disneyphilip said:
Technically, it's not a cliff notes version of the movie--it's actually a "sequel" to the movie, since it takes place after the movie.
I very strongly disagree with the OP as well. Some people seem to expect waaaaaaaaay too much from Disney these days and when their expectations get too high like that, they're in for huge disappointments.
I also agree with the poster that pointed that other rides, like the dark rides in Fantasyland, are cliff notes versions of the movies that they're based on.
Disneyphillip, I am the OP on the this thread, and must engage your comment about people expecting too much from Disney these days. Many of us hold Disney and its parks to the highest of standards, and on a more emotional level, in a special place in our hearts. To me at least, Disney has become an institiution where I go to escape the harsh realities of our world, and the stresses of everyday life. Disney's parks, are a fantasyland, an escape from reality. Walt Disney designed
Disneyland, MK, and in theory, Epcot, to be a place where both parents and children could go to escape reality, and have good clean fun, in a highly polished and service oriented environment.
If you have ever read any biographies of either the Disney Company or Walt Disney himself, he invented the term "Plussing." This means, in short, adding the mot value to every project Disney undertakes, and upgrading these projects with the most advanced technology which would in turn create the most magical experience possible for his guests. A prime example would be the fanatical attention to detail used throughout MK and Disneyland. Its those details, or pluses, that bring us al back time and again. Disney's older parks, and parts of the newer ones, are the antithesis of Six Flags, or the like. Again, Walt Disney himself stived to enhance every project to the maximum before it was ever revealed to the public.
In recent times though, Disney has failed at this plussing concept in many new attractions. Stitch is a prime example. Dino-Twirl or whatever they call it at AK is another. Kali River Rapids, another. All Star resorts, another. The entire California Adventure park. The list goes on.
That being said, Nemo is simply another creation by the Disney Company that does not come anywhere near what they are capable of. Many close-watchers of Disney argue that Splash Mountain was the last true example of plussing and creative energy to be put out by Imagineering. Of course, that was the last attraction that Marty Sklar was involved in. Intead of investing money and resources in imagineering new attractions, they simply transplant old ones, or reinvent them. Take the new and "improved" POTC, it hasnt changed too much, but how much $ will Disney make on reopening the attraction, with very little creative energy and dollars? And Soarin' at EPCOT, just a transplant from DL. Cindarellabration, another.
Furthermore, Walt Disney dreamed the EPCOT would be exactly what the acronym stands for...Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. How does Nemo, or Test Track, or Soarin even fit into that theme? Granted, the Living Seas never did fit into the dream (nor did Figment), but where is DIsney even going with EPCOT Future World?
As I am beginning to get of course with the original question concerning expections from Disney, I will come to my point. Walt Disney, and his closest followers, wanted the Disney parks to be high above any other entertainment/amusement venue available. Up until the past 10 years, the Disney Company did just that. Recent addtiions, such as Nemo, show that the company is not living up to their potential anymore, and appears to be more concerned with opening halfway imagineered attractions to generate attendance and dollars. Nemo is nothing special, in my opinion. Some of the technology is interesting, but it falls far short of what Disney is capable of. You tell me that there is more "magic" packed into Nemo than say, the Haunted Mansion, an attraction which has stood the test of time for some 50 years now and has more effects and magic packed in that most of the newer attractions at WDW combined.
People want continuity when they spend their hard earned dollars at Disney. They want to know that that extra money they are spending at DIsney compared with Six Flags is making them feel a little more special, and seeing a lot more magic than a run of the mill amusement park. Disney has long set the standard for Theme Parks, but recently, has become a follower in the race to attract tourists.
