Triceratops Spin

[DisneyFanGuy]

We were at the Animal Kingdom on Sunday. We had a very nice morning, and spent the afternoon and evening at MGM.

They had the Triceratops Spin going. It's the most hideous thing that I have seen in a long tome. My 12 year old daughter looked at me and said that Disney has ruined that section of the park.

It's huge, bright colors, and the waiting area is right out of a carnival. (Big, green, and has a canopy made out of metal)

It is totally out of place. There is no transition to the "carnival" theme. It just sits there.

What the heck is Disney doing? Who the heck made the decision to do this?

What does everyone else think? Am I losing my mind?

[JeffJewell]

What the heck is Disney doing? ...in this case, they are attempting to address the "not enough to do" complaints about Animal Kingdom as quickly and cheaply as they can.What does everyone else think? Am I losing my mind? Well, I certainly can't rule it out, but this post, anyway, seems to suggest you are in control of many of your faculties.

Personally, I think Disney made the wrong turn when, instead of asking "how much can we put into this for our customers," they started asking "how little can we put into this and not lose too many customers to competitors." I believe this started happening sometime between E.P.C.O.T. Center's opening and Disney MGM Studios' opening, with the Tower of Terror standing as the final example of Disney really going stones to the wall in the name of pixie dust.

Jeff

[Peter Pirate]

Does Test Track not count as a "stones to wall" attraction in your mind? I realize they didn't foot the bill but that would seem inconsequental, but geez it's quite an intricate attraction...
:cool: :cool: :bounce: :cool: :cool:

[MickeyMoose15]

I agree with something you're getting at. There are too many Dumbo-style attractions at Disney. You now have The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Astro Orbitor, Dumbo, and Triceratops Spin. That is too much of a simple attraction.

The whole Dino-Rama thing was created to stop people from complaining that there isn't enough to do for kids.

[Another Voice]

To me, Disney right now is like a really smart kid in class that used to get A’s but then got lazy. Only the easiest solutions are picked and they are using their reputation more than their talent.

As for Test Track – a stretch of road featuring high speeds, sudden stops, life threatening obstacles and panic steering. Out here in L.A. we call that a “freeway onramp” and not a theme park attraction. And since when did automotive testing represent the future anyway?

[DC7800]

Originally posted by MickeyMoose15
The whole Dino-Rama thing was created to stop people from complaining that there isn't enough to do for kids.

There's not enough to do for adults either, particularly if you aren't a fan of the "faster, wetter, wilder" school of attraction design (which rules out Dinosaur and Kali River Rapids). Don't get me wrong, I personally think Pangani Forest and the other "trails" are enjoyable and wonderfully executed, but they don't qualify under many people's strict definitions for what's an "attraction". Hence, the perception of "rides" at AK is even worse than reality.

I also don't have a problem with Triceratops Spin itself (though the theming sounds hideous), but rather the fact that it represents the major expansion for an already attraction-short park. If this were better themed and part of multiple (A-E ticket) attractions in a Beastly Kingdom, we'ed probably all look at this a bit differently. That said, there must be better "off-the-shelf" - cheap & quick to build rides - than a spinner, carnival games, and mini-coaster. An Animak Kingdom replacement for the old MK Skyway could work particulalry well overlooking the African savannah, yet it's still a basically "quick & inexpensive" attraction.

[space42]

If anyone wants to see, wdwmagic has pictures of this new area. http://www.wdwmagic.com

Well, I will get a chance to see this with my own eyes in two weeks. It looks very out of place from the pictures though. From the looks of things, its just going to get worse once they "install" the next off the shelf attraction right next to it. (the wild mouse coaster)

[Peter Pirate]

Out here in L.A. we call that a "freeway onramp"
Understood & driving through Miami is no picnic either (is it Greg?)...But still, TT is an innovative attraction with much new technology, excitement along with a certain razz-matazz...At least I find it exciting and the beauty of the stop's & go's and speed, etc. is that unlike the LA freeways, TT is safe. Whether it fits into FW isn't the point here, it is still a very innovative ride, IMO.

