Originally Posted By Expo_Seeker40 it's a queue, it's a queue, after all it's just a queue try the organ it sounds delicious...don't believe me? ask the captain, he is dead, his name is Fred, after all this is death, and his tomb stone here is beyond second best, go on and choose your entrance, the cemetery is quite different, it's a queue, it's a queue, it's just a freakkkking queueeeeeeeeeeee
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo It's just a theme park (now). But just think how much time we have all wasted over the years discussing it.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 "There's just no satisfying some people." Bingo-- let's face it, if the organ was dispensing $50 bills to each person walking by- to some it would 'suck' because they were not $100's
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>What strikes me as odd is that an interactive que was placed at the HM. It is not as if the HM is notorious for excessively long wait lines. Wouldn't it make more sense to be placing interactive ques on rides/ attractions where there is a guarenteed hour or longer wait in que? Toy Story, Soarin, Kilimanjaro Safari? It just seems to me that it not a good business move to be placing interative ques on rides/ attractions that gobble up guests! And HM gobbles up guests.<<< That's thinking too logically. Fact of the matter, Phil Holmes once worked at the HM, and still holds it to high standards. Given the chance to spend money on it, he took it.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer And I should mention that HM isn't the only queue with this idea in mind... BTMR, Splash, and Pan all have plans in mind. We've already seen Pooh's.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>HH, I know you are joking around therefore the but sometimes I think people are taking a fun dark ride way, way to seriously. I sincerely doubt that there was any message originally hidden in the ride. It was just planned as a scary/funny dark ride that, if it had a message, was to poke fun at "fun houses".<<< I believe this was in reference to me? And no, I'm not taking anything too seriously. If you look at the design choices, and the thematics of the ride, it's message is very clear. Yes, it's meant to be fun. But that doesn't mean the fun has a message, theme, and purpose. Read up here: <a href="http://longforgottenhauntedmansion.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://longforgottenhauntedman...pot.com/</a>
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Bingo-- let's face it, if the organ was dispensing $50 bills to each person walking by- to some it would 'suck' because they were not $100's<<< That's comparing apples to oranges, and you know it. The point is, some of us feel that it's not thematically sound for the HM.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>I believe this was in reference to me? And no, I'm not taking anything too seriously. If you look at the design choices, and the thematics of the ride, it's message is very clear. Yes, it's meant to be fun. But that doesn't mean the fun has a message, theme, and purpose. <<< It brings to mind my college years in literature. The Prof. would always ask what the author was trying to get across when he wrote his/her novel. You know, the deep psychological meaning of everything said, that didn't actually say it, but was meant to convey some idea or moral. My response, in many, other than the obvious ones, was I don't think there is a hidden message. I think it was a story that the author wanted to tell. No deep moral messages or ideology, just a story based on an idea for a story. They were motivated by desire to tell the story in such a way that the public would want to be part of it, therefore selling books, therefore creating wealth and fame for said author. Haunted Mansion is meant, IMHO, to be a story based on human fascination with the beyond. It played on fears (as in the beginning) and then made us chuckle at the silliness of it all. Haunted Mansion is a very well done play on those thoughts. In the meantime, nothing of any substance has been changed within the doors, it remains what it was. The change is in the queue line and only supports the THEME PARK premise of fun and fantasy. Previous too the changes, could we all get very somber reading the epitaphs written on the tomb stones in the original grave yard? How were we able to take it any more or less serious with that leading into the Mansion?
Originally Posted By skinnerbox The guests' initial reaction to HM upon seeing the exterior, walking up the (original) queue past the tombstones, through the front door and into the entryway/portrait gallery, embodies the "aura of foreboding," as our ghost host reminds us. But the new interactive queue kills that sensation. Period. Even if the gags weren't so cartoony, the elements themselves kill the hint of imminent doom, the spook factor, chilly goosebumps, whatever you wish to call it. This is the basic design misstep that WDI should not have taken. Other attractions were better suited for an interactive queue. If they wanted to give the youngsters something to busy themselves with in line, then Disney should have added more elements like Leota's haunted tombstone or even provided a free downloadable smartphone app in Liberty Square for "ghost hunting." What they settled for ruins the thematic environment and messes up the story arc of the attraction. WDI can do better, but chose this cartoony chaos instead. Massive fail.
Originally Posted By Manfried Is this thread actually stretching? Or is it just people blowing hot air. And consider this queued up observation. This thread has no way of getting posters to lighten up. Of course there's always my way.... Flame the heck out of them! Bwah, ha, ha, ha, ha....
