VIDEO - Take a ride through at Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid

[RSoxNo1]

from above Fantasyland has basically swapped Snow White's Scary Adventure for Little Mermaid, which is a very good trade.

Actually Mermaid is replacing 20,000 leagues, and the dwarfs mine train is replacing the snow white ride, so the MK isnt exactly gaining capacity in terms of ride additions except as replacements, and or the second dumbo spinner. If one looks at it that way,

They're certainly gaining capacity additions. Snow White's Scary Adventures, Dumbo, and 20K Leagues were all very low capacity rides. Adding a second spinner, a higher capacity coaster, and an omnimover certainly increases park capacity.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

Because there is no continuity nor direct logic link between the two. They didn't close 20k so FLE could be built. They closed it and terminated it on its own merits.

They share something in common - but there is no decision link between them.

But . . .

1. MK has a total number of rides. When 20,000 Leagues closed, and others, it effected this bottom-line number, whether it was a year after 20K closed, or almost two decades ago. I guess to make a pun, 20K's closure had a ripple effect that lasted for many years.

It's like taking money out of the bank, i.e. taking out rides, and then years later deciding to add some new rides, you can't say exactly which "ride"/$100 is being taken out and replaced, the big picture is the total number of attractions vs. guest demand.

2. If 20K was still open, obviously FLE wouldn't look the same, might have happened differently or not at all. So, yes, the decision, however unrelated to FLE, allowed FLE to happen. Folks still remember 20K, I hear they even put some 20K Easter Eggs in Mermaid.

3. 20K's closure had a little less to do with popularity, and little more to do with maintenance issues that were exaggerated by somewhat devious folks on the repair side of the attraction, than most people realize.

 

[Figments Friend]

The older rides don't have big fancy AAs, but there's something about being chased through the dark forest of Snow White, crashing into a speeding train with Mr. Toad, the thrill of flying over Neverland - you don't get moments like that in TLM. In TLM you are a passive viewer instead of being on your own adventure through a story.

Absolutely agree....love the way this is worded.
A+++ my friend.

 

[flynnibus]

But . . .

All neat stuff which has nothing to do with the post being replied to.

It's the same stupid comments people have been making for a decade.. 'removed 20k for pooh' 'replaced 20k with pooh' and now we'll get the 'removed 20k for FLE' or 'TLM replaced 20k'

No runs around saying Pixie Hollow replaced the Monsanto House of the Future.. even tho they sit on the same site, because there is no link between the two except for the site.

20k was killed.. and the site left with no replacement in mind. The site was later cleaned up and left again for future expansion - with nothing specific in mind. They share the same plot of land - that's it. There is no planning continuity between the projects.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

If I remember correctly, there was to be more than one 20K easter egg in the attraction. I haven't yet heard of any others though.

There's still the sub in Pooh's tree but that's all I know of. I'd love it if someone found another!

 

[danlb_2000]

But . . .

1. MK has a total number of rides. When 20,000 Leagues closed, and others, it effected this bottom-line number, whether it was a year after 20K closed, or almost two decades ago. I guess to make a pun, 20K's closure had a ripple effect that lasted for many years.

It's like taking money out of the bank, i.e. taking out rides, and then years later deciding to add some new rides, you can't say exactly which "ride"/$100 is being taken out and replaced, the big picture is the total number of attractions vs. guest demand.

Yes, but the OP appeared to be saying that Mermaid was replaceing 20K so we were not getting an increase in the total number of rides in the long term, but didn't mention the fact that two other rides have been build in MK since 20K closed.

 

[sponono88]

After looking at the photos posted in this thread, i'm not sure I prefer King Triton's new hair:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dreggs/

I think it looks a bit too bulky, almost like a towel wrapped around his head.

Compared to the DCA version:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugarpixygirl/7862017378/in/photostream/

 

[ExtinctJenn]

After looking at the photos posted in this thread, i'm not sure I prefer King Triton's new hair:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dreggs/

I think it looks a bit too bulky, almost like a towel wrapped around his head.

Compared to the DCA version:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugarpixygirl/7862017378/in/photostream/

That is odd! Why would you replace something that at least resembles hair with something that resembles marshmallow fluff?

 

[RSoxNo1]

The older rides don't have big fancy AAs, but there's something about being chased through the dark forest of Snow White, crashing into a speeding train with Mr. Toad, the thrill of flying over Neverland - you don't get moments like that in TLM. In TLM you are a passive viewer instead of being on your own adventure through a story.

Don't get me wrong, it's a cute ride and there's many things I enjoy about it.. but part of me wishes it had that extra bit of magic that it needs to really make it an excellent ride.

Yes, it's called delusional nostalgia. We all have it. We romanticize things from our past and make them out to be better than they actually are. If you asked someone that hasn't experienced any Fantasyland ride what they prefer from a technological and thematic standpoint, it's going to be Mermaid every time.

 

[sponono88]

That is odd! Why would you replace something that at least resembles hair with something that resembles marshmallow fluff?

I think they wanted to make his hair match the other characters..? If you notice Ariel and Eric have similar hair (blocky/cartoony looking) but Triton's looks more like fabric and doesn't really match with the other AAs.

 

[wdwmagic]

I think they wanted to make his hair match the other characters..? If you notice Ariel has similar hair (blocky/cartoony looking) but Triton's looks more like fabric and doesn't really match with the other AAs.

