I feel compelled to defend Monsters Inc. at DCA. Look, it’s no masterpiece, but it’s a bright and engaging old school style dark ride with some creative moments, comprised entirely of practical effects — in a park where classic Disney parks “magic” is in short supply. It obviously has its limitations, and it’s living on borrowed time. But it has some charm.
It’s way better than Little Mermaid. Within DCA’s lackluster lineup, I’d probably only rank RSR, Soarin’, TSMM, Grizzly, and M:BO ahead of it.
I kind of agree, to a certain extent. I think part of the success of Fantasyland is the idea of a courtyard of small Charmin attractions makes a whole worth more than the dum of their parts. I think it's only of the reason Pooh gets so much hate because it feels lackluster between Tiama's and Rise of the Resistance.
If Monsters had a few other Pixar-thened darkrides neighboring it, I think it would be better received. If it wasn't in the most out of the way corner in the back of a land which has the worst lineup of any DCA land, it might fare better.
But there are some major issues with the ride.
The queue/facade - the whole area is so ugly and cold. Industrial without any character. The indoor section is better, but still pretty barren feeling.
The TVs/Tunnel - I understand why they are there, because of the cheap retherne, but it is still a detraction. They tried to make it work as best as they could and I think it almost works. But then I think how much better it would be to be getting the alerts and news footage in the queue to then jump into the darkride immediately.
The repurposed animatronics - once again, I get it and think it turned out decently, all things considered. But the ride is at its best when they are not relying on the pre-posed CDA figures.
Once you get past the bathroom scene, the ride cooks. Up until then, it's hit and miss for me.
The biggest problem I have with Monsters Inc, Mike and Sully to the Rescue (other than the name) is that the lacks a moment. Every darkride features an audacious and grandiose sequence. Something that surprises you based on scale or absurdity or uniqueness. A vibe scene.
Peter Pan - Fly over London/Neverland
Pinocchio - Pleasure Island sequence
Pooh - Heffalumps and Woozles
Toad - Hell sequence
Roger Rabbit - Powerplant sequence
Alice -Leaf Descent
Snow White - Mine (I would have said the scary forest scene prior)
With Monsters Inc, I feel like the biggest and most impressive scene is the first one. I guess the door rooms are decent, but maybe it's because it feels very much like we are going from small door rooms to another small door rooms to another small door rooms that I don't get the same gleeful response as I do at these other iconic moments.
If the Harryhousen scene was a bit wilder or if the CDA rushing us before escaping into MI was a bigger spectacle, I think the ride would be received much better. It's missing that moment.
