Adios El Rio

[sbkline]

It appears so.
One thing bothers me though. Is there anyone else here who finds the Three Cabballeros high on the stereotyping scale?

Even if it is, is there anyone else here besides me who just doesn't give a flying fig?

Personally, all the hub bub about stereotypes is, IMO, as Shakespeare's play was called, "Much ado about nothing".

 

[Dj Corona]

"Grand Fiesta Tour" is just such an awful name, though. It sounds like it should be a bad sequel to the "Chip 'N' Dale Magical Racing Tour" game or something. Couldn't they just go with "El Rio de Tiempo featuring The Three Cabellaros" or something along those lines? Oh well.

 

[Pabgo]

I always thought that the beginning was excellent, but then it goes downhill. I hope this refurb really fixed it up again!

 

[sbkline]

I loved El Rio just the way it was. And, although I probably rode it as a junior high kid in 1987, I have no memory of it until riding it in 2003. So I'm not just clinging to childhood memories. I seriously enjoyed the ride...and will very much miss it. I just hope they don't totally ruin it with this refurb.

 

[Brian_B]

I can't even tell you why, but I'm kind of saddened to see El Rio Del Tiempo take the permanent dirt siesta (sorry... I realize that was pretty awful).

By all rights, I should've hated that ride: The "filmed in 1981" video presentations at the beginning and middle of the ride, the town that had been defeated and overtaken by IASW guerillas, the stereotyped merchants (which, by the way, I was actually hounded by a merchant in Cozumel the same way), the corpse-like marionette carousel at the end. Based on that, it always rated very high on the cheese scale, but yet, I had to ride it EVERY time we went to Epcot... and that was well over 100 trips. Am I the only one? Maybe it was the nice air conditioning it offered on summer days? But then again, the films in France, China and Canada offer the same delightful AC, and I didn't visit those each time.

I've got to admit, the theming at the opening scene with the volcano, the vine overgrowth, the sculptures, the voice-over and music were a great way to start a ride, and then it would torpedo into an all-out sensory nightmare... yet... I always went on it.

Maybe it's good it's going away so that I no longer have to stare down the barrel of the El Rio conundrum.

Uh..I've been on it a lot over the years, and I really didn't think it was THAT bad...

It was a boat ride built in 1982. It had quaint, outdating footage of 1980s people having fun in mexico. The song was great, and there was never a line for it, ever.

The ending of 2001: A Space Odyssey is the only true sensory nightmare I've ever encountered.

 

[MJMcBride]

Seriously- that is soo annoying. My BF had to restrain me from using the emergency exit last time. Held hostage by a ride in Epcot- that is not very Disneyesque.:veryconfu

I thought they allowed you to leave no matter what now

 

[sbkline]

I thought they allowed you to leave no matter what now

Last time we were there (May 2005), once you got off the boat, you could not leave until they opened the doors. Reason being that the film was still playing for the group that rode ahead of your group and they can't have a load full of people just walking through the theater while another group is still watching the show. So you have to wait until the show is over, then the doors open and you can either sit down to watch the show, or just go on out.

 

[the-reason14]

I am going to miss this ride. I loved the overall feel of it, and the fact there was never a line. I know with donald and the other ducks jumping on board, that the lines probably will be more. But I am going to def. miss it, I hope they keep some of the old stuff intact.

 

[MJMcBride]

Last time we were there (May 2005), once you got off the boat, you could not leave until they opened the doors. Reason being that the film was still playing for the group that rode ahead of your group and they can't have a load full of people just walking through the theater while another group is still watching the show. So you have to wait until the show is over, then the doors open and you can either sit down to watch the show, or just go on out.

I recall that being the case a time ago as well, but for some reason I thought they said they changed that rule

 

[fizzle75]

Even if it is, is there anyone else here besides me who just doesn't give a flying fig?

Personally, all the hub bub about stereotypes is, IMO, as Shakespeare's play was called, "Much ado about nothing".

I agree. Unfortunately in our Hyper-PC world people have become waaaaay too sensitive. Yes,some things are meant to be blatantly racist and insensitive but El Rio Del Tiempo...pardon me...Gran Siesta Tour and Song of The South are not among them. If you want to read something bad into something then I promise you that you will find a way to. Relax people.

 

[malice]

"Grand Fiesta Tour" is just such an awful name, though. It sounds like it should be a bad sequel to the "Chip 'N' Dale Magical Racing Tour" game or something. Couldn't they just go with "El Rio de Tiempo featuring The Three Cabellaros" or something along those lines? Oh well.

agreed. it sounds like something you'd find in the DCA pacific wharf along with the tortilla and sourdough bread tours.