Why Old "Classic" Rides Should Be Updated/Improved

[pax_65]

Last week I saw Mickey's PhilharMagic for the first time. I was BLOWN AWAY.

It really gave me an appreciation of what is possible with today's technology... I came away with the same feeling I had the first time I rode Spiderman at IOA. Just complete awe at the reality and intensity of the experience. Actually I had similar thoughts on Mission Space too.

Later I was riding Small World with my kids, and I was actually impressed (again) with the remarkable creativity that went into making that ride. It got me thinking... what would the creators of that ride do with today's technology? You can bet they would put it all to good use - not to limit the creativity of the ride but to enhance it!

I'm not saying Small World should be revised. But I think about what might be possible with a ride like Peter Pan. Flying through the clouds with Peter in PhilharMagic was so much fun...

As I've said before on this list, I think too often we let our love for classic rides get in the way of progress. PhilharMagic is an example of what is possible with today's technology... we should embrace it where it can make rides better.

Jon

PS. One word of caution, though... I rode the new Imagination this trip and was very disappointed. With all their tinkering and all the money they've spent, the ride is STILL not as good as the old original Figment ride! In this case, they've made the ride more technologically advanced, but less creative and less fun. It was a snore.

 

[jrriddle]

Sorry, but I strongly disagree.
I would rank this right up there with colouring Old Movies and Lucas' Star Wars Special Edition # 251.
New technology should be put into new rides. Leave the classics alone.
The way Disney is going they would just pull out the Small World AA's and replace them with Video Screens of the dolls.
After a relaxing flight over Old London your boat would turn into a coaster.
I agree a Version 2 of alot of the rides would be interesting but I like the classics. An update here and there is fine (a new SFX or a next generation AA). But I don't want Johnny Depp On PoC or Jennifer Tilley on HM. No Peter Pan thrill rides, and no more video screens.
Leave the classics alone...it would be like a new CG version of Pinocchio...
:lookaroun

 

[WDWspider]

Originally posted by jrriddle

Leave the classics alone...it would be like a new CG version of Pinocchio...
:lookaroun

I was with you up until this quote. To make a new version of something is not the same as updating or upgrading something existing. Look at how many different Peter Pan movies are out there. Each person takes the basic concepts and characters and makes it their own. If the Hong Kong Disney wanted It's a Small World (but a new version) then nothing is wrong with that. you haven't messed with the original, yet we get to see what an Imagineered version today would look like.

The same with Pinocchio. There is already a few version on film, if Disney wanted to take a stab at a CG version then what's the harm. You still have the Cartoon to fall back on, it was not touched.

Maybe something that would have fit your argument better would be the additions of new songs into classic movies. Did you know the Cheshire Cat was going to have a song in the new 2 disc DVD release next year? That is messing with a classic. But making another version of a classic story is not.

 

[johnvree]

Originally posted by pax_65

Later I was riding Small World with my kids, and I was actually impressed (again) with the remarkable creativity that went into making that ride. It got me thinking... what would the creators of that ride do with today's technology? You can bet they would put it all to good use - not to limit the creativity of the ride but to enhance it!

I'm not so sure that they would infuse that kind of technology into very many rehabs. Look at what Disney has done with some of their new attractions: Magic Carpets = retread; Pooh = not that technology advanced from Peter Pan; Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama = !@#%$#. Don't get me wrong, my kids love those attractions. But I think they demonstrate that Disney is not going to turn everything into Mickey's Philharmagic or Mission: Space.

 

[jrriddle]

Originally posted by WDWspider
I was with you up until this quote. To make a new version of something is not the same as updating or upgrading something existing. Look at how many different Peter Pan movies are out there. Each person takes the basic concepts and characters and makes it their own. If the Hong Kong Disney wanted It's a Small World (but a new version) then nothing is wrong with that. you haven't messed with the original, yet we get to see what an Imagineered version today would look like.

The same with Pinocchio. There is already a few version on film, if Disney wanted to take a stab at a CG version then what's the harm. You still have the Cartoon to fall back on, it was not touched.

Maybe something that would have fit your argument better would be the additions of new songs into classic movies. Did you know the Cheshire Cat was going to have a song in the new 2 disc DVD release next year? That is messing with a classic. But making another version of a classic story is not.

Point taken.
The Pinocchio example was the rumour that Eisner talked about a CG version that would be shot for shot (from what I understood).
Nothing new, just technology for technology's sake. It would not add anything to the original product IMHO.

 

[pax_65]

Maybe Peter Pan is a bad example because it really is a great ride. I admit, I would be afraid to see it changed because they might really mess it up (like Imagination). I feel the same way (to some extent) on Spaceship Earth because I love that ride. But I could also imagine it even better (the ride system really is clickety-clackity), so I nervously await news on that...

