News New Park Entrance coming to Epcot

[RSoxNo1]

I think that's true (regarding wait times), but that's almost entirely a factor of the Frozen IP and has little to do with the quality of the ride itself.

Frozen Ever After is a better attraction than Maelstrom. But I do agree that if Maelstrom was updated to the same scale/level of FEA without an IP it would certainly not have the same waits as Frozen Ever After.

This is the inherent problem with IP integration. It creates false demand that disrupts a normal supply/demand curve that's a function of familiarity instead of quality.

I wrote this in September of 2014 right after the announcement: https://www.micechat.com/80259-frozen-world-showcase/

Then I wrote this a year later: https://www.micechat.com/111127-frozen-norway-look-back-back-falls/

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

RSR would surely rate higher. Everest is a good coaster in a mediocre setting.

I'd really love to hear why you think Everest is in a mediocre setting. I think its in a gorgeous part of the park!

 

[UNCgolf]

Frozen Ever After is a better attraction than Maelstrom. But I do agree that if Maelstrom was updated to the same scale/level of FEA without an IP it would certainly not have the same waits as Frozen Ever After.

This is the inherent problem with IP integration. It creates false demand that disrupts a normal supply/demand curve that's a function of familiarity instead of quality.

I wrote this in September of 2014 right after the announcement: https://www.micechat.com/80259-frozen-world-showcase/

Then I wrote this a year later: https://www.micechat.com/111127-frozen-norway-look-back-back-falls/

I think Maelstrom and FEA are roughly comparable, and I'd give Maelstrom the slight edge just for actually fitting in its location and being a bit more interesting (also, closing up the waterfall opening was a giant mistake). But I certainly agree that Maelstrom was not any sort of masterpiece, and I understand people giving FEA the edge because of the impressive AAs.

Totally agree about the IP integration, though. I've been adamant here that there's no way they could turn Gran Fiesta into a Coco ride without overhauling a significant portion of the pavilion because that ride and especially the queue aren't equipped to handle any significant wait times.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I miss tributes to off shore drilling for oil and regional mythic elements presented as if they belong to one specific country and a documentary attached to a ride.

 

[UNCgolf]

I miss tributes to off shore drilling for oil and regional mythic elements presented as if they belong to one specific country and a documentary attached to a ride.

Hence why I'm baffled when people talk about it as though it was an all-time classic. Frozen Ever After isn't very good and shouldn't be there, but ideally there would be a different Norwegian ride in that location and an actually good Frozen ride somewhere in Fantasyland.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Let's be honest, even Runaway Railway does a pretty lousy job disguising that most of its rooms are essentially soundstages. The flat cyclorama walls that have visual interest but abruptly fade to black at the ceiling are not sufficiently compensated for by the minimal set pieces and animatronics.

Despite some interesting figures, rich colors, and dynamic projections, it is almost always very clear you're in some sort of open showroom. This is not so apparent in on-ride videos of the attraction but is present in every major showscene within the ride outside of the train tunnel, projection dome, and the studio. Those are the only scenes that make the effort to fully envelop the guest, and still to varying degrees of success.

It makes it feel like the ride is the gut job it is - projection mapping the ceilings (or at least painting blacklight murals) would have gone SO far towards immersion in the cartoon world. Even something like Snow White's Scary Adventures never let you see the "edges" as clearly as Runaway Railway does. Railway is constructed pretty squarely with subject and backdrop with very little atmospheric scenery in between. I think Frozen frequently suffers these same ills, but at least they have those sparkling trees overhead in the beginning - SOMETHING infusing some atmosphere into the space between the Animatronics and the warehouse ceiling above.

But now I'm sure I've veered off topic.

*EDITED To Add: This may not be clear from this post, but I did have fun on Runaway Railway. I just don't think it hid its sins especially well.

I haven't been on RR so can't comment about how well it hides the fact it is in giant soundstage. For perspective's sake, though, this is what people are lamenting that it replaced:

 

[DVCakaCarlF]

I'd really love to hear why you think Everest is in a mediocre setting. I think its in a gorgeous part of the park!

Agreed...Africa, Asia, Pandora, and Discovery Island are all themed perfectly...I’m still scratching my head on Dinoland.

 

[J4546]

I love dinosaurs, but unfortunately Disney doesnt own Jurassic Park/World or The Land Before Time. Those are the 2 best Dino themed IPs imo and they are both Universal. I would love to see a complete redo of DinoLand but even then, would it measure up to Jurassic World at Universal a few miles away? Esp with their new coaster being built, that whole area looks great. Id rather they spend that money somewhere else but Id be happy either way

 

[UNCgolf]

I haven't been on RR so can't comment about how well it hides the fact it is in giant soundstage. For perspective's sake, though, this is what people are lamenting that it replaced:

That arguably fit the theme, though, since you were supposed to be exploring movies which were filmed on sound stages, and the whole park was at least somewhat built around that concept.