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ">>>Bingo-- let's face it, if the organ was dispensing $50 bills to each person walking by- to some it would 'suck' because they were not $100's<<< That's comparing apples to oranges, and you know it. The point is, some of us feel that it's not thematically sound for the HM." some people yes have that argument, but you shouldn't have read this as you then..there are others who hate everything and anything, and you know who they are.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Even if the gags weren't so cartoony, the elements themselves kill the hint of imminent doom, the spook factor, chilly goosebumps, whatever you wish to call it. This is the basic design misstep that WDI should not have taken.< this I might actually agree with -- exception being one does not have to partake in it.there is a bypass. the ghost host at the door can also enhance the doom feeling as guests arrive there. At night I likely agree with this statement-- during the day when one can see BTMRR and the Riverboat in plain sight, I am not sure I agree that most guests approach with the forboding feeling.. just my opinion based on my own feelings over the years and the reactions of my kids.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox I know there's a bypass, but it isn't a cloaking device. The interactive elements are still in view and within hearing distance. It weakens the overall theme of the HM's exterior environment. I know what you mean about daytime being less spooky; certainly the darkness is the best time to visit, with the howls in the distance and moving candles in the windows. (Is that effect still working? I haven't been to MK at night in many years.) Night time sets the stage perfectly for what awaits inside. I'm not against interactive elements per se; I love the effects in DL's Indy (especially when they're working). But those effects, unlike at MK's HM, fit the theme perfectly. They're not out of place nor cartoony, but enhance the experience of being in a ancient mysterious temple. That's the level of interactivity WDI should be striving to achieve -- interesting and fun effects that enhance the overall thematic environment instead of weaken it. Change is often a good thing. The changes made inside the Mansion several years ago, like the Escher staircase, are excellent. I just don't like cheap poorly designed changes, like the HM interactive queue, that seem to be creeping into the Disney parks with alarming and increasing frequency.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>My response, in many, other than the obvious ones, was I don't think there is a hidden message. I think it was a story that the author wanted to tell. No deep moral messages or ideology, just a story based on an idea for a story. They were motivated by desire to tell the story in such a way that the public would want to be part of it, therefore selling books, therefore creating wealth and fame for said author. Haunted Mansion is meant, IMHO, to be a story based on human fascination with the beyond. It played on fears (as in the beginning) and then made us chuckle at the silliness of it all. Haunted Mansion is a very well done play on those thoughts. In the meantime, nothing of any substance has been changed within the doors, it remains what it was. The change is in the queue line and only supports the THEME PARK premise of fun and fantasy. Previous too the changes, could we all get very somber reading the epitaphs written on the tomb stones in the original grave yard? How were we able to take it any more or less serious with that leading into the Mansion?<<< Well, I agree with your first premise, but I disagree in the fact that it's "just a theme park ride"... Disney has always been more and better than that. Of course there would be a hidden meaning in that. And yes, the mood previous to the changes was very somber, macabre, and forbidding.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>some people yes have that argument, but you shouldn't have read this as you then..there are others who hate everything and anything, and you know who they are.<<< Ah, well, apples to oranges, just lesser, then. ;-)
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I know what you mean about daytime being less spooky; certainly the darkness is the best time to visit, with the howls in the distance and moving candles in the windows. (Is that effect still working? I haven't been to MK at night in many years.) Night time sets the stage perfectly for what awaits inside.<<< Yes, thank goodness. And I'm eagerly awaiting December, MVMCP, and a opportunity to skip the HM queue and have the experience the RIGHT way. LOL
Originally Posted By danyoung >The Prof. would always ask what the author was trying to get across when he wrote his/her novel. You know, the deep psychological meaning of everything said, that didn't actually say it, but was meant to convey some idea or moral.< Slightly OT, but I know just what you mean. When I was in high school we read The Grapes of Wrath in English class, and it was this same thing - "The turtle has flipped on his back. What does this represent, and how does it pertain to what the protagonist is going through?" The symbolism might have been there, but for me it just took all the enjoyment out of reading the story.
Originally Posted By Manfried Ah, there you are. There's a little matter I forgot to tell you. Beware of people overly concerned about a queue line! Hurry back. Hurry back! Be sure to bring your queue line certificate.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>Well, I agree with your first premise, but I disagree in the fact that it's "just a theme park ride"... Disney has always been more and better than that. Of course there would be a hidden meaning in that.<<< I didn't say it was "just a theme park ride", you said that. I said it was located in a Theme Park dedicated to Fun and Fantasy. Even at it's worse, HM is a fun ride. If people got bummed out about it they wouldn't ride again. And, as I have said...everyone has a right to their own opinion and I would have to frankly say that absolutely nothing about the original queue line left me with any forbidding feeling. It was fun and funny...the adventure didn't start really until one was inside. If the CM's were "in character" that set the mood.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Somebody has already posted on Micechat that many of the new (HM Q) interactive elements are not operating. i know this was my impression of the Pooh Q also during my last visit. This only adds to the criticism that we tend to have for the WDW resort. I guess we have a right to ? their decisions.
