Jose's SSE GEMENI TRIP REPORT

[Rayray]

I have to say that I am not impressed.

I thought the ascending section looked to be an improvement, but the descent looked slightly pathetic. Touchscreens with cheesey animation... it just didn't seem to fit with the motif projected during the first half of the ride. To me, it seemed to say that the rehab crew thinks that the ride is basically over at the top of the geosphere, and the video is just to keep you entertained during the exit.

Why not take the opportunity to use the set around you for the show, instead of the screen. Why not fix the rickety ride system, instead of using money on the video screens. I know that the descent has limited space, but I think that the space could be used for something interesting. Also, I am not opposed to the video screen, but I feel like that it is the only role being played for the latter part of the ride.

Hopefully, I will be more impressed when I actually ride it. I am sure that the video does not do it proper justice.

BTW, thanks for posting the video.

 

[CaptainMichael]

Also, you have no right to accuse me of being sexist because of my vocal preferences!

Skippy

I have every right, it's the way you said it, and I'm not the only one who noticed. Dame Judi Dench is an incredible narrator.

 

[elpack]

Thanks for posting the video and thanks to all who have given first hand accounts of their experience. Based on the video, I'm very impressed overall with what has been done. The biggest standout for me is the improved AAs and how fluidly and smooth they move. The sets look pretty awesome and I'm pretty sure it looks even more so in person. It seems this was a very successful update even though people seem less than thrilled with the descent. It seems to me that sometimes we ask a bit too much - I'm just very glad that a much needed update was performed and rather than focus on a zillion things they could have done - just focus on what was done. And keep in mind that there will be future updates so things can still be improved even more at other times.

Regarding the choice of male/female voices - I can't believe that anyone would even think in terms such as that - the only situation I would think could be gender influenced would be having a male voice playing an obviously female role (such as a Mom or having a female voice as a Dad). Otherwise I can't fathom how gender would come into play.

The only narration that I truly ever will love was that of Walter Cronkite - and that had NOTHING at all to do with him.. it was him that narrated during the time I was able to get to Epcot Center the most and therefore experienced the ride with him as narrator thousands of times. Otherwise, it's just a voice reading a script.

 

[Skippy_]

I have every right, it's the way you said it, and I'm not the only one who noticed. Dame Judi Dench is an incredible narrator.

She's an incredible actor and I'm a fan but I don't like the narration on this ride! It just doesn't fit, and that shouldn't make me sexist.

I'm all for males and females voicing whatever they can do best (such as many talented women voice actors voicing little boys in cartoons). Doesn't bother me then but she just doesn't fit the bill here!

I'm not racist if I said Chris Tucker would make a bad SSE narrator, am I?

I don't like the script tone and the narration. I'd like to have an opinion without being judged, thank you!

Skippy

PS: Jose, when's the HD vid gonna be up?

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Maybe they are getting reaction about the ending to see if most people think it is "enough". I wonder if this preview is mainly to test the descent and then it will close soon and have more work done on it until the official opening in February? I certainly hope so, but even if it isn't I think this rehab has been great.

Good theory...Hope this is the case.Yeah,I'm thrilled with this rehab too.

 

[EPCOT_1138]

I like the ride a lot, just the descent (which I sure they will do SOMETHING with at least) is disappointing. The Animatronics are really life-like and the new computer scenes are awesome.

For the descent, they should do something like the "Martrix" portion but make it sort of abstract (like the Apple "Flurry" screensaver) and have images of today's inventions sort of fading around.

 

[aladdin2007]

Remember that Jose did say there is an area in the descent with blue lights or some kind of star field that is apparently very cool. Its just not in the video. Im guessing this is where the glitter city use to be.
But hopefully more will be turned on or added or something. The video was a dissapointment.

 

[MythBuster]

This is everyone's chance to let Disney know what they thought of SSE, that is what a soft opening is, to judge the audiences reactions and comments. Just like pre-screening a movie. also, to make sure everything works correctly.

I think it will be open for most of the Christmas holiday unless there are major problems. then it will close for most of January to make some changes then reopen in February.

 

[aladdin2007]

not Joses video sorry that was great, I meant the touch screen looked like a disspointment content wise.

 

[CaptainMichael]

Remember that Jose did say there is an area in the descent with blue lights or some kind of star field that is apparently very cool. Its just not in the video. Im guessing this is where the glitter city use to be.
But hopefully more will be turned on or added or something. The video was a dissapointment.

The blue lights are awesome which leads me to believe there is more to come because they really stand out.

There are also things along the walls not turned on, and I do believe I saw some sort of models to the right near the bottom when I rode, they were not lit.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

The blue lights are awesome which leads me to believe there is more to come because they really stand out.

There are also things along the walls not turned on, and I do believe I saw some sort of models to the right near the bottom when I rode, they were not lit.

That sounds promising!!!Hope your predicitons are true!

 

[Jose Eber]

Yah, they might have more lighting effects coming on later . . .

