Walls up in PoC line

[tsaintc]

. . . If my daughter, who is six now, expects "something better" than that, I think I'll scream.

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but your daughter WILL expect 'something better'. This is coming from a father of two kids (daughter is 13; son is 9). Our kids, whether you like it or not, have instant access to the world's wealth of information. My children are Disney fanatics as well, but have different expectations than I do. Although the appreciate classic effects, they are always looking for a more immersive experience.

As long as Disney can integrate these types of changes into the environment with little disruption, I personally in favor of the changes. If Disney plans to have a long future as rich as their past, they will be required to keep up with technology.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but your daughter WILL expect 'something better'. This is coming from a father of two kids (daughter is 13; son is 9). Our kids, whether you like it or not, have instant access to the world's wealth of information. My children are Disney fanatics as well, but have different expectations than I do. Although the appreciate classic effects, they are always looking for a more immersive experience.

As long as Disney can integrate these types of changes into the environment with little disruption, I personally in favor of the changes. If Disney plans to have a long future as rich as their past, they will be required to keep up with technology.

I think my issue with the above is our apparent differences in the definition of what is considered a "more immersive experience".

I don't consider button smashing games on a big screen more immersive. I think if anything, those games take you OUT of the "experience". You're no longer being drawn in and having the mood set for what you're about to experience... Rather, you're being directed AWAY from the mood that's attempting to be set, and instead being baby-sat until your seat on the roller coaster is ready.

To me, a "more immersive experience" is Indy at DL. The Potter que. The que for Dualing Dragons was FANTASTIC before it was removed. Richly detailed ques that pull you in. Set you up fo the experience you're about to have. Not whirly-gigs and trinkets and beeps and boops that tackily attempt to keep your attention.

I might add that all kids are different. I've got two older girls, 13 and 15. They share my feelings on this. They don't take their cell phones to the parks, and don't want to. They have no interest in facebook or twitter. Certainly I understand they're probably in the minority... But I'm happy about that.

 

[Texas84]

I'm taking the side that is against anything truly interactive. But I always thought the queues needed some 'motion' elements, Haunted Mansion style.

 

[Master Gracey]

I am confused why you are so upset by some of the interactive queues...yes, some have always been as you so rightly stated "richly themed environments" but some were boring as heck switchback lines...Pooh for example, before it changed. Pirates never had super memorable about its queue that I can recall unless they've changed it drastically sense I've been back. And it's not like the always remove everything when making a queue interactive. And you know, at the end of the day, it's just a line...it's not supposed to be the attraction anyways. But keep on

OK, this statement has been bugging me for a few days. If Walt disney World were a local amusement park who's rides have vast fields of metal stantioned, serpentine queues, then your are 100% correct, it is just a line. HOWEVER, Walt Disney World is not the above scenario. Walt wanted ever last detail of Disneyland to contribute to the overall story, even to go as far as masking Sleeping Beauty Castle with the Main Street Train Station as the "curtain" of the performance you were about to experience and placing posters of the parks attractions in front of the station to act as the performance's "previews". This tradition carried over to Florida, and with enough land there to hold all the ideas and plans they could possibly imagine, attraction queue's became even more a part of the story. While WDW's Pirates atttraction is not nearly as grand as DL's, WDW had the vastly superior queue, with Marc Davis himself designing visual gags exclusively for Florida's incarnation (i.e. The Stalemate Scene). It is unfortunate that Disney currently has been following the "it's only a line" mentalitly in recent times, but "Pirates of the Caribbean" came from an era when that was not the status quo, and it should never be considered as such.

 

[bubbles1812]

OK, this statement has been bugging me for a few days. If Walt disney World were a local amusement park who's rides have vast fields of metal stantioned, serpentine queues, then your are 100% correct, it is just a line. HOWEVER, Walt Disney World is not the above scenario. Walt wanted ever last detail of Disneyland to contribute to the overall story, even to go as far as masking Sleeping Beauty Castle with the Main Street Train Station as the "curtain" of the performance you were about to experience and placing posters of the parks attractions in front of the station to act as the performance's "previews". This tradition carried over to Florida, and with enough land there to hold all the ideas and plans they could possibly imagine, attraction queue's became even more a part of the story. While WDW's Pirates atttraction is not nearly as grand as DL's, WDW had the vastly superior queue, with Marc Davis himself designing visual gags exclusively for Florida's incarnation (i.e. The Stalemate Scene). It is unfortunate that Disney currently has been following the "it's only a line" mentalitly in recent times, but "Pirates of the Caribbean" came from an era when that was not the status quo, and it should never be considered as such.

