Imaginationeer
New Member
I forgot one more thing, this is strictly rumor at this point though. Word is the Three Caballeros will have their own meet and greet built next to the merchandise stand outside Mexico.
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Grand Fiesta
- Thread starter KnK
- Start date
Bravesfn1
New Member
Good to hear that the song may be staying. That is my favorite part of the original attraction, as for the changes I am cautiously optimistic. I think the additions could surely be invigorating and add new life to an old favorite.
Bravesfn1
New Member
I saw the characters doing meet in greets near the temple in early January, and I wanted to get my picture taken with them. Sadly the line was too long, and I took a pass.
EpcotServo
Well-Known Member
I can imagine seeing Jose, Panchito, and Donald hawking goods like in the old ride. They're perfect for that kind of thing, if you watch the movies! Like I said, if the idea didn't fit so well into what's already there, I'd be mad. But I think it'll work well.
Slowjack
Well-Known Member
I agree that some people seem to complain about everything, just as there are some people who think that everything Disney does is great, and that can get annoying.
But that every new attraction or update draws some complaints is not, to me, a problem. I mean, no matter what you do, some people will like it, and some won't. The only way an announcement wouldn't draw fire is if we all agreed on everything, and I'm glad that's not the case.
To be fair, the company has in recent years been more aggressively trying to "synergize" everything, and it seems like every new ride or update is based on a recent movie, which is itself based on an older ride, or an older movie, etc. It's not surprising that someone like me, who isn't all that crazy about Nemo taking over the Seas, isn't crazy about Donald et al taking over Mexico, either. I mean, that's really one complaint, not two.
As for good use of funds...look at it this way. If simply redoing the films in the ride does bring in more guests, as least for a while, then the next time they have to update something, why wouldn't they just cheap out again? In other words, I think one cheap character overlay will lead to more of the same, not the use of the funds to do something wonderful elsewhere. Disney is a vast company with huge resources. They aren't living off a fixed annuity. If they wanted/needed to spend a lot to upgrade El Rio, they could do so and it wouldn't need to affect the budget of anything else.
(Let me also add that I'm a Disney shareholder and I certainly expect the company to make profitable decisions.)
It really just comes down to what one enjoys. The next time I ride the Mexico boat ride, whatever it's called at that time, I don't expect the new movies will make the experience more enjoyable--it may make it less enjoyable. But if you expect the ride really will be significantly more fun for you because of these changes, then I can understand why you'd support this.
CBOMB
Active Member
Very well said, I totally agree.
redfarmer06
Member
Personally, I loved the 3 Cabs movie as a child and am totally looking forward to the update of El Rio/Grand Fiesta!!
ToTBellHop
Well-Known Member
why does Disney need to consider spending a lot on El Rio Del Tiempo? It has never been an E-Ticket nor does it need to be...Maelstrom, next door, certainly used to be an E-Ticket but it could use some updates...
mousermerf
Account Suspended
Norwegian.
Epcot82Guy
Well-Known Member
As I have said before, I don't think they needed to update it with millions of dollars. It is merely a conversation about the goals of these attractions. The best way I can put it is whether you enjoyed the "Disney" or the "World" part of WDW. This looks like it will play to a demographic that really enjoys the Disney part of it. However, the more things change, the more the "World" people will spread out visits or stop coming altogether. Furthermore, the "World" people have been coming for over 30 years; the "Disney" people are more of a risk simply because it is a new direction. They may be greater in number; they may go for a couple years and then get bored. That is simply a decision Disney must make. For myself, these changes in direction have dramatically taken away from what I have enjoyed and loved about WDW. I am objectively feeling less and less desire to go back soon. In fact, if I didn't have an open ticket, I likely wouldn't for several years. And, I know others feel that way just as others now want to go more often. So, as with any change, it represents the ebb that comes after the cycle of initial interest. To find a way that appeals to both sides (likely by branding one park one way and another a separate way) is the only way to keep everyone happy and coming. And that's tough if not impossible.
