Alien Encounter Closed?

[DW Goofy]

Just read in the Disney Magazine that Alien Encounter is closed. What did I miss? Is that perminent or what? Would be glad to hear from any of you. Say it ain't so Joe!

 

[MNRMommy]

It is re-opening as a stitch attraction.

see this for more info http://allearsnet.com/tp/mk/mk_sge.htm

 

[DW Goofy]

It makes perfect sense to go that direction. I think it will be much more child friendly that way. Thanks again TC!

 

[fireguy5620]

Yep it's closed. We were just there. It is opening as a Stitch attraction. Also, IT's a Small World is closed for refurb.

 

[seashoreCM]

(copied from another post)
Walk along the barricade in front of the former Alien Encounter ride and you may hear Stich (but not see him) every few minutes behind the barricade.

Other interesting things to look for:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disscav.htm

To me, Alien Encounter had a small ideal age range, for children old enough not to be really frightned by the noise and young enough not to come out and say "aw, that is all fake".

Alien Encounter is gone for good. If you never saw it, it is a noisy scary "ride" although there is very little movement but some bouncing of the seats. It is supposed to simulate the transport of an object or person through (telephone) wires. Everybody is seated in a circle and this creature (the alien) seen in a glass capusule in the center supposedly just teleported from somewhere out there in space gets loose. The lights go out. In the dark the creature is supposed to attack somebody in the audience and drag him off to be teleported back to where the creature came from, and to each guest it seems like he is the one the creature is breathing down the neck of. There are loudspeakers and little air jets at each seat, and I think, water jets in the ceiling, to give the special effects.

 

[petula]

It sure was an amazing show, though.

 

[eeyoregirl]

Yes...

The new ride will be Stich's Great Escape.

I never did like Alien Encounter, anyway.

 

[ehsween]

I'll second that eeyoregirl. It was pretty lame. My 6 year old DS (at the time) wasn't even impressed. You didn't miss much DW Goofy. The Stitch adventure should be a little more amusing.

 

[Doug123]

For the record, Alien Encounter WAS an amazing show. I can't imagine what they'll actually improve upon it, but you never know.

 

[eblondie]

I have to disagree....anything will be an improvement!

 

[fan_of_wdw]

I will miss it....

The show was particularly effective if you paid attention to the pre-show (very funny.... XS Techology... exsess, get it?).

 

[stinkerbelle]

Personally - I HATED Alien Encounter...I don't like things breathing on the back of my neck/poking me when I'm in a dark confined area - but that's just me.

So I'm to assume that Stitch's great escape will have NOTHING from the original AE? Or is it the same ride - just re-themed to include Stitch?

 

[liznboys]

Dh and I liked Alien Encounter, thought it was pretty creepy and fun! Not a big deal that it's gone though, we love Stitch!

 

[mmorizio]

As I understand it, The new attraction will be physically similar to Alien Encounter, except much lighter in tone and appropriate for much younger audiences. The storyline is a prequel to "Lilo and Stitch." I've also read the the Stitch animatronic that will be used in the show will be one of the most sophisticated ever built.

 

[mickeymule]

My wife and I walked by the barricade and heard stitch laughing. I may get a chance to go down just after Thanksgiving to check it out ;-)

 

[liznboys]

Originally posted by mmorizio
As I understand it, The new attraction will be physically similar to Alien Encounter, except much lighter in tone and appropriate for much younger audiences. The storyline is a prequel to "Lilo and Stitch." I've also read the the Stitch animatronic that will be used in the show will be one of the most sophisticated ever built.

Wow, Interesting!!

 

[scooter3843]

Count me among those who will miss Alien Encounter.

It was one of the only truly scary (and thrilling) attractions at the park. I'm a little disappointed that they're going to water it down for the masses. After all, they ended up adding TERROR into the title of the ride as a warning to all who may be upset by it. I do have faith in the imagineers who will create the new Stitch attraction, but they should have rid the park of some of the older and uneventful attractions rather than a (relatively) new, exciting one.

Let the tar-and-feathering begin...

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Any idea what the height restriction will be?

T&B

 

[tjkraz]

I've seen rumors (EVERYTHING but the name of the attraction is a rumor at this point) that there will not be a height restriction.

Makes sense. AE really didn't need the restraint system--it was mostly part of the atmosphere. And the height restriction was more a byproduct of the "fear factor" than the need for restraints that fit properly.

I personally expect it to be along the lines of It's Tough To Be a Bug in terms of the "fear factor".

Personally, I will miss AE. No, it wasn't for everyone. But it did an excellent job of what it set out to do. It was one of the best themed attractions in the World, and had a great backstory that was well-communicated through the pre-show attraction facility.

IMO, there's no reason that the oft-mentioned Disney "magic" needs to be limited to cute fuzzy animals and catchy tunes.

 

[obnurse2003]

At first I was scared to death and REFUSED to do Alien Encounter.

Then, I knew I had to "suck it up" in front of the children and not let my phobias prevent me from the experience.

It wasn't as bad as I thought. In fact, there was a 5 year old little girl sitting next to me and I knew that if she could do it, so could I!!!

I am glad that I did it. No regrets that way. But it wasn't my favorite attraction. More build up and "hype" before.