Getting rid of Little Red at AK

[DisneyKidds]

true but even the jokes that are the same everytime i get a kick out of new riders not getting them.

I know - but the same can be said for the Little Red bit.

KS i think is decent at best.

But do you think that assessment is based on the attaction itself, or what you find entertaining? You are entertained by the same jokes time and again. Perhaps you aren't as entertained by the bits of info about animals that the KS CM's provide along the way (and if so, would more info about elephant communication really make a difference?) However, there may be people who might appreciate learning about animal facts as opposed to hearing those old jokes. Different strokes for different folks you know .

BTW - I haven't been to Great Adventure in years. DW is not a fan of thrill rides so we don't go very often.

 

[BRERALEX]

But do you think that assessment is based on the attaction itself, or what you find entertaining?

attraction itself. i mean first your lucky if you get to see the animals. And then in some areas where i mean i guess its understandable, when you do see the animals there so far away. When we see a bunch of alligators...or are they crocs?lololol the driver always always always zoooms by them. you getto the lions.....ZZZZzzzzzzzzz and even if there not sleeping you know how lazy those guys are. The cheetahs are always far away up in the back. If anything i think little red takes alot away from the attraction. We all know its a load of crap.

(and if so, would more info about elephant communication really make a difference?)

if the dude (cm) would park the darn truck and sit there and let us hear him if he were to articulate in a clear way soem facts about the animals i think ya it would make a diffence. whizzin by at whatever miles per hour and then the africa music comes on the speakers is a joke. I thought it was suposed to be an educational park about animals....at least that was the impression i got. maybe instead of driving fast to get the ride over the trcuk should stop copletely at some some spots and were fed some info on the animals

NITRO at GA is a monster. four minute long coaster should do wonders for the DW. too bad GA isnt worth it.

ok i have my 'HISTORY OF SPORTS' class now and dont wanna be late. c you peeps later

 

[Another Voice]

As I said, if you wanted to be entertained - enjoy.

But patting yourself on the back for being "educated" by phony radio conversations, hydralic elephants and bored cast members is really, really silly.

There's nothing wrong with light entertainment. Just know the difference between the good stuff and the junk food.

 

[YoHo]

Things I've learned in this Thread.

1: most people here went to really crappy grade schools that didn't teach them any natural history and have never gone to a half way decent zoo.

2: Many apparently didn't realize poachers weren't a problem in africa.


Lets face it, there are hundreds of Zoos across the country that provide far more education and only slightly less realistic settings fr there animals.

That is in fact one of AK's faults. One that AV points out well. everybody and there brother does what AK does. they need to be better then that.


The it could have been so much more argument is a bit of a slippery slope (although Scoop, I think your out of your league when you sugges HM, or POTC could have been "so much more" That fact that they set out to do exactly what they do and draw stupendous amounts of people 30 years after they were built says they are exactly what they need to be.



The point is, KS offers very little to the average person with a good Zoo and the Discovery channel. What it does offer, a realistic encloser and excellent views, it skimps on in order to pile drive a weak message into you.

SO what if you get 15 seconds more face time with the animals, because one crossed the road.

 

[YoHo]

The stated intentions of Pirates was to offer a realistic view of the Caribbean pirate with a humorous bent.
Disneyland and thus Disney World was created to be educational as well as fun and humorous. PotC is perhaps THE perfect example of Walt's goal.

The stated intentions of KS

Live Wild animals and exotic landscapes set the scene for a thrilling safari that tells a dramatic story about wildlife today in Africa. Herds of live animals..., will be presented in true-life adventure stories of mystery, danger and humor.

From Since the World Began by Jeff Kurtti

Tell me did they live up to their goals in a fashion similar to Pirates?

And yes, I think that Longevity is an excellent marker for the quality of a ride and before you ask the question, Longevity is not the only marker. It's been what 6-7 years since Ks first opened? how many rides did Walt replace or update in that time, because they weren't what people wanted/the best he could do? I would suggest that KS at least fails the Pirates test. and since if find very little Humor or Mystery in the ride, I'll grant danger. It fails to live up to its own billing. Never mind that I was told the LIVE ANIMALS would be taking part in the story, not just a prop to distract the rider.

 

[AKemel]

I think this thread summarized the feelings most people have toward Disney®.

Even car 3 and car 4 people on this board LOVE Disney. For some people, the more they love Disney, the more they expect. I try to keep this in mind when I see LOTS of complaints and many great expectations. I keep reminding myself that only people who really like Disney® the way it IS would spend so much time thinking about it.

The problem is that some people lose touch with reality. Their expectations exceed what is humanly possible. Yet, the only reason they say what they do is because, in their own way, they LOVE Disney®

 

[Another Voice]

'Pirates', 'Mansion' and the like are entertainment. Well made entertainment and there's nothing wrong with that.

