The Shanghai Disneyland spoiler rich attraction preview thread!

[Stripes]

Bob said yesterday that they're speeding up plans to get Zootopia characters in the park. HELLO. How hard is it to get character costumes to Shanghai? They've been meeting in HKDL for some time now and Zootopia has been making money hand over fist in China for weeks, if not months at this point.

The lumbering bureaucracy that is Disney is truly something to witness in person. For being the "inventors" of synergy, they're sure taken a tumble when it comes to agility.

Hmm...interesting. I know that Zootopia is very popular among the public in China, however, considering the SDL is majority owned by the Chinese government, and the recent statements by China's state-owned media, including calling Zootopia "American propaganda", I'd have thought the government would veto any Zootopia in the park at all.

 

[mickEblu]

Hmm...interesting. I know that Zootopia is very popular among the public in China, however, considering the SDL is majority owned by the Chinese government, and the recent statements by China's state-owned media, including calling Zootopia "American propaganda", I'd have thought the government would veto any Zootopia in the park at all.

Why are they saying Zootopia is American propaganda? And how could it be more American propaganda then Shanghai Disneyland itself?

 

[jrhwdw]

As of now, the full Storybook Express:

 

[tirian]

WDW has a special place because of nostalgia and its overall resort atmosphere, but after visiting other Disney parks around the world, I realized how weak the WDW parks are considering their attendance levels. I hope the DHS makeover and future Epcot plans restore WDW's legacy.

Despite its perks, DL still feels like a local theme park, and its huge AP population treats it like a privately owned club. DLP and HKDK are beautiful diversions from much more interesting cities. TDL is the best operated, but still not a completely immersive world unto itself. SDL looks like a collection of greatest hits yet it's tailored for a specific audience. WDW should be the company's crown jewel, a getaway paradise. That's what it was for almost three decades, and I hope the company has the guts to make it their "best" again.

1) I didn't say nothing was happening - so stop that strawman right there
2) The comment was not on the volume of activity but what you actually get as the output

WDW is not the flagship of what Disney can do. It's been falling flat in service for years now, its been falling flat in innovation, and its a train wreck in vision. Attractions like Mystic Manor, RSR, Radiator Springs, BTMRR refurb at DLR, and now these Shanghi attractions are illustrating what the company can do. And WDW keeps getting crap. The peter pan updates and HM stand out to me in recent years as the only ones even in the same zipcode in terms of keeping Disney in the 'awe' category. The castle projections had promise, but is being let down creatively.

Yet all the while Disney is shaking everyone down for dollars everywhere they can. Hopefully the patterns will force people to wise up.

 

[jt04]

Watched the POTC video. Makes Spiderman look like a carnival midway ride. Imagineering has figured out how to put all the tech together. Just wow.

WARNING: Do not watch the video. We won't have anything like this for a year or 3.

You will never see the Walt Disney 'world' in the same way. This tech is crying out to be adapted to Dinosaur at DAK. And probably Everest. And a Jungle Book dark ride. My brain is exploded. Wow, can't wait for SWL.

 

[tirian]

Watched the POTC video. Makes Spiderman look like a carnival midway ride. Imagineering has figured out how to put all the tech together. Just wow.

WARNING: Do not watch the video. We won't have anything like this for a year or 3.

You will never see the Walt Disney 'world' in the same way. This tech is crying out to be adapted to Dinosaur at DAK. And probably Everest. And a Jungle Book dark ride. My brain is exploded. Wow, can't wait for SWL.

I'd love to see this with more AA's. IMO the attraction is a little weak without the AA-laden city (no auctioneer!), but the overall technology use is THRILLING. Combine the digital atmosphere with fully realized sets* and WDI would have a better ride presentation than Harry Potter. Yeah, I said it.

* which is what EPCOT Center did in 1982, albeit with lower-tech projection systems

 

[Donaldfan1934]

Ironically they'd have been better served by shoehorning in Zootopia in hindsight. I know @WDW1974 said plans are for Everest, Alice and a Marvel coaster, but Zootopia is really the only out and out success in China apart from some Marvel fare.

Except for one problem, Zootopia doesn't fit in Fantasyland. Why throw together another last minute theater show just to represent them?

 

[Mike S]

Watched the POTC video. Makes Spiderman look like a carnival midway ride. Imagineering has figured out how to put all the tech together. Just wow.

WARNING: Do not watch the video. We won't have anything like this for a year or 3.

You will never see the Walt Disney 'world' in the same way. This tech is crying out to be adapted to Dinosaur at DAK. And probably Everest. And a Jungle Book dark ride. My brain is exploded. Wow, can't wait for SWL.

Um, no. Spider-Man is still a huge benchmark in combining sets and screens and having them interact with one another seamlessly.

I'd love to see this with more AA's. IMO the attraction weakens without the AA-laden city (no auctioneer!), but the overall technology use is THRILLING. Combine the digital atmosphere with fully realized sets* and WDI would have a better ride presentation than Harry Potter. Yeah, I said it.

* which is what EPCOT Center did in 1982, albeit with lower-tech projection systems

I would hope they could top Harry Potter eventually. It would be embarrassing if they didn't.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Hmm...interesting. I know that Zootopia is very popular among the public in China, however, considering the SDL is majority owned by the Chinese government, and the recent statements by China's state-owned media, including calling Zootopia "American propaganda", I'd have thought the government would veto any Zootopia in the park at all.

