Attractions that "aren't as popular" anymore...

[ChrisFL]

I was thinking about the Horizons movie being made from those guys who went on the attraction right before it closed to get to different parts of the ride.

One thing people take away from this could be "oh, well clearly it wasn't a popular attraction if all of the vehicles were empty"

That leads me to a question...what determines whether an attraction is popular or not, and I'm referring to the lesser known attractions, not the clear favorites that everyone is aware of.

Besides word of mouth and people researching their trip, shouldn't Disney make it a point to advertise certain attractions anyway, whether they're brand new or not?

I think it should be a point to advertise "classic" attractions that might not see the same flow of guests (Carousel of Progress as another example) as previous years.

Consider what factors are involved in whether guests go to see an attraction, is it familiar? is it easily visible? is it recommended or advertised in popular places? or has it just never been popular?

These days, with so much to see in the parks, especially MK, it's clear that some attractions would not see the same attendance as others.

I really wonder if a push was made to advertise Snow White or the Carousel of Progress in the guidemaps as classic attractions, etc. if they would see a big increase in attendance.

 

[marni1971]

Advertising - or lack of - was TDOs excuse to close Timekeeper. Enough said.

 

[Sam Eagle 1776]

I do agree that attractions should be advertised as classics such as CBJ (no one hardly talks about it on this site and Universe of Energy) people who don't go to the Parks often may even miss them.

 

[dweezil78]

I absolutely agree that many of the classics simply do not get enough (or any) push by Disney. But I also think that not enough is being done to "plus" these classics either. Look at the surge in activity that happens when you add a few new effects and characters to a ride like Pirates (or Small World for that matter.) Sure it upsets some of the old-timers, but in those cases I think the overall integrity of the shows were more or less kept in-tact. Unlike say, Stitch Encounter...

Country Bears is one of those classic attractions that is very much part of the Florida experience IMO. It didn't work in Anaheim, but to me, it screams WDW. I hope it never goes away, but I also hope that it gets a much needed update some time soon with new AAs and new show elements that will bring the show up to current standards.

And finally, Horizons was somewhat a victim of its design IMO. Yes, it was sorely oudated and if it was going to stay around it would've needed a new look at the future pronoto. BUT those ominmover rides were designed to be massive people eaters and help keep lines to a minimum. That's why they were so damn amazing and why I'm so sad to see them all disappear over the years. It's part of what made Disney so special. You waited often 15 minutes TOPS for an experience equally as long, if not longer. Nowawadays, you wait over an hour for 2-3 a minute experience. How is that better?

 

[Studios Fan]

Country Bears is one of those classic attractions that is very much part of the Florida experience IMO. It didn't work in Anaheim, but to me, it screams WDW. I hope it never goes away, but I also hope that it gets a much needed update some time soon with new AAs and new show elements that will bring the show up to current standards.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[DarthGrady]

I absolutely agree that many of the classics simply do not get enough (or any) push by Disney. But I also think that not enough is being done to "plus" these classics either. Look at the surge in activity that happens when you add a few new effects and characters to a ride like Pirates (or Small World for that matter.) Sure it upsets some of the old-timers, but in those cases I think the overall integrity of the shows were more or less kept in-tact. Unlike say, Stitch Encounter...

Country Bears is one of those classic attractions that is very much part of the Florida experience IMO. It didn't work in Anaheim, but to me, it screams WDW. I hope it never goes away, but I also hope that it gets a much needed update some time soon with new AAs and new show elements that will bring the show up to current standards.

And finally, Horizons was somewhat a victim of its design IMO. Yes, it was sorely oudated and if it was going to stay around it would've needed a new look at the future pronoto. BUT those ominmover rides were designed to be massive people eaters and help keep lines to a minimum. That's why they were so damn amazing and why I'm so sad to see them all disappear over the years. It's part of what made Disney so special. You waited often 15 minutes TOPS for an experience equally as long, if not longer. Nowawadays, you wait over an hour for 2-3 a minute experience. How is that better?

