The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[Rich T]

…Maybe that's a situation where it really wouldn't be noticeable on MMRR if there were more physical props/animatronics/etc visible, but it still seems a bit nitpicky to me.

This is the thing. If the ride itself was more involving and differently designed, I wouldn’t be constantly glancing at the ceilings and thinking, “Man, this thing takes up a lot of space!”

I think this could be fixed. The ride could benefit from more physical reality and, overall, more of everything. 4D effects. Crazier vehicle motion. Mist-projections overhead. All the zaniness on this ride happens on flat screens. It needs to burst out toward the riders in the effective manner that the preshow does. And tilt the dang floors (or vehicles) in the waterfall rooms!
(Edit)
Maybe “mist projections overhead” isn’t a wise (or physically possible) suggestion. Please pretend I said “overhead scrim projections.”

 

[Rich T]

For me, the problem with MMRR (aside from the last car missing so much of Goofy) begins when Mickey and Minnie shriek about the track switch and how disastrous the situation is… and your vehicle gracefully glides out into a big room full of pretty scenery and zero story peril.

 

[PiratesMansion]

For me, the problem with MMRR (aside from the last car missing so much of Goofy) begins when Mickey and Minnie shriek about the track switch and how disastrous the situation is… and your vehicle gracefully glides out into a big room full of pretty scenery and zero story peril.

I suppose that particular moment (when the cars separate from the train) doesn't immediately go into anything intense, but I read it more that the conflict of the ride, at least initially, is simply that we're separated from Goofy and M&M, and that there isn't any immediate sense of peril beyond that at the start of the ride. This matches many cartoons, in which what starts as a small problem becomes bigger and bigger through further complications that arise.

MY main critique of the ride is one that involves vehicle movement in a diffferent sense: that the movement of the vehicles overall is more jerky and less fluid when compared to all the other Disney trackless rides (ROTR, Pooh, MM, Rat, you name it). For being the newest incarnation of the tech, it's far from the smoothest version of the technology.

 

[Rich T]

I suppose that particular moment (when the cars separate from the train) doesn't immediately go into anything intense, but I read it more that the conflict of the ride, at least initially, is simply that we're separated from Goofy and M&M, and that there isn't any immediate sense of peril beyond that at the start of the ride. This matches many cartoons, in which what starts as a small problem becomes bigger and bigger through further complications that arise.

Why isn’t Pete the villain on this ride, starting with that first big room? That would be so much more fun and involving than a cartoon tornado and randomly drifting from a dance studio into a factory.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Why isn’t Pete the villain on this ride, starting with that first big room? That would be so much more fun and involving than a cartoon tornado and randomly drifting from a dance studio into a factory.

I don't dispute that that would work as a solid story option, but I think cartoon logic justifies a seemingly random escalation of gags and locations.

 

[Rich T]

One major source of WDW news claims the Hatbox Ghost will be placed just to the left of the endless hallway in Florida. If true, that really kills the original, intentional slow-reveal of the mansion’s ghosts for that version of the attraction.

But, hey, that park is getting “Smellephants on Parade,” so… … yeah…

 

[mickEblu]

One major source of WDW news claims the Hatbox Ghost will be placed just to the left of the endless hallway in Florida. If true, that really kills the original, intentional slow-reveal of the mansion’s ghosts for that version of the attraction.

But, hey, that park is getting “Smellephants on Parade,” so… … yeah…

Now this would make no sense at all. So it must be true.

 

[MoonRakerSCM]

PHEW!

600 miles, 16 hours, 2 of which spent talking with a 90 year old man hearing about his stories from the 1930s.... and no sleep later, we got peaches, nectarines, plums, figs, jumbo golden raisins, pomegranate juice, pistachios, candied cantaloupe, chocolate nut chews, chocolate orange peel, taffy nut chews, and two types of beef jerky.

California has so much to offer all over the place; today we did just a few towns in the eastern central valley from Fresno to Bakersfield. Don't forget to take insane road trips whenever you can and explore the bountiful treasures of your state!

