All Tomorrowland, All the time (Has Disney given up on the TTA?)

huntzilla

Active Member
Original Poster
The other TTA thread got closed for various reasons so I figured it would be beneficial to start a new one. Also, we could keep all Tomorrowland related discussions in here. I believe it's obvious that WDI isn't finished with the narration left thus giving the supporters hope of bringing the old one back. A hybrid of the new and hold could work as well if nothing else. Keep the "Now Approaching" lines as you enter each attraction with the new spiel explaining them afterwards. Potential to reincorporate the jokes as well as weather updates etc. would be great too. Save the TTA!
 

DisneyRoxMySox

Well-Known Member
Yeah it got locked, because some of us on this board can't keep conversation civil.

But I agree. I am a fan of the old narration. But hey, progress is progress.
 

wolf359

Well-Known Member
Eh, I'm done with the old narration. I think the old theme portraying Tomorrowland as a "sci-fi city" has run its course and I'm much more interested to see what Tomorrowland will become than trying to promote keeping any last vestiges of the '94 version around any longer.

The Tomorrowland '94 "theme" was way too heavy-handed for my taste anyway. The TTA narration and the god-awful Space Mountain TV videos being the biggest offenders. I'm all for Disney giving a theme and an overall "vibe" to each land but I think the best themes are the ones that give an area a sense of place and leave plenty of room for guests to fill in the blanks with their own imagination.

The entire purpose of the aggressive 1994 theming was to tie together a group of mostly disjointed attractions into some sort of whole, but I don't think it ever really accomplished that, and as the two "cornerstone" attractions, Timekeeper and Alien Encounter fell victim to lack of attendance it made keeping that theme even less important.

I don't think the slate of Tomorrowland attractions is any less disjointed today than it was in 1994, it just lacks the ham-handed attempt at "theming" via TTA narration.

Which brings up this question: if the whole theme of Tomorrowland was primarily held together by the 1994 TTA narration, just how clear and strong of a theme was it really?

Tomorrowland, much like the rest of the lands in the Magic Kingdom, should be an assortment of adventures, grouped more by a general sense of being "out of this world" than straight-jacketed into following a strict storyline.
 

Figment632

New Member
Eh, I'm done with the old narration. I think the old theme portraying Tomorrowland as a "sci-fi city" has run its course and I'm much more interested to see what Tomorrowland will become than trying to promote keeping any last vestiges of the '94 version around any longer.

The Tomorrowland '94 "theme" was way too heavy-handed for my taste anyway. The TTA narration and the god-awful Space Mountain TV videos being the biggest offenders. I'm all for Disney giving a theme and an overall "vibe" to each land but I think the best themes are the ones that give an area a sense of place and leave plenty of room for guests to fill in the blanks with their own imagination.

The entire purpose of the aggressive 1994 theming was to tie together a group of mostly disjointed attractions into some sort of whole, but I don't think it ever really accomplished that, and as the two "cornerstone" attractions, Timekeeper and Alien Encounter fell victim to lack of attendance it made keeping that theme even less important.

I don't think the slate of Tomorrowland attractions is any less disjointed today than it was in 1994, it just lacks the ham-handed attempt at "theming" via TTA narration.

Which brings up this question: if the whole theme of Tomorrowland was primarily held together by the 1994 TTA narration, just how clear and strong of a theme was it really?

Tomorrowland, much like the rest of the lands in the Magic Kingdom, should be an assortment of adventures, grouped more by a general sense of being "out of this world" than straight-jacketed into following a strict storyline.

I don't think either were the cornerstone of TL. I think that would be SM. Also I know TK had attendance issues but I never thought AE did?
 

The Empress Lilly

Well-Known Member
I think the old theme portraying Tomorrowland as a "sci-fi city" has run its course

Tomorrowland, much like the rest of the lands in the Magic Kingdom, should be an assortment of adventures, grouped more by a general sense of being "out of this world" than straight-jacketed into following a strict storyline.
Hear, hear!

