Rivers of America (plus Railroad & Dioramas) Re-Imagineered 2017

[mickEblu]

I'm a little supprised no one has commented on the fact the old Natural Arch was removed. I suppose that's at least one sign that fans here are satisfied with the excecution. #nostalgia

It's amazing that this how the area looked about a year ago.

I was just about to create a new thread explaining why removing the arch is the death of Frontierland. Also, how it relates to the destruction of TOT and how both projects mark the beginning of a new dawn at Disney.

 

[Stevek]

Might just be me, but is anyone else concerned that we don't have opening dates yet for this and more importantly F!???

Meh, something will be announced soon. I'm sure they don't want guests (Hi AP's) putting their blankets out for the new Fantasmic!! a month before it opens. Did anyone start a #Fantasmic!! watch 2017 twitter hashtag yet like the nerdlingers did with Star Tours in Orlando?

 

[Curious Constance]

I couldn't be happier that the rivers, F!, and island all seem to be delayed until after my trip is over. I much prefer lower crowds than experiencing any of them. My trip will be over in 15 days, so I think I'm safe. I'm sure they would have announced it by now if anything was returning in the next 15 days.

 

[mickEblu]

So I think most of the commentary on APs is exaggerated but true and funny. (Although I blame Disney for the crowds not the APs/ locals taking advantage) But let's keep it real... most people here would be an AP if they were locals. It seems to me that a logical assumtption is that if one is interested enough to talk about Disney parks 365 days a year that they would be an AP if they lived near the park.

Orrrr you were an AP at one point and got burnt out.

 

[Curious Constance]

So I think most of the commentary on APs is true and funny. (Although I blame Disney for the crowds not the APs/ locals taking advantage) But let's keep it real... most people here would be an AP if they were locals. It seems to me that a logical assumtption is that if one is interested enough to talk about Disney parks 365 days a year that they would be an AP if they lived near the park.

 

[Stevek]

So I think most of the commentary on APs is exaggerated but true and funny. (Although I blame Disney for the crowds not the APs/ locals taking advantage) But let's keep it real... most people here would be an AP if they were locals. It seems to me that a logical assumtption is that if one is interested enough to talk about Disney parks 365 days a year that they would be an AP if they lived near the park.

Orrrr you were an AP at one point and got burnt out.

I joke about AP's because I am one...though I feel there are varying degrees of AP fanaticism. While I have visited the parks many, probably too many times, I consider myself to fall in the lower end of AP fanaticism. I've seen many folks that are absolutely consumed by the parks, they are at the other end of the spectrum.

 

[mickEblu]

I joke about AP's because I am one...though I feel there are varying degrees of AP fanaticism. While I have visited the parks many, probably too many, times, I consider myself to fall in the lower end of AP fanaticism. I've seen many folks that are absolutely consumed by the parks, they are at the other end of the spectrum.

Yeah, I guess AP is areally broad term when you think about it. I think I'm on the lower end of the spectrum as well. Next year? Who knows.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

But let's keep it real... most people here would be an AP if they were locals.

I'm on the fence whether I would be or not, but if I were a frequent AP visitor I would never complain about crowds knowing my AP privilege was adding to the congestion.

 

[Travel Junkie]

I think the fanatical AP is a very very low percentage. Most view Disneyland as a place to hang out. To see and be seen as they say. I'm more of a theme park fan in general that happens to live close to Disneyland. And yes I agree with the idea that it is Disney's issue. They created AP's that even at their current price are a relative bargain if you go enough.

They're afraid if they stop supplying the drug people will go elsewhere to get a fix. To a degree they maybe right. There is a lot to do in Southern California and locals are notoriously fickle. The Lakers were by far the most popular sports team in LA for the longest time. A couple of bad years and now the Dodgers have overtaken them as the most popular sports team. A couple more bad years and the Lakers will continue to lose relevancy. It's not like Chicago where they can withstand 100 years of the Cubs not winning. If Disney pushes locals to look elsewhere, they may just do it.

 

[dweezil78]

I was just about to create a new thread explaining why removing the arch is the death of Frontierland. Also, how it relates to the destruction of TOT and how both projects mark the beginning of a new dawn at Disney.

Lol! I will miss the arches for sure along with the almost always peaceful, tranquil vibe -- but it is nice to have the trail back and, more importantly, a way to get to Fantasyland without having to backtrack through the hub!

 

[mickEblu]

Lol! I will miss the arches for sure along with the almost always peaceful, tranquil vibe -- but it is nice to have the trail back and, more importantly, a way to get to Fantasyland without having to backtrack through the hub!

Big Thunder Trail 4 life!

 

[Stevek]

I'm on the fence whether I would be or not, but if I were a frequent AP visitor I would never complain about crowds knowing my AP privilege was adding to the congestion.

Again, varying degrees. We no longer pop in for the 2-3 hour visit, just to catch fireworks or the parade, fantasmic, etc. When we go, we treat it as if we were like a regular park guests. We spend the majority of the day, buy 1-3 meals and occasionally pick up souvenirs. The crowding, as others have pointed out, is driven by the giant AP population as a whole but moreso by the folks that use it as a hangout. I don't fault them, Disney created the monster, but I still get frustrated by the overcrowding given my previous years as an AP where it wasn't nearly this bad on an every day basis.

 

[mickEblu]

Again, varying degrees. We no longer pop in for the 2-3 hour visit, just to catch fireworks or the parade, fantasmic, etc. When we go, we treat it as if we were like a regular park guests. We spend the majority of the day, buy 1-3 meals and occasionally pick up souvenirs. The crowding, as others have pointed out, is driven by the giant AP population as a whole but moreso by the folks that use it as a hangout. I don't fault them, Disney created the monster, but I still get frustrated by the overcrowding given my previous years as an AP where it wasn't nearly this bad on an every day basis.

Same here. We usually go for an average of 8 hours and spend at least a one day/ one park to a one day park hopper amount of $ between meals, snacks and souvenirs.

If I didn't live 90 minutes away (including traffic) I would definitely be stopping by for shorter, spontaneous visits. At least at first because I would appreciate being able to get to the park without sitting on 5 freeway that's been under construction since the beginning of time.

 

[mickEblu]

On another note I'm trying to compile lyrics for an AP song. The one that came out a few months ago was good but I think we need one that really gets into the intricacies and psychology of AP/ Disney park fandom.

For example here's a little something I wrote on a post it on my desk today (insert your own melody).

"And we say NO to every new attraction. Unless Mr. Rolly Crump drew the concept art on a napkin."

 

[Deleted member 107043]

On another note I'm trying to compile lyrics for an AP song. The one that came out a few months ago was good...

There's an AP song?

 

[britain]

The fact that it doesn't look weirdly-wrongly-different than it did before is a great testament to WDI's skills. This was rebuilt from scratch, but it sure feels like it's always been there.

 

[mickEblu]

There's an AP song?

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I believe many of us were disturbed by the destruction of the arch, as we expected them to preserve those elements due to their history. The photos of its destruction are about as close to a Disneyland equivalent of the EPCOT Horizons demolition as I've seen. Well, maybe that and the video of those construction guys smashing the Mary Blair mural during the construction of...Star Tours.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

Lordy.

 

[Kram Sacul]

If Disney ever takes away the AP program we can thank that video for contributing.