Stitch's Great Escape Review: Using New Formula. Give it a score. . .

[General Grizz]

Maelstrom -- **INCLUDING FILM**:

MAELSTROM (ROCKS) REVIEW :
24/25 POINTS: STORY
- Clear, creative, original storyline: 9/10
Clear story, going back in time in Norway. Learning about Norway.
- Do the elements and effects serve the storyline? 10/10
Animatronics and sets serve the story.
- Is the story relevant/do we care?/Does the audience act in an active position? 5/5
Guests traveling back in time. Trolls interact with us; we are being spoken to.

15/20 POINTS: AUDIENCE APPEAL
- Young children: 4/5
- Adolescents/young adults: 4/5
- Parents/adults: 4/5
- Seniors: 3/5

13/20 POINTS: METHOD
- Novel technologies 3/10
No great new technologies; the special lightning effect would have been nice.
- Is the attraction quality up to Disney standards? 10/10
Very nice quality for a small dark ride.

12/20 POINTS: ENGAGING ELEMENTS
- Endearing or effecive characters/emotional story: 7/10
Fear factor from the trolls puts some emotion into it.
- Inspiration or fulfillment/take-home point/message: 5/10
We learn a bit, ehh.

12/15 POINTS: Other elements
- Queue/Preshow and/or Postshow: 3/5
Mediocre queue/nice exit area and film -- +3 (which is going to be remade)
- Music/soundtrack: 4/5
Nice soundtrack (Norwegian)
- Does this attraction truly add to the themed land/park/resort?: 5/5
A must for the Norway pavilion.

FINAL GRADE = 76/100

This puts it about average. I like Maelstrom, but I won't wait over half an hour for it. From what I've been seeing, anything above a 90 is a classic. Anything in the 80s is an instant Disney hit, but can be replaced in the years to come. Anything in the 60s 70s is an okay attraction that can easily be improved. Anything below 60 should have never been created. And I would probably argue that anything in the 60s or 70s range should not replace something in the 80s or 90s range, but we'll see how the trend continues.

More to come this afternoon. It's fun. And feel free to try it yourself.

 

[One Lil Spark]

Gasp... Test Track??

 

[ogryn]

Q: Does an attraction have to have a story to make it a good attraction?

 

[General Grizz]

Ogryn, it matters on what kind of attraction it is. If it should have a story and doesn't have a good one, it could be bad. If it's something like TTA, and it doesn't have a story, that doesn't mean it's bad per se.

Jennifer - check out the recent TEST TRACK thread here in Gen Discussion. My review is on the second to last current page.

 

[ogryn]

I'm thinking along the lines of Big Thunder Mountain here, or even the Haunted Mansion. Both have what I would call "thin" storylines (or even if they were meant to be thick, they aren't portrayed in an easily accessible way. I didn't know the full HM plot until I came here, for example.) BTMRR... er, its a runaway train. HM... er, someone died and your going round a ghost house with you being invited to join the ghosts.

This doesn't stop either from being fantastic attractions.

 

[One Lil Spark]

But what attraction really doesn't have a story?? I can't think of one except like the Astro Orbiter...

 

[General Grizz]

I'm thinking along the lines of Big Thunder Mountain here, or even the Haunted Mansion. Both have what I would call "thin" storylines (or even if they were meant to be thick, they aren't portrayed in an easily accessible way. I didn't know the full HM plot until I came here, for example.) BTMRR... er, its a runaway train. HM... er, someone died and your going round a ghost house with you being invited to join the ghosts.

This doesn't stop either from being fantastic attractions.

The best part about these attractions (in 60s style) was that there was so much room for interpretation. For example, after learning that Big Thunder Mountain had a flood, I saw the attraction in a whole new light. And there are countless ways to interepret the detail of the Haunted Mansion.

That does throw a problem at my scale, and that's probably the "clear" storyline. In general, however, we know that we are guests going into an old mansion as part of a tour, etc.

As for "no story at all," I probably wouldn't rate Magic Carpets, Astro, Dumbo, TTA, etc. on this scale. Attractions like "Living with the Land," "Tower of Terror," and "Splash Mountain."

I'll try to hit each major type of attraction when I'm on the boards.

 

[General Grizz]

2 more before I get back to work. . .

