Do you like the new TTA narration?

[muteki]

While I do think it is possible that the powers that be do listen and are concerned about the opinions of those that enjoy the parks, I doubt very seriously that the members of this site taking this poll are a valid subset of the daily visitors of WDW. As unfortunate as it may be, the average poster here is in no way representative of the average guest that arrives at WDW.

And also unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view) I would speculate that if you grabbed someone at random who just got off the ride that they would be fine with/have no opinion of the new TTA audio. I would also venture to guess they they had no idea that it changed. I think that if you polled people this way enough times, you would come to the conclusion that the new audio is fine.

Unfortunately, the views expressed here have very little in common with those of the average guest, and Disney is not going to listen to the small group of outlying opinions when their main guest base is perfectly fine with the change.

 

[gettingsmaller]

^ Exactly.

If they used the female voice for the entire ride, even with this terrible script, it would improve 300%. They can keep the character voices, but the voice needs to sound futuristic, and the announcements need to be brief.

You got it. It should sound futuristic rather than cartoonish. The Doodlebops are okay, but I don't think they should be narrating TTA.

 

[gettingsmaller]

While I do think it is possible that the powers that be do listen and are concerned about the opinions of those that enjoy the parks, I doubt very seriously that the members of this site taking this poll are a valid subset of the daily visitors of WDW. As unfortunate as it may be, the average poster here is in no way representative of the average guest that arrives at WDW.

And also unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view) I would speculate that if you grabbed someone at random who just got off the ride that they would be fine with/have no opinion of the new TTA audio. I would also venture to guess they they had no idea that it changed. I think that if you polled people this way enough times, you would come to the conclusion that the new audio is fine.

Unfortunately, the views expressed here have very little in common with those of the average guest, and Disney is not going to listen to the small group of outlying opinions when their main guest base is perfectly fine with the change.

I'm not sure if I've read a more reasonable post.
I hate that it's true, but it is very well reasoned and not as emotional and over-the-top as most posts here.
That being said, even if lower quality (and I guess that's subjective in this case) is accepted by the average visitor, that does not mean that it should be the target.

It would be a fun experiment if you could take first time guests and have them ride it with each audio to give an opinion... (or, actually, to make a new old-style audio to compare with the new audio)

 

[gettingsmaller]

One more thought on this:
Do you enjoy listening to "oldies"? My dad likes to listen to the Beach Boys and so forth. I like to listen to Duran Duran and other 80s things from time to time. Why IS that? I think it has something to do with that time in your life. Maybe the music conjures up the feelings of that time in your life--in junior high and high school, you have great expectations, few responsibilities, and your whole life ahead of you... is that what seems to make us enjoy music from that time? I don't know...

In any case, I wonder if the same can be said of things like the Peoplemover/TTA. It seems that most people here who can remember the pre-1994 sound actually like the new sound because it reminds them of the pre-1994 one. They like to listen to their "Peoplemover oldies". Others--like me--who can't recall the old spiel (I DID get to ride it in the early 80s, but remember nothing of the narrator), are happy with their "TTA Oldies" (or "onlys", as the case may be).

THAT being the case (albeit determined by extremely small sample size), I wonder if the people making the decisions (Imagineers, Lasseter, some park head), also like their "Peoplemover oldies", and whether some of the decision is colored by that? I don't know if it really matters, but I wonder if the nostalgia of people how can make decisions about these things actually influences those decisions, for either good or bad.

 

[Tom Morrow]

And also unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view) I would speculate that if you grabbed someone at random who just got off the ride that they would be fine with/have no opinion of the new TTA audio.

While the average guest doesn't think too much about these type of changes, this change can basically mean the difference in guest reaction from "well that was fun and relaxing!" to "Why did we ride that? It was just a preview of all the other rides."

And that "Well, the average guest doesn't care!" attitude is what results in things like the new SSE descent.

