News Tron coaster coming to the Magic Kingdom

[MisterPenguin]

I decided to give Dinosaur a go recently after not having ridden it for years. After the ride, I just wished I had my 30 minutes back. I've never ridden the Indy ride so I can only compare Dinosaur to other rides at WDW. I'm sure its location doesn't help it in attracting guests, but I really don't think that's what's keeping it out of Top 10 lists. As far as I'm concerned, it can go along with the rest of Dinoland.

I wish your bruised ribs a speedy recovery!

 

[HanSoloDolo]

I’m a big Dinosaur fan. I love how despite riding it 100+ times my fiancé is still terrified every time the Carnatorous(?) comes out. If it does get replaced I just want the “Your not gonna make it! Your not gonna make it! You made it!” To stay.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

Interesting take on the front vs back rows of Tron, @Bocabear. I've been in the front and back of small Zamperla "bike coasters," and I did indeed find that the back row was substantially more forceful. (Unfortunately, I was near the middle, and closer to the front, the one time I rode Tron.)



Dinosaur is criminally underrated, probably because it's contrasted with IJA. If Dinosaur were truly considered on its own, and if it were better situated in Dinoland (e.g., the paths directed people to it as a "weenie"), I think it would often be in people's WDW "top ten" lists.

Considering this, I think the removal of the distraction that is C&H, and some better signage and redesigned pathways that direct crowdflow towards Dinosaur, and Dinoland would quite suddenly come into its own. It's a paradigm case of "addition by subtraction." Dinoland already has the bones (sorry) to be a solid land. It just needs some tweaking.

I find the back row of Expedition Everest better for the backwards part. Seems to be more force in the back.

 

[PorterRedkey]

I decided to give Dinosaur a go recently after not having ridden it for years. After the ride, I just wished I had my 30 minutes back. I've never ridden the Indy ride so I can only compare Dinosaur to other rides at WDW. I'm sure its location doesn't help it in attracting guests, but I really don't think that's what's keeping it out of Top 10 lists. As far as I'm concerned, it can go along with the rest of Dinoland.

This is a Tron thread, but I am curious as to why you have such disdain for Dinosaur. I love Dinosaur, but even I don't think it is in WDW's top 10. And to tie this to Tron, it most likely won't be in my top 10 either.

 

[DCLcruiser]

I never like to ride coasters in the back because you get all the whiplash. I prefer front row for RoRc, EE, etc.

DINOSAUR, is great. That ride technique is great, also at Indy in DLR. It needs more love, as it is hidden and attached to a forgettable IP (I didn't even realize it was a Disney IP at first).

 

[MisterPenguin]

I never like to ride coasters in the back because you get all the whiplash. I prefer front row for RoRc, EE, etc.

DINOSAUR, is great. That ride technique is great, also at Indy in DLR. It needs more love, as it is hidden and attached to a forgettable IP (I didn't even realize it was a Disney IP at first).

You complain of coaster whiplash but you think DINOSAUR is great?!!

You must have very weak front and back neck muscles and very strong left and right neck muscles!

We need someone to take an accelerometer on that ride...

WDW with a USB Accelerometer

Gulf Coast Data Concepts XLR8R Application

www.gcdataconcepts.com

 

[DCLcruiser]

You complain of coaster whiplash but you think DINOSAUR is great?!!

You must have very weak front and back neck muscles and very strong left and right neck muscles!

We need someone to take an accelerometer on that ride...

WDW with a USB Accelerometer

Gulf Coast Data Concepts XLR8R Application

www.gcdataconcepts.com

Lol, I get your point but I think there are some differences:

1) Speed. Whiplash at coaster speed I find worse, and not enhancing the experience vs. front.
2) Dinosaur doesn't offer an alternative experience. Every seat is the same (well, maybe center is a bit better).
3) Dinosaur's car movement is part of the story. Whiplash on a coaster isn't the purpose of the track design.

 

[corran horn]

Lol, I get your point but I think there are some differences:

1) Speed. Whiplash at coaster speed I find worse, and not enhancing the experience vs. front.
2) Dinosaur doesn't offer an alternative experience. Every seat is the same (well, maybe center is a bit better).
3) Dinosaur's car movement is part of the story. Whiplash on a coaster isn't the purpose of the track design.

Darkness plays a part as well. Getting jerked in a direction where the motion is telegraphed by a visual is one thing. Having it happen blindly is quite another.

