Spirited Spring Break News, Observations & Thoughts ...

[doctornick]

You read it wrong. I know kids like it but it is not referred to by those that categorize things as a kiddie ride. And it shouldn't be. Barnstormer IS, without argument, a kiddie ride. Mine Train is not one exclusively.

Ahh. If you are saying that it is not just a kiddie ride (geared primarily to the under 10 year old set) but more of a family ride that everyone can enjoy, then yes I would totally agree. Barnstormer this is not.

I would agree that this is much more like BTMRR and being a fun for the whole family ride. I'm sure a lot of folks without children will be riding it.

 

[SoupBone]

Well since their faces are projections they can be either blue screens of death, completely blank, or just masks. I have to admit the cottage scene looks very nice, classic animatronics and a great, memorable scene.

See, I sort of disagree. The last scene looked like old It's a Small World animatronics, where the characters never make contact with the instrument. They just sort of move their hands around it, but never actually touch it. That looked really uninspired to me, but maybe it's just a throwback.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Ahh. If you are saying that it is not just a kiddie ride (geared primarily to the under 10 year old set) but more of a family ride that everyone can enjoy, then yes I would totally agree. Barnstormer this is not.

I would agree that this is much more like BTMRR and being a fun for the whole family ride. I'm sure a lot of folks without children will be riding it.

I wish I could like this twice. It is exactly what I have been trying to convey. For safety purposes they do put limits on some of the attractions, but not for appeal.

 

[CinematicFusion]

I don't disagree with the classic aspect of it, it is one of the best things that Disney has done in a long time. I do not, however, think that it is only going to be for that age group. I think many adults, including myself at 66 years old, will like it a lot and make it a must do, for years to come. I just don't think, regardless of their target, it will only hit that mark. That is what will make it a classic. It will, I'm sure, appeal to all ages and that is what constitutes a Disney Classic. When you get a Disney Classic it is because it is an attraction that both parents and children can enjoy together, and that means parents of all ages. I haven't gone to a Disney park with children in many years, yet, amazingly I still ride the rides and there isn't one that I can think of, that cannot, in some form or the other be called a "kiddie ride".

One doesn't need to be 40 inches tall to ride IASM, yet adults flock to it. The same goes for PoTC and others. Just because a ride doesn't pump up the adrenaline does not mean that it is only meant for kids.

I agree with you there.

 

[Omnispace]

I guess I am old fashioned, and beyond the target demographic of the Seven Dwarfs attraction. What's the point of zooming around outside? Is it just for fun or am I missing something in the story?

I'm sure it is going to be a popular little ride: gives families something to do together, kids a taste of a roller coaster experience, while throwing some fun dark ride scenes in the mix. I just had the misconception it was going to be more of a Wild Mouse type of coaster -- seems to fit better the actions of mine cars on little tracks -- not big zooms around large banked turns.

Btw, my coaster introduction was Disneyland's Matterhorn, no height limitation at that time. As a small kid I handled it just fine.

 

[ParentsOf4]

I'm sorry but that is NOT a small child ride. Ages 10 to 14 maybe, but, not much younger then that any more then Thunder Mountain is a kiddie ride. I'm talking on average here, I know that some younger will ride it without having a screaming fit, but it is a risk with all but the excessively brave "small child".

As I've posted here, here, and here (as well as in other places) I've been optimistic about SDMT. It's shaping up to be exactly what Disney wanted to achieve with a 38" roller coaster located in the middle of Fantasyland: an attraction with multi-generational appeal to both sexes.

However, it most definitely is not an "Ages 10 to 14" coaster. It's intended to be something Little Johnny and Suzy can ride with Grandma and Grandpa. That doesn't make it a bad attraction. That simply means that as far as tweens and teens go (i.e. ages 10-to-19), it's not going to have much of an appeal as a thrill ride.

That's not bad. Disney simply was not going for a fourth mountain at the Magic Kingdom; they were aiming for something that fit neatly with the rest of Fantasyland's current demographics.

There's a reason Disney calls it a "Family-Friendly Roller Coaster".

 

[PhotoDave219]

Congratulations: You guys just took splitting hairs to a new level.

 

[Rodan75]

As I've posted here, here, and here (as well as in other places) I've been optimistic about SDMT. It's shaping up to be exactly what Disney wanted to achieve with a 38" roller coaster located in the middle of Fantasyland: an attraction with multi-generational appeal to both sexes.

However, it most definitely is not an "Ages 10 to 14" coaster. It's intended to be something Little Johnny and Suzy can ride with Grandma and Grandpa. That doesn't make it a bad attraction. That simply means that as far as tweens and teens go (i.e. ages 10-to-19), it's not going to have much of an appeal as a thrill ride.

That's not bad. Disney simply was not going for a fourth mountain at the Magic Kingdom; they were aiming for something that fit neatly with the rest of Fantasyland's current demographics.

