Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Preview Thoughts

[lunchbox1175]

Personally, I am most impressed with the size of the hill or mountain that they have presented. I like the fact that you can't see anything behind it when you stand in front of it, it makes the transition out of the castle area to the forest a bit more realistic to me.

 

[Bocabear]

The lines were always long because it had the worst capacity of any ride in the park and because it was smack dab in the middle of Fantasyland. It is indeed a classic in the sense that it's a Disney original that opened with the park but the long waits have little to do with that.

I agree...I think if you actually asked people waiting in line what the story of Dumbo was you would find that most have no idea, they just want to go on a fun spinner ride... This ride's charm is not dictated by the story... But it is charming and they did a lovely job with the addition... Just think the Circus Tents are not necessary... You don't need a circus themed land to support having this ride. Hopefully it is a placeholder for something bigger and better in the future.

 

[lebeau]

Well to each there own, but if the story was not so good and loved by Disney generations, there would not be any lines.

And now that they have moved it and increased capacity, there rarely are long lines.

Story had very little to do with the long waits. Location, location, location!

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

And now that they have moved it and increased capacity, there rarely are long lines.

Story had very little to do with the long waits. Location, location, location!

You did read your own post.........2.3 times the old capacity, (system changes made it more then 2.0), lines will of course vary with a classic attraction, ad the new location may have hurt the lines for awhile until they find it again and the excitement over the overall new FL settles a bit. Its a The bottom line is that your still dealing with a classic Disney treasure, loved by generations. The video is still sold in stores and shown on TV, 60 + years after its first release. My grand kids love and all the families we know have shown it to there kids and its on their must list.

Lets face it , WDW would not have spent the money to increase the capacity and just moved the original attraction to the new location.

There is no way around a Disney classic magic.

AKK

 

[lebeau]

You did read your own post.........2.3 times the old capacity, (system changes made it more then 2.0), lines will of course vary with a classic attraction, ad the new location may have hurt the lines for awhile until they find it again and the excitement over the overall new FL settles a bit. Its a The bottom line is that your still dealing with a classic Disney treasure, loved by generations. The video is still sold in stores and shown on TV, 60 + years after its first release. My grand kids love and all the families we know have shown it to there kids and its on their must list.

Lets face it , WDW would not have spent the money to increase the capacity and just moved the original attraction to the new location.

There is no way around a Disney classic magic.

AKK

I lost track of your point and how this relates to the 7DMT. What was your point exactly?

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

Dumbo is indeed a Disney classic and treasure...............The lines were always a long wait because its a story that appeals to young and old.

AKK

Which is why the lines are non existent at the "Song of the South"-based Splash Mountain.

Dumbo is indeed a classic film that can appeal to everyone, but the ride had and has almost nothing to do with the actual story of the movie itself. That's part of what's great about it - you don't have to be familiar with the film to enjoy the novelty of riding in an adorable flying elephant around Fantasyland.

It amazes me how little Disney seems to understand about how the intellectual properties in the park interact with the guest experience. In the past two years they have both closed an only mildly popular Snow White ride and are about to open one that will do gangbusters. This is to say, clearly the property does not matter nearly as much as what you do with it. That's the secret to a successful theme park experience. Just make something great. Dumbo the attraction, simple though it was, had enough elements that added up to a great experience - the view, the flying element, the cutesy ride vehicle, and yes, to some, the wondeful film tie in - so people waited in line.

 

[wdisney9000]

I lost track of your point and how this relates to the 7DMT. What was your point exactly?

Apparently people can't find Dumbo now.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I lost track of your point and how this relates to the 7DMT. What was your point exactly?

Simply, the story is well known to the millions of Disney fanes over the years and that is why it has been so popular and lasted all these years. THE STORY IS the whole thing.

You cannot say its all location and the fact they moved it to the far end of FL is why the lines are short now, if they are short.

A statement was made most people don't know the story. As I pointed out this is not correct based on the popularity of *DUMBO* over the years, though multi generations and the continued sales of *DUMBO* products and the film showing on TV.

The reason the lines maybe shorter now has more to do with 2.3 capacity increase then MAYBE the moving of the attraction.

AKK

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Which is why the lines are non existent at the "Song of the South"-based Splash Mountain.

Dumbo is indeed a classic film that can appeal to everyone, but the ride had and has almost nothing to do with the actual story of the movie itself. That's part of what's great about it - you don't have to be familiar with the film to enjoy the novelty of riding in an adorable flying elephant around Fantasyland.

It amazes me how little Disney seems to understand about how the intellectual properties in the park interact with the guest experience. In the past two years they have both closed an only mildly popular Snow White ride and are about to open one that will do gangbusters. This is to say, clearly the property does not matter nearly as much as what you do with it. That's the secret to a successful theme park experience. Just make something great. Dumbo the attraction, simple though it was, had enough elements that added up to a great experience - the view, the flying element, the cutesy ride vehicle, and yes, to some, the wonderful film tie in - so people waited in line.

I agree............in the end its the background of the story line that leads to the attraction. The story and how it is presented in the attraction , combined, that makes it all work.

I was objecting to comments saying most people don't know the story which is just not true. My points of he video and kids books still on the shelves and selling shows people know and are interesting is the classic warm and loving tale.

Its called Disney magic and pixie dust. Disney's success show they do fully understand how the guests love and react to the classic stories and as you put it properties.

