The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[Rich T]

I change my answer: Though not as big a deal as RSR, I was pleasantly surprised by how well done and true-to-spirit the MK Country Bears semi-retheme turned out. It’s too short; one more song by the 5 Bear Rugs would have made it perfect (I’d vote for a bluegrass rendition of Strange Things.)

Also, Moana’s water thing at Epcot is excellent because 1) It’s based on an original in-house Disney IP 2) It’s clever, fun, surprising and edu-tational like classic Epcot 3) It didn’t destroy any Rivers of America and 4) It encourages guests to slow down and relax and isn’t trying to sell anything to anybody.

It’s the quality of smaller projects like these that give me hope that there are still creative people at DIsney who “get it.”

 

[Brer Oswald]

This board is by far the most negative place I've seen in terms of reception for Disneyland's MMRR.

Great queue, check. Fits thematically, check. Replaced nothing, check. Good capacity, check. Fun experience for all ages, check. Except here, where some people act like it's no better than something like Winnie the Pooh.

There is a fair amount of criticism of the WDW version for needlessly replacing Great Movie Ride, but virtually none for the DL version. Most people love it. Except here.

The ride itself is pretty mediocre. Everything surrounding it (namely the queue) is great. It’s a fine addition. Casuals do like it, though I feel they would love it even more if the execution was stronger.

 

[truecoat]

I forgot about this TV Funhouse animation from SNL, but man, does it skewer Disney.

It has it all, the Disney Vault, bad straight-to-video sequels, Walt's head, Song of the South, Disney's America, and even Jim Henson makes an appearance.

 

[Phroobar]

I forgot about this TV Funhouse animation from SNL, but man, does it skewer Disney.

It has it all, the Disney Vault, bad straight-to-video sequels, Walt's head, Song of the South, Disney's America, and even Jim Henson makes an appearance.

It's a rare gem when something on SNL is funny anymore.

 

[Rich T]

This board is by far the most negative place I've seen in terms of reception for Disneyland's MMRR.

Great queue, check. Fits thematically, check. Replaced nothing, check. Good capacity, check. Fun experience for all ages, check. Except here, where some people act like it's no better than something like Winnie the Pooh.

There is a fair amount of criticism of the WDW version for needlessly replacing Great Movie Ride, but virtually none for the DL version. Most people love it. Except here.

I haven’t yet been on the DL version, but the WDW ride—especially in the context of what it replaced—left me in no hurry to ride it again. It’s mostly gentle screen-based fun—kinda shrill and obnoxious. It takes up WAYYYY too much space for what it delivers.

But at DL, it adds capacity, didn’t destroy any classics, and has that awesome queue. So overall it’s a solid addition. The only negative post-it note I would stick to it would be “Wouldn’t it have been great if the huge pile of money had gone toward a BETTER ride? Or a VERSION of MMRR that addressed the MK ride’s weaknesses? But I agree that it’s an appropriate and helpful plus for Toontown.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

When was the last time Disney knocked it out of the park with a new attraction? I realize with social media and what the internet has become everyone these days has a platform. Everyone has a podcast. Everyone is an expert. We’re all food critics on Yelp. But like when Indiana Jones opened in 1995 did theme park nerds have notes? Or even RSR in 2012. I didn’t get active in the fan community until about 2014.

Recent homeruns:

Rise

BatB - the sets are a bit sparse, hence the criticism it sometimes receives, I think. But that's judging BatB as a,dark ride,,and overlooking that the movement of the vehicles is so much of the show. Like judging Thunder Mountain too sparse, when the coaster ride is the very point, rather than a means to transport you through sets. At BatB you twist and twirl like the objects and visuals of Be Our Guest themselves, and in the ballroom you are not a spectator, you dance, as if a guest.

Zootopia in Shanghai, not mentioned often, I love it.

TDS FS rides, might depend who you ask. I think they're great without necessarily being instant personal favourites. But that might change, I've done them once. Like music, some rides get better upon re-riding.

 

[truecoat]

Recent homeruns:

BatB - the sets are a bit sparse, hence the criticism it sometimes receives, I think. But that's judging BatB as a,dark ride,,and overlooking that the movement of the vehicles is so much of the show. Like judging Thunder Mountain too sparse, when the coaster ride is the very point, rather than a means to transport you through sets. At BatB you twist and twirl like the objects and visuals of Be Our Guest themselves, and in the ballroom you are not a spectator, you dance, as if a guest.

One great thing abut the BatB ride is capacity is having the trackless 10 person ride vehicles leaving the station 6 at a time must give this ride a decent throughput.

 

[MoonRakerSCM]

Some sort of glitch at the structure entrance kiosks today. Cash only.

 

[mickEblu]

Some sort of glitch at the structure entrance kiosks today. Cash only.

And if one didn’t have cash?

 

[MoonRakerSCM]

 

[chadwpalm]

And if one didn’t have cash?

 

[Phroobar]

This is the strangest looking pharmacist I've ever seen.

