^^ I don't think Rohde is infallible, but I really like a lot of the work he's responsible for in AK (and I like his enthusiasm). Not sure where the blame lies with the Yeti - last I heard it was a contractor software error, but not sure if that's accurate.
Oh, the Rohde comment totally wasn't directed to you in particular, LOL. Sorry to have implied that. I don't really dislike the guy, but I guess I naturally shy away from people and things that feel just so universally praised when I personally can't see what the fuss is about when you look at it on a case by case basis. I've always felt his personality, on the surface anti-establishment, is probably his biggest asset in his advancement both in fandom as well as in the company. But that's a whole other post.
As to the Yeti, I believe (though someone who knows will have to chime in) that while no one knows
for sure, that it's not a structural problem, it's a lube problem, and then it wasn't? I honestly can't keep up, haha.
But Yeti aside, I think that there are other real flaws with Everest, too. They spent way too much time, money, and effort (all interbred) on the queue in my opinion. Many people disagree. I mean, they made a whole television special out of Rhode and crew trekking through the jungles (with full camera crew in tow) searching for the perfect rusted piece of junk to make it "authentic". I think this was misguided, because the indoor portions of the ride felt (and still feel) incomplete, especially with the few token effects aren't running properly.
When Everest was first announced it was originally touted to have some type of dark-ride elements, but it really doesn't aside from our buddy DY. One projection effect, a couple of sound effects, and places where you can make out the steel beams. Even with the 2-second centerpiece, and forgetting about it's placement in the ride, it still was lackluster in terms of "dark ride elements" and the majority of the indoor portion is just "in the dark" (to hide the steel beams).
Instead of spending millions on the queue, it would have been nice if the ride itself had gotten some story. There is a progression, but there really is no story. I'd be willing to lay down money that if you went and fabricated a similar queue, but didn't run around the world chasing after every last bit of junk you could find and shipping it back to Orlando, and painstakingly labor over it, you could impress 98% of people just the same for 10% of the cost.
Some people find that part of the attraction amazing, some even think it's the best part. That's so sad to me. I'm not anti-queue in the least, but I find myself taking that position sometimes around here because I'm a bit right of center on that issue. Queues are great - they are what help separate WDW from everywhere else (even a lot of Disneyland).
But sometimes, like I feel with how people speak about Rhode, I think people put TOO much emphasis on it. It's important, but I don't believe the common refrain that it's "50/50" to the attraction, which you hear quite often. I'd go 25%...
maybe 30%? In extreme cases, 35%? Everest feels like 60% of the effort in terms of creative resources.
Of course that's Monday morning Imagineering, though. To be honest, I'm just bummed because...in spite of the terrible middle sequences that make Rock'nRollercoaster look like theme park Shakespeare, The Mummy (in Orlando, not the God-awful joke the USH version is, not even worth the walk through the empty queue). The dark ride sequences are well placed and fun. I know that Everest is an outdoor coaster, Mummy is fully a dark ride - I'm not making that leap. But if they had put *ONE* scene the quality of, say, the first tomb in the Mummy, or even the burning false ending? In addition to the Yeti? Would be my new favorite ride. And I didn't even ride it on my last trip.
The major blunder in AK's design was the Wildlife Express & Conservation Station - uncompelling ride & destination, IMO. Those funds ought to have been directed toward a people-eating, family ride (on the scale of PotC or HM) as I think we agree this is what AK has needed more of from the outset.
Absolutely. That's what makes the park feel kind of hollow to me. It has all the elements that make a great - even AMAZING park. Just what is already there, perfectly the way it is, in several categories it could compete for the "Best of Orlando" and perhaps of the US parks. It could be our TDS.
But it's because, like DCA, by the time they built AK they were scared crapless of another EuroDisney. So they majorly under invested and thought by building a shell and filling in meat only when they had to (and, of course it goes without saying that we got the better end of the stick on just about all accounts as DCA's shell is probably the worst a US park had since when MGM opened once you got past Hollywood Blvd., and AK's is again arguably the best).
I think most people, even those that love it now, would love a pretty major expansion. People argue about *what*, and you mention a few dead projects and some people grow fangs at just the mention of the name out of bitter disapointment. One E-ticket thrill ride (Test Track-level thrills, at least), one E-ticket dark ride (yes, the jungle is beautiful - but show us other animals in places we can't see outdoors in the Orlando sun besides Dinosaurs!), and a couple of smaller but hopefully largely INDOOR experiences.
I don't think we need a billion like DCA, but I think we'd do real well with $500m. If we limit Rhode to no more than $100M of the total project budget.
