Alien Encounter: Never rode it. What was it really like???

[WorldlyWise]

about as scary as Stitch - all they did was change the character

 

[deej696]

Nevermind it being too scary for kids, the first and only time I rode it I was 16, and it scared the living daylights out of me. I went to MK many times while it was around, and never rode it again. I would sit and wait while my family would ride it. Who ever heard of 16-18 year old guy afraid of a ride. I know I know, I'm a whimp

My DF took me on the Stitch ride the other day, and I had a hard time coming around on it because I had such bad memories of that ride...

 

[BigMickeyFan]

I thought it was very, very scary. I have never been on the Stitch version.

H and I went on the original version on our HM in 2001. When we came out afterward, a family walked out in front of us with a little boy who couldn't have been more than four. That child was TERRIFIED. That probably isn't even the word - he was downright hysterical, screaming and crying inconsolably. I felt so badly for him, especially as the idiot dad (I presume) stood there scowling at him and telling him to "suck it up and stop acting like a baby."

And that, my friends, is my memory of Alien Encounter.

 

[Anne's Family]

Odd one out here. I giggled through the whole thing. Got a phone call in the middle of it too. It wasn't easy reaching into my pocket to turn off my phone with those restraints!

 

[Twitterpated Dad]

I guess I have an overactive imagination. It was SCARY!

 

[klofan]

It terrified me as a kid. I LOVED it, haha!

 

[Chuck65]

Disney really messed up by getting rid of this ride. I'm showing my age but as that old song says there are just some things you don't mess with. "You don't tug on superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind, you don't pull the mask off the ole lone ranger," and you shouldn't have messed with AE. I hope that Disney doesn't let the brainiac who refurbished this ride do any more.

 

[haley123]

about as scary as Stitch - all they did was change the character

I agree with wholeheartedly with that assesment. I never understand why so many people complain about stitch when it's exactly the same thing as the Alien Encounter with a different character.

 

[Kaler131]

I really liked it. I don't scare that easily and I had to keep reminding myself that it was not real and I was still safely at Disney....LOL! My DS4 really LOVES the Stitch version though. He made us go on 6 times....UGH!

 

[stemikger]

I didn't read all the replies, but I might be in the minority. Although I liked it a little better then Stitch (which is not saying much), I wasn't crazy about it. It didn't scare me in the least. None of the effects worked on me and I was looking forward to being scared.

Maybe it's me, but I didn't really feel like the Alien was behind me when I was supposed to. I wish I did, it would have made for a better ride. I would love to see a really scary ride come to Disney, but I heard Michael Eisner did away with AE because he felt it was too scary, so I don't see Robert Eiger doing something scary either.

 

[mzliza3]

Heck, I remember when it was "Mission to Mars"! Guess that makes me sound old! Honestly, I really didn't think it was all that scary. The only startling thing for me on AE was when the restraints came down & my mother screamed. Not out of fear, but in pain. But A LOT of childen seemed absolutely terrified; DD sat this one out. I thought it would be a lot different with the addition of the Stitch, but it really isn't. I liked it, but it really wasn't one of my favorites.

 

[monkey11375]

It was definitely scary, but definitely the fun kind of scary. It wasn't for kids, that's for sure. I think if it was at MGM they might have kept it, but it definitely stood out from the other rides in Magic Kingdom. I really miss it.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Odd one out here. I giggled through the whole thing. Got a phone call in the middle of it too. It wasn't easy reaching into my pocket to turn off my phone with those restraints!

Guess I'm odd, too - I laughed through the whole thing!

 

[MomofKatie]

It was fun scary to me- I loved that ride! My favorite part was when the "worker" goes up the stairs (you see the beam from their flashlight waving around up above you) and then all of a sudden, you hear him scream and the flashlight drops- you hear the alien and lots of ripping/tearing and crunchy chewing sounds, then his blood drips on you from above!!! The audience really went crazy when that happened- pandemonium!

 

[christyd2]

I rode it in my early 20's and it still scared me to death. I might get flack for this, but I hated it! For me there is enjoyable "scary" like Tower of Terror or Haunted Mansion, etc. but this was no where near light enough for me to enjoy. I can be a chicken when it comes to scary movies, but I will ride any and all rides at WDW and DL, so I rode it again to give it another shot. I'm soooo glad this ride is gone. My dad and brother loved it, so my mom and I would have to go shopping or go on another ride everytime.

 

[kittythepoohbear]

At 18, my two friends and I (all girls) waited over an hour to ride AE. We all agreed it was a huge waste of time as the ride was not scary at all. My one friend actually laughed through the whole thing. However I am a HUGE horror buff and it does takes a lot to scare me.

 

[22David2]

Someone put it on video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UGxRYDc9xw

 

[GrillMouster]

I have many fond memories of when it was Mission to Mars.
When I first rode AE about 12 years ago, it was intensely scary, and I loved it. They later toned it down, but it was still pretty scary and I liked it.
They changed it to Stitch, and I now I loathe it (the ride not Stitch).

 

[Noodleloaf]

Alien Encounter used a lot of psychology to scare you; you were strapped in tightly, it was dark, and the storyline flowed well for the scary parts. It was very un-Disney, but it was a fantastic attraction. There were myriad signs warning that the ride might be too intense for small children. One day, while walking out after the ride, I heard a young girl riding in her father's arms say in a quivering voice, "Daddy, please don't make me do that again". I guess that's why they eventually closed it - it was not kid-friendly, and parents weren't heeding the signs.

 

[Twitterpated Dad]

Alien Encounter used a lot of psychology to scare you; you were strapped in tightly, it was dark, and the storyline flowed well for the scary parts. It was very un-Disney, but it was a fantastic attraction. There were myriad signs warning that the ride might be too intense for small children. One day, while walking out after the ride, I heard a young girl riding in her father's arms say in a quivering voice, "Daddy, please don't make me do that again". I guess that's why they eventually closed it - it was not kid-friendly, and parents weren't heeding the signs.

We saw Stich shortly after it opened. There were CMs interviewing almost every family with a kid under 11 or so. Most of the questions were directed to the youngest family member. So, I think you're right. Disney wanted to gear this attraction to its younger guests.