Originally Posted By danyoung barboy, I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not, but your suggestions sound great to me!
Originally Posted By barboy No sarcasm; I'm dead serious. I have been on here consistently ripping Disney for not adding in AA's to what was supposed to be their signiture attraction in DCA. It is an E that's for sure but it sorely lacks the "Disney experience".
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt ^^You'd love Disney Studios in France. When I went two years ago that park didn't have one AA figure in it. Or a body of water. Or a mountain.
Originally Posted By u k fan <<<^^You'd love Disney Studios in France. When I went two years ago that park didn't have one AA figure in it. Or a body of water. Or a mountain. >>> Somethings never change!!!
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <There was discussion early on in the building of DCA about Grizzly Peak, with the online community (myself included) being totally shocked that this huge flume ride was being built with no AA figures. For a ride of this type, similar to Splash Mountain, to just be a ride on the rapids seemed to be (and still seems to me) less than Disney could accomplish for a modern day, cutting edge ride. It's that lack, the fact that the ride doesn't live up to its potential (to me), that keeps it from being an E ticket in my mind. Perhaps Disney still thinks of it that way - I do not.> Boy howdy, do I agree with this assessment, danyoung. Even 12-15 years ago, Disney would never have built a 'River Rapids' ride without including all those AA animals on the shore, plus a whole 'show building' scene included. People have written here -- 'it moves too fast, you wouldn't even see the AA figures.' My answer: then slow it down so you can!
Originally Posted By barboy ///^^You'd love Disney Studios in France. When I went two years ago that park didn't have one AA figure in it. Or a body of water. Or a mountain./// You bet! If you go over to DLP section I have made my opinions pretty clear on why that park ticked me off compared to her older, absolutely stellar brother Disneyland Paris. Now to be fair this was in April '07 before ToT and Crush showed up. I specifically called that park barren---just an ocean of asphalt--- with basically no water features and very little vegetation as well as devoid of AA's!
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA By the way, I never had an issue with the editing style of 'Soarin' Over California' Maybe because the transitions are exactly like 'America the Beautiful' and 'American Journeys' -- and I was comfortable with it. Sure, Disney has set it up like a hang glider, but for some reason, on this attraction, I never took it literally. I never thought to myself 'Hey, how'd we get from Yosemite to San Diego so fast'?
Originally Posted By barboy ///My answer: then slow it down so you can!/// Oh, no doubt! I'm curious as to what, if any, the 'retort' was? And whoever thinks it goes too fast for AA appreciation I just don't buy that anyway. I'll be the first to say that about Everest and Yeti but Grizzly, no way. Besides, Popeye & Bludo over at IOA in Orlando moves at the approx. same speed--- maybe even faster, I'm not sure--- as Grizzly and that attraction is brilliantly adorned and saturated with AA's.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <///My answer: then slow it down so you can!/// Oh, no doubt! <I'm curious as to what, if any, the 'retort' was?> barboy, I'm sure if you hunted the threads in DCA - Expansion you could find several regarding Grizzly Rapids, and 'AA' issue. Even before it opened, another website had a ride-through video of Grizzly River -- My response was 'that's it? Looks a little sparse -- are there any AA animals on the shore?' I was totally flamed, told I was judging the ride without having actually been on it (sound familiar?), and on and on... And then after I rode it, I had the same comments, and I was told that the ride moves too fast to see the AAs and it would be a waste of money. I know jonvn held that opinion at the time.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt I don't recall flaming you Jim, but I'm one of those who believe that adding a few critters along the shore won't do much to enhance GRR. Sure, they would be nice and I'd welcome them, but I don't really think they'd add much to this particular attraction.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <Sure, they would be nice and I'd welcome them, but I don't really think they'd add much to this particular attraction.> I don't remember specifically, Hans. (jonvn and I got into it, but that was nothing new). However, I would argue that if AA figures don't anything -- why have them in 'Splash Mountain'? Or even along the Rivers of America?
