Soarin' Expansion and new Soarin' Around the World film

[rioriz]

Epcot will survive, however TT is no Soarin, come on now Bolt.

You are right, TT is better

 

[alissafalco]

You are right, TT is better

Ha!

 

[raymusiccity]

I've never understood the enthusiasm for Soarin'. I've ridden it once, and was unimpressed. The film is really grainy. The whole thing seemed kinda lame. Maybe the refurb will help?

'Grainy' is an understatement! We just visited Epcot last week and were really surprised in how badly the film has deteriorated.

I don't know why there are multiple vertical scratches that appear and disappear throughout the length of the show.

They are dark and vivid enough to draw your attention away from the 'soarin' experience.

A clean picture can't come soon enough!

 

[Jon81uk]

I'm sure the new Horizons film will be even better, since it's shot with modern digital cameras and planned from the start to be that way

The fact that the original was shot on film actually makes it better quality. The issue was they should have made a new film print from the master every year as the copies being used degrade.
The fact that the new film is shot on digital cameras doesn't mean the new showing will be any better if they don't maintain it correctly.

 

[raven]

So I made the right choice NOT to renew my AP. Disney charging more $ for less to do.

 

[rucifee]

So I made the right choice NOT to renew my AP. Disney charging more $ for less to do.

but but you can always just go to Epcot and dine or shop! DISNEY NEEDS YOUR MONEYS!

They certainly aren't getting mine.

 

[JourneysEnd]

Ohh. So it's just the new theatre that's opening in the Summer.............Shoot. No point in going to Epcot then.

Absolutely agree. Not going to waste FP+s on one ride.

 

[gmajew]

Funny people complain when they don't do anything then they complain when they do.... The pavilion needs some work it is dirty and needs a refresh... they are using this time to do more work rework the entrance add bathrooms and finish off the new theater so it is open at one time. Sure 6 months is a long time but people need to get over it.

 

[rucifee]

Funny people complain when they don't do anything then they complain when they do.... The pavilion needs some work it is dirty and needs a refresh... they are using this time to do more work rework the entrance add bathrooms and finish off the new theater so it is open at one time. Sure 6 months is a long time but people need to get over it.

Funny they could have done this work 5 years ago when it was first needed and no-one would have complained, but apologists only care about silencing criticism.

 

[MM311]

Funny people complain when they don't do anything then they complain when they do.... The pavilion needs some work it is dirty and needs a refresh... they are using this time to do more work rework the entrance add bathrooms and finish off the new theater so it is open at one time. Sure 6 months is a long time but people need to get over it.

I think most people understand the need for it, but at least in my opinion they should have waited until Frozen opened to do this refurb. Epcot is short on rides, sure there is plenty to eat, drink, and buy, but when people want to ride rides in between eating and shopping doing this without something to replace it just seems like bad timing. The up side is that people may actually start riding other rides that they haven't been on before due to the lack of others, I may be forced to pay Ellen a visit for the first time in 12 years when I go...

 

[gmajew]

Funny they could have done this work 5 years ago when it was first needed and no-one would have complained, but an apologist is as an apologist does.

That horse has been beaten to death to.... Why did they not fix things years ago... We all know the answer they were riding the fat cow until it had no choice but to spend money... The issue now is they are spending money and people still complain... it is amusing as you just can never win... When a business gets old you are always going to have someone not happy about change or something that is happening not being what they remember....

to confirm though I agree Epcot needed work a long time ago but I for one am happy to see money being spent in the past two years to finally fix up all parks

 

[gmajew]

I think most people understand the need for it, but at least in my opinion they should have waited until Frozen opened to do this refurb. Epcot is short on rides, sure there is plenty to eat, drink, and buy, but when people want to ride rides in between eating and shopping doing this without something to replace it just seems like bad timing. The up side is that people may actually start riding other rides that they haven't been on before due to the lack of others, I may be forced to pay Ellen a visit for the first time in 12 years when I go...

Timing could be better but Epcot will not have a single down tick in attendance because of this move... This park is a money making machine... I would guess the highest of all parks in the disney system. Purely for the food and bev sales.

Edit: To add: Plus the did it when test track was refreshed... park was just fine.

 

[rucifee]

That horse has been beaten to death to.... Why did they not fix things years ago... We all know the answer they were riding the fat cow until it had no choice but to spend money... The issue now is they are spending money and people still complain... it is amusing as you just can never win... When a business gets old you are always going to have someone not happy about change or something that is happening not being what they remember....

to confirm though I agree Epcot needed work a long time ago but I for one am happy to see money being spent in the past two years to finally fix up all parks

People are justifiably angry because they're left with Living With The Land, Tron Track, and other trashy rides as tier 1 FP+ selections while it is down. They are justifiably angry because Disney has spent almost nothing on improvements since Eisner left the building except Fantasy Land which is questionable as an improvement. I guess there's always circlevision.

 

[JourneysEnd]

People are justifiably angry because they're left with Living With The Land, Tron Track, and other trashy rides as tier 1 FP+ selections while it is down. They are justifiably angry because Disney has spent almost nothing on improvements since Eisner left the building except Fantasy Land which is questionable as an improvement. I guess there's always circlevision.

They would have been smarter to wait until the new Frozen ride opened, IMHO. I'm not angry, just going to change my plans. What does concern me is how this will potentially effect the crowds in the MK.

 

[rucifee]

They would have been smarter to wait until the new Frozen ride opened, IMHO. I'm not angry, just going to change my plans. What does concern me is how this will potentially effect the crowds in the MK.

As it has with all of the other closures and early park closings, MK will continue to get busier and busier.

Maybe annoyed would have been a better choice of words than angry.

 

[Anthony Carter]

Ah, so disappointing. As a visitor from the UK I might have planned my trip differently as this is one of our favourites and when you've saved up for so long its a real shame when combined with all the DHS removals. Fingers crossed for Frozen being open by May!

 

[muteki]

On the upside while Soarin is down you should be able enjoy LwtL and Sunshine Seasons without the whole pavilion being a madhouse with Soarin spill over. Sounds quite nice actually.

 

[rucifee]

I can't believe there are people who actually think TRON Track 2.0 is better than Soarin'. I want some of the high quality pixie dust y'all are smoking, tbh

FTFY

 

[Coaster Lover]

Replacing the projectors would seem like something that could be done (relatively quickly) and I assume the programming of the ride vehicles for the new film would have already been done offsite (and therefore could just be "up-loaded" into the ride's control system). We haven't seen a downtime schedule for Midway Mania (which in a lot of ways is undergoing a similar upgrade), but a lot of people think the third track there could open with minimal/no downtime with just some walls in the queue to make the necessary connections. As such, should we assume that the six month downtime here is almost completely for queue work? It would really be nice if they could somehow make the queue a bit more... well... interesting! I would assume the games would either go or be revised... well, maybe?

 

[JourneysEnd]

Replacing the projectors would seem like something that could be done (relatively quickly) and I assume the programming of the ride vehicles for the new film would have already been done offsite (and therefore could just be "up-loaded" into the ride's control system). We haven't seen a downtime schedule for Midway Mania (which in a lot of ways is undergoing a similar upgrade), but a lot of people think the third track there could open with minimal/no downtime with just some walls in the queue to make the necessary connections. As such, should we assume that the six month downtime here is almost completely for queue work? It would really be nice if they could somehow make the queue a bit more... well... interesting! I would assume the games would either go or be revised... well, maybe?

Saw a post from a CM that stated if they really hustle, could be reopened June 1st.