There's a reason Disney calls it a "Family-Friendly Roller Coaster".

Exactly, I think folks get trapped into the 'what I want it to be' trap vs what WDW was actually building. However, with NFL complete and Avatar underway with a boat ride (fingers crossed it wasn't cancelled) and a flight simulator I think it is time for WDW to add something a bit more thrilling for the older set. Something more RnRC. Not saying this so they can 'compete with Universal', just thinking of their desire to be more of a 4 Quadrant destination.

 

[jlsHouston]

Came across some photos of Chef Mickey's at HKDL's Hollywood Hotel. An interesting point of comparison to ours in the Contemporary.

I LOVE these chairs!!

 

[Mr. Peabody]

I agree that they are diversifying, which is good, however they are still reliant on the film business with TV becoming a bigger part of their portfolio. I just don't understand the magic that Katzenberg is using to keep his hold over the company.

Yeah, I don't fully understand their situation, either. To your point, Katzenberg was recently quoted as saying that he wished their recent diversification efforts were an "offense move", a phrase which connotes survival tactics to some extent. We'll probably have a better idea of just how much of a future DWA has as an independent studio after their next few releases.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Do you guys want to pitch in for this?
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21643/lot/3131/

 

[SoupBone]

Do you guys want to pitch in for this?
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21643/lot/3131/

I like that. Too bad $22,000 probably isn't even going to scratch the surface of what that's going to sell for.

 

[Goofyernmost]

As I've posted here, here, and here (as well as in other places) I've been optimistic about SDMT. It's shaping up to be exactly what Disney wanted to achieve with a 38" roller coaster located in the middle of Fantasyland: an attraction with multi-generational appeal to both sexes.

However, it most definitely is not an "Ages 10 to 14" coaster. It's intended to be something Little Johnny and Suzy can ride with Grandma and Grandpa. That doesn't make it a bad attraction. That simply means that as far as tweens and teens go (i.e. ages 10-to-19), it's not going to have much of an appeal as a thrill ride.

That's not bad. Disney simply was not going for a fourth mountain at the Magic Kingdom; they were aiming for something that fit neatly with the rest of Fantasyland's current demographics.

There's a reason Disney calls it a "Family-Friendly Roller Coaster".

The "10 to 14" number was just what I would consider to be the age when almost all kids would have no problem with it. If you read the rest of what I said, we are exactly on the same page.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I guess I am old fashioned, and beyond the target demographic of the Seven Dwarfs attraction. What's the point of zooming around outside? Is it just for fun or am I missing something in the story?

I'm sure it is going to be a popular little ride: gives families something to do together, kids a taste of a roller coaster experience, while throwing some fun dark ride scenes in the mix. I just had the misconception it was going to be more of a Wild Mouse type of coaster -- seems to fit better the actions of mine cars on little tracks -- not big zooms around large banked turns.

Btw, my coaster introduction was Disneyland's Matterhorn, no height limitation at that time. As a small kid I handled it just fine.

Because it might be fun! Why is anything else necessary? That's why I go to a theme park. I'm already pretty familiar with the Snow White/Seven Dwarfs story. I am looking forward to riding it someday.

 

[PeterAlt]

After much delay, I am happy to announce that next weekend, my sister and I will FINALLY return to WDW! Yay! Any chance the mine coaster will be soft opened? Or any chance we can help test it?

 

[RivieraJenn]

Congratulations: You guys just took splitting hairs to a new level.

Says the guy who spent multiple pages arguing that a cast list for an upcoming movie is a spoiler!

(All in good fun, PhotoDave!)

 

[jlsHouston]

Do you guys want to pitch in for this?
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21643/lot/3131/

Haha, If we could get it at 17000 then 170 of us would have to pitch in $ 100 bucks. Then where would we keep it?

 

[jlsHouston]

After much delay, I am happy to announce that next weekend, my sister and I will FINALLY return to WDW! Yay! Any chance the mine coaster will be soft opened? Or any chance we can help test it?

You're going mother's day weekend? You will have to let us know if you catch a soft opening of 7DMT. My trip ends the day before the official opening of May28th. Go figure.

 

[Darth Sidious]

I finally got a break in my non profitable stressful day to read this link. I gather the author comments a lot about Disney. And he owns Disney stock. I'm not saying his post isn't original thought but the last paragraph really made me think it was just a fluff piece slanted like a media release from Disney themselves.

Largely the opinion on Disney is high on the street. Internally at work I've read reports that are slightly negative on MM+ due to costs but overall very high on the company as a whole.

 

[jlsHouston]

Largely the opinion on Disney is high on the street. Internally at work I've read reports that are slightly negative on MM+ due to costs but overall very high on the company as a whole.

Yes I agree, Disney is a Wall Street darling.