 

[Californian Elitist]

One major source of WDW news claims the Hatbox Ghost will be placed just to the left of the endless hallway in Florida. If true, that really kills the original, intentional slow-reveal of the mansion’s ghosts for that version of the attraction.

But, hey, that park is getting “Smellephants on Parade,” so… … yeah…

Why would they place him before the seance scene?

Seems like an afterthought to TDO and they’re only putting him in the attraction because fans begged for him after he returned home to ours (nearly 10 years ago, at that).

 

[Rich T]

Why would they place him before the seance scene?

Seems like an afterthought to TDO and they’re only putting him in the attraction because fans begged for him after he returned home to ours (nearly 10 years ago, at that).

I really hope that if this is, indeed, their plan, that someone with a clearer understanding of the mansion’s flow convinces them to change course.

If it IS true, my only guesses as to why they’d do this would be 1) it’s a cheaper install in that location or 2) it’s movie-related.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I really hope that if this is, indeed, their plan, that someone with a clearer understanding of the mansion’s flow convinces them to change course.

If it IS true, my only guesses as to why they’d do this would be 1) it’s a cheaper install in that location or 2) it’s movie-related.

Right. Who knows, maybe it won’t be bad. The location immediately has me perplexed and confused, though. It could be movie-related.

We shall see.

 

[Phroobar]

I really hope that if this is, indeed, their plan, that someone with a clearer understanding of the mansion’s flow convinces them to change course.

If it IS true, my only guesses as to why they’d do this would be 1) it’s a cheaper install in that location or 2) it’s movie-related.

I think it is both.

 

[lazyboy97o]

One major source of WDW news claims the Hatbox Ghost will be placed just to the left of the endless hallway in Florida. If true, that really kills the original, intentional slow-reveal of the mansion’s ghosts for that version of the attraction.

But, hey, that park is getting “Smellephants on Parade,” so… … yeah…

The source is Disney.

New Ghoulishly Delightful Ways to Celebrate 'Haunted Mansion' Film at Disney Parks

There’s no better place to celebrate the release of this film than at Disney Theme Parks, and we’re materializing frightfully fun ways to experience "Haunted Mansion" for a limited time.

disneyparks.disney.go.com

 

[Phroobar]

The source is Disney.

New Ghoulishly Delightful Ways to Celebrate 'Haunted Mansion' Film at Disney Parks

There’s no better place to celebrate the release of this film than at Disney Theme Parks, and we’re materializing frightfully fun ways to experience "Haunted Mansion" for a limited time.

disneyparks.disney.go.com

Is the Florida mansion going to be renamed the Crump Mansion? Will Winona Ryder be the tour guide?

 

[Rich T]

The source is Disney.

New Ghoulishly Delightful Ways to Celebrate 'Haunted Mansion' Film at Disney Parks

There’s no better place to celebrate the release of this film than at Disney Theme Parks, and we’re materializing frightfully fun ways to experience "Haunted Mansion" for a limited time.

disneyparks.disney.go.com

I heard it first from a third party, but seeing it officially confirmed just makes me go… aarrgh. It’s almost like the company is proud of being clueless about what makes their classics work.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Hopefully this is true… but you know how it goes with “I heard a CM say…”

 

[Californian Elitist]

One thing we can count on Bob to do is dance to some classic hip-hop tunes with the youngins’.

 

[CraftyFox]

Going back to the topic of former Bay Area themed attractions, does anybody remember the San Francisco Dungeon? It was the first of the Dungeon attractions to be built in the US and was located beside Fisherman's Wharf. I think it was a lot of fun (although the accuracy of the historical facts was dubious)!

 

[djlaosc]

I don't know if this is the correct place to ask this, but we are going on vacation to California and will be spending a couple of days in Los Angeles.

We are interested in going on a hike to the Hollywood Sign, but were looking for opinions on whether we should attempt to do this ourselves or whether we should join an organised tour, such as this tour from Bikes And Hikes LA.

Does anyone have any experience with this tour?

Thank you for your help.

 

[Consumer]

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned the passing of Paul Reubens, who of course provided the voice for Captain Rex on Star Tours and in the cantina.