Gran Fiesta Tour - New Animatronics

[Disney Analyst]

Wow! Color me impressed!!

 

[brb1006]

I saw it in Tokyo Disneyland right before it closed and everything seemed well maintained, except for the never-changed-since-the-1970's preshow film...that one was very weird

Is there an English version of the preshow?

 

[brb1006]

Those are some great AA's. Never noticed how bare that stage looked with just the screen before.

The old stage finale where it was only a screen of the character looked so boring to watch.

 

[PizzaPlanet]

The animatronics have such a limited range of motion compared to the animated versions on the screens.

I know right? They should just tear out the ride and put in a theater where you watch the movie.

 

[brb1006]

I'll always prefer El Rio del Tiempo to this BUT this is a good addition. They should have had this done from the beginning. Disney looking for money to make this happen?? REALLY? They are rolling in it- if only they wanted to use it. Maybe now its time for the Yeti.

The Yeti will finally be fixed once Avatarland is complete I bet.

 

[the-reason14]

Good job! It's about time. I remember discussions about this years ago. Glad to see this finally in place. Sorry I missed it, but here's to more plussings like this in the future. Give me more of a reason to come back.

 

[orlando210]

I'll always prefer El Rio del Tiempo to this BUT this is a good addition. They should have had this done from the beginning. Disney looking for money to make this happen?? REALLY? They are rolling in it- if only they wanted to use it. Maybe now its time for the Yeti.

Agreed on El Rio del Tiempo being better. This is a good addition though. I wish they would bring back the music throughout, but especially at the end - "la la, la-la-la, la- la la, la la la..."

 

[NMBC1993]

The animatronics have such a limited range of motion compared to the animated versions on the screens.

First of all I want to say I love the new (old?) animatronics. I was actually planning my Sunday trip to Epcot for the last day of Captain EO this evening and thought "eh, maybe I'll swing into Mexico to look at the marketplace." Now I definitely have to! Although, after watching the video a few times and reading Endor's comment, I was thinking that maybe keeping the screen as well would have been a better idea. Animate some new backgrounds and effects for the screen and have the animatronics out front as the stars.

Personally it would have tied everything together more than just an empty stage background. But I realize that would have been a lot more effort to put into and should be happy we received any kind of positive love for Epcot (even though, yes. It's character related).

 

[Phroobar]

Does the beginning still have that trip through a Mayan temple? I remember riding this wondering if something like a human sacrifice would happen or something else exciting and nothing ever did.

The new AAs look like a fun addition to the ride.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

Looks like the general consensus is that people are pleased with this addition.

I had assumed Endor Sightseer was being sarcastic, perhaps not though. A lot of people on these forums are sick of seeing so many video screens instead of physical scenes, we want more animatronic-heavy rides again. While there are movements that you can do with video that you can't with AA's, seeing the characters in real physical form moving about is always something special that no amount of crazy animated video can substitute in a ride.

While they're not the most advanced figures ever (no eye or eyelid motion for instance), they were definitely upgraded to move substantially better compared to their most recent appearance at Tokyo Disneyland. Far more fluid than this-


Limited motion would describe something like the old figures in rides like Snow White or Peter Pan's Flight (or our version of Pooh). Or many of the minor figures in the new Little Mermaid ride. Very repetitive and simple arm gestures or head nodding/turning, not what i'd consider actual animatronics. These at least are legit audio animatronics with relatively fluid and dynamic motion.

Didn't I read somewhere that AAs are so 20th century? Actually, I think it's a great addition with a stamp that definitely says "Disney."

The figures were from an old show from the 1970's yes, but they've been noticeably upgraded for their installation at Mexico. Compare them to the most recent videos when they were still at Mickey Mouse Revue at Tokyo Disneyland, it's quite apparent that their movements are now substantially more fluid than this. Again compare to the video I posted above.

Does the beginning still have that trip through a Mayan temple? I remember riding this wondering if something like a human sacrifice would happen or something else exciting and nothing ever did.

Beginning is still the same as it always was. Though there used to be fog effects that have been disabled since Donald and company took over.

 

[dizda]

It is nice to see some animatronics added. Today is a good day for Epcot. Perhaps more plussing is on the way.

 

[ToTBellHop]

It is nice to see some animatronics added. Today is a good day for Epcot. Perhaps more plussing is on the way.

There are other improvements in the works. Nothing drastic that I know of, though.

 

[ford91exploder]

It's nice to see EPCOT getting some small degree of love

 

[PizzaPlanet]

There are other improvements in the works. Nothing drastic that I know of, though.

Tell us more!

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

I wonder what happened to the other set of Caballeros they made for the Revue. Could see them being put into the Small World doll scene.

Not sure But, this is what they looked like at Destination D before their modifications....

Destination D

Gran Fiesta...

 

[Matt in the Hatt]

This makes me very happy. Now if only the limited edition shirt came in a 3xl

 

[Mickey_777]

Though minor, they plussed something for no reason other than to improve the experience. Bravo.

 

[ChrisFL]

Is there an English version of the preshow?

No...but I found the preshow on youtube:



starts at 2:41

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Who wouldn't be? Panchito can really hold a note

He sure does....

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Also you know what this ride needs more of instead of just a very very quick cameo....The Araquan Bird.....


Incase your wondering where you can find him...He's in the section where Donald is wearing the tower of somberos.

It was a screen with animations of them singing.

Fun Fact: The animation process that Eric Goldberg used to give the characters a shading dimension was first used in Looney Tunes: Back in Action...Gran Fiesta was the second time it was actually used.