 

[gettingsmaller]

Okay, so I found a video on YouTube with the ORAC-1 narration. WOW--it really is similar to the newer narration.
Personally, I still favor the "Tom Morrow" narration, but the ORAC-1 narration seems superior to the new if only because of this:
"his" introduction. By the narrator introducing himself as "ORAC-1", you immediately have the feeling that you are being guided by a robot or computer of some sort, which helps to maintain the futuristic feel.
The new narration (so far as we've been able to hear it) includes no such introduction, which leaves us to assume that we are being directed by some present-day, far-too-chipper HUMAN. It just breaks the illusion for me (and isn't "illusion" part of the reason I like WDW over Six Flags?).

 

[gettingsmaller]

While the average guest doesn't think too much about these type of changes, this change can basically mean the difference in guest reaction from "well that was fun and relaxing!" to "Why did we ride that? It was just a preview of all the other rides."

Also, just because the average guest doesn't notice or care, doesn't make it ok. Disney did not build up it's reputation of being "perfect" with that attitude. The small little details like the "bing-Bing-BING! Now approaching:" and the Mr. Tom Morrow cheesy jokes are what seperates Disney from the rest.

Exactly, I have argued this on other topics, as well. If you lower quality, you lower guest experience (even if the guest doesn't know what they're missing), which will eventually impact reputation, which will inevitably impact the bottom line.
Another way of saying it is similar to Tom Morrow's point above. As Disney, do you want people to leave a ride/hotel/park/vacation saying "Well, that was fun, I guess--what are we going to do next year?", OR do you want them to say "I have never experienced anything like that--how soon can we come back?"
A guest may never know that they have 'missed' something better, but the resort's goal should not be a guest experience that leaves them satisfied. Instead, it should be an experience that wows the guest to the point that they don't want to do anything else. Whether it's theming, customer service, ride experiences, food quality--whatever--the goal should be a superior product that sets them apart from the rest (which, by the way, not only creates repeat customers but is the path to justifying premium prices).
Well, that's what I think the goal should be, anyway. If the goal is to be a nudge better than Six Flags, then I could spend a few hundred dollars close to home instead of a few thousand in Florida. I'd assume most others would feel the same.

 

[captainkidd]

For the record, there's actually a pretty simple (albeit silly) solution to those of us who don't like it. Just take an ipod into the park and listen to the old track with earphones while on the ride.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Yes one of the best small things theyve done of late.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

THAT being the case (albeit determined by extremely small sample size), I wonder if the people making the decisions (Imagineers, Lasseter, some park head), also like their "Peoplemover oldies", and whether some of the decision is colored by that? I don't know if it really matters, but I wonder if the nostalgia of people how can make decisions about these things actually influences those decisions, for either good or bad.

Wouldn't be surprised in the least if nostalgic filled WDI designers were involved in such decision making as this new narration and putting more white paint on buildings like the arcade if it's not a primer (white makes everything look good, right?).

If there is indeed a movement to go back to an older style of Tomorrowland in MK then I feel it's a poor decision for both aesthetic and financial reasons. Investing capital to please a group of fanbois is not always a good decision. MK's Tomorrowland already has a unique and strong visual appearence that doesn't need to have anything taken away from it to make it look better. I can't stand the white paint on the 1998 DL Tomorrowland buildings as it is just a cheap way to "fix" a "problem".

MK's Tomorrowland has no business trying to be an accurate look at the future, that's EPCOT's job. The redifined standards of what "Tomorrowland" means across the globe was a smart thing to do on disney's part. I don't care what Walt said, let Tomorrowland be the realm of sci-fi not sci-fact.

The new narration is workable and I don't hate it, but I will wait for it to be 100% complete before I make my final decsion on it.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Responses in this thread and the other bolster my theory why Disney does not listen to fan's complaints.

You are looking at the extremists. Hopefully Disney ignores people like that, and focuses on the posts that are thoughtful, but critical, and even tempered.:wave:

 

[muteki]

That being said, even if lower quality (and I guess that's subjective in this case) is accepted by the average visitor, that does not mean that it should be the target.

