Originally Posted By dsnyqwn1 I feel that it was time for Horizons to go. This attraction was just taking up space on a park that needed to revamp in order to draw the younger and adventurous crowd. However I wish that World of Motion was still around. I think that this ride could have been remodled in a way that would have drawn the younger crowd and the returning fans. Disney however needs to decide what to do with Wonders of Life this attraction is closed more than its open. This is truely a waste precious imaginering space.
Originally Posted By jonvn I don't believe the short attention span nonsense, either. Look, you've got people willing to wait in line for HOURS for some of these rides. If everyone had ADHD like we're talking, they'd not be able to do that. It's a joke. Disney doesn't do this because it doesn't churn people out fast enough through the exit where they sell toys. The shorter the ride, the less it costs. The faster you get people to go through it, the faster they will be out to go buy something. Your "guests" are not buying things while they sit on a ride. This will lower the dollars per hour average of your customers. Longer rides=less money. More cartoons=more toys sold. It really is that simple.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome If there was a huge demand for 20 minute Omnimover rides at Disney, there would be more of them. I would love to see it, I personally enjoyed the longer (air conditioned) Omnimover attractions. And it doesn't always come back to the Imagineers. I am not blaming them for something that probably wasn't their decision. >> Look, you've got people willing to wait in line for HOURS for some of these rides. If everyone had ADHD like we're talking, they'd not be able to do that. << I am not saying it makes sense. (and most lines at WDW are not hours, not nearly). As far as Disney making money - yesterday, I saw an ice cream booth shut down at Disney (4pm at AK) while many guests still wanted to get in line. Again, no sense. The Fountainview at Epcot used to be VERY popular. They shortened the hours, then closed it down - supposedly lack of staffing. Now it's opened as ice cream (not sure why), but Disney often turns away money one way or the other. I would bet that the old Tiki Room had a lot of guests who would leave mid-way. I'm just not sure guests are clamoring for many 20 minute attractions anymore. I have no idea what shows are 45 minutes, I'm not sure if the Candlelight is even that long.
Originally Posted By Mr X **As far as Disney making money - yesterday, I saw an ice cream booth shut down at Disney (4pm at AK) while many guests still wanted to get in line.** That's a LOT more complex than you make it out to be. You have to schedule the workers, plan the hours, etc...you wouldn't leave an ice cream stand open til 10 pm if on an average day you'd sell less ice cream after 4 than the cost of the salary and the freezer.
Originally Posted By Mr X **Universe of Energy is 47 minutes long.** And that really IS too long. I'm as big a "classic Epcot" fan as anyone, but that one is a DRAG and gets awfully tedious. Used to be even worse, actually. Half the length would've been fine. But I get the impression part of the problem is moving those gigantic theaters around (which is neat)...just takes too long so there are long periods of movie stuff that just drag on and on and on...
Originally Posted By plpeters70 "If there was a huge demand for 20 minute Omnimover rides at Disney, there would be more of them." I'm not really sure you can make this argument. When Disney built Pirates and Mansion, there wasn't a huge demand for rides of that type either - but they built these incredible experiences and people came - and have been doing so for 40 years. Sure, you can say that the EPCOT attractions were long and people stopped coming - but I wouldn't necessarily say that it was the length that was the problem. They pretty much let EPCOT stagnate in the early 90's, and it cost them in attendance. Anyway, I agree with you - there probably isn't a huge outcry from people visiting that they want more 20 minute rides. But that doesn't mean that if Disney built one it wouldn't be widly popular. Unfortunately, these days, Disney only designs rides that market surveys tell them to.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Universe of Energy is 47 minutes long.>> And when is the last time those theaters were more than 1/3 full? For every Haunted Mansion or Pirates you list I can list two attractions that are drawing nowhere near the planned capacity. *The Tiki Room *Carousel of Progress *Hall of Presidents (though this seems be doing a better job after Dubya was elected. Go figure.) *The Great Movie Ride *Living with the Land (the overflow from Soarin' has brought lines back to LwtL, but prior to that you rarely waited more than 5 minutes. *Spaceship Earth It probably is drawing a lot of new interest after the renovation. But even with its perfect location for attracting riders, when is the last time (pre-renovation) you waited more than 5 minutes to board? *The American Adventure *Impressions de France. This absolutely glorious film usually plays to about 20% of the theater's capacity. And now to make things interesting, I will commit blasphemy. *Pirates of the Caribbean. Yes, I know it is a classic and everything. It is ALWAYS a walk-on when we go in January. Even when the parks were very crowded when we were there last Thanksgiving we never waited more than 5 minutes to board. Yes, I know it is a people eater. Be that as it may, I remember routinely standing in line over 30 minutes to ride PotC during the 90's. It just isn’t as popular as it used to be. Plus, when you talk about Carousel of Progress and the Haunted Mansion; each of those attractions are only about 7-8 minutes long. Not exactly time eaters, are they? Heck, even Mission Space lasts 5 minutes.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Plus, when you talk about Carousel of Progress and the Haunted Mansion; >> Oops... major mind cramp there. Of course I meant to say Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion; not the CoP. CoP PotC... the acronyms are just too similar for my 55 year old brain.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> And when is the last time those theaters were more than 1/3 full? << I agree - or when has it had much of a line? I actually didn't realize Energy was that long, but I very rarely ride it. And the movie used to be soooo boring. The one longer attraction that I REALLY like still is the Great Movie Ride. You can't really shorten it. The only time it seems too long is when the actors on the boat are bad (and unfortunately, that has happened several times recently). It could also use some TLC, but the attraction has held up very well, IMHO.
