Tony Baxter hints at the future!

[EPCOT Explorer]

Wasn't the so-called Rain forest Coaster that was part of this Project Gemini, a steel coaster, outdoors, in Epcot?

I can actually see a steel coaster fitting in DAK, with this rain forest theme.. of course, the track can be painted green to blend in with the trees that Disney can plant to build a rain forest... That should be the new land in AK actually.. RAINFORESTS OF SOUTH AMERICA!!! The coaster can be outdoors, and travel through the whole land... Just a stupid though...

Yep. Thank goodness that never made it, especially in EPCOT.:dazzle:

 

[WDW1974]

Fleetwood Mac! :lookaroun My dad listened to them. No, really, I didn't own the album on vinyl. :lol: Okay, so maybe I did.

We have a winner!!! ... Would you like a LE pin or WDW 2008 tee?

From 1987 album if I recall ... much of the late 80s were a blur.

Nothing else to add, I'm just enjoying watching people take swipes at each other, though its kind of like watching King Arthur dispatch the Black Knight. I'll leave it to you to figure which is which!

That's like trying to figure out whether Jacob or The Man in Black is the good guy ... Enjoy though!

 

[WDW1974]

Since when is a bare steel coaster amazing? Yeah it might be a great B&M coaster (arent they all), but it certainly doesnt hit the heights of theming and story that you demand from Disney. (Sticking a big plastic Manta Ray on the top of the vehicle doesnt count). You always like to put Sea World above Disney in your posts, and yet they clearly don't get anywhere close to the standards that you set for Disney.

Many steel coasters are amazing. And I am not a coaster geek by any means.

But just because a steel coaster is exposed doesn't mean it should be discounted as a quality attraction. And with the type of sea life themed park SW is, I don't find anything wrong with a ride like Manta. It doesn't distract from any story at all.

I could point out that Primeval Hurl is a steel coaster ... and basically a glorified carnie ride plopped down in the amazingly detailed DAK. I find that whole area jarring.

To some degree, I feel the same about the Hulk at IOA because it towers over the amazingly detailed Port of Entry area. Although, unlike some, I don't toss the park in the trash heap over that either.

Yet, I have no problems with California Screamin at DCA because it is a quality coaster in a Pier themed area, even if it really has no theming.

I don't believe all parks have to follow the same set of design rules, so long as the product is quality ... so long as things work in the context they were placed in.

I hold Disney to the rules it created for its parks and judge them thusly. Same with the others.

I commend Busch and Universal for investing in their parks now. I wish I could say the same about Disney.

 

[The Conundrum]

Disney are held to a very high standard, and quite rightly so. Never mind how good of a coaster it is (and let's face it, all B&M latest and greatest are good) I just find it funny that people are OK with a bare steel coaster in Sea World, but it would be a whole nother story if that were at AK.

They used to be held to a very high standard but now im not so sure when I see folks calling Toy Story MM a "major addition" and fans getting all excited that blue triangles are being added to a botched SSE refurb.

Seaworld and Universal are both starting to catch up to Disney and if Disney doesn't act the gaps in quality between them will blur completly.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Many steel coasters are amazing. And I am not a coaster geek by any means.

But just because a steel coaster is exposed doesn't mean it should be discounted as a quality attraction. And with the type of sea life themed park SW is, I don't find anything wrong with a ride like Manta. It doesn't distract from any story at all.

I could point out that Primeval Hurl is a steel coaster ... and basically a glorified carnie ride plopped down in the amazingly detailed DAK. I find that whole area jarring.

To some degree, I feel the same about the Hulk at IOA because it towers over the amazingly detailed Port of Entry area. Although, unlike some, I don't toss the park in the trash heap over that either.

Yet, I have no problems with California Screamin at DCA because it is a quality coaster in a Pier themed area, even if it really has no theming.

I don't believe all parks have to follow the same set of design rules, so long as the product is quality ... so long as things work in the context they were placed in.

I hold Disney to the rules it created for its parks and judge them thusly. Same with the others.

I commend Busch and Universal for investing in their parks now. I wish I could say the same about Disney.

