Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA The entire new section is what I would describe as 'heavy handed.' In other words, it lacks any subtlety or finesse. It's just THERE. Captain Higgenbotham -- he's a captain...of a ship...and he spits water into the air. Get it? Well, as my dearly departed Dad used to say 'it's easy to be critical.'
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Ohhhhhh.... I saw the Imagineers talking about the new queue in another thread. They were so excited about the new additions, it made me like it. What a softy, mouth breather I've become...
Originally Posted By magic0214 Just want to make sure it is known, a Murder Mystery game is coming with this, hope everyone realizes that. With that in mind, I love it!
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Just for the record, I don't think anything done there is low quality or bad. the effects are well done, and everything looks good. The problem is the tone. It just doesn't fit. And before someone says, "But Mansion is a funny ride!" Yea, I get it. But the first half, including the entrance is supposed to be foreboding. These additions just don't fit with that. If they were at the exit? Cool. They're be completely fine there. Not before you enter.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Just for the record, I don't think anything done there is low quality or bad. the effects are well done, and everything looks good. The problem is the tone. It just doesn't fit. And before someone says, "But Mansion is a funny ride!" Yea, I get it. But the first half, including the entrance is supposed to be foreboding. These additions just don't fit with that. If they were at the exit? Cool. They're be completely fine there. Not before you enter.
Originally Posted By Dole_Whip_Adventure I definitely don't hate it. I like that HM is getting a more interesting queue, but the whole "interactive" streak that's been going on is confusing to me. I'm a california kid, so I haven't experienced it first-hand, really, but it just seems a little counter-productive to me. Sure, it'll keep one somewhat entertained, but doesn't this slow down or back up the queue? If the family in front of me is so entranced by a game in the line, I'm not going to be amused when they won't pay attention and keep the line moving. Also, I don't like the idea of promoting excess racket and noise in the queue of an attraction such as HM. I know I'm going to sound old and grumpy (Which I'm not, haha, only 19 here) but I don't really need to experience more unattended toddlers shrieking, slapping and pounding on things while I'm on vacation. I know, I know, it's a theme park, the children are unavoidable. However, I can just see this becoming a congested mess of noise and water. I love the idea, I just have a sinking feeling that it will be abused by guests to the point that the original intent is lost completely
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer OK, I'm back/saw the video... ... After months of waiting for this...defending this... getting hyped for this... ...THIS is what we get?! Seriously?! It looks great, don't get me wrong. Lots of great details and references. But the effects? The zany, loud, music? The voice? Foolishness. Granted, the water and the bubbles could be used to a small effect, but it's on overload, now. WAY to much. The subtle mood that sets the erie progression and theme of the Haunted Mansion is really disrupted, by this, and it doesn't have to be. ... Turn off a few of those effects and the subtle movements of the books, the screen book, and even the water will add to the disquieting things happening around you as you edge into the Mansion. As it is right now, the setting is OK, it's just what it's doing that is the problem. As I texted Capt Michael earlier... post show it. Or, turn it off. Hopefully, at night, this will be off/quieter, and that's when I'll ride. Overall... it looks good. Kill the audio intrusions (That XYLOPHONE...) and tone down the silly effects, it'll be even better. I'm highly disappointed... This could have been a GREAT furthering of the Haunted Mansion's lore.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer More thoughts... Disney should take stock in the fact that their art is very much a observational one..where the guest is immersed by the things around them. Now, interactivity isn't bad, it can add a new layer of that immersion, and that SHOULD be done, but this is just cheap, and unfitting of the area. These things need to be observed, seen so you "jump" at them, and do double takes. Like how Leota was. Your actions can certainly cause things, but not insanity. That only comes at the END of the Mansion. Things like the books moving are great examples of this. Even one or two bubbles popping out of the organ. Or some mist emanating from the sailor. ...But loud tones? Screaming cats? This isn't supposed to be the finale! Why go from total insanity outside to quiet illusion on the in? It doesn't make sense...
