DL Indy Ride to MGM?

[sorcerermikey]

I feel I lttle stupid posting this as I know CM's are often the worst source for news but I thought the following was interesting because: 1) it was unsolicited/unasked, 2) it does make sense. This weekend we were taking the boat from MGM to Epcot. The boat captain goes into a spiel about M:S being open in Epcot then goes on to say that it is the 1st of many new things planned. He named Soarin' Over California and said it would be going in the Land. He then advised Osborne Lights was gone to make way for the Motor Stunt Show and Indy Stunt show would be replaced by DL's Indy ride. As I said, no one was asking, he just reeled this off like he was making required announcements. Anyone hear anything further on this?

 

[WDWHound]

There have been rumors of the wishful thinking variety on this for a long time, but I have never heard anything believable. While I think this would be a good idea (Forbidden Eye is a very popular attraction and MGM is still pretty much a half day park), I doubt that anything this large is being planned for MGM right now. I think the current focus is on trying to up the attendance at Epcot, Animal Kingdom and DCA.

 

[Distriv]

I really hope Indy makes it over to the East coast. I've been wanting to ride it since it opened.

 

[hopemax]

You guys know that Dinosaur is the exact same track and vehicle as DL's Indy? They did slow it down a tad, and the theme is different but if you've ridden Dinosaur, you know what Indy "feels" like at least.

 

[ErikdaRed]

Dinosaur is the same technology, not the same track. Indy has multiple paths to go, so no ride is quite like another. I was told that there are over 100 "rides" through indy. And the themeing is much better at indy, with the boulders rolling down and "darts" shooting you.

 

[WDWHound]

Originally posted by hopemax
You guys know that Dinosaur is the exact same track and vehicle as DL's Indy? They did slow it down a tad, and the theme is different but if you've ridden Dinosaur, you know what Indy "feels" like at least.

While they share the same track and vehicle, there is no comparison. The motion programming is much more agressive in the Indy ride vehicles. The 2 rides feel completely different. In music, lighting, movement, plot and special effects Indy is superior and more involving in every way. Pehaps this was not true before they toned Dinosaur down, but it is certainly true now.

 

[WDWHound]

Originally posted by ErikdaRed
Dinosaur is the same technology, not the same track. Indy has multiple paths to go, so no ride is quite like another. I was told that there are over 100 "rides" through indy. And the themeing is much better at indy, with the boulders rolling down and "darts" shooting you.

Actually, the multiple paths concept was never implemented on Indy (too expensive for Pressler). You always take the same path through Indy, regardless of which door you start out with (the choice of doors is a very clever illusion, you actually always go through the same door, they just move the walls of the door room from side to side!). The effects seen along the ride do vary however (even if the path doesn't), so each ride is a little bit different from the last.

 

[Planogirl]

I wish that they would build a clone of Indy at WDW. I don't usually like clones but Indy is so superb that I think it would be a good move. For those that haven't tried it yet, a ride on it alone made my trip to Disneyland last year worthwhile. I think that it's the best ride Disney has in the US.

 

[Mooobooks]

I've ridden Indy many many times and, frankly, it always seems exactly the same to me (except that you appear to go through a different door at the start--an illusion, as has been mentioned ... if you watch the mirror straight ahead of your jeep on the far wall while the CMs do the final seatbelt check, you can actually SEE the next room shift position).
The Indy stunt show at MGM is tired, and there is no reason to have TWO stunt shows at such a small park. I'd say that the rumor about the real Indy ride coming to MGM has some possibility of truth.
And, Indy blows Dinosaur away for various reasons. Indy is one of the greatest rides in the world--no one thinks Dinosaur is in the same league. This has to do with many things, but one that has been pointed out on this board is the music. Dinosaur has an annoying narration by a boob scientist, yelling at you. Indy has John Williams' majestic and exciting score from the films. That's a big part of the excitement level.

