MK Stitch's Great Escape Replacement— Don’t Hold Your Breath

[PREMiERdrum]

Disappointed. It's an IP shoe horn and will loose the legacy value of holding show, preshow and mainshow.

Curses.

 

[goldenstate5]

That does not sound good lol

He's probably referring to your liking of the IP and how it fits into the space.

Honestly while Stitch fits the theme of an intergalactic spaceport better, I'm more of attraction quality than overall theme (plus I think they can make Ralph work at least better than Monsters)... Stitch was an absolute banal rush job that had some of the worst writing in an attraction ever. It's painful. If your preferences are on theme and animatronics, I guess that's that but I'd rather have something that guests actually enjoy.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

CoP, Small World, and Lincoln were designed to be moved to Disneyland after the 1964 World's Fair. Of course CoP came to WDW later.

The only ride I know of that was not originally designed to move but did was Dumbo, but I don't know how many components were actually moved rather than remade.

I think that Dumbo ride moved in name only. I believe the old ride was torn down and scrapped and the new dual spinners installed by speedway. Not in that order of course.

 

[RoysCabin]

Yes, I'm thinking about the shift in theme that has taken place, and I distinguish the WIR ride from the 90s Tomorrowland. I keep thinking - once upon a time in the 90s, even as a jaded teen I still thought Tomorrowland was 'cool'; I still love getting on the People Mover as one of the first rides of the day. However, the next time that I take my teen to WDW, I doubt that he would have a similar experience I did, if the ride options for him are basically, Monster Inc, Buzz Lightyear SRS, and WIR (as much as we did like WIR). IMO, Tomorrowland used to appeal to all ages, but now, not so much. Still plenty of MK rides/attractions that he would like, just not in that part of the park anymore (which is a shame b/c we do like sci-fi).

Yeah, that really is a key problem. We've all been discussing it in threads about new IP-themed areas, but at the very least one can argue that stuff like Star Wars and Toy Story have enough cultural cache and cross-generational appeal that everybody can enjoy it on some level, even if they're not the biggest fans going; one can still argue about their usage, but they're largely safe properties. WIR, and even Monsters Inc, though? Good movies, no doubt, and not undeserving of some level of presence in the parks, but they simply don't have the same mass appeal, leaving a lot of folks going into those attractions without a full appreciation for how they're set up in terms of story, character, or aesthetic. Not everybody sees every Disney movie, and this tidal wave of IP rides is going to leave a lot of people behind, and potentially create a sort of age isolation where the appeal becomes much more focused on kids instead of families. Again, with rides you're hoping last and are relevant for at least a decade or so, that's a risky proposition over the long haul.

 

[Matt_Black]

WIR, and even Monsters Inc, though? Good movies, no doubt, and not undeserving of some level of presence in the parks, but they simply don't have the same mass appeal, leaving a lot of folks going into those attractions without a full appreciation for how they're set up in terms of story, character, or aesthetic. Not everybody sees every Disney movie, and this tidal wave of IP rides is going to leave a lot of people behind, and potentially create a sort of age isolation where the appeal becomes much more focused on kids instead of families. Again, with rides you're hoping last and are relevant for at least a decade or so, that's a risky proposition over the long haul.

How many people have seen Song of the South?

 

[mimitchi33]

How many people have seen Song of the South?

My brother has, and he's 5 years older than me. I've heard of it, but I never watched it.
Speaking of that

CoP, Small World, and Lincoln were designed to be moved to Disneyland after the 1964 World's Fair. Of course CoP came to WDW later.

The only ride I know of that was not originally designed to move but did was Dumbo, but I don't know how many components were actually moved rather than remade.

If meet and greets count, the Joy and Sadness one moved from Hong Kong Disneyland to EPCOT, and the Big Hero 6 one moved from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT as well.

 

[marni1971]

He's probably referring to your liking of the IP and how it fits into the space..

No, the proposed IP, location and what is planned for the interior.

 

[GoofGoof]

Yeah, that really is a key problem. We've all been discussing it in threads about new IP-themed areas, but at the very least one can argue that stuff like Star Wars and Toy Story have enough cultural cache and cross-generational appeal that everybody can enjoy it on some level, even if they're not the biggest fans going; one can still argue about their usage, but they're largely safe properties. WIR, and even Monsters Inc, though? Good movies, no doubt, and not undeserving of some level of presence in the parks, but they simply don't have the same mass appeal, leaving a lot of folks going into those attractions without a full appreciation for how they're set up in terms of story, character, or aesthetic. Not everybody sees every Disney movie, and this tidal wave of IP rides is going to leave a lot of people behind, and potentially create a sort of age isolation where the appeal becomes much more focused on kids instead of families. Again, with rides you're hoping last and are relevant for at least a decade or so, that's a risky proposition over the long haul.