Well said.
 

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
I wanted to wait until I heard the new narration first hand before I gave an opinion on it. I know that sounds crazy but I am an old fashioned guy that thinks his opinions of something should be based on first hand experience.

First and foremost TomorrowLand is changing. Whether that is good or bad is debatable but it is no longer a showcase for new technology in WDW. Inoventions can do that much better than TL can. You simply can not update attractions fast enough to keep up with technology. CoP is a perfect example of this. TL is now a place where attractions with even the slightest hint of a sci-fi theme are put and I am fine with that.

The script for the new narration is fine and goes along with the new direction of TL. I do miss the jokes (Tom Morrow, etc) but they do not fit with the new direction of TL. The issue I have is with the narrator himself. He has such a vanilla and uninspired voice. I know it is just the TTA but grab someone with a little meat to his voice. The other issue I had was with the physical condition of TTA itself. This thing just came out of refurb and it still looks like it need a good cleaning and a paint job. Right now it is all I can do to keep myself from hiding in MK with a bucket and a sponge and trying to blend in with 3rd shift and go give the tunnels and rails a good scrubbing.
 

Figment632

New Member
I wanted to wait until I heard the new narration first hand before I gave an opinion on it. I know that sounds crazy but I am an old fashioned guy that thinks his opinions of something should be based on first hand experience.

First and foremost TomorrowLand is changing. Whether that is good or bad is debatable but it is no longer a showcase for new technology in WDW. Inoventions can do that much better than TL can. You simply can not update attractions fast enough to keep up with technology. CoP is a perfect example of this. TL is now a place where attractions with even the slightest hint of a sci-fi theme are put and I am fine with that.

The script for the new narration is fine and goes along with the new direction of TL. I do miss the jokes (Tom Morrow, etc) but they do not fit with the new direction of TL. The issue I have is with the narrator himself. He has such a vanilla and uninspired voice. I know it is just the TTA but grab someone with a little meat to his voice. The other issue I had was with the physical condition of TTA itself. This thing just came out of refurb and it still looks like it need a good cleaning and a paint job. Right now it is all I can do to keep myself from hiding in MK with a bucket and a sponge and trying to blend in with 3rd shift and go give the tunnels and rails a good scrubbing.

I agree with everything you said except for this. COP coul be brought up to date very quickly and easily. In the last scene all they need to do is chang the clothing, add a few up to date props and change the audio slightly.
 

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
I agree with everything you said except for this. COP coul be brought up to date very quickly and easily. In the last scene all they need to do is chang the clothing, add a few up to date props and change the audio slightly.
See I do not think it will be that simple. In all honesty unless you plan on skipping the huge technological advances in the 80's-90's, removing the first scene, or making the last scene a real time reflection of today then I think the attraction needs an additional scene. Then you also face the problem that in less than 10 years that last scene is way out of date again. Don't get me wrong I love CoP but Disney does not seem interested in putting the time and money into the attraction that it needs to keep it up to date and working. Right now the AA's at RFC are more realistic than what is currently in CoP. I would almost rather see it go away then continue in its current "held together with duct tape and zip ties" shape.
 

optjay

Well-Known Member
The script for the new narration is fine and goes along with the new direction of TL. I do miss the jokes (Tom Morrow, etc) but they do not fit with the new direction of TL. The issue I have is with the narrator himself. He has such a vanilla and uninspired voice. I know it is just the TTA but grab someone with a little meat to his voice. The other issue I had was with the physical condition of TTA itself. This thing just came out of refurb and it still looks like it need a good cleaning and a paint job. Right now it is all I can do to keep myself from hiding in MK with a bucket and a sponge and trying to blend in with 3rd shift and go give the tunnels and rails a good scrubbing.


I will wait till Nov. to hear it for myself, but listening to the video, it sounds like a park map reading and nothing more! A tour guide pointing out the attractions. Liked the old narration better!

The attraction does still seam to need a good cleaning.
 