The Safari ride dresses itself up as "educational" in an attempt to make itself "better" than something like the 'Jungle Cruise'. But it lacks the will to really teach and to skill to educate in an entertaining manner. It ends up doing neither well. No one really goes on the ride to chase Little Red and no one really learns anything of value either.

Making education entertaining is very difficult. Disney has a better track record than most, but I'd say they have more flops than successes. I mean 'The World of Motion' wasn't educational or entertaining either.

But that shouldn't be a reason for Disney to stop trying. They announced the goal of Animal Kingdom was to teach while it entertained. But they chickened out - they went for cheap thrills because it was easier (and cheaper) to do. It's all the more pity because they have such an amazing subject matter. If there was ever a topic they could have let their imaginations fly free (pardon the pun), it would have been here.

Instead we got a place that uses everything as decorations to staple onto average, run-of-the-mill attractions. Real animals stuck on stage like props, cardboard dinosaurs are glued onto roller coasters, and nothing that hasn't been done a hundred times before is presented. There's nothing special at Animal Kingdom and that's a true shame.

Little Red and the cast member waving the fake AK-47 is just a symptom of the lack of effort. It's a show element so uninteresting people don't care if it's dropped and so un-educational people consider it a distraction.

It's not a matter of what "is" or what's "humanly impossible" - it's a matter of people trying to create good things and those that don't want to try.

 

[YoHo]

Scoop, all I can suggest is that you take a trip to San Diego and see what we're talking about. KS is a fun thing to do at WDW when I have nothing better to do. it isn't a draw. Heck, I'd rather go on the Tiger walk and the Gorilla trail. they at least offer enclousres better then just about anywhere else.

 

[Master Grayson]

People please ! I think we are forgetting the big picture here........OUR KIDS!!!!
I could care less if we drove in a circle, but just to see the smile on my boys faces everytime we get off the ride and they ask if we can go back on makes it all worth while!! And to say nothing is learned is insane, my 6yr old can name 3/4 of the animals on KS. As far as little red will he miss it , I guess I'll find out in June.

 

[hopemax]

Actually, I think I agree with YoHo, but I don't know if our reasons are the same. On the trails you really get to see how the animals LIVE. The safari is good for a quick photo op and then you're on to the next enclosure.

During our trip in January, we were watching the meerkats and the CM started telling us about how a few weeks ago a small aligator got into the enclosure and the responses of the meerkats. As a guest, can you imagine watching that play out.

We were there during the cold snap, which in Animal Kingdom turned out to be a big plus, the animals were a lot more active. One of the gorillas was putting on a show for the guests. She would beat her chest and then watch to see what the humans did, people would be ready to leave because she stopped doing things, and then she'd start all over. In her eyes you could see her joy for making the crazy humans pull out their cameras and call for their kids and spouses. You don't get that on the safari.

Yes, the giraffes come close to the jeeps, but during one of our recent trips to Woodland Park we watched as their male giraffe tried to mount the female. The circle of life in action.

The safari is really nice, I go several times a trip. But it's not the end all and be all of human/animal interaction . It was great to see the new baby hippo swimming around with her mother, but it sure would be nice to have the ability to watch them for more than 10 seconds.

 

[airlarry!]

I understand now.

Walt went for jokes and a family atmosphere in the Jungle Cruise, with a little scenery evoking memories of some of those old movies like Bogart in "The African Queen". And he suceeded.

Disney with AK was trying to build something that was "Nahtazoo" and was going to be educational and entertaining at the same time.

You find that KS is neither very educational nor very entertaining, compared with the huge source material they were given.

I can agree with that. My take here is that by that standard, and it is a good and valid standard, then many, many of Disney's recent attempts from Epcot on have failed that standard. Test Track comes to mind.

 

[Sarangel]

Hippies kill more people then any other animal.

Am I the only one to find this hysterically funny? I have images of deadly animals in beaded fringe, tie-dye, and little round sunglasses threatening the Safari ride...

Sarangel

 

[KNWVIKING]

I reread your post three times before I relized I didn't spell Hippo. Maybe the hippo's in Fantasia looked more like hippies to me.

 

[madcoco]

Thanks for the laugh. Suggestion for new KS Educational Commentary.(reprinted from the internet story Horace the Hippo Part 2)

"Look over there -- it's a big hairy hippie! What's he doing here?"

"What's a hippie?" asked Terri.
"A hairy human in bad clothes," answered Harry. "He looks like he's lost. I'm going to see if he needs any help."
"Well ... okay," murmured Terri as the hippo approached the hippie. "But please be careful!"

