Does anyone else wish Disney would stop building thrill rides?

[kathyg]

Please, don't get me wrong. I agree totally with what everyone has said. If I don't think I will enjoy a "ride", I won't go on it, as most people would agree. I have not been to Disney in three years, so I have not experienced some of their newer attractions. I would just like to see Disney opt a bit more for the "attraction" and not the "thrill ride". I agree there has to be a balance, but when was the last time Disney built a ride that was not based on thrills? I would love to "ride" EE or MS if it weren't worried about the drops or the motion sickness or the other thrills associated with these rides. Because of these factors, I will miss some of Disney's most elaborate and incredible theming and entertainment value. I agree with Maps05...perhaps there should be two rides in one so that everyone can enjoy the Disney magic.

 

[sodaseller]

I have always understood that WDW was losing the teens and preteens to USF when families took a central Fla. vacation. Parents felt obligated to schedule some time at USF to accomodate those age groups need for thrills. If all the kids are in that age groups, the families sometimes skipped Disney, despite the fact that parents and younger kids still preferred WDW. So the thrill rides represent an attempt to keep families with teens and preteens at WDW by offering something for all age groups.

Personally, we're fine without them, though I have gotten my DD9 to do the mountains, which she enjoys. It's also important for her interaction with peers not to avoid all. In that respect, WDW's less intense thrill rides area Godsend - my DD9 can talk about going on thrill rides without having to experience the really intense ones

 

[jann1033]

I can absolutely tell you that there is nothing dangerous about Mission:Space. The main problem is that older people are going on it thinking "it won't be too bad....

unless you are very very young, one of the people who died was much younger, 4 ,so i don't think this is the problem ( they found in that case the ride wasn't the problem)

 

[jann1033]

I would love to "ride" EE or MS if it weren't worried about the drops or the motion sickness or the other thrills associated with these rides. Because of these factors, I will miss some of Disney's most elaborate and incredible theming and entertainment value. I agree with Maps05...perhaps there should be two rides in one so that everyone can enjoy the Disney magic.

unless you are there when it is really busy i am sure they'd let you just walk through then use the chicken exit. at least then you could see the stuff pre ride. and while it would be nice to have the option of 2 rides in one, i don't see how that would work most of the time...if you saw the specials on ee, the rides are so complex you'd be looking at a bunch of girders and they aren't always located close enough, like tta and space ,to combine them like those 2 are.

 

[Gary M]

I certainly understand where you are comming from. Attractions with a good story and scenery should be the Disney staples. It seems like they are trying to compete with Universal and Busch Gardens when they should be taking the lead in innovation. That being said, They should build a fifth park with the adventure rides to attract the teenage audience. I would love it. Take care
Scott

I agree with Scott. With the larger crowds and more resort rooms WDW needs another park anyway.

 

[Magickndm]

Winnie the Pooh, Mickey's PhilharMagic, Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters, Walt Disney - One Man's Dream, Turtle Talk with Crush, the upcoming Finding Nemo - The Musical and The Seas with Nemo and Friends...not exactly "all about the thrills". People tend to focus on the things that bother them, and forget about the things that they actually do enjoy. There will always be some attractions that some people like and some that they don't. I think the balance is still pretty good, and WAY better than any other amusement parks I've been to!

GREAT post.....i totally agree!

 

[pearlieq]

Winnie the Pooh, Mickey's PhilharMagic, Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters, Walt Disney - One Man's Dream, Turtle Talk with Crush, the upcoming Finding Nemo - The Musical and The Seas with Nemo and Friends...not exactly "all about the thrills". People tend to focus on the things that bother them, and forget about the things that they actually do enjoy. There will always be some attractions that some people like and some that they don't. I think the balance is still pretty good, and WAY better than any other amusement parks I've been to!

You said it right!

 

[phantom728]

In our family we are coaster enthusiasts. One of the reasons I love Disney is for the variety. When we took DD a few years ago, she wouldn't ride coasters, but after going on the ones at WDW, she's not afraid to at least try. She found that she loved these and can't wait till we go back in Dec.

That being said, I probably won't try M:S as I am claustrophbic and can't ride the TeaCups without feeling very nauseous (although I can ride all the other rides with no problems). But I LOVE all the rest of the rides (thrill or tame). Other amusement parks don't tell the stories like Disney does and this makes the difference for us.

