Is it my imagination or have they softened a couple rides?

[MarkLem]

We went last NYE and this NYE to the parks. It seemed to me this year that Dinosaur and Star Tours were not the same rides I remember a year ago. last year I remember holding on during Star Tours, especially the jump to light speed. This year, no need to hold on at all. Same thing on Dinosaur. I remember the thing really taking off at the beginning, and then several times being quite jerky. This year nothing of the sort...

 

[jellydisney]

I don't think the rides have changed at all. But I know what you mean. When I went on Dinosaur for the first time, I was clinging to the car and terrified (in a fun way). The second time, it wasn't nearly as frightening. Maybe your body just knew what to expect the second time around?

 

[CarolA]

Where you sit in Star Tours makes a world of difference. The seats in the back are much more exciting then those in front. Maybe you sat in differnet seats?

 

[PneumaticTransit]

I heard that they "softened" Dinosaur after the moved Dinosaur was release because so many young kids wanted to ride it, but that was years ago. I don't know if it's true or not, but I did notice a difference. They seemed to add more lighting and effects painting so the dinosaurs weren't "sneaking up" on you. Also, it didn't seem as loud or jerky. Don't get me wrong, it's still loud and jerky but not like a I remember it being before the movie came out.

 

[sunking]

For what it is worth, I saw something on the Travel Channel about how they can change up and program the Dinosaur attraction to be more or less "rough". They showed programmers using some sort of device hooked up to the attraction vehicle and they demonstrated how they can make it bounce up and down and side to side. Anyone else remember seeing this?

 

[lucky978]

I don't remember seeing that on the Travel Channel, but I agree that some rides don't seem as exciting. I thought about the same thing on BTMRR this time. After I got off I was like "That was it?". Of course my mom didn't think that way as it was her first time!!! I don't know...maybe I'm just getting too used to it!

 

[cmonroe]

I don't remember seeing that on the Travel Channel, but I agree that some rides don't seem as exciting. I thought about the same thing on BTMRR this time. After I got off I was like "That was it?". Of course my mom didn't think that way as it was her first time!!! I don't know...maybe I'm just getting too used to it!

Lucky978,

I agree! Our last trip I thought the same thing. Do you think it was perhaps the Thunder Mountain problem in CA that possibly prompted this (if it indeed changed)?

 

[sunny04]

That's strange...I just went on Dinosaur a couple weeks ago, and I thought it was still awesome. I actually felt like it was more dark and suspenseful this time than any other time I've ridden it....now that may have been because I was sitting next to someone's child that was screaming before we started so I was worrying about her, but still it seemed normal to me.

 

[eeyore0062]

The only thing that changed at Dinosaur is the location of the FP machines--- nothing to the ride itself, except for paint being touched up and other things normally done on rehab. As for Star Tours, except on where to park your strollers, it is still the same as ever!

 

[Kuzco]

I heard that they "softened" Dinosaur after the moved Dinosaur was release because so many young kids wanted to ride it, but that was years ago. I don't know if it's true or not, but I did notice a difference. They seemed to add more lighting and effects painting so the dinosaurs weren't "sneaking up" on you. Also, it didn't seem as loud or jerky. Don't get me wrong, it's still loud and jerky but not like a I remember it being before the movie came out.

I remember reading or hearing something along those lines as well, when they re-branded the ride Dinosaur from Countown to Extinction...but you know how rumors go!

However, I think that as far as most rides go, it always seems less intense the second time around for me...

 

[JRawkSteady]

Dinosaur was changed way back actually. When they actually changed the name from CTX (countdown to Extinction) to Dinosaur. CTX was SO MUCH scarier! They removed a few dinosaurs and they brightened the lights a bit so you can see the Carnotaur before you approach it the first time (where they take the picture). They also slowed the vehicles jerky movements down a bit.

I used to work at Star Tours and yes, where you sit makes a BIG difference. They have not changed the ride though at all. Also, each simulator is slightly different, because it's nearly impossible to make everything exactly the same. So that may have been a factor as well.

All in all, CTX was so much cooler than Dinosaur, I'm kinda sad they changed it..But I still love the ride the way it is now

 

[OklaDISNEYMom]

Hey, Do they turn the lights off on Star Tours???
The last time we rode they left the lights on!!!

 

[jellydisney]

Dinosaur was changed way back actually. When they actually changed the name from CTX (countdown to Extinction) to Dinosaur. CTX was SO MUCH scarier! They removed a few dinosaurs and they brightened the lights a bit so you can see the Carnotaur before you approach it the first time (where they take the picture). They also slowed the vehicles jerky movements down a bit.

Do you know how long ago they made these changes? I'm curious to know if it was Dinosaur or CTX the first time I rode it, which would be March of 2003.

 

[Teris]

We rode it the first time, just a month or so after it opened,, and thought it was great! Very rough, but in a fun way, not for little kids tho. And when the Carnotaur jumped out at you, it was a real shock, because you didn't see it coming at all. I was very sad and disappointed when they tamed this ride. IMO it ruined it.

 

[Dznefreek]

They removed a few dinosaurs and they brightened the lights a bit so you can see the Carnotaur

No it is as it was when it opened in April 1998.

I thought about the same thing on BTMRR this time.

Unless WDW has figured a way to change gravity (on which all coasters are based) it has not changed.

 

[dzneelvr]

The lights should've been turned off of Star Tours when the doors closed and the film began. If that happens again, I'd ask to be let on for another ride.

As far as Dinosaur, we rode it the very first season, I think it was only a few months old, and it was really jarring and bumpy. We all commented on that even though my DS and DD didn't mind. I even had to take an advil aftter it and I'm not a softey by any means.
When we went the next trip a year later, we all said it had been smoothed out a bit, but it still feels appropriate to the landscape travel. I thought the initial ride was way too much for comfort.