Walls in HM Queue

[janoimagine]

I though the Hydrolators were a great effect, I miss that part of The Living Seas.

 

[DocMcHulk]

First time I rode them I really thought they were real. I got out of the hydrolator and looked back and was really confused! That was until I walked out eh exit. :lol:

When i was young (maybe 5 or 7) I thought they were real and pretty darn cool. When I went back as a teenager I figured it out and though it wasn't very good. but I guess if it ticked kids, it was a good enough effect.

 

[Master Yoda]

When i was young (maybe 5 or 7) I thought they were real and pretty darn cool. When I went back as a teenager I figured it out and though it wasn't very good. but I guess if it ticked kids, it was a good enough effect.

I guess I am lucky in the fact that knowing how an effect is done only increases my enjoyment of it.

 

[DocMcHulk]

I guess I am lucky in the fact that knowing how an effect is done only increases my enjoyment of it.

Actually, I am 100% in your category. I LOVE the magic behind the magic. the hydrolators just never impressed me.

 

[Magenta Panther]

As someone who has been to WDW before the awning was put into place, let me tell you that the awning is for more than the thunderstorms.

Now if they could come up with some sort of catacombs queue...that would be a real winner. Keep everyone out of the sun while maintaining the spooky aspect.

Oh, that is a great idea! That would really plus the ambiance! And maybe there could be effects in the catacombs, like chinks in the stone that emanate ghostly sounds, or glowing eyes. Maybe animatronic owls and bats too. And maybe fake windows that flicker with lightning. Cool!

 

[Tom]

I guess I am lucky in the fact that knowing how an effect is done only increases my enjoyment of it.

Me too!

 

[BrerFrog]

The elevators in HM will never be as good as the ones that were in the Living Seas. The Hydolators were awesome!

I wish I had had the chance to ride that.

 

[Oddysey]

IMO the hydrolators were great the first time, but after that I never wanted to watch the movie or wait to get in them. I just wanted to get to the sea base without waiting.

 

[PhilharMagician]

When i was young (maybe 5 or 7) I thought they were real and pretty darn cool. When I went back as a teenager I figured it out and though it wasn't very good. but I guess if it ticked kids, it was a good enough effect.

Yeah, nut it was way cool the first time until you figured it out!!

I wish I had had the chance to ride that.

It was a cool affect, but as others have sadi it lost it's wow factor after you figured what it was. I personally wish it was still there

IMO the hydrolators were great the first time, but after that I never wanted to watch the movie or wait to get in them. I just wanted to get to the sea base without waiting.

Then you just go in the exit and bypass them. Kids loved it and they thought they were really decending to Sea Base Alpha.

Now back to the HM elevators!

 

[Tom]

IMO the hydrolators were great the first time, but after that I never wanted to watch the movie or wait to get in them. I just wanted to get to the sea base without waiting.

Kinda like how I feel when done with Maelstrom.

 

[DisneyMusician2]

Kinda like how I feel when done with Maelstrom.

I actually can't remember the last time I stayed for the movie there. But the hydrolators were a very cool effect when I was a kid.

I am one of the few who happen to think that the pavilion is actually still pretty nice as it is now.

I can't tell you how many people go on HM and don't understand the morbid humor of choosing your ghost hosts "way out". They never even look up.

 

[Tom]

I actually can't remember the last time I stayed for the movie there. But the hydrolators were a very cool effect when I was a kid.

I am one of the few who happen to think that the pavilion is actually still pretty nice as it is now.

I can't tell you how many people go on HM and don't understand the morbid humor of choosing your ghost hosts "way out". They never even look up.

What amazes me even more is that they've gone this long with a hanging corpse in the pre-show. I love it, personally. It gives the mansion just that little extra bit of darkness that it needs. But as sensitive as people are, and how easily feelings are hurt - I'm shocked that they haven't taken down the "terribly offensive gag poking fun at people who commit suicide by hanging themselves".

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

What amazes me even more is that they've gone this long with a hanging corpse in the pre-show. I love it, personally. It gives the mansion just that little extra bit of darkness that it needs. But as sensitive as people are, and how easily feelings are hurt - I'm shocked that they haven't taken down the "terribly offensive gag poking fun at people who commit suicide by hanging themselves".

Shhhh! Don't help them by giving them ideas. :lookaroun :lol:

 

[ttalovebug]

This is one of the issues I'm worried with. I'm actually a little apprehensive about this change for a number of reasons...

1. Doesn't this mess with the story of the attraction? I believe the story of the Haunted Mansion is that we enter the mansion as mortals while the ghosts are invisible to us and unwilling to reveal themselves, but Madame Leota makes the ghosts "materialize," "come out to socialize," and otherwise make themselves visible to us. There's this gradual transition of the attraction getting more and more in your face, from invisible hands guiding things around the room, to seeing ghosts twirl spin distantly on a dance floor below you, to ghosts popping up from gravestones six feet in front of you, and finally joining you in your own ride vehicle. Doesn't having ghosts visibly interact with you before you even board the ride sort of throw off the supposed chain of events and logic of the attraction?