AKK

 

[lebeau]

Simply, the story is well known to the millions of Disney fanes over the years and that is why it has been so popular and lasted all these years. THE STORY IS the whole thing.

You cannot say its all location and the fact they moved it to the far end of FL is why the lines are short now, if they are short.

A statement was made most people don't know the story. As I pointed out this is not correct based on the popularity of *DUMBO* over the years, though multi generations and the continued sales of *DUMBO* products and the film showing on TV.

The reason the lines maybe shorter now has more to do with 2.3 capacity increase then MAYBE the moving of the attraction.

AKK

There isn't a way to quantify these things. But I would say that the Dumbo story has very little to do with the popularity of the Dumbo ride. About as much to do with it as Song of the South has to do with the popularity of Splash Mountain.

Without a scientific study, neither one of us is going to be able to prove our points. But speaking from personal experience, I am the only member of my household who has ever watched Dumbo. My wife and kids know the character from the ride and merch. I know lots of people for whom this is the case. The movie is readily available, but that doesn't mean everyone has seen it. Frankly, it's not even one of the more beloved movies in the Disney catalogue.

I did not say that location was the entire reason for long lines at Dumbo. But clearly, location was an important factor. Lines used to exceed an hour even on slow days when the ride was centrally located. Now they are in the 15 minute range. Doubling capacity could bring lines down by half. They fell by quite a bit more than that.

Still not sure what any of this has to do with the Mine Train.

 

[Bocabear]

Of course it is the fantastic story of Alice In Wonderland that makes the Tea Cups So popular....lol Not a bit...Some rides are just fun experiences...the story does NOT drive their attendance... Dumbo is popular because it is cute and a fun thing to do...Lines are long for the Star Jets too which has NO movie tie in... integrating theme into a sweet ride was a great ting to do, but not what drives it's attendance... Look at Triceratop Spin at AK...also extremely popular...

 

[flynnibus]

Simply, the story is well known to the millions of Disney fanes over the years and that is why it has been so popular and lasted all these years. THE STORY IS the whole thing.

So people are sucked in by the story telling done by a spinner... yeah, that's it.

 

[wdisney9000]

THE STORY IS the whole thing.
AKK

The story is just icing on the cake in relation to the ride. If the story/movie "is the whole thing" how do you explain Haunted Mansion? The movie was awful, people should be avoiding the attraction based off that theory. Id agree with @lebeau , most of the kids in my family have watched Dumbo but could not tell you what the story is about or name a character other than Dumbo, but they want to ride the attraction every time we visit. For the same reasons they want to ride Maelstrom and there isnt a movie for that. People just want to ride rides and if you are familiar with the movie its based on, its icing on the cake.

 

[Cesar R M]

So people are sucked in by the story telling done by a spinner... yeah, that's it.

the spinner's job is to make you so dizzy .. your brain will go bonkers and start hallucinating on dumbo and mickey... thus a story unfolds!

better than a mari jane hit! (lol)

 

[flynnibus]

I think Tonka has OD'd on some of those Disney Imagineering videos where the script starts off every time "hammer home how everything is about the story..."

Next we'll be hearing about how the story is core to their decision process on increasing the soda prices

 

[wdisney9000]

the spinner's job is to make you so dizzy .. your brain will go bonkers and start hallucinating on dumbo and mickey... thus a story unfolds!

better than a mari jane hit! (lol)

When I was in high school some friends and I decided to take some LSD and visit Six Flags. We thought it was gonna be the coolest thing ever to be hallucinating and ride the roller coasters. Funny enough, everything seemed extremely tame and not scary at all. Even rides I was usually nervous about and dint like riding (looping starship) seemed extremely boring. It was the most odd effect. The "circus midway" area with all the games, loud noises, and flashing lights was a blast though. I think we stayed in that area for about 3 hours.

Just for the record I was 16 and invincible. I no longer partake in such things.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

I agree............in the end its the background of the story line that leads to the attraction. The story and how it is presented in the attraction , combined, that makes it all work.

I was objecting to comments saying most people don't know the story which is just not true. My points of he video and kids books still on the shelves and selling shows people know and are interesting is the classic warm and loving tale.

Its called Disney magic and pixie dust. Disney's success show they do fully understand how the guests love and react to the classic stories and as you put it properties.

AKK

Perhaps I was unclear, I'm not certain we do agree. I was attempting to argue that it's unlikely that most people get in line for Dumbo because of their deep love of the story - I imagine that there are people who do, but I would think most get in line simply because it looks like a cute, fun way of spending your time. I think more people are familiar with Dumbo as "that cute elephant character" than they are with the actual storyline of the film - a storyline which the attraction makes no effort of retelling.

 

[lebeau]

Perhaps I was unclear, I'm not certain we do agree. I was attempting to argue that it's unlikely that most people get in line for Dumbo because of their deep love of the story - I imagine that there are people who do, but I would think most get in line simply because it looks like a cute, fun way of spending your time. I think more people are familiar with Dumbo as "that cute elephant character" than they are with the actual storyline of the film - a storyline which the attraction makes no effort of retelling.

Probably because the story is extremely sad and sometimes disturbing. (And even a little racist.)

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Well to each there own, however the continued popularity of Dumbo story,the video etc, pretty clearly shows the story of the character is very important and still loved and admired.

I don't understand your ideas on lines as the more then doubled the capacity, its obvious that the lines will be shorter.

So we will have to agree to disagree.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Never said that, I said the story, and character is still well known and loved, a real Disney character and classic and that keeps people interested in the attraction.