El Rio Del Tiempo vs Grand Fiesta

FettFan

FettFan

Well-Known Member
El Rio del Tiempo was really quite charming and I made a point of going on it with each trip.


"Gran Fiesta" just doesn't work. It's far too annoying and loud for the sake of "entertainment", like the desperate parent who shakes car keys in front of a baby's face.


EDIT -- For the sake of argument I added a video of each. You can make your own decision.
 
MarkTwain

MarkTwain

Well-Known Member
I remember thinking in Rio de Tiempo's twilight years that it was starting to feel a little long in the tooth, that some of the scenes were starting to feel hokey or even stereotypical, and that the market scene (now the party scene) seemed almost downright racist. My feeling at the time was that the ride was in need of a major refresh. I'm not sure Gran Fiesta Tour was the answer, but I do feel it kept much of the warmth and feel of the original attraction while providing a more tactful (if toonified) presentation.
 
Sped2424

Sped2424

Well-Known Member
El rio de Tiempo*(Op if you wanna have a conversation ya gotta get the title right my friend) While I agree the music is fun and energetic and I am a huge fan of the 3 caballero's I don't feel they adequately represent mexico simply because Panchito is labeled as Mexican. If anything he is a negative stereotype and the ride ends up showing little or nothing to do about the culture and richness that mexico has to offer. What it is instead is like a post card that one could find in walgreens that says mexico on the front, nice and organized shot of someplace famous but gives you little or nothing about what is actually there. Also as a narrative Rio had way more going for it than the current version which is the same ride just with Donald and the gang slapped up in there.

Now many people don't like cartoons being thrown into the pavilions but in this case I think there is hope for this pavilion. Many know that pixar is doing a Dia de los muertos centered title, and if brave has proven anything they know how to accurately place a story in another culture while showcasing its heritage and providing a fantasy setting. So I say let whatever happens with that film take over mexico, anything Pixar can make would be a far better representation of the country than the current offering.
 
M

Megalodumb

Well-Known Member
This is hard to decide. While I loved (and miss) El Rio, having many fond memories of that classic boat ride, I also am a big fan of the film The Three Caballeros. It actually sits as one of my top-5 all time favorite Disney films.

I've been known in the past to moan & complain about changes being made to classic attractions (the bubbles & childish interactive queue for HM, Alien Encounter being Stich-ified, mermaids in POTC). But the El Rio revamp into Gran Fiesta didn't bother me at all. In fact I loved the upgrade with the Caballeros being added to the ride. Sure I may be biased because, like I said, that film sits near & dear to my heart as a top favorite. But it also (imo) didn't take away from the mood or ambience too drastically of the original ride like some other attraction abominations (once again referencing the HM bubbles).

So even though it's a toss-up, I'll have to lean toward Gran Fiesta being my favorite version. It mixes the nostalgia of a great animated classic with the nostalgia of a classic Epcot attraction...without tainting either. Viva los Caballeros!
 
luv

luv

Well-Known Member
The old one could have used some new film in the beginning. The bar scene was from the 70s and could've used some updating...of adults - Mexican people. Otherwise, it was a great attraction and didn't need any changing.

I preferred the old version to the new one.
 
graphite1326

graphite1326

Well-Known Member
My opinion is that this ride and the ride at Norway are just too short and not worth the wait times to get on them. Especially if you skip the movie at the end of the Norway raide.
 
Brer Mickey

Brer Mickey

Well-Known Member
graphite1326 said:
My opinion is that this ride and the ride at Norway are just too short and not worth the wait times to get on them. Especially if you skip the movie at the end of the Norway raide.
Click to expand...

You must go at the wrong times because I have never waited more than two minutes to ride Gran Fiesta Tour. Maelstrom can be bit longer but most of the time it is less than 15 minutes. I love Gran Fiesta Tour. I never got to experience El Rio in person but the Youtube video is nice and I'm sure I would have liked it too.
 
Cmdr_Crimson

Cmdr_Crimson

Well-Known Member
Brer Mickey said:
You must go at the wrong times because I have never waited more than two minutes to ride Gran Fiesta Tour. Maelstrom can be bit longer but most of the time it is less than 15 minutes. I love Gran Fiesta Tour. I never got to experience El Rio in person but the Youtube video is nice and I'm sure I would have liked it too.
Click to expand...

Both are good Grand Fiesta however really doesn't seem to have done too much to El Rio Del Tiempo with the exception of the films being changed to animation, the marionette carousel at the finale and the painted mural at the end of the ride..
 
Blackburn23

Blackburn23

Well-Known Member
To me, Gran Fiesta Tour is a hidden gem as was Rio del Tiempo. Both rank in my top 5 rides at WDW! Nothing better than arriving early for your San Angel Inn reservation and taking a relaxing boat ride through Mexico.

Fantastic Attraction (both versions)!!
 
Oddysey

Oddysey

Well-Known Member
Cmdr_Crimson said:
Both are good Grand Fiesta however really doesn't seem to have done too much to El Rio Del Tiempo with the exception of the films being changed to animation, the marionette carousel at the finale and the painted mural at the end of the ride..
Click to expand...

By this logic Test Track 1.0 and Test Track 2.0 are the same ride.
 

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