Alien Encounter

[LaVieBoheme]

I've been hearing things about a 'Stitch' element being added to the Alien Encounter ride.
Is this confirmed? Because unless the ride is made over substantially, it seems that STitch will be out of place- it is kind of scary.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Various rumors have this project green-lighted, with a projection of happening sometime in 2004. There has been nothing official from Disney on this one.

I would imagine they would tone down the scare factor when/if they do this Stitch overlay. The pre-show could easily be turned into a fun Stitch storyline. As for the main attraction, with a bit more light, less ominous noise, and a few adjustments to the effects, I'm sure this ride could be made to be not so scary. I can't see them not toning it down a bit, as a Stitch storyline would be aimed at kids. While I'm sure that would be bad news for the thrill fans, I think it would be great. I find the attraction, as is, to be a disappointment. The first time you see it there is the factor of the unknown, but after that there is little repeat ride value. Disney built this attraction up so much prior to opening, and when it finally opened I was like "is that it?". I'm sure many feel that way, otherwise it wouldn't be up for an overhaul.

 

[KNWVIKING]

The biggest kick I get out of AE now is watching and listening to the first time riders. It's still a cool ride though,at least to me. I think a Stitch make-over would basically make this an entirely different ride. Aside from swapping out "Skippy" for Stitch, what else could you do to the show that wouldn't require a major redo ?

 

[All Aboard]

I think you'd need to "turn back the clock" to make it work. In other words, go back to the Experiment 626 days, not the Stitch living happily in Hawaii baking cakes and doing the laundry.

With that, Jumba is still a "bad guy". Perhaps Jumba is now working for a company similar to XS, or maybe it's his operation we are watching. The preshow could have Jumba in place of S.I.R. and Skippy could be another one of Jumba's experiements that he "never really created." Skippy could be reworked to look different, given a different name, etc. The teleportation theme could remain.

That way, Stitch wouldn't appear until the main attraction part of the show. Then, his arrival could be an accident, or maybe Jumba thought it would be funny to release 626 on us mosquito worshiping imbiciles.

I'm all for it.

 

[Planogirl]

I see nothing wrong with a Stitch attraction but why make over a ride that still pulls in people? Tomorrowland is kind of pathetic nowadays in my opinion. You have Buzz and Space Mountain attracting lots of people and two closed (for all practical purposes) attractions plus a closed theater. Then there's Alien Encounter which seems to still do solid business. Wouldn't it be wiser to work on the shut down attractions rather than change yet another solid attraction?

Besides I haven't been all too impressed with most of the changes made lately; see Journey Into Imagination.

 

[raidermatt]

Thumbs up here, pending how its executed, of course.

"Stitch Mountain" was a bad idea, and I'm glad it seems to have been axed. "Stitch Encounter" is a much better concept.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Then there's Alien Encounter which seems to still do solid business.

Does it really? Maybe it is just that I don't pay attention because the ride isn't worth my time, but I really don't recall seeing lines for this ride like it used to have when it first opened.

I guess part of the thinking is that, while AE might draw some people as is, it will draw more with a Stitch tie in.

 

[KNWVIKING]

.. we go in the off-season and virtually everytime we're near AE the outer que "pen" is always in the process of filling up. Everytime we have gone on it, I'd estimate approx 90% fill rate or more.

 

[All Aboard]

Hmmm, this weekend Nat & I were watching video from her first WDW trip in January of 1999. As the video was showing the view of AE from TTA, I thought to myself "wow, look at the queue for Alien Encounter... and in January!" I almost never see much of a line at all in the outdoor queuing area any more.

 

[DisneyKidds]

virtually everytime we're near AE the outer que "pen" is always in the process of filling up.

I really don't consider a full "pen" area outside the doors that lead inside to the pre-show to be a long line. When the doors open that "pen" empties pretty quickly. I think Greg is thinking of what I am when it comes to AE lines. It used to be that the "pen" would be full, and then the queue would wind back and forth along and behind the building back toward the bridge that connects Tomorrowland with the MK hub. Those were REALLY long lines. To me, the attraction was nowhere near good enough to justify waiting on a line like that.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Maybe not but I think it is still enough of a draw to make re-doing it questionable. Why not put Stitch in the timekeeper space? You could even keep the circle 3-D screens and put in Hawaii footage....give people a feel of being in the bonsai pipeline. Put in a state of the art sound system & some water effects...