I do not miss Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. I think Pooh is an upgrade, especially for the kids. I don't miss "If You Had Wings" either, and I'm glad we have Buzz Lightyear! I really liked Horizons, but if keeping Horizons means we couldn't have Mission Space, I say tear down Horizons!

Another example... the Haunted Mansion has gone quite a few changes over the years. It is now more technologically advanced than before, although the ride itself remains largely the same. I think this is great - they've used technology to improve upon what was great about the ride.

Take Snow White... is this a ride that should not be touched? It is a classic "funhouse" type ride, classic Disney, part of Fantasyland from the beginning... but c'mon... it could be so much better. We shouldn't let our fear of change get in the way of seeing our favorite rides get even better!

Jon

 

[WDWspider]

Originally posted by jrriddle

The Pinocchio example was the rumour that Eisner talked about a CG version that would be shot for shot (from what I understood).

Shot for shot... hmmm. That is an unusual circumstance. I hope that does not occur. That would be more like replacing Animatronics with Video. I guess it's one thing to replace Animatronics wiht modern animatronics, but to change the Medium completely is dangerous.

It's not improving what's there, rather replacing what's there. OK, I see where you were coming from now.

 

[OliveMcFly]

Correct me if I'm wrong but my understanding of your post is if they were to build WDW from scratch today what would the classic rides be like? That's a great thought. I sometimes wonder that myself. From watching the extras on the Pirates DVD I realize Disney was way ahead of itself because of the Animatronic Figures. Imagine how far ahead of themselves they are now with Mission:Space. You won't find anything like that in your local amusement park. Sometimes I also wonder what Walt would think of Disney 2003. Rides like MS, TOT, and others. My mother brings up "you never know what he had planned". I suppose this is true. Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents. PS: I agree 100A% with you on Imagination. It will never be the original Figment I grew up with.

 

[jrriddle]

Jon,

For me it depends.
Do you mean Snow White V2.0. Destroy the old ride and redesign it from scratch?
Or do you mean some new FX and AA's?
For me it's a big difference. These rides are like 3d movies for me. Alot of thought and work went into the storytelling by some very respectable people.
Refurbishments are ok. Nothing last forever and everything needs to be fixed up once in a while. Even adding the odd piece of new tech is ok with me.
On the whole if you are to look at these attractions as 3d/POV movies, then just like 2d movies, I do not care for most remakes.

 

[jrriddle]

Originally posted by WDWspider
Shot for shot... hmmm. That is an unusual circumstance. I hope that does not occur. That would be more like replacing Animatronics with Video. I guess it's one thing to replace Animatronics wiht modern animatronics, but to change the Medium completely is dangerous.

It's not improving what's there, rather replacing what's there. OK, I see where you were coming from now.

Cheers!

 

[pax_65]

Originally posted by DisneyGrl85
Correct me if I'm wrong but my understanding of your post is if they were to build WDW from scratch today what would the classic rides be like?

Exactly... when I saw Small World right after doing PhilharMagic, it was such a contrast! Some of the newest technology versus some of the oldest. But both attractions are very, very creative! It got me thinking... what would the original creators of Disneyworld do with the technology we have now? I would bet they wouldn't be afraid of improving the rides that are already there.

Generally, I'm not talking about ripping out a ride and starting from scratch. Few Disney rides deserve that... (Timekeeper, current Imagination maybe?). I'm simply talking about using modern technology to enhance a ride, like they've done to Haunted Mansion. When you look at PhilharMagic or Spiderman and think what Peter Pan or Snow White could be like, it is interesting. (Imagine riding through Snow White, watching her walk alongside your vehicle (in 3D) singing "Someday my prince will come" while birds flutter around her.)

I'm not saying these rides should become thrill ride motion simulators, just that the technology exists to make these older rides more dramatic, more involving, and more exciting for the whole family than ever before.

I bet the original imagineers (and Walt himself) wouldn't be opposed to that!

Jon

 

[jrriddle]

Originally posted by DisneyGrl85
Sometimes I also wonder what Walt would think of Disney 2003. Rides like MS, TOT, and others. My mother brings up "you never know what he had planned". I suppose this is true. Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

You bring up a good point here.
Some would argue that Walt would only want rides that the whole family would go on.
The problem with that arguement is that the family has changed since his day. I know a few 40 + year old people who love thrill rides.
I also think that Walt's love of technology would have made for some spectacular attractions.
Would he have pulled a Lucas and remade the old classics?
Who knows? (but I would hope not)