JOURNEY INTO IMAGINATION WITH FIGMENT
19/25 POINTS: STORY
- Clear, creative, original storyline: 7/10
The story is unclear. Do senses really fit into "imagination?" - Do the elements and effects serve the storyline? 8/10
The elements are random but are cleverly woven into the dialog. That's what happens in the overlays, I guess.
- Is the story relevant/do we care?/Does the audience act in an active position? 4/5
The dialog is really between Figment and Nigel Channing; he receives the action, not us. We are more observers and less guests.

16/20 POINTS: AUDIENCE APPEAL (I can see how kids will like the attraction, but the effects are lame and could easily bore older audiences. After all, there should be a "WOW" in Imagination)
- Young children: 5/5
- Adolescents/young adults: 3/5
- Parents/adults: 4/5
- Seniors: 4/5

8/20 POINTS: METHOD
- Novel technologies 3/10
There is hardly any new technology in this attraction. There are clever special effects, and that's about it. Although I am trying to judge this independent of the original ride, there was actually a dumbing down of new technology.
- Is the attraction quality up to Disney standards? 5/10
Most of the attraction space seems to be covered up by curtains. In this sense, there is a lot of "bad show," but the Institute feel was pulled off (at least in JIYI).

9/20 POINTS: ENGAGING ELEMENTS
- Endearing or effecive characters/emotional story: 4/10
Figment is not an endearing character in his new attraction. If anything, he is Bugs Bunny in purple form. He's not a character you can cuddle or 'aww' at; he now farts, interrupts, has attempted to be "modernized" (Gap?), examines his fingernails, and acts as a nuissance. In other words, Disney has taken the essence out of Figment and has used a purple dragon as a means to please people who wanted Figment back. He's here physically, and we can admire him to a certain degree, but he's lost his childish delight - the ENDEARING aspect. The story is not emotional; Channing receives all of the action, not us.
- Inspiration or fulfillment/take-home point/message: 5/10
5 points at an attempt. However, what does "letting your imagination set free" mean? Imagination has now become a ficticious attraction; we're in a story without a true experience. Figment teaches Channing something about the professor's beliefs, not our own. In that sense, we don't leave with much substance. However, at least the song has been brought back, which does hold the inspiring message: "A dream can be a dream come true with just that spark in me and you." Unfortunately, that message was not exactly proven.

8/15 POINTS: Other elements
- Queue/Preshow and/or Postshow: 2/5
The queue has video screens without videos. They're not needed without lines, I suppose. The postshow looks like a McDonalds with a severe dumbing down of the ImageWorks. In other words, there is nothing unique or exhilarating here.
- Music/soundtrack: 5/5
Glad the song is back!
- Does this attraction truly add to the themed land/park/resort?: 1/5
This attraction does not fit fully into the story of Imagination. First of all, it starts with the senses, and it then turns to deliver a message that relates more to the characters Disney made up and less to the park guests. In this sense, it lacks imagination in what should be the most imaginative Disney pavilion.

FINAL GRADE = 60/100
===================================================

TOWER OF TERROR REVIEW:
25/25 POINTS: STORY
- Clear, creative, original storyline: 10/10
A very creative and original story to the Twilight Zone theme.
- Do the elements and effects serve the storyline? 10/10
Special effects definitely do.
- Is the story relevant/do we care?/Does the audience act in an active position? 5/5
We are directly put into the action.

14/20 POINTS: AUDIENCE APPEAL
- Young children: 2/5
- Adolescents/young adults: 5/5
- Parents/adults: 4/5
- Seniors: 3/5

20/20 POINTS: METHOD
- Novel technologies 10/10
Both in show and in ride system
- Is the attraction quality up to Disney standards? 10/10
Detail and quailty is everywhere.

18/20 POINTS: ENGAGING ELEMENTS
- Endearing or effecive characters/emotional story: 10/10
This is definitely an emotional story that directly messes with our brains.
- Inspiration or fulfillment/take-home point/message/Disney difference: 8/10
The attraction is fulfilling in its special effects added to the thrill factor. Most Disney thrill attractions do not add this bonus (i.e. Test Track); the expected thrill is the result. Here, as in Splash Mountian, there is the Disney difference. Not exactly a point taken home, however. (Had to add in this factor as hardly anything in MGM deals with take home points).

