SSE and IASW...travesty's

[MuRkErY]

I direct you to Re-Imagineering's latest two posts.

http://imagineerebirth.blogspot.com/

To be totally honest, I'm starting to lose hope my-self. After the SSE "dumbing" down I was pretty annoyed. IASW at Disneyland just shocks me, really, it's a disgrace.

 

[Lee]

:snore:

I kinda disagree.

 

[MuRkErY]

In what way?

 

[wickedfan07]

Having never idden DL's Small World, I can't judge the loss of the rainforest scene or the addition of the Disney characters. I understand how the addition of characters can go against the original concept and message of the attraction. However, look at it this way: these characters have managed to cross the entire world and have become a part of nearly every culture in the world. That's just more proof that is IS indeed a Small World.

I haven't ridden spaceship Earth since the refurbishment either. I have heard the narration and I will agree that the writing is dumbed down. Based on what I've read, it doesn't seem like WDI did the BEST job they could have integrating the touchscreens into the ride. however, I don't think the result is outright terrible like this blog makes it out to be. I won't know for sure until I get to ride the thing (not for a few years still), but it still seems to be pretty popular.

If ou want to live in 1964 or 1982 forever, I wish you good luck. however, the world's a-changin' in 2008, and some people just need to get used to the fact that time passes and change happens.

 

[ChrisFL]

Having never idden DL's Small World, I can't judge the loss of the rainforest scene or the addition of the Disney characters. I understand how the addition of characters can go against the original concept and message of the attraction. However, look at it this way: these characters have managed to cross the entire world and have become a part of nearly every culture in the world. That's just more proof that is IS indeed a Small World.

I don't see why they suddenly feel the need to NOW change something that has been popular for the last 40 years.

 

[daverube]

Look Out!!!

I sense someone is about to insert an anti-negativity post in this thread.... :fork::fork::fork:

 

[mitchk]

I for one, don't really care for IASW, but I do think some Disney purest will be upset. Oh well, time marches on. :shrug:

 

[MuRkErY]

I sense someone is about to insert an anti-negativity post in this thread....

LoL. Probably along the lines of "I bet you would rather Disney be a museum, change is good, get used to it, Walts dead get over it".

It makes me laugh. Change is not universally good, change is does not have an inherent "Good-ness" value attached to it. Every change has it's own merits, and should be judged on it's own merits weather it is good or bad.

 

[aleckendyl]

Both SSE and IASW are both GREAT AFTER and before the refurb.
Only those who go through life complaining will....Complain.
They are fine attractions.
Why must so many folks bit%^ all the time.
Cant one be satisfied?
However, I do agree with that change is not always good.

 

[wickedfan07]

I don't see why they suddenly feel the need to NOW change something that has been popular for the last 40 years.

That's true. I guess they decided that what's good for Hong Kong is good for California? :shrug: That'd be a stupid decision, too. But then again, I'm not the one calling the shots.

Look Out!!!

I sense someone is about to insert an anti-negativity post in this thread.... :fork::fork::fork:

Are you talking to me? If so, I apologize for trying to be somewhat optimistic about things. :wave:

 

[Lee]

In what way?

I have no problem with putting thematically correct, unobtrusive characters into Small World.
I have no problem with the new SSE.

Simple as that.:shrug:

 

[grunter]

I absolutely adore the Re-Imagineering blog. It lays out the unvarnished truth about what is presently wrong with the Disney parks and oftentimes follows up with creative suggestions as to how to put things right.

That's not to say it doesn't celebrate the creative magic that the parks obviously contain as well. It just so effectively cuts to the "quick" of the problems with an authority that you don't often see in the typical Disney fan page.

There is a fantastic post partway down the Spaceship Earth entry that just rips into Disney for the overuse of video technologies in their refurbishments and new rides. I could not agree more. The line about riding your (Nemo) submarine through the widescreen television section of your local Circuit City had me rolling - because it's so very true.

 

[aleckendyl]

I don't see why they suddenly feel the need to NOW change something that has been popular for the last 40 years.

Wagon Wheels were popular at one time.......:brick:
However, The were also replaced.

 

[MuRkErY]

However, look at it this way: these characters have managed to cross the entire world and have become a part of nearly every culture in the world. That's just more proof that is IS indeed a Small World.

The original intent of IASW is to showcase that we are indeed all the same, the world is one etc... Where, and why do Disney characters need to be inserted into this universally understandable theme, how will it improve anything? If you didnt know UNICEF is apparently going to be opposing these changes.