As to Tricertop spin, I certainly appreciate the negativity & really do understand the dissappointment in the redundency (read: I agree)...But still this ride shouldn't be judged from an adult, been there-done that POV. It is for the kiddies who never seem to get tired of these rides. Hopefully this WILL be the last spinner at WDW, but to me it is pretty much a non-issue. The kids will like it, it gives people one more ride & again, hopefully, it's just a precursor to BK.
:cool: :cool: :bounce: :cool: :cool:

[MickeyMoose15]

Beastly Kingdom is coming...so let's all relax.

[Douglas Dubh]

"And since when did automotive testing represent the future anyway?"

You've got to admit it's closer to the future than the attraction it replaced.

[Buzz2001]

Jeff - what about RnR?

AV - Mission Space for FW?

As to Tricertop spin, my daughter loves these types of rides.

FROM SCREAMSCAPE.COM
2004 - BEASTLY KINGDOM - (11/21/01) A couple of new rumors came in this week about Beastly Kingdom. One reader reports that the Pocahontas show’s days are numbered and that it will likely be removed once they add the new land. Another rumor gathered from the IAAPA show floor this past week indicated that Disney Imaginnering types were talking with Vekoma about how they could install an audio system in one of their Inverted coaster trains. Sounds like the proposed new coaster to me.

200? - New Land: Australia - Rumor - (11/21/01) We haven’t heard much about major expansions at Animal Kingdom over the past couple of years, but it seems that adding a new land themed to the animals down under is next on the agenda after Beastly Kingdom comes to life. Don’t expect any new rides here at first, it sounds like this new land will be 100% devoted to the animals at first. Our source places this new land somewhere next to Asia.

[MickeyMoose15]

This was just a quick solution to a problem...maybe if this doesn't take very well, maybe Disney will be quicker to get Beastly Kingdom up and running to get people into the park.

[JeffJewell]

Peter...Does Test Track not count as a "stones to wall" attraction ...I think Test Track is a fun ride, and I do think the ride mech is a good example of Disney taking an existing technology but putting a bit more Magic into it.

Most other aspects of the ride, however, I see as examples of taking the cheaper route instead of the "putting a bit more Magic into it" route: I feel that Test Track represents another step down the "rides instead of pavilions in FutureWorld" path, which I think is a mistake. I also think it's an example of the "reality as theme" problem: most of the ride's theming could have come straight off actual proving grounds. This same kind of thing is evident in Dino-Rama (cheap carnival rides "themed" to look like cheap carnival rides), and the rumors suggest it might be happening to Mission:SPACE (once themed as a trip to outer space, the current theme is that the ride is a g-force training simulator: precisely what it really is). Finally, I think Disney's policy of making the sponsor pay for the entire pavilion is a cost-based decision that directly affects Magic (instead of going into a project thinking "how much can we put in," you're thinking "we can't put in more than this amount").

For those reasons, no, I do not believe Disney went all out on Test Track.

********...what about RnR ...first off, we love riding RnRC: I could do that launch over and over again. But that coaster, launch and all, can be bought by any one of us with the means. There was no "putting a bit more Magic into" the ride mech. The queue area consists of a threadbare Hard Rock Cafe (and with FastPass, you don't even walk past the lion's share of what they did put in, anymore), a movie screen, and a brick basement. The ride itself is themed with naught but flourescent paint and black lights, with design elements that could have occured to Eisner during his morning commute. I really didn't see them "putting a bit more Magic into" the theming.

I'll be the first to say that Disney bought a fun ride that is a multiple must-do on all of our trips. But I can't say it demonstrates Disney giving it everything they had.