 

[Bocabear]

I know this is a Tron thread, but I just need to add...Dinosaur is lacking the full elements that make it's Indiana Jones counterpart so successful. The time leap just looks like you are driving through a toaster oven, no real sense of travel other then moving through a hallway and you can totally see the jungle plants in the next room from where you enter the toaster oven... It needs a better time leap effect. The other rooms are all too dark. What makes IJ special; is the full dimensional temple set that is visible all around you...the fire and flames and lava gorge... They could have designed a better set for the main room and made it more visible... When you see there you are going it sort of makes it more interesting. Then the missing movement to the pterodactyl, and again the time leap...those would go a long way into make it much more of a wow than a herky jerky ride in the dark. I like the ride... but it could be so much better.

 

[Jones14]

The toaster oven looks a lot better with the lasers and fog working, though, and the 2016 update to the compies is also much appreciated.

I also think the ride could benefit from a score. There’s nothing going on musically until the very end, and a big part of Indy’s success can be directly tied to how well the music is integrated.

 

[_caleb]

Any evidence of impending TRON-ification of Tomorrowland beyond the queue to the Lightcycle attraction?

 

[doctornick]

Any evidence of impending TRON-ification of Tomorrowland beyond the queue to the Lightcycle attraction?

Good question: is the Tronification of the Speedway dead? Would be nice to see it happen, but have to imagine it’s low to no priority now with the pandemic

 

[Disney Analyst]

I know this is a Tron thread, but I just need to add...Dinosaur is lacking the full elements that make it's Indiana Jones counterpart so successful. The time leap just looks like you are driving through a toaster oven, no real sense of travel other then moving through a hallway and you can totally see the jungle plants in the next room from where you enter the toaster oven... It needs a better time leap effect. The other rooms are all too dark. What makes IJ special; is the full dimensional temple set that is visible all around you...the fire and flames and lava gorge... They could have designed a better set for the main room and made it more visible... When you see there you are going it sort of makes it more interesting. Then the missing movement to the pterodactyl, and again the time leap...those would go a long way into make it much more of a wow than a herky jerky ride in the dark. I like the ride... but it could be so much better.

THIS. The actual art design of the ride is just bad...

Indiana Jones truly feels like you are driving through this multi-level, fully dimensional, real temple. Incredible practical effects all over the place. And the queue starts this story off from the moment you enter the jungle. Add in the score, different "Stories" setup at the beginning of ride, and different ride experiences. It's truly a masterpiece of imagineering (minus the dark room/dart room....)

Dinosaur is just simply a way lesser clone when you know what that layout/system is capable of.

But this is wayyyyy off topic.

 

[easyrowrdw]

This is a Tron thread, but I am curious as to why you have such disdain for Dinosaur. I love Dinosaur, but even I don't think it is in WDW's top 10. And to tie this to Tron, it most likely won't be in my top 10 either.

Disdain is too strong of a word. I just don't think it's a good ride. Up and down, up and down, turn one way and another while dino heads show up beside you. It didn't feel like I was on an adventure. The dino at the end is a good jolt, but that's about it for scares. I also think the story is silly.

It's the best part of Dinoland, but I don't think it's worth saving if that section of the park can be improved. And I definitely think that section needs to be improved.

As for Tron, I still lament their glacial construction pace. But hopefully I get to ride it in the not-too-distant future. Also, I think Tron should not have been built at Animal Kingdom so I applaud Disney for not putting it there.

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

I know this is a Tron thread, but I just need to add...Dinosaur is lacking the full elements that make it's Indiana Jones counterpart so successful. The time leap just looks like you are driving through a toaster oven, no real sense of travel other then moving through a hallway and you can totally see the jungle plants in the next room from where you enter the toaster oven... It needs a better time leap effect. The other rooms are all too dark. What makes IJ special; is the full dimensional temple set that is visible all around you...the fire and flames and lava gorge... They could have designed a better set for the main room and made it more visible... When you see there you are going it sort of makes it more interesting. Then the missing movement to the pterodactyl, and again the time leap...those would go a long way into make it much more of a wow than a herky jerky ride in the dark. I like the ride... but it could be so much better.

Apologies for continuing this thread diversion, but... one clarification on Dinosaur:

I agree wholeheartedly with @Bocabear that IJA is worlds better than Dinosaur, largely for the reasons he described about the fullness of the sets, etc. Indeed, I believe IJA is one of the greatest theme park attractions of all time. However, that's precisely why I was emphasizing that Dinosaur is too often unfairly judged against IJA rather than on its own merits.