As per the HD -- tried to export w/o cutting the file into two parts -- 450 megs.

Ouch.

Looks like this will be a 2 parter folks. Uploading as we speak. Take maybe an hour for the first one, an hour after that for the next?

 

[brkgnews]

This is everyone's chance to let Disney know what they thought of SSE, that is what a soft opening is, to judge the audiences reactions and comments. Just like pre-screening a movie. also, to make sure everything works correctly.

I think it will be open for most of the Christmas holiday unless there are major problems. then it will close for most of January to make some changes then reopen in February.

Bingo. Remember Monster's Inc's soft opening? They even delayed the DVC/AP previews to address problems uncovered in the "focus groups." I was fortunate enough to have been in one of the groups for MILF, and I considered it a privilege. Were there rough edges? You bet your aunt . But that was the POINT. To uncover the rough edges. To see what audiences loved and hated. The mouse listened, and the finished version was much better than the preview version. The most important thing is to be specific and logical in your comments.

BAD: "That ending sucked. ? Where's Walter Cronkite?"

GOOD: "I don't feel that the touch-screen finale is as immersive as it should be. I feel like I spent ten minutes on a fully-immersive ride, then ended it by just watching TV in a dark tunnel. Perhaps to improve it you could... (etc)."

Constructive criticism is the key. That's what helps improve things. The other type just results in a "screw him -- it's fine like it is" mentality.

I personally haven't seen it in the flesh, so I cannot comment on it other than to say I'm happy it's getting some TLC. And I can't wait to see the finished version.

 

[DisneyAnole]

This is everyone's chance to let Disney know what they thought of SSE, that is what a soft opening is, to judge the audiences reactions and comments. Just like pre-screening a movie. also, to make sure everything works correctly.

I think it will be open for most of the Christmas holiday unless there are major problems. then it will close for most of January to make some changes then reopen in February.

Then why aren't they polling people when they get off the ride? Although "Disney" supposedly reads discussion boards, I wouldn't that would be the only place they would be getting guest feedback.

If they had made the ride smoother, you could at least take a nap during the descent.

Also, if there isn't one screen per rider, how do they expect the answers to work? You have to agree with other people in your vehicle on the answer? Lame. The questions seem to be asking about personality types: "Are you a planner or a spontaneous type". Not exactly something that can be "agreed on" by two riders. At least with Horizons everyone got a vote.

 

[CaptainMichael]

Then why aren't they polling people when they get off the ride? Although "Disney" supposedly reads discussion boards, I wouldn't that would be the only place they would be getting guest feedback.

They were when I rode; however, I didn't get selected (maybe because of the EPCOT Center t-shirt?). They selected average guests.

 

[DisneyAnole]

Bingo. Remember Monster's Inc's soft opening? They even delayed the DVC/AP previews to address problems uncovered in the "focus groups." I was fortunate enough to have been in one of the groups for MILF, and I considered it a privilege. Were there rough edges? You bet your aunt . But that was the POINT. To uncover the rough edges. To see what audiences loved and hated. The mouse listened, and the finished version was much better than the preview version. The most important thing is to be specific and logical in your comments.

But is there any evidence that they are doing "focus groups" for SSE? Maybe they will over the next few weeks, but I don't see this attraction being one that can be changed easily based on guest feedback.

I mean, in theory the screen content could be changed, but what's Disney going to do to please the people who want a more immersive environment? Suddenly decide to put props in the descent tunnel? Unlikely. If that was going to happen, they would already have budgeted and planned for it.

I don't think there's going to be much input by guests on this one. Not like there was for Monsters Inc. at least. But I could be wrong, and I hope I am...

EDIT: I'm glad to hear that STR8, but I still wonder what "new ideas" could be adopted based on guest feedback at this point. I'm guessing whatever's going to happen is already in the pipeline. But who knows, maybe Siemens will write out another huge check when they see that people aren't generally satisfied with the descent. Here's to hoping.

 

[CaptainMichael]

Also, there are clearly things not turned on in the descent...as well as the ascent. This ride is NOT complete.

 

[DMC-12]

If they had made the ride smoother, you could at least take a nap during the descent.

This is what irritates me the most (nah... Im not going to watch the video.. since I am gonna be riding it in a few days, hopefully).

A few other reviews say that the track/ride vehicles are as bumpy as ever. WTH? I thought they were going to fix this? :veryconfu

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Question:If the whole "glitter city" and happy/communication scenes were active during you playing with the screens,would it still fit in with the storyline/animation/narration?

Just a little theory on what those models STR8FAN2005 might have been talking about.

 

[haveyoumetmark]

The descent has always been pretty bad IMO. Now, it has been vastly improved. You will not even notice your surroundings! You will be TOO focused on the screen, I don't get why people are complaining. Looks awesome and the narration sounds great. Love the female English accent! Plus, they probably did everything they could to make the ride smoother, there is not much they reall could've done without replacing the track. So much time and money. Get real, be happy!