It's a small world interactive queue concept art leaked

[the.dreamfinder]

Not to contribute another negative post to this thread, but the idea that there will install TVs into the ride is an AWFUL idea. Guests of all ages often go on vacation to avoid technology so they can spend time with their friends and families. People visit Disney World to experience things outside of their ordinary lives. At home you can see cartoon dolls on tv, but those animatronic dolls are tangible and they envelop guests into the experience. This idea of putting a bunch of monitors in the attraction will ruin the attraction's magic and make Disney look cheap as others have mentioned. For a company so focused on the details, the authenticity of the experience must not really matter that much.

On the bright side, the WDI logo in the bottom right corner of the concept art looks amazing!
http://www.stitchkingdom.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/iasw_nextgen_queue/iasw_costumes.jpg

 

[zooey]

I don't recall the fan community bashing the Escher staircases, the new attic scene, the new Hitchhiking Ghosts, or the enhanced stretching room effects when they were added to the Haunted Mansion. Tasteful additions in the spirit of the original ride are definitely welcome. On the other hand, Disney has made negative alterations to classic rides before, and these rumored changes to IASW do not sound appealing in concept. This isn't reactionary bashing. It's just fans voicing their opinions.

The other thing that is so bothersome is that none of these next gen updates are buzz worthy in the least. I bet you that when it's all said and done it doesn't increase guest word of mouth. Now, mind you, I've run home and told people that Star Tours 2.0 is amazing, but will not likely run home and advertise the amazing tech that is an email postcard from an attraction. Don't be fooled. Next gen is not for the guests. It is for data mining, streamlining for management only, and allowing them to make more money without building or maintaining anything new (FLE not being next-gen).

 

[lazyboy97o]

The other thing that is so bothersome is that none of these next gen updates are buzz worthy in the least. I bet you that when it's all said and done it doesn't increase guest word of mouth. Now, mind you, I've run home and told people that Star Tours 2.0 is amazing, but will not likely run home and advertise the amazing tech that is an email postcard from an attraction. Don't be fooled. Next gen is not for the guests. It is for data mining, streamlining for management only, and allowing them to make more money without building or maintaining anything new (FLE not being next-gen).

The queue changes are not so much to generate new buzz, but to placate people who will now be waiting so that "X Pass" reservations can be handled.

 

[zooey]

The queue changes are not so much to generate new buzz, but to placate people who will now be waiting so that "X Pass" reservations can be handled.

Right, but my point is that they're not doing anything buzz worthy, or, doing anything that actually satisfies guest experience with something new and exciting and unique. Next gen is serving management and on the whole not serving guests.

 

[HMF]

I don't recall the fan community bashing the Escher staircases, the new attic scene, the new Hitchhiking Ghosts, or the enhanced stretching room effects when they were added to the Haunted Mansion. Tasteful additions in the spirit of the original ride are definitely welcome. On the other hand, Disney has made negative alterations to classic rides before, and these rumored changes to IASW do not sound appealing in concept. This isn't reactionary bashing. It's just fans voicing their opinions.

As a matter of fact most of us were actually begging for a Mansion Refurb back in 07. Until recently, Mansion was probably the only attraction which Imagineers successfully managed to plus without damaging the ride. Then of course they broke that good will 4 years later with the disaster Queue.
The 07 refurb was done by a different team than the one that did the queue and Hitchhikers and it shows.

 

[FigmentJedi]

Just terrible. I didn't mind the characters in Disneyland as much as others, seeing most of them as extensions of the "country scenes having their stories with them" thing that existed with Don Quixote before. Besides being pointless on a fast-loading attraction, screens would just be too obtrusive in Small World

 

[marni1971]

Five at most

A billion dollars?

A proper Space Mountain refurb... On top of 2009 50ish
Imagination 4 ...100ish
A long overdue new Energy ...60ish
Reuse of Wonders... 60ish
Dark ride in Japan without waiting for the recession hit sponsor... 30-40
MI coaster... 60-80
BK version 2 200ish

Educated ballpark figures. With cash to spare as you can see for plenty of plussing, placemaking and a scattering of Cs and Ds. Enough for a big press hoopla and something new each year for a decade.