Jeff

[All Aboard]

Most other aspects of the ride, however, I see as examples of taking the cheaper route instead of the "putting a bit more Magic into it" route: I feel that Test Track represents another step down the "rides instead of pavilions in FutureWorld" path, which I think is a mistake. I also think it's an example of the "reality as theme" problem: most of the ride's theming could have come straight off actual proving grounds. First of all, I'm interested to know what parts seem to have taken the cheaper route. I find that they've gone quite a ways to put in great details at every step of the way. From the queue to the loading area, through all of the tests and even into the post-ride area before you get to the car displays. This is a very unique attraction, first of it's kind and it's pulled off very well. I've never once thought it was shortcutted in any way. There are certainly examples of shortcutted attractions, but I don't think Test Track is one of them.

Second, I'm baffled by the "reality as theme" concept and just how it applies (in a negative fashion) in this case. If the theming makes the place seem just like the real thing, doesn't that mean it accomplished it's goal? Isn't Big Thunder supposed to seem like a "real" runaway mine train?

Third (and outside the above quote) how is Test Track a step backwards from the "pavillion concept?" It's predecessor was no more a "pavillion" than the current offering. Horizons was just a ride, so is Universe of Energy. The current mix of ride v. pavillion is the same as it has always been.

[JeffJewell]

If the theming makes the place seem just like the real thing, doesn't that mean it accomplished it's goal? ...yes, but that's not what's happening here. With BTMRR, they took an off-the-shelf coaster and added design elements that made it more than what it actually was: turning just another OTS coaster into the most well themed coaster I've ever ridden. With DinoRama, they're taking OTS carnival rides and "themeing" them by calling a spade a spade.

The Mission:SPACE example is the best one to show what I mean: If you design a ride around a g-force training simulator and add theme details, including pre- and post-ride elements, to make the overall experience one of a space flight to somewhere else, that's making "the place seem just like the real thing;" that's adding Disney Magic. If, on the other hand, you short-change the theme details and pre- and post-ride elements in the name of saving money, decide you can't afford to pull off the space flight illusion, and declare the theme to be the same three words you put on the PO: "g-force training simulator," then you have actually taken the real thing and just declared it "the place;" that's adding a Disney copyright mark.

I just get the feeling someone was sitting around the meetings planning what would become DinoRama: "What's our theme?" "I don't know, what are we putting in there, again?" "Carnival rides." [big grins all around] "Themed, it is!"

With Test Track, they could have put an obsolete proving grounds and a couple outdated test labs in boxes, set them up around the ride mech and queue area, respectively, and called it a day.

I just don't think those kinds of design decisions lead to a product that does a good job of showcasing Disney's potential for creating an environment. I seem to see quite a bit of grousing about the queue at TT, often calling it pretty non-futuristic for FutureWorld. I think a better way to describe the problem is that TT's queue area elements are nothing more than precisely what they appear to be, whereas Disney Magic is a more a function of things being so much more (and sometimes so much less) than they appear to be.

And mind you, we're well into the realm of personal preferences, at this point. It's not likely that many of us are going to agree to any great extent when we start drawing lines this fine.

Jeff

[MissScarlet]

Going back to the Triceratops spin for a minute, Since when do Triceratops fly? Spaceships, magic carpets and even Dumbo can fly but what about Triceratops? It seems kinda weird to me. If they were going to make another flying spinning ride couldn't they have at least made it make sense?

[daannzzz]

Terranadon Spin sounds just as good (if not better) to me!

[DisneyFanGuy]

My point was that it's not so much the type of attraction (The park does need more to do), but the execution. I mean wait until you see the thing. It sits just beyond the kids dinosaur themed play area, but the colors and building materials used just scream OUT OF PLACE.

It really looks like it's right out of a carnival, and even that would be ok if there was some sort of transition between the Dinoland USA theme and the carny atmosphere. In all of my prior Disney experiences, there is some sort of transition between different themes. And whether I like or dislike attractions, I have never before just stood looking at something that they built in complete silence, wondering what they could have been thinking about.

And I'm not the only one. It was quite the topic of discussion while we were standing in line at the Dinosaur ride. To really appreciate the visual miss-step, you have to see the ride up close and in person. Oh my goodness.