Cute as they may be, Belle, Mickey, Stitch or Nemo have nothing to do with selling the core values of UNICEF, the show’s original partner. Their appearance not only trivializes the central theme but more disturbingly seems to emphasize global brand marketing and franchising above all else.

 

[daverube]

Are you talking to me? If so, I apologize for trying to be somewhat optimistic about things. :wave:

Wasn't talking about you......but remember.......just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not after you...

dave

 

[Lee]

If you didnt know UNICEF is apparently going to be opposing these changes.

Ha!
When UNICEF decides to pony up some cash and actually sponsor the attraction again, then they can have something to say about the ride.
That's like if RCA decided to complain about the Space Mtn. refurb.

 

[MuRkErY]

Weather they pay money for the attraction anymore or not, the point still remains they were the original sponsors of the attraction, and they oppose the changes. That must say something about the idiocy of these changes. Can anybody please come up with a reason for adding Disney characters to IASW, how will it improve the theme, how will it improve the core message of the attraction, how will it improve the atmosphere of the attraction?

 

[MichWolv]

I like the blog, which I had never seen before. On the two posts the OP references, I can't really say anything about the new SSE, as I haven't ridden.

But as to putting characters in IASW, I don't consider a travesty, an idiocy, or even a bad idea. It can be done tastefully and keeping within the theme. It can also be done poorly. Same with a USA section. It can be done well, and it can be done poorly. Somehow, the blog poster seems to think he/she knows that it will done in a "tacky" way. If it's tacky, I won't like it. But there's a USA section in Paris' IASW (I think), and it doesn't kill the ride. Why would it do so here? And the Hong Kong version will include characters -- does that mean it'll be terrible?

Putting Lilo in Hawaii (stitch is more of a stretch), Belle in France, Wendy Darling in London, and Aladdin and Jasmine on a flying carpet doesn't bother me, if it's done well. And I surely don't mind the fact that I'll have something new to look for and at. I love IASW and ride it every time I'm in a Magic Kingdom, and I suspect that I'll enjoy it more with new things to see, as long as they're done well.

I worried about PoTC when I head about adding Jack Sparrow, and the first couple times I rode it after that, I did find myself looking for Jack instead of enjoying the aspects of the ride I have always enjoyed. Now I do both, and the ride is even better than it was. It could have been done poorly, but it was actually done well. I hope any changes to IASW are similarly done well.

 

[Kamikaze]

Some guy named travesty bought IASW and SSE?

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

The Disney company is nailing their pixie laden coffin shut. They are making younger generations associate them as a company strictly about happiness and harmony, characters, pixar, and merchandise, merchandise, merchandise!

Very few attractions have been new and unique in recent years. The majority of the attractions in recent years have either been cloned and placed elsewhere, use technology ripped off from other attractions that use the same premise/technology, or are character-based overlays over unique and creative rides.

Disney...and it's sad to say was.....was about hiring the greatest and the best, the one's with the best talent, and could push the envelope. The one's that could manage creative deparments and allow new and exciting unique things to see in do. The message doesn't change, the purpose doesn't change....the technology and execution changes. It's not that we all want an EPCOT Center stuck in 1982 with big hair, big glasses, fuzzy old projection screens, etc the premise of entertain, inform, inspire with unique and creative things to see and do in the 21st century? You bet. Donald duck in Mexico, and over 90% of a pavilion devoted to a clown fish? Nahhh.

Back then you could see the Disney live and animated characters on TV and in the movies, maybe even run into them here and there throughout the parks, but you could also experience the other realm of Disney...one that puts you into fantastic and unique and creative stories made strictly for the Disney parks.

"it's a small world" is popular, famous, and even imfamous enough as it is, adding characters does not benefit or make the ride better in any way, especially for the American versions, let alone the original one in california.

It is nothing more than a ploy for more merchandise, and once again another spot the character game.

We're going to enter a time...within 20-25 years when Pirates aren't as popular...when grandparents and parents will only look back on Johnny Depp with fond memories.....Toy Story will eventually be replaced by God only knows what other Pixar movies in the years to come, who knows how well classic Disney animation will go.

So much money will have to be placed on replacing fads with more fads, that Disney will suck any money possible into their marketing department to find any excuse to get people to come to their parks every year just to experience new temporary fad related rides and shows that will be gone within 5-7 years.

Rather than invest in timeless classics such as thunder, space, etc and give them technology upgrades over time...the pendulum has swung into an era of commercialism, not creativity.