Little Mermaid has grass on rock work (someone post pics.)

[CrescentLake]

The palm trees look horrible, and wreck the forced perspective just as much as the background trees. How hard would it have been to incorporate real planters into the concrete work? Splash has this, at least in Disneyland, and looks great with real plants. The astroturf in the picture looks like absolutely no plant I have ever seen, maybe desert succulents or something, but is sure is not grass, and is not very nice to look at, IMHO.

Geologically speaking, the facade doesn't make sense as you got ocean side cliffs, but then weird tunnels and caves that look like they were carved out of mud? I had high hopes for the Mermaid queue, but it looks like a miniature golf thing you'd find in Phoenix where all they can plant are palm trees and fake astro-turf.

There is no way we're looking at the same facade. TLM looks phenomenal, Prince Eric's Castle is themed spectacularly. Have you seen it in person? Because I have, and I can tell you it makes a world of difference. I think the grass looks fine. Perhaps its best to reserve such harsh (and in my opinion unfounded) criticism until you physically see it.

 

[threeyoda]

The palm trees look horrible, and wreck the forced perspective just as much as the background trees. How hard would it have been to incorporate real planters into the concrete work? Splash has this, at least in Disneyland, and looks great with real plants. The astroturf in the picture looks like absolutely no plant I have ever seen, maybe desert succulents or something, but is sure is not grass, and is not very nice to look at, IMHO.

Geologically speaking, the facade doesn't make sense as you got ocean side cliffs, but then weird tunnels and caves that look like they were carved out of mud? I had high hopes for the Mermaid queue, but it looks like a miniature golf thing you'd find in Phoenix where all they can plant are palm trees and fake astro-turf.

You do remember this is the concrete facade of a theme park ride, right?

 

[Patricia Melton]

The palm trees look horrible, and wreck the forced perspective just as much as the background trees. How hard would it have been to incorporate real planters into the concrete work? Splash has this, at least in Disneyland, and looks great with real plants. The astroturf in the picture looks like absolutely no plant I have ever seen, maybe desert succulents or something, but is sure is not grass, and is not very nice to look at, IMHO.

Geologically speaking, the facade doesn't make sense as you got ocean side cliffs, but then weird tunnels and caves that look like they were carved out of mud? I had high hopes for the Mermaid queue, but it looks like a miniature golf thing you'd find in Phoenix where all they can plant are palm trees and fake astro-turf.

Wow. Pretty harsh judgment several months before we see the whole thing. It's really not fair to be this critical of something you have not seen in its completion.

Let FLE actually open to the public before you announce it's the worst thing ever.

 

[Patricia Melton]

You do remember this is the concrete facade of a theme park ride, right?

The malcontents are just so eager to attack and criticize the Mouse that little things like this don't matter. It's a fantastical seaside setting based on a scene from a cartoon fantasy movie. That's not geologically speaking, it's reality calling.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

What I mean to say was the the "caves" (sea caves?) part of the queue don't look "real" i.e. believable in the sense that the sea cliffs look like regular dirt that has bee worn away, and hence how would the "caves" be able to support themselves if they were made out of the same "dirt"?

Belle's castle and surroundings look fantastic, in large part as there is believability.

This issue aside, I think it is OK to note that the palms trees weren't in the film and mess up the scale, and that rides like Splash don't incorporate astro-turf, but use cement type planters to house the plants. Maybe in other theme parks Mermaid would look good, but I expect more from Disney, rather than a life-less piece of rockwork and palm trees that don't make sense.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

There is no way we're looking at the same facade. TLM looks phenomenal, Prince Eric's Castle is themed spectacularly. Have you seen it in person? Because I have, and I can tell you it makes a world of difference. I think the grass looks fine. Perhaps its best to reserve such harsh (and in my opinion unfounded) criticism until you physically see it.

Oh, we're looking at the same pictures alright, I'll admit I haven't seen it in person, but what exactly is the green stuff the glued on the top? It can't be grass as real grass doesn't look like that, and it is a couple shades too light to be grass.

I just can't take the rock work outside of Mermaid seriously, I mean . . . they sculpted part of it to look exactly like a cinnamon bun OR a seashell or something. I hope it will look better with water.

When anything new is added to a Disney park, it is something new so fans love pouring over the details, but compared with Splash and the rest of FLE, I think Mermaid's facade isn't on the same level. I mean, Astro-turf, really?!?

 

[danlb_2000]

Oh, we're looking at the same pictures alright, I'll admit I haven't seen it in person, but what exactly is the green stuff the glued on the top? It can't be grass as real grass doesn't look like that, and it is a couple shades too light to be grass.

I just can't take the rock work outside of Mermaid seriously, I mean . . . they sculpted part of it to look exactly like a cinnamon bun OR a seashell or something. I hope it will look better with water.

When anything new is added to a Disney park, it is something new so fans love pouring over the details, but compared with Splash and the rest of FLE, I think Mermaid's facade isn't on the same level. I mean, Astro-turf, really?!?

I think we should be using the word "grass" loosely here. It's some sort of ground cover plan, but definitly doesn't look like the variety of grass you would plant in your yard.

