Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 Ok, this thought popped into my head last night. It seems like the two attractiosn, Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland, and The Jungle Cruise, are pretty similar in theme. Only one's on the water and one was on a train. Both passed tableu of AA wild animals in their native surroundings. My thought was... Why was Nature's Wonderland removed, yet the Jungle Cruise is a staple attraction at most Magic Kingdoms? To me, it would seem like the train ride would also be a great thing to keep and put in multiple parks. Was it just too much AA "wildlife" for one park? I'm sure if the Mine Train was still around, it would have gotten serious upgrades in technology, so it wouldn't be too dated, but still. Does anybody have any thoughts as to why it only lasted 18 or so years, but the Jungle Cruise is alive and well?
Originally Posted By mrichmondj Maybe it has something to do with the themed environment. The "real" Nature's Wonderland is only about a 2 hour drive east from LA and Disneyland -- easily accessible to Southern Californians by car. The African jungle simulated by the Jungle Cruise is far less familiar to American tourists.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 IMO, the first part of the trip, the lush forested parts of Nature's Wonderland, were wonderful. It was when it got to the desert that it started to lose its luster after awhile. Part of that may have to do with being so close to the real desert. But part of it, I think, was that the NW desert always looked kind of "fakey." And I think an even bigger reason may have been that the narration was recorded and thus the same every time. Imagine the Jungle Cruise with pre-recorded narration rather than the skipper making jokes. I don't know if I'd still do the Jungle Cruise very often if it was prerecorded - the whole point these days seems to be hoping to get a good skipper!
Originally Posted By momofbuzzfan Where/what was Nature's Wonderland? Was it removed to make a new attraction? Are the remains of this ride what we see on the Railroad? I have no recollection of this ride from my youth.....
Originally Posted By netenyahoo Big Thunder replaced part of it. Big Thunder Ranch was part of it. The path from Fantasyland to Frontierland didn't exist then. Cascade peak which was part of the ride bordered the Rivers of America. The broken down railroad car along the river is a tribute to it. I have never been on it, but have seen pictures and read about it.
Originally Posted By gaydsnywitch >>Wed 3/14/2007 12:00p Where/what was Nature's Wonderland? << Yesterland has a bit about it. <a href="http://www.yesterland.com/minetrain.html" target="_blank">http://www.yesterland.com/mine train.html</a>
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I used to love this and was broken hearted when Big Thunder replaced it. Then I got the guts to go on Big Thunder and was glad they did! Now as a parent, I wish they had both weaving between each other. Oh well, I guess we'll have to take the kids down the street to see the Calico Mine.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 Love the Calico Mine Train! As for the recorded narration on Nature's Wonderland, yeah, I can see that being a factor. I'm guessing the reason they went with that is because of the lenth of the train. If you did live narration, the people in the back or front would be missing what was being talked about. Those trains were LONG. The only thing I can think of that's similar are the tram tours at the Studios parks (both Disney's and Universal's). They have some recorded bits, but also live narration. They can change them to reflect new scenes too. I wonder if Nature's Wonderland had stuck around, if Disney would have found a way to change out the narration, or make it a live/recorded combo like the Disneyland Railroad? Oh, and I have to say that the narration on Nature's Wonderland would have HAD to be changed to be less corny and sexist, LOL!
Originally Posted By momofbuzzfan Thanks for all the info, and the link to yesterland.com. Interesting site!
Originally Posted By avromark <<As for the recorded narration on Nature's Wonderland, yeah, I can see that being a factor. I'm guessing the reason they went with that is because of the lenth of the train. If you did live narration, the people in the back or front would be missing what was being talked about.>> Even back then couldn't they simply have had the rear speakers on a slight delay from the front of the train so it would be "timed" closer? Not that I think they would, but if they did revive it (say put it in WDW as part of AK, where it never has been and would see a new audience). That said it would have totally new audience in DLR, since it was removed before I was born.
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes The biggest reason that there no longer is a Nature’s Wonderland at Disneyland is that the people in charge of Walt Disney Productions at that time were concerned about Disneyland being thought of as only a family park, leading to those seeking more of a thrill to choose to go to another park. At this time, the concept for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad atop a bigger grander concept called Thunder Mesa was being looked at for WDW. Thunder Mesa didn’t see the light of day, but the roller coaster was just what the suits wanted. Nature’s Wonderland’s numbers were beginning to fall, maintenance was going up, and it was a nice big location – which was what Big Thunder would require. And that was that.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 "The biggest reason that there no longer is a Nature’s Wonderland at Disneyland is that the people in charge of Walt Disney Productions at that time were concerned about Disneyland being thought of as only a family park, leading to those seeking more of a thrill to choose to go to another park." Which is amazing to me that so shortly after Walt's death, the company was already willing to abandon his principles. I guess it's not limited to current management, huh?
Originally Posted By wonderingalice I loved Nature's Wonderland, and was also disappointed (at first) when it was closed. The first way that Big Thunder redeemed it for me was the retention of the little town buildings from the original attraction. I smiled from the inside-out when I saw them and still do. And I love Big Thunder, so all is well.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 Is there an overhead view of the Mine Train attraction? I know it was big, but I want to know just how much land it took up back there.
Originally Posted By danyoung >Which is amazing to me that so shortly after Walt's death, the company was already willing to abandon his principles.< I've heard this argument before, & I just don't buy it. I think Walt would have been right there with the changes in society, and the younger visitors wanting more of a thrill. Pirates was definitely leaning in the direction of the thrill, and it was directly influenced by Walt. I think ol' Walt would have loved BTMRR, just as he would have abhorred Mulholland Madness. It's not strictly about the thrill - it's about the theme!
Originally Posted By jonvn "It seems like the two attractiosn, Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland, and The Jungle Cruise, are pretty similar in theme." So is the Sub Voyage, too, right? This was a great ride. I really liked it, and parts of it are still around. It was just huge. What replaced it was not as good an experience, nor did it fit as well into the surroundings. Kind of a major loss, actually.
Originally Posted By danyoung Ummm, I can't see any way that the Subs are like either the Jungle Cruise or the Mine Train . . .
Originally Posted By jonvn Because they all displayed natural settings. The jungle, the west, under the water...
Originally Posted By mrichmondj I would put the Mark Twain and Columbia in this category of attractions as well.
