Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "Besides Soarin, what can you really say was wonderfully impressive about DCA?" Nothing.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Oh you mean, stuff like this? <a href="http://www.orlandotravel.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/hollywood.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.orlandotravel.org/w...wood.jpg</a> <a href="http://attractionsmagazine.com/idol2.jpg" target="_blank">http://attractionsmagazine.com/idol2.jpg</a> <a href="http://adisneymeetings.disney.go.com/media/dwm/en_US/media/disneyadvantage/hollywoodStudios.jpg" target="_blank">http://adisneymeetings.disney....dios.jpg</a> In yo' face x2!
Originally Posted By Mr X Neither of those first two things were around on opening day, or even until rather recently in fact. The third is a lovely shot of Earffel Tower, which I rather like. You don't?
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Stop ruining this for me, X. I've always wanted to say "in yo face" to yo.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Actually, I know it's not in line with the original theme of this thread (shocker, right?) but when you google image both parks and look at what they are like today, it's hard to tell the difference between the two. Except DCA looks prettier in some pictures. And Earffel Tower is pretty cute.
Originally Posted By Mr X <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/partyhare/3492410349/in/set-72157613850506539/lightbox" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/p...lightbox</a> <a href="http://www.dotphoto.com/SAN1/F4/67/61/iF46761AA-02E2-4506-8EC8-FCB417C212E0.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.dotphoto.com/SAN1/F...12E0.jpg</a> https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_A_09iduF_g8/S3bLH9NAPCI/AAAAAAAATiw/i-uv5gINzGc/s640/Disney%20Vacation%202007%209-15-2007%2012-46-44%20PM%203264x2448.jpg <a href="http://www.floridavacationrentals-usa.com/images/tower_of_terror.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.floridavacationrent...rror.jpg</a> <a href="http://www.yesterland.com/images-studios/mgm_movieride2.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.yesterland.com/imag...ide2.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo It is all down to personal taste really, so perhaps this debate is futile, but what the hay, I have to join in. MGM on opening day was not really compelling at all to me. Only the shopping mall frontage and the Great Movie Ride were of great interest. The Indy show, despite liking Indy as a character and film, was and is a yawn fest. Universal Studios Hollywood is a fantastic experience that gets slated. MGM was a mediocre experience that got/gets praise. And based on parks today, I would rather go to Walt Disney Studios Paris than DHS. This park is much maligned due to the asthetic choices made, but attractions wise, it is much better IMHO (even though I miss Muppetvision 3D and the Great Movie Ride). But of the three, DCA has been the best. We went opening year and fell in love with the place. The range of attractions as visiting adults were great. Besides Soarin' which has been talked about here, Grizzly is argueably the best rapid ride on the planet IMHO. I have been on about 30 different rapid rides around the globe and this is my favorite - and it does not feel toony or like you swam with your clothes on like the much overrated one at Islands of Adventure. Add in the greatest animation attraction on the planet. As well as to me the highly enjoyable Golden Dreams, Seasons of the Vine and yes the factory tours (much maligned, but still more interesting than many of the exhibits at Epcot's world showcase). Wine tasting classes, Muppetvision and ITTBAB (my fav theme park 3D presentation), great shows, and in the opening, fantastic dining options. It was far more compelling to me. The Streetmousphere at both DCA and MGM were excellent, so I rate them on par. But DCA had an amazing parade too. And although Paradise Pier is not to my taste, the wave machine was a fantastic touch, and Sreamin' is sooooo much fun. Sorry, to me DCA always beats the faux much ado about nothing that is MGM/DHS. And although DCA may be prettier, the soul is being robbed and the park is less interesting now to me sadly. It was a great start.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I completely agree with you Dave, however as you know, I'm not a big fan of DSP.