Disney's biggest blunder?

kronk's angel · Post by **kronk's angel** » Oct Thu 26, 2006 10:26 am

I knew a contractor who worked on Calif Adv., and he said everything was slapped together on the cheap. He was really bummed about how poorly planned the whole thing was, e.g., all the eating areas grouped together to save on plumbing costs(!).

Some parts of the CA park I thought were awesome, but the Bugs Life area was a lot like the Dino area in AK rdeacon mentioned, and could have been so cool with just a little more thought and work (like if the caterpillar train had circled around the area instead of just a small space, etc).

I agree with rdeacon about the stuff Walt hated... and don't get me started on the whole carnival "theming" at CA is actually anti-themed and...

oh, forget it.

A copycat of Knotts was not what the world needed.

They should have done the "America" park with the Calif. stuff just a part of the entire park.

Moviemaker137 · Post by **Moviemaker137** » Oct Thu 26, 2006 12:37 pm

*thinks about what Kronk has written and has no choice but to quote his signature* No, no... He's got a point. ( Yeah I have a feeling your pretty much right on that though I can't say the comparison of Knotts cause Ive never been there so ) I think Ill just stick to the good ol' DL for now... unless I want to go see Muppets 3D or the Animation studios...

MM137

Post by **spaulo** » Oct Thu 26, 2006 2:31 pm

Reasons to go to DCA: MuppetVision, ToT, Monsters, Inc., Soarin', California Screamin', Grizzly River Run... after that, head back to DL. You're done.

Moviemaker137 · Post by **Moviemaker137** » Oct Thu 26, 2006 3:44 pm

Totally agree... CA kinda takes what 30 min total in a day? Only go and see the rides you want then get the heck out and go see DL. Oh DL... how I miss it already.

MansionButler · Post by **MansionButler** » Oct Thu 26, 2006 4:36 pm

spaulo wrote:Reasons to go to DCA: MuppetVision, ToT, Monsters, Inc., Soarin', California Screamin', Grizzly River Run... after that, head back to DL. You're done.

I don't know if I could stand their Tower there. It just sounds so ridiculous. No 5th dimension? The elevator doors open in the boiler room and you go into. . . another room (I didn't believe that until my friend got me a picture).

Absurd. Why'd they destroy what makes the Tower at MGM so great.

Post by **spaulo** » Oct Thu 26, 2006 5:15 pm

Gosh, in my opinion what makes the Tower so great is the theming and the, y'know, freefall.

Don't get me wrong... I like the whole moving-elevator bit at MGM, but besides that it's the same ride (well, the current-generation randomizer in MGM's ToT hasn't been implemented at DCA yet, but will be in 2007, we're told)

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Oct Thu 26, 2006 7:11 pm

Yeah, the theming is what makes the attraction so awesome. Although, MGM does have a dry pool, and mist, and a whole hills worth of queue.

But to be honest, when I first saw the 5th dimension, I raised my eyebrows. It looked cheesy to me.

Also, there's never any line at ToT in DCA.

If Aladdin is still showing at the Hyperion, go for that.

Isn't DCA supposed to get a whole new themed look in the far future?

Moviemaker137 · Post by **Moviemaker137** » Oct Thu 26, 2006 8:45 pm

Yeah Ive heard a lot about that... like I heard they are going to do a complete overhall of the theme which to me is kind of obsurd to have created all these parks and rides and then trash the parks overall theme concept but hey its Disney they are a mogul company that can pretty much do what ever the heck they want so lets not blame them even when they make weird unexplainable decisions

They are still our beloved Disney

mm137

MansionButler · Post by **MansionButler** » Oct Thu 26, 2006 9:00 pm

spaulo wrote:Gosh, in my opinion what makes the Tower so great is the theming and the, y'know, freefall.

Don't get me wrong... I like the whole moving-elevator bit at MGM, but besides that it's the same ride (well, the current-generation randomizer in MGM's ToT hasn't been implemented at DCA yet, but will be in 2007, we're told)

The free-fall is fun, but it's nothing special. The immersive experience is what's awesome and what makes Disney special. But at DCA they decided to cop out and go mostly with just a thrill ride that, by itself, is pretty darn weak.

