Got to say I was a BIG fan of Mission to Mars. But we now have a much better version of that over at Epcot. Never a big fan of AE and I understand why Disney didn't like and why many people on this board loved it. It was very much "out of Disney's comfort zone" which parents hated and young adults loved. Stitch is bad. Really bad. There has to be something else that can be done here.
I guess I'm in the minority as usual, then, because I was a "young adult" when AE was open, and have never been a parent, and when it was open it was my least favorite attraction in the history of the Magic Kingdom! Too dark, cynical, and un-Disneylike for my taste, and out of my "Disney comfort zone!"
When Stitch opened, I considered it a MAJOR improvement over AE, and still do!
Well, it's surprising--they geared the attraction toward kids who aren't tall enough to see it.
I think that's the problem--with the animatronics, they could make a fantastic show for the older set, but they created a (very thin) story and script that doesn't really appeal to those of us >40".
Again, I'm in the minority, but as someone quite a bit taller than 40 inches (and over age 30), I really enjoy Stitch's Great Escape! I think the character is cute and I enjoy his playfully anarchic spirit in the attraction. Granted, it's not in my MK or WDW Top 10, but I enjoy it enough for it to be in my regular MK rotation (which AE was never in, and neither is Laugh Floor).
Then again, I'm used to enjoying attractions that are supposedly "kiddie", and my Disney favorites include things like EVERYTHING in Fantasyland, Mickey's Toontown Fair, the Country Bears, Tiki Birds, the singing critter elements of Splash Mountain, Figment (BOTH the original AND current), Seas With Nemo and Friends, Gran Fiesta Tour, etc. I even love the Playhouse Disney show at the Studios!