Seven Dwarves So Close...

[rastuso]

Who's expecting a mind blowing coaster in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom?

People are expecting a well done, family friendly ride that lives up to the type of attractions expected of Disney. From everything that's been shown and what can be seen of the mountain, I think the ride will hit that mark.

If I want to ride mind blowing coasters, I'll go to Busch Gardens or Cedar Point.

There are plenty of poeple who seem to think this coaster is "all that". One poster said at least this ride has drops, unlike Big Thunder. Clearly meaning they are comparing this in thrills to BTMRR. And the line will show. I'm guessing the standby will be hours all year.

And for the dark ride portion, remember, there used to be a full fledged Snow White dark ride. This essentially takes that whole ride, replaces it with a more modern single room, and then tacks on a very mild coaster. A very small net gain for Fantasyland.

And I'd guess they spent the same on it as Universal did the Mummy.

-Jason

 

[katyehalloran]

Does anyone know if there will be soft openings before the media thing? We will be there April 26-30 and hoping to ride it.

 

[rastuso]

Media Day usually means it absolutely WILL be working, and fully functional then. I could see Disney testing before then, but don't know their history. With major coasters, usually it isn't open until after media day, but I think Disney knows they need it open BAD, and will not tease guests with it running for weeks before opening.

I'm watching the Ratatouille ride, since we're probably going there this summer. It's grand opening is France day, in mid July, but they are saying it will soft open in late June. Haven't heard when media day is, but I'd assume it would be right before the grand opening.

-Jason

 

[Davey Jones II]

I am going in April and hoping for a soft opening.. I think. How does a soft open work? I don't think I have ever been there for one in all of our trips.
(Not piling on the FP+ chaos but this does wreak havoc on my plans not knowing if I need to allot an hour to this as I overschedule our day to make smart FP+ plans!)
Thanks!

A soft opening occurs before the official opening. It is a period of time (could be an afternoon, a day, a week) when the ride is operational and anyone can enter and ride it. There won't be any signs or other indications that it is open, so you'll just have to go to New Fantasyland to take a look once in a while.

P.S.: If you see CMs standing in front, or a line forming, then a soft opening is about to occur (ask the CMs when it's likely to happen).

 

[shellsd]

Thank you DaveyJones!

 

[islandtimect]

Soft openings happen numerous times over a period of weeks before the official opening of the ride. Keep your eyes on the ride and ears on Disboards. We lucked out in Oct 2012 for the first day of New Fantasyland soft opening. Nothing was announced or in the times guide. CMs just stood near signs and welcomed you to the area. Guests walking by may not have even known it was open. But this is a roller coaster so that would be hard to miss.

 

[AthenaBolina]

Well, we go in May and I am just super duper excited to ride this! I love Fantasyland. When the kids and I went in 2010, we saw construction, and I told them I'd take them back when it was all done. Looks like we're right on time.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

Here-I found this.......

Seven Cool Features of The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Ride

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, it's off to New Fantasyland We Go

May 2013

Perhaps the seven coolest features of the highly anticipated The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train coming to the New Fantasyland expansion at Disney World's Magic Kingdom are actually Bashful, Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, and Dopey (especially Dopey) -- eight if you include Snow White. But it's likely that you are already familiar with the famous characters. You may not be familiar, however, with the unique new attraction based on the popular animated film that will be opening in 2014 at the park. In honor of The Seven Dwarfs, let's take a look at seven of the more intriguing elements and features of the new ride, which promises to be another Walt Disney Imagineering E-Ticket attraction.

1. First-of-its-Kind Swinging Coaster


Surely the most unique aspect of the new ride will be the design of the coaster train and its cars. Instead of fixed cars, they will be mounted in cradle-like pivots that will give them the ability to swing side to side during the ride.

There are spinning coasters (like Disney World's own Primeval Whirl at Disney's Animal Kingdom) in which individual Wild Mouse-style cars spin around. And there are fourth dimension coasters such as X at Six Flags Magic Mountain, which have cars that rotate to the sides of the track. But the innovative design of The Seven Dwarfs coaster will mark the first time that coaster cars will pivot, somewhat like a Ferris wheel but with side-to-side motion instead of back-and-forth movement.

