So there's this park in Germany called Europa. Not long ago, a devastating fire burned down part of the park. One ride, called Piraten in Batavia, was among the casualties. But the family that owned the park was determined that, not only would the ride be rebuilt, it would be built better (what Walt used to call "plussing", a term the Robert Iger Company has no comprehension of).
This is the result:
My god, that ride is beautiful. The queue alone is beautiful. Perhaps the ride's narrative isn't as strong as our own Pirates in its various locations, including the new version in Shanghai, but holy crap the themeing and ambience and immersion. It's incredible. Again, a non-Disney park blows the current Imagineers' efforts away. And this is why I gripe so much. Can you watch this ride and detect any cost-cutting? Any cheapness or laziness involved in its AAs or backgrounds, its lighting and use of water? This is what happens when a company that genuinely cares lets its artisans do their thing without what Walt called "the sharp-pencil boys" interfering. Makes me sick. I wish with all my heart that Disney will someday wow me the way this ride, and the new Rookburgh area in Phantasialand with its incredible steampunk motif and amazing Charles Lindbergh hotel, do. That hasn't happened since the Tower of Terror, and we all know what Chapek wanted to do to THAT.
Again, it makes me sick. And breaks my heart.
This is the result:
My god, that ride is beautiful. The queue alone is beautiful. Perhaps the ride's narrative isn't as strong as our own Pirates in its various locations, including the new version in Shanghai, but holy crap the themeing and ambience and immersion. It's incredible. Again, a non-Disney park blows the current Imagineers' efforts away. And this is why I gripe so much. Can you watch this ride and detect any cost-cutting? Any cheapness or laziness involved in its AAs or backgrounds, its lighting and use of water? This is what happens when a company that genuinely cares lets its artisans do their thing without what Walt called "the sharp-pencil boys" interfering. Makes me sick. I wish with all my heart that Disney will someday wow me the way this ride, and the new Rookburgh area in Phantasialand with its incredible steampunk motif and amazing Charles Lindbergh hotel, do. That hasn't happened since the Tower of Terror, and we all know what Chapek wanted to do to THAT.
Again, it makes me sick. And breaks my heart.