Originally Posted By jonvn Universe of Energy is too long. I think it is not entirely due to the vehicle movement, though. I think they could cut a few minutes here and there. And they can also get rid of the Jeopardy...
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>Universe of Energy is too long. I think it is not entirely due to the vehicle movement, though. I think they could cut a few minutes here and there. And they can also get rid of the Jeopardy...<<< You have got to be kidding! Before Ellen and Jeopardy UoE was perhaps the most boring, self serving thing to ever occupy Epcot. It was one long, tedious Exxon commercial. I rode it a couple of times and walked by it every time after. The new version is a must see for me. It is light, funny and informative and less likely to say that without Exxon the world would absolutely stop turning. It is a long ride, but, it is a nice entertaining break from the sun and heat. Long live UoE in its present form. The show cannot possibly be dated because it is scientific fact and that fact still remains true. Nothing dated about it. If you consider Ellen a has been then you would be wrong there as well. She is probably more popular today then she was when the show was produced. Bill Nye...what can I say, he's Bill Nye. Jamie Lee Curtis is always a pleasure to watch and Jeopardy is still on TV. It's as relevant as anything in the park.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> The show cannot possibly be dated because it is scientific fact and that fact still remains true. Nothing dated about it. If you consider Ellen a has been then you would be wrong there as well. << I'm not a science major, so what is fact or not isn't the issue for me in regards to UOE (as far as it feeling dated). Once you add a celebrity, it makes an attraction feel older (to me) than it might be. A 10 year old attraction isn't old per se, but a 10 year old attraction with a celebrity who is now 10 years older - that shows age. What if the celebrity died? I think it's always better to use non-known people. Look at Test Track - I don't know any of those people in the movie. There is no baseline for age, they are 10 years older now - but I wouldn't know it. I think Disney relies too much on celebrities in attractions they don't need them. And in doing so, UOE feels much older than me than an attraction like Test Track.
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn I've got all the Horizon's music on my MP3 player. Listen to it at work
Originally Posted By jonvn "Before Ellen and Jeopardy UoE was perhaps the most boring, self serving thing to ever occupy Epcot" I really like the Ellen bits, but it really does need a chunk taken out of it. What they should do is update it for global warming and such. IT could be a really important pavilion. I don't think anyone said it was dated. It's just a bit long.
Originally Posted By Mr X As far as dated attractions with celebs, NOTHING could beat Cranium Command. I loved it, it was super cute...but come on, Hans and Franz? Bobcat Goldthwait? No way THAT attraction could be a cultural time capsule within 5 years right?
Originally Posted By SFH >>Seriously, and I had an AP at the time so I rode a LOT (cause, like I said, I adored it), I don't recall there EVER being any people waiting in line.<< So the trick is to have low capacity on the attraction, so that there is always a line and it looks popular. SFH
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> As far as dated attractions with celebs, NOTHING could beat Cranium Command. I loved it, it was super cute...but come on, Hans and Franz? Bobcat Goldthwait? No way THAT attraction could be a cultural time capsule within 5 years right? << Absolutely! I was actually going to mention Cranium Command. I didn't see it until maybe 5 years ago (for the first time). It is definitely cute, but the kids are timeless - the actors, not so much. (of course, not the clothes and hairstyles either!)
Originally Posted By jonvn I was just watching some videos of world of motion, and one on the Wonders of Life Pavilion (as well as imagination and Horizons). World of Motion really wasn't that great. It was cute, but Spaceship Earth really covers very similar material. Wonders of Life was not a favorite of mine, and after seeing the video, I recall why. It just was kind of a mess. Like a specific type of innoventions, where you go and do some things, and there is no central thing to see or do there. Horizons is a loss, the old imagination is a loss. But these other things....eh....
