It's a good thing I took a lot of pictures back in the day, because the "slow" people of Earth have spoken. Goodbye, classic, wonderful EPCOT Center. Hello, 2nd park with no originality to set it apart.
...and yes, for those wondering, with the word "slow" I'm referring to those that have become so ridiculously lazy from the internet and other similar things in this "I must have it now, entertain me, I'm entitled" society, that they can't take 2 seconds to be educated on the important things in life.
"This is Disney! It's ALL about fun and thrilling things! I want PINS, CHARACTERS, AND RIDES MY CHILDREN WILL ENJOY everywhere on property! I want cake! Duuuuur.....uhhhhhh....more cake!"
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Is this what we're doing now? Making fun of people whose tastes run contrary to ours?
For the record, I am neither slow, nor lazy, nor entitled, nor do I fall into the category of "gotta have it now" (my 10 year old car and empty living room should be enough proof of that). I don't think the change signifies the end of the world. But if I did, I'd find a much nicer and more articulate way of expressing that.
For the record; these sections of the ride are based on the original If You Had Wings script (and style) - circa mid 1971.The important things in life are people jumping off a cliff and salespeople selling you their goods?
I'm sure you aren't slow, nor is everyone who likes the 'new Epcot' slow, but what main street said is very true of the general public. Sometimes there just isn't a nice way to say the truth.
People have different tastes, and that's why there are 4 different theme parks to suit those individual tastes.
People have different tastes, and that's why there are 4 different theme parks to suit those individual tastes.
Am I the only one who thinks Rio was one of the weakest rides in the park? Seriously, other than that very short section in front of the volcano, it's real value was as a retro 70's Loveboat review. Anyone see Julie?
Besides fans, I don't think most people are even aware of the three caballeros, so adding them to the ride would hardly add much to it.
It's a good thing I took a lot of pictures back in the day, because the "slow" people of Earth have spoken. Goodbye, classic, wonderful EPCOT Center. Hello, 2nd park with no originality to set it apart.
Wow, in only a few sentences, you've captured the exact attitude I was referring to in my last post. Congrats on being in the majority of the general public.
I agree! But are characters really the only way to fix that? Why can't people understand that characters don't need to be thrown on every ride to make it successful and enjoyable? Many, many WDW attractions have been favorites for years without characters...it just has to be done correctly. Personally, I prefer a World Showcase without characters, and while I'm happy to hear El Rio is getting a much-needed update, I'm disappointed that the Three Cabs are going to be a part of it. But maybe I'm just old-fashioned and stuck in the EPCOT Center past![]()
This is a very interesting statement. Not to drift the thread, but I wonder how valid this model is today. Obviously, the focuses are different, but Disney seems to be making each of the parks much more similar than they were before. On it's face, I would love to say that each park should be fully independent and have its own offerings (i.e. make MK or MGM the character parks, make Epcot purely reality and educational, etc.). But, Disney is trying to get people to spend mutliple days on property. Therefore, they almost need to create four almost the same, but just different enough parks so people go to all four. But, this dilutes the individuality of the parks, so people don't feel the extreme need to return. It's just an odd conundrum.
Think whatever you want, but what I said is true. And for the record, I never said I didn't like change. You completely missed the point of my post.Is this what we're doing now? Making fun of people whose tastes run contrary to ours?
For the record, I am neither slow, nor lazy, nor entitled, nor do I fall into the category of "gotta have it now" (my 10 year old car and empty living room should be enough proof of that). I don't think the change signifies the end of the world. But if I did, I'd find a much nicer and more articulate way of expressing that.
Man, you all are really not comprehending what I posted.Holy Ridiculous Overstatement of the Year, Batman!
I can't believe people are extolling the "educational" aspects of this attraction. El Rio is a dinky little boat tour with a few cute sets that relies way to heavily on video screens who's footage looked dated when it was installed, let alone a couple of decades later.
You may have some sort of a point about the larger state of Epcot, but this situation hardly falls into the World of Motion/Test Track state of things. Let's be honest about what we are talking about here.
El Rio in it's current state is an ABSOLUTE JOKE. Do I ride it every time I'm in the park? Yup, 'cause I'm a sucker for nostalgia and I enjoy the atmosphere of the pavilion. However, there is really nothing redeeming about the whole thing, and nothing terribly accurate to Mexico. As others have pointed out, if you got a sense from that ride about Mexico, you'd be terribly mistaken. Perhaps the Mexico around American-centric tourist traps, but little of the culture is conveyed in the ride that isn't in the marketplace area of the pavilion itself.
So I don't see how adding some characters, if that is indeed what happens, is going to hurt anything. There may be some esoteric meaning behind the ride that myself and 99.9% of the "slow" people (i.e. people that disagree with you) don't get, but if it takes a few characters to get people in there so be it. More people riding the ride is good, no matter what one thinks of the content. People DO come to WDW to be entertained, believe it or not. And while the current ride is cute, and nostalgic, I don't think it has any great meaning nor any great entertainment value that one couldn't get from watching a vintage "Come visit Mexico!" commercial.
I also find it odd that some people are complaining, again, if it really is the rumored overlay, that they would tie in a lesser known film. I think it's GREAT that Disney isn't sticking "Winnie the Pooh and Stitch Go To Mexico" in, and instead using that library they have, not just going by what is currently selling on DVD.
This is another win-win-win for everyone, but people who can't let go of nostalgia and want WDW to remain a museum. We aren't talking about them doing a character overlay of Carousel of Progress, we are talking about a dinky little F-ticket ride that many people don't even know exists, and of those that do ride it the best reaction you get is nostalgic feelings and the laughs from first-time riders at the video projections that are older than many of the guests themselves.
I guess if that makes me "slow", because I see them breathing life into something that desperately needs it, then so be it. I think you are just letting out a rant on something that really doesn't deserve it because you are frustrated about other changes; while I do miss the slower, epic rides of Epcot's past and I still mourn them, I do enjoy most of the new offerings as well and I'd rather have new offerings that people actually attend and enjoy than creaky rides they can't afford to keep up because if they had left Epcot the way it was the place would be a ghost-town.
Now, we know you think you are smarter/better than others (you've come right out and said it here), but do you perchance think that there may be other opinions as valid as yours? I guess I'd rather be slow than myopic, looking at a park through glasses made 20 years ago, because at least if you are slow you will eventually reach the destination; being myopic you can't even appriciate where you've been because you don't know where you are going.
AEfx
Why?
Why not, is the better question.
Disney has a huge library of characters that people enjoy. People come to Disney to see that. I don't see how the difference between a stuffy old man hosting a ride, or a character, really matter if the show is done properly.
People like characters, they think they are fun. That is why people go to Disney!
We can call them sheeple, or slow, or what have you, but characters have always been there. The 3 Callebros have been meeting and greeting at Mexico since the park opened. There seems to be this misconception that Epcot used to be devoid of characters - it's simply not true. Doesn't anyone else have pictures of themselves with Minnie in her space suit?
People keep holding onto this concept they believe Epcot was about, but forget that Epcot has always been, in it's final design, a theme park.
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