Goodbye Alien Encounter!

[Dan Murphy]

I have never done AE, but adding Stitch sure sounds neat to me. Looking forward to trying it when it reopens.

 

[HappyMommy2]

I stayed outside with the kids while DH did AE on our last trip. When DH came out, I asked him what AE was like and all he did was shake his head and say, "That was just WRONG." I don't think DH will be sorry to see AE go!

On the other hand, I do like to see some attractions that aren't tie-ins to the latest Disney film----movie tie-ins are lots of fun but it's nice to have a break from that sometimes.

I guess now I'll have to learn about Stitch so I can appreciate the new attraction when it opens!

 

[jann1033]

personally I love AE but think it is too intense for some,especially young kids. I guess every attraction can get stale but since i only go every few years, it takes longer for me than those who go every 3-6 months. I liked it cause it was different than the rest of mk. now if they did away with isasw i'd be eternally great ful..there is a ride I truly hate!

 

[Zurg]

I have never been a fan, think it is just lame.

Hope the do a more creative make over than JIYI.

 

[meeko_33785]

Originally posted by zurgswife
I never like it...actually hated it...I'm not sure if Sitch can make it better...

IMO, Stitch can't make it any worse. In it's current form, I think that this attractions is one of the worst at WDW. I'm optimistic about the whole Stitch re-do and can't wait to see how it all comes together.

 

[jerseydizdreamer]

Sorry to be the disenting voice (welcome to my life!), but wow, do I love this attraction as it is and I'm just miserable about the fact they feel the need to add Stitch to this one. I know, I know, it's too intense for some. But there are also legions of fans (none of whom seem to have found this particular post, LOL) who absolutely love this. It's always been a must-see for me, and I do it several times during each trip. I realize that Disney is a family destination, but I'm also a very big believer that if they want to continue to compete in the war for tourism dollars, they need to keep at least a few attractions geared toward thrill seekers, unless they want to simply throw those dollars (and there are millions of them to be had) to their rivals over at Islands Of Adventure. Not every ride can - or should, IMHO - play to every audience. Do we really need another slow-loading, Dumbo/Aladin type attraction? It's one thing to "de-scarify" something like Snow White's Scary Adventures, seeing as Snow White is aimed at children. But Alien Encounter is not based on a kids movie or a beloved children's story. There are warnings all over the place, which I gather a large number of people either opt to ignore or shrug, saying, "It's Disney... I'm sure they're exaggerating."

OK, sorry if that sounds like a rant.

As to adding Stitch to the attraction... again, not much in favor of that. Why not give Stitch his own attraction? That said, if the company is insistent upon adding Stitch, why on Earth didn't they do this whole make-over of the attraction back when the film first opened up? Why are they so slow on the uptake? Wouldn't it make sense for the folks making the film and the imagineers to work hand-in-hand so that, as a movie opens, so does the attraction? This has been true for years. The attraction based on a movie is opened a year or more after the movie itself. Of course, I suppose that prevents them from having an attraction tied in to a dud. Now, they simply reverse the process by opening films based on attractions!

Richard

 

[sandbar]

My DH and I agree......once was enough for us. The first time we did AE and the bar came down over my shoulders, I slouched down so it wouldn't be so tight, but the crazy thing just kept coming down until I quit slouching! So here I am, looking quite short while I have to sit this way through the whole thing. It was "supposed" to be scary (?) but I think I laughed the whole time about how I was sitting in the chair. That'll teach me for not paying attention!

 

[jann1033]

jerseydizdreamer: too long to quote(lol) but I agree completely! I like it cause you actually need to use your imagination, not a bad thing!

 

[KdawnLily's Mom]

My DD never misses AE and when we are there in November I'm sure that she will be more then a little disappointed that it's closed. My Dh and I have LOVED this attraction since it opened- the little guy who gets 'fried' is just SOOO cute.
I agree with jerseydizdreamer, jann1033 and the OP it will be missed and I will be a little sad to see it go.

 

[momtotwinglesx4]

Personally, I don't care one way or the other--it was ok, nothing that I'll cry over losing. But I am sad for dd6 (the brave one); last trip, her twin brother (the cautious one) was tall enough to go on but she wasn't. I promised her she could try it next time, but since we won't be there til Dec., I guess she'll be disappointed.