While I do believe that this is true, and part of the general philosophy of how and why the parks were built, I also think it is realistic to assume that unless there is some huge upheaval or sway of opinion by the general public, the majority of people will not take notice of something like this. No matter how much I wish it to be true, unless millions of others share my opinion, (or a powerful few do) then I am not going to expect change.

I am extremely interested in where this new direction in Tomorrowland will take us, if it is a new direction after all. I have begun to think that over the past several years that society as a whole has become less imaginative, more complacent, and less optimistic about "futuristic" themes in general. I at least to some degree attribute the state of this section of the park, as well as the state of Future World, to this general trend.

But if it is in the process of changing, color me interested. For better or worse, I can't wait to see what they come up with.

 

[SirGoofy]

To the people that are saying it's not complete: isn't that what everybody said about the SSE decent? Not saying that it is complete but how do you know it isn't? I really doubt they will go to the trouble to change it.

Because the Space Mountain loop isn't in there.

Every time something is not complete or we are told things will change it never does. The Soarin' film never changes like it was rumored it would.

Uhhhh....they're filming it.

The Toy Story Mania games never change like it was rumored they would.

It's been open for a year. Impatient, much?

When Italy, Germany, Africa, and other places in World Showcase were going to be completed in the future they never were. I bet we're stuck with it as is for a while.

COMPLETELY different situation there.

 

[Innoventions]

To the people that are saying it's not complete: isn't that what everybody said about the SSE decent? Not saying that it is complete but how do you know it isn't? I really doubt they will go to the trouble to change it.

Every time something is not complete or we are told things will change it never does. The Soarin' film never changes like it was rumored it would. The Toy Story Mania games never change like it was rumored they would. Nothing ever changes on the boneyard, preshow, post show, or anywhere else on the backlot tour like it should. When Italy, Germany, Africa, and other places in World Showcase were going to be completed in the future they never were. I bet we're stuck with it as is for a while.

Its not complete because space mountain isnt complete. Once that opens and the narration includes space mountain then its complete. Because of the fact that they still need to add in space mountain, i think they have and will use the opportunity to spruce it up a little but in no way change it. Just make it cleaner and polished

 

[Innoventions]

Cant wait for new new tomorowland or is it a flash back to an older tomorrowland which in turn makes it new? Anyway its going to be interesting

 

[Innoventions]

Because the Space Mountain loop isn't in there.



Hahaha i posted the same thing

 

[muteki]

Cant wait for new new tomorowland or is it a flash back to an older tomorrowland which in turn makes it new? Anyway its going to be interesting

Actually the frame of mind I am currently in is "can't wait for the new whateverland sure wish they would settle on what they are doing so its no longer constructionland."

 

[Tom Morrow]

So Space Mountain isn't complete...

... its not like once it opens, the script and voice actor will suddenly not be completely generic and uninspired.

 

[DisneyMusician2]

So Space Mountain isn't complete...

... its not like once it opens, the script and voice actor will suddenly not be completely generic and uninspired.

True, but I'm not sure I would call the last narration "inspired".

I'll hold out and see what it looks lie when the Mountain opens back up.

 

[jakeman]

You are looking at the extremists. Hopefully Disney ignores people like that, and focuses on the posts that are thoughtful, but critical, and even tempered.:wave:

Why? What's the point?

Here is the demographic of these TTA threads as I see it:

15% support
35% wait and see
20% critical evaluation
30% crazy

Considering threads like these and the other TTA thread are frontloaded with crazy, by the time I would get to any critical evaluation all credibility relating to the topic is lost.

To put it another way, people are complaining about the loss of a narration that told you about Buzz Lightyear while you were staring at a lady getting her hair done. That should tell everyone that the previous narration wasn't that great.

I haven't heard the new one. I make a point to experience things first hand before I judge them, so I don't have an opinion on the new one. I do know that the previous one wasn't the theme-glue that everyone thinks it was.