15/15 POINTS: Other elements
- Queue/Preshow and/or Postshow: 5/5
Definite plusses.
- Music/soundtrack: 5/5
It fits nicely with the ride timing.
- Does this attraction truly add to the themed land/park/resort?: 5/5
It deals with television, so it does relate well to the Disney-MGM studios in my opinion.

FINAL GRADE = 92/100 A+++++

THIS IS WHERE I STOP. . . and where you post your ideas, using this scale or offering suggestions/seeing problems. I'll be independently doing this to every attraction over the coming months and ultimately come up with a category listing (90s/80s/70s/60s/wewon'tgothere) for every attraction this rating pertains to. It's fun.

Anyone wanna try with Stitch?

 

[FigmentJedi]

Ouch for JIIWF. Well, it does need some serious improvement. I want Dreamfinder back along with ToD's Dreamseekers as characters in a replacement for HISTA.

 

[Djali999]

okay, for fun I'll try it...

Stitch's Great Escape!
STORY (19/25)
- Clear, creative, original storyline: 7/10 (contrary to popular rumors, I'm not sure where people are getting that the plot to SGE is unclear, especially considering that what you're doing and what's going on are spelled out clearly in the first five minutes. saying it's unoriginal is unfair - it's basically AE, which whould have been expected. besides, many Disney rides are based on an excellent variation of a classic attraction concept - Mansion, Splash, Space)
- Do the elements and effects serve the storyline? 8/10 (There's nothing extranous here as far as I'm concerned)
- Is the story relevant/do we care?/Does the audience act in an active position? 4/5 (I suppose this is an opinion rather than an objective scale, as I'm sure there are plenty of people around here who entered activley trying to
NOT care. In all the instances where I've been on the attraction with 'real' people (not CMs or APs), the reaction was quite good and consistent)

12/15 POINTS: AUDIENCE APPEAL
- Young children: 2/5 (this thing scares their diapers off)
- Adolescents/young adults: 5/5 (it does what it needed to do)
- Parents/adults: 5/5 (I rate this based on what I've heard adults saying around the park afterwards, which was uniformly positive)
- Seniors: 0/5 (never gotten any seniors' reactions, so I'm gonna just not rate this one. it'll probably be low, as the show is loud and rediculous and very in your face. it'll probably be recieved by that age group the same way alien was - poorly)

20/20 POINTS: METHOD
- Novel technologies 10/10 (as far as I'm concerned, SGE has the widest array of tricks WDI can conjure up. and the figures are simply breathtaking, which warrants an immediate 10/10 even if you're not too impressed by all the other stuff they're able to do in this show)
- Is the attraction quality up to Disney standards? 10/10 (rating objectivley here, not 'pie in the sky' fantasy wish fulfilment - it was nothing I didn't expect, and more than I had hoped for)

13/20 POINTS: ENGAGING ELEMENTS
- Endearing or effecive characters/emotional story: 8/10 (given that Stitch is a homicidal maniac, which I find endearing, I've actually gotten quite attached to Sarge and those two odd little technician aliens - Skippy is excluded, as he was the only endearing thing about AE)
- Inspiration or fulfillment/take-home point/message: 5/10 (I was inspired to ride it again, but no, it doesn't, and does not try to, reach the level of, say, Mansion. but really, do many Disney attractions? I know Mission: Space doesn't inspire me to be an astronaut. Test Track doesn't inspire me to drive just below the speed limit on an incline. Malestrom doesn't inspire me to visit Norway. Alien Encounter didn't inspire me to do much of anything)

13/15 POINTS: Other elements
- Queue/Preshow and/or Postshow: 5/5 (given the limited space both this and Alien were shoehorned into, both attractions put forth fantastic preshows. The post-show in AE was a light up sign (a funny one), and the same holds true for SGE)
- Music/soundtrack: 3/5 (not bad music, but the organ is frankly wierd. it plays as more a parody of the (excellent) AE soundtrack than anything)
- Does this attraction truly add to the themed land/park/resort?: 5/5 (AE was the glue that really held Tomorrowland '95 together thematically and conceptually, but Buzz threw everything out of alignment. Like it or not, Tomorrowland's heading in a cartoonier direction, and although it may not be a direction you personally approve of, Stitch makes the area more consistent and it sure fits better into MK than AE ever had any business of being there)

