Originally Posted By wahooskipper Might have improved it. They are touting a new recipe down here in Florida. I guess you could say you improved the taste of mud by putting cheese on it...but not really.
Originally Posted By oc_dean regarding the post about Beary Tales left in memory only - Are we truly looking back on the ride in an objective way? Or are we comparing it by "2011" standards, and our cynical, fast-paced state of mind that society of today is driving? Don't worry fellers ... I'm not ganging up on you - I doubt Matt is going to commission a rebuild of Beary Tales. But your comments just got me thinking - Since it was Disney's Rolly Cromp who designed the ride ... It was no less charming, and richly detailed than the dark rides in Fantasyland. In fact .... looking at the track layout again for Beary Tales ... That was one hell of a large ride. Who does not love an immersive dark ride .. that takes you deep into a journey? <a href="http://www.yesterland.com/bearytales2.html" target="_blank">http://www.yesterland.com/bear...es2.html</a> As the interview at Yesterland.com says - Their animatronics were going to get nowhere's near the sophistication of Disney's - But the sets were just as detailed - if not more. The other thing I really loved about it .. was the "mood" it set. There was just enough "Story" involved ... and my imagination filled in the rest. An element missing in Disney attractions being built of late years - Everything has to be heavily story driven .... It takes away that subtle "mind interaction," as I don't get to build my own story in my own mind - But a derivative to have to follow. I don't mean to get carried away .... But I just have to say - Whatever Matt does with Knott's in the next few years - I hope it's a drive to infuse the sort of thematic details it was born on, and less on the "Magic Mountain" thrills Cedar Fair is packing on top of it.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Well said, Dean! It was a charming ride that the whole family could enjoy.
Originally Posted By oc_dean I was just reading - The Beary-Tales/Kingdom of the Dinosaur's building has been empty 7-going on 8 years, now. And I understand .. since KotD closed in 2004 .... everything was dismantled ... and the building a warehouse for the yearly "Haunt" sets. I'd love nothing more than to let my imagination run wild .. and think of the many possibilities Matt could have for Knott's in future years. As a native to Buena Park throughout all my growing up .. just a couple miles from Knott's .... there's just one element after another from the 70s I'd love to see make a return - But it does not have to be identical - But an updated version. My interest in Knott's is not driven so much by nostalgia ... but more a love of thematic details ... And not just more "metal thrills" that I think Matt is going to ween from .. HOPEFULLY! I seem to have my eye trained on what I dub the Lackluster Surfer Boardwalk area. We've already seen it as Gypsy Camp ... as Roaring 20s ... Does not have to be a "return" of any of that - But something perhaps with a fantasy-whimsical design .... that returns the Beary Tales building into something that is built on "charm" as Beary Tales was.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA oc_dean -- I hear you, brother. I was there back in the mid 70s, when the Roaring 20s area opened and we went on 'Knott's Beary Tales" for the first time in 1975 (I was 13) and yeah, I loved it -- I thought it was great. But I was a Disneyland nerd through and through. I remember the first time we went -- it was so new, that it still smelled like paint and glue and fixative and so forth.
Originally Posted By oc_dean >>oc_dean -- I hear you, brother. I was there back in the mid 70s, when the Roaring 20s area opened and we went on 'Knott's Beary Tales" for the first time in 1975 (I was 13) and yeah, I loved it -- I thought it was great.<< We're not that far off in age - I was 11 in '75. Okay .. here I DO go off down Nostalgia Lane ..... I loved the sight of the Cable Car lit up at night .. making it's approach to Crescent Avenue ... as our '69 Riviera with me in the back ... took a look. To the quaint lake that is now a parking lot to the east of Beach Blvd. ... to the funky "rolling" design of the dirt parking area. Yes I do have so many fond memories. And I'm perfectly happy to make new ones .. on new things, just as long as Matt can infuse the kind of "Disney Showmanship" he learned with his tenure at the DLR.
Originally Posted By oc_dean I do have have to throw this in - After going on greats such as PotC, Haunted Mansion, America Sings, Country Bear Jamboree, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln .... I can remember the first time doing the "Independence Hall attraction" .. sitting down .. and getting all giddy .. thinking - OH WOW .. AFTER THINGS LIKE POTC ... I CAN'T WAIT!! An AUDIO presentation with a few lights lighting up a few desks???? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!! ;-) Didn't take long at a very young age .. to set "Disneyland" as the STANDARD .. and expecting Knott's to do the same! Today, of course, I can appreciate both - Subtle presentations, and Sophisticated "Show Stoppers" like PotC.
Originally Posted By brotherdave I would love to see Knott's (and other Cedar Fair properties) start investing more money into family rides and attractions, especially dark rides. Don't get me wrong, I love the coasters at their parks, especially Cedar Point and Kings Island, but they sorely need more rides at their parks that the whole family can ride. My feeling is that they could probably put in a Peanuts themed dark ride to start with (Great Pumpkin possibly? Or maybe one based on the river race from Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown?) But they could extend way beyond the Peanuts franchise, too. Cedar Point used to have two somewhat cheesy, yet still fun, Arrow built-dark rides that were from the defunct Freedomland in New York from the 1960s. Earthquake, based on the San Francisco earthquake, and Pirate Ride, which was kind of simplistic pre-cursor to Pirates of the Caribbean. Mind you, these were simpler type dark rides remiscent of the old Fantasyland dark rides at Disneyland before their makeover. But, I would love to see higher tech versions of these rides or similar rides return to Cedar Point and to their other parks. They could still build an occasional thrill coaster, but they should definitely focus more on the family market to be more appealing to everyone.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Just a quick point: it's Rolly Crump, not Cromp. And I remember Beary Tales fondly too, and it was as Disney-esque dark ride as it got for Knotts. I can still hum the song. Videos never do dark rides justice. You have to be IN that environment to appreciate it, and Crump knew what he was doing.
Originally Posted By crapshoot Is the new germ of a rumor from 8039 Beach Blvd going to come to fruition? -Haunted Shack II- Quick, somebody get me a paper sack, I'm fricken hyperventelating here. I gots the vapors!
Originally Posted By oc_dean >>Bring back the Soap Box Derby Racers. << Didn't former imagineer Eddie Sotto have his creative hands in this? They could re-hire him ... to build a new version of it!
Originally Posted By Dabob2 "33 NEW! wahooskipper Fri 12/9/2011 5:09a Bring back the Soap Box Derby Racers." Or even better, their predecessors-- the never-could-happen-legally-today motorcycle race.
Originally Posted By pirviii I never got to ride the motorcycle race as I was too little, but I loved the soapbox racers. My little bro and I rode them over and over waiting for our mom who was watching the Beatles show.
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes >>>I can still hum the song<<< Me too, but it's better if you whistle it.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I used to love the soap box derby and the motor cycle race (we still have a similar ride at Blackpool but they are race horses).
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 Beary Tales could work, if updated. It was the closest I felt they got to Disney. And, it kind of predated the feel of Splash Mountain, in my opinion. I don't know if Tony Baxter was influenced in anyway by Beary Tales and Rolly Crump's ideas, but they sure have a simialr vibe. Youtube videos definitely don't do dark rides justice. The mood in there was really neat, and the sets, boysenberry smell, song, and "bunny hills" made it memorable. I doubt very highly that they would bring it back, especially as it was, but something fun like that for families would be a really needed addition to Knott's.
