AE TO CLOSE OCT 11 - Orlando Sentinel

[dxwwf3]

Originally posted by Catch 22
I still find it hard to believe that AE will close in little over 2 weeks and Disney have yet to make an official announcement on it.

I know it's really sad. Universal on the other hand knows exactly how to send off an attraction. When Kongfrontation closed recently they send out a card to their AP's and had a very special send off and ceremony for it's last day. I'll admit I hated Kongfrontation but what Universal did for that attraction during it's last hours is remarkable. Disney will probably just have it open one day and close it the next day with no fanfare. It's a shame.

 

[dopey]

Some of you guys are just too pathetic. I'll send you some of my Lexapro stash.

I can understand being bummed about losing a favorite attraction, but it might make sense to hold off on condemning the new attraction before they've even taken a hammer to the old one.

Besides, it ain't like they're replacing Skippy or SIR or whatever the heck their names are with the cat from outer space. Stitch is a popular little dude.

I, for one, am pleased with the change and look forward to taking my kids into another attraction that won't freak them out.

Cheers

 

[RogueHabit]

Originally posted by dxwwf3
I know it's really sad. Universal on the other hand knows exactly how to send off an attraction. When Kongfrontation closed recently they send out a card to their AP's and had a very special send off and ceremony for it's last day. I'll admit I hated Kongfrontation but what Universal did for that attraction during it's last hours is remarkable. Disney will probably just have it open one day and close it the next day with no fanfare. It's a shame.

Actually my point was that as there has been no announcement how confident can we be that this attraction will close.

Originally posted by grizzlyhall
Well, what about Journey into Imagination and World of Motion?

Silent death...how horrible

But this is different, those were closed, this is talking about a major refurb/overhaul, but with essentially the same attraction at the end, just an altered theming, hence why I would have thought there would be some announcement.

 

[General Grizz]

Originally posted by Catch 22
Actually my point was that as there has been no announcement how confident can we be that this attraction will close.But this is different, those were closed, this is talking about a major refurb/overhaul, but with essentially the same attraction at the end, just an altered theming, hence why I would have thought there would be some announcement.

Yes...but this involves changing the entire show...no more X-S - now it's an Alien Facility. Kinda like JII -> JIYI. Same style ride...theme of imagination stays...

Degration? We have yet to see.

And this is why people are scared. We don't WANT another JII 2.0 and 3.0. And maybe Disney can prove they can do things like this tastefully (unlike Tiki Room). So it's hard to go to it with open arms...

Time will tell!

 

[disnyfan89]

I have to agree with grizzlyhall on this.

 

[Jerm]

Originally posted by Catch 22
Actually my point was that as there has been no announcement how confident can we be that this attraction will close.

I called Walt Disney World myself and asked about the rehabs and they said that it will close on Oct 12. So i would say confidence is HIGH!!!!!!!

J

 

[X2CommNavISTC]

I asked one of the CMs over there and they said that it will, without a shadow of a doubt, close Oct 12th. No changes, no thoughts. Oct 12th is the final encounter.

One thing that still gets me, but I still understand is that they are being complete and total ________________ when it comes to pics in there. But their aim is terrible when it comes to shining the lights to keep you from getting the shots...every time they attempted with me, it was either to the left, or right of my camera.

 

[NemoRocks78]

I hate that stupid rule too! I mean, it was my final encounter last Saturday, the day of PhilarMagic previews, and they wouldn't let me take any pics. I got some of the first pre-show but then I turned my digital camera on in the S.I.R. pre-show and the guy is like no flash photography and he even goes and yells it. I personally think the rudest cast members work at AE.

 

[X2CommNavISTC]

Alien Encounter Cast Members: The only reason why Im glad AE is going the way of the dodo.

Figure it this way, when we show up at 8:55 on Oct 12th for the last showing, if they try to stop us, they can stop us all from taking the pictures....oh they'll never stop us.

But for now, DAMN YOU AE CMs AND YOUR FLASHLIGHTS!

 

[Bagheera]

Originally posted by X2CommNavISTC
Figure it this way, when we show up at 8:55 on Oct 12th for the last showing

You mean at 10:55?

 

[PhotoDave219]

Originally posted by X2CommNavISTC
I asked one of the CMs over there and they said that it will, without a shadow of a doubt, close Oct 12th. No changes, no thoughts. Oct 12th is the final encounter.

One thing that still gets me, but I still understand is that they are being complete and total ________________ when it comes to pics in there. But their aim is terrible when it comes to shining the lights to keep you from getting the shots...every time they attempted with me, it was either to the left, or right of my camera.

Somewhere i have a very good shot of the alien (no flash) from inside the ride. Like 800 speed film, 1/10th of a second. i'll try and find/scan it when i get a few.

As for CM's yelling about cameras, i guess some dont realise that not all cameras have a flash - oh well....