 

[puntagordabob]

I like the progress.....and to all those who are in Bashing mode... Seriously? Why not wait for everything to be completed before starting this.....

IMHO the new Fantasyland areas look super and will make an excellent addition to the MK.... what I am very eager to see is the "trees" they are bringing in for the forest aspect of the land... it is my hope that this area will be very shady, wide open spaces, and relaxing......

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

I like the progress.....and to all those who are in Bashing mode... Seriously? Why not wait for everything to be completed before starting this.....

IMHO the new Fantasyland areas look super and will make an excellent addition to the MK.... what I am very eager to see is the "trees" they are bringing in for the forest aspect of the land... it is my hope that this area will be very shady, wide open spaces, and relaxing......

I count about 45 trees in the BoG/Belle area based on the new satellite photos, many look like pine type trees. I count about 10 palm trees in the Mermaid area, plus one green blob I don't know what is. When they add in 7DMT and when the little trees around the entrance turrets to FLE are counted, it might be close to 100 trees. Plus, I don't see any trees in the photo for the Belle's square, for lack of a better term, right next to Mermaid, and figure they'll probably put in half a dozen here for shade I would guess, even if just on the periphery.

In terms of criticism, I would say that since I've already ridden DCA's Mermaid and seen the copious amount of digital pictures of MK's Mermaid queue online, there won't be a lot of surprises for me, save for the "interactive queue" area. So, as the outside looks to be about 80% complete, I think its OK to note the lack of trees, astro-turf, and to bring up the shortcoming that DCA's Mermaid has (in terms of the ride being done cheaply as a lot of ride scenes look pathetically unfinished).

Personally, I hoped that Disney would have gotten it right with MK's Mermaid. Disney sure is doing a lot of rockwork, and while a lot of it looks impressive, they've forgotten about the small things like having enough shade and in terms of dark ride development, IMHO. After all, rockwork is just building it in the computer, getting the rebar machine to spit out the pieces, welding it together and covering it with concrete and then painting it. The problem with Mermaid's rockwork, IMHO, is that it doesn't look very good, at least in terms of breath taking realism of Carsland or the BoG restaurant area.

I can't believe I'm more excited about BoG than about a ride, but that's because Mermaid is not stellar . . .

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

I think we should be using the word "grass" loosely here. It's some sort of ground cover plan, but definitly doesn't look like the variety of grass you would plant in your yard.

There is more white primer on the upper level on the satellite shots, all the way around to Storybook Circus.

I have seen astroturf that looks very good, has a nice deep lush green color, and looks like grass. What is on Mermaid looks like alf-alfa sprouts on elephant growth hormone, and the color already looks faded. Since they are putting the fake plants on the second level, why not just make concrete planters? Gardeners would have easy access on the roof, and it would be a "green" way to keep the roof cool, I am guessing. And since it rains so much in Florida, they wouldn't have to water much, I am also guessing.

TDA took the cheap way out with Mermaid in DCA, looks like similar decision was made for at least a couple aspects of Mermaid in FLE, i.e. astro-turf and not redeveloping the ride into something better than DCA's lackluster Mermaid.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Pixiedust, I think you should just stay away from The Little Mermaid. You might feel better. I think the grass looks fine.

 

[flynnibus]

Pixiedustmaker... Do you really think grass only comes in one shade of green?? Ever consider your idea of what it should be is the wrong one?

And grass can grow on rock. Soil settles on the flat portions

 

[danlb_2000]

I count about 45 trees in the BoG/Belle area based on the new satellite photos, many look like pine type trees. I count about 10 palm trees in the Mermaid area, plus one green blob I don't know what is. When they add in 7DMT and when the little trees around the entrance turrets to FLE are counted, it might be close to 100 trees. Plus, I don't see any trees in the photo for the Belle's square, for lack of a better term, right next to Mermaid, and figure they'll probably put in half a dozen here for shade I would guess, even if just on the periphery.

In terms of criticism, I would say that since I've already ridden DCA's Mermaid and seen the copious amount of digital pictures of MK's Mermaid queue online, there won't be a lot of surprises for me, save for the "interactive queue" area. So, as the outside looks to be about 80% complete, I think its OK to note the lack of trees, astro-turf, and to bring up the shortcoming that DCA's Mermaid has (in terms of the ride being done cheaply as a lot of ride scenes look pathetically unfinished).

Personally, I hoped that Disney would have gotten it right with MK's Mermaid. Disney sure is doing a lot of rockwork, and while a lot of it looks impressive, they've forgotten about the small things like having enough shade and in terms of dark ride development, IMHO. After all, rockwork is just building it in the computer, getting the rebar machine to spit out the pieces, welding it together and covering it with concrete and then painting it. The problem with Mermaid's rockwork, IMHO, is that it doesn't look very good, at least in terms of breath taking realism of Carsland or the BoG restaurant area.

I can't believe I'm more excited about BoG than about a ride, but that's because Mermaid is not stellar . . .

Personally I think the Mermaid area looks great. As for the trees, they appear to have put trees everywhere they can in the Mermaid area, there just isn't as much open space for trees as there is in the other area. Not to mention the fact that this is supposed to be rocks right along the ocean, so you wouldn't necessarily have a lot of trees. Since a lot of the Mermaid queue will within the rock work, there will be plenty of shade.

