Jungle Cruise ... Anyone Know ...

[MJMcBride]

Universal's tagline is 'Ride the Movies', so movie based attractions is what they do. what WDW has done with spinning off the latest Pixar movies and 'Stitching' the property is entirely different and utterly revolting.

the Jungle Cruise isn't one of our favorites, so we skip it when the standby line is more than 15 minutes. but I'd hate to see it go in favor of another Alien Encounter debacle.

Alien Encounter was one of the few things they did that wasn't Pixar/Stitch. I agree with the Pixar overload, but there will always be some attractions based on movies/characters. Its what people are familar with and more importantly, what they'll buy. Even Walt made fantasyland a movie tie-in with Snow White, Alice, Peter Pan, Dumbo, etc.

 

[dancekm01]

The Jungle Cruise broke twice when I was there at the end of July. Once when I was in line a boat has to get towed back. And then our boat broke down right by the elephants that spit water. Our boat didn’t get wet, but the boat behind us did. After about 15 minutes sitting there we got a tow back.

 

[Amity 3]

Alien Encounter was one of the few things they did that wasn't Pixar/Stitch. I agree with the Pixar overload, but there will always be some attractions based on movies/characters. Its what people are familar with and more importantly, what they'll buy. Even Walt made fantasyland a movie tie-in with Snow White, Alice, Peter Pan, Dumbo, etc.

I have no problem with movie tie-ins, but some themes are just being overdone lately. the giant Stitch with the POC hat on top of World of Disney embodies it perfectly.

 

[Another Voice]

Even Walt made fantasyland a movie tie-in with Snow White, Alice, Peter Pan, Dumbo, etc.

And you'll notice that he kept all the tie-ins in Fantasyland. He didn't turn the entire park into one big Disney Plush-o-Thon the way it is now. In fact none of Disney's great big classic world-known attractions had a direct movie tie - Pirates, Mansion, Small World, Space Moutain, etc. It wasn't until Eisner went out and bought other people's work (because he disliked Disney movies) that we got 'Star Tours' and 'Indiana Jones'.

Disney's constant need to turn everything on property into a commerical for the brand is limiting what the parks can host - and that means Disney is limiting the parks' appeal. Not everyone in the country wants to trade pins or to go on rides strictly themed to direct-to-DVD cartoons. And there are rumors that there are even some adults that don't even want to see that much of the Mouse.

You can draw a straight line between the fall in Epcot's attendance and the 'tooning of the place. The more princess dinners they add, the more adults stay away.

 

[MJMcBride]

What rides are tied into direct-to-dvd movies?

Anyway, I think we can agree that Disney is going to movie-tie-in-ish. Although I would point out that w/in the last year the three biggest additions -Expedition Everest, Soarin, and Lights Motors- have nothing to do with any movie. It seems we are about to undergo a major Pixar push.

 

[Another Voice]

Actually 'Lights, Motors, etc.' was supposed to be tied into James Bond, but the rights turned out to be too expensive for EuroDisney's slim wallet.

'Soaring' didn't have any Disney connection because Eisner and company mandated that their cutting edge, hip and swank California Adventure be as character-free as possible so all the "right kind of people" wouldn't be disturbed during their $75 a head wine tasting sessions. Of course once it proved that "the right kind of people" hated DCA as much as everyone else, Disney stuffed the park with more characters than the old plush wall at a Disney Store.

'Everest' is a clone of Disneyland's Matterhorn and Disneyland has been selling Yeti plush for decades. Why for a movie tie-in when you already have merchandise sitting on the shelf?

And we're just now coming up on a Pixar push?!? Out here all we gotten are 'It's A Bug's Land', 'Buzz', 'Monsters Inc.', the 'Car' paradette and Woody taking over Frontierland and Nemo's already finished pouring concrete.

The only thing left to do is fit Mr. Lincoln into his Mr. Incredible costume.

 

[YoHo]

Actually 'Lights, Motors, etc.' was supposed to be tied into James Bond, but the rights turned out to be too expensive for EuroDisney's slim wallet.

'Soaring' didn't have any Disney connection because Eisner and company mandated that their cutting edge, hip and swank California Adventure be as character-free as possible so all the "right kind of people" wouldn't be disturbed during their $75 a head wine tasting sessions. Of course once it proved that "the right kind of people" hated DCA as much as everyone else, Disney stuffed the park with more characters than the old plush wall at a Disney Store.

'Everest' is a clone of Disneyland's Matterhorn and Disneyland has been selling Yeti plush for decades. Why for a movie tie-in when you already have merchandise sitting on the shelf?

And we're just now coming up on a Pixar push?!? Out here all we gotten are 'It's A Bug's Land', 'Buzz', 'Monsters Inc.', the 'Car' paradette and Woody taking over Frontierland and Nemo's already finished pouring concrete.

The only thing left to do is fit Mr. Lincoln into his Mr. Incredible costume.

Actually, Soarin does have Tinkerbelle in it.

 

[Demosthenes]

'Everest' is a clone of Disneyland's Matterhorn and Disneyland has been selling Yeti plush for decades. Why for a movie tie-in when you already have

Come on. Not even close. The common element? The yeti. By that rationale, "Flights of Wonder" is a clone of "The Enchanted Tiki Room."

 

[Another Voice]

Yup. The ride that was first talked about was a clone of Tokyo DisneySea's 'Journey to the Center of the Earth' (a ride that features an encounter with an AA figure even bigger than the Yeti). But when budget cuts reduced the ride system to nothing but a pre-fab rollercoaster track, they fell back on WDW's long held desire to have the Matterhorn. A quick trip to Disneyland by some WDW people confirmed that the Swiss Mountain was a PowerPoint friendly thrill ride. But since AK doesn't have a 'Europe' area, a quick change in location was in order.

 

[MJMcBride]

The only thing left to do is fit Mr. Lincoln into his Mr. Incredible costume.

Sounds like a good idea. That attraction is boring. And hey, after the show we could have an Incredible's store. That would be awesome.

And you're point about Everestt and Soarin' is irrelevant since they do not have anything to do with movie tie-ins. I guess you agree with me.

 

[Another Voice]

That attraction is boring.

Grown-ups have to have their attractions too. You'll just have to learn that not everyone is going to embrace Pooh's Play Puddle as warmly as you do.

 

[MJMcBride]

Grown-ups have to have their attractions too. You'll just have to learn that not everyone is going to embrace Pooh's Play Puddle as warmly as you do.

It was obviously a joke. And I'm a grownup. (just don't try to confirm that with my wife). And I still think that attraction is boring.

 

[YoHo]

You seem to be bored by every single part of MK that made Disneyland a household name. I'm not sure I can place as much value on your opinion as you want me to.

 

[MJMcBride]

You seem to be bored by every single part of MK that made Disneyland a household name. I'm not sure I can place as much value on your opinion as you want me to.

Frankly, I don't care at all if you value my opinion or not. Despite what you may think, I am not seeking your approval. Instead, I was merely pointing out what I like and don't as part of this particular thread. And, frankly, I am not a big fan of CoP, JC, or the Hall of Presidents. The parts of MK I do like that made Disney a household name include but are not limited to Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan's Flight, Its a Small World, Pirates, the Monorail, the People Mover, etc.

 

[The Big Dipper]

MJMcBride,


You say that JC is boring and that you would like it changed. I can accept that. Can you accept a change that would have no character tie-in's at all?


I am just trying to see why when you thought change, the first thing you said was characters.

 

[MJMcBride]

MJMcBride,


You say that JC is boring and that you would like it changed. I can accept that. Can you accept a change that would have no character tie-in's at all?


I am just trying to see why when you thought change, the first thing you said was characters.

Of course. It doesn't need to have characters at all. The reason I brought that up was I thought it would be cool if you had a realistic, menacing Scar in the darkened part or the ride. Turn it into the elephant graveyard.

With DAK there, I personally find JC outdated and somewhat lame. I also understand that many people like this ride and I very well could be in the minority. I believe I'm in the majority when it comes to CoP judging by its "seasonal" status and the like.

 

[Amity 3]

I remember being a kid in the early 70's and watching the Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights. when they showed clips of POTC and JC, I was enthralled. I couldn't wait to ride them in person.

my daughter at the same age as me, totally bored out of her mind. but all kids are different.

I wish they'd just leave the MK alone and Pixar up MGM. and get Nemo the hell out of EPCOT.