News Disney Not Renewing Great Movie Ride Sponsorship Deal with TCM ; Attraction to Close

sedati

sedati

Well-Known Member
marni1971 said:
But I really didn't want to use that shot.
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I have to say, my heart broke when that came up when I was watching the video. Energy and Seas were the two pavilions I had to really coerce my party into visiting. Watching your video made me realize how accommodating they were being to me. It reminded me of a trip to Cooperstown (baseball hall of fame) which bored me to tears, but proved a great and engaging day for everyone else.

We were all fans of the Disney parks, but I think I was the only one that was fully committed. Someone may call themselves a fan of sci-fi because they casually watch Star Wars and Trek, but few would sit through Metropolis or 2001- let alone multiple times. Epcot Center on its surface was an all ages, all interests park, but it was also a one-and-done for many. I think those of us who would not only rode repeatedly, but prayed for breakdowns so they could really appreciate the details/mood, were a rare breed- a rare breed that found greater numbers on forums like this.

Martin, I wish I had known about you back in the late nineties and early Millennium. While not a true insider, I did have the plans for many Disney projects (resorts, transportation, and Downtown only- nothing in the actual parks) cross my path though my work- sometimes well before even being announced. I tried to dip my toes into revealing bits of info (MiceChat I believe.) Unfortunately, I found the environment hostile and unwelcoming. I was also concerned with getting in trouble as we also handled government work where they took all our trash and had someone watch us the whole time we were handling the plans. So, I appreciate what you put out there and can understand how one can only say so much.
 
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Rich T

Rich T

Well-Known Member
Casper Gutman said:
No, we can't say that, because that would be very silly.

I have to ask... did you ever go to EPCOT in its heyday? Because your opinion doesn't sound like someone who actually experienced the rides.

The omni-movers were not "blandly similar." Nothing could be further from the truth. The tone of each ride was very different - the wit of WoM, the whimsical fantasy of Imagination, the futurism of Horizons. The art design was different. The ride vehicles were different. The progression of the story was different. There was absolutely no sense of "sameness."

Dismissing them because they used vaguely similar ride systems is like saying "Oh, Casablanca is basically the same thing as Transformers, right? They're both a series of images projected in rapid succession..."

Not a single thing has been improved at Epcot since the days of the omnimover. Not one thing. Its an amazing record of poor choices and stupidity. Honestly - all the choices they've made, and every aspect of that park is worse than it used to be. Breathtaking.
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I visited EPCOT in1993. It remains my only trip to Florida so far. My group and I rode everything. I loved it. The only ride that didn't meet my expectations was Universe of Energy. Aside from that, I loved everything in Future World.

But I was the only one in a diverse group of 9 that did. I was the only one who rode anything more than once (in the case of Journey Into Imagination, Horizons and Cranium Command--five times each). I was 35 at the time. The teens and tweens in our party were bored of EPCOT after riding Spaceship Earth, Horizons and World of Motion (It's like being in school, they told me)-- and promptly left for Magic Kingdom. The other adults in our group were one-and-done.

As much as I loved Future World, I did find it an odd design choice that so many slow-moving omnimover rides were so close together. But that's what Future World was, so I just shrugged and enjoyed it for the World's-Fair-vibe wonderworld it was. I kept returning to Future World during our five-day stay at the resort, but--again--I was the only one of nine out of a diverse group that did return.

So, I can see why Disney's doing what it's doing. Slow-moving Future World just didn't appeal to everyone. But...what it's becoming is not for me at this point.

I'm a Disneylander, but for years after my Florida trip, I kept planning on returning to WDW, but then almost every attraction I loved got either butchered or removed. Along what's happened to EPCOT, the removal of 2-track Mr. Toad, the really scary version of Snow White, the Adventurer's Club and the Sid Cahuenga shop...EVERYTHING I loved most at WDW (that's not also at DL) is gone. The only thing I'm even curious about now is Animal Kingdom, which I'd still like to see. Until the opportunity comes along, though, I'm happy out west.
 
Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
Ryan H. Serowinski said:
Tired of hearing that the ride's going to close, it can survive with a new sponsor(or without one) and would update the ride with new movies represented and a new narrator since Robert Osborne died recently, even though none of these films are true modern masterpieces:
The Jungle Book(2016)(Disney) with the voices of Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, and Christoper Walken replacing the Tarzan the Ape Man scene

Beauty and the Beast(2017)(Disney) with Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, also the voice of Evan McGregor, replacing a portion of the Alien scene

La La Land(2016)(Summit Entertainment) with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone singing the Oscar winning tune, City of Stars, replacing Footlight Parade

James Cameron's Titanic(1997)(Paramount/20th Fox) with Leonardo Dicaprio, replacing the second half of the Public Enemy scene

Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson's The Adventures of Tintin(based off the books from Herge)(Paramount/Columbia) from 2011 starring the voices of Jamie Bell and Andy Serkis, replacing the Horror film scene after the Raiders of the Lost Ark scene(Nick won't be credited despite being produced from that studio(due to Universal partnership), as Paramount/Columbia will both get credit, Amblin will also be referenced)

Ang Lee's Oscar winning, Life of Pi(2012)(20th Fox), replacing the Western scene

Martin Scoresese's Hugo(2011)(Paramount), replacing the first part of the Public Enemy scene

Ridley Scott's The Martian(2015)(20th Fox), replacing a portion of the Alien scene

I was going to say Avatar(2009), but Animal Kingdom already has an area based off the movie, so they wouldn't add that movie.

I just hope Disney will change their minds about closing this ride and continue to operate even without a sponsor(or team up with Coca-Cola again)(before you give me butthurt/hate comments on me about saying that the updates AREN'T coming), and of course the rest would have updated animatronics
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I might have missed something, if so, sorry, but, TGMR will be closing and replaced by the Mickey Ride. What that will consist of and how much the whole thing will be altered, (the ride track I'm talking about) is anyones guess at this point. However, grit your teeth, cause it is as good as gone. Hasta la Bye Bye!
 
sedati

sedati

Well-Known Member
With mention that the new ride may not use the full amount of space in the building, is it then possible that this could be enough for a second attraction at some future time?
 
Marlins1

Marlins1

Well-Known Member
The Empress Lilly said:
I did think FW had one omnimover too many, between SSE, Imagination, WoM and Horizons. Rather, one too many omnimover + AA combo. Back home I had trouble to remember which scene belonged to WoM and which to SSE. (No internet and YouTube and 538264 free digital holiday photos)

What they should've done, I don't know. Not a thrill ride. A tonal misfit. Thrill rides ruin the rarified zen and aloofness of FW. FW in its heyday was a spiritual experience, drawing from its inspirational character and breathtaking unity of vision and execution. Thrill rides belong there as much as occasional loud heavy metal in a zen rock garden 'to add variety'. The wealth of different experiences and surroundings make the MK, the grand unity makes EPCOT.
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I agree with the one too many omnimovers opinion. Like most I wish Horizns was still around as a relaxing interesting ride with great capacity. Since WOM was replaced with a ride that is actually good (especially the original version) I think that one was the right decision. I also do not see how anyone can say that the addition of Soarin' did not improve the park.
 
seabreezept813

seabreezept813

Well-Known Member
When I got married in 2013 I remember them offering to host special events at GMR and maybe even Energy.. will they just relocate or did they not generate enough money? I was hoping that could have saved GMR.. it seems such a shame MGM was my mom's favorite park and all the things that made it special seem to be going away

I know I'm definitely in the minority, but one Star Wars ride was perfect for me. I wish they would do more of the isolated attractions than one very specific land.
 
Biff215

Biff215

Well-Known Member
seabreezept813 said:
When I got married in 2013 I remember them offering to host special events at GMR and maybe even Energy.. will they just relocate or did they not generate enough money? I was hoping that could have saved GMR.. it seems such a shame MGM was my mom's favorite park and all the things that made it special seem to be going away

I know I'm definitely in the minority, but one Star Wars ride was perfect for me. I wish they would do more of the isolated attractions than one very specific land.
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I'm sure those special events generate some decent money, but they're not substantial enough to keep an attraction around unfortunately. I know the Oz scene gets used, not sure how often. I'm sure they'll find other options once SWL is open.

The MGM days are long over for better or worse, closing GMR simply puts one of the final nails in the casket.
 
britain

britain

Well-Known Member
Jim Hill is reporting that it will be new, wise-aleck, youtube Mickey (which I really like) in this new ride. @marni1971 can you confirm? All of a sudden this attraction seems a whole lot zanier and more fun to me :)

Will the company have the guts to get rid of soft-edged, corporate-friendly, teddy bear Mickey? I hope they do.
 
brb1006

brb1006

Well-Known Member
britain said:
Jim Hill is reporting that it will be new, wise-aleck, youtube Mickey (which I really like) in this new ride. @marni1971 can you confirm? All of a sudden this attraction seems a whole lot zanier and more fun to me :)

Will the company have the guts to get rid of soft-edged, corporate-friendly, teddy bear Mickey? I hope they do.
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