It's harder to make that argument with MMRR since you're supposed to be entering a cartoon world which (obviously) isn't filmed on a sound stage.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

I haven't been on RR so can't comment about how well it hides the fact it is in giant soundstage. For perspective's sake, though, this is what people are lamenting that it replaced:

For the record . . . that was part of the attraction's concept. That wasn't unthemed ceiling, it was mock-Hollywood Soundstage Grid:

Runaway Railway's ceiling is simply blacked out as a shortcut instead of actually theming it, it's not part of the attraction's concept. Unfortunately it's decidedly noticeable given that the attraction itself is generally bright and full of color, and the transition is so abrupt.

 

[UNCgolf]

For the record . . . that was part of the attraction's concept. That wasn't unthemed ceiling, it was mock-Hollywood Soundstage Grid:

View attachment 487014

Runaway Railway's ceiling is simply blacked out as a shortcut instead of actually theming it, it's not part of the attraction's concept. Unfortunately it's decidedly noticeable given that the attraction itself is generally bright and full of color, and the transition is so abrupt.

I'm assuming you quoted my post about Galaxy's Edge by accident?

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

I'm assuming you quoted my post about Galaxy's Edge by accident?

Indeed - my bad! Editing now to fix

 

[lazyboy97o]

That arguably fit the theme, though, since you were supposed to be exploring movies which were filmed on sound stages, and the whole park was at least somewhat built around that concept.

It's harder to make that argument with MMRR since you're supposed to be entering a cartoon world which (obviously) isn't filmed on a sound stage.

In The Great Movie Ride you’ve entered the movies. It wasn’t just Daniel Day Lewis taking you hostage.

 

[UNCgolf]

In The Great Movie Ride you’ve entered the movies. It wasn’t just Daniel Day Lewis taking you hostage.

I agree with you -- even if that was their intention (as @yensidtlaw1969 mentioned above) I'm not sure it really works in the context of the ride.

It's at least an argument, though, whereas MMRR doesn't have a good reason (in-ride reason, that is) for black ceilings.

 

[aladdin2007]

For the record . . . that was part of the attraction's concept. That wasn't unthemed ceiling, it was mock-Hollywood Soundstage Grid:

View attachment 487014

Runaway Railway's ceiling is simply blacked out as a shortcut instead of actually theming it, it's not part of the attraction's concept. Unfortunately it's decidedly noticeable given that the attraction itself is generally bright and full of color, and the transition is so abrupt.

is that an actual photo of the gutted oz scene ?? or just an example of a studio soundstage

 

[UNCgolf]

is that an actual photo of the gutted oz scene ?? or just an example of a studio soundstage

It's just a photo of a random soundstage.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

In The Great Movie Ride you’ve entered the movies. It wasn’t just Daniel Day Lewis taking you hostage.

It was sort "magical-realism" version of riding through the movies, as if the ride itself was a production on a Hollywood Soundstage.

"Ready when you are, CB!"

The concept could have used clarity, but the framing device kicked off the ride, closed it out, was referenced within the spiel and was visually represented by the presence of the Grid. It wasn't accidental - there's a reason no other attraction at WDW has a ceiling that looked like the one in the GMR, and it's because that's not what attraction showbuilding ceilings look like. It was part of the theming.

 

[aladdin2007]

It's just a photo of a random soundstage.

gotcha I figured, but at first I was like wait...thats so sad lol

 

[UNCgolf]

It was sort "magical-realism" version of riding through the movies, as if the ride itself was a production on a Hollywood Soundstage.

"Ready when you are, CB!"

The concept could have used clarity, but the framing device kicked off the ride, closed it out, was referenced within the spiel and was visually represented by the presence of the Grid. It wasn't accidental - there's a reason no other attraction at WDW has a ceiling that looked like the one in the GMR, and it's because that's not what attraction showbuilding ceilings look like. It was part of the theming.

Plus, the entire ride didn't have those ceilings, at least not visible the way they are in the Oz scene (and maybe some others). I know the Alien scene had a separate facade overhead, for one. I think the gangster scene had it blacked out.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

In The Great Movie Ride you’ve entered the movies. It wasn’t just Daniel Day Lewis taking you hostage.

It was, however, "Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain", "Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins", "Clint Eastwood", "Sigourney Weaver", etc . . . the line was meant to be blurred between film and filming.

Plus, the entire ride didn't have those ceilings, at least not visible the way they are in the Oz scene (and maybe some others). I know the Alien scene had a separate facade overhead, for one. I think the gangster scene had it blacked out.

A quick glance at a 360 ridethrough on Youtube shows it featuring prominently in:

The Load Area Soundstage
Footlight Parade
Singin' In The Rain
Mary Poppins
The Western Scene
The Wizard of Oz

You're right that Gangster blacked it out, Alien had overhead setpieces, the Temple scenes were blacked out and Tarzan was covered with foliage. Casablanca also blacked it out, and the Fantasia-nado precluded it with the irregular shape of that scene. The Theater Finale, of course, had its ceiling finished like a Movie Theater.

Point being it was part of the concept and consciously included and excluded alternately to effect. It wasn't utilitarian, it was built to suggest Soundstage. And then not seen in scenes where they wanted to suggest something else.