Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway - Disneyland

[el_super]

The thought of going to Florida to just spend two weeks at WDW without ever leaving does not sound fun to me. One week is pushing it, but I’d allow myself at least two days for each park, maybe. Eating at a nice restaurant or seeing a dinner show, sure. Taking the monorail, sure. But I’m not going to force myself to do something I don’t want to do, you know? If it does not interest me, why do it?

I agree with this. I've been to WDW multiple times, and have never once rented a boat or visited a golf course (miniature or otherwise). I think I can understand that they were critical originally, to attract people to an otherwise unknown Central Florida, but it seems like an odd throwback today. Especially in the context of appealing to Californians, who have fantastic beaches, oceans, lakes, parks, mountains and golf in our own right.

I will admit though that some of the most relaxing time I've had there was sitting on the beaches around the Polynesian and Wilderness Campground, so I am vaguely aware that it's not just the parks... but yeah why wouldn't you compare them based on the parks?

 

[mickEblu]

The real question is... what's the staying power of Rise of the Resistance? Smuggler's Run has already suffered a universal yawn within the industry, and was quickly overshadowed by Rise. But how long will Rise last? Will kids in 20 years have the same affection for Rise that decades of Disneyland fans have for Mansion and Pirates?

My knee jerk reaction was to say no because pirates and ghosts are generic themes that appeal to more people but I think that kids in 20 years will still have the same affection for ROTR. Maybe not POTC/ HM level love that we have but it will be up there for them.

When Walt build Main Street at DL he was building it for nostalgic people his age or older so they could relive what it was like to be in An (idealized) small town in America During the early 1900’s. Well for me and you we don’t have that connection. I wasn’t around back then, so when I think of Main Street it just reminds of being at Disneyland when I was kid with my family. It creates a wonderful sense of time and place. Just not a place I’ve been to. I think after enough time and visits we associate lands and attractions as just being a part of Disneyland and not necessarily the places they are trying to take us to. Long story short, even if this sequel trilogy fades into irrelevance, the ride will still be a favorite for many of today’s youth. Due to the combination of nostalgia and the fact that it is a quality attraction even if it’s not exactly my cup of tea. Still, I think it will fall short from the cultural impact created by POTC and HM. Those are just lightning in a bottle attractions created at just the right time that will never happen again. They re completely balanced attractions with humor, suspense, thrills and catchy theme songs. ROTR can never be that. I used to think that POTC and HM were kind of the templates for great attractions and now I’m convinced that they’re just beautiful attractions from a bygone era where all the conditions were just right.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

ROTR is like if Battlefront II (new version) was turned into a ride, only without guns for the guests.

 

[Disneylover152]

I think you would.

For me personally, I never cared for the Haunted Mansion growing up. It wasn't even an attraction I really cared about. It wasn't until after high school that it really clicked for me and now I think it's one of top 2 attractions ever done.

The real question is... what's the staying power of Rise of the Resistance? Smuggler's Run has already suffered a universal yawn within the industry, and was quickly overshadowed by Rise. But how long will Rise last? Will kids in 20 years have the same affection for Rise that decades of Disneyland fans have for Mansion and Pirates?

The interesting thing about Star Wars Land, and all the single IP lands they are building nowadays, is what if the rides are a flop. Not just it being a flop, but is Millenium Falcon gonna be an attraction that can easily be replaced. It's easy to replace a ride like Buzz, Pooh, etc. But how are they going to be able to fit a new ride where the Falcon is.

The Falcon to me feels like DisneyQuest in WDW. Something that is fun now, but in 5-10 years will be HEAVILY outdated unless they do massive upgrades. But look at this attraction. How are they gonna be able to replace that attraction? It still has to be based around the Millenium Falcon, because theres a huge millenium falcon sitting out front.

Imagine if Radiator Springs Racers wasn't as successful as it is. How would they replace that? They can't.

IDK If any of this makes sense, cause it honestly does in my head but not as I'm typing it out, but I feel like these single IP lands are gonna cause huge problems in a few years time. Galaxy's Edge might just be stuck in 2020 for the next decades.

 

[el_super]

IDK If any of this makes sense, cause it honestly does in my head but not as I'm typing it out, but I feel like these single IP lands are gonna cause huge problems in a few years time. Galaxy's Edge might just be stuck in 2020 for the next decades.