What will likely happen with IP based rides is they will not last as long as traditional Disney rides. Look down the road for a perfect example. At Universal when rides and/or their IP get dated they are replaced or rethemed to a more popular IP. This doesn't happen with classics like HM or PoTC or an original ride that isn't based on IP. Obviously IPs like Harry Potter and Star Wars will always be popular so they won't likely need to be replaced but lesser loved IPs like Wreck It Ralph could be eventually replaced by the popular IP of the time. Kinda like what is happening with Stitch.

 

[Andrew C]

What will likely happen with IP based rides is they will not last as long as traditional Disney rides. Look down the road for a perfect example. At Universal when rides and/or their IP get dated they are replaced or rethemed to a more popular IP. This doesn't happen with classics like HM or PoTC or an original ride that isn't based on IP. Obviously IPs like Harry Potter and Star Wars will always be popular so they won't likely need to be replaced but lesser loved IPs like Wreck It Ralph could be eventually replaced by the popular IP of the time. Kinda like what is happening with Stitch.

ehh...i think it depends on the quality of the ride. Stitch is going because it is crap. But Peter Pan has been around forever. I also assume the Frozen attraction will be around for a long long time. An IP attraction can be long term if done properly.

 

[rle4lunch]

How many people have seen Song of the South?

I'm 40 and saw it when I was a kid in the 80s. But how much do I remember of it? Not much. Do I still enjoy SM? Surely. As I've said on a couple different threads, even original ideas turn into an IP at a certain time in their life cycle. Does that mean that we can't enjoy them after they become an IP? Of course not. Even after the crappy last couple POTC movies (which the series turned POTC into an IP), they still don't ruin my enjoyment of the ride. What happens when the Jungle Cruise Ride comes out? Or perhaps when the new Haunted Mansion finally gets (re)made (again, the Eddie Murphy one was rough). All of these are *attempts* to turn original rides into IPs. So, in the long run, do you think the masses that visit Disney parks will really care? Or will it most likely be just a handful of obsessive nutjobs on a Disney blog that are the ones freaking out?

 

[SorcererMC]

What will likely happen with IP based rides is they will not last as long as traditional Disney rides. Look down the road for a perfect example. At Universal when rides and/or their IP get dated they are replaced or rethemed to a more popular IP. This doesn't happen with classics like HM or PoTC or an original ride that isn't based on IP. Obviously IPs like Harry Potter and Star Wars will always be popular so they won't likely need to be replaced but lesser loved IPs like Wreck It Ralph could be eventually replaced by the popular IP of the time. Kinda like what is happening with Stitch.

Theoretically I agree with this, but in practice Disney tends to let rides languish long past their 'sell by' date - as opposed to occasionally 'plussing' rides so they stay relevant. An exception would be POTC where they added a movie tie-in to the ride (whether one agrees w/ this or not is a separate issue). I don't see TWDC having a great turnaround time on their rides; when they do change/add something, it gets dragged out. I see DHS as being the ideal park for adding in IPs and switching them out; why they haven't done that is beyond me.

So, when is WIR supposed to be open? Did I miss it somewhere or was it 2018-19?

 

[Mike S]

What will likely happen with IP based rides is they will not last as long as traditional Disney rides. Look down the road for a perfect example. At Universal when rides and/or their IP get dated they are replaced or rethemed to a more popular IP. This doesn't happen with classics like HM or PoTC or an original ride that isn't based on IP. Obviously IPs like Harry Potter and Star Wars will always be popular so they won't likely need to be replaced but lesser loved IPs like Wreck It Ralph could be eventually replaced by the popular IP of the time. Kinda like what is happening with Stitch.

When it comes to Universal I think out of all the rides currently being added Jimmy Fallon and F&F will be the most in danger of getting replaced at some point due to becoming dated. King Kong is a long standing Hollywood icon and probably never should've left the resort in the first place. I always bring up the example that you can't go into any NYC gift shop without seeing some trinket of a giant ape on the Empire State Building. Even though the ride is based on the Michael Bay movies Transformers is another IP that has staying power as I always see it getting rebooted on TV in some fashion and of course the toys. Nintendo is probably their biggest get since Harry Potter. Their huge stable of characters is right up there with Disney in popularity and recognition despite hardware sales. Despicable Me could end up with staying power as well.

ehh...i think it depends on the quality of the ride. Stitch is going because it is crap. But Peter Pan has been around forever. I also assume the Frozen attraction will be around for a long long time. An IP attraction can be long term if done properly.

I can see this happening with SLoP if it turns out the way it's rumored. It would stay because of the quality of the ride.

 

[seabreezept813]

I'm giving whatever this ride turns out to be the benefit of the doubt. We don't ride Stitch, so there is a possibility it will be a plus 1 for our family when visiting MK. The Energy and GMR replacements, I just can't get excited about because I like what they are destroying...especially GMR

 

[GoofGoof]

ehh...i think it depends on the quality of the ride. Stitch is going because it is crap. But Peter Pan has been around forever. I also assume the Frozen attraction will be around for a long long time. An IP attraction can be long term if done properly.

