Is it the ride, or just Stitch Bashing?

[Minderbinder5]

Hi all,

I'm going to WDW for the first time since '88 in just 21 DAYS , and I've seen lots of discussions about how aweful Stitch's Great Escape is. It seems nearly everyone hates it, from the lack of plot to the chili dog effect. But, my question is, is it the attraction itself that people don't like, the disappointing re-do of Alien Encounter, or do people just not like Stitch to begin with? What is it about this attraction that makes it so bad? I love Stitch, and I have never seen AE for comparison, so might I at least be mildly entertained?

 

[pozey]

Here's my 2 cents.....

I LOVE Stitch! I don't think there is a ride or attraction at Disney World that I don't like.

That being said, I thought Stitch was disappointing. I can't say I hated it, but it was just disappointing. Even my 2 boys - both Stitch fans - didn't care for it.

 

[missypie]

I'd read about it, too, but knew that DH would want to ride it, since he wants to ride EVERYTHING. The one saving grace is that we were able to use Fast Pass, so rode with a very minimal investment in time.

The ride is just...nothing. You're strapped in these seats like you're going to spin around or go upside down, but you just stay in place. (You can tell the restraints are "fake" because they are hard plastic - no padding - ouch!)

The "ride" is dark and scary for the little bitty ones. For those who aren't little bitty it's just dull. You're just in your seat, watching and listening. Then the lights go out and "Stitch" walks on your shoulder (the unpadded restraint presses down on your shoulder - mild pain) and Stitch burps on you.

End of ride. Now wasn't that just a blast?

 

[A Mickeyfan]

We like Stitch, but not the ride. It is too much of Alien Encounter. I know they did it so younger children can go in, but in my opinion....dark is dark. I too don't like the smell of the chili dog, turns my stomach & the smell lingers with me when I leave there. My girls are 12 & 17, they are Stitch fans...but not the ride. They weren't crazy about Alien Encounter, but like it better than Stitch

 

[kakiegirl]

My DD (6) and I are both Stitch fans and we were all disapointed. First off get ready to hear young children screaming. I had read enough on this board to be prepared but before the ride started I heard a woman behind me telling her nervous child "don't be scared it is just stitch". I thought poor kid, and sure enough he screamed and cried the whole time. It is as other's have stated just boring there is nothing to it. When you hear Stitch burp hold your breath, it is disgusting. Stitch gets lose the lights go out and you hear him running around, I guess the funniest part to me was I did laugh when he played with my hair. It was not a horrible ride there is just nothing to it. I would not ride it again unless there was no line whatsoever, even the fast pass line can get long during busy times, and if I had already done everything else I wanted to do. I love everything Disney but they really droped the ball on this one and I hope they replace it with something more entertaining soon. DD was so disapointed for weeks she had been looking forward to riding Stitch and it did not live up to her expectations.

We had never rode alien encounter so our dislike of Stitch had nothing to do with comparing it to that ride.

 

[oogieboogie]

We had never seen Alien Encounter, and we went to Stitch with an open mind. But we were disappointed. My 4yr old and 7yr old didn't like the harnesses, didn't like the motions, didn't like the spitting, and we especially didn't like the chili dog breath. Ugh! The smell kind of stayed with you after the ride too.

What I didn't like about it was 1) most of the ride was in the dark, nothing to see. Annoying. 2) the jostling in the dark was another annoying aspect of it that my kids didn't like, 3) I wanted to see Stitch and there was only a few seconds of actually seeing Stitch and the animatronic Stitch really didn't do much, 4) For some smaller kids it really was scary - not only because it was dark, but also there's a scene where Stitch is supposed to be on your shoulder and the harness weighed down on the little kids' shoulders and that's frightening. 5) Too loud!

We went once (Fastpass, thank God!) and that was it, no one wanted to do it again.

 

[jann1033]

haven't been to stitch yet but it sounds like a bad redo...what made ae good( imo) was it played with your head. it was very dark so your senses and imagination really came into play( so much so my oldest adult daughter went 2 times and cried both times it freaked her out so much) and it had some imo very very violent effects ( ie the alien was supposed to attack a worker and you hear him munching on him & got showered with fake spit and blood eww) so imo not for kids. i don't see how they could maintain that fear factor with a more" lovable "character or without the dark( fearful to lots of kids) which was basically the whole point of ae. how could it not be bland when they couldn't maintain what made it spooky in the first place by making it more "kid friendly"

 

[MdmMim]

I used to love Stitch. Then I went on that "ride" and now I just like him. I actually felt used or ripped off because Disney came up with such a sub-standard ride, expecting the throngs to enjoy it. It's kind of insulting. JMHO

 

[stinkerbelle]

I HATED AE - I don't like being "poked/blown at" in the dark.

But I thought Stitch was cute.

EVERYONE has their own opinion...people RAVE about Turtle Talk with Crush - I thought it was rather annoying to be honest.

 

[palmtreegirl]

It's the ride, I love Stitch but the ride is a real snoozer.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

i love stitch and will definately still try the ride no matter what the wait time, i will use fast pass same for DH, we figured we will just get our own opinions of the ride we may hate it too, but then again we may be in the minority and find it cute!

 

[Stitchfans]

DD11 and I both love Stitch. The ride was ok. There was a few cute moments like when he was playing bouncy bouncy on the harness holding us down. Yes, when he burps it really stinks, but it lasts a second or two. If the line is real long though I wouldn't stand in line for a real long time. There is other things to do that is much more fun.

 

[frannn]

Is there a height/age restriction? On our past two trips, DD2 went on Snow White, HM and Pirates with no issues (except once on Pirates she was hungry). I'm hoping she won't be afraid during our Oct trip, but you never know... I think I'll test her on Snow White, as I think that's probably the least problematic of the three.

 

[fitgirlFL]

I have nothing against Stitch but found this attraction (it's not really a ride) to be lacking. I guess because I had seen AE before and liked that, this paled in comparison. It just seems like something is missing, you're left wondering, "okay, what now, there's gotta be more to it than this" They should have left AE as it was.

And my 2 years old nephew went with us on this and wasn't bothered in the least bit. But then again, nothing bothers this kid. We could take him on anything.

But it is dark and you do get strapped down in your seat so that could be frightenening for some kids. Guess it just depends on the child.

 

[babar41]

IMO it is the ride. Unfortuantely the strong negative opinions of the ride I think are also effecting feelings of Stitch.

Before going to WDW last November I thought Stitch was cute. After having Stitch pushed down my throat at WDW (everything from Stitch's wake up calls, teepeeing the castle, his posters plastered everywhere...) and riding/seeing the attraction.... I really don't like Stitch anymore.

The ride was disappointing at best. Especially with all the hoopla that was given it. I really felt robbed of the time I spent in line and seeing this attraction, the time could have been better spent anywhere else.

But hey, my belief is try it, maybe you will like it. It's just not for me.

 

[DBH]

Stitch is boring even to my 8yo DD. There is just not alot going on. They tried to use some of the same effects from AE but it just dosen't work. I hated they got rid of AE. I thought is was neat how it played on your senses. AE wasn't for young kids but I don't think Stitch is that great for them either.

 

[missypie]

One thing if you do ride: It is very easy to tell when the burp is coming. I held my nose and breath and didn't smell a thing.

 

[SandrainNC]

I thought it was cute. Most of the people who hate it seem to be (not always but most) people who loved AE and hate the change. That seems to be the majority anyway. I liked AE (I like being scared!), but I also think Stitch is cute. I "rode" it with my sister and we both laughed at a couple of points (don't want to give anything away for people who haven't been on it). My DH went with my BIL and I know my DH didn't hate it (not sure about BIL). Is it the best thing I have ever done? No. But I don't think it is the worst either. Just my opinion though of course. I say give it a try and if you hate it, then you hate it. I almost skipped it because of what I read on here and I'm glad I did it at least once. Of course I didn't wait but 10 minutes either so maybe that makes a difference too.

Sandra

Sandra

 

[meeko_33785]

I HATED AE - I don't like being "poked/blown at" in the dark.

But I thought Stitch was cute.

I agree. I thought that the original AE horrible and sadistic, but Stitch was cuter. I can take Stitch's antics better than a killer alien on the loose. I would say it's an improvement (especially the animatronic Stitch. Very cute), but it's still not one of the better shows in the park. I'd say see it if you have the time, but unless you are a Stitch fan or have seen all the other attractions in the park, I would skip it.

 

[swimmom]

the ride stunk!!! No excuse - shame on Disney