The big issue I have is that people are comparing ERDT as it was last year to this new attraction in discussing magic. Instead, it really should be a comparison of input. ERDT had just short of a 25 year run. It is questionable if this new attraction will get 20% of that. I'm not citing that as a fault; all I saying is let's compare apples to apples. IMHO, this is a fix, and it will need another fix much sooner than its predecessor. That is shortsighted, and it creates more damage and hodge-podginess to WDW that will take even more fixes. If you keep your eye on an overall goal and theme, these are less likely to be necessary. Just my $0.02 on this.
The big issue I have is that people are comparing ERDT as it was last year to this new attraction in discussing magic. Instead, it really should be a comparison of input. ERDT had just short of a 25 year run. It is questionable if this new attraction will get 20% of that. I'm not citing that as a fault; all I saying is let's compare apples to apples. IMHO, this is a fix, and it will need another fix much sooner than its predecessor. That is shortsighted, and it creates more damage and hodge-podginess to WDW that will take even more fixes. If you keep your eye on an overall goal and theme, these are less likely to be necessary. Just my $0.02 on this.
brkgnews
Well-Known Member
ToTBellHop
Well-Known Member
I disagree...Donald Duck is timeless. He and his friends are what Disney was built on. I guarantee you 99% of WDW guests come to Disney expecting to see Mickey Mouse and expecting their kids to smile, and they really couldn't care less if they get to see a 70s quality video of obnoxious people trying to sell them things. This is a refurbishment geared toward the family audience, and such changes make Epcot more popular (the recent E-Ticket additions certainly have made the park more popular, especially if you compare them to an increasingly warn-out MGM). What was one of the biggest complaints about Epcot when it opened? "Where are the characters?" Guests love the characters and if the characters can show us Mexico effectively, then I'm happy. I'm not saying Goofy should narrate Spaceship Earth from now on, but small additions to make the park more family-friendly are fine by me. I am actually someone who thinks the Nemo additions to The Living Seas were tastefully done--it still is quite educational in there, but more fun. I don't think Disney has given up on Epcot though--Mission: SPACE, Test Track, and Soarin' all have serious tones and no characters, and they seek to be exciting and educational (well...the queue of Soarin'). With any decision Disney makes, they always will alienate someone. The big whigs seek to not alienate the majority of guests with any decision (and they are successful at this most of the time) or their shareholders. Let's not forget these folks making decisions have spouses and kids and would like to keep their jobs. The penny-pinchers see El Rio Del Tiempo as a weak link at Epcot, and this is a cost-effective way to create a revitalized D-ticket for the park that may even stop being walk-on during peak seasons...
SirNim
Well-Known Member
The whole thing with Donald's birthday and his gift being a huge piñata filled with artifacts and souvenirs and sombreros could easily be tied into the street vendor scene or the fireworks finale...
...
I do hope the mural of the Mexican states (and princes, I presume) at the end prior to the load/unload station remains untouched, just for nostalgia, though I fear it will become a casualty of this rehab.
Jerm
Well-Known Member
If all you want is E-tickets, that sounds you like a Six-Flags park. Disney is not all about E-ticket attractions, it is about having a all around good day. When Walt opened Disneyland there were no massive coasters, there were attractions that people wanted to go on. If you look at EPCOT today they have spent money on Test Track and Mission:Space for the MAJOR E-tickets, but that is not what they need more of. They need more attractions for everyone. The Seas w/Nemo and friends is a great start to not only keep people intrested in coming to the park but also families coming to the park. True E-ticket attractions are timeless, they never need anything other then a small touch up here and there, not a whole redo.
J
the-reason14
Well-Known Member
I have to say, I am going to miss the nostalgic boatride el rio del tiempo. With its old screens and low key atmosphere, and hopefully they have some way to integrate that catchy tune. I enjoyed it because of all of that, and because there was never a line, with the 3 cabs coming in, thats all going to change.
With all that said, however, I can see why they are putting these guys in, just like the living seas, the characters only add to the enjoyment factor for the kids and some adults, and if the theme is the same then why not. I cant wait to see this aswell.