 

[d-r]

Actually, it is funny to me - everyone talks about how important "story" is to attractions, and Dinosaur has a better story than Indy...

 

[alvernon90]

Originally posted by d-r
Actually, it is funny to me - everyone talks about how important "story" is to attractions, and Dinosaur has a better story than Indy...

I disagree. At best they are about equal. Both have totally immersive queues that explain exactly why you are about to do what the ride does. I think both rides are good for that.

The DL Indy ride, however, has much better sets, more thrilling action, better effects, and the kind of "I've dreamed of this since I was a child" impact that Star Tours has.

The first time I rode Indy I actually freaked out when the blow darts hit the car. I was thinking, "What the ****?!? How can they get away with shooting actual darts at the car? That's really dangerous!" I covered my head with my arms, and only after the ride was over did I think about it being mere puffs of air and sound effects.

On the other hand, I never for a second believed what was happening on Dinosaur.

 

[d-r]

At Indy, the "story" is that you are visiting an archeological dig site, and that one of the assistants is offering "tours" on the side - you take the tour and have to avoid several pitfalls from the films. It is a "set-up" - it sets the stage, but it doesn't really have a plot. There is no arc to the story. Your vehicle rides through several scenes and tableus that are reminescent of Indiana Jones movies, but there is no coherent strand or plot to connect them in any directive way, other than "oh no, that's dangerous, get away!" It is a backstory that sets the scene, followed by several well-themed thrill elements. It has character and setting, but does not have a plot with a beginning, middle, and end.

Dinosaur, you visit the dino institute, where you are going to ride a time machine back to the age of the dinosaurs. An assistant sends you on a secret mission, against the wishes of the director, to bring back an iguandon. You arrive just before the asteroid hits that ended the age of the dinosaur, so you have to achieve your mission quickly - throughout the ride portion you are searching for the iguandon, which you catch at the end and return it to our time just in the nick of time before the asteroid, and in the closing segment you see it traversing the halls of the institute, letting you know the mission was accomplished. The story has a beginning, middle, and end - it has a *plot.* Something happens. It has an introduction, a build-up, a climax, heck even denouement. This is *story* as opposed to scenary, theming, mood setting. It has character, setting, and plot.

The DL Indy ride, however, has much better sets, more thrilling action, better effects, and the kind of "I've dreamed of this since I was a child" impact that Star Tours has.

And yet sets, action, effects are not enough to be a *story.* You may say that these things make it a better ride experience or attraction - fine. That's great. You can prefer the theming of Indy over CtX all you want. But I don't think that anyone can argue that the *story* is better. Are we prepared to say that effects, set, and action are more important for an attraction experience than the *story* ?

DR

 

[Mooobooks]

You know, it just doesn't mean diddly that the story is better on Dinosaur. In just the same way that the there is no coherent story on Pirates of the Caribbean or The Haunted Mansion. They still work, and Indy works. All three give you a totally immersive feeling ... as if you are IN the story, or in the case of Indy, in an Indiana Jones movie.
The story in Dinosaur is stupid, and in fact it's annoying and I would say it detracts from the experience. Having the idiot yell at you over the speakers while you're watching the dinosaurs detracts from the ride and certainly doesn't add to it.

 

[KNWVIKING]

***"The Indy stunt show at MGM is tired, and there is no reason to have TWO stunt shows at such a small park."***

It's not tired if you've never seen it. Or maybe do it once a year or so. Is Splash mountain tired ? The Indy show give you a nice chance to get out of the sun or rain for about an hour and watch a fun show. If it does end, I'll miss it.

To me,the biggest difference between Indy & Dino is the que. How many people know about pulling on the "vine" and getting the sound affects,or about the well ? I would like to see more of those details incorparated into POC or other type dark rides.

