Living Seas Theming Destroyed by Nemo

orljustin

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 9, 2006
Messages
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Now, I don't mind changes in things, but the Nemo overlay completely destroys the 'experience' that was The Living Seas.

Spoilers ahead for the ride. The exterior is fine. The graphic additions to the big wall behind the rocks is fine. The seagulls are fine.

Assuming the main entrance is still the main entrance, you enter going through the same curly queue in the first room. Except that all the interesting things to look at are gone. All you have is some imagineered sand dunes to give you the idea you are on the beach or something. No monitors, nothing to look at.

Continue into one of the movie "and it rained...and rained" rooms. Except it is just filled with winding queue. Nothing to look at. No monitors, nothing on the wall. Just some gauzy material overhead with lights projected downward. Continue on into what I think is the area before what was the hydrolators. More windy queue. No shortcut. Walk through the whole thing. Oh yeah. Nothing to look at.

Finally reach the entrance to the ride, which oddly enough, is open to the main floor of the pavilion. There were plants around it for the preview, but right before stepping onto the moving platform, you could just jump through the tree farm and be by the main staircase. So any idea that you are embarking on a trip that takes you somewhere is completely gone.

The ride itself? Uninspiring. Multiple back projected screens with Nemo hiding from different characters. You'll be tired of hearing "Where's Nemo" after about 5 minutes of this. There are some cute effects, but there is no story. Good for kids, I guess - mine said his favorite part was the jellyfish, which were actual props just moving up and down. I kept waiting for the new technology with the projects images in the tank, which came at the end, with some song. I have no idea what that was about. But the projected images were very cool. I tag this as a 5 minute wait ride. I won't wait longer than that. And there was nothing at the end - nothing about arriving anywhere to do something. The song ends and you are out.

But what is it? Is it supposed to be the main entrance to the pavillion? Or are you supposed to stand in that line to bypass it right at the moving platform? You can enter through the exit area, I guess, but the hydrolators are gone, and there is now a store filled with Nemo crap. So, I guess the idea of building any kind of story experience is lost on anyone who doesn't want to stand in that line. Don't want to wait an hour? Just walk through that store over there, and into the pavilion, with no idea of what the heck is going on.

And the store isn't closed off in any sense. You can be standing in the middle of the main floor and see out the doors into the sunlight. So any idea that you are under the sea at all is destroyed. So, now it is just a big aquarium with some cartoony attractions.

Sorry, Imagineering - you really screwed up this time, imo. You've got no overall story or theme anymore. Nothing is set up for anything else. The flow of the attraction is confusing, and you botched the queue.
 
Well, that's a major bummer. I was worried that this Nemo thing wouldn't fit in since none of the other rides in Epcot really had characters per se, but I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. I don't know what is going on lately with queues. Soarin's queue stinks too, IMHO. :sad1:

I guess I'll find out for myself soon, but thanks for the tip.
 
The unfortunate fact of the matter is that hardly anyone cared about the old version of The Living Seas. You go in, you see some fish, you gawk at the manatees and you leave. That doesn't sell T-shirts.

While I disapprove of Disney's changing of pretty much everything into the movies they've produced over the last five years, I would rather see them change an attraction's theme than have them completely raze it and start all over.
 
That's because they gave up on it. No seacabs. When was the last time you saw a diver come down that tube, or out in the tank? Invigorate within the them. Don't completely destroy it. Work the crush thing into the seabase a little more.

As I said. Now, it's just a big fish tank with some cartoon stuff around.
 

I agree that it is completely different from the Living Seas but if you like Nemo you will like it. If you liked Living Seas you probably wont like it. The que I do like though. It is very immersive with the Nemo expirence. Some of the effects of how you feel like you are underwater are pretty cool. I do find the ride boring and completely geared to fans of the movie not people who care about marine life. Technology wise its really good but it is completely different from the old Living Seas. That gift shop has been there for a long time it wasnt a brand new addition that they just put in. And the doors open when people get near them so thats why they are open. If no one was near it you would get the underwater effect.
 
I think they did a very good job. They do need to do something with the exit area. I also saw them using the dive tube the other day also. Knowing Disney if they think something isn't working they will fix it.
 
I went to the passholder preview and I really enjoyed it. It's nice to get something new in there (and I'm usually the one against change..i.e. the loss of Horizons)
 
We went this weekend as well and enjoyed it. DS loved the new ride and was enthralled the whole time. We have also seen them use the dive tube recently and have seen divers in the tanks with the fish.
 
Do you have to ride the Nemo ride to see the aquarium? My DD really likes sea life and so do I, but we really don't like Nemo. Can you just go in and see the aquarium and manatees? Thanks! :) We'll be there next week for our first trip! :bounce: :Pinkbounc :banana: :cool1:
 
traces7 said:
Do you have to ride the Nemo ride to see the aquarium? My DD really likes sea life and so do I, but we really don't like Nemo. Can you just go in and see the aquarium and manatees? Thanks! :) We'll be there next week for our first trip! :bounce: :Pinkbounc :banana: :cool1:

This is what I want to know too. Can you just walk in and go upstairs and look at the aquariums still? DD4 loves to see all the fish swimming around.

