Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer It is a positive, no doubt about it. I'm just hounding the thematics of all this. And how FLE will feel, once it's opened. Is it just a meager extension that looks good, or is it substance?
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<No, not world shaking at all. But it will become the dominant attraction of Fantasyland.>> Wow, That's a bit presumptuous. The ride isn't even built yet.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<all this "It will!" vs "It won't!" is pointless.>> I'm going to have to respectfully disagree. <<without damning it for not being a big E headliner, I don't see how it can be seen as anything but a positive.>> I'm glad it meets your standards. But, given what is taking place at the park "up the road", some of us were hoping for something a bit more dramatic and impressive. Building (by all current counts) something with less detail as other Disney attraction headliners just demonstrates that Disney is content to rest on their laurels and really isn't intrested in "wowing" their guests. We all know Disney can do better than mediocre. More doesn't mean it is better, sometimes it just "more". Unless we are suppose to be "wowed" by the new ride mechanism. With this kind of effort I would think Disney would want to build an "repeat" attraction. In other words an ride/ attraction people want to travel from the other side of the country to experience. There is only so much real estate available in the MK, you'd think Disney would be wanting to blow away the competition by installing unbelievable rides/ attraction. The proposed 7DMT is just looking non-plus.
Originally Posted By Lee hisownself >>Wow, That's a bit presumptuous. The ride isn't even built yet.<< Not at all. It’s no more presumptuous than those that are saying it won’t be any good, that it will be a disappointment. If I’m jumping the gun, then I’m not alone. Also, I stand by my comment. I predict that 7DMR will have a longer wait and be more popular than any other part of the FLE, and likely more than anything else in FL. What will come close? Pan? >>I'm glad it meets your standards. But, given what is taking place at the park "up the road", some of us were hoping for something a bit more dramatic and impressive.<< That’s where the mistake lies. Expectations. We’ve known since the beginning that the FLE was not intended to be any sort of counter to WWoHP. It’s just an expansion to reclaim lost capacity and add a little freshness to the busiest park in the US. There was never any possibility of MK getting a big E, or anything else on the Potter level. So to judge the mine ride harshly because it isn’t another Splash does it a disservice. Take it for what it is, not what it isn’t. It’s certainly better than Plan A, the land of the never-ending M&Gs. I’ve known for over a year that the 7DMR was coming, what it would look like and what it would entail. Knowing what I know about it, and knowing what else FL has to offer, I think it will be a quality addition to the park. >>There is only so much real estate available in the MK, you'd think Disney would be wanting to blow away the competition by installing unbelievable rides/ attraction.<< Agreed. We’d all like to think that. Problem is, Disney has shown no sign of having any interest in blowing away the competition, or even trying to match them. They are content to ride on their history and the marketing of pixie dust and magic. I’d love to see Villain Mountain, Fire Mountain, Cartoon Corners or any number of other big E headliners. Trouble is, Disney has no interest in building them, especially not in the MK where they couldn’t even be bothered to give Space a proper refurb. Maybe one day they will wise up and drop a new showstopper in AK where it is desperately needed.
Originally Posted By dshyates Seriously, why should Disney bother building impressive attractions? The MK is the most popular theme park on the planet. In yo' face boy wizard. Disney rules FOREVER!!!! End of story. Or is it?
Originally Posted By WDWVacationer <<Seriously, why should Disney bother building impressive attractions? The MK is the most popular theme park on the planet. In yo' face boy wizard. Disney rules FOREVER!!!! End of story. Or is it?>> Disney is doing severe damage to their reputation right now. 20-30 years from now, who knows?
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad Since I started going to WDW they have installed Everest, the new Living Seas, 3 Caballeros in Mexico, Nemo musical, new Spaceship Earth, Toystory mania, Lights Motor Action, Narnia, Crush N Gusher, Laugh floor, great refurbed Mansion and then plussed the end Ghost sequence, Turtle talk, and Philharmagic. Each of these I consider an upgrade to my vacation. They have also installed stitch escape, old tiki room, kukla arm or whatever it is called, captain eo, star tours 2 and have removed Pocahantas, the quartet opener for beauty and the beast, the movie theater, the merlin show, tarzan show, honey I shrunk the audience. I sort of feel like most of the time, while they might not be hitting it out of the park every time, they are consistently getting on base. No they aren't matching Harry Potter. But I'm not sure they could have. HP was a unique oportunity that doesn't come along very often. If only WDW had purchased the rights to HP. Anyway I'm reasonably confident that the FL expansion will be a reasonable upgrade to my vacation. Do I hope they hit it out of the park? sure! But in the end I'll most likely still find happiness in the new area just like I did in the interactive Queues and plussed Haunted Mansion.
Originally Posted By leobloom Nothing they've opened in the last ten years is half as memorable as Pirates, Mansion, Thunder, Splash, Space, Tower, Spaceship Earth, etc. They may be getting on base, CDD. But I see diminishing returns. For the prices they charge, I expect home runs (or at least triples), not doubles and singles. Much less strike outs. I'm not sure what Disney's long-term plan is with regards to WDW, but I'm pretty sure they're not getting my business again anytime soon.
