What I think...as of today...for now...

[David S.]

Have we been on the same ride? :lookaroun

Honestly, my opinion is that when Imagineering tried to do away with the scary elements of the ride in the '90s, they went too far in the other direction. The current ride has been Windexed so thoroughly clean of any suspense or fear that it's just not very interesting from an atmospheric or narrative standpoint. Even the Witch was made over into a smiling, earnest, mildly menacing (but not really, don't worry!) figure that she's just hard to take seriously as any kind of threat.

Maybe if I had the unjaded eyes of a child, I would see this different, but it's impossible for me to look at the current ride and see it as the least bit scary...which is ironic, since I believe the name only officially and permanently became Snow White's Scary Adventures after the last makeover.

(PS: I know David S. will disagree with every word of this post, and that's OK. Different strokes, as they say.) :lol:

You are correct! I MUCH prefer the current version as it is MUCH more faithful to the film and does a MUCH better job of balancing the lighter elements of the film (which I love!) with the darker elements (which I'm not crazy about). The beautiful Happy Ending sequence in the current version is sublime, beautiful, and gives me goosebumps! The old version didn't move me or give me goosebumps - it left me feeling cold inside.

I think parts of the new version ARE scary, but only the parts that should be to properly tell the story! But I AM seeing it through the "unjaded eyes of a child" - my Inner Child!

To me, the movie is about SO much more than the stupid witch chasing Snow White. It's about an innocent girl named Snow White, the dwarfs, the cute forest animals that help her, as they can instinctively SENSE she is good, pure, and innocent (probably because of the moving way she helps the baby bluebird find his way home moments before the Huntsman tries to kill her, but changes his mind) and about how all of these good elements overcome evil so Snow White can live Happily Ever After!

So I'm glad the current version presents this happy ending, and some of the lighter moments that actually make the film enjoyable, rather than solely dark, gruesome, and macabre like the original ride!

The original version of the ride ended with the stupid witch dropping a rock on guests and implying that she was successful. And if the guests were supposed to "be" Snow White in the ride, this would mean that not only does Snow White NOT live Happily Ever Ever, but that the witch wins.

What in Hades were they thinking, what substances were they smoking (or dropping ), and what the heck kind of ending was that! If I pay good money to go to a Disney park, I want the same touching, Happily Ever After, goosebump-inducing endings to the stories that make the films so magical! Not some bizzaro alternate-universe version of the story where the witch wins and good does NOT triumph over evil!

 

[David S.]

Wow, I had no idea the ride I'd ridden on - and was rather unimpressed with - was a weaker version of the original. I feel as gypped as I did when I saw a video of the original Journey into Imagination with Figment. Bummer!

From my point of view, the CURRENT version is FAR, FAR, FAR, FAR superior to the original! See above post for an explanation as to why!

 

[Magenta Panther]

Here's a link to the original version. It's pretty dark, so you won't see everything, but it gives you the basic idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th7LJFzG1o8

Essentially the original ride was nothing but the witch popping out and threatening to murder you at every turn. (Many people interpreted the "star doors" at the end after she threatens to drop a boulder on you as evidence that she succeeded in that endeavor!)

It was a very bizarre ride for a Disney park, and honestly didn't have much of a story. It also thoroughly frightened the bejeezus out of many, many kids (including a 6-year-old Wilt Dasney), so I know why they took it out. I still think that atmospherically at least, it was more interesting than what's there now.

Yeah, but wow, I see what you mean about the scare factor. That was pretty grim! Witches and skeletons everywhere. It reminds me of the old "spookhouse" carnival rides I experienced as a kid. I guess I can see now why the ride was changed...but, as you say, it wasn't necessarily improved. I hope the Mine Ride, if it happens, will incorporate the actual Snow White movie better than either of the dark rides did. There's potential to make it something truly spectacular. Thanks for the link.

 

[Magenta Panther]

From my point of view, the CURRENT version is FAR, FAR, FAR, FAR superior to the original! See above post for an explanation as to why!

After viewing the video Wilt so kindly provided me, I can see what you mean, in a way...the new version certainly has more of the character of the movie in it. But it could still be a lot better than it is IMO.

 

[mp2bill]

Pixie Hollow (in all it's early concept forms) is dead.

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

 

[cheezbat]

yeah i remember the original ride...it scared the crap out of me, and I always wondered why Snow White wasn't IN the ride...it really confused me as a kid seeing as how the ride was named after her. With all of the evil queen/hag attacks on the ride, it just really bothered me. They should've called the ride The Hag's Attack!

 

[Wilt Dasney]

The original version of the ride ended with the stupid witch dropping a rock on guests and implying that she was successful. And if the guests were supposed to "be" Snow White in the ride, this would mean that not only does Snow White NOT live Happily Ever Ever, but that the witch wins.

