News Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind attraction confirmed for Epcot

[MaximumEd]

They are building a new building here, but if they wanted to they could be re-doing the existing UOE structure at the same time the new building is going up. 3.25 years does seem waaaay long.

 

[PizzaPlanet]

Nobody cares for EEA. It's just the silly make-over of the classic ride UoE that everybody does love. Ellen was Disney trying to be hip and contemporary (What is the current formula? Timeless, relevant and Disney?), which always goes awry. And which then got stuck in 96 until Ellen herself had enough while TDO was pushed to shove GotG in their parks somewhere, anywhere.

We mourn not the removal of anything Ellen, but of the brilliant ride system and of the dinosaurs, perhaps the grandest show scene Disney has ever done. At seven minutes, in itself twice as long as modern rides.

I never experienced the original, but the first time I rode EEA in the early 2000s it blew my mind and made me laugh. While it's extremely outdated in 2017, I'll always have a soft spot for this version of the attraction.

 

[marni1971]

I'm counting the time from when UoE's doors are being shuttered(which is probably earlier than they have to be).

The original plan was to close last January. Imagine that.

 

[fngoofy]

Nah, I hope Bill stays away from anything Disney. He's politicized himself far too much at this point.

With science.

 

[BigThunderMatt]

The original plan was to close last January. Imagine that.

As in 8 months ago or January of last year? Because if it's the latter, holy crap.

 

[marni1971]

As in 8 months ago or January of last year? Because if it's the latter, holy crap.

As in 8 months ago.

 

[Jenny72]

Everyone keeps saying that the GoTG IP and Pandora could be similar to how the Song of the South IP works with Splash Mountain -- no one knows the original, but the ride is still great. But I think there's a big difference. People know what rabbits and bears and frogs are. You don't need the background. When I took my son on Splash Mountain, he didn't have to ask, "what's that thing with the floppy ears?" Also, of course, there are the old stories available if you want to get a backstory (and you don't have to pay for them, either).

If we go to a GoTG ride or Pandora, it's much more branded. He's never seen a Na'vi thing before and doesn't know the characters from GoTG (Groot, etc.), which need a bit of explaining. It's so much more intimately tied with a movie, merchandising, etc. I mean, that's why it's there. So I kind of wish people would stop making this comparison. I get that it could be a great ride despite the IP, but it will feel like an IP much more so than Splash Mountain.

 

[Kman101]

Why because we've made "IP" a dirty word when IPs have almost forever been used in the parks?

 

[The_Jobu]

Why because we've made "IP" a dirty word when IPs have almost forever been used in the parks?

That's different.

 

[Kman101]

That's different.

No it isn't.

 

[The_Jobu]

No it isn't.

Yes it is. Those are different parks with IPs that are products of Disney. EPCOT didn't have IPs until recently.

Different.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Why because we've made "IP" a dirty word when IPs have almost forever been used in the parks?

Putting side the issue of improper things demonology, the big reason is because the decision making has shifted. Attractions are not decided upon because of their merit as an attraction. The view is that theme parks are just a marketing platform for film franchises and have no value beyond that function.

 

[Kman101]

Yes it is. Those are different parks with IPs that are products of Disney. EPCOT didn't have IPs until recently.

Different.

Ok. But the unfortunate reality is that now they do. I don't like some of it but I was more referring to all parks. You are correct on Epcot.

 

[Jenny72]

Well "IP" isn't a dirty word to me. I only just joined this site a week ago. I was thinking about all this stuff before I got on this website and I had never used the term "IP" before now. I'm just saying that it's not only the people on the board who have these feelings. I think what I had talked about with my family was how it felt like Disney was getting so "corporate" and trying to "sell stuff" to us and how we couldn't keep up with all the movies so we didn't know half the characters in the park. I mean, there used to be like 5 movies or something, and every movie was based on some story we already knew.

 

[The_Jobu]

Putting side the issue of improper things demonology, the big reason is because the decision making has shifted. Attractions are not decided upon because of their merit as an attraction. The view is that theme parks are just a marketing platform for film franchises and have no value beyond that function.

Ok

Exactly.

 

[Kman101]

I was on my phone and posted I edited my post. I wasn't just referring to Epcot so I should have been clearer.

 

[Kman101]

So what are they supposed to do, never implement attractions based on their movies? I get that some are shortsighted quick fixes but what if Ratatouille and Guardians were created FOR the park and their movies didn't exist, that's OK? LOL

 

[The_Jobu]

So what are they supposed to do, never implement attractions based on their movies?

In EPCOT? Yes.

 

[MaximumEd]

For me, I don't mind IP as much IF imagineering is given free reign out the gate to design a killer ride or experience and then sprinkle in some IP for good measure, in a way that is thematically consistent with where said ride or attraction is going, a la Splash or ToT. What I don't like is when the IP is primary, the ride system or experience is secondary, and thematic consistency doesn't exist or matter, but that's just me.

 

[lazyboy97o]

So what are they supposed to do, never implement attractions based on their movies? I get that some are shortsighted quick fixes but what if Ratatouille and Guardians were created FOR the park and their movies didn't exist, that's OK? LOL

You do it if there is a good story to tell, not because of of something else unrelated to the guest experience.