The hippie understood that the hippo and the bird were talking about him, even if he didn't understand what they said. He said, "Hello, hippo. I'm a very sad hippie. My girlfriend is in the hospital because she stopped eating. She thinks that a real hippie has to be very thin. Please help me to show her that you can be hip and fat at the same time. Maybe there is also a hippie-hippo in this hippo company."

 

[raidermatt]

Last year, on KS, I managed to get a video close-up of a Zebra taking a #2.

 

[KNWVIKING]

Maybe that photo will be toon-town-tent's replacement.

 

[raidermatt]

I keep reminding myself that only people who really like Disney® the way it IS would spend so much time thinking about it.

Nice try, Akemel, but some of us do spend time thinking about things we would like to see improved, and not just those that give us the warm and fuzzies.

As much strongly as a variety of folks suggest that some of us will accept anything Disney (even though nearly all of us are on record as being disappointed in some things), I feel there is an equally large contingent whose frustration with the current regime causes them to dismiss anything associated with that regime without allowing the "thing" dismissed to stand on its own merits (the exception being Illuminations, I think...)

I've already exposed my hyperbole once in this thread out of reciprocation...do I have to do it again?


One thing I can say for sure is that while I don't hate the Big/Little Red storyline, it does seem like a weak attempt vs. what could have been done with the attraction. The removal of the live CM certainly doesn't help the situation.


Oh, and I actually like the music portion of the attraction...very relaxing. (That's not to say it couldn't be axed in favor of a better overall experience).

 

[raidermatt]

Maybe that photo will be toon-town-tent's replacement.

Its on VHS, but if I ever convert it to digital, I'll see what I can do...

 

[DVC-Landbaron]

OK!! First things first! I did not know that Gcurling was a Jungle Cruise fan, but I knew there was something about him that I liked!!! I love the ride too!! But more often than not I am disappointed with it! Sometimes they lack a bit of quality control it seems! Some of the CMs rush through the spiel and present it in a very ho-hum way!

If you can, do yourself a favor. Get on a boat that has Safari Steve as a skipper!! I have had many, many, many skippers and he is by far the best I’ve ever heard!!! If you still don’t care for the ‘canned jokes’ you have NO sense of humor!!!

Perhaps it's the fun of seeing how each CM handles the spiel, waiting to see if he/she throws in something I've yet to hear. I think I can confidently say that if JC had a taped narration that played in the boat (always the same), I'd doubtfully ride very often. The CM "makes" the attraction.

I wholeheartedly agree!! And it really isn’t just the canned bit (although that is a big part). I think it is also the feigned drama of it all. I have the same complaint about the Great Movie Ride! I LOATHE that part of the ride!

I think it comes down to re-watchability (the slogan for TV-Land). They show reruns. Hundreds and hundreds of reruns. Most of which I’ve seen hundreds and hundreds of times. Yet! I can still get a giggle out of Dick Van-D(y)ke or Andy Griffith. And as much as I really don’t like some shows, I can still tolerate many of them that my kids watch. In other words I don’t HATE watching it or at least it’s not irritating!!

BUT!! Who wants to watch a rerun of survivor? Or maybe one of the thousands of shows that just don’t do particularly well in reruns. You never seem to see Hill Street Blues any more. Or St. Elsewhere, Dallas, Falcon Crest and similar shows. Yeah you may tune in for a certain nostalgic flavor, but half way through the episode you’re bored to tears!! In other words they don’t have – re-watchability!! And in my opinion neither does The Great Movie Ride or the Safari!!


Hopemax is quite correct when she says:

The safari is really nice, I go several times a trip. But it's not the end all and be all of human/animal interaction.

And that’s what they touted when the place opened. And it just doesn’t happen. Or as Sir Larry says:

Disney with AK was trying to build something that was "Nahtazoo" and was going to be educational and entertaining at the same time.

Now you might think that AV has finally flipped his wig!! Lost his one remaining marble or finally completed his wall!! No! Not at all!! But he takes a hard line! So do I!! Which is why I understand him perfectly. For me (my subjective opinion only) there are three problems with the ride. And all three of them I can completely put out of my mind when I’m in Disney!!

1- Disney’s spin! The whole “educational” thing. Simple fact is it ain’t all the educational!! In fact I think it’s rather condescending and patronizing!!

2- Not very entertaining! Now don’t get me wrong. I LIKE THE ANIMALS!! I don’t like the little drama play. It doesn’t have “re-watchability”!!

3- It’s the best ride in the place! Sounds like a good thing, right? Well it isn’t! The safari is good! It’s very, very good! But it ain’t no Pirates, Splash, Mansion, JC, ToT, Spaceship Earth, or even R&RC!! And AK should have one of those!!

 

[d-r]

you know I guess I missed the "educational" intention part. I just think it is very cool looking and pretty.