Is it really a bad thing if it's stuck in 2020 (or 2019?). There's more than one attraction at DLR that betrays the era that it was designed in. Eventually what seems old and outdated, just becomes nostalgic.

 

[TROR]

The interesting thing about Star Wars Land, and all the single IP lands they are building nowadays, is what if the rides are a flop. Not just it being a flop, but is Millenium Falcon gonna be an attraction that can easily be replaced. It's easy to replace a ride like Buzz, Pooh, etc. But how are they going to be able to fit a new ride where the Falcon is.

The Falcon to me feels like DisneyQuest in WDW. Something that is fun now, but in 5-10 years will be HEAVILY outdated unless they do massive upgrades. But look at this attraction. How are they gonna be able to replace that attraction? It still has to be based around the Millenium Falcon, because theres a huge millenium falcon sitting out front.

Imagine if Radiator Springs Racers wasn't as successful as it is. How would they replace that? They can't.

IDK If any of this makes sense, cause it honestly does in my head but not as I'm typing it out, but I feel like these single IP lands are gonna cause huge problems in a few years time. Galaxy's Edge might just be stuck in 2020 for the next decades.

X-Wing indoor coaster.

 

[mickEblu]

The interesting thing about Star Wars Land, and all the single IP lands they are building nowadays, is what if the rides are a flop. Not just it being a flop, but is Millenium Falcon gonna be an attraction that can easily be replaced. It's easy to replace a ride like Buzz, Pooh, etc. But how are they going to be able to fit a new ride where the Falcon is.

The Falcon to me feels like DisneyQuest in WDW. Something that is fun now, but in 5-10 years will be HEAVILY outdated unless they do massive upgrades. But look at this attraction. How are they gonna be able to replace that attraction? It still has to be based around the Millenium Falcon, because theres a huge millenium falcon sitting out front.

Imagine if Radiator Springs Racers wasn't as successful as it is. How would they replace that? They can't.

IDK If any of this makes sense, cause it honestly does in my head but not as I'm typing it out, but I feel like these single IP lands are gonna cause huge problems in a few years time. Galaxy's Edge might just be stuck in 2020 for the next decades.

I think Falcon is salvageable. With advances in technology maybe it won’t look like we re playing a video game in the near future? Also, maybe if they get some more stuff for kids to do in the land they won’t be afraid of programming some more movement into the ride. I’m not sure if the ride system would not need to altered for this. Some more (and less gray) missions would help too. It would be such a nice contrast leaving beige Batuu and going to some colorful planet. Instead we go from beige to gray Corellia.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Well, I know Imagineers boasted about the visuals in the MF ride, but to me it still just looks like a video game and a very dim one at that. They could certainly salvage the experience somewhat by making it look more cinematic and also ditching the Engineer and Gunner positions so there isn't constant laser firing, mashing buttons and video gamey explosions. But they'll never do that.

 

[mickEblu]

Well, I know Imagineers boasted about the visuals in the MF ride, but to me it still just looks like a video game and a very dim one at that. They could certainly salvage the experience somewhat by making it look more cinematic and also ditching the Engineer and Gunner positions so there isn't constant laser firing, mashing buttons and video gamey explosions. But they'll never do that.

Yeah, forgot to mention they need to do something more with the gunner/ engineer positions. Of all the changes it seems the most difficult and least likely. Doesn’t matter to me though. I always ask for Pilot.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

If they made it more of a ride, you don't need positions. That's the gimmick, though. Because we're all special and need to press immersive buttons.

 

[Phroobar]

I think you would.

For me personally, I never cared for the Haunted Mansion growing up. It wasn't even an attraction I really cared about. It wasn't until after high school that it really clicked for me and now I think it's one of top 2 attractions ever done.

The real question is... what's the staying power of Rise of the Resistance? Smuggler's Run has already suffered a universal yawn within the industry, and was quickly overshadowed by Rise. But how long will Rise last? Will kids in 20 years have the same affection for Rise that decades of Disneyland fans have for Mansion and Pirates?

You have to remember that Mansion and Pirates is "just another ride" to the majority of park guests. Those that aren't obsessed with these rides don't really care if they were gutted and turned into something else. Sure the vloggers and the media will howl but both of those things have nothing to do with reality.