 

[Mooobooks]

It seems to me that a great deal of the visitors to Disney parks are repeaters. There are ... how many sit down shows at MGM? Indy Stunt show. Beauty and the Beast, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Playhouse Disney. Quite a few!
There actually is quite a good pre-show at Dinosaur, though no one ever gets to see the whole thing anymore because they keep the line stacked, and FastPass takes care of the rest.
The pre-show at Indy has a BAMBOO pole that you pull to bring down the ceiling. It didn't work for years, so people gave up pulling it. It DOES work now, but since the line is not stationary it doesn't have much effect. It works MUCH better when people can get out from under it as it moves.
The part of the queue where the guys are digging in the well is no longer accessible so no one can pull the rope. It's in an area that's roped off.

 

[KNWVIKING]

"The part of the queue where the guys are digging in the well is no longer accessible so no one can pull the rope. It's in an area that's roped off."

It was open in Sept. I just wonder how many people are aware of these que items ? The first time we rode Indy the line was non-existant and we never noticed them.The 2nd time, we watched someone pull the BAMBOO pole and later saw the well in action.

 

[d-r]

Originally posted by Mooobooks
You know, it just doesn't mean diddly that the story is better on Dinosaur. In just the same way that the there is no coherent story on Pirates of the Caribbean or The Haunted Mansion.

This is great. Thank you, Mooobooks. Bless you.

I told y'all.

DR

 

[daannzzz]

I have been on both. I actually rode Indiana Jones a few weeks after it opened when the ice machine was working and it looked like lava falling from the ceiling. When we got off there was a CM taking surveys. Of course the answeres I had were not on the list but I couldn't put my finger on how it was spectacular yet dissapointing at the same time. The sets are awesome and really make it work in that area, because you can see across to the other caves and such.
After riding Dionsaur I was disspointed as well. The expansive feeling of the big sets and the darkness inbetween encounters made it feel more like an old fasioned dark ride BUT where Indy was missing a lot of great anamatronic peices Dinosaur had some great ones and the most terrifying moment in any dark ride.
I think it iis a testament to the Imagineers that they took the same thechnical layout and ride vehical and got such a different kind of ride. Unfortunately all that tossing around in the darkness doesn't mean much.
I think they should try something new and not bring Indy to MGM.

 

[WDWHound]

I'm curious daannzzz, what did you feel was the terrifying moment in Dinosaur? I've ridden the thin lots of times and nothing ever scared me (even before they toned it down so much). I'm not looking to argue with you, I would just really like to know what worked for you that didn't work for me.

 

[ProfGoofy]

I have also been on both rides and I like Indy better, however my opinion maybe tainted by my last time on Dinosaur; it was dark, very dark. We couldn't see a thing, which was odd because I remember riding it before and it not being so dark. The first time I rode it I could see the dinosaurs, this last time, a few shadows here and there, and barely that. So for what it's worth, Indy cool, Dinosaur errrrr-hmmmmm.

As for bringing Indy to MGM, well that wouldn't be top on my to do list. Having grown up on Disneyland, I always liked the fact that DL had some rides that WDW didn't. It made DL unique when it first had rides such as Star Tours, Splash Mountain, etc, but not anymore. Though it still has Mr. Toad. And now it's losing it's uniqueness in the form of the Matterhorn (Expedition Everest; which I admitt is a major upgrade on the Matterhorn), Soarin' Over California, and now Indy!?! And don't think for a moment that you'd still be able to ride the TTA if the Rocket Rods weren't a structural failure. These moves just beg the question, why even visit Disneyland Resort when you can ride upgraded versions at WDW and then some? Though I understand TOT at DCA is getting a major upgrade over its MGM counterpart.

I just recently convinced the rest of my family, who live 45 min from DL and have DL APs to join me in purchasing DVC (BCV) without having ever visited WDW. Their main question was, why go to WDW when it's just like DL? I had to explain to them that it's apples and oranges, DL is nothing like WDW. However with things going the way they are, making the oposite comparison of WDW to DL, well you might as well call DL, "Mini-Me."