I'm really looking for to EE and can't wait to get there and ride it

 

[irishbosoxfan]

One thing I don't agree with is the people who say it is the persons fault they died on the ride-----I for one know that I DO NOT want to find out there is something medically wrong with my 4 yr old by having them die on the ride!

I love thrill rides don't get me wrong but I don't want to have to worry about whether or not I may die by riding them----As I stand in line am I supposed to think over my medical history ("well I did have some heartburn last night" or "well my leg does fall asleep if I sit on it for to long")

You can bet that lady yesterday wasn't thinking she may have health problems as she stood in line waiting for her turn---She, like the 4 yr old, had probably never had a problem a day in their life and here they go on this ride that killed them.

I know that if I had a choice of being told by a doctor "There may be a problem" or by dropping dead on a ride I would choose the doctor everytime!

 

[puffkin]

I echo previous posts. I don't classify Disney's E-ticket rides as true thrill attractions like you would find at other theme parks like Six Flags. There is so much more to them in the detail and total immersion in story. I like the variety that Disney offers, which is why I continue to go eventhough I love true "thrill" rides.

Since I have been going to WDW in 2001, the following attractions have been added. As you can see, most are not thrill rides but family friendly fare:
Alladins Magic Carpet Ride
Mickey's Philharmagic
Stitch's Great Escape
Mission Space
Turtle Talk with Crush
Soarin
Lights Motors Action Stunt Show
Millionaire
Walt: One Man's Dream
Primevil Whirl
Triceratops Spin
Expedition Everest
Upcoming Nemo Show and probably a few attractions I have forgotten.

 

[dani0622]

I have not been to Disney in three years, so I have not experienced some of their newer attractions. I would just like to see Disney opt a bit more for the "attraction" and not the "thrill ride". I agree there has to be a balance, but when was the last time Disney built a ride that was not based on thrills?

Since you haven't been in 3 years you are missing a lot. You are judging Disney on Mission Space and Expedition Everest. In those 3 years that you haven't been there, they have opened Soarin, Pooh's Playground, Mickey's Philharmagic, Lights, Motor, Action Stunt Show, Stitch's Great Escape, Turtle Talk with Crush, and are building Finding Nemo the Musical and a new addition to the Living Seas. How much more do you want them to build to off-set the "thrill" rides?

 

[dani0622]

I echo previous posts. I don't classify Disney's E-ticket rides as true thrill attractions like you would find at other theme parks like Six Flags. There is so much more to them in the detail and total immersion in story. I like the variety that Disney offers, which is why I continue to go eventhough I love true "thrill" rides.

Puffkin-
you and me, same idea, same time!

 

[TinyLolitaBunny]

Well I don't know but the Pooh bear ride is relatively new and Stitch is brand new... those are not thrill rides. Buzz Lightyear is also relatively new. Yeah theyre a few years old but if you consider how often they put out all-new rides... They also just opened a play area for children by pooh bear...

I like the thrill rides, I think they just add to the experience. I will always get just as excited about the roller coasters and such as I do about peter pan and its a small world.

Also, these rides certainly are "attactrations" as well. They are always with incredible theming and stories behind them. If you went right now youd probably understand better just how many are not thrill rides anyway.

 

[Jobie]

Not trying to flame you, but the only WDW is going to survive is for it to build more thrill rides (of course it still needs some family rides too).

Why I say this is becuase more and more kids are going to other Amusement parks that are offering more thrilling rides. Once these kids rides these rides, they are hooked (well thoes that like them) and other rides seem, well lame to them. If you look at the other parks around WDW and even the parks near your home town, parks get crowds from having the big thrills. Disney has been able to stay at the top, becuase so many people has so many "magical" memories there and they want their families to experience the same.

Disney is losing some of its charm, becuase the world is not as saturated with all Disney as it used to be. Think about it back in the day all good full feature animated films were only done by disney, but now we have Dreamworks SKG, the peeps that did Ice Age (I forget who it is), and more. Disney hsa to fight to get their IP (intellectual properites) out there and to be on top. Why does this matter? Well the main draw to WDW has been able to see your favorite characters some to life. That was the whole set up that Mr. Disney had set up. That is why he had a televsion show on tv every week. It had you thinking all thing's Disney, and then to be able to experience thoes things first hand was a thrilling experience.

