We live right at 1000 miles from WDW so it takes a little bit of planning for our trips. Due to hurricane Matthew and some family issues it has been three years since we've been which is a record. We were stoked because we hadn't seen the new mine train, soarin, frozen and avatar rides. Well to be honest most were a bit of a let down. The mine train was ok but I really thought the inside where the dwarfs are would be spectacular. The frozen ride was just ok but reminded me of the same ride as before due to the configuration. The one that really got me was Soarin which was one of my favorite rides. I mean I'm begging WDW to please bring back the original or come up with something better. The new seems to be built just to freak you out as most of the clips ie. the mountain, the Eifel tower, and even the great wall either head straight up into them rather swoop around so you can see something like the California Soarin. Heading into the Taj Mahal which is a you know what is just plain silly. A couple of scenes like the elephants were ok but overall much prefer the California. As far as the Avatar rides after going to AK twice and not being able to score a fast pass there is no way I'm waiting over two hours for a ride. The other thing is crowd size. We've always been fortunate to go off season like January and have never had an issue with crowds. This time was totally different. My theory is an improved economy and that the word has got out on off season. Also with the groups of Argentine/Brazil 15 year old girls. Now its great that they celebrate their 15 birthday by coming to WDW but could someone PLEASE suggest that the group be divided into a size of 10 to 15 rather than 30 to 50 which I absolutely saw as we were trying to get on Peter Pan and were rooted right out. Ok so I know this is a rant and somewhat negative which the whole trip was not. Still experienced some cool things like the Keys to the Kingdom Tour ( thank You Guide Melody) but I am wondering what others think of the rides and crowds. As has been stated before on threads PLEASE bring in some cool dark rides and for gosh sakes fix Journey into imagination , I mean that's Disney's Wheel house. Roller coasters are ok but they really don't tell much of a story or remind you of what is cool about Disney and that seems to be what they are mostly focused on.
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Wondering if you feel the same
- Thread starter Disforever
- Start date
spacemtnfanatic
Active Member
Welcome to half the posts on here. You are discovering what many of us have known for about 5 years. Lurk around on some posts, you are in good company.
spock8113
Well-Known Member
"Wondering if you feel the same"
Yes............................................................................................................................................
Was watching some of my old 1980's Disney videos the other day, Pleaaase, bring back the old Figmund!
Disney, WHAT were you thinking???
Yes............................................................................................................................................
Was watching some of my old 1980's Disney videos the other day, Pleaaase, bring back the old Figmund!
Disney, WHAT were you thinking???
Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
Welcome. Your thoughts are not unique.
Think about using more paragraphs because your post was really hard to follow.
Think about using more paragraphs because your post was really hard to follow.
OneofThree
Well-Known Member
Yes.
Fox&Hound
Well-Known Member
Hi, welcome.
I don't think you are being too negative. I understand what you are saying. While I disagree with you on SDMT (I loooove that ride even if it is a little short) and would recommend nabbing a fastpass at some point for Avatar because it was hands down the best ride I have ever experienced (sounds like hyperbole but it really was INCREDIBLE), I 100% agree with you about the new and "improved" Soarin. I looooved the original so much but the new one does nothing for me. It looks very fake to me, especially the bending of the eiffel tower, and it just does not bring me that sense of wonder as before. I miss the old score. I miss the beaches of California. This feels like a CGI tourism commercial and while it does reflect Epcot better than the original, I think it misses the high standard set by the original. Welcome again!
I don't think you are being too negative. I understand what you are saying. While I disagree with you on SDMT (I loooove that ride even if it is a little short) and would recommend nabbing a fastpass at some point for Avatar because it was hands down the best ride I have ever experienced (sounds like hyperbole but it really was INCREDIBLE), I 100% agree with you about the new and "improved" Soarin. I looooved the original so much but the new one does nothing for me. It looks very fake to me, especially the bending of the eiffel tower, and it just does not bring me that sense of wonder as before. I miss the old score. I miss the beaches of California. This feels like a CGI tourism commercial and while it does reflect Epcot better than the original, I think it misses the high standard set by the original. Welcome again!
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
Going back expecting the same kind of trip you had 3 years ago and then encountering larger crowd levels and especially finding the huge Brazilian masses can put a damper on any trip. We wont be seeing low crowd seasons again until another park gets built.
I agree the much hyped 7DMT is a let down, Soarin was much better the way it was , Frozen was placed there only to build on the movies popularity and shouldnt have been put into Norway. AK is going to be slammed for quite a while due to the newness of the Avatar land and FoP attraction.
Theres a lot of things that need to be fixed, theres a lot of issues that need to be delt with but theres still a lot of good things at WDW to make a trip enjoyable. Glad you were able to salvage some good moments.
I agree the much hyped 7DMT is a let down, Soarin was much better the way it was , Frozen was placed there only to build on the movies popularity and shouldnt have been put into Norway. AK is going to be slammed for quite a while due to the newness of the Avatar land and FoP attraction.
Theres a lot of things that need to be fixed, theres a lot of issues that need to be delt with but theres still a lot of good things at WDW to make a trip enjoyable. Glad you were able to salvage some good moments.
