Originally Posted By Christi22222 This....>>For Soarin', some see nothing more than a big screen. Period. Others see a great, immersive experience where AFTER going through a rather dull queue line and enduring the boarding procedure (Thanks for the peppy safety spiel, Patrick!), the actual ride is a home run, time after time.<< And this.... >>I am not a fan of 'screens' as theme park attractions. I like active experiences better and they tend to be passive. But there's nothing passive about floating above the Golden Gate or Lake Tahoe or Yosemite.<< Yeah, um, what they said. I can't say it better!
Originally Posted By DAR I've only been on Soarin once, mainly because I haven't been down there in a few years. Proably one reason why I'm not so critical of WDW like you guys are. But I thought it was fine, but nothing that inspires the fantatical following it has.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 With so much wrong in Future World these days, the state of the Soarin film is probably the last thing we should be worrying about. I was there last weekend, and I couldn't believe how much work that place needs. Journey into Imagination is just a joke, and needs replacement fast! Living with the Land could really use some updates to the beginning and ending of the ride - and for God's sake, will they please bring back the darn song! That would really, really help liven' things up again. While the Nemo ride is cute, Seabase Alpha could really use some updates. Energy is so out of date it's almost laughable - and then we have Wonders of Life just sitting there empty. Seriously, Disney needs to get their act together with EPCOT and bring it into the 21st Century. Updates to Soarin can wait - EPCOT has way to many other problems that need solving first.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 Oh, and for God's sake - please dig up that horrible graveyard at the entrance, and get rid of the tacky, purple tarps already!
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper << Living with the Land could really use some updates to the beginning and ending of the ride - and for God's sake, will they please bring back the darn song! That would really, really help liven' things up again.>> The song would be nice at the end, but LwtL by far needs the least amount of wok in FW, IMO. It's by far the most complete attraction in FW.
Originally Posted By danyoung plpeters, I don't disagree with much of what you said, even though I was ready to after you said that Future World is in bad shape. I guess for me there's more than enough still in FW to keep me happy and entertained. But Imagination has to go, and the big empty WoL pavilion just about makes me cry! I still like the Universe of Energy show, though. And I LOVE the obelisks out front - my smiling face has greeted everyone since 1999!!!
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<The song would be nice at the end, but LwtL by far needs the least amount of wok in FW, IMO.>> Agreed, but that ending is just horrible. You float through a tunnel of nothing, and then look at a couple pictures - not a great way to end the ride. I know the space is limited, but couldn't they at least use some of that projection technology they love so much to liven that space up? And having the song playing would really, really help too. But in order for that to work, they would really need to integrate that theme into the rest of the ride - songs in attractions work best when the theme repeats in different ways throughout.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<And I LOVE the obelisks out front>> I have one too, but can't wait for those things to be torn down. They're ugly and destroyed a truly great and beautiful plaza.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<plpeters, I don't disagree with much of what you said, even though I was ready to after you said that Future World is in bad shape. I guess for me there's more than enough still in FW to keep me happy and entertained.>> I agree with you - but then, when it comes to EPCOT, I'm a bit of a perfectionist. There are just too many areas that need attention for me to be happy with today's Future World. Disney really needs to sit down and come up with a cohesive plan for updating that part of the park. A lot of what is already there could, and should, stay - but they really need to address the issues. <<And I LOVE the obelisks out front - my smiling face has greeted everyone since 1999!!!>> I know that the people who have their pictures there LOVE them, but those things just have to go. It's not even the pictures I mind so much - I'd be fine with them moving those plaques somewhere else in EPCOT. But those tombstones need to go - they make the front entrance far to desolate looking. And they really need to do something with that half-finished fountain. The whole area just looks bad. The old entrance had flowers and trees that really made the place feel welcoming and full of life. Now, it just feels like a desert - not what I want to visualize as the entrance to the "future". And how about bringing back the palm trees that used to frame Spaceship Earth so well? What's with those ugly, shrubbery-type trees they have there now?
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Maybe it's the great musical score and the breathtaking scenery of one of my favorite states in the USA. Maybe it's simply the fact it appeals to almost all demos while not throwing in characters.<<< Nah, we have TINK!!!!!! at the end. Despite that, I agree. Fits the Land quite well in it's "celebration" aspect of it.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>><<It has its faults, no doubt. But I enjoy it every time I ride ... I can't say the same for TT.>><<<< I like TT for it's thrill, but that's about it. TT's thrill far surpasses S', however, and if I want a thrill, I'm heading to TT. But compare TT to S's place in the park? S' by a mile. And S' for the "artistry" of the presentation, too. TT is very cold.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>While the Nemo ride is cute, Seabase Alpha could really use some updates. Energy is so out of date it's almost laughable - and then we have Wonders of Life just sitting there empty.<<< It's a fun, cute, ride, yes...but how does it work in EPCOT? It's so misplaced. >>>Agreed, but that ending is just horrible. You float through a tunnel of nothing, and then look at a couple pictures - not a great way to end the ride. I know the space is limited, but couldn't they at least use some of that projection technology they love so much to liven that space up? And having the song playing would really, really help too. But in order for that to work, they would really need to integrate that theme into the rest of the ride - songs in attractions work best when the theme repeats in different ways throughout.<<< If anything, Symphony of the seed should have been left intact. Such pretty fiber optics...
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<It's a fun, cute, ride, yes...but how does it work in EPCOT? It's so misplaced.>> I actually agree with you - but there's no way that today's Disney would ever remove it. So, while I would prefer a Nemo-less Living Seas, we probably will just have to hope that whatever they add to that pavilion is of high enough quality to be able to ignore the characters.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I actually agree with you - but there's no way that today's Disney would ever remove it. So, while I would prefer a Nemo-less Living Seas, we probably will just have to hope that whatever they add to that pavilion is of high enough quality to be able to ignore the characters.<<< I don't expect it to be removed anytime soon. Hopefully it would get the boot sometime in the future when A) Nemo isn't popular or B) they actually have a good idea for the area. It could happen,....
Originally Posted By MousDad >>Soarin's score is the best piece of music Disney has done since the Millenium Celebration, IMO.<< 100% right. It's a rare and unmistakeable breath of creative perfection.
Originally Posted By danyoung >But those tombstones need to go - they make the front entrance far to desolate looking. And they really need to do something with that half-finished fountain. The whole area just looks bad.< I've never thought of myself as any type of design guru. But I've never seen the current entryway to Epcot as anything but cool. I think the obelisks (I refuse to call 'em tombstones, cuz they simply don't look like tombstones to me!) look very futuristic, and the fountain fits right in with the whole design of the plaza. I could always use more greenery, but the Epcot entryway has never even come close to bothering me. I know, I know - call me a Defender of Mediocrity!!!
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<I know, I know - call me a Defender of Mediocrity!!!>> Not at all - I don't think there's really a "right" answer on this issue. And I really wouldn't even call the current entryway "mediocre" or "cheap" - it probably actually cost them alot of money to build these things. But, I just don't like them. I know that's a matter of opinion, but I really think the original entrance was much. much nicer. There's nothing wrong with you liking it - I just hope no one at Disney shares your opinion!! ;-)
Originally Posted By Christi22222 >>It could happen,....<< Hmmmm....do you believe in fairies, too? Nemo's not leaving there, ever. They don't care if it fits or not. It's a way popular ride. And most people think - ocean, fish - it fits! I'm sorry. But I enjoy your jovial persistence! (And even understand your point.)
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<It's a way popular ride.>> Meh...I wouldn't call it "way" popular. It probably makes it's numbers, but from what I understand it doesn't exceed expectations.