If you followed what I said through the thread, I did change my mind to a degree, and I do understand what you are saying. Though I wouldn't say Disney has been following the "it's only the line" mentality considering they are trying "plus" many of them with interactive elements. Just because many aren't a big fan of how they are trying to plus them doesn't mean that Disney is taking that mentality. It just means those people don't like the way Disney is doing it. My comment was directed at those who were upset by the interactive elements. Specifically the person who I replied to...he's been very doom and gloom about most of the interactive queues. I was trying to say if you are that upset by them, well, it is only the line...you still generally get to go on a great ride at the end.

 

[Tom]

Just some comments....

Regarding the Jack Sparrow overlay....I thought it was brilliant. They built a world famous ride, which inspired immensely popular and well-made movies, which re-inspired an aging ride. They brought familiarity to the ride, but in an extremely subtle, but (in my opinion) tasteful way. Worst case, it's a far cry better than what Disney tends to do with rides that become stale or forgotten like Toad. At least we still HAVE Pirates!

Regarding the possible addition of interactivity to the queue....if it's anything like the Jewel game they'll be installing in Adventureland, there aren't going to be any screens or electronics (aside from, perhaps, hidden speakers and actuators that make things move). Anything they add will blend in nicely, I predict.

Regarding the reasoning behind the work in the queue, which we are assuming is the addition of NextGen elements....I agree with a few posts here that they're anticipating longer waits in standby while FP and FP+ monopolize the other queue. Thus, time to break out the toys and babysit those standing in line.

 

[bethymouse]

Why not put in a bigger "drop" to make the ride even more exciting? POTC and other "boat rides" need updating as well, IMHO. I only like them to relax and just remember being a kid (nostalgia). Only time will tell...

 

[Tom]

Why not put in a bigger "drop" to make the ride even more exciting? POTC and other "boat rides" need updating as well, IMHO. I only like them to relax and just remember being a kid (nostalgia). Only time will tell...

I suppose they could lower the entire show building a few feet to increase the drop distance.

 

[ChrisFL]

Like Mike said, the addition of Jack was done as tastefully as possible and I personally have never thought the ride now revolves around him.

Really? Even though half of the pirates on the ride are now looking for "Captain Jack Sparrow" all the time (the only ones who aren't are in the auction scene)

 

[HMF]

Really? Even though half of the pirates on the ride are now looking for "Captain Jack Sparrow" all the time (the only ones who aren't are in the auction scene)

and the mayor is hiding Captain Jack Sparrow who is trying to steal HIS towns treasure, I don't even think that a so-called 9/11 Truther would buy that scenario. Also notice in the movies, a running gag is that only Jack refers to himself as "Captain" Jack Sparrow" yet in the revised ride you hear the name "Captain Jack Sparrow" said at least 4 times by Barbossa, Twice by Hookhand at the well and 3 or 4 times by the pooped pirate.

 

[The Duck]

I suppose they could lower the entire show building a few feet to increase the drop distance.

That's not too much to ask for, is it? Anyway, there's lots of speculation here that interactive screens are going to be added and (so far) I haven't heard of any concrete evidence of anything. (Once again) would it be a problem if we wait and see exactly what's going on until the -fest begins?

 

[bethymouse]

I suppose they could lower the entire show building a few feet to increase the drop distance.

Oops! I guess I never thought about that! Duh to me!

 

[sgtmgd]

Unfortunately..its a tale of two cities..so to speak..in city one you have those of us who have been going to Disney since it opened..I was 3...was fortunate to grow up in Daytona..and Visited Disney dozens of times over my youth and young adulthood...and have continued going to this day...like most of you I love Disney. I remember going to the POTC the year it opened I was 5 going on 6..pre fast pass days..the excitement was overwhelming...as were the lines...3 hour wait....that was a very long time for an anxious youth...I loved the ambiance of the old fort....BUT...3 hours is a very long time to shuffle forth a few feet at a time..looking at walls..and the occasional cannon....AND..it took a long while to get to the actual entrence of the Fort..as the que line was zig zagging out front....I dont think any child age 1-10..maybe even 11-12...would not be bored..waiting stagnate for that period of time...that brings us to city number two..present day kids are growing up different..doesnt mean its worse...or better..but what visually stimulated us old guard so to speak...wont hold up to the Pepsi Generation..thats also not bad..nor good...it just is. If Disney chooses to make ques interactive to make wait times easier on the children.who today are much more impatient..IM fine with it...anyone who tries to think the digital age wasnt going to make wholesale changes to places like Disney are simply unrealistic. (Not meant as a criticizism)