The return of Captain EO

[mindflipper]

Well, yeh, that's a good spin to put on it. I'm sure some Disney corporate exec said to say that instead of the fact they're being cheap and capitalizing on Michael Jackson's death...

[Soarin08]

I'm not thrilled about this.

1. No matter if he was guilty or not of whatever, the Michael Jackson of recent years does not seem to go with the family image of disney - just MHO, I know others feel differently

2. Just because its new to some visitors doesn't make it new. We'd like a 4-D movie that is truly new, not a rerun of one that was made in the early 80s and closed in 1997....disney can do better

Well put!!! I agree 100%!

[NaCler]

Anybody else hear that they are even going to use the original signage that they used in the 80's? Apparently they stored it in case they ever brought it back. Now that is a little sad. If you bring back an old attraction at least freshen it up a little.

[theBIGyowski]

The Disneyland version got a new sign I believe...because they put "tribute" or something to that effect at the bottom of it.

[Mousekedude]

No offense to anyone, but Captain Eo still makes me gag (visual: cat horking up hairballs).
I personally hope they don't keep it long. Let MJ go, already!!!
(scrambles away, ducking white sequined gloves thrown at him...)

[Soarin08]

Well, yeh, that's a good spin to put on it. I'm sure some Disney corporate exec said to say that instead of the fact they're being cheap and capitalizing on Michael Jackson's death...

Exactly! I'm starting to think that Disney is running out of ideas.... I HOPE NOT.

[elizabethswann]

Well, yeh, that's a good spin to put on it. I'm sure some Disney corporate exec said to say that instead of the fact they're being cheap and capitalizing on Michael Jackson's death...

I stand by that. I'm pretty sure that was one of the reasons why.

[casrin]

Overall, if Disney is able to bring in the $$$ with the status quo for attractions, why would they change things? People sound annoyed about Captain EO remaining the same, but has Disney overhauled Space Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain, or Peter Pan to make them more technologically advanced to reflect what 'coasters can do, or what a dark ride could be? No. Disney can make money with the existing rides that hold NOSTALGIA for its guests. And I guess that the effect with Captain EO is the same.

I would want to see Captain EO again just as it was, signage and all. Frankly, it's also why we haven't been back since 2000. We liked Disney the "old way" and we're less than enthused about Mission Space versus Horizons, Test Track versus World of Motion. :\

I get what people are saying about pushing the technology envelope, but I'd prefer that as "new" rides in addition to existing attractions. Not wrecking the old originals.

[mindflipper]

Overall, if Disney is able to bring in the $$$ with the status quo for attractions, why would they change things? People sound annoyed about Captain EO remaining the same, but has Disney overhauled Space Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain, or Peter Pan to make them more technologically advanced to reflect what 'coasters can do, or what a dark ride could be? No.

Actually, casrin, Disney did overhaul the Haunted Mansion by changing two room completely (one containing the paintings that change when the lightning flashes), adding a more advanced sound system to the stretching room for the Ghost Host, and changing the attic to add the Black Widow Bride Constance. The Pirates of the Caribbean added Jack Sparrow, Davey Jones, and Hector Barbossa to its cast. And Disney did a complete rebuild of Space Mountain in Disneyland as part of its 50th Anniversary, and let's hope they may do the same with WDW's when it celebrates its 50th. Many attractions have not remained status quo in the past few years.

Disney has tried to do "new rides" in place of old ones but they were poor replacements: Dreamflight replaced If You Had Wings in WDW MK, Rocket Rodz replaced the Peoplemover in DLR MK, Nemo replaced the old Living Seas ride at EPCOT, and Journey into Your Imagination replaced the original Journey Into Imagination (twice!). Buzz Lightyear was the only antithesis to this rule.

As for new rides that did not replace old rides, both WDW MK and DLR DCA will be getting rides based on the The Little Mermaid. DCA will eventually get one based on CARS too. And it wasn't too long ago we got Toy Story Midway Mania at both resort complexes. Disney does produce new rides too.

The problem with Captain Eo is that it just sucks. If you watch it, you can see how poorly and cheaply made it was. The special effects look they were done by the BBC back in the 1970's - that's how badly done it is. The 3D effect was not well done. It would be OK if Disney took the time to re-render the whole film with the current digital 3D process - but they haven't. I watched Captain Eo in 2D in the past year and was amazed how much worse it was than I remembered. We've seen how they update the Haunted Mansion with new tech - why not do that to Captain Eo? In its current format, it's just a major step backward and can be added to the list of "Bad Attraction Replacements".

[elizabethswann]

I'm with you on that, mindflipper. I never saw Captain EO when it was there at DL since I was merely a baby but after seeing it about three times, I've had my fill. It was why I never bothered with seeing HISTA or doing Star Tours anymore because it was all the same. I wanted something new to watch.

[mindflipper]

Thanks for reminding me about Star Tours, elizabethswann! Another example of how Disney is not sticking to the status quo: Star Tours is closing down in September to have "Star Tours 2.0" open up in 2011. The updated attraction will incorporate all six films whereas the original attraction used footage, etc. from the original trilogy.

[elizabethswann]

he updated attraction will incorporate all six films whereas the original attraction used footage, etc. from the original trilogy.

Is it using all six films? The only thing I recall seeing was the podrace scene from the first prequel.

[mindflipper]

What I read said the attraction will draw from all six films, but it did not say the ride was going to do that. Remember how the Star Tours adverts in the queue used scenes from all three films for Tatooine, Hoth, and Endor excursions? I think Star Tours 2.0 from beginning to end will use elements of all six films from the entrance to the exit and maybe the exterior too.

[elizabethswann]

Ohhh, I gotcha. I can't wait to see how that all turns out.

[Soarin08]

Thanks for reminding me about Star Tours, elizabethswann! Another example of how Disney is not sticking to the status quo: Star Tours is closing down in September to have "Star Tours 2.0" open up in 2011. The updated attraction will incorporate all six films whereas the original attraction used footage, etc. from the original trilogy.

That is actually one renovation I am looking forward to.