Well...every Resort besides WDW.:lookaroun

 

[1disneydood]

*cough*Manta*cough*5th gate*cough*
Could you imagine IF WDW built a park, NOT for toddlers, and NOT all about hiding the attactions? I'm sure it wouldn't loose money, or go bankrupt if done bigger and better than the competition. It would just attract a different crowd. Is that so bad? Those who don't like the crowd drawn and/or the neck breaking attractions just don't go. Those who want a more realistic world with thrills around every corner would make up for the difference. Not every Disney park has to cater to the easily scared.

 

[jt04]

They used to be held to a very high standard but now im not so sure when I see folks calling Toy Story MM a "major addition" and fans getting all excited that blue triangles are being added to a botched SSE refurb.

Seaworld and Universal are both starting to catch up to Disney and if Disney doesn't act the gaps in quality between them will blur completly.

Please. They are not even close yet. I hope they do catch up but I'm not counting on it. I guess those other guys have learned to make a more potent "pixie dust" cause ther are some people around hear definitely high on it. Or maybe JK Rowling has actually learned to cast a spell on people.

PS- See DCA.

 

[jt04]

Many steel coasters are amazing. And I am not a coaster geek by any means.

But just because a steel coaster is exposed doesn't mean it should be discounted as a quality attraction. And with the type of sea life themed park SW is, I don't find anything wrong with a ride like Manta. It doesn't distract from any story at all.

I could point out that Primeval Hurl is a steel coaster ... and basically a glorified carnie ride plopped down in the amazingly detailed DAK. I find that whole area jarring.

To some degree, I feel the same about the Hulk at IOA because it towers over the amazingly detailed Port of Entry area. Although, unlike some, I don't toss the park in the trash heap over that either.

Yet, I have no problems with California Screamin at DCA because it is a quality coaster in a Pier themed area, even if it really has no theming.

I don't believe all parks have to follow the same set of design rules, so long as the product is quality ... so long as things work in the context they were placed in.

I hold Disney to the rules it created for its parks and judge them thusly. Same with the others.

I commend Busch and Universal for investing in their parks now. I wish I could say the same about Disney.

I know you have met a lot of people but have you ever met JK Rowling? Did she wave a little stick at you? Did you not quite feel like yourself afterwards? Did you then read all the Harry Potter books within two weeks? Do you have uncontrolled urges to buy brooms?

 

[wannabeBelle]

I was on the original R&D team for Indy at WDI. The cool thing is we originally mocked up the ride system as an AGV-based prototype. Funny story about one of the first proof of concepts. Lucas, Eisner and Wells were there and looking forward to riding it. We had it set up at the Te Hunga building all programmed and ready for a spin. They boarded the car and we started it up. It was going along well in its figure 8 pattern for a while until the vehicle's guidance receiver went out. The E stop bus is supposed to activate in that situation but it didn't. The vehicle left its safe path and started heading toward a wall at full speed. We were frantically trying to figure out how to stop it before we killed all three of them. Thankfully two of our guys were close enough to the path that they were able to run with the car and reach over to the E Stop button.

To make a long story a bit shorter, the car stopped ubruptly and their reaction was like 3 teenagers that just got off an exhilerating thrill ride. They loved it and bought off on it for further development. They had no idea that they were about to be seriously injured. That was the day we decided not to go with the wireless system for that attraction.

Thank you for an amazing story!!! Back stuff like this is just awesome!!! Belle

 

[jt04]

JT ... I dunno if this dude is the enigma character you don't care for or not. Frankly, I don't really care. ... But you are such a freaking hypocrite it is beyond belief. I DO recall you defending Disney when it laid of thousands of CMs, and cut work hours for others. I DO recall you attacking folks like myself, who sharply called Disney on what it was doing (destroying many peoples' lives) ... The only one you seemed concerned about was poor MK VP Phil Holmes when some of his OWN TOP PEOPLE started a huge rumor that he was gone to show their disgust with the man. ... One multi-millionaire exec with a very poor rep inside the company got sympathy from you, but so many wonderful CMs ... many with decades over experience ... well, they were needed cuts of fat in hard times.

