Does The Internet Take Away Some Of The Mystique?

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
I dont mind watching the videos and seeing beforehand of whats to come. It doesnt spoil it for me but boy does it get me wanting the trip that much more. Seeing someone having all the fun and here I am sitting at my computer thousand miles away and unable to join in the fun makes me drool for the trip that much more. I have to say that it also helps with the pre planning I do because I can decide to target that featured something I've seen before.
 

Bob Saget

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Well, it was like that in the 80's take this for example...During the christmas parade or Easter Parade it was the only other time you knew what was new at WDW..Now that we know of things several months/years before it's created it sucks the fun out of what to expect..

^Exactly
I remember a time when we'd get our first glimpse of a new attraction via reading literature/park brochures picked up along I-75 while in route to Disney.
Now, a new attraction is well-known, picked apart by fans & haters of the idea, and talked about to death before it even reaches the official greenlight stage(s).
 

JiminyandTink

Well-Known Member
I made a point not to watch the POV video of the Test Track refurb because I didn't want to ruin it, but I did rush to watch the Radiator Springs Racers video because I was too curious and I knew I wasn't going to be at DL anytime soon.

But watching videos of attractions/shows/etc that you know well is just a great way to bridge the gap to your next trip without having too much Disney withdrawl.
 

Beholder

Well-Known Member
I don't watch videos nor do I look at "spy photos" or behind the scene type stuff, not until I've had to experience something first hand. I don't even like people telling me much about a film I'd like to see. I prefer to be surprised, either in a good way or not so good. Also, I find that the more I see something, especially through the lens of the internet, it becomes much more mundane. I love the Internet for it's potential for the sharing of knowledge, but it does, at times, take the mystery out of things.
 

bethymouse

Well-Known Member
I like watching the Youtube videos. My boys really like watching the ride videos. It is kind of annoying that there are so many!:eek: It's those people who video everything on their phone when riding a ride that gets annoying sometimes too!:eek: So... I guess we shouldn't watch them since it "promotes" the use of those cell phones and such. So... yes, it does take away some of the magical "mystique" that WDW has.
 

Walt Disney1955

Well-Known Member
I will say that the mystique is only ruined if you let it happen. I had never gone to Disneyland until last September. If there is a theme park attraction in the world then you can bet someone posted it on Youtube. I clicked on a couple of them that WDW didn't have. I clicked on Pinocchio. As soon as the doors opened up in the beginning of the ride and Pinocchio is saying "Hi-diddle-dee-dee" I stopped it. That was enough for me. My curiousity almost got the best of me but I thought I'd just check it out in person. And you know, those videos don't do the ride any justice. How can you possibly experience Pirates properly sitting in front of a computer? Disney is all about the experience.

I don't want to know everything about a ride I've never been on. I want it to be a surprise. I'll look at the maps and I won't say that I don't check out the odd video but I make sure that I don't check something out I haven't seen.

As of now, I have no problem watching a video of a ride for the simple reason that I am already familiar with it and sometimes just need a fix to get back to that magic place. But I'll have my son watch stuff like Small World's ridethrough. He gets mesmerized by it and I can only imagine how he'll do in real life. That stuff doesn't ruin it for me. But back in 1991 the only memories I could see were the pictures we took and the park maps I brought home. I would always stare at the maps and imagine things. I think back then we may have killed for easy access to a Disney World video.
 

wdwfan4ver

Well-Known Member
No, the internet doesn't takes away some the Mystique for me. To me, there is no substitute for being there and I really don't look at new attractions ahead of time. I actually the internet helpful for menu's of restaurants and what events are happening there.

I first went to WDW in 1991 as teenager. There was nothing at the time for a person to know ahead in terms of what restaurants serve what food at WDW before going there. It was a different era at the time though because ADR's were not a must in 1991. Back in 1991, it wasn't easy for people to know what attractions were closed or what special events are happening. The other thing is it wasn't well know the exact date attractions would open either back in the 1990's compare to now for some things.

I think it is more easier to plan a trip at WDW now than it was in 1991 in terms of the internet for some things.
 

Turtle

Well-Known Member
I've started this, whenever there's a new attraction in Orlando, I won't watch it until I experience it. I did this for Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey last year and it blew my mind I didn't know what was coming besides the basic KUKA arm and what most people say.
 

luv

Well-Known Member
I'm planning a trip to DL (my first) and doing all the planning from the UG and Birnbaum. I may ask some questions at some point, but I don't want to watch videos. I avoid reading too much because I don't want to know about special stuff.

It seems to me that when you research something and hunt it down to make sure you are part of the occurrence, it would have to be far less special than just encountering it.

I want to have my experiences. And I don't want them watered down with the knowledge of what is around the corner, KWIM?
 

Gonzo79

Well-Known Member
I love watching ride throughs and walkthroughs on Youtube,but only rides and areas that I've been on and seen. However, if there is a new attraction that I don't really care about or that I know its going to be a long time before I get to experience it, then I'll watch it. For example, I've watch the new CarsLand videos cause I know I'm not going to Disneyland any time soon.
 

Weather_Lady

Well-Known Member
Absolutely, I think the vast amount of information on the internet ruins some of the "mystique." On the other hand, it helps those of us who can't visit often prepare to make the best use of our vacations, by knowing ahead of time what to expect. As time goes by, touring Disney World requires more and more foreknowledge (e.g., knowing where character greetings will be found, knowing when and where to sign up for things like Jedi Training Academy, knowing whether an attraction has scary elements that the kids ought to be warned about). It's harder to stumble upon the magic by accident: you have to get a Fastpass, make an ADR, or camp out for 90 minutes for a good seat, all for a "scheduled appointment with the magic."

I certainly miss the days when I was a child, when you could just "show up" and discover what shows were going on, walk into a restaurant and eat there at the spur of the moment, and had to experience an attraction yourself to see what it was all about. For better or for worse, if you want to get the most out of a Disney World vacation now, you need to approach it like an impending war: set your objectives, do your recon, choose your battle plans, learn the layout, familiarize yourself with the language, culture and customs of the natives, make arrangements to feed the troops, etc. I do try to limit viewing on-ride videos of anything I haven't seen before to preserve some element of surprise, but that's about as much "Disney innocence" as I can preserve without feeling that I've under-prepared. ;)
 

PhotoDave219

Well-Known Member
So what do you think? Does the internet take away any of the mystique of WDW (or any park in general) by giving audiences full exposure to rides & attractions? Did it build more excitement for you back when you couldn't see all the in's & out's of a new ride prior to visiting in person? Or does it really make a difference either way? What are your thoughts?

No, but it makes me not want to associate with the rest of society when I'm there.
 

Chrononymous

Well-Known Member
I feel the same way as many of you...I try not to watch the videos, but man, it can be hard!
I watched about 3 seconds of the Little Mermaid ride, and then realized what the heck I was doing, and stopped it. A video is cool...but I want the thrill of discovery to remain intact.

I want to be immersed in the awesome themeing, not attempting to live it through the tiny screen. I want to hear and smell and see for myself how cool and lovingly detailed and beautifully constructed everything is.

On the other hand, I did watch the video of the mermaids in POTC, because the grainy dark picture doesn't really ruin anything for me...as it's really difficult to see unless you are actually experiencing it. The video just sort of whets my appetite for seeing it person.

And, well...I did also watch the Jack Sparrow Experience thing at the Studios on Video...so I know I can avoid it, and not waste my time on the next trip.
 

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