The Chinese government does not speak and act in a singular manner. The comments to which you are referring came out of the military, who are not the same people who approved the film for theatrical release nor the people in Shanghai involved with the park.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

I'd love to see this with more AA's. IMO the attraction weakens without the AA-laden city (no auctioneer!), but the overall technology use is THRILLING. Combine the digital atmosphere with fully realized sets* and WDI would have a better ride presentation than Harry Potter. Yeah, I said it.

Yeah -- how many AA's does the original Pirates have?

In this new one I count 4. Granted, they each look reaaally good, but, still.

Part of me also wishes they'd found a nicer way to make sense of the transitions above and below the water -- floating through a visible flume at the bottom of the ocean? Do the guests feel anything when they break the surface of the water into the battle scene? I appreciate the ambition of the attraction, and definitely respect it as a solid new entry into the Disney Dark Ride canon, but part of what has always made Pirates a pantheon of design is how little belief you have to suspend to believe what's happening before you. It all seems so real. Seems like there are some glaring reminders here that you are on a theme park ride (albeit a very good one). Sort of annoying when you consider the trouble they went to cement the illusions in many other portions of the attraction. But perhaps it requires experiencing in person to forgive - those guests in the video certainly seem pleased.

 

[Stripes]

Um, no. Spider-Man is still a huge benchmark in combining sets and screens and having them interact with one another seamlessly.

I would hope they could top Harry Potter eventually. It would be embarrassing if they didn't.

While Spider-Man is definitely one of the most innovative attractions ever, especially considering its day, I wouldn't call the screen/set integration "seamless". Talking to someone who has rode POTC, the projections are apparently so convincing in person that you can't tell what's set/real and what's not, whereas in Spider-Man it is dead obvious. Not to mention the need to wear 3D glasses wholly destroys the immersion, in a similar way that Pepsi products being sold in Cars Land destroy the immersion.

Edit: Didn't read "still", please disregard everything above.

In my opinion, feel free to disagree, POTC Shanghai has to be the best dark ride in the world. The innovative ride system, the amazing set/screen integration, unbelievable AAs, the immersion/scale/depth, combine to make this an unworldly experience. I say this without even riding the attraction, but given the reactions of those who have, it seems that such accusations are qualified nicely. There are things that could be improved (more AAs perhaps), but IMO no other attraction has come this close to perfection.

 

[Mike S]

While Spider-Man is definitely one of the most innovative attractions ever, especially considering its day, I wouldn't call the screen/set integration "seamless". Talking to someone who has rode POTC, the projections are apparently so convincing in person that you can't tell what's set/real and what's not, whereas in Spider-Man it is dead obvious. Not to mention the need to wear 3D glasses wholly destroys the immersion, in a similar way that Pepsi products being sold in Cars Land destroy the immersion.

In my opinion, feel free to disagree, POTC Shanghai has to be the best dark ride in the world. The innovative ride system, the amazing set/screen integration, unbelievable AAs, the immersion/scale/depth, combine to make this an unworldly experience. I say this without even riding the attraction, but given the reactions of those who have, it seems that such accusations are qualified nicely. There are things that could be improved (more AAs perhaps), but IMO no other attraction has come this close to perfection.

I agree. I was merely arguing his point about Pirates making Spidey look like a Midway ride. If anything looks like a Midway ride, it's the one with Midway in its name. The seamless integration I was talking about are effects like Spider-Man jumping on the real set fire escape before going on the vehicle and Hobgoblin exploding the bridge. All of this is still very effective and convincing to this day. Also I just noticed something else in the ride for the very first time last weekend. Next time you ride and get to the part where he goes up against both Electro and Hydroman, look up. I'll leave it at that.

 

[Stripes]

I agree. I was merely arguing his point about Pirates making Spidey look like a Midway ride. If anything looks like a Midway ride, it's the one with Midway in its name. The seamless integration I was talking about are effects like Spider-Man jumping on the real set fire escape before going on the vehicle and Hobgoblin exploding the bridge. All of this is still very effective and convincing to this day. Also I just noticed something else in the ride for the very first time last weekend. Next time you ride and get to the part where he goes up against both Electro and Hydroman, look up. I'll leave it at that.

Yes, I noticed when I re-read through the thread. I agree, Spider-Man has aged amazingly well! I'll have look out for that (Electro/Hydroman scene) next time. Anyway, back to SDL!

 

[Stripes]

BTW, if anyone can understand Chinese, or finds a translation, I would be very grateful if you could post a translation. Thank you in advance!

 

[rioriz]

I want to know the flume situation because it seems at one point, when the boat blows up the boats are pulled downward or extremely fast backwards


There is so much to this ride we dont know as far as movement that could change many opinions

 

[Robbiemoo]

To anyone that's seen it in person does Pirates feel like an updated version of the Mexico ride at EPCOT rather than a a full AA ride like the original?

 

[xoAli]

WDW has to step up its game. After seeing all the things Shanghai has to offer I'm seeing how weak the American parks actually are. And I can't believe it, being so massive, popular - why not have the same if not better things? Technology wise and whatnot. We have been given new things, yes - but pretty tame stuff, basic so to speak. But Shanghai? It's at a whole other level.

 

[friedriches]

It goes back to what they're talking about in the current Spirit thread. WDW doesn't have the budget because of MM+.

 

[Bairstow]

It goes back to what they're talking about in the current Spirit thread. WDW doesn't have the budget because of MM+.

Or Avatar... or Star Wars... or that New Fantasyland they just built... or...

 

[dweezil78]

To anyone that's seen it in person does Pirates feel like an updated version of the Mexico ride at EPCOT rather than a a full AA ride like the original?

Yes. Most guests are coming off with strong comparisons to the original Rio del Tiempo as well as If You Had Wings -- both of which are very popular among Shanghai guests.