Living With the Land Closing for a few weeks

[LandBoatride]

Just a little bit more info on the change to a canned spiel...

LWTL will indeed close for a few weeks. Because the new version of the ride will require significantly less cast members at this location, LWTL is not slated to get the huge college program contention it normally does. This is coupled with many LWTL CM's already slated to transfer to other locations. As the system will not be ready to launch until 2-3 weeks after this summers CP's leave (next month), hence the downtime. In theory, if LWTL was fully staffed, the changeover to the canned spiel could happen overnight.

 

[Craig & Lisa]

I like the idea of the PA because the last time we were at the attraction, ( in April ) the guide would not let me use my night video camera in the begining of the ride. It uses a infared light so it doesn't bother anyone, yet she seemed to have a problem with it. And I have video'd before, many times too. Really ticked me off. If it is closed when we go in 25 MORE DAYS!!!! :sohappy: I will be alittle upset because we are bringing 2 people who have never been there before, well one was but that was in 1998, so it's like a whole new visit for her.

 

[wannab@dis]

10 minutes, is this new math? Even if I assume you meant that the standby line would only have 300 people in it(standby only) you would still wait 18 minutes if you joined the end of that line.

More importantly is now what do you think those FP riders are going to do? They will get in line instead. If capacity is 1000 per hour and there are 1000 people in line(300 standbys and the now 700 FP's) the wait is going to be 60 minutes for someone just getting into line. FP redistributes people throughout the day causing a more constant wait. Without FP some waiting times during the day might only be 10-20 minutes, but other times it could be 70 minutes(like just after lunch).

While I've seen waits for a boat to show up lasting around 5 minutes, I do agree that they will get more riders per hour. This alone may reduce waits below 30 minutes. I could see them speeding up the attraction as well reducing some of the details that are usually given.

Exactly... I've never figured out why people feel that FP increases an attraction's wait time. It may increase the wait time for some people, but not for the attraction... it's still running the guests through at the same rate as before.

Also, it's usually the people that don't really understand FP that complain about it. The usage of FP has greatly impacted our time at the parks.. for the good. :lol:

Some attractions don't need FP because the wait time would rarely be more than 30 or 45 minutes. But it's a huge improvement for the major e-tickets.

 

[ogryn]

Also, it's usually the people that don't really understand FP that complain about it. The usage of FP has greatly impacted our time at the parks.. for the good. :lol:

Some attractions don't need FP because the wait time would rarely be more than 30 or 45 minutes. But it's a huge improvement for the major e-tickets.

Totally. Either it means we get two attractions done in the time of one, or we get to have some downtime in a Quick Service (which benefits us & Disney).

 

[Stitch69]

I am very happy about this. I think they need a PA System. It will make the ride consistant. All other attractions have taped tracks. Ex: Pirates, Splash mt....ect

 

[Chape19714]

I am very happy about this. I think they need a PA System. It will make the ride consistant. All other attractions have taped tracks. Ex: Pirates, Splash mt....ect

Yes, but there has not yet been a boat ride where the audio is onboard like LwTL. Spalsh and Pirates, along with el rio, Maelstrom, iasm, and the other boat rides, use speakers on the stage and outside that loop the audio. The land does this in the barnhouse (videos), so the narration is sync. with the screens. Now the problem is getting all the audio onboard, because speakers in the greenhouse may not be an option.

 

[Jacquelina]

Even if some people find LWTL a bit of a snoozer (Not me, of course), I have always had very energetic tour guides at this attraction. I can't say the same for the Great Movie Ride, which is upsetting since I LOVE that ride. It will be sad for me to see this ride with no host, but I suppose I just have to cope with the changes as always. What else will they be working on in this pavilion, in case I haven't been fully paying attention, lol

 

[Scooter]

If they go to a PA system, I think they should bring back the Listen To The Land song that they used to have.
I think every attraction needs a theme song and that song was great.

 

[stof911]

well since, its going to a canned spiel, lets get the old horizon vehicles then make them able to go through living with the land and at the end ride the path of thier choosing.