[daannzzz]

I have been watching this be built via WDWMagic.com. It looks the most like it comes from a carnival style of ride that Disney has put out. The light bulbs covering the abnormally short arms of it look right out of a county fair. I understand that the theme of this area is suppose to be tacky roatdside tourist trip moderne but this doesn't look tacky in a fun kind of way. It just is sad in the context of the Disney history. Sure. The kids will have fun. Kids have fun building dams out of leaves in the gutter too. Just because kids are easy to entertain doesn't mean they need to pander to the lowest common denominator.

[Mr D]

It almost sounds to me like DAK is going to be the repository of DCA type rides, what a terrible waste of perfectly good land and themeing to have a cheap carnival ride. I will be there next week with family and I will see for myself.

[TDC Nala]

It's really cute, almost disgustingly cute. Little dinosaurs pop out of doors around the sides while it's in motion. Little kids will love it and probably want to ride it six times.

Where's my Tarzan vine coaster?

[Testtrack321]

Here is my opinion...

First, the time when ToT was built was the time the last great Disney attractions were inplace. Test Track was in planning, M:S was on the board, and The Millennium Clebration was just getting started.

As for Terridon Spin, well, IoA has the Paternondons, wait, no, Plyadons, no, let me look this one up...

*one minuite latter*

Ahhh, here it is....

Pteranodon Flyers. Plus, how more tackier can you get than a flying triceratops?

Oh, wait, how about flying E$iners?!?!

Hey, it could be the next big thing. Then ther could be Pressler-evil Whirl?

Then there could be Countdown to Stock Holders Meeting!?!?!

Then there could be....

[airlarry!]

I'm with JJ on this one. Love the boneyard, love CTX/Dino, but really, the rest of dinoland USA or whatever they are calling it now just seems like they budgeted for OTS attractions, and spun out a theme that would cost as little as possible.

I HAVE CHANGED MY MIND. I don't want them to bring Disney Seas to Orlando.

Why not?

Because I remember what Animal Kingdom was supposed to be, and what it has turned out to be. I don't want to give Ei$ner the same chance to screw up what looks like the second best Amusement Park idea in the world.

Say it with me, "When Ei$ner goes, then finish up AK and bring in OrlandoDisneySeas."

[Another Voice]

My problem with Dino-Rama is that Animal Kingdom was supposed to be a “serious” park that could appeal to one’s intelligence and sense of wonder with the world. With a dinosaur theme there’s 120 millions years worth of amazing and astounding animals to play with. Giant monsters that actually roamed the earth, terrifying creatures that equally haunt children and adults, worlds unseen by humans….

And the best Disney can come up with is a parking-lot carnival?


“TT is safe…” Boy, did you miss some really fun test runs. There’s a reason this ride was a year late. (And yes, it’s safe now).

And then, “In other words, stopgaps cannot become the trend rather than the exception. So far, I don't see that trend”. Because you have yet to see California Adventure.

[JeffJewell]

In other words, stopgaps cannot become the trend rather than the exception. So far, I don't see that trend (but, hey, talking trends also generally causes threads to go south). ...yeah, the only alternative to agreeing to disagree here is to start making lists and picking nits, and as you say, down that road the bad place lays.I do not believe DinoRama is more than a stopgap--a quick attempt to broaden the appeal of DinoRama to the little ones--but I'm not sure that alone makes it a problem The part of it that makes this a problem for me is that I wonder why the fix for AK was designed to be a stopgap, in the first place. DinoRama was well underway while Disney had a pre-Fox Family $5 billion bulge in the pocketbook... there was plenty of money to fix the thing right, they simply chose to spend the money elsewhere.

Ask yourself "why was it a stopgap, in the first place?" Why, instead of wowing the guests with new lands and E-rides that were already in advanced stages of design, would they prefer to buy off-the-shelf to make their next play in the "is _this_ enough to make you come to AK?" game. Beyond that, ask yourself how much has changed between then and now, such that the _next_ fix isn't likely to be a stopgap, as well?

