Opinions on the "El Rio Del Tiempo" theme.

[tink2020]

Ok.... so now that this is bumped back up, any opinions on the ride since it's OPEN?!

I can't wait to see it in May. After living in Mexico for one summer + one month the following year (a non-touristy, culturally rich part of Mexico nonetheless), I have a huge soft spot for El Rio de Tiempo.

I had hoped to read opinions on the ride rather than assumptions, but I realize this thread started a while back, before the opening. I know there are several opinions - several STRONG opinions - on "classic" Disney World. Need I point out threads on the wand or sorcerer's hat? I won't, don't worry. I certainly don't spend any time chiming in on those, because - regardless of which side I'm on - it's a lost cause around here as far as civil discussion goes.

I'd still love to hear thoughts on the ride after someone has ridden it -- especially the naysayers! My biggest pet peeve is people freaking out about something without giving it a chance. (That's why I was sucked in to reading the whole thread, you know )

Maybe it sucks. Maybe I'll cry real tears over the fact that my beloved ride has nothing to do with Mexico. Maybe I'll be annoyed that it's only about Donald Duck. Maybe I'll love it. Either way, I'm afraid I'm going to have to hold back a real opinion until I ride it. I think it's entirely possible that they refreshed the ride, added a few birds, made a few people more interested in it (just for argument's sake, I have definitely been one of few on it most times I have ridden in the past!).... and somehow maintained the culture and experience that is Mexico. To whoever retorted to a similar argument: "you must go out and see every movie ever made" when confronted with the idea of pre-judging an attraction, film, whatever. I think the only point made throughout this whole thread by people on "this side" of the argument, is that if you DON'T see every movie ever made, fine. That's your choice. I for one see very FEW movies that are made. But I also don't go around throwing a fit and boycotting all of the rest of them that don't look appealing to me.

So.... any takers? Or will we have to wait until I come back in May for more opinions on the new theme?

 

[YoHo]

Nothing like living dangerously eh? I would assume only others of the Element fit into that category though.

No, Only people that I've been posting on the Dis with for the past 8ish years.

Only most of them are in the Element.

 

[ASilmser]

Ok.... so now that this is bumped back up, any opinions on the ride since it's OPEN?!

So.... any takers? Or will we have to wait until I come back in May for more opinions on the new theme?

I have seen the video on youtube, and I think it is an improvement. I must admit, however, that I was never impressed with the original.

The thing about it that makes sense to me is that the original film--3Cabelleros--was made as a more-or-less "educational" film to honor Mexico and South America. It seems fitting that they would incorporate elements of the film into the Mexico pavilion.

The New Ride is much more upbeat and "fun" than the old one, and it looks like they were going for a broader appeal--not just for adults, but for kids too (probably not your average teen). From what I have seen they succeeded. Of course, in doing this, they may have sacrificed some of the informative elements. That doesn't really bother me, because I thought that the original was only good for a break from the sun and heat. It was also a good "tunnel of love"

At any rate, it looks good. I like the music, it looks visually appealing, and it doesn't go too far off the path of being a showcase for Mexico. Aside from gutting the whole thing and starting over with a totally different attraction, they have done about as well as they could do.

Am I allowed to have an opinion if I have only seen the video? Please give me a break--I'm stuck up here in cold Minnesota.

 

[raidermatt]

I'd still love to hear thoughts on the ride after someone has ridden it -- especially the naysayers! My biggest pet peeve is people freaking out about something without giving it a chance. (That's why I was sucked in to reading the whole thread, you know )

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... How it's executed is a different issue than the concept behind the change. Regardless of how its executed, I am against the concept. That's not "naysaying", its an opinion on their direction.

That said, I've only seen the video so far. I would say that yes, from what I can see it's an improvement. But at the same time, given how long it had been since the ride had been updated (never), I am confident they could have also improved it without using characters. So whether it's an improvement isn't really the point.

It doesn't look like they really tried to hit a home run with this, it was more just a quick and easy way to change a stale attraction, and as that goes, it appears to hit the mark.

But it really doesn't look like they did enough to keep it from being a walk-on again in a year or so. I could be wrong though, and it's also impossible to get a complete feel from just a video. I'm just basing my opinion on what I've seen so far. If that changes when I actually ride it in a few months, I'll say so.

 

[LuvDuke]

I just watched the video on YouTube.

Oh my God, it was almost painful to watch. Who in their right mind thought this was a good idea? I'm speechless.

 

[tink2020]

I have seen the video on youtube, and I think it is an improvement. I must admit, however, that I was never impressed with the original.

The thing about it that makes sense to me is that the original film--3Cabelleros--was made as a more-or-less "educational" film to honor Mexico and South America. It seems fitting that they would incorporate elements of the film into the Mexico pavilion.

The New Ride is much more upbeat and "fun" than the old one, and it looks like they were going for a broader appeal--not just for adults, but for kids too (probably not your average teen). From what I have seen they succeeded. Of course, in doing this, they may have sacrificed some of the informative elements. That doesn't really bother me, because I thought that the original was only good for a break from the sun and heat. It was also a good "tunnel of love"

At any rate, it looks good. I like the music, it looks visually appealing, and it doesn't go too far off the path of being a showcase for Mexico. Aside from gutting the whole thing and starting over with a totally different attraction, they have done about as well as they could do.

Am I allowed to have an opinion if I have only seen the video? Please give me a break--I'm stuck up here in cold Minnesota.

That sounds fair to me! Thanks for your opinion. I might break down and search for the video on You Tube, but our trip is coming up quickly... hopefully I can hold out until then! We have family in Minnesota... I hear the weather is finally supposed to break soon!

 

[tink2020]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... How it's executed is a different issue than the concept behind the change. Regardless of how its executed, I am against the concept. That's not "naysaying", its an opinion on their direction.

That said, I've only seen the video so far. I would say that yes, from what I can see it's an improvement. But at the same time, given how long it had been since the ride had been updated (never), I am confident they could have also improved it without using characters. So whether it's an improvement isn't really the point.

It doesn't look like they really tried to hit a home run with this, it was more just a quick and easy way to change a stale attraction, and as that goes, it appears to hit the mark.

But it really doesn't look like they did enough to keep it from being a walk-on again in a year or so. I could be wrong though, and it's also impossible to get a complete feel from just a video. I'm just basing my opinion on what I've seen so far. If that changes when I actually ride it in a few months, I'll say so.

Good points all around... I can't wait to see it in person. I too would be thoroughly disappointed if they just threw something together.