FINAL GRADE: 77/95 = or an average of about 81. I think this is fair. FYI, I would have rated Philharmagic higher, AE lower, and Malestrom about a 70-75/100. (I think it's unfair to say it has a cohesive storyline and Stitch does not - the current show in Imagination holds together better than Malestrom does)

My extended defense of SGE is not that I'm saying that it's a great attraction - it's kind of wierd and doesn't always 'work'. I am simply saying that I like it a lot, and will continue to ride it. SGE is something of a 'cult' attraction - much like Country Bears, which I don't like, but can concede that it plays damn well with the right audience. I'm the right audience for SGE. Alien didn't play all that well with me (not as well as I wished it had), so I can only view the fun, funny SGE as an improvement.

 

[General Grizz]

okay, for fun I'll try it...

Stitch's Great Escape!
STORY (19/25)
- Clear, creative, original storyline: 7/10 (contrary to popular rumors, I'm not sure where people are getting that the plot to SGE is unclear, especially considering that what you're doing and what's going on are spelled out clearly in the first five minutes. saying it's unoriginal is unfair - it's basically AE, which whould have been expected. besides, many Disney rides are based on an excellent variation of a classic attraction concept - Mansion, Splash, Space)
- Do the elements and effects serve the storyline? 8/10 (There's nothing extranous here as far as I'm concerned)
- Is the story relevant/do we care?/Does the audience act in an active position? 4/5 (I suppose this is an opinion rather than an objective scale, as I'm sure there are plenty of people around here who entered activley trying to
NOT care. In all the instances where I've been on the attraction with 'real' people (not CMs or APs), the reaction was quite good and consistent)

12/15 POINTS: AUDIENCE APPEAL
- Young children: 2/5 (this thing scares their diapers off)
- Adolescents/young adults: 5/5 (it does what it needed to do)
- Parents/adults: 5/5 (I rate this based on what I've heard adults saying around the park afterwards, which was uniformly positive)
- Seniors: 0/5 (never gotten any seniors' reactions, so I'm gonna just not rate this one. it'll probably be low, as the show is loud and rediculous and very in your face. it'll probably be recieved by that age group the same way alien was - poorly)

20/20 POINTS: METHOD
- Novel technologies 10/10 (as far as I'm concerned, SGE has the widest array of tricks WDI can conjure up. and the figures are simply breathtaking, which warrants an immediate 10/10 even if you're not too impressed by all the other stuff they're able to do in this show)
- Is the attraction quality up to Disney standards? 10/10 (rating objectivley here, not 'pie in the sky' fantasy wish fulfilment - it was nothing I didn't expect, and more than I had hoped for)

13/20 POINTS: ENGAGING ELEMENTS
- Endearing or effecive characters/emotional story: 8/10 (given that Stitch is a homicidal maniac, which I find endearing, I've actually gotten quite attached to Sarge and those two odd little technician aliens - Skippy is excluded, as he was the only endearing thing about AE)
- Inspiration or fulfillment/take-home point/message: 5/10 (I was inspired to ride it again, but no, it doesn't, and does not try to, reach the level of, say, Mansion. but really, do many Disney attractions? I know Mission: Space doesn't inspire me to be an astronaut. Test Track doesn't inspire me to drive just below the speed limit on an incline. Malestrom doesn't inspire me to visit Norway. Alien Encounter didn't inspire me to do much of anything)

13/15 POINTS: Other elements
- Queue/Preshow and/or Postshow: 5/5 (given the limited space both this and Alien were shoehorned into, both attractions put forth fantastic preshows. The post-show in AE was a light up sign (a funny one), and the same holds true for SGE)
- Music/soundtrack: 3/5 (not bad music, but the organ is frankly wierd. it plays as more a parody of the (excellent) AE soundtrack than anything)
- Does this attraction truly add to the themed land/park/resort?: 5/5 (AE was the glue that really held Tomorrowland '95 together thematically and conceptually, but Buzz threw everything out of alignment. Like it or not, Tomorrowland's heading in a cartoonier direction, and although it may not be a direction you personally approve of, Stitch makes the area more consistent and it sure fits better into MK than AE ever had any business of being there)