Jeff

[JeffJewell]

DinoRama was a quick attempt to shore up a families fourth park hopper day...in other words, an attempted quick fix to a perceived problem whereas DCA was not an attempted quick fix because there was not a perceived problem ...okay, but would you agree that WWTBAM-PI! is an attempted quick fix for DCA, now that there _is_ a perceived problem?

Jeff

PS: And I do think you're picking nits, to a certain extent, by differentiating DCA on the basis of it not being a response to a perceived problem. The problem (or "opportunity," as I'm they're referred to in the business world) was "how do we get people to extend their Disneyland hotel vacation one day per visit," and DCA represents the kind of answer you get to that question when you approach it by wondering how little you can spend on a solution, and have it be "enough." It's really that mindset (one that I think can be seen in evidence a lot of places around Disney these days) that is the root of both problems.

[seashoreCM]

(copied from another post)

When riding Triceratops Spin or Aladdins's Carpet it is best not to leave the front seat empty. If the back seat is empty you can reach the back seat controls from the front, but not vice versa. For Triceratops Spin (@11/24/01) use the rear control to raise or lower the Triceratops, use the front control to tilt its body slightly up or down. For Aladdin's Carpet the front control raises or lowers, the rear (pushbutton) tilts the vehicle.

Other Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

9/65 Disneyland
3/75 (World Inn* off I4 near DD)
4/85 (Kon-Tiki* on 192)
'80s Disneyland once or twice
7/94 PORiv
9/97 ASMu
11/98 ASMu
12/98 (Knights Inn on 192)
9/99 ASMo
12/00 ASSp
9/01 ASSp
11/01 ASSp
*no longer exists

When Animal Kingdom first opened, guests were asked what they would like to see more of and a frequent reply was "more Disney Characters". So the area for Disney characters near the Lion King theater was added quickly.

[YoHo]

Just a few comments.

Dinosaurland USA did nothing for me from the first time I stepped in it. CTX was good, but the land in general bored me. I'm inundated with Dinosaurs. They are still very popular with the kiddies and I am not a kiddie nor do I have any. Beastly Kingdom has so much more potential to me.

to AV's point, I think even given the amount of info out there to work with, Dinoland was going to be the hardest. its SO overdone.

The problem is that Universe of Energy offers a more realistic Dino expireance.
I love to play imagineer, but I have no idea what to do with Dinoland.

As to Test Track and the Pavilion Idea, I feel that my musings with Landbaron have skewed the Discussion. The fact is that from Day one, Epcot Had single ride buildings. My Idea is that the best way to expand Epcot is to Build Pavilions Like The Land.


think about it. In a Pavilion, you could get different sponsers for different aspects of the pavilion, you could update parts of the pavilion without updating the whole pavilion to avoid the costs. You can keep people in their longer. Its got so many possiblities.

[seashoreCM]

They may have added extra things (games) to do in Dinoland but the problem is that these activities cost extra to play.

[space42]

Everyone should read this thread!

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&selm=fXMM7.39303%24xS6.64235%40www.newsranger.com

I think that about sums it up, doesn't it?

[DisneyFanGuy]

Wow! This last post by Shane sums up my feelings quite nicely. I have read all the posts about the philosophy of TS and why it is or isn't ok to put it in. All of that is interesting, but not why I posted. It is a big, ugly piece of metal just sitting there, and looks like it has no place in Dinoland USA. Even the cheapest stuff is usually themed to it's surroundings, or given a transition area.

My advice is to go and look at it when you are at AK. My family just stood there for a moment staring at it in horror, and then moved on. It just screams I DON'T BELONG HERE! I cannot say that I've seen that anywhere else on WDW property.

Last year, IOA "dropped in" a little coaster into their Lost Continent area. They gave it some marginal theming, simple music, and a bit of a story. It's not the most expensive rice ever added, but the "Flying Unicorn" fits in just fine and provides a smaller roller coaster alternative to the Dueling Dragons for the tots. Parents can ride along. It's a fine addition.

The Magic Carpets over in the Magic Kingdom it the exact same ride as TS. It doesn't seem out of place though. They created a themed area around it (Granted the shopping area received many more details than the attraction, but that's another discussion) and it fits in just fine.