 

[Testtrack321]

It's easy why it's not in the Timekeeper space:

1.) Too much alterations. AE little to nothing will need to be changed.

2.) Remember the fact that the actor who played the head of XS in real life was arrested for child porn.

3.) In a time of Rock'n'Rollercoasters, Experdition Everests, and M:S, more family attractions are welcome. This and Dinosaur are easy ways to keep families in whithout having to build new rides.

 

[Planogirl]

Originally posted by doubletrouble_vb
Maybe not but I think it is still enough of a draw to make re-doing it questionable. Why not put Stitch in the timekeeper space? You could even keep the circle 3-D screens and put in Hawaii footage....give people a feel of being in the bonsai pipeline. Put in a state of the art sound system & some water effects...

And seats!

Exactly my point. I hate to see Disney redoing attractions while they have closed down buildings nearby. It seems like a waste to me. And it's not just Timekeeper. I think it's inevitable that Carousel of Progress will be torn down or moved and the theater has been empty for a long time plus the old skyway station is sitting there. The whole right side of Tomorrowland is empty with the exception of Buzz. Why redo an attraction when Tomorrowland is in such need of additions?

 

[raidermatt]

I guess part of the thinking is that, while AE might draw some people as is, it will draw more with a Stitch tie in.

I'm sure the expected increase in plush sales is a factor as well. In other words, they may not expect Stitch Encounter to be any MORE popular than Alien Encounter... but they most likely do expect increased plush revenue.

We've all heard the stories about how hard it is to get projects approved, so "makeovers" with tie-ins are pushed not necessarily because they will make the attraction "better", but because they have a better chance of being approved. Therefore, those who work on such projects have a better chance of remaining employed.

Wouldn't it be wiser to work on the shut down attractions rather than change yet another solid attraction?

Depends on what your goals are, I guess...

Priorities are determined by setting goals, and then identifying what actions fulfill those goals most efficiently.

When "show" is the #1 goal, dealing with things like closed attractions are a high priority. When "efficiency" (or even short term cost cutting) are the #1 goal, they start looking for things that can generate some revenue for a minimal cost. Why incur the expense of taking out CoP and redoing it for an unknown return, when you can cheaply redo AE? I'm sure the AE redo spreadsheet shows the ride will be at least as popular as it is now, and has a nice upward line for plush sales. A "sure thing", for minimal investment.

Like I said, it all depends on what your goals are.

 

[Planogirl]

and has a nice upward line for plush sales

Yikes! Of course, the inevitable gift shop.

 

[RunAwayDoomBuggy]

Originally posted by Testtrack321
2.) Remember the fact that the actor who played the head of XS in real life was arrested for child porn.

*blank stare* ok, ok, back up a moment *press rewind*

Originally posted by Testtrack321
2.) Remember the fact that the actor who played the head of XS in real life was arrested for child porn.

Well, thats what makes it scary!!! hehe.. I was dissapointed when i first heard it, because i still never been on it, but now, thinking about it, its not bad.. its getting old, too scary for chldren, we need ajustments.. and we all know stitch (due to all the advertisments.. ps, disney had a agreement w/ the state of hawaii to advertise to "come to hawaii" for atleast one year, but hawaii cut it off just months ago..) so im all over it now!!! now for some good story ideas.. just one thing, how do we get humans from earth to his lab lightyears away?

 

[Mr D]

And where are the other 625 experiments?

 

[katerkat]

Originally posted by Mr D
And where are the other 625 experiments?

I believe they're actually going to be in the Stitch TV show, last I heard.

I'm torn on this issue. Yes, I'd love a Stitch redo of AE. I don't like it as is, and it's definitely been losing business over the years. However, it still is drawing in SOME people, while CoP and Timekeeper don't even do that, due to rarely being opened. I'd like the Stitch redo, but I'd also like something to be done with the empty spaces on the right side of Tomorrowland. (Oh, dear, I just had a random thought of a Stitch remake of CoP... Anyone watch the L&S DVD, with the extra bit about Stitch randomly being in all the classic Disney movies? Stitch randomly popping out of the fridge in the 1940s CoP.... With the son, harrassing the daughter... No, no, stop, brain, this is disturbing!)