Lynn :sunny:
 
I went on the ride 3 times last weekend and enjoyed it. I don't remember much about the old Living Seas, as I rarely went there. I wouldn't wait a long time for this ride, but it was cute.
 
There's something very wrong in the world (or World) when real aquariums are being populated with fake fish. :crazy:
 
Pugrpooh said:
This is what I want to know too. Can you just walk in and go upstairs and look at the aquariums still? DD4 loves to see all the fish swimming around.

Lynn :sunny:

I went yesterday and yes, you can still walk around upstairs and see the huge aquarium tanks.

The Nemo ride was OK. Yes, there wasn't much story, but the visuals and effects were outstanding. Very stylized and visually interesting ride IMO.

But I agree with the original point of this thread that there just isn't much of a story - but for kids, this is a great ride.
 
We rode the ride yesterday and were very disappointed in it.
 
Does anyone have any pics? I would love to see what all the hype is about. I really miss the old school Epcot. I actually really enjoyed the educational purpose of that park. It was a really fun and different experience.
 
I'm still very excited to have something new to see next July! I can't wait.
 
I think they've positioned it as sort of a middle-ground Epcot ride, obviously not as exciting as Soarin', but not as vegetative for kids as Living with the Land or Mexico's River of Time. Something to get kids a little more excited about the "fish tank," so that when they exit the ride into the interior they are a little more jazzed about seeing the "real fish" (rather than rushing straight to the Turtle Talk line ;) ).

Hopefully they've fixed/improved the fauxJellyfish since last Tuesday.
 
traces7 said:
Do you have to ride the Nemo ride to see the aquarium? My DD really likes sea life and so do I, but we really don't like Nemo. Can you just go in and see the aquarium and manatees? Thanks! We'll be there next week for our first trip!

Yes, you can still go in the exit. Actually, when it officially opens, will the ride be positioned as the "entrance" to the pavilion or just the entrace to the ride?
 
orljustin said:
Spoilers ahead for the ride. The exterior is fine. The graphic additions to the big wall behind the rocks is fine. The seagulls are fine.


We thought the seagulls were great! Our only complaint was not instantly hearing them. There is a pretty long lag time.

orljustin said:
Assuming the main entrance is still the main entrance, you enter going through the same curly queue in the first room. Except that all the interesting things to look at are gone. All you have is some imagineered sand dunes to give you the idea you are on the beach or something. No monitors, nothing to look at.

If you look at your feet while you are walking, you'll see you start out on sand, which transitions to a board walk. The signs along the way are as you mentioned.


orljustin said:
Continue into one of the movie "and it rained...and rained" rooms. Except it is just filled with winding queue. Nothing to look at. No monitors, nothing on the wall. Just some gauzy material overhead with lights projected downward. Continue on into what I think is the area before what was the hydrolators. More windy queue. No shortcut. Walk through the whole thing. Oh yeah. Nothing to look at.

In this are, look up! You'll notice a boat bottom and light peering through the water.

orljustin said:
Finally reach the entrance to the ride, which oddly enough, is open to the main floor of the pavilion. There were plants around it for the preview, but right before stepping onto the moving platform, you could just jump through the tree farm and be by the main staircase. So any idea that you are embarking on a trip that takes you somewhere is completely gone.


When we talked to someone yesterday, they informed us that the plants will be moved. That the exit/entrance doors will only be for exit. To enter the living seas displays you will have to enter by the ride itself.


orljustin said:
The ride itself? Uninspiring. Multiple back projected screens with Nemo hiding from different characters. You'll be tired of hearing "Where's Nemo" after about 5 minutes of this. There are some cute effects, but there is no story. Good for kids, I guess - mine said his favorite part was the jellyfish, which were actual props just moving up and down. I kept waiting for the new technology with the projects images in the tank, which came at the end, with some song. I have no idea what that was about. But the projected images were very cool. I tag this as a 5 minute wait ride. I won't wait longer than that. And there was nothing at the end - nothing about arriving anywhere to do something. The song ends and you are out.

My toddler adored the attraction. My older one said it was nice. A true Nemo fan will love it!

orljustin said:
But what is it? Is it supposed to be the main entrance to the pavillion? Or are you supposed to stand in that line to bypass it right at the moving platform? You can enter through the exit area, I guess, but the hydrolators are gone, and there is now a store filled with Nemo crap. So, I guess the idea of building any kind of story experience is lost on anyone who doesn't want to stand in that line. Don't want to wait an hour? Just walk through that store over there, and into the pavilion, with no idea of what the heck is going on.

And the store isn't closed off in any sense. You can be standing in the middle of the main floor and see out the doors into the sunlight. So any idea that you are under the sea at all is destroyed. So, now it is just a big aquarium with some cartoony attractions.

Sorry, Imagineering - you really screwed up this time, imo. You've got no overall story or theme anymore. Nothing is set up for anything else. The flow of the attraction is confusing, and you botched the queue.

As mentioned above, we were told yesterday that the ride will be the only entrance to the aquarium. Of course, I'm sure there is always some type of exception.
 


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