Maelstrom and Other Lackluster Queue Lines.

[ChrisFL]

No, I think it's interesting that most of the current Norway CM's probably weren't even born when the movie was made....imagine how they feel about it! :hammer:

 

[Firepath]

It's those hard benches for seats that keep me from ever staying for the film in Norway. If they had something more comfortable perhaps more people would stay, to get off their feet if nothing else, and they might enjoy the film too.

 

[Mansion Butler]

I hate getting off right when the film starts, so I'm trapped.

 

[Magenta Panther]

Mickey's Philharmagic. The interior of the theater (I'm speaking of the actual area where you stand before the doors) is so blah. It should look more like an opera house, or old-fashioned theater, with gilding and murals on the ceiling and cherubs and so on. The show itself is so awesome, the building really ought to meet that standard. It looks like minimum effort was put into its theming, and that's a shame.

 

[Magenta Panther]

You should definitely give the Norway movie a watch. It is definitely outdated but it really does give a good feel of Norway.

I agree. I really enjoyed it. And Norway is my favorite "country" at Epcot. The Akershus Royal Dining Hall is beautiful (good food too), and the Stave Church is amazing-looking. And I really like Maelstrom. For a minor attraction, it's quite effective.

 

[MarkTwain]

I think it's interesting how the post-show and exit area of the attraction is more beautifully themed than the pre-show and queue. Last time at the pavilion I got my family to hang around in the Norwegian village for a few minutes after the ride, just looking through the windows and listening to the Norwegian conversations from the houses. I think it would certainly be interesting if Disney added some rockwork, Viking-style huts, or half-built longboats with the sound of waves crashing in the background to the existing queue. It might require pushing some more of the queue to outside to make room for the additions, but it would be well worth it IMO.

 

[Candlejack]

Soarin. Looks like a hallway in an office building!

Mickey's Philharmagic. The interior of the theater (I'm speaking of the actual area where you stand before the doors) is so blah. It should look more like an opera house, or old-fashioned theater, with gilding and murals on the ceiling and cherubs and so on. The show itself is so awesome, the building really ought to meet that standard. It looks like minimum effort was put into its theming, and that's a shame.

:dazzle:

I love both of their queues. Especially the blue and orange areas of Soarin' and the blue and gold room in MP.

 

[imagineer boy]

Mickey's Philharmagic. The interior of the theater (I'm speaking of the actual area where you stand before the doors) is so blah. It should look more like an opera house, or old-fashioned theater, with gilding and murals on the ceiling and cherubs and so on. The show itself is so awesome, the building really ought to meet that standard. It looks like minimum effort was put into its theming, and that's a shame.

I agree. I mean, its not horrible by any means. Its basically passible. But with the grandure of the show, I agree that they could've done a lot more.

 

[Princess_L]

Mickey's Philharmagic. The interior of the theater (I'm speaking of the actual area where you stand before the doors) is so blah. It should look more like an opera house, or old-fashioned theater, with gilding and murals on the ceiling and cherubs and so on. The show itself is so awesome, the building really ought to meet that standard. It looks like minimum effort was put into its theming, and that's a shame.

I agree with you. I remember the first time I saw MP. I wasn't sure what to expect. The holding area before the show starts doen't give you the feeling of how good the show is going to be. Plus I was pretty bored in line. Love MP!

 

[Texas84]

They could probably rework the Norway queue to look like the movie's waiting area. THAT is my favorite part of the park. Wish they had a restaurant overlooking that. And why is there a stupid wall blocking the mural?

 

[SeaCastle]

Soarin's queue is very misleading. Every turn is another 20-30 minutes of waiting, and the rate at which they let FASTPASS into the attraction vs. stand by is incredible. Besides the virtual games, once you're past that it's pretty boring...there's lots of exposed piping that doesn't look too pretty.

Splash Mountain's and Indiana Jones's Adventure at Disneyland queues are oversold. Yes, they set the mood, but other than that you're still waiting in line with not a whole lot to look at. The rides in Fantasyland have pretty sub-standard queues, and Space Mountain is not a whole lot better. Once you get past the games, it's more switchbacks and chipped paint.

