"Disneyland looking to ‘amplify’ its lands following Bayou Country retheme"

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
It's my top Fantasyland ride. I don't understand how people can dislike it, especially with the catastrophe next doors. Its visually more impressive than Toad, larger scale than Snow White, has holograms and pepper's ghost effects, faster-paced and more dynamic than Pan. It perfectly captures the feeling of running away from both; both the fun naughty adventure of it, and the scary isolation while wishing to be back home.

The way I look at it, each ride has some aspect that doesn't work.

With Pan, its everything after the Neverland model. With Snow White, its everything from the mirror under the bridge through the random new ending. With Alice, it's the final Tea Party sequence that feels like an afterthought. Toad is perfect for me from start to finish, just a little thin at times. Pinocchio has me up until the final scene with the clocks and such, which is so minor and the scale of Pleasure Island makes up for it.

This is really really interesting to me. Not only are your favorite two dark rides in my bottom three at DL but my favorite scene on Pinocchio is your least favorite my least favorite scene on Pinocchio is your favorite. I think I value the emotion a ride invokes much more than you do while you value cohesive story telling more.
 
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Professortango1

Well-Known Member
This is really really interesting to me. Not only are your favorite two dark rides in my bottom three at DL but my favorite scene on Pinocchio is your least favorite my least favorite scene on Pinocchio is your favorite. I think I value the emotion a ride invokes much more than you do while you value cohesive story telling more.
I wouldn't say I don't value emotion though. It's why I really enjoyed the more abstract, but tonally consistent version of Snow White. Now, it makes more narrative sense if following the film, but tonally it is a huge mess than I can't help but to feel.

It's also why I enjoy the first half of Peter Pan, as the vibes are incredible. The more narrative-based second half falls flat for me as it doesn't have any emotional hook.

My issue with the clock room is it's too bright, too tan, and lacks visual interest. The Pleasure Island scene is so fun while also being a tinge scary. There is so many great things to explore visually. I'm a sucker for big rooms you weave in and out of, so Pleasure Island is a lot like the London scene in Pan and the Heffalump and Woozle scene in Pooh.
 

Professortango1

Well-Known Member
And by contrast, I actually don't mind the Snow White changes. The new ride's not perfect, but it also never really felt like most people were in love for SWSA for the actual quality of the ride-more for the historical aspect.

I actually find Pinocchio to be meandering, particularly the opening Pleasure Island room where you're circling the wagons a bit before the next room. If I found the scenery compelling or the scene particularly important in the grand scheme of the ride, perhaps I'd feel differently.

This might be a highly subjective take, but I find the lighting to be unusually subdued and dull on Pinocchio in comparison to the other rides.

One question I DO have for the people behind Pinocchio: why is the version in Tokyo so much brighter than the DL and Paris versions? It's very noticeable if you watch the POVs back to back.

Another interesting difference between us; I would have actually called the final scenes to be the strongest of the attraction. Pinocchio DOES have a proper ending, which pre-new Snow White was a defining feature of the ride to me.

Alice-the tea party scene is definitely in a weird spot, but 1) prior to it being there, the ride just ended when you got to the bottom of the vine. I feel like that would have been even more unsatisfying. And 2) Baxter is on record that putting the scene in that spot allowed them to end with an explosive sound effect, which was done to counter the then-prevailing view that Alice was more feminine and girly than the other dark rides. So there's a method to that madness.

I always found Snow White to be of good quality. Yes, the mine is flashier now, but a majority of the scenes looked better before; especially the dungeon scenes. The skeleton reaching for the water was a great visual gag that tied into the film and is replaced by....potions bubbling?

I don't mind the ending of Pinocchio, I mind the literal last room, after we turn away from Pinocchio and Gepetto on the bed. There's an additional room we turn left into and turn right out of.

Each darkride has a final visual before entering the unload area, but Pinocchio has this weird themed liminal space. I love the ride, but I do wish there was something aside from a few simple clocks in that final scene, especially as vehicles are often backed up in there.
 

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't say I don't value emotion though. It's why I really enjoyed the more abstract, but tonally consistent version of Snow White. Now, it makes more narrative sense if following the film, but tonally it is a huge mess than I can't help but to feel.