 

[TROR]

You have to remember that Mansion and Pirates is "just another ride" to the majority of park guests. Those that aren't obsessed with these rides don't really care if they were gutted and turned into something else. Sure the vloggers and the media will howl but both of those things have nothing to do with reality.

I honestly don't think this is true. Even as a kid I knew Pirates and Mansion were the top rides at Disneyland, even better than Indiana Jones and Star Tours, and as a kid who loved Indiana Jones and Star Wars that says something.

 

[Disneylover152]

You have to remember that Mansion and Pirates is "just another ride" to the majority of park guests. Those that aren't obsessed with these rides don't really care if they were gutted and turned into something else. Sure the vloggers and the media will howl but both of those things have nothing to do with reality.

My past trip in November I went on a school field trip, and we spent a day at the Disneyland Resort. The majority of the kids have never been to a Disney park, and a lot of them have Season Passes to Six Flags. I was pretty much the tour guide for the day, and Pirates was our first ride. I was a little nervous about what they would think of it, but I choose Pirates over other rides because I think that it shows what Disneyland is best at, creating immersive environments and storytelling at its finest.

They all loved Pirates of the Caribbean. I remember it made me so happy to see all of them enjoying it so much. They were even singing the songs later in the ride. And of course, I gave them my interesting trivia about the ride while waiting for it. They were also amazed that the ride is so popular they made it a movie, not the other way around. We rode it twice more that day. It was the favorite ride of the day. Mansion they weren't too into it, but I think part of that was with the expectations that it was going to be something much more frightening. Other rides they loved were Hyperspace Mountain & Indiana Jones.

It was a really interesting trip for me to see Disneyland through the eyes of an average guest. My entire family is obsessed with Disneyland, so I've never seen it through the eyes of a normal day guest. But it really did show me what they care about, and it showed me that Pirates is timeless. I don't think they will ever take it away. Updates are inevitable, but I think Pirates is going to be a ride that everyone collectively will miss if they take it away.

 

[brb1006]

The problem is not that there are stage shows.

The problem is that some of those shows have played without updates for longer than I've been alive. Most others aren't much better and are only a few years younger than me.

Every other Disney resort on the planet does more and better than that. Heck, Tokyo routinely pulls out fabulous, state of the art shows after five years or so. By contrast, the slate of shows WDW currently runs, in that park especially, is an embarrassment for what is selling itself as the biggest and best theme park resort in the world.

You as a paying guest should be entitled to, and should expect, more than the bare minimum. You're paying the highest prices in the world for a show slate long past its prime. It's not like Disney's only made box office failures since 1991.

Not to mention Tokyo also gets brand new holidays shows.

 

[smooch]

Personally, I’m not interested in the other things offered at WDW, things outside of the theme parks.

On my trip last year I was completely fine only doing parks for the 3 days I was there, but I would love to go back at some point and really explore everything there is there, like explore the resorts and check out Disney Springs and do the mini golf and all those smaller things. I am hoping to do a college program and have been applying with priority to Disneyland but I think that next fall I might apply to only WDW, my friend loved her program there and had so much to do all the time even if she didn't want to go in to a park. I'm not saying there's nothing to do at DLR outside of the parks, that's crazy talk, but I don't know why but for some reason I have kind of shifted to wanting to do a program there to experience everything else and be able to have more relaxed activities that don't involve going in to the park to just walk around because honestly even if you're just going to the parks to stroll around, get a snack, and watch a show it's still really crowded and can be a little stressful at times. That's just my personal opinion on it all, and like I said I used to have the same attitude about not caring about anything else interested but once I finished my short trip and saw just how much there is to do I got more curious if anything, I really want to see all these things offered outside the parks, it's still just impressive to me how much there is in all of WDW to do.