FINAL GRADE: 77/95 = or an average of about 81. I think this is fair. FYI, I would have rated Philharmagic higher, AE lower, and Malestrom about a 70-75/100. (I think it's unfair to say it has a cohesive storyline and Stitch does not - the current show in Imagination holds together better than Malestrom does)

My extended defense of SGE is not that I'm saying that it's a great attraction - it's kind of wierd and doesn't always 'work'. I am simply saying that I like it a lot, and will continue to ride it. SGE is something of a 'cult' attraction - much like Country Bears, which I don't like, but can concede that it plays damn well with the right audience. I'm the right audience for SGE. Alien didn't play all that well with me (not as well as I wished it had), so I can only view the fun, funny SGE as an improvement.

Thank you so much -- I am especially glad to hear this from you, a Cast Member.

As for Maelstrom/Stitch, Maelstrom has a clear storyline, although it is much more simple: a trip through Norway, back in time, etc. Stitch's storyline is existing, but it seems weak: capturing aliens until they turn nice, seeing Stitch come in, take over, and leave. We, as guests, are then thrown out: "We don't need you." Again, that's just my viewpoint, and your description in this review made it a lot more clear for me, actually.

The funny thing is, I would ride Stitch over Maelstrom today if I had the chance, yet Stitch rated lower as an attraction. I guess the scale works in a more objective view, which was my intent, but I'm sure a little bias is thrown in here or there.

Same goes for Figment; if I have time to spare, I'll take a spin on the new attraction.

My main concern, then, with Stitch is that its target audience isn't you - it's the kids. And when a portion of the kids get their pants scared off, then Disney may be in for it at Guest Relations. . .

 

[One Lil Spark]

As for "no story at all," I probably wouldn't rate Magic Carpets, Astro, Dumbo, TTA, etc. on this scale. Attractions like "Living with the Land," "Tower of Terror," and "Splash Mountain."

I think TTA has a storyline!!

 

[General Grizz]

I think TTA has a storyline!!

Go for it, Spark! The grading rubric is all over this thread.

 

[FigmentJedi]

Thank you so much -- I am especially glad to hear this from you, a Cast Member.

As for Maelstrom/Stitch, Maelstrom has a clear storyline, although it is much more simple: a trip through Norway, back in time, etc. Stitch's storyline is existing, but it seems weak: capturing aliens until they turn nice, seeing Stitch come in, take over, and leave. We, as guests, are then thrown out: "We don't need you." Again, that's just my viewpoint, and your description in this review made it a lot more clear for me, actually.

Maybe it's more of a "Crap! It got away! We need to call in the pros, you're released from duty! Sarge was right, this prisoner was way over your and our heads! We find it best to let you go for now..."

 

[Djali999]

As for Maelstrom/Stitch, Maelstrom has a clear storyline, although it is much more simple: a trip through Norway, back in time, etc. Stitch's storyline is existing, but it seems weak: capturing aliens until they turn nice, seeing Stitch come in, take over, and leave. We, as guests, are then thrown out: "We don't need you." Again, that's just my viewpoint, and your description in this review made it a lot more clear for me, actually.

I think that "doing stuff" in Norway is a lot weaker a plot thread than "doing something" in the Galatic Federation Prisoner Teleport Center, but that's just me. Part of my glee regarding Maelstrom is how random and disconnected it is - first there's a big head with lights, then vikings are burning their own village down (with Exit signs), then some trolls are there, then there's a big shining castle next to a big troll rock that pants.... it really has no internal logic at all. But then again, neither does Jungle Cruise. But I <3 Maelstrom.

in regard to the "we don't need you", actually, Pleakley says as you exit: "Today's emergency is over - so you're done! When you **report for work tomorrow,** leave the phones at home! And please - don't feed the prisoners!" So: your first day of orientation has concluded with the resolution of the "daily emergency".

My main concern, then, with Stitch is that its target audience isn't you - it's the kids. And when a portion of the kids get their pants scared off, then Disney may be in for it at Guest Relations. . .