Sorry bad joke just going on lack of sleep right now, but why not make more boats and just make that area an omnivoer style. If you think about it, it would make the lines really small. yes it would take alot to put in a moving walkway, and to fill up boats in such a short time would be hard. but again im working on a lack of sleep so please beat up my comments with decency and not just blast them out of the water

 

[stof911]

Even if some people find LWTL a bit of a snoozer (Not me, of course), I have always had very energetic tour guides at this attraction. I can't say the same for the Great Movie Ride, which is upsetting since I LOVE that ride.

that is true just watch the video on here, the tour guide and the gangster are seriously the worst at what they do.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/members2/video/greatmovieride.wmv

and sorry this link probably will only work for people who have the paying passes.


after watching it again, they arent the worst at what they do they just need to have a coach with saying their lines. she isnt that bad but i wouldnt have been happy leaving after that

 

[dhcalva]

I don't think a canned PA system would be bad. Especially if they can change it frequently. Just have 1 boat with a recording capability and get a CM with a good voice to ride through and record the new spiel once a month or so. And include a blurb about the '$10' tour to see the new things that are being worked on.

 

[disneydaft]

I'm pretty pleased about the PA system being installed. The last time our guide was a little dry.

What I'm not pleased about though is the timing, we are there from Aug 31 - Sep 14.
Will they still be running "Behind The Seeds" while the update is in progress?

 

[Slowjack]

Exactly... I've never figured out why people feel that FP increases an attraction's wait time. It may increase the wait time for some people, but not for the attraction... it's still running the guests through at the same rate as before.

Also, it's usually the people that don't really understand FP that complain about it. The usage of FP has greatly impacted our time at the parks.. for the good. :lol:

Some attractions don't need FP because the wait time would rarely be more than 30 or 45 minutes. But it's a huge improvement for the major e-tickets.

At the risk of opening up a can o' worms...I don't like Fastpass, and I understand it completely. You say it doesn't increase an attraction's wait time...you mean the average guest wait time, right? I agree...people with Fastpasses have a much shorter line, and this is offset by a somewhat longer standby line. The average wait time stays about the same on FP rides, neither increasing nor decreasing.

But what that means is...if everyone used FP to the maximum extent they could, it would have no effect on anyone's wait time. Passes would run out very early, and we'd each get in a couple of short lines and then a bunch more lines that were longer than normal. So to the extent that anyone is benefitting from Fastpass, it's because other people aren't using the system as much as they could.

Don't get me wrong, I use Fastpass myself and I feel I've saved time overall because of it. But as usage increases, the benefit goes down, except now we have to spend even more energy strategizing our day (my least favorite part of a WDW trip, by the way).

This is assuming that Fastpass users use the time they would have been waiting in line to other attractions (I know that's why I do). If Fastpass users are spending that time in a shop or eating, that's another story.

My other problem with FP is what happened with the Living with the Land. I was there before it had Fastpass then came back the same time next year when it did. As others have stated, before it had Fastpass, it never needed it--just a few minutes wait. I'm confident they would have shelled out the dough for more boat operators if they didn't have Fastpass.

 

[redsfan4life]

This is bad timing for me i will be on my honeymoon the 6th -12th of sept. she has never been to disney

 

[metscool]

Good maybe they would make it better. That didn't need the Fastpasses on that ride in the first place. I think they thought that it would need it because of Sorin'. The last time the CM wasn't very happy on the ride. They need to find new CM for the ride that talk more.

 

[elle72688]

While I'm excited for the change I wish it wasn't happening when I was going to be there! Seldom did I ever have a tour guide who seemed really into the role. I'm all for the PA system.

 

[TakeMe2TheMagic]

I think that the PA system will be a good thing for LWTL, I have had a few CMs that didnt seem like they were enjoying there jobs.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I'm pretty pleased about the PA system being installed. The last time our guide was a little dry.

What I'm not pleased about though is the timing, we are there from Aug 31 - Sep 14.
Will they still be running "Behind The Seeds" while the update is in progress?

From what I have heard, yes, Behind the Seeds will still be operational, at least for most of the time. However, I would suggest calling ahead or stopping by to check.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I think that the PA system will be a good thing for LWTL, I have had a few CMs that didnt seem like they were enjoying there jobs.

Sorry for the double post, but that is a huge problem. When they went to the strict spiel, a lot of CMs got really bored with their jobs. Before, there was some leeway with what they discussed, so they had a bit more autonomy. Now, they really are robots. I am fine with the canned spiel, but it sounds like it will not change often. That is somewhat more sad. I guess time will tell.

 

[dxwwf3]

I agree that FastPass is a fantastic system and it is a life saver for trips in the summer. But if it isn't needed for a certain attraction, it shouldn't be used. Living With The Land could probably go without it and be fine.

As far as the narration goes, I could go either way. It is nice having a CM there for a more personal experience, but I would be just fine with a pre recorded spiel as well. If going with the pre recorded would increase capacity (as some have suggested), then I would have to say it should be looked in to.