinosaur diorama at all.

If they show the dinosaurs devouring Ellen, I might have to fork over the 85 bucks or whatever it is these days to get into the park and take a look at it.

I guess I've kind of seen that kind of thing at Jurassic Park at IOA, though.

DisBeamer wrote:I don't understand what they're trying to accomplish by putting up the old symbols/color schemes and leaving the insides the same.

Maybe they had leftover paint. Or it's more of that "appeal to the fans by making meaningless superficial changes". Actually, though, even attempting to give the fans something they might like would be a bold step.

Subsonic Radio

Just a thought on ride rehabs and new rides.

HM

Re: HM