Adds up doesn't it?

 

[RSoxNo1]

Dear Disney

If you want to use this in a cool way, create a program for Wii that allows us to create Mary Blair style Mii's. Otherwise, this is relatively stupid.

Love,
Tim

In other news, I do think this could work as say an on ride photo that would convert the real life images of the people on the boat to Mary Blair characters without user intervention.

 

[zooey]

A billion dollars?

A proper Space Mountain refurb... On top of 2009 50ish
Imagination 4 ...100ish
A long overdue new Energy ...60ish
Reuse of Wonders... 60ish
Dark ride in Japan without waiting for the recession hit sponsor... 30-40
MI coaster... 60-80
BK version 2 200ish

Educated ballpark figures. With cash to spare as you can see for plenty of plussing, placemaking and a scattering of Cs and Ds. Enough for a big press hoopla and something new each year for a decade.

Adds up doesn't it?

That is just...so sad. What a list of projects that could be happening.

 

[RSoxNo1]

A billion dollars?

A proper Space Mountain refurb... On top of 2009 50ish
Imagination 4 ...100ish
A long overdue new Energy ...60ish
Reuse of Wonders... 60ish
Dark ride in Japan without waiting for the recession hit sponsor... 30-40
MI coaster... 60-80
BK version 2 200ish

Educated ballpark figures. With cash to spare as you can see for plenty of plussing, placemaking and a scattering of Cs and Ds. Enough for a big press hoopla and something new each year for a decade.

Adds up doesn't it?

Marni, I think your numbers are quite conservative, but your point is still well taken.

The thing about next gen is that we haven't seen it all yet, but what we've seen has been relatively underwhelming. Dealing with new attractions is a known quantity so it's what we want. It's entirely possible that next gen could revolutionize a theme park experience and all together be a positive change to the parks. Don't get me wrong, I'm skeptical, but parts of it are still unknown.

The things Disney does that we enjoy so much are rarely known quantities. Even Disneyland was deemed by most critics as a stupid idea. It took a visionary like Walt to make it work. Personally, I fear that ideas like "next gen", aren't being fueled by such visionaries (Imagineering) but rather executives. I don't mind the enhanced queues as much as some others on here.

I understand why change like this needs to happen, but like others I would like to see $1 billion spent on rides. The main reason being - I understand what rides are. They are a known quantity, and a quantity that I enjoy. More importantly, it's a ride that for the most part, Disney does well. However they haven't been on the cutting edge of rides in quite some time. Perhaps the question now becomes, "Are they no longer capable of building cutting edge rides, or are they simply refusing?"

 

[lebeau]

I'm going to disagree that the disapproval of Next Gen is essentially a fear of the unknown. When I heard there was a top secret, billion-dollar initiative to revolutionize the Disney World experience by updating the infrastructure, I was excited. But the more I hear about what is being done, the less excited I become.

Is there more that we don't know about? Apparently. But we have heard an awful lot of rumors about what this technology will be used for. And really, none of the applications appeal to me very much on any level. Some are relatively benign. There are a few that might even be kind of cool. But there is not a single one that we have heard of yet that I wouldn't trade for a cool new ride.

Originally, I was hopeful that the billion dollar investment would enhance my vacation experience. But at this point, I'm really just hoping it doesn't detract from it too much.

Hopefully there's something awesome in the Next Gen project that we just don't know about yet. But so far, :shrug:

 

[marni1971]

Marni, I think your numbers are quite conservative, but your point is still well taken.

thank you. Like I said, educated ball park knowing what I know. And knowing what Forbidden Journey cost compared to how WDI overcharge for the majority of projects. Handled properly, my figures would buy around roughly what each project was originally proposed as.

I know a little more about NextGen than is public too, and fear it's another case of trying to fix what wasn't broke in the first place. Time will tell, but so far I don't see it enhancing the average guest experience.

I'd also say they are more than capable of building what it takes to become the market leader again. The longer they leave it the harder it will be and more costly. 3rd parties build better Animatronics. Other parks have more cutting edge ride systems. Other parks can consistently match, or overtake, theming and detail. They can still do it. They just need to be allowed to.

