Next Gen Coming to TOT and Star Tours!!

[Crush Dude!]

Just read this from Studios Central;

http://www.studioscentral.com/blog/2012/03/02/report-confirms-tower-terror-and-star-tours-will-receive-nextgen-queue-modifications

 

[djkidkaz]

I keep seeing this all over but there is no explanation as to what we are going to see once the boxes are removed. Im guessing they are installing something similar to the RFID test machines they tried out over at Epcot a couple months ago.

 

[RunnerEd]

I wish someone would come out and explain what "Next-Gen" is EXACTLY. RFID, interactive elements, something else? And by the way, since this is being installed now, wouldn't it be considered "current-gen".... Just Saying

 

[MarkTwain]

Sorry, I'm a bit skeptical about this one. Star Tours and ToT have two of the best and most immersive queues at WDW... and the former is brand new. Disney surely wouldn't waste their money completely ripping those queues out... would they? :lookaroun

 

[pax_65]

I wish someone would come out and explain what "Next-Gen" is EXACTLY. RFID, interactive elements, something else? And by the way, since this is being installed now, wouldn't it be considered "current-gen".... Just Saying

I'm curious about this too. I'm picturing a queue where C3PO says "Hey Wally Walnut, thanks for buying Disney's X-Pass!"

Doesn't exactly get me excited!

 

[WDWFREAK53]

I'm curious about this too. I'm picturing a queue where C3PO says "Hey Wally Walnut, thanks for buying Disney's X-Pass!"

Doesn't exactly get me excited!

I'd love to meet Wally Walnut. That guy sounds nuts!

 

[Scuttle]

This is ridiculous! The two queues that don't need next gen. What's next Everest!?

 

[ToTBellHop]

Sorry, I'm a bit skeptical about this one. Star Tours and ToT have two of the best and most immersive queues at WDW... and the former is brand new. Disney surely wouldn't waste their money completely ripping those queues out... would they? :lookaroun

That is certainly not the plan. A two-month project involving an open ToT will surely only spell minor changes. I can imagine spectacularly spooky, and relatively easy updates they could make to the queue (especially at night...). These two rides in particular lend themselves well to queue updates (if executed properly).

 

[wdwmagic]

I think you are going to see these walls at all the entrances of attractions that feature FASTPASS, and/or will be part of the wristband system.

 

[MissMorrow]

I can't imagine what they'll be adding to these queues. What's to add? A virtual front desk clerk telling me my room is ready at ToT?

 

[MarkTwain]

That is certainly not the plan. A two-month project involving an open ToT will surely only spell minor changes. I can imagine spectacularly spooky, and relatively easy updates they could make to the queue (especially at night...). These two rides in particular lend themselves well to queue updates (if executed properly).

You may be right. I was simply basing this on the only two precedents we have, Haunted Mansion and Pooh, which did have their queues completely ripped out to make room for NextGen. But yes, two months isn't very long, I suppose.

 

[HMButler79]

I TRULY hope, with all I have, that is is just for teh actual Next Gen wristband system. NOTHING, ABSOLUTLY NOTHING, calls for a Mansion-esque Interactive Queue in that perfect spooky garden w/ the 30s music echoing through. I fear for the theme and placement of the Tower now.

 

[wm49rs]

I TRULY hope, with all I have, that is is just for teh actual Next Gen wristband system. NOTHING, ABSOLUTLY NOTHING, calls for a Mansion-esque Interactive Queue in that perfect spooky garden w/ the 30s music echoing through. I fear for the theme and placement of the Tower now.

Placement? Where would the tower possibly go?

