Why did Disney close Ae?

barnum42

barnum42

New Member
Gail Hayden said:
Yep, that is the way I remember it. It was actually quite entertaining, but, then again, I would watch a bubble gum commercial with Gibson in it. :)
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*Covers face in woad, sticks on cod-Scottish accent and proclaims*
They can tekk mah gum, but they'll no tekk mah bubbles!

:D
 
Nicole

Nicole

Well-Known Member
I don't know Disney's reasons for closing AE but from my personal experience, when I went for the first time to WDW in 1997 I read several guidebooks and talked to everybody I knew who'd been there. EVERY piece of information I read and EVERY person I talked to warned me about AE. Most of my friends said it was the worst part of their trip (all of them had young kids). Even the Birnbaum guide made a point of saying it was too much for kids. My husband and daughter went on it while my son and I stayed outside. It wasn't too scary for them but they didn't particularly enjoy it.

In fact, until I discovered this site, I had never really heard anything positive about AE. I would imagine Disney got a lot more bad press and bad guest reviews about the whole attraction than they did good ones. Some of that is of course because people tend to be quicker to complain than they are to compliment, but still I think the negative feeling toward AE among the general Disney-going public and press far outweighed the positive.
 
speck76

speck76

Well-Known Member
Nicole said:
I don't know Disney's reasons for closing AE but from my personal experience, when I went for the first time to WDW in 1997 I read several guidebooks and talked to everybody I knew who'd been there. EVERY piece of information I read and EVERY person I talked to warned me about AE. Most of my friends said it was the worst part of their trip (all of them had young kids). Even the Birnbaum guide made a point of saying it was too much for kids. My husband and daughter went on it while my son and I stayed outside. It wasn't too scary for them but they didn't particularly enjoy it.

In fact, until I discovered this site, I had never really heard anything positive about AE. I would imagine Disney got a lot more bad press and bad guest reviews about the whole attraction than they did good ones. Some of that is of course because people tend to be quicker to complain than they are to compliment, but still I think the negative feeling toward AE among the general Disney-going public and press far outweighed the positive.
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The Magic Kingdom could have put a black and white, bold typed, huge sign in front of the attraction that said "THIS RIDE WILL KILL YOUR CHILDREN AND STEAL YOUR MONEY" and people would still ignore the sign and go on the attraction, and then complain. It became a no-win situation for the park.....those who liked it, loved it, and those who did not love it, HATED it, and those with children, watched it "to get the most for their money"....and then complained later.

The attraction had to go.......they could tone it down, but they would lose the fans of the ride, but it would still be too scary for kids....so they added Stich, ticked of the AE fans, and it is still to scary for kids (although better for kids than it was)......the problem now is the story, which is rumored to be fixed fairly soon.
 
dxwwf3

dxwwf3

Well-Known Member
speck76 said:
The Magic Kingdom could have put a black and white, bold typed, huge sign in front of the attraction that said "THIS RIDE WILL KILL YOUR CHILDREN AND STEAL YOUR MONEY" and people would still ignore the sign and go on the attraction, and then complain. It became a no-win situation for the park.....those who liked it, loved it, and those who did not love it, HATED it, and those with children, watched it "to get the most for their money"....and then complained later.

The attraction had to go.......they could tone it down, but they would lose the fans of the ride, but it would still be too scary for kids....so they added Stich, ticked of the AE fans, and it is still to scary for kids (although better for kids than it was)......the problem now is the story, which is rumored to be fixed fairly soon.
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I definately agree with the first paragraph there speck. While I disagree that the attraction had to go, I believe that there was nothing Disney could do in order to please the angry parents who can't read warning signs. You know the old saying "Most people turn off their brains when they are on vacation in WDW".
 
speck76

speck76

Well-Known Member
dxwwf3 said:
I definately agree with the first paragraph there speck. While I disagree that the attraction had to go, I believe that there was nothing Disney could do in order to please the angry parents who can't read warning signs. You know the old saying "Most people turn off their brains when they are on vacation in WDW".
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If WDW is every to add a "older kids" park, I would like to see something like AE back.....

I am a strong believer in "Something for Everyone, not Everything for Everyone". I guess I am smart enough that I know which attractions are not going to fit my tastes (like Playhouse Disney) so I don't go on them.

I think the problem with people is multifold:

1. The parents are selfish and want to go on the attraction, so they drag their kids on it (I see this a lot on ToT)
2. The parents ignore warnings, they are too busy yelling at their kids to pay attention to signs.
3. The parents want to get the most for their money, so they go on EVERY attraction, regardless of its targeted audience. (some people think quanity is better than quality)

One thing that the MK could have done was to raise the height limit on the ride......therefore not letting kids on.
 
dxwwf3

dxwwf3

Well-Known Member
speck76 said:
One thing that the MK could have done was to raise the height limit on the ride......therefore not letting kids on.
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I think that could have fixed 1/2 of the problems.
 
speck76

speck76

Well-Known Member
dxwwf3 said:
I think that could have fixed 1/2 of the problems.
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I agree, but then the possibilty exists that people would complain that they could not get their kids on....or "my kid went on last year, but now you wont let him!"
 
Tinker05

Tinker05

New Member
I liked AE but it sure wasnt an attractions kids would have liked! They should have rose the height limit and stuck to it! And let is be an attraction for the older kids and adults kind of like Space Mountain and even Slash Mountain. They are made more towards the older.
 
H

HennieBogan1966

Account Suspended
Okay, just a few thoughts

First:

Where's the Mel Gibson Fan Web Site. Seems some are in desperate need of that.

Secondly:

I don't agree with much of the sentiment that guests are too stupid, ignorant, or busy to read warning signs. I also don't agree that guests are trying to get bang for their buck by riding/seeing everything. If that were the case everyone would be there for 2 weeks, visit every park, shop, restaurant, etc. etc.

Thirdly:

The more that I am reading here the more I see that there were in fact complaints lobbied against the attraction by the most important people to the parks. THE GUESTS!!! Like it or not, majority rules. If Disney felt there was an issue, they are obligated to address it, or risk losing business.

Again, my Wife and I liked the attraction, but felt it was over the top for children, and even discussed the fact that it wouldn't last over a long period of time. I mean, how do you market AE and Buzz Lightyears' Space Ranger Spin within yards of each other? Height limits might have been a good idea, but I think we all know what would have happened with that one. Just chalk it up to a great attraction in the wrong place, and let it go.
 
dxwwf3

dxwwf3

Well-Known Member
HennieBogan1966 said:
I don't agree with much of the sentiment that guests are too stupid, ignorant, or busy to read warning signs.
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What would lead you to believe that way? From my experience of listening around while I'm at the parks, I think that we go easy on most guests.
 
barnum42

barnum42

New Member
HennieBogan1966 said:
I don't agree with much of the sentiment that guests are too stupid, ignorant, or busy to read warning signs. I also don't agree that guests are trying to get bang for their buck by riding/seeing everything. If that were the case everyone would be there for 2 weeks, visit every park, shop, restaurant, etc. etc.
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I've seen plenty of guests not read the warning signs or ignore all the warnings on Mission Space or cross safety lines despite a Cast Memeber hollering at them not to. There are plenty of selfish people who will ignore the rules and warnings.

I have to agree with the thinking behind guests wanting to get the most out of their buck by riding everything. It's just a variation of seeing them pile enormous quantities of food on their plates in an "All You Can Eat Buffet."

Those of us that can visit for two weeks, do :D
 
dxwwf3

dxwwf3

Well-Known Member
barnum42 said:
I've seen plenty of guests not read the warning signs or ignore all the warnings on Mission Space or cross safety lines despite a Cast Memeber hollering at them not to. There are plenty of selfish people who will ignore the rules and warnings.
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Exactly. That is a perfect example.
 
speck76

speck76

Well-Known Member
HennieBogan1966 said:
I also don't agree that guests are trying to get bang for their buck by riding/seeing everything. If that were the case everyone would be there for 2 weeks, visit every park, shop, restaurant, etc. etc.
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This thought has no logic behind it.

Most guests have a financial barrier that would inhibit them from spending two weeks at the park. If guests actually had 2 weeks, they may not be in such a hurry all of the time, or they may not spend the entire day in the park. Most guests have 3-4 days at the parks. Being that the parks are only one expense (flight, hotel, food....) they try and see as much as possible to get the most value for their stay. I have not seen too many guests come to Orlando and just chill out for a few days, doing nothing.

How many parents do you see holding sleeping children when they leave the park? How many children start having melt-downs at around 8pm because they have been in the park all day and they are tired, yet the parents wont take them back to the hotel room? Many parents want the most for their money, and unfortunately, many times this is at the expense of their children.
 
speck76

speck76

Well-Known Member
barnum42 said:
I've seen plenty of guests not read the warning signs or ignore all the warnings on Mission Space or cross safety lines despite a Cast Memeber hollering at them not to. There are plenty of selfish people who will ignore the rules and warnings.

I have to agree with the thinking behind guests wanting to get the most out of their buck by riding everything. It's just a variation of seeing them pile enormous quantities of food on their plates in an "All You Can Eat Buffet."

Those of us that can visit for two weeks, do :D
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Working as a ride operator when I was in college, most guests did not read the ride warnings.....women who were pregnant would ride the rollercoasters (once a lady with an oxygen tank tried to get on a 200' tall coaster), and I would all too often see people take of back and neck braces before getting on my ride, as they did not want them to get wet.

On top of then, the ride I primarily worked on was like Kali River Rapids, and had airline-style seatbelts. Guests would commonly take of the seat belt and run around in the raft to avoid getting wet from the waterfalls.

1. They wanted to ride, so they could "get another attraction in for the day"
2. Signs EVERYWHERE said "You will get soaked"
3. Ponchos were sold for a few bucks, but they did not want to spend the money.
4. They would endanger themselves and the other guests by breaking the safety rules, to avoid getting wet on a WATER RIDE.

We had a height limit of 48", but a similar (but not as intense) ride at another park in the area only had a 42" limit, and we would get complaints constantly that "my kid could ride at Kings Island, but you wont let them ride here". We offered a parent-swap option, but many guests thought that it was too much of a hassle.
 
G

General Grizz

New Member
An 11-year-old girl from Brazil who was "throwing up and passing out" in the line to ride Space Mountain at Walt Disney World on Christmas Eve died early Christmas Day at a hospital, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Almediacesarde Marcela Pinto of S{atilde}o Paulo had ridden the ride three times and was waiting in line to ride it again shortly before midnight when she started getting sick, the sheriff's report said.

She was rushed to Celebration Hospital, where she died at 12:45 a.m. The girl had pre-existing respiratory and pulmonary health problems, according to the report.

The family, who had been staying at a vacation home in the Dr. Phillips area, could not be reached for comment.

"Our hearts go out to the family," said Bill Warren, a Disney spokesman. "We offered our assistance to make them as comfortable as possible during this difficult time; however, we have not heard from the family since that night."

- OrlandoSentinel
 

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