Rock 'n' Rollercoaster doesn't have a terrible queue, but there's certainly not much to do. Tower of Terror is nicely themed, but it's all eye candy.

The best queue, in my opinion, is Jungle Cruise at the Magic Kingdom. There are so many gags (auditory and visual) and the theming is so authentic; the wait is much more adequate.

 

[raven]

Soarin's queue is very misleading. Every turn is another 20-30 minutes of waiting, and the rate at which they let FASTPASS into the attraction vs. stand by is incredible. Besides the virtual games, once you're past that it's pretty boring...there's lots of exposed piping that doesn't look too pretty.

Maybe they were going for the airport terminal look from the Northwest gate area at MCO. :lol: Although it's complete now, for a couple of years that area looked like it was bombed out.

They could probably rework the Norway queue to look like the movie's waiting area. THAT is my favorite part of the park. Wish they had a restaurant overlooking that. And why is there a stupid wall blocking the mural?

Always thought that if they could somehow switch the loading area with the unloading area it would be great! The movie would be the preshow and then you board in a quiet fishing village.

 

[SeaCastle]

Maybe they were going for the airport terminal look from the Northwest gate area at MCO. :lol: Although it's complete now, for a couple of years that area looked like it was bombed out.

I remember that! It looks much nicer now than it did in 2008, but imagine my surprise of stepping off the gateway and into the airport and not seeing a ceiling!

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Nothing against Peter Pan but there isn't a whole lot to see there. I usually Fastpass it anyways, but it is a line that is very misleading too. Snow White and Small World at least have the murials on the wall that you can watch even though I've never waited more than 3 minutes for Small World.

Dumbo is another one. Thank God for the canopy overtop to block out the sun, but other than that it's a normal line. I guess there is only so much you can do with a ride like that.

The best queues IMO are:

Hall of Presidents - with pictures of the past Presidents and the feeling that you are ACTUALLY in Washington

Splash Mountain - the caves, Brer rabbit, etc.

Haunted Mansion - The graveyard

Pirates - always feel as if that is the best theming in the world

 

[Candlejack]

Muppets queue/preshow area.

THE GREATEST.

 

[French Quarter]

I actually like the Fantasyland queues. I know there's nothing special about the queues themselves but I like that you can see people getting on and off of the ride vehicles. Builds up the anticipation.

 

[Cmoore12282]

Correct me if im wrong, but i believe it would be thematicly incorrect to switch the loading and unloading areas. I think the ride moves through time...the mythical past of norway with the troll or whatever, and after you make the drop you enter a more present time with the oil rig and end in the fishing village area. I don't remember the specifics, ive only rode it twice, i just remember reading that somewhere. I do agree that it is pretty bland and something could/should be done to enter into the "mythical" norwegian past.

 

[WDITrent]

You should definitely give the Norway movie a watch. It is definitely outdated but it really does give a good feel of Norway.

My relative, of Norwegian heritage, found the film a big disappointment.

Correct me if im wrong, but i believe it would be thematicly incorrect to switch the loading and unloading areas. I think the ride moves through time...the mythical past of norway with the troll or whatever, and after you make the drop you enter a more present time with the oil rig and end in the fishing village area. I don't remember the specifics, ive only rode it twice, i just remember reading that somewhere. I do agree that it is pretty bland and something could/should be done to enter into the "mythical" norwegian past.

Well, the lift hill is the "going back in time" point, so I don't think it really matters.

 

[Mansion Butler]

Soarin's queue is very misleading. Every turn is another 20-30 minutes of waiting, and the rate at which they let FASTPASS into the attraction vs. stand by is incredible. Besides the virtual games, once you're past that it's pretty boring...there's lots of exposed piping that doesn't look too pretty.

Does Soarin' not do the standard 4-to-1?

 

[Mansion Butler]

Actually, when I discussed doing one party of standby to 20 Fastpasses (rather than exactly 20-5 or exactly 40-10 or exactly 80-20 or whatever), I believe she told me she had heard that idea from Future World attractions. But that still comes out to be pretty much a 4-to-1 ratio.