You're right, besides that it's the same ride, but those little details are what makes Disney Disney. What sense does it make to go through an elevator door into a hallway?

Lion Sleeps Tonight wrote:Yeah, the theming is what makes the Also, there's never any line at ToT in DCA.

There's not really one at WDW, either. Over the five months I was there, I usually just walked right in. The longest I stood in line was probably about 15 minutes.

Funny, because Rockin' is usually more than 2 hours.

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Oct Thu 26, 2006 10:09 pm

MansionButler wrote:?

Lion Sleeps Tonight wrote:Yeah, the theming is what makes the Also, there's never any line at ToT in DCA.
There's not really one at WDW, either. Over the five months I was there, I usually just walked right in. The longest I stood in line was probably about 15 minutes.

Funny, because Rockin' is usually more than 2 hours.

The hotel itself is a very intimidating site to behold. Not to mention hearing the screams of guests every few seconds. I know that's what got me chicken in the beginning.

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Oct Sat 28, 2006 2:02 am

I believe at least some of those screams are on tape. I'm sure some ToT fan knows for sure...

Would be interesting to hear the natural screams, but I like the added atmosphere of the recordings.

kronk's angel · Post by **kronk's angel** » Oct Sat 28, 2006 12:17 pm

I think spaulo summed it up:

Reasons to go to DCA: MuppetVision, ToT, Monsters, Inc., Soarin', California Screamin', Grizzly River Run... after that, head back to DL. You're done.

The thing is that many knew it was going to turn out like that... Now I know why Walt had such $ probs when building DL -- putting long-term quality over quarterly profits.

I'd sure like to hear more about this:

Moviemaker137 wrote:I heard they are going to do a complete overhall of the theme

More info? Anyone have an URL?

DaWhoLaGn · Post by **DaWhoLaGn** » Oct Sat 28, 2006 1:02 pm

Trading Toad for Pooh?!

20K Leagues... for... DIRT!

DIRT!

MansionButler · Post by **MansionButler** » Oct Sat 28, 2006 5:31 pm

Captain Schnemo wrote:I believe at least some of those screams are on tape. I'm sure some ToT fan knows for sure...

Would be interesting to hear the natural screams, but I like the added atmosphere of the recordings.

I'll ask my roommate. He was a bellhop for about two months before he decided to go to custodial. I've never heard about them being recorded, though.

Believe it or not, custodial is one of the most enjoyable jobs. Weird, eh?

kronk's angel wrote:I think spaulo summed it up:

Reasons to go to DCA: MuppetVision, ToT, Monsters, Inc., Soarin', California Screamin', Grizzly River Run... after that, head back to DL. You're done.
The thing is that many knew it was going to turn out like that... Now I know why Walt had such $ probs when building DL -- putting long-term quality over quarterly profits.

I'd sure like to hear more about this:

Moviemaker137 wrote:I heard they are going to do a complete overhall of the theme
More info? Anyone have an URL?

Ask and ye shall reciever. Other than the villain coaster, I think it all sounds awesome (I actually think California Screamin' is the only ride where a coaster themed like a coaster works). The article starts halfway down and continues onto the next page.

"This was a classic example of Lasseter taking the blueprints home with him for the weekend, and coming back on Monday with a much bigger and better idea."

MansionButler · Post by **MansionButler** » Oct Sat 28, 2006 5:54 pm

On the topic of Toad vs. Pooh, did Mr. Toad regularly have hour, hour and a half waits on even slow days? Winnie the Pooh is among the most popular rides in the park, and while I wish Mr. Toad was still there, I don't see it as attrocious. They put in a ride that's popular, and it does fit. It's no different from any other rides in Fantasyland, it's just new. And more advanced, for that matter (saying Snow White is better is being adverse to any change).

Beyond that, there was the (potentially insane) argument that going to hell didn't fit into a very Disney way of doing things. Not to hate on Mr. Toad, but it's not like Winnie the Pooh is a failure, or out of place. And the way the Kingdom's Fantasyland is set up (you could argue that as a mistake), something had to go.

I really miss the 20,000 lagoon, though. Even when the ride wasn't working (I grew up at Disney World and I NEVER road 20,000, that's how often it worked), it added so much to the area just being there. I've heard repeatedly that Pooh's Playful Spot is only temporary, though. I really hope so.