@DisneyBryan
Member
The crowd levels are just insane. We went in Sept. last year and it was awful. Doesn't help that Disney continues to offer Florida resident 3-4 day passes for 1/2 or even 1/3 of the normal admission price.....and then people wonder why things are so crowded and getting vandalized/destroyed. Search for pics on vandalism already in Avatar....its super sad.
I googled -- found nothing. Links?
Rebel Scum Mama
Member
We are certainly not frequent visitors, having gone three times in last 4 years. I can agree with you on some of it. 7DMT is cutely themed. The ride is short and not terribly exciting to my adult self or my teenaged thrill seeking daughter. If she was was 5 or 6, then yes she would probably be exhilarated. I would imagine small children and "there's a new ride, I must ride it" is a big part of the long wait times.
FOP is an amazing ride! The ride is well done. I don't want to spoil it but it's very immersive. We entered AK 45 minutes before it opened and immediate got in line for FOP. Off within an hour.
I don't think there is an off season any more, from reading this forum.
FOP is an amazing ride! The ride is well done. I don't want to spoil it but it's very immersive. We entered AK 45 minutes before it opened and immediate got in line for FOP. Off within an hour.
I don't think there is an off season any more, from reading this forum.
@DisneyBryan
Member
Here are some. Vandalized signs, poles, and tossing change into water areas (people always do, but c'mon this is Pandora). When I was there in September also, people were in the vegetation in the queue stomping plants and carving their names into new palm tree stalks...so sad what some people will do...
Attachments
I'll have to take your word for it... as for your photos:
(a) can't see any "damage"
(b) isn't the signage designed to look weathered due to the atmosphere on Pandora?
(c) railing paint just doesn't last, no matter where you are
@DisneyBryan
Member
Sorry, should have described....the paint is coming off, which is normal, but the actual railing pole caps are all missing, people often take then as "souvenirs". You can clearly see people's initials carved all over that sign and people scraping the sign decal off with keys in the corners.
disneygeek90
Well-Known Member
I think the main area where you missed the mark is FoP. For a first timer, it is absolutely worth a 2 hour wait.
jimbojones
Well-Known Member
I hate hate hate how everyone throws coins into every water body, I get people are trying to reconnect with their Pagan roots and all but come on !
Seabasealpha1
Well-Known Member
correcaminos
Well-Known Member
I'm totally with you on 7DMT, Soarin' as well as Frozen. They are all just okay to me an not worth visiting much. I actually liked FOP but didn't love it completely. It wasn't all that fantastic to me but I don't do 3D visually well (it's always blurry so I feel I miss things and it looks fake). I did say though that FOP is what the new Soarin' should be in terms of motion and visuals. I'd just love to drop the 3D aspect. I did like the Navi River ride visually as well.
As for traveling for a Quinceñera, I won't comment on that really. People do what they will do. I'm not sure requesting a smaller group is always possible. I'm not sure why it matters though.
As for traveling for a Quinceñera, I won't comment on that really. People do what they will do. I'm not sure requesting a smaller group is always possible. I'm not sure why it matters though.
Its good to have an opinion from someone who has not been in a while. Unfortunately, that seems to be the overriding theme from a majority of people who recently went back after not going for a while. For those of us who still go frequently, we certainly understand and see the same things you did. But, we also have learned to work around certain things and/or have different priorities when we go. We dont rush to ride anything and if we do, we have a pretty solid plan. Yes it sucks to get up early, but, if you get to AK about an hour before opening ( especially if you are on property and its an EMH), you deal with a huge crowd, but, you are on and off FoP within 30 minutes after the gate opens. We will do that, Safari, EE, Dinosaur, stop at Nomad and have a drink and Apps, and then leave and go back to the resort, maybe take a nap or hang at the pool, and then have a late afternoon/evening plan.
FoP is worth the wait and the best attraction at any of the parks right now, maybe the best one in Orlando period. I wont ride 7DMT unless I have a FP. It is a nice calm ride, but, not worth a 45 minute wait. Soarin has gotten to where if you watch the wait times, there are gaps where you can wait less than 20 minutes without a FP. Its not as good as it was, but, it isnt horrible and I always ask for center front and will wait an extra 5 minutes for it. Frozen is a pretty ride, but again, Im not waiting in crazy lines for it. We probably do it once every other trip or so.
So I certainly understand your frustration. But, the parks are busy due to lack of attractions and more people coming. Until they fix the capacity issue, that is how it is for now.
FoP is worth the wait and the best attraction at any of the parks right now, maybe the best one in Orlando period. I wont ride 7DMT unless I have a FP. It is a nice calm ride, but, not worth a 45 minute wait. Soarin has gotten to where if you watch the wait times, there are gaps where you can wait less than 20 minutes without a FP. Its not as good as it was, but, it isnt horrible and I always ask for center front and will wait an extra 5 minutes for it. Frozen is a pretty ride, but again, Im not waiting in crazy lines for it. We probably do it once every other trip or so.
So I certainly understand your frustration. But, the parks are busy due to lack of attractions and more people coming. Until they fix the capacity issue, that is how it is for now.