2. Similarly, the mood will be disrupted. One of the most important functions of the queue is to set the tone for the attraction that follows, and the Haunted Mansion's, although less themed than some others, is very successful at this. When waiting in line for the HM, it looks like you are gradually approaching a typical (albeit older) New England mansion. As you draw closer, you notice more details - the horseless buggy, the creepy iron gates, the distant wolf howling - that set the mood and suggest this is not your average mansion. You find yourself further and further removed from the bustle and civilization of Liberty Square, and deeper and deeper in the clutches of the ever-closer house on the hill. As you move through the line, the mood becomes much calmer and more still - one could say, creepier. The tombstones at the end of the queue set the tone for the attraction perfectly - funny and bringing a smile to your face, but at the same time dark and just a bit morbid. Now how on earth is a guest supposed to be immersed in this atmosphere and pick up on all these carefully designed details if some ghost on a screen is talking their ear off??

3. Guest flow. The Haunted Mansion is an Omnimover ride system with two large elevators constantly swallowing up guests, and never seems to have a line that is holding still for very long. To me, it seems like encouraging guests to stop and play games will only disrupt the flow of an otherwise constantly-moving queue. See Space Mountain.

4. Finally, legacy. The gravestones have been there since the attraction's opening, and are a sort of the dedication/credits to the Imagineers of what is widely considered one of the greatest achievements in the history of theme park design. IMO completely removing those gravestones is disrespectful to the Imagineers that are largely responsible for bringing Disney parks to where they are today - akin to painting over all the windows on Main Street. Not to mention that Master Gracey's tombstone is a great and subtle way of introducing the story of the attraction. The tombstones really need to be kept in place when the interactive queue is added, or at least relocated.

After the successful refurbishment of the Haunted Mansion a few years ago, WDW and the Disney Imagineers can proudly say that the newly-enhanced Mansion is (once again) a treasure to be envied of the theme park industry, and a decades-old masterpiece of attraction design. I really hope the Imagineers know what they are doing when they are modifying it this time around.

I say spend the money where it is needed - turning on some of those fountains in Adventureland, refurbishing the Country Bear Jamboree AAs, or fixing the Enchanted Tiki Room. Or if the Imagineers really want to spend the money on an interactive queue, than using it on a queue that has no theming at all and a much slower-moving line, like Peter Pan's.

My sentiments exactly. Great post, this describes the old way of Imagineering, where every element has a purpose within the story. I fear for that aspect of attractions now.

The stillness of the Mansion on approach is very important to the story and overall journey of the attraction.

 

[NYwdwfan]

I never noticed the corpse until my last trip - I just never looked up before!! I pointed it out to my sister and said, "I wonder how long that's been there" and she looked at me like I was losing it!!

 

[inluvwithbeast]

Now how on earth is a guest supposed to be immersed in this atmosphere and pick up on all these carefully designed details if some ghost on a screen is talking their ear off??

3. Guest flow. The Haunted Mansion is an Omnimover ride system with two large elevators constantly swallowing up guests, and never seems to have a line that is holding still for very long. To me, it seems like encouraging guests to stop and play games will only disrupt the flow of an otherwise constantly-moving queue. See Space Mountain.

4. Finally, legacy. The gravestones have been there since the attraction's opening, and are a sort of the dedication/credits to the Imagineers of what is widely considered one of the greatest achievements in the history of theme park design. IMO completely removing those gravestones is disrespectful to the Imagineers that are largely responsible for bringing Disney parks to where they are today - akin to painting over all the windows on Main Street. Not to mention that Master Gracey's tombstone is a great and subtle way of introducing the story of the attraction. The tombstones really need to be kept in place when the interactive queue is added, or at least relocated.

So I'm pretty sure Raven and Steve have both already addressed all of these things. :wave:

-No screens.
-No videogames.
-And not ALL of the tombstones are leaving.

You can find those answers throughout the thread.



And the last part about this being implemented at a ride where it's needed. This (and Pooh) is the first place NextGen is being implemented. Like, a tester. Put it on HM and Pooh, observe how it works, tweak it for the rides where it's needed to be effective ie PPF.

 

[inluvwithbeast]

I never noticed the corpse until my last trip

Gasp! That's not family friendly. It doesn't belong in MK! :dazzle:


I do have to say my first time riding HM as a 15-year-old, the corpse really creeped me out. Kind of set up my expectation for the rest of the ride. I was pretty much on edge the entire time until I saw daylight again. Those heads that pop out from behind the tombstones? Bout wet my pants.

 

[ChrisFL]

IMO the hydrolators were great the first time, but after that I never wanted to watch the movie or wait to get in them. I just wanted to get to the sea base without waiting.

You didn't like "THE DELUGE"?? :fork:

j/k though I do think it was a brilliant short film, even for a small kid.

 

[JustInTime]

I never noticed the corpse until my last trip - I just never looked up before!! I pointed it out to my sister and said, "I wonder how long that's been there" and she looked at me like I was losing it!!

I honestly don't know what corpse you are talking about. So I don't have to re-read all these pages, please fill me in.


The one hanging form the rafters?

 

[gerryu21220]

I honestly don't know what corpse you are talking about. So I don't have to re-read all these pages, please fill me in.


The one hanging form the rafters?

Yep. That's the one. (Well, two actually. One in each Stretch Room.)

Honestly though, the first time I saw it, I couldn't really tell what it was. I only knew what it was supposed to be from the description on the record album. I could only see *something* was hanging up there.