How to improve Kali?

[marni1971]

Time for this again?

 

[Jon81uk]

From descriptions i've read of Tiger River, only the ending would have included rapids and gone fast, likely no animal exhibits in those parts. Most of the ride sounds like it was going to be very slow and calm, probably much slower than Kilimanjaro Safari's jeeps and providing plenty of opportunities to view the animals. The concept art also backs this up as well, showing the boats travelling through very calm waters past one off the exhibits-

Hidden barriers are used in a lot of areas at Animal Kingdom already, including on Kilimanjaro Safari to keep the more dangerous animals in check. Not an issue.

The boat in that picture and the slow then fast description looks more like Jurasssic Park River Adventure, with rows of seats rather than being round.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

From descriptions i've read of Tiger River, only the ending would have included rapids and gone fast, likely no animal exhibits in those parts. Most of the ride sounds like it was going to be very slow and calm, probably much slower than Kilimanjaro Safari's jeeps and providing plenty of opportunities to view the animals. The concept art also backs this up as well, showing the boats travelling through very calm waters past one off the exhibits-

Hidden barriers are used in a lot of areas at Animal Kingdom already, including on Kilimanjaro Safari to keep the more dangerous animals in check. Not an issue.

Perhaps the Boat ride in Pandora is taking what Tiger River was to be....Granted it's probably even smaller depending on how long the boat ride is...

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Perhaps the Boat ride in Pandora is taking what Tiger River was to be....Granted it's probably even smaller depending on how long the boat ride is...

I hope they take their time. Well let the riders take their time. I love lengthy rides through actual build environments!

 

[mergatroid]

Should put some real crocodiles in the water. Not only does this keep to the theming of the AK but would probably stop folk complaining how short the ride was

 

[Flippin'Flounder]

Yes!

I'm really hoping Na'vi River Journey will be at a minimum 10 minutes actual ride time (hopefully closer to 15). That allows for the development of, you know, an immersive experience. It would be especially important because MK's version of PoTC is so inferior mainly because of how it's truncated, so WDW still lacks a lengthy boat ride through detailed scenery.

Unfortunately, long ride times seem to be truly a thing of the past. Plus, if Disney told that LA Times reporter it would be a D-ticket, how long could it be? The concept art looks like it contains fairly expansive scenery (though of course we all know how reliable concept art is), so the only way I can imagine it being a D-ticket is if there are only let's say 2-3 of those scenes, and no buildup scenes like at DL's PoTC, making the ride time very short.

Remember, the definition of an E-Ticket has changed. Ticket level doesn't have to do with length and quality, but popularity. Nowadays, Pirates and HM would probably be C-D Tickets, and 7DMT would be an E-Ticket, even though we might see that differently. Even if NRJ is on par or better than DLRs Pirates, FoP will still be the main draw/"E-Ticket" of the land.

 

[Flippin'Flounder]

That's interesting. I was viewing D-ticket vs E-ticket as really being about scale/budget. (Although I'd think it can't be just about popularity, or else Dumbo and Teacups would be E-tickets.) If by referring to it as a D-ticket, that article really just meant "secondary to Flight of Passage," that would be great news. I really hope they've given Na'vi River Journey at least $100-150 million out of the total Pandora budget. I've been concerned that it has been relegated to "something for people who can't ride FoP," rather than being given a budget to be worthy in its own right (and this view seems bolstered by the fact that they don't seem to focus on it very much when discussing Pandora).

I had always thought it was about popularity. More people want to ride them, so they don't give as many tickets for them. That way everything balances out. Back when there were tickets, was Dumbo as popular? I don't have a clue. I'm sure it could have had to do with budget, but not solely. Like I said, nowadays theres no way some of the old E-Tickets would still be. Country Bear Jamboree? No way I would use my E-Ticket on that. It was groundbreaking and popular at the time, but now the theater is always empty. I don't hate it, but I would take Splash Mountain over it any day.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

E tickets used to be a designation of quality and ambition. That definition to us at least hasn't changed.

Remember, the definition of an E-Ticket has changed. Ticket level doesn't have to do with length and quality, but popularity. Nowadays, Pirates and HM would probably be C-D Tickets, and 7DMT would be an E-Ticket, even though we might see that differently. Even if NRJ is on par or better than DLRs Pirates, FoP will still be the main draw/"E-Ticket" of the land.

In Disney's perspective, it sounds like they have two modern definitions for the E ticket, neither of which seem to have anything to do with quality or ambition (i doubt imagineers have much of a say in the matter of ranking rides in terms of quality anymore). Internally, it seems like executives use it as a means to predict how popular a ride will be among guests. But publicly, the E ticket is now used (and abused) simply as a marketing buzzword.

Early on in the development of Avatar, there was apparently a third ride planned, some sort of coaster which I believe @marni1971 referred to it as "Avatar Land's REAL E ticket". I believe the simulator and boat were still part of the plan, though given lower ranks back then. The budget was cut and so was the third ride (heck at one point the boat ride was even in danger), so the simulator took over the E ticket spot (as the new crowd driving "headliner" in Disney's eyes).

7DMT was confirmed by Lee and others to be a D ticket, but was advertised as an E by one of the bloggers (Lou Mongello, likely he got a major kickback for this little stunt). I don't recall Disney ever officially announcing the ticket letter publicly. But as Lee and others have mentioned numerous times in the past, 7DMT was internally considered a D.