 

[Zurg]

Originally posted by jerseydizdreamer
....I realize that Disney is a family destination, but I'm also a very big believer that if they want to continue to compete in the war for tourism dollars, they need to keep at least a few attractions geared toward thrill seekers..

I agree with your point however I see this as a lame turn-the-lights-off-and-yell deal, very low on my thrill-o-meter. Bring on the thrills, shake, rattle & roll.

 

[BCV23]

My sons and husband went once and have never bothered again.

My daughter was too scared to try it and so I skipped it with her. Have had plenty of opportunities to see it since and just have no desire.

Glad something else...anything else...will be there.

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by Eljay
Alien Encounter will close for good on Oct. 12?

Thank God! This was a one-timer attraction if I've ever seen one.

I love horror stuff, thrill rides, etc. but found this show to be a total waste of time. I did it once when it first opened and hadn't been back since. On our last trip in November, I decided to do it again just to give it a fair shot. Doing it again just reinforced my original opinion.

The other problem with this attraction is it turns away far too many people. The parks need more rides and shows that are family friendly (like they all used to be), not just geared toward teens. Neither my wife nor daughter has ever been on AE. Neither has any desire to do it.

So I say close it down and reopen TimeKeeper and CoP which we all love. If they can replace AE with something that everyone will want to do repeatedly, that would be great.

Steve

 

[DaveH]

I think AE is ok. I have seen plenty of times. It does get old. I am not a fan of Stitch. It will be interesting to see what they do there. I wonder if it is a total make over, or just a patch over. I will look forward to trying it either way.

 

[RescueRanger]

I just have to add my 2 cents here. Why is it that Disney always caves into the whiners and complainers. I went on AE when it first opened and thought it was great. I went a couple of years later and Disney had "dumbed it down." They made it less scary. Why? because of complainers. It didn't matter that there were just as many people if not more that liked it the way that it was. They had to cater to the whiners. I am all for a well rounded park with things for all ages; however, there were plenty of things for kids or families to do without messing with AE. Some of you who complain about more adult rides should step out of the center of your universe and realize that WDW is not just for you, but it is for all types. Teens and adults have far fewer rides at MK than do the family oriented ones. I don't complain about your Jungle Cruise, I just walk right on by which is what you should do if you don't like a particular ride and leave it for the ones that do like it. I will get of my soap box now.

 

[jann1033]

Originally posted by RescueRanger
I just have to add my 2 cents here. Why is it that Disney always caves into the whiners and complainers. I went on AE when it first opened and thought it was great. I went a couple of years later and Disney had "dumbed it down." They made it less scary. Why? because of complainers. It didn't matter that there were just as many people if not more that liked it the way that it was. They had to cater to the whiners. I am all for a well rounded park with things for all ages; however, there were plenty of things for kids or families to do without messing with AE. Some of you who complain about more adult rides should step out of the center of your universe and realize that WDW is not just for you, but it is for all types. Teens and adults have far fewer rides at MK than do the family oriented ones. I don't complain about your Jungle Cruise, I just walk right on by which is what you should do if you don't like a particular ride and leave it for the ones that do like it. I will get of my soap box now.

this could explain my confusion since I haven't been there for a 5-6 years.... I never thought it was dull! I agree also about many of the rides at Mk, even my kids weren't crazy about dumbo after about 6 yrs. there are plenty of rides for young ones...basically 2 whole lands of that park and then some! I doubt one more ride for older kids and adults would be so terrible!

 

[shaws2003]

I for one, am Bummed.. My kids are too young for AE, but I was looking forward to it. I agree that Stitch is not the answer, but Disney could have done better. That makes AE and the Osbourne Lights that will be missing from our 10 days at Disney, what else?

 

[nataliesdaddy]

I liked skippy - and the preshow...the teleporting scene... that was good...once you go in and sit down? I thought that was just incredible lame...

skippy however I am pretty sure is a character Disney could use in a movie or cartoon or something.... it would make sense to have skippy aprt of a stitch ride

 

[JonHM]

Since I never went on it until about a year ago, and it was incredibly lame, please fill me in on the 'good' parts of AE that got cut out in the 'dumbing down' - I'm very curious. Thanks!

 

[PhotobearSam]

We love AE...It was our first attraction together on our first visit...We love Skippy. It won't be the same without it... I loved the feeling on my neck from the breathing... I always screamed...

I hope the Stitch version is really FUNNY though...