Originally Posted By BlazesOfFire I dont mind that it slowed down. The ride is cute, not something I am dying to get off of and most importantly, I realize that someone probably needs it slowed down and that's ok
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>I'm wondering if the cm has the capability to slow it at different speeds...<< Yes they do, and they can stop it if the needs be. That is the proper procedure to board some disabled guests in wheelchairs. If they didn't slow, there would not be enough time to board or deboard a guest with disability.
Originally Posted By CTXRover <<Does the ride utilize the exact track layout as the former SeaCabs ride? Or did they manage to lengthen it in some sections? 3 minutes does not sound like a lot of time ... given Buzz in Disneyland is 4½ minutes>> The new ride is around 4 minutes and 15 seconds long from the moment you enter the coral reef to the moment before your clamobile reaches the exit "belt". From a youtube video of the old seacab "ride", that is basically double the ride time. They added more than 280 feet of ride track to the exisiting track that was there before. It is a considerably more detailed, immersive and story driven "ride" than the seacabs ever were or tried to be, with some neat use of technology that wasn't available a few years ago. While true there is an emphasis on projections, I like the mix of things from beautiful set pieces (no 2d painted flats here..except near the end), to traditional video/projections, to a pretty cool animatronic utilizing what apparently is a Kuba robotic arm to the new projection technology that surprisingly really does make it seem like the Nemo characters are out in the water with the other fish. Its a job well done. They turned what I imagine was barely a B ride into a very solid C to near D-ride level. It was certainly more than I expected.
Originally Posted By ChiMike Another review that is great to hear. You know I asked this somewhere, but do you know if they plan on dealing with the openness between load, unload, and the Sea Base? It looks like they did a good job trying to plan for unforseen crowds with a lot of queue space, but from reports and even pics it looks like they could have trimmed a little off and help seperate the areas. Any thoughts? Thanks.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Any thoughts?<< From me?? Personally I think NOT. If Leemac's info about them moving the Talk with Crush show to the remaining theater is true, and I believe it will be, then I am sure the expansive switchback will proabbly be utilized better. But I am speculating here of course...
Originally Posted By CTXRover Very nice review TDLFAN. Just a two quick observations if you care: The Angler fish is not chasing Nemo, but rather his father Marlin. It is not Nemo's voice during this portion of the ride and there was a similar scene in the movie. The ride is closer to 4min 15 sec to 4min and 30 seconds in duration, not 3 minutes, but either way it is short (but more than twice as long as the seacabs). Also, I know people do it and you needed photos for everyone to see (and they are nice photos), but they were suprisngly very strict on the AP weekends of not using your flash if you had a visible camera on your lap. I suppose if they didn't tell you though you wouldn't know as I didn't see any signs. However, not only does the flash ruin the experience for riders around you, it 'illuminates' things in a light they were not meant to be seen in and distorts the real look of the set pieces. That goes for flash photos in all dark rides. I'm sure you know that though
Originally Posted By pipanale Regarding post 26, I was about to ask something related to that. The pictures almost made the ride look poorly done...little or no masking of the ride's inner workings. I figured it was the flash that lit things up a lot. I'm always interested in getting peeks behind the scenes so I didn't mind...