 

[danlb_2000]

If you look back through the permits we have seen a bunch in the past couple months with the cryptic description of "Queue Modifiations" all from two contractors. There have been for the following attractions:

Primeval Whirl
Dinosaur
American Idol
Tower ot Terror
Star Tours
The Living Seas
Kilamanjro Safar
Rock-N-Roller coaster
Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular
Great Movie Ride
Maelstrom
Soarin
Land Pavillion
Theater of the STars
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Everest
Kali
Fantasmic
Midway Mania
Seas with Nemo
Spaceship Earth

No idea if this is releated to X-Pass, Next Gen, or the work we are seeing now on the queues, but just thought I would mention it.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

If you look back through the permits we have seen a bunch in the past couple months with the cryptic description of "Queue Modifiations" all from two contractors. There have been for the following attractions:

Primeval Whirl
Dinosaur
American Idol
Tower ot Terror
Star Tours
The Living Seas
Kilamanjro Safar
Rock-N-Roller coaster
Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular
Great Movie Ride
Maelstrom
Soarin
Land Pavillion
Theater of the STars
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Everest
Kali
Fantasmic
Midway Mania
Seas with Nemo
Spaceship Earth

No idea if this is releated to X-Pass, Next Gen, or the work we are seeing now on the queues, but just thought I would mention it.

That matches up with many of the attractions (oops, I mean "experiences") Jim Hill said would be included in xPass.

I guess I'm okay with it if it doesn't mess up the incredible ambiance that ToT establishes in the queue. At least with HM, you can skip the obnoxious noisy elements if you want (unlike Space Mountain, ugh).

 

[MickeyPeace]

I TRULY hope, with all I have, that is is just for teh actual Next Gen wristband system. NOTHING, ABSOLUTLY NOTHING, calls for a Mansion-esque Interactive Queue in that perfect spooky garden w/ the 30s music echoing through. I fear for the theme and placement of the Tower now.

Are you kidding? I can't wait for a wall of books in the TOT queue that I can press in and out. And a row of front desk bells that I can make go ding ding ding! Or how about a tv screen of Ron Serling reciting poetry that you can guess the ending to? Awesome!
Keep it coming Disney!

 

[ToTBellHop]

That matches up with many of the attractions (oops, I mean "experiences") Jim Hill said would be included in xPass.

I guess I'm okay with it if it doesn't mess up the incredible ambiance that ToT establishes in the queue. At least with HM, you can skip the obnoxious noisy elements if you want (unlike Space Mountain, ugh).

If rumors are true, you won't be able to bypass the HM graveyard for much longer.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

If rumors are true, you won't be able to bypass the HM graveyard for much longer.

Then I don't like the current rumors very much. Is it management's intention to completely destroy the atmosphere, ambiance, and details that Walt would have cherished most?

 

[ToTBellHop]

Then I don't like the current rumors very much. Is it management's intention to completely destroy the atmosphere, ambiance, and details that Walt would have cherished most?

Walt died 5 years before WDW even opened...we don't really know what he wanted for WDW in 2012, over 45 years later. However, we do know that Disney has always and continues to want to make money, and most of the current guests at WDW love the new HM queue (anecdotally, at least, judging from their response). Turns out, WDW has more than enough rides for the average guest, so all they have to do is just keep everything running and introduce some 21st century technology and people will be wowed into returning. Most of us, of course, feel differently, but it all is apparently good for profits.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Walt died 5 years before WDW even opened...we don't really know what he wanted for WDW in 2012. However, we do know that Disney has always and continues to want to make money, and most of the current guests at WDW love the new HM queue (anecdotally, at least, judging from their response). Turns out, WDW has more than enough rides for the average guest, so all they have to do is just keep everything running and introduce some 21st century technology and people will be wowed into returning. Most of us, of course, feel differently, but it all is apparently good for profits.

I don't think anyone is going to WDW to touch 'honey' or honk a horn in the Winnie the Pooh queue. I bet most people planning trips don't know or care about those features when they pick WDW as a vacation destination.

But these latest decisions are catering to the lowest common denominator, and (compared to what you can do on a smartphone or Wii these days) aren't that impressive. It just dumbs down the parks and detracts from the immersive atmosphere that everyone can (could) enjoy.