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer I think, at the heart of it... WDI screwed up. The ideas are good, but they need to be tamed. They should know how to theme and further their own shows better. Of course, this isn't their show... It's WED's. And it's sad to say, but the team that worked on this doesn't understand how the Mansion works. The 2007 team did, for the most part (Chatty Connie has issues with others, I have issues with the stairs, but they are both great additions) and it shows. The changes aren't a disjunction from the older scenes. This? Totally out of place and doesn't fit what should be the proper mood of the queue. TWEAK IT... This isn't THAT hard to fix, WDI.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Referring back to WDI... They need a reverence and respect for approaching these sorts of additions, not just cockeyed ideas and harebrained concepts, which is what this expansion is. It needs to MESH with what's there. Add to it. Build on it. Work with it... Just not put goofy tack onto existing feeling and setting. The 2007 team essentially did the later, the new scenes, though having a FEW issues (like the heavy handed lines of the bride, which bother some, I don't mind too much... I just don't like that's she's blue, and not green.. ) fit in well with the Mansion. They enhance how it works as a story and as a theme. Even if we don't know the story. They respect what those areas of the Mansion should be. This? It's the humor of the finale tacked over the subtle mood and dark humor of the introduction, where you nervously evaluate your surroundings, and wonder, and IMAGINE what you are about to see. Now? It's the zaniness and camp of the finale... The mood swing from queue, to stretching room, to load, to the rest of the ride is a total misstep. .... What I don't get is how WDI doesn't see this. Fans see it. Why don't they? Why can't THEY see that there's a way of doing new things that fit, but don't clash? ...Meh. I don't get it. I just got back from the Keys. I'm surprised I'm this surprised and disappointed, when this sort of mix up is nothing new. OK, enough depression. LOL
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>In the 2007 refurb they aged the mansion even more. As for the queue, yes it's cartoony, and whimsical. Have you seen the inside?! You have a cartoony mummy sitting up and talking the in the graveyard. Opera singers, a hand repaving it's tomb, a cartoony looking demon clock, a "tomb sweet tomb" sign, and two ghosts drunk as skunks sitting on a chandelier. All the original tombstones are intact, some rearranged. I assume the queue will be used during busy times and remain as an option in the off season.<<< Yeah, but that's the FINALE. This is the beginning of the ride.. And is supposed to be, quiet, moody, speculative. This is fitting to the finale, and thus, out of order.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros On a semi-related note, does anybody know how the Pooh queue is standing up to daily use and abuse? Have the Tigger bounce pads reopened yet? What are the opinions of the general public from it, now that it's been there for a while and it's presumably in it's final condition?
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "...but I don't really need to experience more unattended toddlers shrieking, slapping and pounding on things while I'm on vacation. I know, I know, it's a theme park, the children are unavoidable. However, I can just see this becoming a congested mess of noise and water." And with that you've just detailed why I haven't been to a Disney theme park in nearly three years. The way the places are evolving is generally not geared to me: a 47 year old single guy. These sorts of things are clearly being developed for families with small children. It's really a shame that EPCOT and Animal Kingdom aren't here in California.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Impossible. My birthday was in November. Maybe I was trying to get used to it by saying I was 47 before it actually happened.
Originally Posted By tashajilek HAHAHHAHA CONSTANCE!!! I am usually all for new changes, but this doesnt appeal to me. I think the elevator and the hallway scene on the way to the ride are enough queue. I like how The DL queue has you wondering whats inside? rather than giving it away.
Originally Posted By tashajilek By enough i mean enough entertainment. I dont think people need to be entertained every second.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Yeah, but that's the FINALE. This is the beginning of the ride.. And is supposed to be, quiet, moody, speculative." Hmmm... I don't know. I get what you're saying, but the humorous epitaphs on the tombstones never seemed moody or speculative to me. I agree that this new interactive queue is over the top, but I don't think it's necessarily out of character with what was there before.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Do you think the Imagineers perhaps wanted to make the humor of the attraction apparent from the start to minimize the fear factor for young children? Many of my visits to the HM have been spoiled by a child shrieking that they don't want to go while a parent drags them into the stretch room. If the new queue can help prevent that scenario I'm all for it!