Amen, the death of the omnimover rides is very sad, they were what made Disney so amazing. EPCOT has suffered the most, losing two of its greatest rides, and having another perverted into a Nemo laden nightmare.

There might be a happy epilogue though, JII is still there and can be saved!

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

And finally, Horizons was somewhat a victim of its design IMO. Yes, it was sorely oudated and if it was going to stay around it would've needed a new look at the future pronoto. BUT those ominmover rides were designed to be massive people eaters and help keep lines to a minimum. That's why they were so damn amazing and why I'm so sad to see them all disappear over the years. It's part of what made Disney so special. You waited often 15 minutes TOPS for an experience equally as long, if not longer. Nowawadays, you wait over an hour for 2-3 a minute experience. How is that better?

Amen, the death of the omnimover rides is very sad, they were what made Disney so amazing. EPCOT has suffered the most, losing two of its greatest rides, and having another perverted into a Nemo laden nightmare.

As great as omnimovers were and are, one must remember that variety is also key when it comes to theme park atractions. During the time of EPCOT Center, the main attractions consisted of three different types: omnimovers (5), slow moving boat rides (3) (though at least Maelstrom was a bit more exciting), and theater/screen presentations (6+). At least WoL added a simiulator, but even with that, the ride systems all had the same thing in common: big crowd eaters, but also slow and non-thrilling. Any theme park needs a mix of thrill AND slow rides, and thats what Epcot has done over the years. And in fact, most of EPCOT's ride structures are still very much alive and functioning, albeit in different forms (for better or for worse), so the omnimover is hardly dead. In fact, we're due for another in 2011 with the Little Mermaid coming to Fantasyland.

 

[jonnyc]

Disney doesn't want guests in line, OR on the attractions. They want them in the gift shops and restaurants. Why do you think FastPass was invented in the first place?

:lol: It's quite sad that this could very well be true.

 

[ChrisFL]

And finally, Horizons was somewhat a victim of its design IMO. Yes, it was sorely oudated and if it was going to stay around it would've needed a new look at the future pronoto.

Outdated? hardly, where's our space colonies? Our undersea cities? Our farm machines that do all of the work for us?

You might say the films needed refreshing and the AA's could be upgraded, etc. but Horizons was NOWHERE near being outdated.

 

[Jasonflz]

Advertising - or lack of - was TDOs excuse to close Timekeeper. Enough said.

Just so they could put in that cheap knock off of TT. It disgusts me.:brick:

 

[MarkTwain]

:lol: It's quite sad that this could very well be true.

From what I've heard, this is true! :lookaroun FastPass was the brainchild of one Paul Pressler, the infamous man whose main goal at Disney was to turn the parks into a shopping mall (check out his resume - loads of attraction closures, tons of gift shop openings), as well as conceiving the much-loved Disney's California Adventure.

Thankfully, he's gone now.

 

[WDW_Emily]

3 years ago when my sister was 6 we went on Journey into your imagination with her for the first time. She didn't even know it excited!(mind you this kid has already gone 4 times before that trip) She loved it and we were able to walk right onto the ride. I'm always scared that ride is going to be gone soon and its a favorite. they should advertise rides that are less popular more

 

[marni1971]

You waited often 15 minutes TOPS for an experience equally as long, if not longer. Nowawadays, you wait over an hour for 2-3 a minute experience.

Post of the week.

Yes, Fast Pass screwed up park traffic patterns forever.

3 years ago when my sister was 6 we went on Journey into your imagination with her for the first time.

Journey into Imagination with Figment - with YOUR Imagination closed in 2001.

Show her a video of the original. And have tissues ready.

 

[_Scar]

Pirates of the Caribbean... Tiki Room...

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

The Lights of Winter?:lookaroun

 

[DarthGrady]

Post of the week.

