Guardians of the Galaxy - Monsters After Dark coming this Halloween

[Curious Constance]

One thought:

IP seems to have the ability to be a bigger draw initially. Word of mouth seems to spread faster when it's IP that's being built.

However, to offset this, it also seems to have an alienating effect on people that have no interest in the IP. Some people just have zero interest in Star Wars and Marvel, so even if the ride itself is fun, they certainly wouldn't plan a trip just to see it.

 

[Hatbox Ghostbuster]

One thought:

IP seems to have the ability to be a bigger draw initially. Word of mouth seems to spread faster when it's IP that's being built.

However, to offset this, it also seems to have an alienating effect on people that have no interest in the IP. Some people just have zero interest in Star Wars and Marvel, so even if the ride itself is fun, they certainly wouldn't plan a trip just to see it.

Extremely good point. IP can ease timid riders into an attraction because, at the very least, you're going to see your favorite familiar characters and hear your favorite familiar songs. But you hit the nail on the head with the counter-argument. SWL can be the most amazing and technically advanced attractions ever built...but if you strongly dislike the Star Wars brand, you'll never bother to ride them.

Same goes for MB. GOTG was one of the most niche franchises in the Marvel canon. Because it replaced TOT, there was a strong contingent of people who would ride it simply because they enjoyed TOT, but if the attraction made you queasy, no amount of Star Lord mugging would likely get you on it.

For example, I LOVE Haunted Mansion (obviously). I'm lukewarm to cold on NBC, and therefore will choose to bypass HMH for its duration.

 

[Ismael Flores]

Disney's already doing that with the Pixar films and Star Wars.

i don't think they are doing it in the scope that Universal is doing it. They don't have multiple lands being taken up by the same IP within the same resort. Yes they might be from the same studio like bugs, cars, Monsters and Toys but they don't have multiple lands for each property. If its true and monsters is removed as well as bugslife then having them appear in Pixar Pier wouldn't be repetitive.

of course i didn't care for the fact that they built TSMM when they had another shooter ride based on the same brand in Disneyland

 

[Deleted member 107043]

But you hit the nail on the head with the counter-argument. SWL can be the most amazing and technically advanced attractions ever built...but if you strongly dislike the Star Wars brand, you'll never bother to ride them.

Excellent point, but couldn't the same be said for molecules, General Electric appliances, and singing country bears?

 

[TP2000]

The crowds didn't diminish today even though it's a random Monday in mid September, wait times were long all over in both parks. And Monsters After Dark has the highest wait time in the park now at 6:15pm...

Monsters After Dark - 90 Minutes
Radiator Springs Racers - 80 Minutes
Soarin' - 75 Minues
Midway Mania - 60 Minutes
Luigi's Honkin' Halloween - 30 Minutes

Disneyland is just as busy today, with wait times all day in the 60 to 75 minute range for all the big E Tickets.

 

[Hatbox Ghostbuster]

Excellent point, but couldn't the same be said for molecules, General Electric appliances, and singing country bears?

That is true too. I miss those darned bears...

 

[Practical Pig]

They shouldn't care. It's producing the results they want, at least for now. But it begs the question, why should I care if it's producing the results they want if it's not producing the results I want? Should I be ok with lazy and cheap attractions and overlays in the parks because it makes Bob Iger money that I'll never see in my life?

Hell no. Don't like it? Shout it out!

 

[vancee]

Ugh.. hope it won't be crowded this weekend. I'm coming up just for this ride.. people better move out of my way for me to be able to ride it multiple times

 

[Travel Junkie]

Disneyland was packed on Monday. Aren't you people supposed to be at work!

FP distribution begins at 3PM for Monster's After Dark. I showed up around 2:40 to a mass of people. One person was arguing with a supervisor as there was no line. Her point which was valid is that there could be a dangerous situation if there was no formal line and everyone flooded the machines at 3PM. At about 2:45 they did create a line that went backstage.

MAD is sort of a sequel to MB. After the Guardian's escape all of the other monsters are also running loose. The CM's are wearing response vests some with fake blood on them. FP and stadby merge outside so people with FP can see the whole indoor queue whihc is now dark and eerie. The queue and pre-show reflect the new storyline well

The ride felt even more hectic and intense than MB. Of the 3 versions (TOT, MB and MAD) I would say MAD is the best of the 3 in my opinion. Even though it is connected to MB, the story felt simplistic (in a good way) and a perfect setup for a ride. Various creatures escape their cages and chaos ensues. For some reason I felt this felt less forced than MB. Still doesn't fit in with Hollywood land or DCA, but I thought this overlay fit in better than the "regular version."

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

The crowds didn't diminish today even though it's a random Monday in mid September, wait times were long all over in both parks. And Monsters After Dark has the highest wait time in the park now at 6:15pm...