It's also why I enjoy the first half of Peter Pan, as the vibes are incredible. The more narrative-based second half falls flat for me as it doesn't have any emotional hook.

My issue with the clock room is it's too bright, too tan, and lacks visual interest. The Pleasure Island scene is so fun while also being a tinge scary. There is so many great things to explore visually. I'm a sucker for big rooms you weave in and out of, so Pleasure Island is a lot like the London scene in Pan and the Heffalump and Woozle scene in Pooh.

I didn’t say you don’t value emotion the same I didn’t say I don’t value coherent story telling. We just don’t value those things the same way. For me the fantasyland dark rides are these beautiful little nostalgic time capsules so I tend to value the emotional aspect more then anything. See, the Heffalump scene is another one. That’s my least favorite scene on Pooh. Used to love the London scene and while it’s still neat flying out of the Darlings house they kind of ruined that scene during the 60th update. I find the Pleasure Island scene to be kind of dreary and too long.
 
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SuddenStorm

Well-Known Member
Even Autopia?

Yes, and I'd argue that as self driving cars become more prevalent, the Autopia will become even more important.

It was Baxter talking about the attraction that won me over- it's transformative for young children to drive their own car, and it allows people who wouldn't be able to drive elsewhere (like a blind kid) the opportunity to drive a car in a safe environment.

That's not to say it couldn't be modified- maybe shorten the track a little bit, improve some of the scenery, and get rid of the Asimo nonsense.

The route also adds a ton of nature to a side of the park that desperately needs it.
 

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
I'd also add it's a small world and Casey Jr/Storybookland

I don't consider Toontown to be untouchable, but far prefer Roger to MMRR so I'm glad it's still around, trenchcoat and all.

I think all the mountains and Indy should be preserved as well. Perhaps not untouchable like the others you mentioned but damn close.

It’s probably a forgone conclusion that Matterhorn will need to be rebuilt at some point. I’d be ok with them rebuilding it from the ground up if forced but the question is would that even be possible in that footprint with modern laws / regulations? I cannot imagine Disneyland without the Matterhorn. The lagoon and monorail need to be preserved as well.

I’m ok with minor updates (and even an appropriate IP’ification if necessary) to Thunder. If we’re saying that the ROA is untouchable then we’re also saying BTMRR is untouchable because what would they put in that plot that would be better?

I’m ok with an IPification of Space if necessary. Perhaps even a complete modernization and rebuild if I trust the regime enough and they re able to use some more real estate to make it better although I’m not sure there’s enough real estate unless they just decide to make Space Mountain the big “new” E ticket. All this talk of adding a new E ticket to TL but what if they used Launch Bay and some of the other underused TL real estate to make a bigger better Space Mountain?

Indiana Jones should always have a home there in Adventureland even if the story changes and effects gets upgraded.

Tiki Room should always have a home even if the show needs to be updated. As long as the main theme song stays.
 
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Professortango1

Well-Known Member
I didn’t say you don’t value emotion the same I didn’t say I don’t value coherent story telling. We just don’t value those things the same way. For me the fantasyland dark rides are these beautiful little nostalgic time capsules so I tend to value the emotional aspect more then anything. See, the Heffalump scene is another one. That’s my least favorite scene on Pooh. Used to love the London scene and while it’s still neat flying out of the Darlings house they kind of ruined that scene during the 60th update. I find the Pleasure Island scene to be kind of dreary and too long.
Heffalump is my least favourite scene as well..the scale is impressive, but scene isn't rich enough to fill that room. The lighting of the room also is a detriment.

I also agree that the London scene worked better prior to the recent updates.
 

SuddenStorm

Well-Known Member
I've done every Pinocchio ride in person, including Tokyo's.

While the camera and maintenance could be playing a role here, it really does appear to be much brighter than the other two, and this is something I've noticed over a sustained period of time from a variety of POVs. It's not just the lighting, it's the colors too.

Could be an illusion, but appears to me to be a genuine difference, one that I'm not sure can be pinned just on maintenance.

I wish we had more Tokyo experts on here. I wonder if theirs got a lighting overhaul at some point?
 

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