Yes, Fast Pass screwed up park traffic patterns forever.

Journey into Imagination with Figment - with YOUR Imagination closed in 2001.

Show her a video of the original. And have tissues ready.

2001? I thought they shut down Imagination in 1998, since there hasn't been a trace of it in the ride since then.:ROFLOL:

Ok, I have some tissues, Im going to go watch your JII tribute again.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

2001? I thought they shut down Imagination in 1998, since there hasn't been a trace of it in the ride since then.:ROFLOL:

Ok, I have some tissues, Im going to go watch your JII tribute again.

Zing!!!:ROFLOL::sohappy::lookaroun


And yeah....tissues. That last scene ALWAYS gets me.

 

[dweezil78]

Ummmm... "were"?? "ALL disappear"??? Did I not get the memo? Did they close Haunted Mansion?

C'mon, you take me too literal.

Outdated? hardly, where's our space colonies? Our undersea cities? Our farm machines that do all of the work for us?

You might say the films needed refreshing and the AA's could be upgraded, etc. but Horizons was NOWHERE near being outdated.

I meant more so the look of everything. It was very rooted in the late 70s. Not to mention, by now a lot of those concepts could have been expanded upon and taken in new directions. There was no such thing as global warming back then, for example. But ultimately, the overall look of those scenes were in dire need of an update. (Though I'd be just happy with them the way they were!)

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Country Bears is one of those classic attractions that is very much part of the Florida experience IMO. It didn't work in Anaheim, but to me, it screams WDW. I hope it never goes away, but I also hope that it gets a much needed update some time soon with new AAs and new show elements that will bring the show up to current standards.

I somewhat agree as well. Though I wouldn't label the Country Bears as a must see while I am there, I do remember the Jamboree from my first trip to the World many years ago. The last time I visited WDW, I did see the show again and enjoyed it, but it does need some work in my opinion. A little updating would do a world of good.

Saying that, I will likely check it out again in December when I am there next, but I'm not going to be too upset if I decide to skip it.

 

[Ralphlaw]

You know, it's nice to be nostalgic about things at times, but you know an attraction either needs removal or serious updating when people actually laugh at how hokey they are. I've seen this at Country Bears, Carousel of Progress, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, and the old film at The Seas. Perhaps when people are laughing at it, in a bad way, it's time to move on.

I never saw Horizons, or World of Motion, or Wonders of Life, or 20,000 Leagues, or Tapestry of Dreams, or the Adventurer's Club, or Mr. Toad, or a bunch of other things that people on these boards miss. I wish I had. But I did see the Timekeeper, and the old version of the Mexican Boat Ride. I miss them, but they really weren't that great. And their replacements are not as good in many ways, but they probably are better in ways that are subtle, I suppose.

In Brooklyn, people are still fighting mad that the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, and that Ebbets Field was torn down. But if these same people had rabidly supported the team back in the 50's, and went to a few games every year, they would still be there. The fact of the matter is that they didn't, and the Dodgers moved away.

Similarly, these retired attractions must have lost some of their popularity, or they would still be there (unless some idiot decided that popular attractions should be torn down). When I have been to WDW in November, the crowds at Country Bears are very light at times, and C of P has almost no one. I assume they will be updated and/or on the chopping block, and then people on these boards will bemoan their loss. To me, having them disappear would be sad at one level, but all too predictable at another. Of course, I thought Country Bears was 20 minutes of my life that I would never get back. Even my 4 year old son was unimpressed. Other than nostalgic value, what is the wonder of it? I don't understand it. Comments that I heard on the way out confirmed my opinion.

In all honesty, were most (not all, but most) of these retired attractions still pulling them in? I doubt it. And that's probably the most important thing, regardless of how much you advertise it. After all, Stitch's Great Escape is/was marketed like crazy, but still has very modest crowds. Why advertise something that many people don't really like all that much anyway? That's a waste of money, and a recipe for discontent.