ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter

[babywewe]

I read they changed this attraction.... i'm sort of disapointed. I really liked the old ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. However, i can see why they changed it for the same reason. It was pee in your pants scary. Who loved was scared to death doing this and LOVED IT!? I think theres nothing like a good scary jump!

 

[jann1033]

i'm disappointed it's gone...i heard the stitch replacement is lousy but haven't gone on it yet...i thought it was a good attraction, definitly a mind game...so much so it scared my 20+ yr old daughter to tears! just don't think stitch would have the same effect some felt it didn't belong in Mk but that wasn't a problem to me

 

[katgarbars]

A lot of people will tell that the Stitch ride stinks. But my family loves it. It is fun, go into it with an open mind and you might be pleasantly surprised. If not, at least it will keep the line down in the future.

 

[Robo]

A lot of people will tell that the Stitch ride stinks. But my family loves it. It is fun, go into it with an open mind and you might be pleasantly surprised. If not, at least it will keep the line down in the future.

I agree that Stitch is not bad at all.

And if you liked AE, its not all that "different".

Stitch is just the CURRENT ride that folks "love to hate".

Heck, before it opened these boards where filled, I meant FILLED with,
"Get rid of that horrible Alien Encounter ride" posts.

I also liked AE... so, go figure.

 

[goofyforlife]

Myself.... I loved AE.....

Was scared to bits the first time I rode it. My DH didn't ride it. I took my DD and her friend on it the next trip down (they were like 10 or 11) and held my hand the whole time but then laughed afterwards. I'm glad she got to see the scary version. Next trip, she'll get to ride the Stitch version so we'll see her opinion.

I thought Stitch was like a poor redesign....

Now if they went back to the original mission to mars......

I miss MTM....

 

[loriandmatt]

i too am one who likes the thrill of being scared (in a controled situation - like AE was) but i have to say that once you did AE the thrill was far less because you knew what to expect.

the biggest downer of AE was that some parents did not use good judgement and let (or forced/tricked) their small ones into this attraction only to practicly tourture them. If it were a group of people that were old enough to be scared, scream in fun and walk out laughing - great. when there is a poor child locked into those seats screaming in real terror - your heart bleeds. AE (and stitch - as they are essentially the same attraction with minor adjustments) was not an attraction where a parent could comfort their child. it was pitch black, each person was in their own seat and you couldn't lean over to comfort your kid if they were scared. I am sure not every child who was scared to death (not in a fun way) in that attraction was there because their parents were too stupid to heed the warnings outside saying that it was scary or to ask the CM standing there what the attraction was like (much less read about it in a guide book or online before their trip). I know at least one time where a family (mother, father and what appeared to be older siblings/cousins) directly behind me in the line kept reassuring the small child with them (about 4 or 5 YO i would say) that this was a cute fuzzy alien spaceship ride - all the while giggling. They all were laughing their heads off as this poor child was screaming in terror thru the attraction and as we were all leaving. i wanted so desperately to scoop that kid up and run off with him - or even better spit in the faces of those so called parents who were laughing at his terror.

For those two reasons, i can say i miss AE but am not too upset that it is gone. Stitch is certainly lame, but has much better kid appeal and "re-rideability" (is that a real word?!?!? oh well, you get my point.)

- lori

 

[maccalovah]

i REALLY miss AE- I'd probably classify it as one of my all-time favorite Disney attractions, but I'm probably in the minority (my favorite favorite will always be the HM, so I guess I just like that sort of stuff). Anyways, I was really upset to find out that it had been replaced with Stitch. I haven't been on it yet, but probably will on this upcoming trip- I've heard it's pretty bad, but I'll give it a chance. I understand why they got rid of AE, but it's still too bad- at least in MY opinion

Sarah

 

[thewishfire]

I'm upset that AE is gone too. It was always one of my favorites, even in I was a bit scared the first time I was on it. Well, at least I still have my Skippy doll.

 

[JRawkSteady]

Yay! I can re-post my love for AE!!!

 

[Robo]

I'm upset that AE is gone too. It was always one of my favorites, even in I was a bit scared the first time I was on it. Well, at least I still have my Skippy doll.

And Skippy (one of my fav's, as well) still makes a "personal appearance" in the Stitch pre-show. (I figured they'd HAVE to KEEP Skippy!)

I thought I might write a "blow-by-blow" comparison between AE and Stitch, but not enough time to do it "right" today.

There are so MANY similarities that I can't quite figure why the opinions are so widely divided between the two incarnations of this attraction.

 

[Soichiro]

If you go in to Stitch thinking it'll be bad, it will be bad.

Just go in and try not to compare it to AE, and you'll find out it's not that bad of a ride. Not wonderful, by any means, but certainly not terrible.

P.s. I love AE. ):

 

[WDWLinda]

I'm thinking of bringing my 4 yr old son on Stitch, but he hasn't had any experience with dark rides. Are there times when its completely dark?

Thanks,
Linda

 

[Robo]

I'm thinking of bringing my 4 yr old son on Stitch, but he hasn't had any experience with dark rides. Are there times when its completely dark?

OHHH yes!

It's not an attraction for kids who fear:

Darkness
Loud noises
Harnesses over their head and shoulders
Spraying water
Spraying air
Screams from other guests
and other abrupt "surprises".

This is a "thrill-show" for kids who are old enough to understand that its
"not real" (even then, it can be rather frightening.)

Heed the warnings outside the attraction.

 

[thewishfire]

While we're on the topic, was it on AE that when the alien is loose you hear someone behind you say that it's their mother-in-law? If I'm remembering it correctly this is the ride. That always made me laugh.

 

[Robo]

While we're on the topic, was it on AE that when the alien is loose you hear someone behind you say that it's their mother-in-law? If I'm remembering it correctly this is the ride. That always made me laugh.

Yes.

And its of course supposed to sound like its coming from an audience member.
The "binaural" stereo sound is built into the shoulder restraints.

These restraints which are hated (HATED!) by folks who don't like AE or Stitch are the key to many of the attractions effects.

They don't "hurt" you as some claim... they are designed to ride just above your shoulders (most of the time ) and the internal sound system is then positioned correctly for each guest's ears.

The restraints do not LOCK down and can actually be pushed up and over your head with not much more than "average" pressure.

I think both AE and Stitch are very well-made attractions. The effects are carefully constructed and the entire effect of the show is a cute little adventure.

But hey, I'm the only person that will ever say that.

 

[nutty4wdw]

i think people who liked alien will find stitch too tame. i found it boring and seemed to be waiting for something to happen. but i was unfairly comparing it to alien. as one poster said you have to go with an open mind. it's an ok ride that many kids will most likely enjoy. i just like things more suspenseful