The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[spaceghost]

Where abouts? I spent some time in Millinocket.

Bangor area. Millinocket is a shell of what it used to be. Very sad.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Speaking of Disneyland Paris' neglected Mark Twain, did not the Magic Kingdom's other riverboat quite literally fall to pieces?

It did, but it happened around 1980 so everyone's forgotten there even was a second riverboat.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

The condition of the Mark Twain has actually become worse. The sagging wood on the side that Alain highlighted has since collapsed to reveal the metal structure beneath.

Seen here.
http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2014/09/news-for-dlp-frontierland-mark-twain.html

 

[misterID]

Mysterious Island is fully enclosed. Once you're inside Mount Prometheus, you're totally immersed in the world of Verne. It doesn't, however, have the hundreds of tiny details Diagon does - you could see it all in a couple of hours, which isn't true of Diagon.

I've never ridden JTTCOTE but I've heard over and over again how the ride is a bit of a letdown, meaning the queue and the building are rich in detail, but the ride feels lacking, considering the build up to the actual ride and then the finale with the lava monster is a bit of an anticlimactic visual. But the land itself is stellar. No one is saying it's terrible by any means, just that it isn't what people continue to build it up as.

That's sort of the feeling with EFG. The land is fantastic but you walk away a bit bummed that the ride didn't live up to the hype... but, EFG gets better the more you ride it and you get over your initial disappointment. I hate to call it a disappointment though, because it is a cool ride... but the ride in my head was a lot better. DA is incredible though.

 

[BrerJon]

I've never ridden JTTCOTE but I've heard over and over again how the ride is a bit of a letdown, meaning the queue and the building are rich in detail, but the ride feels lacking, considering the build up to the actual ride and the finale with the lava monster is a bit of an anticlimactic visual. But the land itself is stellar. No one is saying it's terrible by any means, just that it isn't what people continue to build it up as.

That's sort of the feeling with EFG. The land is fantastic but you walk away a bit bummed that the ride didn't live up to the hype... but, EFG gets better the more your ride it and you get over your initial disappointment. I hate to call it a disappointment though, because it is a cool ride... but the ride in my head was a lot better. DA is incredible though.

Yeah, that's all very fair. The ride for JTTCOE doesn't match the level of the queue, but it's still better than Test Track in my view (I haven't been on Radiator Springs so can't compare it to that).

 

[lazyboy97o]

Yeah, that's all very fair. The ride for JTTCOE doesn't match the level of the queue, but it's still better than Test Track in my view (I haven't been on Radiator Springs so can't compare it to that).

While the Cadillac Range is impressive, it is no Mount Prometheus. The interior scenes of Radiator Springs Racers is also not nearly as elaborate, even if there are more advanced figures.

 

[Captain Neo]

The interior parts of Radiator Springs Racers is horrible. Its just an empty warehouse with all the lighting and ceiling exposed and theres a few lightly themed areas scattered here and there with an AA or two. It should have been more detailed and themed with maybe darker lighting so that we can't see the whole building around us. Not sure how I can explain it better but they need to look at the Indiana Jones Ride (both CA and Japan), Splash Mountain, Tower of Terror and the original Star Tours queue to see what I mean about immersive theming.

 

[Bolna]

DLP sounds like it's being run even worse than WDW. At least they got Ratatouille and the hotels are getting full returbishments but they need more.

DLP has huge issues with upkeep. But you can't really compare the management at WDW and the management of DLP (which btw in the past was run on the operational level by George Kalogridis who now runs WDW) because they both operate in totally different environments. While the results might look similar, there are different reasons behind it with DLP having huge financial troubles since the beginning.

However, I do think that the strategies put in place at DLP in the early years after opening when they were just desperately trying to stay afloat have made their way to the WDW to help with the constant push of increasing revenue from year to year.