 

[RogueHabit]

Originally posted by Jerm
I called Walt Disney World myself and asked about the rehabs and they said that it will close on Oct 12. So i would say confidence is HIGH!!!!!!!

J

If they told you that then fair enough, but just last week they knew nothing about a closure when I rang GS, that was why I was querying.

 

[Bagheera]

That's what they told me last Saturday. Closes at the end of the day on October 11, will reopen some time next year after a rehab to a new attraction. They weren't officially announcing the new attraction, but the CM said that everyone there was saying that it was Stitch, and of course we already knew that here....

 

[PeterAlt]

Originally posted by dxwwf3
I knew it was coming so I've had plenty of time to be mad. Forget Stitch and the horse he rode in on. With AE soon to be gone and Timekeeper and CoP on life support Tomorrowland is easily my least favorite land now in the MK. Gosh 2 years ago it was my favorite. [/B]

I was just over at DL in Cali for my first time last month... and, let me tell you, we're lucky to have our Tomorrowland! If you don't like our Tomorrowland, you obviously haven't seen DL's!!!! DL's Tomorrowland is HORID! Peoplemover (now called Rocket Sleds) is CLOSED permanently. The old Caroussel of Progress building is now a cheap revolving Innoventions wanna-be. No Buzz Light Year. Nothing like Alien Encounter or Time Keeper... just the out-dated Star Tour ride... the only thing going for DL's Tomorrowland is that it has a cheap Honey, I Shrunk the Audience clone. Space Mountain is closed until 2005 (for a complete makeover with a modern track and new special effects)... so that they could have at least one really cool ride, but that won't be until... 2005, and that's just one attraction.

Our Tomorrowland (IMHO) needs a new sci-fi CG CircleVision film based on charcters (Monsters, Inc?), the same Space Mountain remake as what they are doing in DL, the Stitch Escape idea is a brilliant one, and some really cool attraction to go into the Caroussel of Progress building (Flying Saurcers?).

 

[PeterAlt]

Originally posted by X2CommNavISTC
I asked one of the CMs over there and they said that it will, without a shadow of a doubt, close Oct 12th.

Sorry to be spoiler of the party, but I was just there last Sunday and AE was CLOSED!

 

[X2CommNavISTC]

Really?

Hm. Funny.......

Cause it was open the 10 times I went on it this past Tuesday......

Orlando Sentinal had a quickie on thw attraction and stated that a new name has been thrown into the mix "Stitch's Great Escape"

Also, Mercants of Venus has been said to close in November, open in Jan, then Mickey's Star Traders would go down in Jan.

Question, saying this is true (Ive forgotten which shop the TTA runs through), do you think they'll block that area looking down into the shop?

 

[disnyfan89]

I dont know!!!I mean if they dont block space mountain when it is down for rehab do you think that they will block a shop?:lookaroun

 

[General Grizz]

CONFIRMATION
Alien Encounter will be closed as of October 12th.

(Courtesy of Guest Relations computers = total reliability)

 

[dxwwf3]

Originally posted by PeterAlt
Our Tomorrowland (IMHO) needs a new sci-fi CG CircleVision film based on charcters (Monsters, Inc?), the same Space Mountain remake as what they are doing in DL, the Stitch Escape idea is a brilliant one, and some really cool attraction to go into the Caroussel of Progress building (Flying Saurcers?).

Ok I see your point on the new 360 movie (even though there is nothing wrong with Timekeeper and I would wish they would keep the freakin thing open). And while I think that the Stitch Escape idea is the worst idea since Greedo shooting first :lol: (yes I got that quote from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back), I can see where you are coming from on that one too.

BUT, you TOTALLY lost me when you started talking about replacing the great Carousel of Progress with a Flying Saucers idea? Now if you think they need to replace CoP that's fine, but if they do replace CoP it better be something better than a Flying Saucers ride. Knowing Disney and what their new direction for Tomorrowland is, I wouldn't be surprised if they demolished CoP so they could create a new smaller Astro Orbitor spinner-type attraction. They have absolutely fallen in love with the spinners mainly because they are the single greatest rides in the history of the world :hammer: .

I just wish they would give CoP and Timekeeper good rehabs so they could return them to their regular schedule. They way I think is "If it ain't broke don't fix it". And I certainly don't think there is anything wrong with CoP and Timekeeper. Of course I also felt the same way about AE, and we all know what that got me. That got me a broken heart and very bad feelings toward Disney. But I'll get over it....eventually. :lol:

 

[General Grizz]

360 on Monsters Inc? TIMEKEEPER is a model for a Tomorrowland attraction. BUZZ is not.

What strength does MI have to do with Tomorrowland?

Oy vey...eek...and then the rumor of Toy Story in WOL! :lol:

(That's a joke, isn't it, WDI??)