New Disneyland Big Thunder effects will they come to WDW?

[Captain Neo]

Last time I checked Tokyo still had rubber-spider Haunted Mansion, 70s 10 elephant Dumbo, the same Peter Pan as Orlando and a white concrete Tomorrowland. I have never heard of Tokyo upgrading their effects beyond the Pirates movie tie-in. Do they build new things and keep existing attractions in fantastic shape? Yes, but "plussing" is not something they're known for.

the animatronics in Tokyo's Haunted Mansion blow away the AA's in FL. Tokyo maintains and improves their figures the same way Walt and W.E.D. used to they look extremely lifelike whereas you'll be lucky if the AA's even move at all much less move fluidly in Orlando. Even comparing the Splash Mountain and Pooh attractions will leave you depressed.

Not sure why your attacking their Tomorrowland either. It's far superior to Orlando's. At least they got a TOTALLY redone Space Mountain (which was younger than Orlando's to begin with), a massive Monsters Inc. family e-ticket filled to the brim with Audio Animatronics, and I have no doubt they have a better and more well maintained Star Tours than the one in FL.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

the animatronics in Tokyo's Haunted Mansion blow away the AA's in FL. Tokyo maintains and improves their figures the same way Walt and W.E.D. used to they look extremely lifelike whereas you'll be lucky if the AA's even move at all much less move fluidly in Orlando. Even comparing the Splash Mountain and Pooh attractions will leave you depressed.

Not sure why your attacking their Tomorrowland either. It's far superior to Orlando's. At least they got a TOTALLY redone Space Mountain (which was younger than Orlando's to begin with), a massive Monsters Inc. family e-ticket filled to the brim with Audio Animatronics, and I have no doubt they have a better and more well maintained Star Tours than the one in FL.

I referenced Tomorrowland's asthetic (which is seperate from attractions) because it was another example of the park not "upgrading" like the others. Splash Mountain was new construction at the time. I'm talking about "plussing" exsiting structures, seperate from maintinance, which is why I referenced that part in my post.

 

[Bairstow]

I referenced Tomorrowland's asthetic (which is seperate from attractions) because it was another example of the park not "upgrading" like the others. Splash Mountain was new construction at the time. I'm talking about "plussing" exsiting structures, seperate from maintinance, which is why I referenced that part in my post.

ARE there any examples of incremental improvements to Tokyo's attractions?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

ARE there any examples of incremental improvements to Tokyo's attractions?

That's what I'm saying, there's not much of a precedence for it. Which is why people should not expect these new effects to come to Tokyo. They didn't get the Snow White stuff either.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

They upgraded the Tiki Room.

 

[Bairstow]

They upgraded the Tiki Room.

Adding Stitch was more of a complete overhaul to the show's hardware and script rather than an incremental upgrade.

 

[WDW1974]

Absolutely. Hubby is afraid I'll not want to leave CA ever just for the weather. He swears I'm going to fall madly in love with the left coast parks. We shall see. I know there's a lot more than just Disney I want to see out there.

That's true. California is an amazing place unto itself ... but many left-coasters and heartlanders are afraid of the crazy liberal environment. It certainly doesn't feel like anywhere else in the world. As someone who had a second home in 90210 for years, I'd be living there now if it was possible.

DL is sorta the icing on the tastiest cake I've ever had the pleasure of dining on!

 

[Livingwithstartours]

California is a great place to be. Once you get used to it.

 

[WDW1974]

Last time I checked Tokyo still had rubber-spider Haunted Mansion, 70s 10 elephant Dumbo, the same Peter Pan as Orlando and a white concrete Tomorrowland. I have never heard of Tokyo upgrading their effects beyond the Pirates movie tie-in. Do they build new things and keep existing attractions in fantastic shape? Yes, but "plussing" is not something they're known for.

I'd say you're being a bit hard on TDL.

They keep everything looking so damn good that things that opened in 1983 look like they opened yesterday.

How much do they 'plus'? I'm not really sure. But they don't need to. ... And DL certainly does.

 

[Livingwithstartours]

plussing things like this would keep things new and fresh without having to invest in new attractions every year like we would like.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I'd say you're being a bit hard on TDL.

And I'd say no Disney park is immune from criticism.

There's not such thing as a perfect Disney park, not even TDL, wonderful as it may be.

There's always room for improvement, and improvements are not always a given (which is what I've been trying to say this whole time).