 

[Mike S]

I've never ridden JTTCOTE but I've heard over and over again how the ride is a bit of a letdown, meaning the queue and the building are rich in detail, but the ride feels lacking, considering the build up to the actual ride and then the finale with the lava monster is a bit of an anticlimactic visual. But the land itself is stellar. No one is saying it's terrible by any means, just that it isn't what people continue to build it up as.

That's sort of the feeling with EFG. The land is fantastic but you walk away a bit bummed that the ride didn't live up to the hype... but, EFG gets better the more you ride it and you get over your initial disappointment. I hate to call it a disappointment though, because it is a cool ride... but the ride in my head was a lot better. DA is incredible though.

I wasn't disappointed with EFG. I do wish the coaster sections were a bit longer but the ride still lived up pretty well to my expectations. From what I've seen in video I'm sure JTTCOTE will impress me just the same when/if I ever ride it in person. Same goes for RSR come February.

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

Since when? I've never had any issue taping in the Carousel of Progress (though I haven't tried the last few years, since I have multiple copies), nor with Imagination and Horizons (I have a 1983 copy of Horizons shot with a portable Betamax - like carrying a box of lead bricks around the park!).

Since they make an announcement prior to every show no photography or video recording. It's been that way for a few years now. So technically you're not supposed to do it though I'm sure many people do. We have before but since there is an announcement made now, I wouldn't try it, simply because I follow the rules there. If I don't want people take flash photos on rides, I too better follow the rules!

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

I wasn't disappointed with EFG. I do wish the coaster sections were a bit longer but the ride still lived up pretty well to my expectations. From what I've seen in video I'm sure JTTCOTE will impress me just the same when/if I ever ride it in person. Same goes for RSR come February.

RSR is by far my favorite attraction in any Disney park. It did NOT disappoint me at all! My sister and I got off the ride, jaws to the floor and I said "now THAT is what a Disney ride should be!!"

 

[cjkeating]

I'm not surprised, as Miceage is generally slow to report DLP news.

What I'm wondering is why wasn't this reported sooner on twitter when multiple DLP related accounts are running daily (or near daily) pics of the park?

The Mark Twain is typically held in a dry dock which is hidden by scrims on the route of the Rivers of America, as the Molly Brown is in the dry dock the Mark Twain had to be removed. From the pictures I am sure they are glad it didn't sink!

 

[SirLink]

DLP sounds like it's being run even worse than WDW. At least they got Ratatouille and the hotels are getting full returbishments but they need more.

They have had other key refurbishments in recent memory. To make DLPR work is that they can't have Bull and Bear visitors it is all about consistency across the board - that should be their MO.

 

[TP2000]

Tying in with WDW news this week, one of the many neglected parts of DLP is their Backlot Tour.

When I rode that earlier this year, the video that replaces the tour guide CM spiel had no sound working whatsoever.

So the entire tour was completely silent, nobody knew what they were looking at, even Catastrophe Canyon had no 'explanation' to be heard, and the disinterested CM made no attempt to fill in with their own description, and stayed silent throughout. You could have heard a pin drop, it felt more like a funeral procession than a Backlot Tour.

I hope they've fixed that now, but it wouldn't surprise me if they hadn't. This was after all the same park that ran Rock 'n' Roller coaster without music for several months.

This sounds like the type of systemic thing that should get Disneyland Paris executives fired for not holding up their end of the Disney licensing agreement. If anyone in Burbank cared.

 

[lazyboy97o]

This sounds like the type of systemic thing that should get Disneyland Paris executives fired for not holding up their end of the Disney licensing agreement. If anyone in Burbank cared.

The licensing agreement is a formality. Euro Disney SCA is controlled by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and in operational practice is more of a subsidiary than an independent company. An SCA is a special type of partnership where the majority partners (the other shareholders) are silent and operations are directed by a minority partner (Disney).

 

[TP2000]

I wasn't disappointed with EFG. I do wish the coaster sections were a bit longer but the ride still lived up pretty well to my expectations. From what I've seen in video I'm sure JTTCOTE will impress me just the same when/if I ever ride it in person. Same goes for RSR come February.