Peter Pan falls into the classic IP category. Same with more recent IPs like Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. They have stood the test of time and are still popular. Frozen is trending in that direction too. IPs like Star Wars and Harry Potter fit that category too. What I was talking about is more of the pop IPs like Stitch was or possibly Wreck it Ralph. @Mike S pointed out a few of the new ones at Universal in that category. These IPs are popular enough now, but it's not really certain they will stand the test of time.

Your point about quality is dead on. Splash Mt is the classic example. The IP is largely forgotten but the ride is still very popular.

 

[Matt_Black]

Peter Pan falls into the classic IP category. Same with more recent IPs like Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. They have stood the test of time and are still popular. Frozen is trending in that direction too. IPs like Star Wars and Harry Potter fit that category too. What I was talking about is more of the pop IPs like Stitch was or possibly Wreck it Ralph. @Mike S pointed out a few of the new ones at Universal in that category. These IPs are popular enough now, but it's not really certain they will stand the test of time.

Your point about quality is dead on. Splash Mt is the classic example. The IP is largely forgotten but the ride is still very popular.

Most times, if Disney considers it a classic, they will do their darnedest to keep it in the public consciousness. For instance, Pocahontas. Often considered by critics one of the weaker Disney films, it's on TV a LOT. Hunchback of Notre Dame, however, is almost never shown on any of their four networks (Freeform, Disney Channel, Disney Jr, Disney XD).

The problem with Stitch has nothing to do with the IP, which in and of itself is still very popular.

 

[PorterRedkey]

Really?
Better than the Tower of Terror, Haunted Mansion, or Everest?

I would reread my post. I was saying that I prefer the preshow to actually be a "show" and not just an immersive queue. I made no comparison to the rides you mentioned or any rides. I was just stating my preference for the older Epcot rides like UoE and The Living Seas that has preshows that brought you into the experience.

I would agree that the queues you mention are some of the best queues at WDW.

 

[GoofGoof]

Most times, if Disney considers it a classic, they will do their darnedest to keep it in the public consciousness. For instance, Pocahontas. Often considered by critics one of the weaker Disney films, it's on TV a LOT. Hunchback of Notre Dame, however, is almost never shown on any of their four networks (Freeform, Disney Channel, Disney Jr, Disney XD).

The problem with Stitch has nothing to do with the IP, which in and of itself is still very popular.

Pocahontas and Hunchback are not popular IPs. Neither is Stitch. They may still be popular amongst Disney fanboys but not the general public. I agree that the Stitch ride is the problem more than the IP, but a popular IP can keep an average ride around longer than it likely would have been.

 

[doctornick]

What will likely happen with IP based rides is they will not last as long as traditional Disney rides. Look down the road for a perfect example. At Universal when rides and/or their IP get dated they are replaced or rethemed to a more popular IP. This doesn't happen with classics like HM or PoTC or an original ride that isn't based on IP. Obviously IPs like Harry Potter and Star Wars will always be popular so they won't likely need to be replaced but lesser loved IPs like Wreck It Ralph could be eventually replaced by the popular IP of the time. Kinda like what is happening with Stitch.

I don't think that's true. Plenty of Disney IP based rides have lasted for decades -- like PPF or SWSA (yes, torn down in MK, but continuing elsewhere) or Dumbo. There was an outcry when Mr. Toad was removed from MK and that's a movie that virtually no one has seen. And people have already mentioned the lasting power of Splash Mtn despite a significant lack of cultural awareness of the movie that it is based on.

An IP ride can last indefinitely just fine as long as the ride quality is good and people enjoy it. Having the IP it is based on be enduring would help, but would not be essential. A good ride based on Stitch could certainly last forever, but SGE just isn't that well regarded.

 

[doctornick]

Peter Pan falls into the classic IP category. Same with more recent IPs like Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. They have stood the test of time and are still popular. Frozen is trending in that direction too. IPs like Star Wars and Harry Potter fit that category too. What I was talking about is more of the pop IPs like Stitch was or possibly Wreck it Ralph. @Mike S pointed out a few of the new ones at Universal in that category. These IPs are popular enough now, but it's not really certain they will stand the test of time.

But I think that there's a bit of reverse feedback here: a lot of times the IP remains popular because there are rides based on it which reinforce the place in the cultural consciousness. Snow White, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, etc. are likely much stronger IPs today because of long standing beloved rides that exist in Disney parks.

Millions of people visit Disney theme parks every year and so folks get a reinforcement of how those IPs are culturally important on the basis of the enduring rides.

 

[CanadianGordon]

But I think that there's a bit of reverse feedback here: a lot of times the IP remains popular because there are rides based on it which reinforce the place in the cultural consciousness. Snow White, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, etc. are likely much stronger IPs today because of long standing beloved rides that exist in Disney parks.

Millions of people visit Disney theme parks every year and so folks get a reinforcement of how those IPs are culturally important on the basis of the enduring rides.

Exactly. Disney was the leader once upon a time, and they gave us such great attractions based on old fair rides like the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. They owe a lot to the original imagineers for creating such iconic rides that have stayed in the public's consciousness longer than they'd ever imagined them to be.

For me a trip to WDW has to include seeing these two rides.