Originally Posted By Dabob2 <I've said it before, but if Disney could come up with an AA that had a convincing AI, I would be incredibly impressed.> Actually, THAT's when it starts getting scary, for me.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy Mr. Potato Head looks great, but in the past, I have always been more "wowed" by the life-like AA representations of people moreso than the cartoony AAs. It just seems like it's so much easier to animate something that is already artificial. The whole reason why Toy Story was the first Pixar film is that it presented a cast of characters that were easier to animate than real humans. The same goes for AAs. Midway Mania could have very easily been constructed without the Toy Story characters. Imagine, if you will, a Marc Davis take on the midway side-shows and games of chance -- populated with animated humans in the vein of POTC. That would have been much harder to pull off, in my opinion, but also would have provided much greater rewards for guests if they managed to do it in the classic Disney style. Instead, we get the lazy attempt at theming with recycled characters from a film that has absolutely nothing to do with seaside amusement parks, carnival games, or any mania at the midway. While I expect Midway Mania will be great fun, I just don't think it will wow people in the same way as a completely unique experience based on characters that aren't so familiar and part of the pop culture already. Familiarity will breed yawns, no matter how great the underlying technology.
Originally Posted By threeundertwo >>what could Disney have done to impress you?>> A life-size, fully-interactive, hands-on Johnny Depp AA.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "While I expect Midway Mania will be great fun, I just don't think it will wow people in the same way as a completely unique experience based on characters that aren't so familiar and part of the pop culture already." I wish that were true. I get the feeling that the expectation of most visitors is that they will see characters, characters, and more characters.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << I get the feeling that the expectation of most visitors is that they will see characters, characters, and more characters. >> And that's what makes DL so much different than any other destination. People THINK they're going to get an amusement park with cartoon characters, but Disney usually delivers so much more. That's been the distinction of DL for over 50 years -- exceeding the expectations and delivering the unexpected. Now, we're getting nothing more than what is expected. That's not the recipe that has ever spelled success at DL. Walt Disney probably had a good list of things that people "expected" when they went to an amusement park. He turned those expectations on their ear and created something incredibly unique. We're losing that uniqueness. If I want to see Toy Story on video screens, I can stay home and put in a DVD.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice <<Who's favourite character is Mister Potato Head? Is this really anyone's favourite toy?>> I LOVED Mr. Potato Head as a kid and am not ashamed to admit that at 50-years-old I'm thinking about buying one again, just as a fun little stress reliever - and one I can do stupid things with, like sticking his ears on his feet or putting him in mixed-gender clothing for kicks. *L* The link someone shared the other day to the "Taters of the Lost Ark" might just be the ticket for a starter set!
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Oh... And I agree with Dabob2 re: Tom Morrow in Innoventions. He looks like some creepy bionic guy who had his skin stolen. I don't have a fear of clowns, but sure as heck, Tom is icky to me.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice <<Midway Mania could have very easily been constructed without the Toy Story characters. Imagine, if you will, a Marc Davis take on the midway side-shows and games of chance -- populated with animated humans in the vein of POTC>> Not sure I want to see meth-addicted, toothless carnies running "fixed" games using weighted down metal milk bottles so the softballs can't possibly knock 'em over, or flat plates coated in PAM so the dimes don't stick, or dull darts that can't possibly burst a balloon... or... Well, you get the picture. ;-)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I love tom, I think he is awesome. In fact I love all of the AA's at DL/DCA. I really don't understand this clown fear thing? I don't get it. My fears will kill you. But would a clown? Admits I am biased as I used to be a clown to make extra money as a student and later when I was a Social Worker. Also, I noticed that people tend to relate better to people. I love Cars, but I think I am in the minority because again, people have a hard time suspending enough belief. also add me to the Mr Potato Head Fan club. I loved mine as a kid, and even bought one as an adult pre kids. My kids now have several (all the Star Wars ones, Spider Spud, Pirate spud, and Transformers Head). So ya, I think this one tocks!