I think you are really underestimating how difficult it is to make good looking rock work, you really make the process sound a lot simpler then it really is.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

Pixiedustmaker... Do you really think grass only comes in one shade of green?? Ever consider your idea of what it should be is the wrong one?

And grass can grow on rock. Soil settles on the flat portions

The concept art depicted grass much closer, if not identical, to that grown on Splash Mountain. I am an amateur gardener, and the astro-turf (or I guess fake plants), looks much more like succulents than grass.

If you want to post some pics of real grass that looks like that then go ahead . . . the stuff looks very "clumpy", and unlike any grass I have ever seen, and looks like fake plants, as opposed to grass.

Below is Splash in Tokyo, this is real grass, and actually a lot of plants that can be grown to look like grass. I think most would agree that this is more beautiful to look at than Mermaid which outside of a dozen palm trees, will have no real plants, at least as far as we can tell.

 

[danlb_2000]

There is more white primer on the upper level on the satellite shots, all the way around to Storybook Circus.

I have seen astroturf that looks very good, has a nice deep lush green color, and looks like grass. What is on Mermaid looks like alf-alfa sprouts on elephant growth hormone, and the color already looks faded. Since they are putting the fake plants on the second level, why not just make concrete planters? Gardeners would have easy access on the roof, and it would be a "green" way to keep the roof cool, I am guessing. And since it rains so much in Florida, they wouldn't have to water much, I am also guessing.

TDA took the cheap way out with Mermaid in DCA, looks like similar decision was made for at least a couple aspects of Mermaid in FLE, i.e. astro-turf and not redeveloping the ride into something better than DCA's lackluster Mermaid.

That wouldn't be appropriate for the location of this environment. Have you every seen lush green golf course like grass at a rocky sea shore? There is a good picture here of some plants along the coast of Florida as an example:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq/5147960261/

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

Personally I think the Mermaid area looks great. As for the trees, they appear to have put trees everywhere they can in the Mermaid area, there just isn't as much open space for trees as there is in the other area. Not to mention the fact that this is supposed to be rocks right along the ocean, so you wouldn't necessarily have a lot of trees. Since a lot of the Mermaid queue will within the rock work, there will be plenty of shade.

I think you are really underestimating how difficult it is to make good looking rock work, you really make the process sound a lot simpler then it really is.

I do give the imagineers points for making a good chunk of the queue inside, which will help guests stay cool.

The trees in the Mermaid queue are palm trees, which have a very small canopy, and hence provide much less shade when compared to other types of trees, such as pines.

Disney has done a lot of rockwork recently, and I would guess they will do much more in Shanghai, but it is a pretty standardized process as the bulk of it is designed in a computer and they have rockwork artists. Inevitably, some rockwork will be better than others.

Given that I feel that west coast fans got burned by Disney with a lackluster Mermaid in DCA, I think it is perfectly reasonable to look at every detail of Mermaid in FLE as it is revealed. You can bet I'll be the first to watch the ride video and look for differences, or the same old cheapness, when compared to what guests have in DCA.

 

[danlb_2000]

I can understand some of the criticisms of the ride portion of Little Mermaid, but personally I enjoyed it. Not everything Disney builds it going to be a huge, elaborate e-ticket attraction. I think LM is a nice continuation of the tradition of the other Fantasyland dark rides.

 

[flynnibus]

The concept art depicted grass much closer, if not identical, to that grown on Splash Mountain. I am an amateur gardener, and the astro-turf (or I guess fake plants), looks much more like succulents than grass.

So use those gardner skills and research what seashore grasses in Europe may be like.. and not compare them to Splash which isn't trying to be same environment.

Again.. consider what they are trying to build, not what you think they should build...

 

[sshindel]

I kind of understood (while not agreeing with) when Pixiedustmaker was flying off the handle with long postings on how terrible the interior of TLM was, using DCA's version as a comparison. When it moved along to the exterior work though, that is when the ignore function finally got pulled out. That poster just has some deep dark hatred of TLM, and no matter what someone may think of the interior, I just can't imagine how someone can look at the exterior and not be impressed. To each their own I guess, but I think the rockwork (looks just like eroded sandstone or similar to me), the grass, the trees, everything looks fantastic.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

That wouldn't be appropriate for the location of this environment. Have you every seen lush green golf course like grass at a rocky sea shore? There is a good picture here of some plants along the coast of Florida as an example:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq/5147960261/

That's a nice picture. And for others on the thread, I have seen beaches and the scraggly type of plants such as in the picture provided above.

I sort of thought that was what Mermaid's queue is going for, but the palm trees really threw me for a loop. Obviously, when the 7DMT is completed, we probably won't have this view of Mermaid, and it may look different. The Imagineers, I am guessing, are trying to use some sort of forced perspective, such that the "cliffs" (which look very, very similar to Splash when you don't consider the plants), but the palm trees are sort of wrecking this for me, hence I am having trouble visually interpreting what the whole thing is supposed to be.