A Skipper's Observations

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

>>> Disrepair is one thing- but just because it's not the 'thrill' most thrill rides are these days isn't necessarily bad is it ?<<<

That's not an issue for me. I'd rather have it go light in the thrills.

The issue, for me, it it's lack of showmanship. Lack of effect. Lack of needed "zest" that makes it into something transportive. Something DISNEY.

Right now, it feels like a off the shelf coaster, in the dark, with a soundtrack that's not really there.

 

Originally Posted By HokieSkipper

<<Agree that speedway needs more than the light 'Indy' update it got..kids love that ride..have 8 & 10 year old nieces that can't be enough-- lay some moneyin and upgrade.>>

Kids love Toontown Fair as well, and that's getting the axe. Where's everyone sticking up for the kiddies on that one?

 

Originally Posted By Christi22222

^^My child always found Toontown Fair to be boring and anticlimactic. Looked fun, but after Barnstormer, what to do? The houses are cute, but you have to wait in a line and he was never into lines just for characters. And while I enjoyed the store back there to shop in, he was always thinking - keep her out of there it's wasting time!! lol
So no, no sticking up for that one. See ya!

 

Originally Posted By HokieSkipper

Obviously there are exceptions to the rule. But for the most part the place is packed with happy kids.

Point is, kids will love basically anything that's fun. I've seen kids who love Universe of Energy.

Sticking up for something because "the kiddies love it" is a pretty weak defense when the kids love Dumbo, Magic Carpets, Astro Orbiter, and Triceratops Spin.

 

Originally Posted By CaptainMichael

^I've known and seen many kids love the Adventurers Club!

 

Originally Posted By Manfried

It's okay for kids to like things, and it's okay for parents of kids who like things to like the same things.
Those who have grown beyond having kids should respect this.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<An opening attraction is an opening attraction. Can't discount that.>>

So ... you can't ever remove an attraction because it was there on opening day? Sorry ... that isn't a good justification for keeping one either.

<<Sure, it may be in disrepair, but that's no reason to convert it to a waste of space. >>

Of that we are in complete agreement. It's just been watered down so much to take all the fright out of what was a scary film in places (watch it again) ... the attractions in Paris and Tokyo still are much truer to the film, while Anaheim's is to a point, but truncated.

Still, so long as it gets replaced by a real attraction I am perfectly cool with them taking it out.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

>>I may be priceless, Captain ... but what would ever make you think I'm rich?<<

<<The way you always insist on picking up the check whey we all go to dinner? Oh...wait...>>

First, folks really do enjoy the Taking a Spirit to Dinner, which you have not participated in despite the fact it really shows you are a true American patriot and not a pinko Commie.

And second, I only pick up the tab for truly special (dare I say, magical?) spirits ... so with that in mind, is Mrs. Lee free for dinner soon?


>>An opening attraction is an opening attraction. Can't discount that.<<

<<So is Speedway, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be bulldozed at the earliest opportunity.>>

I really disagree with this for two reasons:

1.) it is timeless for kids and that has always been the top audience for it; and
2.) more importantly, space isn't an issue at MK ... there's no need to take it away when so much space is being wasted and do much is available for expansion ... careful, you're sounding like a MAGICal fanboi. Pretty soon, you'll want to move Small World to EPCOT.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74


<<The Speedway is not for us...it's for junior drivers.

Trust me...it's a very, very important attraction.>>

Oops, should have read this first ...but yes, this is why it should always stay.

Now, what kind of driver is Little X?

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<By the way, is Lee hisownself a relative of LeeMac or something?>>

He only wishes he were related to British royalty!

<<What a weird handle!>>

You've never met him. What a weird dude (but has an incredible wife ... one of those situations where you wonder what she could possibly ever see in him ... it's just a headscratcher ... oh, good thing he's never going to see this 'cause he lives much closer to me than you do!)

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<<I may be priceless, Captain ... but what would ever make you think I'm rich?>>>

<<I'm a law student with no money, everyone looks rich to me.>>

Do I have to give you the same talk about law school that I have with Explorer?

Forgetting my incredibly low opinion of 98% of the profession, if there's one thing we don't have in short supply it's lawyers. ... I guess you could use that degree to pilot a boat at Disney! ;-)

<<<What do you expect? The (fan)boi cries at Wishes, cradles Figgy plush as he slumbers and eBays EPCOT guidemaps from 1988. >>>

<<I guess I still hold out hope that our little explorer will see the light (and I'm not talking about at Landry's Wharf)>>

I think that's about as likely as our economy ever getting better ...

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<As for SM-- was the first coaster I ever went on( albeit the one at DL since WDW did not exist when I was a kid) - and I still enjoy the ride in spite of the fact that yes it could be more..but sometimes less is more for those of us with a space in their heart for something. Disrepair is one thing- but just because it's not the 'thrill' most thrill rides are these days isn't necessarily bad is it ?>>

Space Mtn at MK was my first coaster, period. And I LOVED that ride ... for years ... decades really.

But it WAS cutting edge when it opened. And Disney should have overhauled it in 1994-95 when it already showing signs of age and disrepair when the rest of T-land (except the back third ... so I guess that negates what I just typed) was redone. I'm not saying it should have been turned into some mega-coaster. But it should be thrilling (and not because you're worried that you'll fracture your back on it) to some degree. It is Tomorrowland. And not T-land 1975.

And so much really could have been done to make it cutting edge without making it something that would compete with say Manta.