 

[Bairstow]

plussing things like this would keep things new and fresh without having to invest in new attractions every year like we would like.

...but the downside is when Imagineering starts messing with things that don't need improving like the Hitchhiking Ghosts.

 

[WDW1974]

And I'd say no Disney park is immune from criticism.

There's not such thing as a perfect Disney park, not even TDL, wonderful as it may be.

There's always room for improvement, and improvements are not always a given (which is what I've been trying to say this whole time).

No, no one is. But have you been to TDL? Multiple times? Do you have a basis for criticizing that is fair?

And when other Disney parks (most especially in Orlando and Paris) have huge issues, why would you criticize a park that is close to perfect? Isn't that sort of ... a waste of time?

 

[aladdin2007]

Speaking of TDL, did they finally close Meet the World or is it still running? Just wondering I cant remember. Oh wait that became their Monsters Inc ride didn't it?

 

[Disneysea05]

ARE there any examples of incremental improvements to Tokyo's attractions?

Jungle Cruise at Tokyo Disneyland is undergoing an extensive refurbishment project right now which will have daytime and nighttime versions of the attraction plus a soundtrack.

Space Mountain was redesigned as well in 2007.

And it is worth mentioning that Tokyo also has Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare and It's a small world: very merry holidays.

But yes, it seems like Tokyo keeps their attractions in pristine condition more than "refreshing" them.

 

[WDW1974]

Speaking of TDL, did they finally close Meet the World or is it still running? Just wondering I cant remember. Oh wait that became their Monsters Inc ride didn't it?

Yep ... the attraction that covers all of Japan's history minus their bloodlust before and during WWII was sent to history for Monsters. Funny how many EPCOT fanbois wish it had been here without understanding what it was all about.

 

[WDW1974]

Jungle Cruise at Tokyo Disneyland is undergoing an extensive refurbishment project right now which will have daytime and nighttime versions of the attraction plus a soundtrack.

Space Mountain was redesigned as well in 2007.

And it is worth mentioning that Tokyo also has Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare and It's a small world: very merry holidays.

But yes, it seems like Tokyo keeps their attractions in pristine condition more than "refreshing" them.

And THREE versions of CBJ, none that were shortened.

 

[jprieur]

How long has it been since the flying bats were seen at the WDW BTMR? I remember when I went as a kid (around '82-89') I always remember hearing and seeing the flying bats right before the first lift hill.

On my last visit, OCT '13, it seems like it was just a run through dark spaces until the first lift hill - I don't remember hearing or seeing any of the bats?

Does anyone else remember the bats (as they are seen in some of the preview videos of BTMR DL)?

 

[The Duck]

I'm not holding my breath for these new effects being added in WDW anytime soon. However, I've often wished that the Orlando version could have had some of the animals that the Anaheim version does.
I know that most (if not all) are relics from the old Natures Wonderland attraction but how expensive could it be to add a few tortoises or coyotes in WDW? Most of them have limited movement or none at all so what's preventing them?
Except for a few bighorn sheep, the WDW BTMRR has it's wildlife visible only from the train or briefly glimpsed as you whiz by Tumbleweed and I can't help but feel that they would add considerably to the experience for relatively little investment.

 

[TP2000]

How long has it been since the flying bats were seen at the WDW BTMR? I remember when I went as a kid (around '82-89') I always remember hearing and seeing the flying bats right before the first lift hill.

On my last visit, OCT '13, it seems like it was just a run through dark spaces until the first lift hill - I don't remember hearing or seeing any of the bats?

Does anyone else remember the bats (as they are seen in some of the preview videos of BTMR DL)?

The bats existed at Disneyland right up until the ride closed for refurbishment in 2013. Now in 2014 they have new bats that flap more realistically, and screech more menacingly with new digital audio speakers, and are illuminated more effectively with LED fixtures. But the bats never left at Disneyland, they just got upgraded in the latest rehab.

I do remember bats from the WDW Thunder on my last ride in '12, but I remember them because they looked so corny. They appeared to be static rubber bats twirling around on wires from a revolving mechanism in the ceiling. It was not at all effective, and the audio wasn't good in that scene either. I made note of it because audio quality is one of those things that is noticeably different/inferior on cloned rides between Disneyland and WDW. Apparently the audio on Disneyland's Big Thunder has been upgraded even further with this latest refurb.