Opinion: Toy Story Land's grand opening will be a disaster

[Damon7777]

. It is the first rollercoaster ride at WDW with a completely visible track and construction

I am completely with you on the cheapness of the coaster but remember there are those existing carnival grade Primeval Whirl and Barnstormer

 

[Master Yoda]

My opinion is that parents shouldn't be taking there kids to parks that do fall under height restrictions. 6 years old is the best time.
My main concern is that it's opening before the e-ticket stuff, that will make it become very unpopular opening day, but you do have valid reasonings besides those two things.

I use to think that way.

Then I had kids.

I honestly had just as much if not more fun with my kids in the parks when they were infants and toddlers than I did when they were in their early teens. There is so much more to the parks than just going from ride to ride.

 

[Damon7777]

Storybook Circus added one new ride and converted 2.Hogsmeade added one new ride and converted 2.Diagon Alley added 2 and only has 2 rides.The extension of Fantasy land added 2 new rides.Cars Land added 3 rides, two of them rather C-ish ticket-wise.The two SWLs each only have 2 rides.Pandora only has 2 rides

Nice!!!
So because there is precedent you excuse it irrespective of its cheapness

 

[Master Yoda]

I couldn't imagine doing Disney with an infant. That would be so stressful my goodness.

It is easier than bringing a teenager by a considerable margin.

 

[KBLovedDisney]

It is easier than bringing a teenager by a considerable margin.

I could see that. You wouldn't have to worry too much about a "Nay say" in regards, except if they get super sleepy and cry because naps are needed.

I went with my sister and my niece when she was very little, and that girl was good as gold. They love the sights of it all.

 

[Master Yoda]

I could see that. You wouldn't have to worry too much about a "Nay say" in regards, except if they get super sleepy and cry because naps are needed.

I went with my sister and my niece when she was very little, and that girl was good as gold. They love the sights of it all.

We made somewhere in the neighborhood of a dozen trips with my youngest before her first birthday. As long as you realize that you are on their schedule it is a cakewalk.

 

[Damon7777]

So, it's de rigueur to only have 2-3 rides for a modern "land." It's also the standard to count existing rides as part of the land, so,

Your premise is awful
The warrant in your argument is totally faulty .

 

[eliza61nyc]

Nice!!!
So because there is precedent you excuse it irrespective of its cheapness

Question, what makes a rollercoaster cheap? honest question. Is it about to fall apart or because it's not like space mtn. Now I'm a Coney Island luna park gal from the 60's so I don't get how these rides are "cheap"? NOw I also have not been to all the other rides around the world. but I've seen you compare all the rides to letter grades "D" and so forth and wonder how you come up with these scales.

 

[TiggerDad]

Disney will fall short of expectations

They won't fall short of my expectations for TSL. I have very low expectations for this land.

 

[geekza]

I said this on another thread, but it bears repeating: Disney used to be the place you went because the attractions were like none other outside of the Disney parks. Every theme park has roller coasters and spinny rides. Only Disney had Pirates and Haunted Mansion. Even when other parks attempted to emulate Disney, like King's Island did back in the 1970's, it was obvious that their attractions lacked the detail and imagination that went into Disney's. That isn't the case any longer.

As for saying, "Don't bring your kids if they are under 6," I have to say that it's a load of manure. The thing that was great about Disney (and still is, at least for the moment) is that entire families could come to the park and all experience the attractions together. The first time I went to the Magic Kingdom, I was four years old. It was my Mom and Dad, my Grandma, and my brother, who was eight. We were able to all enjoy every single attraction together as a family. I may not remember everything about that trip, but I remember quite a bit of it and remember how special it was to have all of us there.

Over the years, that has changed. Thankfully, the vast majority of attractions are still appropriate for all ages. Still, the last 15 years or so has seen more and more family attractions closed to add in thrill rides and very few new family attractions being built. I don't mind some thrill rides. I really don't. I just don't want Disney to become Universal.

 

[Willmark]

IMO TSL is a “oh-sh**” moment on the part of Disney. For the better part of 10 years they have worked on cramming more cattle into the parks then came to the realization that the cows weren’t content to just moo. Now the moos are getting louder and angrier and they are rushing to increase capacity.

It’s pretty idiotic with what they have done to HS: there was a lack of rides to begin with and then close down TGMR? While not the best ride (YMMV) it at least offered up something else to ride/do.

 

[Damon7777]

Question, what makes a rollercoaster cheap?

"cheap" in this context means lacking a substantial budget and execution of that budget.

Context is very important. If a Slinky dog type(or the equivalent) were built in say a Flicks Fun Fair or Dinoland USA then I'm unlikely to slap the label 'cheap' on it because it would exceed what we'd expect given the low standards of those lands.

But Disney is positioning Toy Story Land as a headlining addition not just to the Studios itself but to all of WDW. Disney is using it as the primary attendance draw for 2018. And considering such a grand addition this K9 is not anywhere near even the likes of a 7 Dwarf......no show scenes, just inanimate large colorful props lacking details. Thus, 'cheap' seems fitting to me.