What in Hades were they thinking and what the heck kind of ending was that! If I pay good money to go to a Disney park, I want the same Happily Ever After goosebump-inducing endings to the stories that make the films so magical! Not some bizzaro althernate-universe bersion of the story where the witch wins and good does NOT triumph over evil!

Maybe it's just my twisted sense of humor, but it really cracks me up that they were ballsy enough to go with that ending originally. It was so out of the expected that it strikes me as a nice touch of subversion in a place that takes itself a little too seriously at times — and then obviously you (or "Snow White") exit the building into daylight, so everything is OK after all. (Just like you, or "Mr. Toad," left the torments of Hell and found yourself right back in the Magic Kingdom.)

I'd never want to see a literal representation of Snow White getting crushed by a boulder from a third-person point of view, but something about the first-person nature of the ending — and the ambiguity as to what happened — makes it OK with me. :shrug:

It is enjoyable to read a well-articulated opinion that differs from mine so sharply, though.

 

[David S.]

It is enjoyable to read a well-articulated opinion that differs from mine so sharply, though.

Thanks, and ditto! I'm glad you didn't take my difference of opinion in a personal or argumentative way!

And I'm glad that there are examples of rides where I prefer the newer version over the original (Snow White, Nemo, Gran Fiesta, Universe of Energy), because then in cases where I DO lament the loss of something I love at the parks, no one can say I am just being "blindly purist and automatically opposed to all change"!

I just follow what my heart tells me!

 

[lazyboy97o]

What in Hades were they thinking, what substances were they smoking (or dropping ), and what the heck kind of ending was that! If I pay good money to go to a Disney park, I want the same touching, Happily Ever After, goosebump-inducing endings to the stories that make the films so magical! Not some bizzaro alternate-universe version of the story where the witch wins and good does NOT triumph over evil!

And yet so many go on and one about how they would like to see a villains ride, land or park.

 

[David S.]

Well, different strokes for different folks. But hopefully a potential villains ride would end like Fantasmic! does (which features a lot of villains) and have good triumph over evil!

I seriously doubt they would ever theme an entire park around the villains, though!

 

[David S.]

Yes, I'll agree with that. I was always amazed at the amount of time people will wait for dumbo. It also has to be one of the most miserable lines to wait in. Hot, crowded, and not much to do. The double capacity and new queue will be an amazing upgrade. Also, hopefully they'll do away with the "boarding passes" with the new system. I used to work Dumbo and I can't count how many angry guests I encountered because of mix-ups with those stupid things! And that long wait definitely didn't help matters...

Which is why I think it's a great ride to start with at rope drop, and then while almost everyone else in Fantasyland is in the Dumbo queue, all the dark rides are walk-ons! I also love riding Dumbo late at night when the lines get shorter, and everything about the Kingdom feels even MORE magical!

However, I have to wonder if Dumbo will lose a certain charm with its new placement. It's always been right behind the castle and in the middle of the fireworks when they're going off, which definitely helps boost the appeal of the otherwise simple ride. Hopefully it will fare well in it's new location though. Guess we'll see

That's what I'll miss, too! What a way to view the fireworks! I'll never forget the New Years Eve of 2006/07 (my first NYE in the MK) where Dumbo was actually a walk-on during the fireworks and there were only a few people besides me on the ride! The CMs let us stay on for multiple rides during the show, as everytime we landed there was either no one in line, or not enough to fill up the ride.

And then, just as Mickey and the gang were about to countdown backwards from 10 to ring in the New Year, I could tell the ride would end soon because all the Dumbos went up to the top position. But then the ride suddenly stopped with all the elephants at the top position!

So I was perched up there for the Grand Finale at midnight, with an AMAZING birds-eye view of all the fireworks going off all around me, in every direction! What an AMAZING way to ring in the New Year!

Truly a Magical Moment that I will NEVER forget!

And then, as soon as the fireworks show ended, we magically landed!

This was one of those sublime, once-in-a-lifetime magical moments that could never have been planned. And indeed, every NYE after this, the queue for Dumbo was PACKED, so I watched the show from the ground, instead.

But when it works out, I enjoy a good Dumbo ride during Wishes, which I don't think will be nearly the same experience when the ride moves so far away from the Castle!

 

[David S.]

You really think most kids today have seen a nearly 70-year-old animated film beginning to end? I seriously doubt it, especially since Dumbo isn't one of Disney's more heavily-promoted films. The only place you ever see him is in the spinner ride — or the fireworks if you go to Disneyland.

Well, I think Disney's Animated Classics are timeless and they are always being pulled from circulation and then re-released to give them a "rare" quality. Everytime they get re-released a whole new generation discovers them. Dumbo is currently out of print in the US and Canada and was supposed to be re-released in 2010 on DVD and BD with a stunning new restoration done by Lowry Digital Images that will hardly make it look 70 years old!