 

[PiratesMansion]

On my trip last year I was completely fine only doing parks for the 3 days I was there, but I would love to go back at some point and really explore everything there is there, like explore the resorts and check out Disney Springs and do the mini golf and all those smaller things. I am hoping to do a college program and have been applying with priority to Disneyland but I think that next fall I might apply to only WDW, my friend loved her program there and had so much to do all the time even if she didn't want to go in to a park. I'm not saying there's nothing to do at DLR outside of the parks, that's crazy talk, but I don't know why but for some reason I have kind of shifted to wanting to do a program there to experience everything else and be able to have more relaxed activities that don't involve going in to the park to just walk around because honestly even if you're just going to the parks to stroll around, get a snack, and watch a show it's still really crowded and can be a little stressful at times. That's just my personal opinion on it all, and like I said I used to have the same attitude about not caring about anything else interested but once I finished my short trip and saw just how much there is to do I got more curious if anything, I really want to see all these things offered outside the parks, it's still just impressive to me how much there is in all of WDW to do.

Exactly. Not everything there will appeal to everyone, but there's so much of it, and so much that you really can't do anywhere else from a Disney perspective. It also makes the WDW vet mindset more understandable-you really could fill as much time as you wanted there on one trip-nay, multiple trips-and still never see it all.

By contrast, as much as I love DLR, I would find it very difficult to fill a day entirely on resort property without going into a park.

 

[Californian Elitist]

On my trip last year I was completely fine only doing parks for the 3 days I was there, but I would love to go back at some point and really explore everything there is there, like explore the resorts and check out Disney Springs and do the mini golf and all those smaller things. I am hoping to do a college program and have been applying with priority to Disneyland but I think that next fall I might apply to only WDW, my friend loved her program there and had so much to do all the time even if she didn't want to go in to a park. I'm not saying there's nothing to do at DLR outside of the parks, that's crazy talk, but I don't know why but for some reason I have kind of shifted to wanting to do a program there to experience everything else and be able to have more relaxed activities that don't involve going in to the park to just walk around because honestly even if you're just going to the parks to stroll around, get a snack, and watch a show it's still really crowded and can be a little stressful at times. That's just my personal opinion on it all, and like I said I used to have the same attitude about not caring about anything else interested but once I finished my short trip and saw just how much there is to do I got more curious if anything, I really want to see all these things offered outside the parks, it's still just impressive to me how much there is in all of WDW to do.

I hope you’re accepted! It’s much easier to get into the WDW DCP.

I admire you for wanting to try something different. It’s always good to get outside of your bubble. It’s one of the reasons I decided to do my second Master’s program in a little town in Massachusetts. Curiosity as well.

It’s possible my mind could change once I got there. Who knows? I do know that I enjoy culture, so if I ever went to Florida, I’d definitely seek out the heavily-Cuban areas of the state to explore. I’ve always been interested in that. Sounds way more interesting than playing golf at WDW.

 

[smooch]

I hope you’re accepted! It’s much easier to get into the WDW DCP.

I admire you for wanting to try something different. It’s always good to get outside of your bubble. It’s one of the reasons I decided to do my second Master’s program in a little town in Massachusetts. Curiosity as well.

It’s possible my mind could change once I got there. Who knows? I do know that I enjoy culture, so if I ever went to Florida, I’d definitely seek out the heavily-Cuban areas of the state to explore. I’ve always been interested in that. Sounds way more interesting than playing golf at WDW.

I would definitely like to explore more outside the Disney bubble in Florida but I would probably not bring a car because I would probably just fly to Florida instead of driving all the way from California so it might be a little more difficult but still definitely possible. And yes I would definitely like to try Florida to get away for a little and see what it's like down there, outside of California. I probably wouldn't move down there, there's always a chance I would, but on my current career path I am most likely staying local but obviously people's career paths change a lot from what they plan. It's all a matter of just trying to do what I want and see where that goes.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I would definitely like to explore more outside the Disney bubble in Florida but I would probably not bring a car because I would probably just fly to Florida instead of driving all the way from California so it might be a little more difficult but still definitely possible. And yes I would definitely like to try Florida to get away for a little and see what it's like down there, outside of California. I probably wouldn't move down there, there's always a chance I would, but on my current career path I am most likely staying local but obviously people's career paths change a lot from what they plan. It's all a matter of just trying to do what I want and see where that goes.

Seriously consider driving if you want to explore. Transit is not that great in Central Florida and the new housing complex at Flamingo Crossing is even further removed from the more developed areas near Walt Disney World. It’d also give you a chance to visit a few more places, and admittedly a lot of nothing as you cross between cities.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I like the drive from California to Florida and vice versa.