 

[justintheharris]

1) why do you feel that slinky dog ride will leave adults "unsatisfied"? because it's not a thrill ride. I have four adults in my family, no one likes thrill rides. one of hte main reasons we don't do Universal. so I disagree with the premise that the rollercoaster will leave folks unsatisfied.
2) now as for "technology" in rides, I have to admit I cannot comment on this. I have no idea how much "thought" goes into any ride and the simple truth is I don't give a furries rats behind. lol, sorry no I do not go to theme parks nor vacation destinations requiring a behind the scene knowledge of how the rides were developed. I don't know anyone who does (except it seems here) pretty much our criteria is simple. Was the ride fun? We like the Mine train ride, we hate that its very short but we love to go on it. Do we really care that the design was changed and shortened? humm no.
3) Opening days as far as capacity are always a mob scene. I avoid them like the plague. Do you not remember Pandora, and yet folks loved that one. Do you have some inside track into guest satisfaction.
4) lol I find it interesting that you say guest will not be satisfied with a ride that's been open for 10 years on this website. People here had a freaky deaky melt down when a scene was changed in POTC and that ride is over 30 years old. so obviously age and satisfaction are not totally related. TSM is a popular attraction and will remain so, the extra ride track will hopefully address the wait time issue.

So what I find totally interesting is the "predictions" you seem to have on guest "satisfaction". Basically how do you know? You say there will be no "payoff" by going to Toy story land?? I find that a preposterous prediction based on the simple fact you cannot possible know what guest will like or dislike. How many of the visitors will be first timers? how many will be return guest? how many will have small children or not?

So will it be a "Disaster"? hardly. Will it be crowded? absolutely, doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. Middle of the summer, brand new attractions, do the math.

I don’t think you understood what I meant with Toy Story Midway Mania. It is a great ride. The problem is Disney is advertising Toy Story Land as a brand new and the biggest attraction has existed for ten years. Also, Flight of Passage is an amazing ride for capacity and cannot be compared to the capacity of the two upcoming Toy Story Land rides

 

[Kingtut]

"cheap" in this context means lacking a substantial budget and execution of that budget.

Context is very important. If a Slinky dog type(or the equivalent) were built in say a Flicks Fun Fair or Dinoland USA then I'm unlikely to slap the label 'cheap' on it because it would exceed what we'd expect given the low standards of those lands.

But Disney is positioning Toy Story Land as a headlining addition not just to the Studios itself but to all of WDW. Disney is using it as the primary attendance draw for 2018. And considering such a grand addition this K9 is not anywhere near even the likes of a 7 Dwarf......no show scenes, just inanimate large colorful props lacking details. Thus, 'cheap' seems fitting to me.

But those are the best inanimate large colorful props that we could get and stay under budget!!!!

 

[justintheharris]

To the OP: If you want a park with lots of rides, HS has NEVER been a park that would make you happy. Any arguments after that really mean nothing, as you are already biased against the park.

Of course, my opinion is also biased because in addition to being a coaster fan, I also love shows, walking trails, admiring details in the theme of a park, etc. That is why I was one of the "AK is a full day park" before Pandora.

Not really sure where you drew that conclusion. Hollywood Studios is my favorite park. The 4 rides it currently has are all among Walt Disney World’s best. So no, I do not hate DHS

 

[eliza61nyc]

But those are the best inanimate large colorful props that we could get and stay under budget!!!!

what was the budget? do you know?

 

[eliza61nyc]

So the premise here is that Toy story land will be a disaster because it is not as supposedly imaginative as Pandora and because Disney is marketing it as a big event. Now I never ever thought that slinky dog would be any thing like 7 dwarfs ride, two different flavors. whether or not I think it's "cheap" will be determined.

I wonder how much the local joe visitor really gets that deep into their theme parks. I would guess for the vast majority TSL is going to be "new".

last question, what are we deeming a "disaster"? are you saying the people won't come? I find that hard to believe?

 

[BasiltheBatLord]

People will flock to it regardless of what it is because 1. it's new and 2. it's Toy Story. Disney knows that and that's what the marketing of the land has concentrated on.

 

[eliza61nyc]

People will flock to it regardless of what it is because 1. it's new and 2. it's Toy Story. Disney knows that and that's what the marketing of the land has concentrated on.

lol, oh the horror!! shame on those uncultured, untutored on the finer things in theme parks vacationers.

 

[geekza]

Marketing only works for an initial push. Pre-opening hype only results in lasting success if the final product delivers on the promise of the advertising. Pandora has worked because the theming is unusual and FoP is, from all reports, an exciting experience that people want to do again and again. It is unique.

Neither of the two upcoming attractions offer anything that can't be experienced at a regional theme park. Yes, TTMM will remain popular as it was well-designed and fun. Otherwise, I see Toy Story Land losing its drawing power sooner, rather than later.