Monsters After Dark - 90 Minutes
Radiator Springs Racers - 80 Minutes
Soarin' - 75 Minues
Midway Mania - 60 Minutes
Luigi's Honkin' Halloween - 30 Minutes

Disneyland is just as busy today, with wait times all day in the 60 to 75 minute range for all the big E Tickets.

The holidays (which begin in September and even August depending on the resort and run through late January according to Disney) are the worst time to go. Unfortunately, as I've noted, it's a significant amount of the year.

 

[No Name]

I like egg.

Why thank you!

 

[Deleted member 107043]

According to the DL app the attraction currently has a 120 minute standby wait.

At 6:40pm.

On a Tuesday.

In September.

Here's a pic from MiceChat of the line over the weekend extending into the backstage area.

 

[Practical Pig]

I've yapped off on a tangent in this thread, so maybe I should yap on topic. I think GOTG:MAD looks like a hell of a lot of fun. I only have the video experience, but I love the audience engagement, the humor, the economical and fun storyline, and how efficiently the screen reveals advance that narrative. Well done.

I also love that they can essentially flip a switch on the programming to change the ride. Within limits of course, but the Rocket animatronic will be versatile to any GOTG scenario they develop in the future, and screens are screens. I still don't like the exterior's imposition in the park, but this new versatile ride infrastructure and experience is great.

As @phruby suggested, I think they'd be smart to keep GOTG:MAD as an extended nighttime run.

 

[D.Silentu]

I have yet to ride Mission Breakout, but I'm curious about the transition from the day version to the after dark version. Do they clear the line before they switch over? If they do, how long does the ride remain closed? If these questions are redundant, can someone direct me to the page where they're answered? (I'm making an effort to keep from knowing too much before I get a chance to ride either version)

 

[Travel Junkie]

I have yet to ride Mission Breakout, but I'm curious about the transition from the day version to the after dark version. Do they clear the line before they switch over? If they do, how long does the ride remain closed? If these questions are redundant, can someone direct me to the page where they're answered? (I'm making an effort to keep from knowing too much before I get a chance to ride either version)

Yes they do clear the line. I believe they try and cut the line so the last person rides MB around 5PM, so if the estimated wait time is 60 minutes they cut it at 4PM.

FP distribution for Monster after Dark begins at 3, but people are milling around the machines well before that. They seem to let people wait in standby for MAD at 5. MAD begins at 6.

 

[TROR]

I think the transition aspect is probably the most interesting part of this attraction. It makes me wonder if it's possible to do the same thing with Ghost Galaxy, actually.

 

[mickEblu]

Yes they do clear the line. I believe they try and cut the line so the last person rides MB around 5PM, so if the estimated wait time is 60 minutes they cut it at 4PM.

FP distribution for Monster after Dark begins at 3, but people are milling around the machines well before that. They seem to let people wait in standby for MAD at 5. MAD begins at 6.

Ahhhh. So that's what was going around 5pm yesterday. I thought the ride had shut down. Seems unnecessary. They should just keep the Halloween version up all day. I bet @Kira Nerys wishes they took this approach with the HMH overlay.

 

[Phroobar]

Ahhhh. So that's what was going around 5pm yesterday. I thought the ride had shut down. Seems unnecessary. They should just keep the Halloween version up all day. I bet @Kira Nerys wishes they took this approach with the HMH overlay.

I wonder why they shut down for the switch over. Why not just have the computers switch over to the new program at 5pm and NOT clear everyone out. That would be cool to be in line inside and suddenly everything changes because another group helped the Guardians to escape. It would be a little weird for Rocket to tell us we are going to help the Guardians escape and then we are helping Rocket rescue Groot.

 

[Phroobar]

I wish the switch over from Space Mountain to Ghost Galaxy was instantaneous like this too. They could run Space Mountain during the day and Ghost Galaxy at sunset. That would lead to enhanced effects for Space Mountain. Space Mountain needs more projections among other fixes.

 

[Travel Junkie]

I wonder why they shut down for the switch over. Why not just have the computers switch over to the new program at 5pm and NOT clear everyone out. That would be cool to be in line inside and suddenly everything changes because another group helped the Guardians to escape. It would be a little weird for Rocket to tell us we are going to help the Guardians escape and then we are helping Rocket rescue Groot.

I don't think they can just flip a switch. There are enough differences that warrant them needing time to prepare. The inside queue has different lighting, effects, and as part of the "story" any of the "live creatures" in the queue such as cosmo are covered up because they have escaped. The pre-show is different so I imagine they need to test it to make sure it is working properly before guests enter and of course the ride itself is different. Different projections, music, and drop sequence.