But I will repeat, with this Dinorama addition and that ugly ugly ugly TS ride, Disney has completely lost their mind. There must have been a way to have the idea of a small spinner and a family coaster fit in better than this.

[space42]

I know what you mean DisneyFanGuy! I will see this for myself on Thursday. I will post here when I get back. If anyone wants to see more pictures of this atrocity go here http://www.screamscape.com/html/dinorama.html

Wait until they add the mouse coaster! From the looks of things it will look just like the concept art ( you can find this at http://www.wdwmagic.com ). Ugly support structure showing and all!!!!! All this right next to some of Disney's best theming IMHO!

This is a quote from Shane's post where he talked to someone from WDI who was there.

--- begin quote
But seriously, he got an earful, to which he replied "This is not a knock on you
but this ride is intended for the four and under crowd. There's a new ride
going in over there that I think you'll find more to your liking." At this I
had to laugh. "Is it themed?" I asked. "Oh yeah, it's themed." "Oh," I
replied confidently, "you mean like Big Thunder Mountain?"

At this point, he literally walked away from me to help the ride operator.

--- end quote

We, as Disney fans come to expect detail to a level like Big Thunder Mountain on their attractions. This is one of the reasons we go to Disney parks and post on Disney websites! There is no excuse or back story that can expain away this mess. This area should have never been built!

[Mooobooks]

Just returned from WDW and spent some time at the new "Chester and Hester's Dinorama" area.
It's amazing how much the development of this area opens up the "Dino" land. I was shocked upon crossing over the bridge to see "Dinorama" RIGHT there on the left It really brings the whole area together into a cohesive unit.
Contrary to the general tone of this thread, I found the design of the area, including Triceritop Spin, to be excellent. Beautiful colors and great design. The ride seemed popular with all the people riding it while I was there. The carnival games are also nicely done, and fun as well. There is always one game that Disney has set up so you can always be a winner--in this case it's the one where you bop the little dinosaurs on the head with a big mallet. There is a winner every game, and they only require two people to play, so for $4 you and a friend play and one of you definitely wins a stuffed dinosaur.
There is a HUGE cartoon-like brontosauraus at one of the two entrances to Dinorama that is cool as all get-out, and the themeing for the Wild Mouse coaster (just now visible above the wooden fence) also looks great.
All in all this is a FUN area for kids--definitely NOT a letdown.

[d-r]

I was curious about the wild mouse coaster, but I rode the one in california adventure and it is just bad, in my opinion.

I had hopes for it and I was receptive of it. Somehow I had thought that the cars would spin - for example, when you approached one of the many corners, the car would spin at the corner. That sounded sort of fun.

But the cars didn't spin. Instead it was a herky, jerky, rough ride, and I found myself dreading each coming turn and I was happy when it was over. And I like coasters. My wife Melissa was pretty ticked off about the whole thing. She thought it was just plain awful.

The theming was minimal, to be kind. It really felt like a children's coaster that could be dismantled and carried on a truck and set up at state fairs. It felt very cheap.

At one time, the rumors were that there would be a wild mouse coaster as a "children's coaster" and a real roller coaster for adults, "the excavator" but I'm afraid that must have been long forgotten.

I'm really not at all excited about a wild mouse coaster being added to dinorama. I'm happy if some kids will enjoy it, and won't begrudge it just for being present, but I really truely think it is a shame.

The same thing goes for the spinner. We rode Alladins spinner on our last wdw visit, and it was OK. I mean it was another spinning ride. It seemed very slow, more like Dumbo than starjets. Also, astrojets is up high, which is sort of fun. With such a slow spinner really the only fun thing is looking around, and if the view is as bad as has been described, I can't see a lot of fun it. I guess someone's kid will like it, and so I won't begrudge it.

I guess my thinking is that if they would add an E-ticket, then these b-tickets wouldn't bother me - they would be fodder to spread guests out. But when they only add off-the-shelf rides you could find at a road-side carnival it really is a shame.