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
I will wait till Nov. to hear it for myself, but listening to the video, it sounds like a park map reading and nothing more! A tour guide pointing out the attractions. Liked the old narration better!

The attraction does still seam to need a good cleaning.
That is pretty much it. About the best part of the narration is where he point out the model of progress city. The rest is just information on the attractions in TomorrowLand. But like has been said before the theme of TomorrowLand has changed. It is no longer a futuristic spaceport. It is an area in MK just like FL. The new narration does fit with the new theme.
 

Jasonflz

Well-Known Member
Well, I would just look on the bright side. At least the TTA wasn't gutted in favor of a more thrilling experience. :eek:

:lookaroun True.

(Gotta admit though, Rocket Rods is a somewhat cool idea if done right.)

Anyway, here my $2.

I personally don't like the direction Tomorrowland has taken over the previous years. When 1994 hit, we were all introduced to "The Future That Never Was" and it was an amazing vision that allowed much more creativity than the previous version could offer. It was also the most original TL across the globe. The visuals were beautiful and the atmosphere really felt like you had left the Magic Kingdom to visit a bustling space-port.

New Tomorrowland's attraction line up was mostly a hit or miss situation. The more original attractions (AE,TK, and CoP) were mostly ignored or neglected but still managed to attract long time lovers for the shows. Each of these managed to fit with New Tomorrowland great. Now attractions like SM and TTA were able to fit the theme and still be popular.

Lately, however, Disney has replaced most of the classics with cheap, cartoon promotions that serve nothing more than to sell some stuffed figures or pay ridiculous amounts for a photo op. Moreso, the original theme has been neglected. The Transit Authority is a lazy attempt at trying to give a guide to the land.

This whole situation is disappointing, and I personally don't want to see another TL 1970 or even Disneyland's version.
 

Figment632

New Member
See I do not think it will be that simple. In all honesty unless you plan on skipping the huge technological advances in the 80's-90's, removing the first scene, or making the last scene a real time reflection of today then I think the attraction needs an additional scene. Then you also face the problem that in less than 10 years that last scene is way out of date again. Don't get me wrong I love CoP but Disney does not seem interested in putting the time and money into the attraction that it needs to keep it up to date and working. Right now the AA's at RFC are more realistic than what is currently in CoP. I would almost rather see it go away then continue in its current "held together with duct tape and zip ties" shape.

This is teu but if you look at the scale of what you are talking about anf the FL expansion or even the SM refurb this would be a drop in the bucket.

Well, I would just look on the bright side. At least the TTA wasn't gutted in favor of a more thrilling experience. :eek:

Yes what was TDA thinking?
 
Here are my thoughts:

First, and I know this would be a huge (costly) undertaking, but I don't know why TTA still uses tracks. It would be very cool (i.e., "futuristic) for them to use the same technology as they do in Great Movie Ride, U of Energy, etc., to move the cars along. The tracks are loud, clunky, and out of date.

Secondly, with regard to the narration, it's inconsistent -- it's like the attraction doesn't know "what it wants to be when it grows up". In one sense it is a simple "land" narration. Yet, they felt the need to add character voices, so there is some "schmaltz" thrown in there, too. Also, when you get in to SM, you hear a woman who is saying "Pardon our dust..." and goes on to say something about SM being your transportation, blah blah blah, so it is kind of keeping the whole "port" or "futuristic transport" theme from 1994. Oh, and like others have said, the guy's voice is too boring.

Finally, as someone pointed out, I agree that TL has turned in to a "Disney Cartoon-Promoting" land and not the "future that never was" idea (which, in theory, is a good idea). You've got Monsters, Inc., Lilo & Stitch, Toy Story, and even Little Einsteins getting promoted ("Rocket" is on top of the DVC kiosk). Hey, I half expected the Tomorrowland Speedway to change to a Cars theme and call it a day! True, I get it, most of Disney's attractions do just that (i.e., Snow White, Alice's Teacups, etc.), but this, to me, is more in your face.

Again, just my 2-cents.
 


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