Even today, Pirates and Mansion aged wonderfully and are matched by very few theme park attractions in terms of ambition or quality. Something like the Country Bears might be more debatable, but POTC and HM definitely still qualify. They smoke 7DMT, which is definitely not an E.

Like 7DMT, Little Mermaid was being hyped close to completion as an E ticket by bloggers. Far cry from reality though, it's a C at best (and not a particularly good one either). I don't know what it was really considered internally, but it's hard for me to imagine anyone in the company with any knowledge of Disney quality or rides actually considering it an E, it's laughable.

I'm concerned about the Navi boat ride, i've no interest in the sim and i'm only interested in the boat. The leaked blueprints (which may or may not still be accurate) label the boat ride as a C ticket. Yet Disney apparently informed the media that it's a D ticket. One wonders whether that means the ride was upgraded from its original form or (more likely) they're simply trying to build up false hype for it. It wouldn't surprise me if they change its status to an E closer to completion. It's the quality and ambition that will determine what letter ranking it is.

 

[Matt_Black]

Should put some real crocodiles in the water. Not only does this keep to the theming of the AK but would probably stop folk complaining how short the ride was

I can think of someone who'd complain about crocodiles in the water...

 

[yedliW]

We rode it 2x last month, the fog was working the first time, but not the second.

I like the idea of making it a Jungle Book ride.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I'd say the latest amazing attractions in any park are Radiator Speings Racers, Mystic Manor, and perhaps Ratatouille. The problem is the Iger administration had to fix DCA, HKDL, and WDSP first because those parks were in desperate need. Fantasyland areas have never been focused on major e-tickets, so two Fantasyland-dark-ride-level attractions made sense for that expansion, and lifted the average Fantasyland attraction quality (though I would've preferred one e-ticket, but again that wasn't the purpose of that expansion). Now they're finally turning their attention to WDW in terms of major attractions with Avatar and Star Wars, so I think those will be the real test...

I was referring to any park at WDW.

 

[MarkTwain]

I hate to say it, but expectations should be at about 3-5 minutes for the Na'vi boat ride. Expect some amazing animatronics, though.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

I hate to say it, but expectations should be at about 3-5 minutes for the Na'vi boat ride. Expect some amazing animatronics, though.

It's going to be VERY disappointing and lame if it's not at least a reasonable 8-10 minutes or more most other Disney boat rides are, amazing animatronics or not (which are great and all, but the park needs more lengthy calm rides). That 3-5 minute estimate (which I hope is just your opinion) about matches Maelstrom, which was about 4-5 minutes long and was previously the shortest boat ride in WDW. Maelstrom's brevity was a serious flaw that was constantly griped about even among its fans.

Even Gran Fiesta Tour and our heavily condensed Pirates are about 8+ minutes. Small World and Splash Mountain are both apparently over 10 minutes, and Living With the Land is reportedly almost 14 minutes.

I recall hearing the Na'vi boat ride being compared to the Land ride some years ago. It was more regarding the type of ride (slow and possibly without any drops). Though I would hope the comparison is also relevant to the expected length of the ride as well. I'd like to hear what some of our sources on this forum have to say about the length of the new ride. I don't know if anyone really knows much about this, @articos has given some hints about it in the past so maybe he can provide some information.

 

[yedliW]

I meant the animated "The Jungle Book", not the new live/CGI movie coming out next year.

Another idea is if it's raining people would still be able to ride the "Jungle Book" portion of the ride. Inside of the show building there would be a switch track just before exiting the building that would keep you inside of the show building.

The ride would look like this:

Good weather - load inside of the building; "The Jungle Book" (part 1); outside cruise; "The Jungle Book" (part 2); unload

Bad weather - load inside of the building; "The Jungle Book (part 1); "The Jungle Book" (part 2); unload

This "bad weather" version of the attraction would also be used in the evening when it's dark outside.

I just watched this movie again this weekend, and the first thing I thought when it ended was Kali would be a good place for a 'Bear Necessities' overlay.

I do enjoy the ride as it is, but I think Jungle book is under represented in the parks.. I understand that it isn't new (released in 67), and most of the voice talent are gone, but Peter Pan was released in 53, Dumbo was in 41.

 

[FettFan]

Put King Louie in it and an avalanche! And a wrecked/partially sunken Jungle Cruise boat.

 

[cjack300zx]

The best thing about this kind of ride is the chance of getting wet and that part doesn't come close to bluto's IOA. More water!

 

[beast]

I just watched this movie again this weekend, and the first thing I thought when it ended was Kali would be a good place for a 'Bear Necessities' overlay.

I do enjoy the ride as it is, but I think Jungle book is under represented in the parks.. I understand that it isn't new (released in 67), and most of the voice talent are gone, but Peter Pan was released in 53, Dumbo was in 41.

I may be in the vast minority, but I would like "The Jungle Cruise" to be re-themed to "The Jungle Book" (animated version). Those songs are timeless and that is a great movie

 

[yedliW]

I may be in the vast minority, but I would like "The Jungle Cruise" to be re-themed to "The Jungle Book" (animated version). Those songs are timeless and that is a great movie

could be a good fit, but I love the jungle cruise as it is, and it is a classic. I still think that Kali would be a better fit

 

[JohnD]

Wait for Avatarland to open where much traffic will be re-directed. Take Kali down and completely rebuild it into the longer ride as originally conceived.

 

[DfromATX]

Am I the only one who doesn't like the theming? To me it's ugly and depressing. I like the idea of Jungle Book. That would be so upbeat and fun!