Every Disney attraction frightens children. Journey Into Your Imagination With Figment frightens children. Snow White frightens children. Philharmagic frightens children. Small World frightens everyone.... I've seen screaming children carried off Buzz Lightyear. This is nothing new at Disney. I think AE got such a bad reaction because of it's tone, not it's function. They begin the attraction by barbequeing the cutest character in the attraction alive and then nuetralizing his existence.

Last night, actually, I saw several children who entered the main show looking quite concerned come off looking fine - the screaming children faction is in a minority of this show as it is in any theme park attraction. Most of it comes from parents who were foolish enough to insist on bringing their underage children into this thing.

I'm doing my part to spread the word that the show is not for young children, as are most CMs who've seen the thing, as well as those who work there. When Philharmagic opened up, screaming children would be carried out in droves during "Be Our Guest". Now, it rarely happens. Disney's great at hiding traumatic rides inside family friendly boxes. The staff just needs to get acclimated to the 'climate' of the show. It's starting to stabalize out.

 

[dxwwf3]

I think AE got such a bad reaction because of it's tone, not it's function. They begin the attraction by barbequeing the cutest character in the attraction alive and then nuetralizing his existence.

And I wouldn't have had it any other way :lol:

Seriously though, I agree with your post. There are some kids that would be scared by a bird flying in the air. That's just how it goes.

 

[One Lil Spark]

Okay, here's my version of TTA! Keep in mind it's being applied loosely, so read it and see if you can see where I'm going with what I have to work with. Thanks all!

25 POINTS: STORY
--Clear, creative, original storyline - 8 out of 10 - I think if you walk into Tomorrowland knowing that you are entering the future and dealing with aliens and other lifeforms of the future than this is a creative story!
--Do the elements and effects serve the storyline? - 7 out of 10 - You're being taken around Tomorrowland seeing all that makes up the land. Even the Buzz Lightyear lead in invites you to basically join their futuristic police force to fight the Evil Emperor Zurg!
--Is the story relevant/do we care?/Does the audience act in an active position? - 3 out of 5 - We really don't have an active roll, but we really enjoy looking around this land from above it all. It makes you feel like you're in the Jetsons flying above all the people.

20 POINTS: Audience Appeal
Young children - 5
Adolescents/young adults - 5
Parents/adults - 5
Seniors - 5 (even if all the 5's are just for the relaxation part!)

20 POINTS: Method
--Novel technologies - 10 of 10 - It's simple, yet complicated all at the same time. It took me until I was 19 to realize that (I think) it's run by magnets!
--Is the attraction quality up to Disney standards? - 8 out of 10 - It needs a little work especially in the Metro/Retro section.

20 POINTS: Engaging elements
--Endearing or effecive characters/emotional story - 5 out of 10 - This is a hard one to judge with TTA, but I really think that emotional story doesn't have to be like a tear fest. I think that the uses of the random pages over the intercom are emotionally charged. I get a huge smile everytime I hear them.
--Inspiration or fulfillment/take-home point/message - 8 out of 10 - on it's face it helps you walk away eager for the future Disney style.

15 POINTS: Other elements
--Queue/Preshow and/or Postshow - 5 - A fast moving queue is always a plus!
--Music/soundtrack - 5
--Does this attraction truly add to the themed land/park/resort? - 5 - Always a plus when you can ride one of Walt's dreams came true in the park!

A total of 84/100!!

I may not have done this right, but YAYE TTA!!

 

[General Grizz]

. . .it really has no internal logic at all. But then again, neither does Jungle Cruise. But I <3 Maelstrom..

This is what makes this grading scale hard. With attractions like JC and PoTC that don't have 100% defined stories (just like Maelstrom), you can't necessarily take off for that. If IASW were created today, would we be so head over heels about it? That's truly a tough question. Maybe nostalgia points should be added for attractions like Space Mountain, because that doesn't really have a story - and the FedEx story is weak without the TV screens. Hmm.

in regard to the "we don't need you", actually, Pleakley says as you exit: "Today's emergency is over - so you're done! When you **report for work tomorrow,** leave the phones at home! And please - don't feed the prisoners!" So: your first day of orientation has concluded with the resolution of the "daily emergency".

Thank you. I was basing it off my impression, but I'm glad to know we have an expert on hand.