 

[CaptinEO]

View attachment 878059
This is the strangest looking pharmacist I've ever seen.

Crazy to me how for Halloween Universal and Knotts make full on technical marvels of walk throughs every single year and all Disney does is make 4 bad looking villains appear.

I get they are different events and aimed at different age groups, but Disney should absolutely do cool family friendly mazes/walkthroughs, this is embarassing.

 

[Phroobar]

Crazy to me how for Halloween Universal and Knotts make full on technical marvels of walk throughs every single year and all Disney does is make 4 bad looking villains appear.

I get they are different events and aimed at different age groups, but Disney should absolutely do cool family friendly mazes/walkthroughs, this is embarassing.

This would make a great maze....

for Universal's HHN.

 

[Disney Irish]

Crazy to me how for Halloween Universal and Knotts make full on technical marvels of walk throughs every single year and all Disney does is make 4 bad looking villains appear.

I get they are different events and aimed at different age groups, but Disney should absolutely do cool family friendly mazes/walkthroughs, this is embarassing.

I do wonder if Disney ever really looked into doing some type of experience like this at the domestic Parks, as wasn't it TDL or HKDL that used to do one.

But just thinking about this logistically, where would they even put the "mazes" or experiences like that at Disneyland? Its not like they have a large enough clear area to do it. I guess NOS in front of the river but that would block a bunch of stuff including views of the river and the walkways themselves. So space is not on their side here for such an experience at Disneyland proper, and DCA isn't much better.

I mean other than Guardians with its natural maze like queue in the Boiler Room (or whatever they call it now) and maybe RotR, I don't even know many attraction queues where you could do it.

Also I'm not sure that guests would really appreciate having a bunch of walls up all over the place to make these walkthrus and mazes. As it would really be not only a safety concern of having clear walkways but would also minimize a lot of the Park in ways that wouldn't be appealing to many outside of the "FrightFest" type crowd, an element that Disney probably doesn't want to bring into the Parks anyways.

I just think its not an ideal site for such an experience. And like you said, different audience age groups so not ideal there either.

Now maybe WDW would be a better site for such an experience, given they have lots of unused areas. So maybe it could happen there if Disney was ever willing to get into more of the "Fright" side of Halloween.

 

[mickEblu]

I do wonder if Disney ever really looked into doing some type of experience like this at the domestic Parks, as wasn't it TDL or HKDL that used to do one.

But just thinking about this logistically, where would they even put the "mazes" or experiences like that at Disneyland? Its not like they have a large enough clear area to do it. I guess NOS in front of the river but that would block a bunch of stuff including views of the river and the walkways themselves. So space is not on their side here for such an experience at Disneyland proper, and DCA isn't much better.

I mean other than Guardians with its natural maze like queue in the Boiler Room (or whatever they call it now) and maybe RotR, I don't even know many attraction queues where you could do it.

Also I'm not sure that guests would really appreciate having a bunch of walls up all over the place to make these walkthrus and mazes. As it would really be not only a safety concern of having clear walkways but would also minimize a lot of the Park in ways that wouldn't be appealing to many outside of the "FrightFest" type crowd, an element that Disney probably doesn't want to bring into the Parks anyways.

I just think its not an ideal site for such an experience. And like you said, different audience age groups so not ideal there either.

Now maybe WDW would be a better site for such an experience, given they have lots of unused areas. So maybe it could happen there if Disney was ever willing to get into more of the "Fright" side of Halloween.

Well there were/ are a couple empty soundstages in the Hollywood backlot but not for long.

 

[Disney Irish]

Well there were/ are a couple empty soundstages in the Hollywood backlot but not for long.

And sure you got the empty Magic Eye and Launch Bay too....

But when I think of Halloween mazes and the more "fright" side I don't see those couple locations as ideal for them or near being "good enough" for such an event.

I just don't see DLR as being an ideal large enough location for doing it, let alone the audience.

 

[mickEblu]

And sure you got the empty Magic Eye and Launch Bay too....

But when I think of Halloween mazes and the more "fright" side I don't see those couple locations as ideal for them or near being "good enough" for such an event.

I just don't see DLR as being an ideal large enough location for doing it, let alone the audience.

I don’t think that the maze thing would ever be Disney’s bread n butter for these Halloween events but there is no reason they could not have done a proper maze or two in the backlot.

 

[Disney Irish]

I don’t think that the maze thing would ever be Disney’s bread n butter for these Halloween events but there is no reason they could not have done a proper maze or two in the backlot.

Well that ship sailed so no use crying over spilled candy corn.

But yeah I agree I don't think it'll ever really be something Disney looks at for at least DLR.

 

[mickEblu]

Well that ship sailed so no use crying over spilled candy corn.

But yeah I agree I don't think it'll ever really be something Disney looks at for at least DLR.

No probably not but that may have been a good use of the abandoned ESPN Zone for a pay to play Disney Halloween maze etc. They could also plan for some flex space they can use for Halloween activities over on the Simba lot… if that ever happens.