Originally Posted By jmuboy ....and back on topic (I know I was one of the people who helped derail the topic) Gran Fiesta Tour is supposed to soft open this afternoon and officially open on Saturday. Hope everyone enjoys the new ride.
Originally Posted By jmuboy The ride is open and running. Video up on wdwmagic.com. Looks like a really well done rehab. New stuff combined with the best of the old.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Nice looking video. Thanks WDWMagic.com As much as I don't care for adding characters to every attraction -- in this case, it works pretty well. They've infused it with some fun -- albiet frenetic and crazed, and have kept some of what made 'El Rio del Tiempo' so enjoyable. And the animation looks very high quality, which is nice to see. But I'm torn... I do think there is room for attractions at Disney theme parks that don't need to have Disney animated characters in them. Did they get rid of that animatronic character in the beginning of the ride? It was fairly dark during that portion of the video, and I couldn't tell.
Originally Posted By jmuboy No animatronics were removed in the beginning. The boats still float past the refreshed volcano scene. At the end, the carousel with the weird human puppets was removed and replaced with the "Hollywood Bowl" looking screen and the 3 Caballeros singing the title song from the film.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I don't remember there ever being an AA at the beginning...I do miss the laid back pace of the old version. Other than the carousel at the end, I really couldn't tell any major differences to the attraction, so I can't help but wonder why it took so long. More changes (with the exception of the final room, which couldn't have taken that long) are done at DL for HMH each year and they can do that in just a couple of weeks. At least this attraction looks pretty entertaining (whether or not it has any repeatability...well, the original was lacking there too). I will miss a couple scenes from the old one (the creepy marionettes on the carousel, and the most memorable scene IMO the market), but I can get over it if this actually draws enough of a crowd to fill even some of the boats.
Originally Posted By jmuboy The chasing vendors are replaced with Mexican females dancing, a mariachi band, and the 3 cabs on a flying serape.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Go check out the video -- it's very cool. <a href="http://www.wdwmagic.com/granfiestatour.htm" target="_blank">http://www.wdwmagic.com/granfi estatour.htm</a>
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 No grass skirts? We got stuck in that room once for a few minutes. My hips hurt just watching them dance. It looks good, bright, colorful. Music.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I am visiting EPCOT tomorrow and checking this ride and the Flower fest out as well. Will have opinions sometime tomorrow night. Late in the night if you will... and if you behave... some photos too.