With all that said, however, I can see why they are putting these guys in, just like the living seas, the characters only add to the enjoyment factor for the kids and some adults, and if the theme is the same then why not. I cant wait to see this aswell.
brisem
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the link
If it was real and inspiring it wouldn't of needed to be changed. I saw it once then never went back into the pavillion. It was a small slice of Sea World. Now it has a show(Turtle Talk) and a ride(Nemo) and it still has everything that it did before. I'll be back visiting the Seas once again in May thanks to the changes.
Epcot82Guy
Well-Known Member
I guess I waste my typing here...:zipit:
In addressing both the previous posts, if you will read my statement, the exact caution is that people are comparing what ERDT was today. I, and really no one I've seen here, is saying that ERDT was not in need of an upgrade. Same with the Seas (and the Land for that matter). However, it is the choices made in doing that upgrade. That is where the directional change has come in. I guess I do not agree that this is more timeless. A character of less than 100 years old can replace a culture that dominates that by centuries? Sorry, but I have to spin that back against you. Mexico will long outlast Disney. And attractions usually get dated by technologies much faster than they do by content.
I also would like to address this constant statement of "seeing their kids' faces". I do not mean to disagree that this is an inspiration for a certain portion, but I had a very interesting conversation with my grandmother about the parks. She (and my grandfather while he was alive) took my parents and I for my first trip in 1987. She said that they were both not really looking forward to it because they thought it would be very kids oriented. Just the characters around and cheesy elements geared toward kids. However, she loved it. She was so charmed by the approach that she could relate to as an adult and that I could adore as a child (and please note I never talk to her about my feelings of Disney. This was brought up by her on her own). She just made a return for the first time since 1997, and she said how disappointed she was to see it turning into what she expected back in the 1980's. Again, I'm not trying to say the enjoyment of children isn't a part of it. All I am saying is that a dramatic portion of what WDW was built upon did not focus on that. It aimed for a much different, broader type of appeal. I guess I firmly believe one of what is often attributed to as a "Walt" idea: That if you aim for kids, you are dead.
In addressing both the previous posts, if you will read my statement, the exact caution is that people are comparing what ERDT was today. I, and really no one I've seen here, is saying that ERDT was not in need of an upgrade. Same with the Seas (and the Land for that matter). However, it is the choices made in doing that upgrade. That is where the directional change has come in. I guess I do not agree that this is more timeless. A character of less than 100 years old can replace a culture that dominates that by centuries? Sorry, but I have to spin that back against you. Mexico will long outlast Disney. And attractions usually get dated by technologies much faster than they do by content.
I also would like to address this constant statement of "seeing their kids' faces". I do not mean to disagree that this is an inspiration for a certain portion, but I had a very interesting conversation with my grandmother about the parks. She (and my grandfather while he was alive) took my parents and I for my first trip in 1987. She said that they were both not really looking forward to it because they thought it would be very kids oriented. Just the characters around and cheesy elements geared toward kids. However, she loved it. She was so charmed by the approach that she could relate to as an adult and that I could adore as a child (and please note I never talk to her about my feelings of Disney. This was brought up by her on her own). She just made a return for the first time since 1997, and she said how disappointed she was to see it turning into what she expected back in the 1980's. Again, I'm not trying to say the enjoyment of children isn't a part of it. All I am saying is that a dramatic portion of what WDW was built upon did not focus on that. It aimed for a much different, broader type of appeal. I guess I firmly believe one of what is often attributed to as a "Walt" idea: That if you aim for kids, you are dead.
ctwhalerman
New Member
I wonder how the Mexicans will feel when their ride is taken over by Donald (an American) and Jose (a BRAZILIAN!).
The old ride did need updating, so I'm going to give it a chance. Hopefully it combines the best of the two ideas to create a fresh experience. At least the ride will have a cohesive story this time, as before it was kind of chronologically set up but did so in an odd way. It went from the serious depiction of the Aztecs to it's a small world (A Day of the Dead celebration in the 1600s, I know, but it was still a wierd transition) to marionettes in the middle of modern Mexico City to peddlers to cliff-diving in Acapulco.
And as long as they keep the song, its cool.