Why do attractions suffer because of short attention spans?

[SMRT-1Michael]

I've noticed in the last several years that Disney has been cutting lines, scenes, etc from a few shows and rides because of the short attention spans of guests. Namely:

1. Enchanted Tiki Room (cut out Barcarolle, sing along part of the Folies Bergere birds)
2. Journey into Imagination (cut the ride track by 6 MINUTES! UGH.)
3. Country Bears (Now significantly shorter)
4. Universe of Energy (they warn guests that they should leave it they dont want to stay the full 45 minutes)

It just seems unfair to the attractions themselves. I know there could be other reasons, but CM's (One of which is a family member who works Internal Communications at MK) says it's because guests tend to get bored easily.

 

[rsoxguy]

I'm not certain if "short attention spans" is the reason for these cuts. Do you have access to some type of information or poll regarding Disney's reasoning and justification for these cuts? It would be an interesting sociological statement if this truly were the reason behind the cuts.

 

[Master Yoda]

I don't think any of those changes have anything to do with short attention spans. The changes to the Tiki Room and CBJ allow them to run more shows per day and increase capacity. Imagination was shortened due to a technical issue with the turntable and UOE has that announcement because of too many people wanting out because they had a dining reservation of a fastpass to get to.

 

[nolatron]

My first thought would be to increase capacity also. Since they can't increase the number of guests per show, they decrease the length.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I've noticed in the last several years that Disney has been cutting lines, scenes, etc from a few shows and rides because of the short attention spans of guests. Namely:

1. Enchanted Tiki Room (cut out Barcarolle, sing along part of the Folies Bergere birds)
2. Journey into Imagination (cut the ride track by 6 MINUTES! UGH.)
3. Country Bears (Now significantly shorter)
4. Universe of Energy (they warn guests that they should leave it they dont want to stay the full 45 minutes)

It just seems unfair to the attractions themselves. I know there could be other reasons, but CM's (One of which is a family member who works Internal Communications at MK) says it's because guests tend to get bored easily.

I do see it as a reason. If it were to increase capacity, I don't see how it would. None of the attractions mentioned are overwhelmed with people clamoring to get in. I really do believe that the public's lack of desire to invest to much time into one thing, is the motivation behind it. In the case of Journey...what they cut out was the part that caused them the most mechanical problems during it's run. That one was for Disney.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Is it called a short attention span if I fall asleep on Universe of Energy?
I don't remember the Barcarolle part of the Tiki Room what was that about?

 

[Master Yoda]

I do see it as a reason. If it were to increase capacity, I don't see how it would. None of the attractions mentioned are overwhelmed with people clamoring to get in. I really do believe that the public's lack of desire to invest to much time into one thing, is the motivation behind it. In the case of Journey...what they cut out was the part that caused them the most mechanical problems during it's run. That one was for Disney.

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.

 

[SMS55]

I can see the "attention span" being a concern. We are becoming a society where we want it faster, and faster. It needs to be quick. Think about it. The news feed, Twitter, etc. All quick. Video games now a days are the same. Kids get so wrapped into something so intense and fast paced. I have noticed it with myself. For example, I hate watching an internet video instead of reading the article. The video requires some kind of commercial first and by that time I've read the first paragraph or two and I have the main idea about it. I can decide to read the whole thing or to move on. I hate dead time in just about anything I do now-a days.

 

[Zman-ks]

Is it called a short attention span if I fall asleep on Universe of Energy?

I don't remember the Barcarolle part of the Tiki Room what was that about?

lol....maybe lack of sleep?

 

[bethymouse]

I don't believe that Disney made these decisions based on "short attention spans". However, it is a good point.

 

[Acolli18]

Country Bears is horrible now that it's shorter!

 

[Disvillain63]

If a show is good, then guests' attention spans will last the entire show. The probably with UE is the length, because the best part(s) are the preshow and the dinosaurs.

 

[Dragonrider1227]

It could be a mix of attention span, and people wanting to rush and do everything ASAP so they don't want to sit in a ride for more than ten minutes when they know they have lots more rides to get through and lines to wait on to get to those rides.
And yeah, I think people nowadays do get bored easier.

 

[Marc Gil]

I remember going on Country Bears after its refurb and being so confused. It's so jumbled up and rushed now. It's still a treat to see, but I do miss the old show. I have to admit that the AAs look great now, before they looked a little shabby.

 

[tare]

Well the bright side. You can move on to the next attraction faster. Haha

 

[Yert3]

The cuts to the Audio Animatronic attractions are sacrilege in my opinion. To me, it's the equivalent of going to a re-released movie with scenes cut out. I also feel it's disrespectful to the people who wrote the attractions.

 

[Prince-1]

Really wanted to read this but it was taking to long.

 

[Susan Savia]

I would think that the Energy reminder is because some folks might have dining reservations which the 45 minute ride could make them late for, or someone might need the rest room. I'm sure there's other reasons too.

 

[Goofyernmost]

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.

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.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I think perceived shortened attention spans play a major role in redesigning rides. Management is always desperate to appear (if just internally) to be hip, edgy and in tune with the youngest generations.

Today's guests are perceived to be impatient, of short attention span, clinically ADD. (Whatever gave thenm that idea? ) The result of changes over the past decades of such phenomena as the television zap culture, then the fast-edited MTV video, to websurfing, to multitasking smartphone addicts.