Originally Posted By dshyates "By the way, I never had an issue with the editing style of 'Soarin' Over California' Maybe because the transitions are exactly like 'America the Beautiful' and 'American Journeys' -- and I was comfortable with it. Sure, Disney has set it up like a hang glider, but for some reason, on this attraction, I never took it literally. I never thought to myself 'Hey, how'd we get from Yosemite to San Diego so fast'?" Since I started the whole issue about the editing style, I will add some more. I don't mind the editing style. Its really the forced theme that bothers me. But if they are going to have the theme then they need the transitions. That is why I prefer EPCOT's version. They dropped the theme. I really like the attraction in both places, its just the theme in DCA seems very forced. It was the entire reason for Condor Flats. When the makeover was being rumored, they mentioned changing CF to fit in with the wilderness theme of GRR. I think that's a wonderful idea. Dump the aviation/hang glider theme. Take out the old "Flyers" photo, and put up GIANT landscape photos from around California. And let it be what it is. A stunning travelogue with a soaring score. And mentioning "literally". That's what Disney does. Much more literal interpretations of a theme, and less impressionistic. That is why Disneyheads go ballistic over rides like Dueling Dragons at IOA. It is an impressionistic flight of 2 dragons fighting. But Disneyheads will say, "It sux, I can see the tracks. Disney would never do that". And they are right. Just look at BTMRR. They even theme the track. That doesn't mean DD sux, just a less literal artistic interpretation.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt ^^Point taken. Those attractions are a bit different in their set up and pacing. Splash is slower, mostly indoors, and the logs don't spin. The boats that travel the ROA move at a pace that allows guests to clearly see and hear the show scenes along the shore. The best comparison for this discussion that I can think of would probably be Big Thunder.
Originally Posted By Hista98 the biggest problem, is that due to the spinning of the vehicles and the obstucted view casued by the saeting configuration putting aa's in would be very pointless becuase no one coild get a good look at them, plus you go by so fast you would miss them compleltley. i alsoi ma little yticked off how latley disney claims that every new ride is an e ticket, it's getting on my nerves not all of them are. monsters inc, e ticket, tsmm e ticket, buzz lightyear e ticket, i dont consider any of these e tickets
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA ^^^Your ideas for the 'new' Soarin' are good, dshyates. It's like any other kind of entertainment. If it's done well, I tend to not nit-pick the details. Since 'Soarin' Over California' is one of the neatest attractions I've been on at Disneyland Resort in recent years, I probably subconsciously gave them a pass on the weak, spartan queue area, boring waiting area, and tossed in hang glider thing. On the other hand, 'Grizzly River Rapids' is much like any other 'rapids' theme park ride across the country -- so, you have 'time' to nit-pick and wonder where the 'attention to detail' is. Why no AA figures? Why no 'show building' with some cool scene? Why do the rapids boats have to be round (like every other rapids ride?)
Originally Posted By leemac <<People have written here -- 'it moves too fast, you wouldn't even see the AA figures.' My answer: then slow it down so you can!>> That is actually part of the right answer. It was determined that the movement of the raft would cause problems for guests as they strained to see show scenes. It wasn't so much about the speed of the rafts. Personally I agree. The other part of it is about control - how do you arrange the show scenes when the ride conveyance rotates 360 degrees - you would end up with guests who couldn't see every scene so how do you tell a story? It just wouldn't work.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Why do the rapids boats have to be round (like every other rapids ride?)>> What do you suggest, Jim? Round rafts with weight equally distributed are the only way to build a ride conveyance for rapids.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <the biggest problem, is that due to the spinning of the vehicles and the obstructed view caused by the seating configuration putting AAs in would be very pointless because no one could get a good look at them, plus you go by so fast you would miss them completely.> This is the same argument I get every time. My point is this. In the past, if Disney were to put a 'river rapids ride' in their park, it would be the river rapids ride to rule all others. It would be different. So if this type of round raft doesn't allow good sight lines -- don't make the rafts round and facing the center. Make the rafts more like real river rafts and have people facing forward. If the rapids move too quickly to see AA animals on the shore -- slow down the current of the water. The point is, Disney could have made a leap in what a 'theme park river raft' ride is. And they didn't. They instead, took an off-the-shelf 'river rafting ride' and added some environmental theme-ing. And finally, Big Thunder Mountain is filled with AA animals, and the train travels faster than the rafts. How do you explain those?
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <What do you suggest, Jim?> So your point is 'round rafts are the only way.' I say 'poppycock'
