Originally Posted By Indigo So they built this beautiful representation of Belle's Village from the movie, you can tell a lot of care went into it. They also built Maurice's Cottage, which houses a meet and greet, and Beast's Castle, which is home to a restaurant... there's just one thing they left off the check list... an actual attraction to anchor this area. You get in there, walk around for a few minutes, window shop, maybe get your picture taken with Gaston, then look around for something todo and come to the realization that there just isn't anything _to do_ in the area. Normally there would be a show, a dark ride, or a coaster of some sort. It just feels incomplete the way it is now.
Originally Posted By Doobie Obviously more would be better, but I think Storytime with Belle is a pretty good attraction for the area. I didn't feel like something was missing. Doobie.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip When an area is really well done I think it can get along without a typical attraction. Let's face it... WWoHP at Universal would be a huge hit even WITHOUT the Forbidden Journey (which is fantastic). People would still be standing in line to buy Butter Beer, purchase wands at Ollivander's and tour Hogwarts even if it were nothing but a walk-through.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Well that is an unfair advantage since your child is so photogenic. Anything and everything looks more fun with him around. It is good to know all had fun. Enjoying all the pics. So thanks to everyone.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: Let's hope they do go ahead and add an attraction for Beauty & the Beast at some point. It really would be nice. At least we have an attraction for Little Mermaid. Maybe when the drarf coast opens things will seem a lot more fleshed out. ORGOCH: Don'tcha think yer 'fleshed out' 'nuff fer ev'rybody??? (sounds of smashings and thrashings followed by a deadly calm...)
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: Oh! I meant to say dwarf coaster back there. See what happens when a certain nasty old biddy distracts me with all her many insults!!!!
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Since this is an extension of an already existing land it seems like a minor quibble to say that there should be more attractions. As Doobie said, more is always better, but it seems to me that a Disney theme park is just as much about atmosphere is it is about rides.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Since this is an extension of an already existing land it seems like a minor quibble to say that there should be more attractions. As Doobie said, more is always better, but it seems to me that a Disney theme park is just as much about atmosphere is it is about rides.>> If WDW wasn't set on hyping this as being the "Biggest expansion in Magic Kingdom History" I could agree with that. But when the expansion is only adding one ride in the grand scheme of things, and in reality is just breaking even with MK 1994, then the expansion comes up short.
Originally Posted By Doobie Ultimate it's adding 2 rides, isn't it? Mermaid and the Mine Train? The numbers will speak for themselves (positively or negatively), but I think they made the call. In any case, how often does one expansion add more than 2 rides? Has there been one in the past at MK?
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt If WDW wasn't set on hyping this as being the "Biggest expansion in Magic Kingdom History" I could agree with that. It isn't hype. It is, in fact, the single biggest expansion at that park. I agree that it's short on content (rides), but the MK hasn't had the kinds of dramatic expansions that DL has had. "But when the expansion is only adding one ride in the grand scheme of things, and in reality is just breaking even with MK 1994, then the expansion comes up short." True, but at some point does that really matter? I mean there's a whole generation of kids who know nothing about the MK circa 1994 much less 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Skyway. The average person isn't going to walk in there and start doing an attraction count comparison between the mid 1990s and today.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<But when the expansion is only adding one ride in the grand scheme of things, and in reality is just breaking even with MK 1994, then the expansion comes up short.>> Sadly, I'm going to agree with this, for one reason: the mine train ride isn't open yet. I know precisely why staggered openings are done. It's all about stretching out the CapEx and such. Even so, it's still bad marketing. Everything in the expansion should have opened at the same time. Especially since the mine train is at the *front* of the new area, and not behind it, against the berm. Having this gorgeous new area open up with construction walls for the mine train out front is bad show. BAD!
Originally Posted By Doobie I agree it's a huge mistake it's not open. It really is an eyesore on what is otherwise a beautiful new area. But ultimately, it will be open and the expansion will be judged based on that, not what it is right now.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 I agree the area is beautiful. But the sum of the parts doesn't add up for me. The Little Mermaid is a nice C ticket attraction. Gaston's Tavern is very small. The gift shop is very small. Storytime with Belle has a very very low capacity. I found the whole thing pretty but disappointing
Originally Posted By Doobie <<< I agree the area is beautiful. But the sum of the parts doesn't add up for me. The Little Mermaid is a nice C ticket attraction. Gaston's Tavern is very small. The gift shop is very small. Storytime with Belle has a very very low capacity. I found the whole thing pretty but disappointing >>> Just curious - not trying to start an argument - would you say the same thing about Potterland without Forbidden Journey? I'm a huge fan of Potterland because of how it looks, not its attractions (I've only been on the Hippogriff). It was the first land I've been to where I loved it just for how it looked and how it felt to be there, regardless of its attractions. Now New Fantasyland is the second. Doobie.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ I agree about Potterland and will probably feel the same way about the FLE. Any cheap carnival can twirl you in circles... it is the beautiful settings that make Disney different. Fantasyland already has more attractions than any other MK land. What they really needed was a great setting to go with it and now they have it!
Originally Posted By sjhym333 I found the Harry Potter section of the Universal much more fulfilling as an experience. There is a cohesiveness about the area that is wonderful. I don't feel that at the FL expansion. Again, it is pretty to look at but just seems to be lacking something. I honestly can't put my finger on what it is though. The Little Mermaid attraction was ok, the area is pretty. It was just...dull.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I really think what this "something's lacking" argument boils down to is the subject matter. Is it too much to assume that modern day wizards from Harry Potter trump Dumbo, Arial, and Belle?