However, although this new restoration was released as scheduled in Europe and most of the world, it was delayed in the US and I think Canada until 2011, perhaps because the company re-released Alice In Wonderland in that spot instead to capitalize on the Burton film.

So, I think in 2011 when Dumbo does finally get his spiffy new digitally restored release (which will look as good as Platinum Edition titles like Pinocchio and Cinderella), there will be a spike in the number of young children who suddenly become familiar with this cinematic Masterpiece! Which should coincide nicely with the upcoming FLE

 

[misterID]

I think a Snow White coaster is coming...

Mermaid and BatB areas are proceeding as planned.

Cindy/Aurora M&G complex is dead.

The large space where they were going will in fact be the Snow White/Dwarf coaster/mine car ride.

So, I was right!! Man, that's rare.

Thanks for all the info Lee.

 

[jt04]

So, I was right!! Man, that's rare.

Thanks for all the info Lee.

Unless Tirian is right and everything changes again. :lol:


Save the chateau!

 

[lebeau]

But what i dont get is the need for deulling dumbos, is t really that long of a wait?

YES!!!

Dueling Dumbos is needed.

My dad's last trip to WDW was 1988. My parents took the younger kids to MK while we older ones went to Epcot. More than 30 years later, my dad swears he would not go back to WDW "to save his immortal soul."

And if you ask him why, his first complaint will be the line for Dumbo.

30+ years later.

 

[lebeau]

And yet so many go on and one about how they would like to see a villains ride, land or park.

Those people (though vocal here) are in the vast minority.

 

[NewfieFan]

You're right, especially the bolded. The Magic Kingdom is supposed to be idyllic, and I believe both adults and children are still somewhat enchanted by the circus. I think the Circus land will be richly themed, and I agree with the poster who said she can't wait to see it at night.

:animwink:

Yes, I'll agree with that. I was always amazed at the amount of time people will wait for dumbo. It also has to be one of the most miserable lines to wait in. Hot, crowded, and not much to do. The double capacity and new queue will be an amazing upgrade. Also, hopefully they'll do away with the "boarding passes" with the new system. I used to work Dumbo and I can't count how many angry guests I encountered because of mix-ups with those stupid things! And that long wait definitely didn't help matters...

However, I have to wonder if Dumbo will lose a certain charm with its new placement. It's always been right behind the castle and in the middle of the fireworks when they're going off, which definitely helps boost the appeal of the otherwise simple ride. Hopefully it will fare well in it's new location though. Guess we'll see

So, very true!!!

And I have to agree with you on the charm of its placement! Just this past March my hubby and I (kids were with the grandparents) decided to jump on Dumbo while the fireworks were starting... what a magical ride that was and it will be a ride I won't soon forgot!

 

[jt04]

Latest/greatest over the wall.


http://www.wdwmousetales.com/082110wdwtripreport.html

I think I see a roof on a portion of LM.

And what is that long line of small crafted rebar in the foreground? Huh :shrug:

 

[xdan0920]

About the Circus Land. While I agree that having an entire area themed around a circus inside of MK is less then appealing, there is a pressing need for more capacity at Dumbo. It would be ridiculous to just have dual spinners with no theme surrounding them. So I guess circus land is a necessary evil.

As for the rest of FLE, I think it is a great move to go back to the original idea of having an actual attraction over those ridiculous Princess Parties. I am sure the Mine Coaster will not be anything terribly thrilling, but at least it will have a broad appeal.

The thing I am most concerned about is timeframe. The MK can not afford to have this expansion carry into 2014. It needs to be completed by 2012 like they originally stated. Not just to expand capacity at MK, and to eliminate those walls. If they are still working on FLE, then you can count on the other parks getting no serious work during that time.

 

[Lee]

If they go foward with Snow White coaster than I guess Monsters Inc. coaster at the Studios is dead because to an extent tehy would be too similar (I know monsters would probably use different seating style but both would be family friendly coasters themed to an animated property).

No. Monsters is a totally unrelated project and will not be affected by anything that happens in FLE.

Here's a link to the original version. It's pretty dark, so you won't see everything, but it gives you the basic idea:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th7LJFzG1o8

Ahhh...I love me some original Snow White. Much better than the new one, IMHO.

I think I see a roof on a portion of LM.

No. You don't. They have barely gone vertical and aren't anywhere near a roof.

And what is that long line of small crafted rebar in the foreground? Huh :shrug:

It's the same piece of formed rebar that has been laying there in almost every photo over the wall we've seen. It's awaiting use somewhere, along with all the other materials being stored there on the former site of the chateau.