1960's vs 2010's.

[Bob Roberts]

So why is it that attractions built and designed in the 1960's are way better then rides that are developed today?

The new Little Mermaid ride at Magic Kingdom is a joke. Did they blow all of their money $$$$$ on the queue or something? Disney should be embarrassed about this attraction. I wish there was somebody in charge that would take some pride in what they do. The Under the Sea room with all of the exposed lighting and piping is awful.

I just find it funny that with all the technology that is available for today, the best attractions in all the Disney parks are still the ones that were developed 20-50 years ago.

No imagination and only thinking about short term profits is the answer.

Brutal.

 

[OKW Lover]

Some good points here. I agree that several of WDW's original attractions are better than some of the more recent ones.

I just wouldn't make this a blanket statement though. There are some "new" attractions that are really good, not just a quick buzz, as measured by their "repeatability".

I think the point is well taken that Disney needs to build quality attractions, not just some that get by based on their new-ness.

 

[Reddog1134]

I like the Little Mermaid just fine. However, I agree that something should be done with the ceiling in the Under the Sea room.

Also, there were bad rides from the 60's. They're just not around any more.

 

[TDC Nala]

It's the same ride as Disneyland's and you can bet Disneyland blew very little money on that queue.

There are some newer attractions that are pretty awesome. I like everything about the Tower of Terror. That sure wasn't around in the 60s.

 

[Bob Roberts]

TOT is almost 20 years old, and its still the best ride in all of WDW. Modern Disney would never ever build an attraction with the imagination and scope of TOT these days.

 

[wiigirl]

It's the same ride as Disneyland's and you can bet Disneyland blew very little money on that queue.

There are some newer attractions that are pretty awesome. I like everything about the Tower of Terror. That sure wasn't around in the 60s.

x2

 

[Reddog1134]

I hear Mystic Manor is pretty cool.

 

[kmarie99]

What about Toy Story Mania there is no way they could have build that in the 60's. And some of the old rides are not great either...that is why they are not around anymore.

 

[Bob Roberts]

I have never been on Toy Story Mania so I can't judge that one. Its been 6 years since I have been to the Studios. I was planning on going back when the new Star Wars Land was built but apparently its been put on the shelf thanks to Magic Band$!!!!!!

What I am trying to say is this, how long has it been since a classic e ticket type ride has been built?? The only ones built in the past 15 years has been Exhibition Everest, Mission Space ( A dud in my books, bring back Horizons) Rocking Roller Coaster and maybe Soarin. Not a whole lot.

I can't believe all the people on here that defend Disney for their cheapness. You swear they have been brain washed by Bob Ogre himself.

Bob Roberts (Old School Old Key West DVC member)

 

[Turbanator]

"They dont make em like they used to"

 

[Reddog1134]

I can't believe all the people on here that defend Disney for their cheapness. You swear they have been brain washed by Bob Ogre himself.

Who is defending Disney for their cheapness?

 

[Bob Roberts]

I am not talking about it in this thread, but the masses on these boards in general. Usually if you have anything negative to say about the Mouse they go into an uproar.

Disney keeps on cranking up their prices year in year out and it gets on my nerves because a) I am cheap and b) they do nothing to justify the increases. They even take away things.

That is what bothers me.

Bob Roberts (Old School, Old Key West DVC Member)

 

[ArthurFiggis]

Guess Disney can't win then. If they try to innovate, they're wasting money. If they stick to old formulas, they're wasting money. If they leave it as is, they're lazy. Might as well shut the whole thing down and let the swamp reclaim it like Six Flags in New Orleans, huh? /sarcasm

 

[hopemax]

When you listen to the original WED designers talk about how they did things, vs how Imagineering does things, they all talk about the number of meetings. Like any big company there are a lot of people that need to justify their own importance and existence, so there are a lot of meetings, and redesigns and just the differences between then and now concerning how each employee's time is accounted and charged to various business units or projects. The costs easily spiral out of control, without anything even being built. That makes management nervous so that generates even more meetings and more redesigns. And then they start squeezing the actual build budget, and starting cutting things. It's a death by 1000 cuts. Where by comparison, you can read Bob Gurr's notes for like the Matterhorn, and he'd work out the math one night, hand it over to the builders who would start building it the next day.

In addition to that, I think that the politics have gotten so bad within Disney that the people who remain, may not be the best at the craft of designing compelling theme park rides. They're the people that learned to stay within budget, and play the political game well. People that stuck their necks out, were laid off whenever WDI cut back after projects were finished. The good news for theme park fans is that many of them went to Universal Creative, and Universal is now in a position where they can let them loose and create.

 

[Hibernians]

Toy Story Mania is a great ride and highly innovative; I would also add the Buzz Lightyear ride in your list of recent innovative rides. And while I have not been to the New Fantasyland, I think Bob Iger should be given a lot of credit for taking a risk and expanding the Magic Kingdom.

 

[Bob Roberts]

When you listen to the original WED designers talk about how they did things, vs how Imagineering does things, they all talk about the number of meetings. Like any big company there are a lot of people that need to justify their own importance and existence, so there are a lot of meetings, and redesigns and just the differences between then and now concerning how each employee's time is accounted and charged to various business units or projects. The costs easily spiral out of control, without anything even being built. That makes management nervous so that generates even more meetings and more redesigns. And then they start squeezing the actual build budget, and starting cutting things. It's a death by 1000 cuts. Where by comparison, you can read Bob Gurr's notes for like the Matterhorn, and he'd work out the math one night, hand it over to the builders who would start building it the next day.

In addition to that, I think that the politics have gotten so bad within Disney that the people who remain, may not be the best at the craft of designing compelling theme park rides. They're the people that learned to stay within budget, and play the political game well. People that stuck their necks out, were laid off whenever WDI cut back after projects were finished. The good news for theme park fans is that many of them went to Universal Creative, and Universal is now in a position where they can let them loose and create.

This above is all bang on and right on the money.

The sad thing about the corporate World is that the wrong people get promoted because the people who are doing the promotions do not want to promote some one who is going to make them look bad. That is why dynamic people like Bob Iger make it so high up the ranks, "lets promote Bob, he goes by the book and doesn't stir the pot, he won't make us look bad."

Bob Roberts (Old School Old Key West DVC Member)