Originally Posted By mousermerf Epcot Character Spot is literally a bit of space between the old Communicore windows and what used to be the front counter of a quick service. I bet it's less then 10 yards wide, maybe 30 yards long. The majority of the actual space left over by Pasta Piazza is the queue. Which has video screens above it that play Disney shorts and have "trivia" about the shorts that cycles. Come to think of it.. They finally gave up on Pasta Piazza when Character Connection did so well. Character Connection used the same space, no formal queue established aside from the temporary stanchions, and had no decor aside from window clings. A few years later, and they're putting quick-serve Italian and pizza back into Epcot and Character Spot is formal with sets and lighting and a nice queue. Funny how things change..
Originally Posted By mousermerf Also - side note: Soarin is a major draw, if not "the" major draw in Epcot. To get to the Soarin, most guests walk through the West breezeway. The West breezeway is where Character Spot with its 2-story windows is location, showing everyone walking past Mickey and Friends greeting and hugging against colorful backdrops. That creates the wait time, location location location. I don't think these other offerings will be as popular because they're hidden and out of the way. People will goto them, but folks wont flock to them en mass. Most people will pick 1 or maybe 2 characters to see, not spend all day doing them all.
Originally Posted By yamabuki >>Also - side note: Soarin is a major draw, if not "the" major draw in Epcot. To get to the Soarin, most guests walk through the West breezeway.<< Kinda funny that Epcot's major draw is a DCA attraction. Just goes to show that most people don't give DCA the credit it deserves.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 If you're putting it that way you could also say, "Is Soarin' worth a full day ticket price?"
Originally Posted By mousermerf There's a difference between being a very popular attraction and being the only really good attraction in the park. Not to mention, the way it is presented in Epcot is on a much grander scale. DCA's flight memorabilia is charming, but the massive walkway, vaulted ceilings, giant screens, tons of blue neon, etc.. in the Epcot queue build up the ride experience better. It makes it an event in a way the small DCA queue does not. A big part of design is the psychology of viewer - in Epcot they're being sold an "epic" experience whereas at DCA it's treated as "charming."
Originally Posted By yamabuki Eh, I just thought it was ironic that the park's major attraction came from the park you seem to dislike. As for the queue - I think DCA has a much better presentation in Condor Flats, with the hangar building, and aviation history theme. Not to mention it actually fits the California theme. Epcot's queue is a bit bland. I don't see what's so grand about blue neon and massive walkways. The whole airport/terminal feel of the area just doesn't work for me.
Originally Posted By mousermerf And yet there's 3-4 times as many people in the Epcot queue when there's only 2x as many in the park.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer The only problem I have with the queue is just the fact that it could help tie into the Land theme a bit more. Other than that, the whole ride, it quite good.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Soarin's queue is probably my least favorite of any E-ticket.>> Completely agree. It's bland and boring. But then again Soarin' is probably my least favorite E ticket on property, tied with RNRC. It's fun, but overrated.
Originally Posted By leobloom ^^I agree with you about the rides themselves, too. 45-second roller-coaster (oooh, scary, it goes upside-downy) and an IMAX movie that wouldn't be out of place at the local science museum.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer It helps bring in people to the Land, is about the Land, and is fun, however. Gets a pass from me.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Didn't they send the old JC skippers over to the Tree of Life boat ride? That's what the ToL jokes sounded like. I miss that ride. That's right, it wasn't a thrill ride so they got rid of it. << At least you got to ride it once. It was gone by the time we got there in January of 1999.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros "And yet there's 3-4 times as many people in the Epcot queue when there's only 2x as many in the park." And how many of those people have seen it before, compared to the number in DCA? I would guess that far fewer Epcot visitors are returning since a previous vacation where they rode Soarin' than the same number in DCA. Give everybody a chance to see it on 2-3 separate occasions, and its queue will also die down over time. Within the WDW resort, there's still a big marketing push for Soarin', while there is almost nothing (except for the attraction itself and its listing in the guide map) to advertise it at DLR. And how many people are in line for Soarin' as a percentage of the park's total attendance? I would guess that it's comparable to what you'd see at DCA, if not less (especially if we're comparing when they were newish). While the Epcot lines may be artifically inflated due to higher guest counts for the entire park, I would guess that there's a similar number of full-day guests in each park that go on the respective Soarin's.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Scrap Pixie Hollow and dust off the plans for a Villains Fantasyland expansion. Balance out the estrogen. << There's more money in selling Princesses gowns, and accesories, and Princesses make-overs at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Little boys just aren't as profitable.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Hopefully they've learned from their success and will do something similar in WDW. << Come on Ferrot! You know TDO never learns anything from DL. No matter how sucessful it is. >> For what it's worth, Mickey's House in TDL is one of the most popular attractions in the park, with waits often exceeding 90 minutes. With all 3 sets running. << The Nipponese take their character meet, and greets as seriously as their fast passes.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>>Come on Ferrot! You know TDO never learns anything from DL. No matter how sucessful it is.<<<< To be honest with you, Pierce, I don;t even think they communicate.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> To be honest with you, Pierce, I don;t even think they communicate. << It's almost like they're rivals, rather than partners in a corporation. Typical big business.
