Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I have to say, all this debate about Popeye, well I hated it. We got off drenched through (the whole design concept was originally to keep riders dry, with the design and inflation level of the raft used to control wetness/dryness). Most of the raft rides in the UK are designed so that you do not get too wet and I like it like that. There are some other examples of raft rides with showscenes: Legoland Windsor <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tGcE1-uuL0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...cE1-uuL0</a> And what may be the coolest for show scenes, Jurrassic Park at Universal Studios Sentosa: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXtXkpb-8pU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...Xkpb-8pU</a> But I hate Popeye. Plasticy horrible sets (and yes, I do not like Toon Town, All Stars or Toy Story Playland for the same reasons); and a drenching experience. I have ridden raft rides at Sea World, Magic Mountain, Knott's, DCA, IOA, DAK, Thorpe Park, Legoland Windsor, Alton Towers, The American Adventure, Drayton Manor, Phantasialand, Park Asterix, and Port Adventura, and Grizzly is my favorite of the lot. It feels the most realistic, it has fun sections, the spinning drop is cool and the I love the falls and geysers. I have ridden and walked off bone dry and I have ridden and gotten wet on one side. But I have enjoyed every ride. But I would love to see it plussed with more show scenes. And merf, if you love Fla so much, why don't you go there? Personally, I do not really like any of the parks in Florida as much as in California with the exception of Epcot (and some of DAK). And as I live in half of Epcot anyway, it's not enough for me. But I think Grizzly is on par with some of Disney's best work anywhere, and nicer than any of the mountains in DL.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>Grizzly River Run is basically as if Expedition Everest was hollow inside and only featured an un-themed steel roller coaster in the dark, like the original Matterhorn. <<< Actually that describes my version of EE. It was a major draw for getting me out to the horrid swamp lands of Florida and when we rode it, the only effect working other than the ride was the projection. It was a real let down.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>How many people in this discussion have ever actually been white water rafting? *raises hand* And the water was between 36-42 degrees. <<< Also raised hand, but normally I am dressed appropriately for it and expecting to do just that for the day, not do that and then dine in Napa Rose.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo One other thing I would like to say about Grizzly is it adds some lovely kinetics to the park. And a beautiful scenery. Let's face it, ITTBAB is not Disney's best (though I like it), but in the Tree of Life as a park Icon, it is all a lovely combo. I feel the same way about Grizzly.
Originally Posted By tashajilek Dave im glade to see you like GRR. I have only been on bigfoot rapids and the seaworld one and GRR is WAY better. Talk about getting wet, the seaworld raft ride you dont even stand a chance.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<but in the Tree of Life as a park Icon, it is all a lovely combo.>> I always have felt they made a HUGE mistake by putting that show in the Tree of Life. The attraction in the park's centerpiece should have been an attraction that really summed up the entire message of Animal Kingdon - not a short, 3D show about Bugs. While I enjoy that show, I really would have preferred something a little more ambitious. That icon is so beautiful, it deserved an attraction as epic as Spaceship Earth.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "But I think Grizzly is on par with some of Disney's best work anywhere, and nicer than any of the mountains in DL." I wouldn't go that far.
Originally Posted By tashajilek "and nicer than any of the mountains in DL." The actual mountain yes, ride no.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA That Jurassic Park raft ride in Singapore -- look at all the money they wasted on AA figures -- you can't even see them!! (The Sarcas-O-Meter is WAY on!!!)
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Seriously, the waterfall scene in the Singapore 'Jurassic Park' ride is really beautiful. Thanks for sharing that link, davewasbaloo.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros You know what I just thought of, that we all seem to have been missing this whole time? Disney has done an attraction where guests are facing every-which-way, and it's full of sets and scenery and characters, and it even tells a story. And, what's even better? It's in DLR! Roger Rabbit was designed so guests could spin their car, and still have scenes that look good and a storyline that's semi-logical (it is Toontown, after all). They went to great lengths to make sure that it looked good from every angle (notice all the 3D sets!), and it's one of the more popular darkrides in the park. So why did they say they couldn't do it on Grizzly, again? Guests don't have control of which way they spin, but they are still spinning either way. There are folks across the way to look at, but there's plenty of space to look beyond them and at potential scenery on the shore. Silly, Disney, just silly.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones When they paint it, Splash Mountain looks nicer than Grizzly River Run to me. Though it does look more cartoony inside. On the other hand, it has animation and movement! Something GRR barely has. GRR gets its ass handed to it by Mount Prometheus though. Bwahaha!
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones I didn't even know there was a Universal Singapore. That's how GRR should have been. There could have been scary bears, nice bears and all the rest in that ride.
Originally Posted By tashajilek You would think with the name being grizzly river run you would see a few on the ride.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo My pleasure Jim. Some of the stuff seems cheap at Universal Studios Sentosa Island, but the JP raft ride, Far Far Away Castle, the Mummy Temple and the proposed Transformers attraction that Hollywood is also getting do seem cool.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Jurassic Park's theming is nice but it looks like a far less interesting "ride" then Popeye. It's nice to see the 3 waterfalls from the books though. A good number of rides in that park are clones from IOA.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Guests don't have control of which way they spin, but they are still spinning either way." How would you be able to control a spinning raft that's floating in water? The free unpredictability of the way the ride system travels it what makes it interesting. OAN, aren't the boats in the Jurassic Park ride in Singapore just that - boats with forward facing seating rather than circular rafts? I'm not saying that it wouldn't work, but I can't imagine a complex storyline being easy to comprehend while sitting in a spinning tub like GRR.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA The rafts in the Jurassic Park Singapore are round -- just like on GRR. The Jurassic Park at USH has the forward facing seats in a more standard boat vehiclle --
