Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros. Better?

Lozatar

Lozatar

New Member
Original Poster
Every year we always go on this ride. Its always been the same and it is something to chill out to before we leave the park. This year we noticed that it had dramatically changed, and you will also have heard that the three caballeros have now been introduced to the ride. It made me laugh to see it, but they got rid of the dancing puppets on the carousel at the end, which was my favorite bit! :dazzle:

Do you think it is an improvement? :shrug:
 
sbkline

sbkline

Well-Known Member
No, I don't think it's an improvement at all. :mad:

I'm still honked off about it, to be honest and you just had to go and post something on it to get me started again. :lol:

I miss the old version. I miss the song the most . I also miss the narrator and the way he says "May-hee-ko" (meaning "Mexico"). To me, it was part of the classic Epcot experience to hear the festive music of El Rio del Tempo. And then they had to go and ruin it with this crap.

I'm not against characters in the World Showcase, per se. I have no problem with them roaming around outside, or doing autographs, such as Mulan in China, or Belle in France, etc. But I think the movies or rides of WS should be focused on the country and its culture and history, not Disney Characters. Just yet another way to dumb down the place to pander to the kiddies, and I think it sucks in a major way.

I've used this analogy before and I'll use it again...what's next on the agenda? Gutting out "reflections of China" and replacing it with a friggin Mulan movie? Heck, with the recent refurb of "Oh Canada", I'm surprised they didn't just put a Brother Bear movie, or Dudly Doo-Right in there. Heck, why not freakin Rocky and Bullwinkle? :brick: I'm being a little facetious there, since I know the latter two aren't Disney, but you catch my drift I'm sure.
 
I

IMPoppins

New Member
sbkline said:
No, I don't think it's an improvement at all. :mad:

I'm still honked off about it, to be honest and you just had to go and post something on it to get me started again. :lol:

I miss the old version. I miss the song the most . I also miss the narrator and the way he says "May-hee-ko" (meaning "Mexico"). To me, it was part of the classic Epcot experience to hear the festive music of El Rio del Tempo. And then they had to go and ruin it with this crap.

I'm not against characters in the World Showcase, per se. I have no problem with them roaming around outside, or doing autographs, such as Mulan in China, or Belle in France, etc. But I think the movies or rides of WS should be focused on the country and its culture and history, not Disney Characters. Just yet another way to dumb down the place to pander to the kiddies, and I think it sucks in a major way.

I've used this analogy before and I'll use it again...what's next on the agenda? Gutting out "reflections of China" and replacing it with a friggin Mulan movie? Heck, with the recent refurb of "Oh Canada", I'm surprised they didn't just put a Brother Bear movie, or Dudly Doo-Right in there. Heck, why not freakin Rocky and Bullwinkle? :brick: I'm being a little facetious there, since I know the latter two aren't Disney, but you catch my drift I'm sure.
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Sadly, I have to agree. I went on this ride last Saturday and could have cried. I had such sentimental reasons for loving that ride. My DH pointed out that even the pavillion doesn't smell like it used too. I know it sounds crazy, but I LOVED the way it used to smell. :cry:
 
sbkline

sbkline

Well-Known Member
I've got another idea! Since we're all about pandering to the kids now and dumbing down everything with characters, how 'bout putting Illuminations on the chopping block?

We could keep the ball, but instead of showing pictures of the world on there, we could have cartoons of Mickey, Donald and gang on there. Then, when the fireworks explode, they could form into the images of the characters. :lookaroun
 
G

gemini

New Member
I thought it was an improvement and I really enjoyed the new version of the ride.

I know everyone loves nostalgia, but sometimes things change. I think we hold onto past versions, not because the old versions are better, but because those are the experiences that we hold in our memories. I really think there are some people who believe Epcot should have frozen in 1983 and should never be changed or altered.
 
Purple413

Purple413

New Member
I love Donald Duck, but this is not the place for him! I totally miss the old ride. ESPECIALLY the song! When I would hear the old song, it would stay in my head for days, and that would make me smile!

Mexico is my favorite pavilion in the World Showcase - the food, the margaritas, the awesome shopping - so I'll continue to ride the boat when I'm there, but it's just not the same!

:(
 
Lozatar

Lozatar

New Member
Original Poster
I loved the song too. I can still remember it, and it will mre than likely be in my head for days now i've thought about it >_<.
 
Ravenclaw87

Ravenclaw87

Member
Now, I wasn't particularly fond of the old ride, to be honest. Still, I absolutely *hated* this version. The videos of Mexico that Donald runs through look like b-roll, and the ride just seemed... rushed. The audio was poor, and the film was full of stereotypes. (Yes, I know that's what the Three Cabs were like, but that doesn't change the fact that the film is set in stereotypical Mexico). I just wish they had done something better with this ride, especially with the immigration debates going on right now.
 
imagineer boy

imagineer boy

Well-Known Member
GenerationX said:
The old version was pretty dull. The new version is less dull, but it's not enough better to actually make the attraction entertaining.
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I agree. I never liked the old rio, but the new one is hardly an improvement. Like I said before, I'd rather see animatronics than projected TV screens. This ride really has alot more potential.
 
DABIGCHEEZ

DABIGCHEEZ

Well-Known Member
GenerationX said:
The old version was pretty dull. The new version is less dull, but it's not enough better to actually make the attraction entertaining.
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I have to agree and disagree. When I heard they were adding the 3 Cabelleros in the refurb I was saying ...no no not again. But after riding it I can say it was done well and it did make the ride less dull. Just my thoughts.
 
dvcnut39

dvcnut39

Well-Known Member
Although we enjoyd the addition of Jack Sparrow to potc, we thought the addition of Donald to El Rio Del Tiempo actually made it worse.
 
C

coasterphil

Well-Known Member
Just as dull and uninspiring as it was before the refurb. I wish they would've gone all out with the "pandering" and actually made it a good attraction instead.
 
MichWolv

MichWolv

Born Modest. Wore Off.
Premium Member
I liked Gran Fiesta better than El Rio, but only barely. El Rio was confusing as heck for the first half of the ride when you saw strange disconnected video footage with no cohesivenes. Replacing that with the Three Caballeros is an improvement. The rest of the ride is OK, no better or worse than it was before. My favorite part of El Rio was always the fireworks on the ceiling, and they kept that.

I wouldn't object to adding the characters if they really had taken us on a tour of Mexico, but this update was really not a great one.
 
Nemo14

Nemo14

Well-Known Member
I didn't care for it all - just one more step in the dumbing down of Epcot. The old movie had a lot of room for improvement, but this was definitely a step in the wrong direction for me.
 
T

tonythetigerasn

Member
Just yet another way to dumb down the place to pander to the kiddies, and I think it sucks in a major way.
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I have to completely disagree. What was educational about the old El Rio? It was just a bunch of stereotypical, 70s travel footage meshed together in various really odd ways. There was no plot, story, or real education involved. The new attraction takes something familiar to children (at least donald) and reaches out to give them a plot. The attraction opens up the world of exploring Mexico (the only educational aspect of the old ride) to children. To me, that's not dumbing down. It's revitalizing an outdated and boring experience.
 

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