Epcot Mexico

packwingfn · Post by **packwingfn** » Jul Sun 20, 2008 9:27 pm

Yeah you make a good point BirdandRobot...
it's like Disney is really trying to change their rides to become more family friendly but they must realize that not everyone who goes to Disney goes with their family. Honeymooners & Singles also go to Disney and some might enjoy feeling like a kid again, but not all of the time.

Figment of Imagination · Post by **Figment of Imagination** » Jul Mon 21, 2008 12:47 pm

The new ride is over done with Donald, its too loud and in your face, the old ride is much better, it really didn't need Donald Duck. It doesn't seem to have improved the attendance at all. I would have really liked to have seen The Three Caballeros as animatrionics at the end of the ride on that curved platform in the last room before you exit, it would have been the perfect spot.

SWHorn · Post by **SWHorn** » Jul Mon 21, 2008 2:20 pm

Figment of Imagination wrote:I would have really liked to have seen The Three Caballeros as animatrionics at the end of the ride on that curved platform in the last room before you exit, it would have been the perfect spot.

Good point. I agree.

Donald isn't the problem for me (as he is my favorite character). The problem is that they didn't really redo much and the ride is still really lame.

spodie · Post by **spodie** » Jul Mon 21, 2008 2:24 pm

Figment of Imagination wrote: I would have really liked to have seen The Three Caballeros as animatrionics at the end of the ride on that curved platform in the last room before you exit, it would have been the perfect spot.

....maybe they're working on them, and they'll put them in later

. I guess I'm just trying to go "glass is half-full."

cccmouse · Post by **cccmouse** » Jul Mon 21, 2008 6:31 pm

Sleeping Beauty 5 wrote:I also agree that the new version is lame. I like Donald don't get me wrong but the only reason I go on the ride now is for nostalgia (I also like riding by the volcano and the restaurant)

I agree. Add this one to the "referb that never should have happened" list.

Croaker · Post by **Croaker** » Jul Tue 22, 2008 9:49 am

They should have reflected the resorts in Mexico....had you cruise down the beach, zip line through the jungle etc. or even turned it into a dark ride where you explore an ancient temple and perhaps chased (in a lazy river boat...laugh) i think you get what i'm saying. An Indiana Jones/Jungle Cruise mix ride would be cool.

Post by **horizons1** » Jul Tue 22, 2008 7:12 pm

I agree with the major vibe going through this thread - cheesy, corny. I miss the old song too!

packwingfn · Post by **packwingfn** » Jul Tue 22, 2008 9:58 pm

Eh the old song wasn't that special I think. im just sick of epcot being dumbed down in most of the rennovations.

BuDz211 · Post by **BuDz211** » Jan Thu 08, 2009 5:03 pm

agingerbugg wrote:The new ride does not educate, if anything it trivializes the Mexican culture.

Hey, it could have been worse. The 3 Caballeros could have been jumping a fence and running through highway traffic.

Future Guy · Post by **Future Guy** » Jan Fri 09, 2009 12:18 pm

I agree with what everyone's been saying. You know, El Rio De Tiempo remained unchanged for so long after the rest of EPCOT had been fully Eisnered (or New Coked, if you prefer) that I thought the suits had just forgotten about it and they were going to leave it alone.

I see now that I was a fool.

PopCentury2007 · Post by **PopCentury2007** » Jan Fri 09, 2009 12:43 pm

Joe90 wrote:I believe that the ride should be a showcase trying to tempt me to visit the real Mexico. Something the old version at least tried to do and something the new version doesn't seem to do.

I agree with this statement, which is the general feel I get (and should) from all the Epcot lands. Adding Donald and the two other chickens took something away from this ride. Poor Mexico.

(After this and adding Martin Short to the Canada film, I pray they don't touch Reflections of China even though its dated.)

If they are to improve it, instead of animatronics, why not use the technology built into Toy Story Mania with all the screens on this ride. Not a game necessarily, but something virtual would be a crowd pleaser/generator if its done right.

Mr.ToadWildRider · Post by **Mr.ToadWildRider** » Jan Fri 09, 2009 1:15 pm

Admiral01 wrote: Ellen, Nemo, Donald Duck, and the other Disney character/movie/actor tie-ins haven't enhanced the rides or the park. I used to love going to EPCOT and not being overloaded with Disney characters or recognizable actors. I really do like Disney and their movies. I like the MK and how the charcters are the backbone of that park. I just don't think EPCOT is the right place for that. It sure wasn't Walt's vision of education through entertainment.

Sorry, but I disagree on the Ellen front. I think they made UoE better (it was a real snoozer back in the day. It's hard enough now to stay awake but even worse when it was in its original form). Bill Nye is all about educating kids on science and Ellen gives adults some humor to what could be considered a rather dry topic.

I actually think both Nemo and Donald COULD be used in EPCOT (although I would probably argue Disney cartoon characters are all together out of place in EPCOT save for the vacationers in WS) but their current incarnations are definitely not that suitable. At least not the Nemo ride which completely overshadows and pretty much blatantly disregards educating the riders about the oceans.

Admiral01 · Post by **Admiral01** » Jan Wed 14, 2009 12:00 am

At least not the Nemo ride which completely overshadows and pretty much blatantly disregards educating the riders about the oceans.

I couldn't agree more with you about Nemo. The Living Seas is destroyed in my mind. I do like the original UoE, but I know I am in the minority there. I wish it still talked more about the science behind energy production, especially now. They totally gloss over things like the roof being covered in photovoltaic cells, and the future of fission and fusion. EEA is ok...but I like more science

I think we agree on the principal of what I was saying, though. EPCOT has lost something. I still love the park, but I wish I could go visit EPCOT Center back in 1994 or 1996 every once in a while...

CapnHook · Post by **CapnHook** » Jan Wed 14, 2009 9:25 am

Funny. I guess I'm in a minority. Donald is one of my favorites, and I really like the Three Caballeros. The old ride was good and certain parts of it I liked, such as the ancient dancing at the beginning. But it was trapped in the 1970s and needed an update of the film shots anyway.

I was thrilled to find a ride finally devoted to my favorite character. And it was mentioned in an earlier post that Donald was too "in your face." I agree that he is "in your face" Well, that is normal for Donald, and to have done it any other way would have placed him out of character.

And I enjoyed the make over. With like everyone here, the exception of the let down at the very end. the empty space is a problem. But it seems to be that someone doesn't know how to end these things anymore, the ending here isn't good, nor is it in the Spaceship Earth Ride.

Also, I have to admit that I don't agree that disney characters are out of place in World showcase. It is one of the common threads that we all share, in keeping with the all one world theme of World Showcase. We all love Disney. The characters are known all around the world. Not to mention that the stories take place all around the world. Donald in Mexico? Sure, Aladdin in Morocco, yes!, Peter Pan in the UK and Sleeping Beauty in France! If World Showcase was centered only on enticing me to go to these places, then it is a big travel commercial, and it would loose its charm for me and I would no longer love my favorite land in my favorite park.

I should also add that it does help to add the characters to increase the appeal to the younger guests. Which many kids are bored to tears in WS, which makes it hard to enjoy things when your kid is that unhappy.

Post by **js3901** » Jan Wed 14, 2009 12:15 pm

CapnHook wrote: But it was trapped in the 1970s and needed an update of the film shots anyway.

it always felt more 80s to me, seeing as how it opened in 1982...