I've been on JTTCOTE several times, and it impresses most for its physical scale and scope and detail. But the actual story and purpose of JTTCOTE isn't that engaging or endearing or memorable. JTTCOTE also completely lacks humor or wit or warmth; it's very sterile and flat when it comes to "Why are we here and what are we doing?". But as a Disney fan you will love the facility and the expert operation.

Radiator Springs Racers is not quite as impressive as JTTCOTE when it comes to huge facility and overall scope. RSR lacks any real pre-show or opening act like JTTCOTE has with the elevators. At RSR you just wait through a nicely themed queue and are loaded into a car and you're off on a grand adventure.

But what RSR has over JTTCOTE is the story and purpose and characters, that are emotionally engaging and memorable, unlike the only "characters" or interaction in JTTCOTE; flirty mushrooms and a grumpy lava monster. The emotional connection at RSR and understandable plotline and inherent humor make it a fantastic Disney attraction. The thrill ride aspect at RSR is also longer and more exciting than the mostly darkened high speed escape from the lava monster at JTTCOTE.

That RSR sits in one of the most physically impressive structures that WDI has ever built pushes it into Mega E Ticket territory. It's not to be missed; both a daytime ride and a nighttime ride, which are different experiences.

 

[Mike S]

I've been on JTTCOTE several times, and it impresses most for its physical scale and scope and detail. But the actual story and purpose of JTTCOTE isn't that engaging or endearing or memorable. JTTCOTE also completely lacks humor or wit or warmth; it's very sterile and flat when it comes to "Why are we here and what are we doing?". But as a Disney fan you will love the facility and the expert operation.

Radiator Springs Racers is not quite as impressive as JTTCOTE when it comes to huge facility and overall scope. RSR lacks any real pre-show or opening act like JTTCOTE has with the elevators. At RSR you just wait through a nicely themed queue and are loaded into a car and you're off on a grand adventure.

But what RSR has over JTTCOTE is the story and purpose and characters, that are emotionally engaging and memorable, unlike the only "characters" or interaction in JTTCOTE; flirty mushrooms and a grumpy lava monster. The emotional connection at RSR and understandable plotline and inherent humor make it a fantastic Disney attraction. The thrill ride aspect at RSR is also longer and more exciting than the mostly darkened high speed escape from the lava monster at JTTCOTE.

That RSR sits in one of the most physically impressive structures that WDI has ever built pushes it into Mega E Ticket territory. It's not to be missed; both a daytime ride and a nighttime ride, which are different experiences.

Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely ride at both day and night

 

[steve2wdw]

Speaking of Disneyland Paris' neglected Mark Twain, did not the Magic Kingdom's other riverboat quite literally fall to pieces?

Just a note about MK's first riverboat, The Admiral Joe Fowler. It didn't rot or suffer from lack of maintenance. In fact is was maintenance that killed the ship. While it was being lifted from Bay Lake in the boat maintenance area, it was dropped and the hull was severely damaged....to the point where it had to be scrapped. The bell on TDL's Mark Twain is from the Fowler.

Edit....just noticed the phrasing of the quote, and yes...it did literally "fall" to pieces.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Just a note about MK's first riverboat, The Admiral Joe Fowler. It didn't rot or suffer from lack of maintenance. In fact is was maintenance that killed the ship. While it was being lifted from Bay Lake in the boat maintenance area, it was dropped and the hull was severely damaged....to the point where it had to be scrapped. The bell on TDL's Mark Twain is from the Fowler.

Edit....just noticed the phrasing of the quote, and yes...it did literally "fall" to pieces.

Wow! See kids, ya learn something new everyday.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Has everybody gone insane? Why does everybody believe there's some sort of vast conspiracy theory at Epcot these days with entertainment or maelstrom?

Can't they just recognize incompetent management for what it is?