At the time this was written, Disney hadn't elaborated much on the pivoting motion (or much else about the attraction for that matter), so I don't know the precise nature of the ride experience. But I am guessing that the cars will gently sway to and fro, possibly in time to the ride's musical score. Can't you just see passengers bopping along to "Heigh Ho! (The Dwarfs' Marching Song)?"


2. It's a Coaster. It's a Dark Ride. It's Two Rides in One!

Disney World has other themed coasters, such as Space Mountain, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, and Expedition Everest. But the stories largely take a back seat to the coaster thrills (although of the three, the Animal Kingdomn's Yeti ride has the most compelling story). The Seven Dwarfs won't have the same thrill level as Expedition Everest, but it appears that it will have a more immersive story.

It will be more of a full-fledged dark ride, like Pirates of the Caribbean, with animatronic characters, show scenes, props, music from the film, and other elements that will tell a linear story and immerse riders in the dwarfs' mythical workplace. Unlike Disney World's other mine train coaster, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the New Fantasyland ride will more than just hint at mine activity by taking riders into a "working" mine. In that sense, it will give equal weight to its status as both a coaster and a dark ride, not unlike (the wonderful) Revenge of the Mummy at the Universal Studios parks.

Disney. Used with permission.

3. It will Have Variable Speed Vehicles

Most traditional roller coasters use a chain lift to carry a train to the top of a lift hill and allow gravity to handle the rest of the ride. That system would make it difficult to incorporate dark ride features. Instead, the Seven Dwarfs ride will have variable speed vehicles that will allow them to slow down and rev up to accommodate both the show scenes and the coaster elements. Revenge of the Mummy has similar ride vehicle capabilities.

4. New Animatronic Technology

During a brief backstage tour of the attraction's construction site in April 2013, Imagineer Dave Minichiello said that the animated characters, which will include the dwarfs, Snow White, and forest animals, will introduce some new technology. He wouldn't elaborate, but he did promise that the ride would deliver some "wow factor." I'm ready to be wowed. And you?

5. It will Be Mildly Thrilling, but Widely Accessible

Disney and other broad-appeal theme parks must perform a delicate balancing act of delivering thrills while allowing as many of its visitors as possible to experience its attractions. Rides that are too intense exclude younger guests who don't meet the height requirements as well as older wimps who don't have much of a tolerance for thrills. How many guests can't or won't ride The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror because of its extreme drops but would otherwise love its incredible effects and engaging story?

The new coaster/dark ride should hit the sweet spot. It will have some mild thrills (I'm guessing it will be milder than the relatively mild Big Thunder Mountain), but will not be intimidating enough to scare away wimps or have too much of a height restriction. It will be a true family coaster that most young children will be able to enjoy with their grandparents.

6. It will Include an Interactive Queue

The bane of theme parks has long been the interminable lines guests must endure to experience more popular rides. For the last few years, Disney has been adding entertaining diversions in its queues to make the waits more palatable. This has included features such as a tricked-out pipe organ in the line for Haunted Mansion and an air-conditioned "circus tent," complete with benches, games, and climbing equipment, for guests waiting to board Dumbo. Disney has not revealed the details, but it did confirm that the new attraction would keep riders engaged with some interactive features while waiting in line.

7. Other Possible Features

Minichiello, the Disney Imagineer with whom I spoke, was a bit coy but did seem to indicate that other surprises may be included in the attraction. I emphasize: may be included. While he would neither confirm nor deny anything when asked, he did sport a broad smile and a twinkle in his eye when he said that the ride might include backwards as well as forward motion as well as spritzes of water. Because the ride will include a trestle bridge and waterfall, the wet feature seems more likely, while, from what can be seen of the track, the backward motion seems less less likely.

© Arthur Levine, 2013. Licensed to About.com http://themeparks.about.com/od/walt...tures-Of-The-Seven-Dwarfs-Mine-Train-Ride.htm

It's okay to get excited.....

~Wow, this is awesome, thanks for sharing!