The comment was not aimed at you. I was talking to others. You have a guilty conscience or something?

And please find this post where you claim I defended Disney for laying off CM's.

In fact I said I would rather have scaled back projects than see front line personnel laid off. Please for once get your facts right and stop letting anger cloud your perspective.

 

[HMF]

Wasn't the so-called Rain forest Coaster that was part of this Project Gemini, a steel coaster, outdoors, in Epcot? ...

Keep in mind this same "project" would have had Spaceship Earth turned into a thrill ride.

 

[The Conundrum]

Keep in mind this same "project" would have had Spaceship Earth turned into a thrill ride.

Project Gemini with a proper budget would have done FAR more good than harm.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Keep in mind this same "project" would have had Spaceship Earth turned into a thrill ride.

I realize it was probably just some Internet rumor spreading, but, the ideas had to be there somewhere... And yes, thankfully it didn't end up in Epcot after all, cause it wouldn't truly fit... However, in AK? I think it fits fine... Like I said, Disney can have the steel tracks blend in so you really can't or don't see them from anywhere inside the park...

 

[HMF]

Project Gemini with a proper budget would have done FAR more good than harm.

Not from the plans I have seen

 

[wdwmagic]

Many steel coasters are amazing. And I am not a coaster geek by any means.

But just because a steel coaster is exposed doesn't mean it should be discounted as a quality attraction. And with the type of sea life themed park SW is, I don't find anything wrong with a ride like Manta. It doesn't distract from any story at all.

I could point out that Primeval Hurl is a steel coaster ... and basically a glorified carnie ride plopped down in the amazingly detailed DAK. I find that whole area jarring.

I commend Busch and Universal for investing in their parks now. I wish I could say the same about Disney.

You will notice I didn't discount it as a quality attraction, all B&M coasters are good. I'm just saying it isnt amazing, nor is it something that could go into a Disney park. If one did, you would be on here raising hell. But because it's Sea World and not Disney, it's just great in your eyes.

I'm no Primevil Whirl fan, but something I can say, is that it's a small coaster, totally contained by trees and has no visual intrusion into other areas of the park. That is a very big distinction to make. Both of Sea World's coasters totally dominate the park and its skyline.

You commend Universal right now, and yet their finances are in total ruins. Putting up a new attraction if you have no way of paying for it may not be the best thing to do. You are looking at it in the very simple case of "I want a new attraction, now". Anyone who does that is then great in your view.

 

[wdwmagic]

They used to be held to a very high standard but now im not so sure when I see folks calling Toy Story MM a "major addition" and fans getting all excited that blue triangles are being added to a botched SSE refurb.

Seaworld and Universal are both starting to catch up to Disney and if Disney doesn't act the gaps in quality between them will blur completly.

About 5 members on here are excited about triangles - so don't brand all 60,000 here by that.

Sea World havn't churned out anything Disney standard. They did buy a couple of nice coasters and had them installed, but neither would make it into a Disney park.

 

[HMF]

About 5 members on here are excited about triangles - so don't brand all 60,000 here by that.

Sea World havn't churned out anything Disney standard. They did buy a couple of nice coasters and had them installed, but neither would make it into a Disney park.

I was never truly "Excited" about triangles but they are still better than the video screens.:animwink:

 

[Captain Chaos]

About 5 members on here are excited about triangles - so don't brand all 60,000 here by that.

Sea World havn't churned out anything Disney standard. They did buy a couple of nice coasters and had them installed, but neither would make it into a Disney park.

And I thought 5 was a large number...

 

[Jasonflz]

Project Gemini with a proper budget would have done FAR more good than harm.

So you mean converting most of the park to thrill rides would have done more good than harm? Are you serious?

 

[Captain Chaos]

So you mean converting most of the park to thrill rides would have done more good than harm? Are you serious?

Hopefully he didn't mean the thrill rides... I hope he meant changing the name to Discoveryland... And adding more landscaping to the area... SSE as a thrill ride would have been a disaster... And that Rainforest themed roller coaster would have looked out of place big time...