Truth is, Disney can no longer rely on just their characters bringing in the crowds. The original Disney charcters, this is sad but true, are slowly fading away as fond memories rather than being as beloved by children as they used to be. I know most on this board will disagree with me when I say this, but that is becuase we still saturate our lives with Disney! My niece and nephew, whoe are 5 and 4 respectively, have no idea who Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck is (they know who they are, but do not know their charm). When was the last time you saw a new, good cartoon come out with them in it?

So this just comes down to Disney having to keep up with the Jones's. I personally do not believe that Islands of Adventure would be such a big hit, if it did not have all the thrill rides. If they would have opened up with a similay offering as the Magic Kingdom, it would have failed and had no appeal to vacationers. We keep going back to WDW becuase of memories or an idea of "magic" that it holds, but with out new more thrilling attractions, Disney will lose its appeal to younger more "hip" families.

Also, as of right now, Disney's thrill rides, in most thrill junkies books, are mild if not tame compared to other park's offerings. Why is this? Becuase even though Disney wants to make thrill rides they still want to keep the dream that Walt originally had, and that is for parents and children to be able to ride the rides together. Sure there are a couple of rides that some people and and small children can not ride, but for the most part everyone can ride these new "thrill" rides. Most people that I know that do not like thrill rides, but finally talk them into riding Disney thrill rides enjoy them and likes them. For when they do not like them, they are not in tears. LOL

Now for some good news, it is rumored that Disney is going to change the area at AK were festiville of Lion King is at. It is pretty much a dead area, only Characters and a show there. Rumor is that they are going to add a coupld of family rides there and one more big thrill ride. Sounds good to me!

Also, here is a link to an old thread that I had a decent discussion in about kid's no longer seeing the charm in Disney classic style of ride:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=905791

 

[TinyLolitaBunny]

One thing I don't agree with is the people who say it is the persons fault they died on the ride-----I for one know that I DO NOT want to find out there is something medically wrong with my 4 yr old by having them die on the ride!

I love thrill rides don't get me wrong but I don't want to have to worry about whether or not I may die by riding them----As I stand in line am I supposed to think over my medical history ("well I did have some heartburn last night" or "well my leg does fall asleep if I sit on it for to long")

You can bet that lady yesterday wasn't thinking she may have health problems as she stood in line waiting for her turn---She, like the 4 yr old, had probably never had a problem a day in their life and here they go on this ride that killed them.

I know that if I had a choice of being told by a doctor "There may be a problem" or by dropping dead on a ride I would choose the doctor everytime!

Im guessing that Disney is going to tone done the intensity of this ride before more 'incidents' occur. Its very sad that this had to happen to people... If you think about it isnt it supposed to be just like experiencing really being in a rocket ship to space? well the astronauts go through extreme physical testing and conditioning before they do it...

 

[mill4023]

I think Disney has just the right mix of attractions. What makes it so great is that there is something for everyone. EE is a great ride, but it's very family friendly. My 5 yr old rode it and enjoyed it. It's also beautifully themed. Disney may have added an attraction like EE to try to keep thrill seekers interested, but IMO, they still did it the Disney way and it's a perfect example of Disney Imagineering at it's best. None of the Disney rides are scary compared to rides like Hulk and Dueling Dragons.

 

[palmtreegirl]

No but I would like to see a dark family ride go up next, like Montors Inc.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I do not ride thrill rides, but I don't want them to stop making them. They need something for everybody not just me.

 

[Quinn222]

I don't wish they would stop building thrill rides, people love them. But I wiash they would build more attractions for those of us who don't like the thrills, like Soarin', Pirates, etc.

 

[kathyg]

That's exactly what I'm saying...I don't think Disney should get rid of the thrill rides...but, the last few "attractions" they have builit have been "thrill" tagged. Can't they, just once in a while, build something "thrill proof". It just seems to me that the newer attractions are all geared to the thill seeking public. I stand by my originial opinion that I would like to see a bit of the "old Disney" come back...attractions that make you think instead of just feel. There is room for both, but I'm afraid that Disney is headed in the direction of IOA. Yes, there is something for everyone. But I would like to see a new attraction that is totally family firiencly, does not make you want to puke, does not make your stomach end up in your head and does not want you to keep your eyes closed for the entire "ride".