BeachClubVillas said:
What's the difference between Fire Mountain and Bald Mountain?
It looks like everyone already beat me to the punch, but here's what I heard:
After the closing of 20K (about 1994), the Imagineers get to work on a replacement. Since the ride would open at the earliest in 1999, Eisner gives the go-ahead for an E-Ticket, since it would be the first at MK since Splash Mountain (back then Eisner still wasn't too keen on E-Tickets, but he knew that the opening of these attractions would coincide with the opening of IOA). So what ended up happening was two groups of Imagineers were working on a replacement for 20K at the same time (but the weird thing is, BOTH groups thought that they were the ONLY group! Weird, huh?). So here's what went down:
-One group wanted a fitting replacement to 20K, one that was very Jules Verne-ish in tone. They also wanted to provide MK with a truly exciting thrill ride. They came up with many ideas based on Verne books and stories, and ultimately settled upon the upcoming Disney animated "Atlantis: the Lost Empire," which started production in 1996 and had a very Verne-ish quality (the directors pointed out that one of their inspirations was Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth). And they were REALLY excited about the proposed finale for the movie, which would take place inside a dormant volcano. So, long story short, Fire Mountain turned out to be the world's first "morphing" roller coaster. At the moment the coaster blasts itself out of the volcano, the coaster would "morph" from a farely tame mine-train type coatser to an inverted coaster (like Dueling Dragons at IOA).
-The other group wanted to capitalize on the success of Splash Mountain and build another water ride, with the theme coinciding more with the tone of Fantasyland than 20K. They decided to theme the ride after a group of characters in the Disney canon that were rising in popularity: the villains. Bald Mountain (also known as "Villain Mountain" or "Forbidden Mountain" after so many "Hair Club for Men" jokes from Imagineers) would end up to be a flume ride where guests ride in boats themed after the boats that Charon, the ferryman of the dead, guided in "Hercules." The ride would be themed to guests breaking up some kind of "Villain convention" (why didn't they just have it at the Contemporary?) and then basically running (or sailing) for their lives. The attraction would end in a dramatic splashdown waterfall directly facing Fantasyland.
Both attractions had their strong points. Fire Mountain, with its awesome theme and thrilling roller coaster ride, would finally prove once and for all that Disney can please the thrillseeking crowd (not to mention the merchandising potential with the tie-in with an animated movie. Bald Mountain would have the villain-theme merchandising potential, with a chance to alleviate some crowds from Splash Mountain, have a dramatic visual wienie in the middle of Fantasyland, and it also provideda chance for Disney to make a small "villain village" land, which could ultimately lead to a new Halloween celebration.
So which attraction to build? Actually, Eisner (yes you heard that right) liked both so much that he decided to build both of them. Fire Mountain would be built in Adventureland around 2002-04, and Bald Mountain would follow at the 20K site around 2008. Unfortunately, IOA did not have the anticipated crowds and had nill effect on WDW's attendance. As a result, new Attractions (or Parks + Resorts, blah) head Paul Pressler promised that one of the E-Tickets would still be built but, since Disney did not have to worry about IOA, the first one (undecided) would be built in 2008 at 20K. Because of Pressler's demise, the future of the new E-Tickets is unknown. (Though, it's still possible for Fire Mountain to be built ready for 2008 in Adventureland, if another attraction is put in 20K, which looks to be that Pooh-themed playground for the time being).
WHEW! I need a nap. :snore:
