Why do attractions suffer because of short attention spans?

[Victor Kelly]

Hey I fall asleep in UoE all the time. It is a nice cool place to nap.

But yes, attention spans are an issue. But so is guests per hour too.

I feel it is the attention spans of me me me, now now now. That drives a lot in Disney, look at the joke outside Haunted Mansion and all the video game nonsense like in Space Mountain.

 

[Soarin2u]

I don't believe that this was the reasoning behind shorting any of these attractions. There are so many other shows that they could have shortened too then for that reason. I blanked out for half of Fantasia, to much water projection made it lame and slow. (IMHO) I'd be much more satisfied if it was all acting, no projections. Either way, if they really did cut it for "attention span" then there are some slow parts in every show that they could just "cut out."

 

[willtravel]

That part I agree with, however, when you look at the ones listed they can't fill it now with fewer shows, so unless cutting parts out of it will produce a body that wants to go to it, I just don't see how it is going to matter. In other words...why bother? That's why I don't think it would be the motivation. Maybe over the long haul if people go and are less frustrated because the show didn't take as long then they might get more visitors due to word of mouth.

The whole thing smacks of the time that either Kellogg or Post or maybe both said that they put less cereal in the boxes because the public demanded it. The public felt that they got too much in the box. Really...it could happen.

WWWHHHAAATTTT? Seriously?

 

[George1995]

Idk if I would say that short attention spans had everything to do with certain scenes being cut out, it could just be that these scenes were becoming more unpopular or possibly outdated. However, I think short attention spans has to have something to do with it. I mean in a world where a lot of people can't go more than 10 minutes without their Wi-Fi, I think it's definitely possible that people just want to get in and get out of certain attractions.

 

[Goofyernmost]

WWWHHHAAATTTT? Seriously?

It's serious that it was reported that it happened. I'm not entirely sure it actually did. If it did it would be beyond the definition of stupid. I do remember it being nationally reported though. About 15 or so years ago.

 

[PorterRedkey]

I think shortening attraction time is a big mistake.

These numbers are not accurate, but they will get the point across. A 15 minute show with a 100 person theater will fit a maximum of 3200 guests in an 8 hour day. Shorten that show to 12 minutes and the 8 hour capacity goes to 4000. The other less tangible effect is it keeps lines shorter especially on peak days because it can cycle more guests per hour. Guests are less apt to bypass an attraction with a shorter line.

I realize that rides like UOE, Country Bears and Tiki Room fit with this logic because they are all shows with a limited number of seats so reducing show time would obviously increase capacity. But when it comes to Imagination, not only did the redo cut the introduction and creation of figment, but also cut the track length by 40%! It seems to me a longer track means more ride vehicles thus more capacity. Not that it matters since Imagination is always a walk on, but I hope you get my point.

 

[von Slapschtick]

I honestly believe everything Disney does these reflects on what Disney wants and Disney wants you in and out to keep people moving. The Disney I first visited in 1992 bares little resemblance to the Disney I visited last year and when I go this year and I know going in that any changes made during the last year won't have been made to enhance my experience.

 

[PorterRedkey]

I also think a longer attractions create re-rideablity (is that a word?) Pirates and HM have so many things to look at the rider wants to go back and experience it again and when they do ride again, they find something they didn't notice last time because of the level of detail and care that was taken to put the rider in a unique setting.
OR the ride does such a good job of transporting you to another world like Pirates, you want to go back there. You are not in the real world, you are in the Pirate world. The fact that the ride length is long enough to let you soak in the atmosphere and take you on an adventure adds to this experience. The more sets/scenes the more details to notice the next time you ride. It seem now they put a scene one in the queue and if you have FP or a short wait, you miss this. This is followed by a intense ride of 5 minutes then a gift shop. M:S, RSR, TOT may be cool (especially the later 2), but I prefer a long 12 minute journey like Horizons, WOM, SSE or the original JII.

 

[Master Yoda]

I think shortening attraction time is a big mistake.



I realize that rides like UOE, Country Bears and Tiki Room fit with this logic because they are all shows with a limited number of seats so reducing show time would obviously increase capacity. But when it comes to Imagination, not only did the redo cut the introduction and creation of figment, but also cut the track length by 40%! It seems to me a longer track means more ride vehicles thus more capacity. Not that it matters since Imagination is always a walk on, but I hope you get my point.

Cutting the track length had nothing to do with capacity. We know that for a fact. The section of track cut was the turntable. It was very advanced for its time and, like most new technology, could not hold up to the rigors of working 100% of the time. They decision was made to yank the section at the refurb.

 

[FettFan]

Funny thing about one of the Country Bears cuts.... Melvin, Buff and Max were never reprogrammed, they were simply muted.

So when Trixie is singing "Tears Will Be the Chaser", they still make jokes about her weight...only it looks like they are whispering to each other.

 

[rnese]

Funny thing about one of the Country Bears cuts.... Melvin, Buff and Max were never reprogrammed, they were simply muted.

So when Trixie is singing "Tears Will Be the Chaser", they still make jokes about her weight...only it looks like they are whispering to each other.

NICE pick-up FettFan! Very impressive. I need some sort of animated "smiley" emoticon to insert here.

 

[PorterRedkey]

Cutting the track length had nothing to do with capacity. We know that for a fact. The section of track cut was the turntable. It was very advanced for its time and, like most new technology, could not hold up to the rigors of working 100% of the time. They decision was made to yank the section at the refurb.

Part of the turn table section is still used in the current track. It is the addition cuts to the ride track for the new Image works and the gift shop that really hurt this attraction. 40% of the ride was cut. See Martin's videos. I just don't see how removing almost half of the ride track doesn't reduce ride capacity. The longer the track, the more ride vehicles an attraction can have. More vehicles equals more riders. Even it you only get 30% more rider per hour, an attraction with a 1000p/hr increases to 1300 per hr. If my logic is flawed please correct me.

 

[Master Yoda]

Part of the turn table section is still used in the current track. It is the addition cuts to the ride track for the new Image works and the gift shop that really hurt this attraction. 40% of the ride was cut. See Martin's videos. I just don't see how removing almost half of the ride track doesn't reduce ride capacity. The longer the track, the more ride vehicles an attraction can have. More vehicles equals more riders. Even it you only get 30% more rider per hour, an attraction with a 1000p/hr increases to 1300 per hr. If my logic is flawed please correct me.

Unlike a theater, ride capacity has little to do with the number of cars on the track. Is has to do more with load an unload time than anything else. A ride that can load and unload a guest every 6 seconds will have a capacity of 600 guests per hour. It does not matter if that train has 100 ride vehicles in it or a billion, you load a guest every 6 seconds.

 

[GenerationX]

Attractions, like any other form of communication, benefit from being concise. Keep essential, entertaining elements - cut the rest.

 

[PorterRedkey]

Unlike a theater, ride capacity has little to do with the number of cars on the track. Is has to do more with load an unload time than anything else. A ride that can load and unload a guest every 6 seconds will have a capacity of 600 guests per hour. It does not matter if that train has 100 ride vehicles in it or a billion, you load a guest every 6 seconds.

Load time makes sense. So every six seconds from the time it opens 1 guest is loaded continuously until close so the rider could go to the moon, but as long as they are loaded every 6 seconds the ride capacity is consistent.

Thanks for helping this dim bulb understand. I'm no Jedi, but Yoda would be proud.

 

[Clever Name]

Country Bears has always been horrible!

I corrected that for you.