DR
DR

[Luis Rodriguez]

Besides all the "ugliness" of these things itself, Wasn't Walt Disney's idea to have a park different from the "carnival-like" parks?

This is just a slap in the face of Disney's 100th birthday!!
:mad:

[Douglas Dubh]

"I was curious about the wild mouse coaster, but I rode the one in california adventure and it is just bad, in my opinion."

While I agree that the theming is quite minimal, I thought the ride itself was fine, and my kids loved it. My 5 year old daughter wanted to go again and again. The DCA coaster was never rumored to be a spinning mouse, but the rumor is the AK one is. Although I would rather have an immersive, mythological themed land in AK or even the Excavator, I'll probably enjoy Dinorama next time I'm there.

[Douglas Dubh]

"Wasn't Walt Disney's idea to have a park different from the "carnival-like" parks?"

Not really. The most common quote went something like: Walt tells his wife he wants to build an amusement park, with carnival rides and stuff. She replies, why do you want to do that? Carnivals are so dirty. Walt says, mine won't be. I don't believe he ever said he didn't like carnival rides.

[Luis Rodriguez]

Originally posted by Douglas Dubh
"Wasn't Walt Disney's idea to have a park different from the "carnival-like" parks?"

Not really. The most common quote went something like: Walt tells his wife he wants to build an amusement park, with carnival rides and stuff. She replies, why do you want to do that? Carnivals are so dirty. Walt says, mine won't be. I don't believe he ever said he didn't like carnival rides.

Douglas,

Thanks for the explanation. Nevertheless (and to end "close" the issue), I believe that a (big) part of Disney Parks' appeal is that you can (most of the time) share the rides with your kids. Does Dinorama conforms to that idea?

Thanks again, :)

Luis.

P.S. Nice quote!!

[Mooobooks]

Luis,
The rides in Dinorama ABSOLUTELY allow the adults to ride WITH their children. The midway games are also designed for mixed child/adult participation--this is EXACTLY the kind of ride Walt had in mind. He put Dumbo in place in Disneyland, I see no reason why he would complain if there were clones of that type of ride in the other parks. Kids love those kinds of rides.

[d-r]

FWIW, I do not know if Walt Disney would like dinorama or not. I do think his intention in bluidng dinseyland was for a clean park (I think that the part about the carnival rides was that those parks were so dirty and unkept at the time, not the rides themselves per se) that families could enjoy together, which dinorama fits on the surface. I don't believe he would be proud of the half-waying, cheap approach though. But who knows? He certainly had to cut corners in his day, too. I can't guess what he'd think (I think he would love the AK in general, as much as he loved animals and I think it is sort of what he wanted for Adventureland and the jungle cruise in the first place. But then, he might wonder why it is right where his experimental prototype community of tomorrow was supposed to be; btw, did you ever notice the carnival rides on the epcot model?).

Personally, I'm glad that there are more for kids to do, I just wish that they wouldn't go so cheap and uninspired.

Here are some quotes from Disney, you draw your own conclusions:

"Your dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway."

"Adults are interested if you don't play down to the little 2 or 3 year olds or talk down. I don't believe in talking down to children. I don't believe in talking down to any certain segment. I like to kind of just talk in a general way to the audience. Children are always reaching."

"When we consider a project, we really study it--not just the surface idea, but everything about it. And when we go into that new project, we believe in it all the way. We have confidence in our ability to do it right. And we work hard to do the best possible job."

"To all that come to this happy place: welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America... with hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world."

(on Disneyland) "It's no secret that we were sticking just about every nickel we had on the chance that people would really be interested in something totally new and unique in the field of entertainment."

"When we opened Disneyland, a lot of people got the impressions that it was a get-rich-quick thing, but they didn't realize that behind Disneyland was this great organization that I built here at the Studio, and they all got into it and we were doing it because we loved to do it."

"We did it (Disneyland), in the knowledge that most of the people I talked to thought it would be a financial disaster - closed and forgotten within the first year."