The "time leap" is broken. The original effect, including the proper use of the fog, made it so you did not see what was ahead of you while you were in the "toaster." So, you would go into the "toaster," experience the lighting and fog effects, then everything would go dark, and then BOOM - you were in a star-field followed by the jungle. The other way was even more impressive: you were just about to be hit by the meteor (in the original CTX version) or attacked by the dinosaur, then everything goes black for an instant, and then BOOm - the lights go on and you're back in the "toaster." This effect is indeed the main thing that needs fixing, because it was fantastic, IMHO.

Several of the animatronics of often not in full working order. This is a maintenance issue. When they're all in working order, they're some of Disney's most impressive animatronics - especially the "running" dinosaur.

The actual art design of the ride is just bad...

Remember, though: they had a fraction of IJA's budget, so they literally couldn't afford sets.

Original, pre-budget-cut concept art:

Anyway, Tron...

 

[marni1971]

Incredible practical effects all over the place..

When they work. Hopefully this years refurb will happen as planned to address a lot of issues.

Dinosaur is great, but should be amazing with a little TLC and thought. The original time vortex effects made much more sense - you entered the toaster with lights synced to the audio (and sparks flying) with nothing but black in front. Again, synced to audio the laser “window“ appeared in the black space, and simultaneously the jungle lighting and moon all turned on but only visible within the window. You lurched forwards, and the toaster turned off as you passed through the window frame.

The re entry was more strobe based - and again the portal appeared and was framed by laser beams. You dropped through the laser frame with strobes sequences flashing along the toaster towards you, then the loud explosive “crack” sound effect was accompanied by a brief blinding white flash. Immediately after this the strobes stopped and the toaster lit.

 

[marni1971]

Apologies for continuing this thread diversion, but... one clarification on Dinosaur:

I agree wholeheartedly with @Bocabear that IJA is worlds better than Dinosaur, largely for the reasons he described about the fullness of the sets, etc. Indeed, I believe IJA is one of the greatest theme park attractions of all time. However, that's precisely why I was emphasizing that Dinosaur is too often unfairly judged against IJA rather than on its own merits.

The "time leap" is broken. The original effect, including the proper use of the fog, made it so you did not see what was ahead of you while you were in the "toaster." So, you would go into the "toaster," experience the lighting and fog effects, then everything would go dark, and then BOOM - you were in a star-field followed by the jungle. The other way was even more impressive: you were just about to be hit by the meteor (in the original CTX version) or attacked by the dinosaur, then everything goes black for an instant, and then BOOm - the lights go on and you're back in the "toaster." This effect is indeed the main thing that needs fixing, because it was fantastic, IMHO.

Several of the animatronics of often not in full working order. This is a maintenance issue. When they're all in working order, they're some of Disney's most impressive animatronics - especially the "running" dinosaur.



Remember, though: they had a fraction of IJA's budget, so they literally couldn't afford sets.

Original, pre-budget-cut concept art:
View attachment 492251

Anyway, Tron...

Lol we were typing at the same time

 

[Disney Analyst]

When they work. Hopefully this years refurb will happen as planned to address a lot of issues.

Dinosaur is great, but should be amazing with a little TLC and thought. The original time vortex effects made much more sense - you entered the toaster with lights synced to the audio (and sparks flying) with nothing but black in front. Again, synced to audio the laser “window“ appeared in the black space, and simultaneously the jungle lighting and moon all turned on but only visible within the window. You lurched forwards, and the toaster turned off as you passed through the window frame.

The re entry was more strobe based - and again the portal appeared and was framed by laser beams. You dropped through the laser with strobes sequences flashing along the toaster towards you, then the loud explosive “crack” sound effect was accompanied by a brief blinding white flash. Immediately after this the strobes stopped and the toaster lit.

Also if they'd fix the dinosaur that has a star body... It's obvious. It's bad.

Unless it has already been fixed since last I rode.

 

[marni1971]

Also if they'd fix the dinosaur that has a star body... It's obvious. It's bad.

Unless it has already been fixed since last I rode.

Star body wasn’t original. Thankfully.

 

[Mac Tonight]

Star body wasn’t original. Thankfully.

To your knowledge, does the Dinosaur vehicle buck more wildly than the Indiana Jones version?
I remember riding Dinosaur back in 2012, and was left in so much pain that I never get when on Indy.