Originally Posted By oc_dean I'm thrilled to hear the omnimover has once again proved it's usefullness. While two are permanently gone: WoM, and Horizons ... It's good to hear they took a very short one .. and doubled the size of one within the seas pavilion into a solid family attraction!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>However, not only does the flash ruin the experience for riders around you, it 'illuminates' things in a light they were not meant to be seen in and distorts the real look of the set pieces. That goes for flash photos in all dark rides. I'm sure you know that though << I very much know that and trust me, I hate to do it as well... and the only reason why I started taking photos with flas was because *EVERYBODY* else around me was also taking flash photos. Initially, I attempted to snap photos with open lense and no flash but the results were poor due to the motion on the vehicles. The darkest photos you saw in the album are a few of the ones that turned out with open lense and no flash. Of course, my concern first and foremost was to show you all something from the ride, and now that I know the effort I put in for you all is unappreciated, I just won't bother use flash anymore.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN AN UPDATE on this issue... I rode Nemo again tonight at EPCOT around 7:30pm. I specifically looked around for a "NO FLASH PHOTO" sign and honestly didn't see one posted anywhere. The ride was a walk on. As soon as I got on, the second my rounded back hit the seat in the vehicle, the vehicles came to a very rough stop. Immediately, one of the CMs at the end of the moving platform made the mandatory "remain seated" PA. However, the ride was back on within a minute... and off we were. Almost as soon as we turned around the corner at the end of the platform... photo flashes from cameras started going off, and kept going off for the rest of the ride. Sadly... the anglerfish scene was out. We just saw the anglerfish sitting there motionless, which was a major disappointement since I find that scene to be the highlight of the ride. Likewise, seemed to me there were more jellyfish lowered to the ground, at eye level from the vehicles, which allowed for a very good look of the strings that hold them up. This jellyfish scene needs major improvements. At the end of the ride, I told asked the CM if I could make a suggestion and she said "sure"... I told her they need to make sure flash photography should be discouraged as it did indeed became troublesome to enjoy the ride with all of that going. All she said to me was... "I will pass your suggestion to a manager", but she never told me if it was indeed prohibited.
Originally Posted By CMDad BTW ... when the ride stopped the second time I rode it ... the announcement was made by Crush.
Originally Posted By ChiMike For a ride that I am so encouraged about, it is Discouraging to hear that the Jellyfish scene could be screwed up, the angler fish is still having problems, and Disney for whatever moronic reason isn't clamping down on flash photography. WHA?!?! Since when does Disney just give carte blanch on what used to be so enforced that pop culture would make fun of it. "NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY"
Originally Posted By fundog58 Great report! I've always loved the slow moving "dark rides" and can't wait to check this one out. I say good riddance to the hydrolaters. IMHO, the effect was cheesy and those things could get downright claustrophobic on busier days.
Originally Posted By leemac <<For a ride that I am so encouraged about, it is Discouraging to hear that the Jellyfish scene could be screwed up, the angler fish is still having problems, and Disney for whatever moronic reason isn't clamping down on flash photography. >> For Pete's sake the attraction isn't even officially open. It is still in previews and there are still teething problems to deal with. It was barely open yesterday in order to deal with the issues. The first two will be sorted out prior to the media opening. The third point is down to Epcot Ops. People should complain to the Epcot West managers.
Originally Posted By ChiMike Whoa ^ settle down. That's not complaining. Simple feedback to TDLFan's post. I would hope my posts speak for themselves, that I am being very fair, and giving a huge benefit of the doubt to a ride that I haven't even seen yet. In one week I will. I understand the frustration of people being quick to judge, but the only thing I have a bad pre-conceived notion towards is that you can see into Sea Base from queue and load. And that's simply off of numerous observations that have been reported. I haven't read anything that suggests that this isn't going to be the final state for it. I think things like this show that I have a pretty fair, grounded judgement. If anything the only thing I am prone to make rash judgements about are people who use flash photography. If the designers wanted strobe lights in the attaction they would have installed them. I can't put someone's pictures ahead of others who just want to ride an attraction.
Originally Posted By ChiMike So please don't take my comments as another gripe session. They aren't. I'm not part of the group who thinks it's more important to go back to TLS 1986 then to get guests inside the pavilion.
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ OK. I'll just say that I was responding to the tone of Post 33 as I read it. It sounded pretty whiny to me. They are still working very hard to get this up and running properly ASAP. It is remarkable how quickly this new attraction has got to fruition.
Originally Posted By ChiMike Well then you don't know me as well as I thought you did. It's probably my fault, but I have always been careful, or at least mindful, of how my posts come across in tone. Thank you for answering my recent questions and please let me know in the future if another post 33 comes across as "whiny". >> It is remarkable how quickly this new attraction has got to fruition.<< And, thus, my over-flowing positive remarks about this project. This is how it should have been done for the last 10 years. This, seems to me, is the complete opposite of the JII redos. Not only in the speed but actually bringing the guest to a full environment that doesn't rely on lots of black walls. That doesn't take away track, but adds to it. So, again, that's why I am shocked that all of a sudden I am whiny.
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ No worries. It sounded more like TDLFAN than you which is why I was surprised. Epcot is moving in the right direction and I'm excited about the future for this great park. )