Originally Posted By leobloom To finish that thought... I don't think they'll be getting my business anytime soon, and I think they're perfectly fine with that. There are plenty of first- or second-time visitors from Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Arkansas to keep Bob Iger rich. Disney apparently realizes this and is unwilling to do much to encourage people to visit more than once every few years. Besides, if you find another vacation justifiable so that you can experience the new queue at Mansion, then what motivation does Disney have to add big new attractions? They've got the newbies who don't know new from old, and they've got the addicts who wouldn't dream of vacationing anywhere else.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Leo, you and I are the same page. That says, FL has been the weakest land in the MK ever since 20k closed. That was a thing of beauty so the carnival flat fronts did not matter quite as much, but the MK's FL has been ugly compared to California, Paris and even Hong Kong. The FLE and the mine coaster will help greatly. Now, if they can refurbish the facades of the dark rides next, that would be great.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Funny, I always thought that the Submarines were terribly out of place in Fantasyland, even with the Captain Nemo theme. On top of that the ride was just beyond hokey. This current expansion, which covers some of the Sub real estate, was too long coming, but nevertheless will be an huge improvement over what was there before.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I agree the placement never made sense, but it was very pretty to watch.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt That's true. In that regard I would imagine that the Dwarf coaster will be as attractive and interesting to see, at least from what's been shown in the concept art. TLM had been a big hit in California and the exterior and queue of the MK version looks far more impressive. The FLE won't be WDW's finest moment, but those two attractions, along with the removal of the horrible Mickey's Birthdayland or whatever they called it, should be reason to celebrate.
Originally Posted By dagobert Mickey's Toon Town Fair was definitely one of the worst things I've seen in any of the WDW parks. Chester & Hester's Dinorama might be worse. Compared to these two lands TSPL looks great.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I'm glad it meets your standards. But, given what is taking place at the park "up the road", some of us were hoping for something a bit more dramatic and impressive. Building (by all current counts) something with less detail as other Disney attraction headliners just demonstrates that Disney is content to rest on their laurels and really isn't intrested in "wowing" their guests. We all know Disney can do better than mediocre. More doesn't mean it is better, sometimes it just "more". Unless we are suppose to be "wowed" by the new ride mechanism. With this kind of effort I would think Disney would want to build an "repeat" attraction. In other words an ride/ attraction people want to travel from the other side of the country to experience. There is only so much real estate available in the MK, you'd think Disney would be wanting to blow away the competition by installing unbelievable rides/ attraction. The proposed 7DMT is just looking non-plus.<<< THIS
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>We’ve known since the beginning that the FLE was not intended to be any sort of counter to WWoHP. It’s just an expansion to reclaim lost capacity and add a little freshness to the busiest park in the US. There was never any possibility of MK getting a big E, or anything else on the Potter level. So to judge the mine ride harshly because it isn’t another Splash does it a disservice. Take it for what it is, not what it isn’t. It’s certainly better than Plan A, the land of the never-ending M&Gs.<<< And that's exactly what the problem is, Lee! We all know that this is just the paltry minimum for what's needed in MK! Of course, this WILL improve cap, which is a huge problem, but it can also be a draw, while doing it. Kill two birds with one E Ticket.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Since I started going to WDW they have installed Everest, the new Living Seas, 3 Caballeros in Mexico, Nemo musical, new Spaceship Earth, Toystory mania, Lights Motor Action, Narnia, Crush N Gusher, Laugh floor, great refurbed Mansion and then plussed the end Ghost sequence, Turtle talk, and Philharmagic. Each of these I consider an upgrade to my vacation.<<< Only Everest is on new land, there.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>That says, FL has been the weakest land in the MK ever since 20k closed. That was a thing of beauty so the carnival flat fronts did not matter quite as much, but the MK's FL has been ugly compared to California, Paris and even Hong Kong. The FLE and the mine coaster will help greatly. Now, if they can refurbish the facades of the dark rides next, that would be great.<<< Most of the facades are fine, really, it just needs more greenery and less concrete. It's missing texture.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>Funny, I always thought that the Submarines were terribly out of place in Fantasyland, even with the Captain Nemo theme. On top of that the ride was just beyond hokey.<<< First, lets examine reality. Since almost none of us would ever ride a sub through wreckage, sea monsters or under the poles, 20K pretty much was a full fledged fantasy. Why then, wouldn't it be at home in Fantasyland? Second, yes it was hokey, but it was also pretty unique for most of the population. I don't know if there was anything like it before, but if there was I never heard about it. I found it extremely interesting in form and content and even have to give it points of the feeling of reality. In fact, it was so well done in realism that my wife, a woman who holds two masters degrees, became completely disillusioned when she found out that it didn't really submerge. I knew that it didn't but I still admired the simple little things that were done to create that illusion like the bubbles going past your portholes.
