Why no simple dark rides in Galaxy's Edge?

[Bill in Atlanta]

I remember the warm & fuzzy feelings I had riding Delta Dreamflight as a kid, and the childhood attachment from simple rides like that kept me going back to WDW for decades. It seems like a simple 5-minute dark ride with popular SW characters would be a no-brainer from a standpoint of eating up crowds, being cost-effective, and a being a hit with kids.

 

[drizgirl]

They were supposed to have a People Mover type ride to begin with, and that would have also been a great people eater. But alas, like so many other things, it got cut.

 

[Virtual Toad]

Totally agree! Dreamflight is a classic example of what WDW is sorely missing: simple C-ticket attractions that are an easy way to boost capacity and guest satisfaction. Give the guests more to do than wait in line or clamor on their phones for the latest and greatest E-ticket. WDW resort-wide used to have many more of these experiences. New Fantasyland should have had several C-tickets added as well. Not doing so is a missed opportunity to increase capacity, variety and provide an "ebb and flow" to the guests' experience throughout the day.

I'm guessing someone somewhere at TWDC sees additional attractions as a liability from a labor, maintenance and overhead standpoint, so... here we are as they say.

 

[NickMaio]

I remember the warm & fuzzy feelings I had riding Delta Dreamflight as a kid, and the childhood attachment from simple rides like that kept me going back to WDW for decades. It seems like a simple 5-minute dark ride with popular SW characters would be a no-brainer from a standpoint of eating up crowds, being cost-effective, and a being a hit with kids.

Yes.......
The really little ones could use a ride in GE.

 

[Jrb1979]

Reading this thread makes me think Disney needs to follow every park when building new attractions. Don't say anything til all the plans are set in stone.

 

[Heppenheimer]

I've only been to Disneyland's Galaxy Edge, but I had the same reaction. Even with all the Chapekesque "Spend More Money Here" shops and booths, there still seemed to be a lot of empty space. Space that could easily be used for simpler rides and attractions.

 

[Mr Mindcrime]

If you have too many rides and attractions, then guests won't be spending extra money in stores and restaurants. The Bob's know what they are doing .......

 

[Clamman73]

They could have a song in it and it goes a little something like this…
If you had the Force
If you had the Force
If you had the Force
The Force
The Force
The Force

 

[Brer Panther]

Disney doesn't do "simple dark rides" anymore. Mickey's Runaway Railway and the Little Mermaid ride were hyped up as E-Tickets, but for all their fancy technology they don't have nearly the same amount of charm that something like Winnie the Pooh or Buzz Lightyear has.

 

[Jon81uk]

Disney doesn't do "simple dark rides" anymore. Mickey's Runaway Railway and the Little Mermaid ride were hyped up as E-Tickets, but for all their fancy technology they don't have nearly the same amount of charm that something like Winnie the Pooh or Buzz Lightyear has.

The Little Mermaid doesn't even have the fancy technology. Its the "story" which is wrong on that ride. The technology is simple omnimover with simple animatronics. The component parts make it a D ticket like Pooh.
The issue is you are just passing by scenes from the movie, you aren't seeing it from an interesting perspective.
This article sets it out well http://www.themeparkconcepts.com/2018/02/27/why-is-mermaid-so-bad/

 

[jloucks]

The Little Mermaid doesn't even have the fancy technology. Its the "story" which is wrong on that ride. The technology is simple omnimover with simple animatronics. The component parts make it a D ticket like Pooh.
The issue is you are just passing by scenes from the movie, you aren't seeing it from an interesting perspective.
This article sets it out well http://www.themeparkconcepts.com/2018/02/27/why-is-mermaid-so-bad/

Whaaaaatttt.... that is one of my most underrated rides at the park. My entire family, myself included, love it. Sometimes simple is better. ....or at least competitive.

Scenes from a movie, sure, but you could also look at it like pages from a book. The latter sounds more wholesome and I would argue is more of the case. (for some reason I cannot articulate, probably biased ).

