MerlinTheGoat
Well-Known Member
Yes it's too short, and yes 40 seconds more would provide a substantial improvement over what we got considering coaster and dark ride length (negligible for a lengthy ride like Pirates, Mansion or Splash but it's a substantial extra amount of time for a coaster). The original Snow White also didn't have consistent 70+ minute waits despite its brevity. I don't even think the extra time needed to be dedicated to the coaster part, but more show scenes. The original track layout was supposed to have two additional show scenes inside the mountain (and the concept art hints they had some outdoor scenes we didn't end up getting), and had a longer track overall.
The AA's are quite good (and a good thing they didn't go with the simple figures they were going to go with, that would have been even more disappointing) as is the scene they're in. But as someone said in another thread this ride is kind of like if Splash Mountain only had one show scene and then the big drop (only the big drop in this case being about 1/3 the size). Would be a let down, and it's the problem with this ride. It's also unfortunate that the ending scene in the cottage is so difficult to see inside of. What should have been provided is at least 4 show scenes like the one inside the mountain with that caliber of figures (instead we got one scene with good new AA's and another scene with mostly recycled ones from the original ride). They should be ashamed for even considering such primitive figures in the first place for the main show scene of the centerpiece ride of a 21st century Disney park project, thank heavens good taste and sense prevailed in one aspect of the ride. But we shouldn't have to set expectations so low that it seems like the second coming when they actually make one scene that comes close to touching what they made 20-30 years ago or more. At the very least set your expectations to Splash Mountain standards for a brand spanking new 21st century Disney ride, not just being grateful that one small part of it turned out better than a dark ride using early-mid 1900's technology. It comes nowhere close to Splash Mountain or even Big Thunder standards. The nice AA's saved the ride in my eyes from being a failure and transformed what would have been a meh to ok ride to something solid and good at least. But they do not bring it up to par with what it was intended to be, and should have been.
And being better than meet and greets is not a free pass out of criticism. Most rides (even ancient primitive Disney dark rides from the 1950's, all but the worst) are preferable to that crap. The original plan did indeed contain a meet and greet for the area instead, but remember that it also did not include the loss of the original Snow White ride. We did not get an additional ride in the last minute change to FLE, simply a trade out for losing the original Snow White and its precious ride space to a wasteful meet and greet (same can be said about Mermaid being a belated replacement to 20k Leagues).
I actually found the views very limited and nothing special at all. And this is coming from a tall (6'4") guy. The rockwork is kind of built up around the trains and obscures most of any potential view of the park. The outdoor theming is also a bit lacking in places compared to what the various pieces of concept art were teasing. Night time lighting is also disappointing.
The AA's are quite good (and a good thing they didn't go with the simple figures they were going to go with, that would have been even more disappointing) as is the scene they're in. But as someone said in another thread this ride is kind of like if Splash Mountain only had one show scene and then the big drop (only the big drop in this case being about 1/3 the size). Would be a let down, and it's the problem with this ride. It's also unfortunate that the ending scene in the cottage is so difficult to see inside of. What should have been provided is at least 4 show scenes like the one inside the mountain with that caliber of figures (instead we got one scene with good new AA's and another scene with mostly recycled ones from the original ride). They should be ashamed for even considering such primitive figures in the first place for the main show scene of the centerpiece ride of a 21st century Disney park project, thank heavens good taste and sense prevailed in one aspect of the ride. But we shouldn't have to set expectations so low that it seems like the second coming when they actually make one scene that comes close to touching what they made 20-30 years ago or more. At the very least set your expectations to Splash Mountain standards for a brand spanking new 21st century Disney ride, not just being grateful that one small part of it turned out better than a dark ride using early-mid 1900's technology. It comes nowhere close to Splash Mountain or even Big Thunder standards. The nice AA's saved the ride in my eyes from being a failure and transformed what would have been a meh to ok ride to something solid and good at least. But they do not bring it up to par with what it was intended to be, and should have been.
And being better than meet and greets is not a free pass out of criticism. Most rides (even ancient primitive Disney dark rides from the 1950's, all but the worst) are preferable to that crap. The original plan did indeed contain a meet and greet for the area instead, but remember that it also did not include the loss of the original Snow White ride. We did not get an additional ride in the last minute change to FLE, simply a trade out for losing the original Snow White and its precious ride space to a wasteful meet and greet (same can be said about Mermaid being a belated replacement to 20k Leagues).
I actually found the views very limited and nothing special at all. And this is coming from a tall (6'4") guy. The rockwork is kind of built up around the trains and obscures most of any potential view of the park. The outdoor theming is also a bit lacking in places compared to what the various pieces of concept art were teasing. Night time lighting is also disappointing.
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