 

Originally Posted By CaptainMichael

<<<Do I have to give you the same talk about law school that I have with Explorer?

Forgetting my incredibly low opinion of 98% of the profession, if there's one thing we don't have in short supply it's lawyers. ... I guess you could use that degree to pilot a boat at Disney! ;-)>>>

It's too late for me. I'm already $30,000 in the hole. But, you should keep working on changing his mind. Of course, anything other than the burden on society he currently is would be an improvement. Bike riding is a hobby, not a job EE.

Anyways, I do have a summer internship with a firm where I'll be helping shake down BP. That's positive right?

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

>>>Still, so long as it gets replaced by a real attraction I am perfectly cool with them taking it out.<<<

You are not going to be perfectly cool with it, then...

...And though I would miss SWSA, I wouldn't mind a new ride.

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

>>.Do I have to give you the same talk about law school that I have with Explorer?<<<

Been looking at Grad School lately....

>>It's too late for me. I'm already $30,000 in the hole. But, you should keep working on changing his mind. Of course, anything other than the burden on society he currently is would be an improvement. Bike riding is a hobby, not a job EE.<<

Yeah, students are real bothers, you know?

 

Originally Posted By Lee hisownself

>>Still, so long as it gets replaced by a real attraction I am perfectly cool with them taking it out.<<

In a sense, it is being replaced with a new attraction. That’s how I see it. SW gets a cool new ride and the princesses get shuffled off to small, unobtrusive, easily-ignorable spot. It’s like they are changing places, with SW getting a nice upgrade.

>>And second, I only pick up the tab for truly special (dare I say, magical?) spirits ... so with that in mind, is Mrs. Lee free for dinner soon? <<

Sorry, we work as a team. Besides, without me there to wrangle, she would be like an escaped lion on a rampage. Very little fanboi nonsense would ever get properly discussed.

>>1.) it is timeless for kids and that has always been the top audience for it; and
2.) more importantly, space isn't an issue at MK ... there's no need to take it away when so much space is being wasted and do much is available for expansion ... careful, you're sounding like a MAGICal fanboi. Pretty soon, you'll want to move Small World to EPCOT.<<

Gee. I had no idea LP was home to so many Speedway fanbois.;-) Perhaps I should make myself more clear, as “bulldoze” may have been too strong.
Do I think it’s a cheap amusement park ride that can be found at nearly every park in the country? Yep.
Do I think it has any relevance or place in what is supposed to be a land of Tomorrow? Nope. I see nothing futuristic about either Indy, cars or a speedway.
So…let’s bulldoze it, then rebuild it. Not as a speedway, but as a Highway of the Future. Give it new futuristic electric cars. A new layout designed to be an actual roadway 100 years from now with scenery, landscaping and music. Just make the thing fit.

>>What a weird dude (but has an incredible wife ... one of those situations where you wonder what she could possibly ever see in him ... it's just a headscratcher ... oh, good thing he's never going to see this 'cause he lives much closer to me than you do!)<<

Actually I wonder the same thing quite often. Unfortunately, I fear she may wonder that, too.

>>And so much really could have been done to make it cutting edge without making it something that would compete with say MantaAnd so much really could have been done to make it cutting edge without making it something that would compete with say Manta<<

Yep. Anaheim did it.

>>...And though I would miss SWSA, I wouldn't mind a new ride.<<

Ugh…I would not miss SWSA. It’s a very weak ride, feeling only a few steps above the portable dark rides I had the misfortune to experience at the Fair last year. As I said above, look at it as SW getting an upgrade and the princesses getting a downgrade. That should make anyone feel better.

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

>>>In a sense, it is being replaced with a new attraction. That’s how I see it. SW gets a cool new ride and the princesses get shuffled off to small, unobtrusive, easily-ignorable spot. It’s like they are changing places, with SW getting a nice upgrade.<<<<


But the ride count will remain the same.

That's the whole issue. Fantasyland needs to have MORE in it, a longer roster.

Killing off old attractions for new ones are the very things we complain about in any other scenario.

Here, I think everyone is just too desperate to see FLE yield something large, rather than actuall have it yield something hopeful and beneficial to the MK.

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

>>>Sorry, we work as a team. Besides, without me there to wrangle, she would be like an escaped lion on a rampage. Very little fanboi nonsense would ever get properly discussed.<<

But a lot of other (fun!) nonsense.

( I had never seen you blush until the last DG Meeting. That was inspiring. )

 

Originally Posted By CaptainMichael

<<In a sense, it is being replaced with a new attraction. That’s how I see it. SW gets a cool new ride and the princesses get shuffled off to small, unobtrusive, easily-ignorable spot. It’s like they are changing places, with SW getting a nice upgrade.>>

I agree with you. Best possible scenario in this situation. Thank :insertdeityhere: that we're not getting the meet-n-grope cottages.

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

***Oops, should have read this first ...but yes, this is why it should always stay***

Yup. I never would've thunk it myself, but after having my very own Junior Driver (and remembering back to wonderful junior driving days of my own), I realize that it fits very well into the Disney scheme of things.

NOW, if they were to update it to hovercars (giving much the same "junior driver" experience), would I complain? Heck no!

"Now, what kind of driver is Little X?"

A very happily reckless one, in Tokyo Disneyland (she's also not much of a spaceship driver either, but loves the heck out of it anyway! And, when she was younger, she most certainly made poor Dumbo airsick with her happy commands to the poor beast, but he put up with her kindly and she now enjoys the memory and is happy to leave poor Dumbo alone these days).