 

[bhg469]

The Little Mermaid doesn't even have the fancy technology. Its the "story" which is wrong on that ride. The technology is simple omnimover with simple animatronics. The component parts make it a D ticket like Pooh.
The issue is you are just passing by scenes from the movie, you aren't seeing it from an interesting perspective.
This article sets it out well http://www.themeparkconcepts.com/2018/02/27/why-is-mermaid-so-bad/

Yup, its a bad book report in ride form.

 

[dreday3]

Disney doesn't do "simple dark rides" anymore. Mickey's Runaway Railway and the Little Mermaid ride were hyped up as E-Tickets, but for all their fancy technology they don't have nearly the same amount of charm that something like Winnie the Pooh or Buzz Lightyear has.

Hard disagree. Mickey's Runaway Railway is a fantastic addition. We rode it 2 times last trip and can't wait to get back on it. Very charming, very silly, very fun. Way, way better than Pooh or Buzz.

Also feel Rat is a great dark-ride addition. Once we boarded and started gliding and heard that beautiful music, I got the same feelings as I do riding Peter Pan.

All that to say, MK is sorely lacking in dark rides compared to Disneyland. I don't understand why they can't do copies of Pinocchio or Alice over at MK.

Is Dreamflight what If You Had Wings became?

 

[James.Green]

“Simple” dark rides are the foundation that Disney was built on (to me) so much creativity packed into small rooms. I will take a well built dark ride over an “action” ride any day. Add them together (splash mountain) and you get the best ride in the world!

GE definitely needs more, but I’m not sure what a dark ride would add. It would have to stay on planet, and nothing at Black Spires or whatever it’s called really interests me enough for a ride like that. People mover with little scenes scatter about would be awesome. A kiddy ride with “practice” speeders or something could work, but it couldn’t be an off the shelf ride.

 

[NickMaio]

“Simple” dark rides are the foundation that Disney was built on (to me) so much creativity packed into small rooms. I will take a well built dark ride over an “action” ride any day. Add them together (splash mountain) and you get the best ride in the world!

So true.

 

[JIMINYCR]

“Simple” dark rides are the foundation that Disney was built on (to me) so much creativity packed into small rooms. I will take a well built dark ride over an “action” ride any day. Add them together (splash mountain) and you get the best ride in the world!

GE definitely needs more, but I’m not sure what a dark ride would add. It would have to stay on planet, and nothing at Black Spires or whatever it’s called really interests me enough for a ride like that. People mover with little scenes scatter about would be awesome. A kiddy ride with “practice” speeders or something could work, but it couldn’t be an off the shelf ride.

I love them too but unfortunately the feeling from the majority of people is that those kind of attractions dont bring the excitement they are looking for now. For something to draw guests in it Disney is concentrating on ones that must be flashy, tecchy, sensory stimulating overloading, and not too dark and foreboding for the young kids. The attractions that made Disney just doesnt cut it anymore. Just look at those that are still in the parks... they are the ones guests complain about and keep saying they need to be replaced.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

It seems like a simple 5-minute dark ride with popular SW characters would be a no-brainer from a standpoint of eating up crowds, being cost-effective, and a being a hit with kids.

I love this idea, unfortunately we’d probably get another neutered Navi or Seven Dwarfs style attraction, beautiful and fun but about half the length it needs to be to justify the wait.

I’m afraid the days of 10 minute dark rides are gone and the best we can hope for is 3-4 minute attractions to keep the price down.

 

[Jrb1979]

I love this idea, unfortunately we’d probably get another neutered Navi or Seven Dwarfs style attraction, beautiful and fun but about half the length it needs to be to justify the wait.

I’m afraid the days of 10 minute dark rides are gone and the best we can hope for is 3-4 minute attractions to keep the price down.

Also for capacity reasons. The new dark rides look fun but for my family they are 1 and done. Rides like Splash are the perfect mix of dark ride and enough thrills. I wish Disney would do more of those.

 

[Jon81uk]

Whaaaaatttt.... that is one of my most underrated rides at the park. My entire family, myself included, love it. Sometimes simple is better. ....or at least competitive.

Scenes from a movie, sure, but you could also look at it like pages from a book. The latter sounds more wholesome and I would argue is more of the case. (for some reason I cannot articulate, probably biased ).

Did you read the linked to article?

 

[jloucks]

Did you read the linked to article?

70% of it, it seemed too contrived for me to continue.