As Disney goes forward with plans to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Walt Disney's birth and the opening of brand new theme parks like Disney's California Adventure, Tokyo DisneySea, and Walt Disney Studios Paris, I can't but remember the attractions that have fallen to make way for the new. Sure the new attractions are great but we also love the classic rides that are truely Disney. Must they be destroyed for flashier and more bigger attractions?
1994 was not a good year for the old attractions of Epcot. That was the year that Eisner and Company decided to clean up the theme park. Why? Ever since he arrived at Disney in 1984, the most complaints he got were about Epcot. Many complained it was too educational and had a real lack of thrill rides. Eisner decided to change that. Communacore was changed to Innoventions, Captain EO changed to Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, and The Land had a huge revamp. Even Spaceship Earth got a change of narration from Walter Cronkite to Jeremy Irons. World of Motion was next to go. After much debate with General Motors, they decided to replace the attraction with a brand new, high-tech thrill ride.
Why World of Motions? Everything else had been updated or refurbished. Also the attraction seemed to get the most complaints from the public.
Disney announced the attraction in 1996 and said by Summer 1997, it would be the longest and fastest Disney attraction ever built. Unfortunately that confidence died after an accident with the test run of the attraction in early 1997 that delayed the opening almost two years. I won't go too much into detail because of a future story that will discuss the problems the attraction caused for General Motors and the future of the Rocket Rods attraction in Disneyland. Let us just say that it was very close to never happening.
Now that it is up and running, Test Track seems to be the best thrill ride in Walt Disney World next to the Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. Though it has had frequent break downs, not many can complain or compare this with the tired, olde World of Motions. But the question remains, do classics have to die to make way for the future?
Till Next Time, See Ya!!!
Coming Soon:
Part 2: Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (Wednesday)
Part 3: Horizons (Thursday)
Part 4: Country Bears (Disneyland)
Part 5: Great Moments with Mr. Lincolin (Disneyland)
Part 6: Timekeeper
1994 was not a good year for the old attractions of Epcot. That was the year that Eisner and Company decided to clean up the theme park. Why? Ever since he arrived at Disney in 1984, the most complaints he got were about Epcot. Many complained it was too educational and had a real lack of thrill rides. Eisner decided to change that. Communacore was changed to Innoventions, Captain EO changed to Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, and The Land had a huge revamp. Even Spaceship Earth got a change of narration from Walter Cronkite to Jeremy Irons. World of Motion was next to go. After much debate with General Motors, they decided to replace the attraction with a brand new, high-tech thrill ride.
Why World of Motions? Everything else had been updated or refurbished. Also the attraction seemed to get the most complaints from the public.
Disney announced the attraction in 1996 and said by Summer 1997, it would be the longest and fastest Disney attraction ever built. Unfortunately that confidence died after an accident with the test run of the attraction in early 1997 that delayed the opening almost two years. I won't go too much into detail because of a future story that will discuss the problems the attraction caused for General Motors and the future of the Rocket Rods attraction in Disneyland. Let us just say that it was very close to never happening.
Now that it is up and running, Test Track seems to be the best thrill ride in Walt Disney World next to the Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. Though it has had frequent break downs, not many can complain or compare this with the tired, olde World of Motions. But the question remains, do classics have to die to make way for the future?
Till Next Time, See Ya!!!
Coming Soon:
Part 2: Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (Wednesday)
Part 3: Horizons (Thursday)
Part 4: Country Bears (Disneyland)
Part 5: Great Moments with Mr. Lincolin (Disneyland)
Part 6: Timekeeper