Every Disney attraction frightens children. Journey Into Your Imagination With Figment frightens children. Snow White frightens children. Philharmagic frightens children. Small World frightens everyone.... I've seen screaming children carried off Buzz Lightyear. This is nothing new at Disney.

Children can be scared of anything, including the Be Our Guest bottles. But Stitch's Great Escape is just plain scary - in the dark, things jumping up and down, screaming. We both rated SGE low on young children, but I rated Philharmagic very high; the bottles account only for a short portion, and there was never a great majority (if any) crying when I've visited. Stitch, as a whole, is just a scary attraction for kids.

Again, thank you for the rating. Thank you, too, Spark, for a remarkable 84 on TTA. I would have never thunk . . .

 

[basas]

Big Thunder Mountain REVIEW:
21/25 POINTS: STORY
- Clear, creative, original storyline: 8/10
Not really a "clear" storyline that most guests would pick up on but clever and serves its purpose.
- Do the elements and effects serve the storyline? 9/10
Town, loading station, and all the props are great for the riede.
- Is the story relevant/do we care?/Does the audience act in an active position? 4/5
Again, not really a story to be involved in but the "mine-train" idea is fun for all guests.

16/20 POINTS: AUDIENCE APPEAL
- Young children: 4/5
- Adolescents/young adults: 5/5
- Parents/adults: 4/5
- Seniors: 3/5

16/20 POINTS: METHOD
- Novel technologies 7/10
Standard roller coaster and effects-
Is the attraction quality up to Disney standards? 9/10
Lots of detail and not just a "standard" roller coaster.
15/20 POINTS: ENGAGING ELEMENTS
- Endearing or effecive characters/emotional story: 7/10
Puts you into the enviornment
- Inspiration or fulfillment/take-home point/message/Disney difference: 8/10
A classic, most remember it long after they go home, and a roller coaster "disneyfied".
11/15 POINTS: Other elements
- Queue/Preshow and/or Postshow: 3/5
Queue nice, although a bit boring and standard, preshow/postshow are non-exsistant.
- Music/soundtrack: 3/5
Nice music although not something most people will remember or "sing"
- Does this attraction truly add to the themed land/park/resort?: 5/5
It is a MK classic and fits great with the theme of Frontierland!

FINAL GRADE = 79/100 C+
Interesting thing is that its one of my favorites but didn't score particularily high...maybe i'm just tough

 

[General Grizz]

Big Thunder Mountain REVIEW:
21/25 POINTS: STORY
- Clear, creative, original storyline: 8/10
Not really a "clear" storyline that most guests would pick up on but clever and serves its purpose.
- Do the elements and effects serve the storyline? 9/10
Town, loading station, and all the props are great for the riede.
- Is the story relevant/do we care?/Does the audience act in an active position? 4/5
Again, not really a story to be involved in but the "mine-train" idea is fun for all guests.

16/20 POINTS: AUDIENCE APPEAL
- Young children: 4/5
- Adolescents/young adults: 5/5
- Parents/adults: 4/5
- Seniors: 3/5

16/20 POINTS: METHOD
- Novel technologies 7/10
Standard roller coaster and effects-
Is the attraction quality up to Disney standards? 9/10
Lots of detail and not just a "standard" roller coaster.
15/20 POINTS: ENGAGING ELEMENTS
- Endearing or effecive characters/emotional story: 7/10
Puts you into the enviornment
- Inspiration or fulfillment/take-home point/message/Disney difference: 8/10
A classic, most remember it long after they go home, and a roller coaster "disneyfied".
11/15 POINTS: Other elements
- Queue/Preshow and/or Postshow: 3/5
Queue nice, although a bit boring and standard, preshow/postshow are non-exsistant.
- Music/soundtrack: 3/5
Nice music although not something most people will remember or "sing"
- Does this attraction truly add to the themed land/park/resort?: 5/5
It is a MK classic and fits great with the theme of Frontierland!

FINAL GRADE = 79/100 C+
Interesting thing is that its one of my favorites but didn't score particularily high...maybe i'm just tough

I sang in the Big Thunder Mountain Queue. :zipit:

Giving a favorite attraction a poor grade is actually a strength! I'll do my own review of BTMR one day and post it here, seeing how it compares.