Yep I believe that is basically it. At MK they all have consistent hair

 

[RSoxNo1]

After looking at the photos posted in this thread, i'm not sure I prefer King Triton's new hair:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dreggs/

I think it looks a bit too bulky, almost like a towel wrapped around his head.

Compared to the DCA version:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugarpixygirl/7862017378/in/photostream/

Disney made a big deal out of the hair in this attraction, and to me it was one of the hardest components to get right. They're trying to make real life versions of animated hair. Personally, I like the DCA hair of Triton better, but I definitely understand the change as well.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

I think they wanted to make his hair match the other characters..? If you notice Ariel and Eric have similar hair (blocky/cartoony looking) but Triton's looks more like fabric and doesn't really match with the other AAs.

Yep I believe that is basically it. At MK they all have consistent hair

Y'know that actually makes a good amount of sense. Having Tritan with "hair" but every other character with a cartoonish version of hair definitely would cause a break in theme. Granted they could give everyone else "hair" instead but changing one AA vs. all of them makes a lot more financial sense doesn't it?

 

[RSoxNo1]

Y'know that actually makes a good amount of sense. Having Tritan with "hair" but every other character with a cartoonish version of hair definitely would cause a break in theme. Granted they could give everyone else "hair" instead but changing one AA vs. all of them makes a lot more financial sense doesn't it?

I think the hair should be the plasticy look when it's under the sea, but real hair when they're on land.

 

[Mickey_777]

Looks great. I've been on it out at DCA a few times and it's a fun dark ride no doubt. The queue area here is phenomenal. I love the extra scuttle and the detail and feel of the area really looks like a mix of splash and pirates. It also seems like the mural is larger thus making the load area more grand in scale than DCA. Betty betty nice indeed.

Not having the daylight spilling into the final scene is also a big plus from DCA.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

All neat stuff which has nothing to do with the post being replied to.

It's the same stupid comments people have been making for a decade.. 'removed 20k for pooh' 'replaced 20k with pooh' and now we'll get the 'removed 20k for FLE' or 'TLM replaced 20k'

No runs around saying Pixie Hollow replaced the Monsanto House of the Future.. even tho they sit on the same site, because there is no link between the two except for the site.

Folks may see things different, and Mermaid does sit on 20K's former site and without the removal of 20K, Mermaid would not be possible. Folks say Pooh replaced Toad, and there is a tribute of Owl receiving Toad Hall's deed, likewise there is a similar homage to 20K in Mermaid. Once again, there is a total number of rides, taking away 20K, although some rides were added and taken away later doesn't change the loss of 20K.

Given this, I don't think we should be describing such comments by posters as being "stupid" as it is hard to say which ride Mermaid replaced when look at the total tally, given that rides have different capacities, it could be that Mermaid made up for the slack due to the loss of a couple rides.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

Disney made a big deal out of the hair in this attraction, and to me it was one of the hardest components to get right. They're trying to make real life versions of animated hair. Personally, I like the DCA hair of Triton better, but I definitely understand the change as well.

There was a big deal about how Triton's hair was real . . . from my perspective, Triton's hair look really weird in the final scene next to Ariel and Eric as they have the cartoonish-hair. Don't know why on earth they went with something differently stylistically for Triton, and his eyebrows looked like somebody cut the tails off of some coonskin hats from Frontierland. I think this Triton looks better as he matches the rest of the animatronics.

Interestingly, they've had problems with Ariel's softserve hair at DCA, which is now different.

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

Yes, but the OP appeared to be saying that Mermaid was replaceing 20K so we were not getting an increase in the total number of rides in the long term, but didn't mention the fact that two other rides have been build in MK since 20K closed.

Well, the MK has gotten more capacity since it opened, and more rides are needed. Mermaid has more capacity than 20K, and others, so given that the total number is the deal, I don't think you can say one way or another what ride was replaced.

Would you, based upon MK's total guest capacity graphed as a function of year, like to explain which ride Mermaid replaces, or if it is just added capacity? I sure don't have those graphs on me.

At any rate, folks can quibble over meaningless points, but does it make sense to harass people because they are stating their opinion? Maybe if somebody got a fact wrong, folks could correct him or her, but this seems like a lot pigheadedness over something that is sort of nebulous.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

Given this, I don't think we should be describing such comments by posters as being "stupid" as it is hard to say which ride Mermaid replaced when look at the total tally, given that rides have different capacities, it could be that Mermaid made up for the slack due to the loss of a couple rides.

Agreed with this and if you want to get really technical, Pooh's Playful Spot wasn't a "ride" and didn't use the same space that 20k did other than pretty much the queue area. The majority of the lagoon and show building area was behind the wall they added to PPS. Even more to the point, Mermaid is reusing two walls from the original 20k attraction that never came down. Or you could take it a step further to mention that after 20k the lagoon was a M&G and one side was part of the original Ariel's Grotto so technically AG replaced 20k. I mean if you wanted to be a real stickler for it all, the list would go more like 20k, M&G, AG, PPS and then Under the Sea. But... is there really any point in debating what replaced what or for that matter, arguing it? LOL!

 

[Pixiedustmaker]

I think the hair should be the plasticy look when it's under the sea, but real hair when they're on land.

That's an interesting take. Eric and Ariel's hair in the final scene are "plasticky", it would be kinda interesting to see what "real" hair on Ariel would look like . . .