 

[Minnie1976]

Why can't people stand in line and socialize with the people they are with? Do we have to be entertained every minute? I saw a kid at Disney this last trip playing with some handheld game while going through Disney with his parents. How can you be at Disney playing some game you can do at home or in the room?

 

[Magenta Panther]

thank you. Like I said, educated ball park knowing what I know. And knowing what Forbidden Journey cost compared to how WDI overcharge for the majority of projects. Handled properly, my figures would buy around roughly what each project was originally proposed as.

I know a little more about NextGen than is public too, and fear it's another case of trying to fix what wasn't broke in the first place. Time will tell, but so far I don't see it enhancing the average guest experience.

I'd also say they are more than capable of building what it takes to become the market leader again. The longer they leave it the harder it will be and more costly. 3rd parties build better Animatronics. Other parks have more cutting edge ride systems. Other parks can consistently match, or overtake, theming and detail. They can still do it. They just need to be allowed to.

Maybe they need new MANAGEMENT. Iger can't leave too soon IMO.

 

[Alektronic]

thank you. Like I said, educated ball park knowing what I know. And knowing what Forbidden Journey cost compared to how WDI overcharge for the majority of projects. Handled properly, my figures would buy around roughly what each project was originally proposed as.

I know a little more about NextGen than is public too, and fear it's another case of trying to fix what wasn't broke in the first place. Time will tell, but so far I don't see it enhancing the average guest experience.

I'd also say they are more than capable of building what it takes to become the market leader again. The longer they leave it the harder it will be and more costly. 3rd parties build better Animatronics. Other parks have more cutting edge ride systems. Other parks can consistently match, or overtake, theming and detail. They can still do it. They just need to be allowed to.

I don't remember seeing anywhere that NexGen stuff is going to enhance the guest experience. I think it is going to be the other way around, it is to enhance Disney gathering more marketing information.

Let Sally design her own doll and find out what she likes and also get her name and address city, state, country, email etc.

Let Bobby design his own car and get his pertinent information. It will be a way to get more info about people not staying on property.

 

[zooey]

I don't remember seeing anywhere that NexGen stuff is going to enhance the guest experience. I think it is going to be the other way around, it is to enhance Disney gathering more marketing information.

Let Sally design her own doll and find out what she likes and also get her name and address city, state, country, email etc.

Let Bobby design his own car and get his pertinent information. It will be a way to get more info about people not staying on property.

It gets more nefarious in the details than even that when they unleash RFID.

 

[marni1971]

Maybe they need new MANAGEMENT. Iger can't leave too soon IMO.

Stranger things have happened, but be careful what you wish for...

And who goes with him...

 

[Communicore]

IASW Under New Management is more like it with this nextgen stuff!

 

[flynnibus]

I know a little more about NextGen than is public too, and fear it's another case of trying to fix what wasn't broke in the first place. Time will tell, but so far I don't see it enhancing the average guest experience.

NextGen is about investing to ensure the parks stay ahead in the technology era ahead. It's an investment in R&D over 10 years.

I don't see it as a direct investment trying to 'fix' things, but rather a push to innovate leveraging new technologies. If those all stick or not is just how forward looking development is done.

In cars you build concepts.. and not all make it to fruition. In consumer electronics.. not all ideas gain traction. All because people are trying to reach forward - not limiting themselves to just 'fixing' things.

 

[invader]

NextGen is about investing to ensure the parks stay ahead in the technology era ahead. It's an investment in R&D over 10 years.

I don't see it as a direct investment trying to 'fix' things, but rather a push to innovate leveraging new technologies. If those all stick or not is just how forward looking development is done.

In cars you build concepts.. and not all make it to fruition. In consumer electronics.. not all ideas gain traction. All because people are trying to reach forward - not limiting themselves to just 'fixing' things.

They've in a sense done this NextGen crap twice - Tommorrowland and Future World. The problem with futuristic technology is that it just doesn't stay well, futuristic. They'll be having to spend money down the road to replace todays technology tomorrow. That's the only thing I don't like about this whole idea. Do what you've done best in the past - don't try and add to the pot and hope it tastes good.