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 >>what could Disney have done to impress you?>> A life-size, fully-interactive, hands-on Johnny Depp AA. << I take it atomically correct as well?
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << Not sure I want to see meth-addicted, toothless carnies running "fixed" games using weighted down metal milk bottles so the softballs can't possibly knock 'em over, or flat plates coated in PAM so the dimes don't stick, or dull darts that can't possibly burst a balloon... or... >> A lot of people would have said the exact same thing about the portrayal of drunken pirates burning a Caribbean port. How did Disney ever pull that off? That's exactly the reason why I provided the example of what Marc Davis did with that source material. There's a lot you can do if you use your imagination. Imagine if POTC was nothing more than a cartoony display of Captain Hook and Mr. Smee.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <A lot of people would have said the exact same thing about the portrayal of drunken pirates burning a Caribbean port. How did Disney ever pull that off? That's exactly the reason why I provided the example of what Marc Davis did with that source material. There's a lot you can do if you use your imagination.> Amen to that sentiment, SportGoofy. Totally agree. With Midway Mania, there's really nothing that the Toy Story gang adds to the attraction. Disney could have easily slapped on characters from 'Aladdin' [imagine Genie as a carnival barker], and the theme could have been the streets of Agrabah, and the sky overhead. But when you do what SportGoofy suggests -- then you have something creative. It's the difference between writing an orchestral suite of music for the Sunshine Plaza that suggests California [creative], and grabbing pop music songs with 'California' in the title. [not so creative]
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>or flat plates coated in PAM so the dimes don't stick<< Well, another mystery explained! I knew my aim wasn't THAT bad all these years!
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan One thing they could have done is create a dark ride that explored life at the beach through the years. Set it to a catchy tune that goes from turn of the century ragtime to perhaps 50's rock & roll -- we could see the "life" of Paradise Pier change through the years, and we exit into the Paradise Pier of today. Then, they populate the pier with other immersive attractions that continue to tell the story of the place and have it blend seamlessly into the Pacific Wharf area.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 Kar2oonman, what you are suggesting would take years of planning and development... Whereas, anyone with half a brain cell can add characters to a ride in just a fraction of that time.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice ^^*LOL*... Glad to help, 2oony! Sport Goofy... I really do get your point and was pretty much just goofin' on the carnies (though that's the way the are now and have been for YEARS). The imagineers could have gone back to around the Victorian age when the guys were just loud-mouthed "unsavory" snake-oil-salesmen-types in straw hats and not completely disgusting pervs. *L*
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>what you are suggesting would take years of planning and development<< Yeah. Plus, it sticks with the California-based theme of the park, and that appears to be pretty much going bye-bye.
Originally Posted By dshyates I have to admit that part of my underwhelment is my lack of interest in anamophic robots. In the 60s robots were the shizzle. They were a wonder you could only see on TV and at Disneyland. Now, I have an extremely realistic Roboreptar running around my recliner as I type. The AA is without a doubt impressive, but it is the utilization that doesn't impress me as in that is all it is really for is to stand there and go "Wow, thats one high tech potato." I think they really need to go back to the EPCOT Center concept of what AAs are for. To tell stories. I truely feel the apex of AAs in a theme park setting came in 1982 where Ben and Will tell the story of America. Sure we all said WOW at Will Rogers spinning a lasso, and Benn quasi-walking, but there was more to it than just saying wow of tech, we said wow over the whole scope of the entertainment. I really hope they get this reality show mentality of interactivity out of their heads and go back to scripted, hammer-out, tailor made storytelling.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros "Admits I am biased as I used to be a clown to make extra money as a student and later when I was a Social Worker." Hmmm...interesting way to make sure you would always have customers. Get paid to scare them to death so they live life with irrational fears, and then get paid a gain to help them get over said irrational fears...I like it! "..and Benn quasi-walking..." He always looked like he was limping to me. And he climbs the stairs oh-so gracefully too!