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo That is a whole nother topic. But I do not understand why, unless you were one of those visitors that popped into the park for a few hours and didn't really experience the full WDSP experience. Animagique, the black light show beats any of the character based shows of DHS - certainly better than Beauty and the Beast and the Little Mermaid at DHS. Crush Coaster, while it gets rediculous waits, it better than any of the non Paris Space Mountains - mixing dark ride and spinning coaster, it is a lot of fun too. The Animation Attraction is more compelling than the one in Florida. Just seeing the multiplane camera alone makes me giddy, but seeing the sequence where are all the films are looped together in different languages, and yet it engages the audience, is pure magic. The Tram Tour today at WDSP is better than the one at DHS. DHS has a much better queue, but the Reign of Fire Set, Pearl Harbour Set and Dinotopia Set means there is actually much more to see than in Fla. Cinemagique is sublime. One of the best film attractions Disney has ever produced anywhere, and it always illicites laughs, tears and applause. After 20+ viewings, I still love it. Stitch Live is more enjoyable than Turtle Talk IMHO. Playhouse Disney is pretty much the same in WDSP/DHS/DCA Tower of Terror. Well internally, I actually prefer the DCA/WDSP to the DHS version. You don't know when it is going to drop, and the mirror effect is excellent. WE have a garden (which DCA does not have), and a great view of DLP itself. Armageddon, ok, I know it is not popular, but I love it. It is like a backdraft attraction in a space ship and it freaks a lot of people out. It is awesome IMHO. RnR Coaster - when working properly, it is faster than FLA's and the lighting rid and smoke effects make this a more exciting attraction than the black lit flats in WDW. And Moteurs Action is sublime. I know they now have it in WDW, but for some reason, I prefer the original here in Paris. Cars is also a lot of fun, and even more so than Francis Ladybug Boogie (which I like). However, I will not talk about the carpets or the rubbish Toy Story Playland. I will concede that DHS is a asthetically more pleasing and has some good dining choices. But when it comes to attractions, WDSP wins in my opinion. And I love the Singing in the Rain sound stage approach of Studio 1.
Originally Posted By Mr X <---runs to travel agency to book immediate trip to Europe for the very first time, JUST to visit WDSP! What do you think, Dave. Should I plan 3 days in the park, or 4? I'll have to skip Disneyland Paris, of course, but obviously it's worth it!
Originally Posted By Mr X (seriously, the way you describe it sounds enticing to say the least...the Crush coaster is better than Space Moutain!?!? You sold me right there!)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I would never go as far as to say WDSP is better than DLP, but we happily can spend 2 days seeing WDSP (though that includes character interaction with the kids and popping to the village for lunch (the two annoyances I have with WDSP are the lack of quality dining options and the lack of a family friendly AA attraction.)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Yes. It is. This is my point. WDSP was souless in looks when it opened, but they have done much to improve it over the years and the attractions themselves are first rate. Crush is annoying because it gets 90min waits (though so does Space Mountain sometimes in the US). You queue up in a nautical environment, as you then go into the sound stage, it is like a fisherman's warf type environment at sun set, including the AA sea gulls with the Mine, mine stick. Then you board the turtle shell car - two facing forward, two facing back. And move out of the station on first gentle drop out of the building, with a crashing wave sound effect as you go through the rocks outdoors. It then rolls back inside. the lift hill is a dark ride, like the Finding Nemo ride in the Living Seas or the nemo subs (same sets and visual effects), there is a huge jellyfish forest (or the mirror optical illusion of one) and a submarine and giant Bruce. You follow the film portion of squirt and nemo and end up in the EAC. This section has surfer dude music, and projected bubbles in a a dark show building, and the coaster is a spinning one similar to Primevil whirl, but with banked turns and helixes that mean you do go upside down occassionally. But kids can ride. At the end of the attraction, you Squirt (a projection like in Nemo) talks about it being a ritous ride. And then you are back in the fisherman's wharf area. You then exit past the rocks and the first drop.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***though that includes character interaction with the kids*** I thought you hated toons. Anyway, that description of Crush sounds neat. I don't understand one part though, does it really loop? (you said you "go upside down") If so, how can that be done so that kids are able to ride safely? There's no over the shoulder restraints, are there? Sounds interesting, anyway.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Videos are never the same, but here is a reasonable one as seen from the rear of the sheel (though the front has better visuals). <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5fAsrKZmrY" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...AsrKZmrY</a>