"It's something that will never be finished. Something that I can keep developing...and adding to."

"We believed in our idea - a family park where parents and children could have fun- together."

"Disneyland is a work of love. We didn't go into Disneyland just with the idea of making money."

"I don't want the public to see the world they live in while they're in the Park (Disneyland). I want to feel they're in another world."

"I've always said that there will never be another Disneyland, and I think it's going to work out that way. But it will be the equivalent of Disneyland. We know the basic things that have family appeal. There are many ways that you can use those certain basic things and give them a new decor, a new treatment. This concept here will have to be something that is unique, so there is a distinction between Disneyland in California and whatever Disney does in Florida. I'm doing this because I want to do it better."

The Disney family museum has an account of the development of Disneyland here:

http://disney.go.com/disneyatoz/waltdisney/maincollection/waltsstoryepisode12.html


DR

[seashoreCM]

Corey Sandler, in his Econoguide book, does mention "cute", "smart" and "wow!" in categorizing Disney attractios. Yes, Triceratops Spin is "cute".

OK all you Hidden Mickey fanatics!

Go to Dinoland and see all the little theming details they put into Triceratops Spin and the nearby games!

Notice the paired semicircular tabs here and there along the center line of each Triceratops as if they were made out of stamped sheet metal with a left half and a right half, as were many toys from the era (pre-1960) of the "tin" toy musical top.

Don't answer in the next 30 seconds but (1) What is the significance of those comets on the Triceratops Spin center section that go the other way as the ride spins? Hint: Go to the Dinosaur f.k.a. Countdown to Extinction ride. (2) Where are the names "Tyrannosaurus Flex" and "Wimposaurus"?

If Triceratops Spin is truly a one of a kind ride, it was not cheap to build. Only time will tell, when the country wakes up out of recession, should the Aladdin's Carpet and Triceratops Spin have 45 minute or more waits, those rides would have been a smashing success. Corey Sandler had said (about Dumbo) that waiting an hour for a 90 second ride is poor use of one's time at Disney World.

[catwho]

I happen to love AK. My second favorite park (after Epcot) I have yet to get bored with it. We spend at least 2 days there each trip and have yet to see and do everything! I think there is plenty to do at AK as long as your mentality isn't "Hurry up and do it all." or if you are only going for "rides"

Take time and stroll the trails, enjoy the oasis, sit and watch the animals for a while. Explore the tree, enjoy the static presentations, take AK for what it is, laid back, less hectic, relaxing and enjoyable.

I will be "judging" the new dino area in January so I can't really comment on it. I've seen the pics, and they do seem a bit out of place for that park. AK has always seemed so "earthy" and natural that a carnival atmosphere may feel out of place, but I can't really say. I do know that the time period they are trying to focus on with Dinoland is that late 50's finding all the bones era, so maybe when all the transitioning is complete, it will have more of a late 50's carnival feel to it and it will work better.

:earsgirl:
43 more days!!!

[King Triton]

I do agree Test Track was a mistake. It's ok...but it's not the old "Disney Magic." I can't believe Disney took out Horizons, World of Motion, and the old Figment Imagination ride. They take out the BEST rides and build Test Track instead.:mad: Disney took a big step DOWN over that bad move. Epcot has never been the same for me. I loved Horizons...what were they thinking when they took that out?

I am concerned about Disney getting away from what makes Disney so special. For some reason, there are too many executive suits walking around who are making decisions that lack imagination. For example, Spinner ride clones are popping up everywhere. One Dumbo ride is enough. Instead, Disney should design more rides that takes you on a magical journey. If you can't build it with the highest quality and imaginaiton, then don't build it at all.

I point these things out because I love Disney so much.

King Triton:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Captain Crook]

Epcot has never been the same for me either...Except that my family loves TT and I couldn't wait for Horizons to bite the dust (and I say thais knowing it will sting my friend Horizons Fan - Dave, I'm sorry!...But these analogies fall into the personal & subjective catagory, so disagreement is good!
:smooth: :smooth: :bounce: :smooth: :smooth: