Just back...updated SM and People Mover...

[GadgetRick]

Yes, I said People Mover! They are now calling it the People Mover again (horay!). Although it's the TTA People Mover. I'll take it.

Unfortunately, didn't like the new announcements at all. The person doing it is so, well, boring. Such a shame to lose the original...

Rode SM a few times while there. One thing I'll say is I don't understand how they could have had it closed for 5 months and are now having so many problems with the ride! We were on line one evening when the ride stopped. They gave us a FastPass to come back another day. Another time it had stopped again and we were on line too long (had a Pirate makeover to get to) so we had to get out of line (they gave us a FastPass to come back that day). I just don't understand it.

The changes they made are somewhat subtle. It's more, "modern-looking," if that makes sense. No more flying cookies (unfortunately). They added the games for the people waiting to ride. Some people mentioned they thought it would hold up the line. I didn't find it to be a problem as the games only go for a minute or two then shut off which makes everyone move on. I don't think they'll be a problem and they're a nice distraction.

The ride itself is much darker for sure. The cars are updated but not really any different from what I can tell other than the sides don't glow anymore .

The left side seemed to be much rougher than before and the right side was about the same. Still a blast to ride though...even more so because it's darker.

Overall I like the changes on SM but don't like the change on the People Mover.

 

[SnowandMittens]

YAY FOR PEOPLE MOVER!

We've never stopped calling it that, so that's a HUGE plus in my book.

I think they should record several options for narration for the PM and let you choose when you board the ride. Just saying, it'd be cool to choose the retro voice, a new voice, or even Buzz Lightyear's.

 

[GadgetRick]

We never stopped calling it that either. In fact, our sons (7 and 3) both call it the People Mover.

 

[MonorailDriver]

We always called the people mover too, sometimes even just call it the WED-way!

 

[Timmbco]

We are just back ourselves and very disappointed in the new narration on the people mover! It has no charm at all.....very boring and frankly we found the voice annoying

The Space Mountain changes were minimal-nothing to get excited about.

 

[agnes!]

Oh GREAT, no more "flying cookies"?!? *plus* no glow-in-the-dark stripes?

*AND* the one ride-track isn't any smoother? Sheesh, what in the world were they doing all that time...

We were in MK earlier this fall and...((shudder))...the changes in the TTA/WEDway/PeopleMover?...gack. If Disney is going to change the narration, than at least actually improve the darn thing.

phooey.
agnes!

 

[lugnut33]

Our business quoted a gearing package for the refurbishment and we purposefully underquoted it, by a lot. Reason being, well I was doing the quoting and wanted to be able to say our gears were in a ride at WDW. (assuming the gears went into the gearbox that pulls the cars up the first hill)

Turns out we never go the job and I'm questioning if they even replaced the gearing in the ride. From what I hear it's still as loud and jerky as ever as you head up the first hill for launch.

 

[Darcy03231]

We were there from 12/1 - 12/6 and had a great time. Only had one day of rain (Friday, 12/4) and a bit of drizzle on Saturday morning. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were warm (shorts and t-shirts). It started to cool off and Friday and was really cool on Saturday (jeans, sneakers, long sleeve t-shirt and fleece jacket). We're from New England so it still didn't feel to bad to us. We did see people in winter coats, hats and gloves. Crowds were light to moderate. The longest line we waited in was for Soarin' - about 15 minutes. Most of the rides were walk on to a 10 min wait.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party was a lot of fun! Great parade and fireworks.

If anyone has any questions I'll be glad to try to answer them.

 

[GadgetRick]

Oh GREAT, no more "flying cookies"?!? *plus* no glow-in-the-dark stripes?

*AND* the one ride-track isn't any smoother? Sheesh, what in the world were they doing all that time...

We were in MK earlier this fall and...((shudder))...the changes in the TTA/WEDway/PeopleMover?...gack. If Disney is going to change the narration, than at least actually improve the darn thing.

phooey.
agnes!

You forgot to mention it kept breaking down, too.

 

[GadgetRick]

Our business quoted a gearing package for the refurbishment and we purposefully underquoted it, by a lot. Reason being, well I was doing the quoting and wanted to be able to say our gears were in a ride at WDW. (assuming the gears went into the gearbox that pulls the cars up the first hill)

Turns out we never go the job and I'm questioning if they even replaced the gearing in the ride. From what I hear it's still as loud and jerky as ever as you head up the first hill for launch.

I don't think they replaced the gears. I didn't notice any difference in that area.

Oh, they did change the area where you're on the moving walkway. More interesting things. The cameras still aren't working but the one which takes your picture was working. You could buy a pic but it was right as you started out. Not the most interesting picture if you ask me.

 

[GadgetRick]

Oh, here's my little pirate boy (Nate Edgebellows was his Pirate Name).

A crappy cell phone pic:

We took advantage of the 50% off AP discount. Very worth that but not sure I'd pay $130 for it otherwise.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Really??!! $130 for Pirate's League makeover??

I don't mind blowing money, but even I shudder at that.

Your kid sure looks like they did a great job on him though.

 

[GadgetRick]

Really??!! $130 for Pirate's League makeover??

I don't mind blowing money, but even I shudder at that.

Well, they have different levels. One is like $35 or something like that. Does the face and a hat (I believe). The one we got was the highest package. Comes with the whole costume (a nice costume at that) with hat, sword, etc. The face is done up and they also give you some pictures in another room. Taken by a REAL photographer, not like some of the PP people who act like photographers.

He really enjoyed it and REALLY enjoyed being a Pirate all day. He got upset when it was bed time and it all had to come off.

 

[mrebuck]

Our 4 kids did the makeover as well last week. We opted for the less expensive package - $25 after the discount. It included makeup, a bandana, earring, nail polish and makeup for the girls and fake teeth and face painting for the boys, a sword, pirate medallion, a tatoo and probably more stuff I can't recall. It was definitely worth the price.

 

[GadgetRick]

Oh, I also forgot to mention they've taken away the central FP location at AK. Was there in August. I asked a CM and she said it was just a test. I laughed and said it was just a tease.

I guess Disney tested it and deemed it made the guests too happy so they took it away...

 

[xApril]

TTA - very monotone and boring voice. I was on it with friends and it just wasn't loud or catchy enough to listen to. I miss the old one and I think my first time in awhile friends would've enjoyed the corny jokes. We went on when SM was broken so the lights were on. I didn't like how now they have walls, so when the lights are on you can't see in.

SM -We got into line when there was a 60 minute wait posted. We flew through things and we were like, "great, this isn't 60 minutes!" We got up to the games, briefly messing around with them as we walked. We got up to the 'split' part and we realized our 60 minutes would be spent on the left side. I liked it how it used to be - that way no side got conjested, it was all pretty short and you got to choose which you wanted. The left side ended up breaking while we were waiting, so they slowly moved us all over to the fastpass side. It was a long process. The picture thing seems sort of useless - seems like just something to add to the list of what they DID do. I don't like how you can't see the TTA going by anymore (when you're loading) and how it's just like.. the ISS? or whatever instead of the 'cookies'. Darkness didn't really seem too changed to me. Smoother? Possibly, but it was an itty bitty teeny fraction smoother. Everything sounded the same as it did before..

IMO, both of these attractions were just fine and dandy before. They should've just kept it as it was. They were both favorites..

 

[Brian_WDW74]

"Just back" threads are a better fit for the Trip Reports board, so I've moved this thread here.