I cant wait to ride it even it is a kiddie ride ! We will be there last week in May.

~Yay! I just caught wind of the Media Preview! Kiddie rides have no height requirements -- this is a family ride and it looks fabulous!

This is going to be great! New technology, swinging cars, varying speed, backward motion, waterfall! Sounds like it will be a top notch A-1 ride and I'll bet it will cause a healthy up-tick in attendance. I appreciate that it will be fun and exciting while also being for the whole family. A tall order!

Except of course for a small group of people (who shall remain nameless) that upon opening will claim it is the worst ride ever created and Universal is better.

~LOL. I totally agree with you. This is a "top notch" E ticket attraction for the whole family.

well, they have been pretty up front since the beginning that this is no Big Thunder ... they have stated it will be in between Barnstormer and Big Thunder as far as intensity - definitely wasn't created for "coaster junkies"

You are right to point out these things so people don't get disappointed thinking it is a full-fledged major coaster attraction, but I think selling it as a highly themed Barnstormer is selling it short.

I see it as a highly themed ride aimed at if the the whole family, than most of it (which is what Disney is really aimed at to begin with) that combines some new technology (like you said, the swaying cars have only been on suspended coasters before) and adds some action into the middle of NFL.

By itself is it a game change? No, but part of a large expansion to an existing park that at last count had 95 attractions and I for one can't wait to ride it (but won't be scheduling a vacation just for it)

~Fabulous comment! I think it could be a game changer. This is the first time Disney has ever used an original classic, iconic Disney IP to theme a roller coaster! It's two unique ride experiences in one with some new tech to boot! So, this is no Barnstormer.

~I think of it more as a dark ride with coaster elements. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train may turn out to be one of the best themed attractions at WDW -- and soon we'll all be singing that catchy tune "Heigh-Ho."

 

[StarWarsJez]

Who's expecting a mind blowing coaster in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom?

People are expecting a well done, family friendly ride that lives up to the type of attractions expected of Disney. From everything that's been shown and what can be seen of the mountain, I think the ride will hit that mark.

If I want to ride mind blowing coasters, I'll go to Busch Gardens or Cedar Point.

Well I was hoping it will be a quality 'E Ticket' ride that can stand shoulder to shoulder with other great Disney rides.

However, given the disappointments over the past 5-6-7 years I've lowered my expectations somewhat

 

[Tribe]

Interesting discussion here about quality of ride.
I think there are a couple of bottom lines here.
Did Disney create a ride that will be a classic? (Not necessarily for pure thrills but in overall experience). And, in my opinion, the answer is in the dark ride portion(s). Look at BTMRR, somewhat thrilling but great overall atmosphere. Splash Mountain = fantastic dark ride portions. Haunted Mansion is all atmosphere and is a classic. The new mine train mountain looks pretty cool for atmosphere but the dark ride portion will decide whether it is a classic or not. If one particular poster (rastuso) is correct and it is just a short, single room with singing dwarves, I think it will fall short of being a classic.

 

[FLchick415]

Random, but...I had a very vivid dream the other night about riding the Mine Train and it was really kind of awesome. Here's hoping that holds true. LOL

 

[wiigirl]

Random, but...I had a very vivid dream the other night about riding the Mine Train and it was really kind of awesome. Here's hoping that holds true. LOL

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Universal took note and has wisely bowed out of that losing battle by pushing Jurassic World all the way back to June of 2015. Bummer.

The last good Jurassic Park movie was the first one. Universal doesn't care what competition is against Jurassic World, it's going to stink anyway.

And the 2015 date has been around since June 2013. The actual date was confirmed on September 10, 2013.

 

[Nemo32]

I will be there May 11th - will it be open?

 

[bwang123]

Ride through: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX4REwQeDEY

60 second ride with short dark portion.

 

[amg35]

Ride through: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX4REwQeDEY

60 second ride with short dark portion.

Um, was that video condensed at all?

Well, it's something I've not been on before, so there's that.

 

[mom2rtk]

Um, was that video condensed at all?

Well, it's something I've not been on before, so there's that.

But it's double the length of Barnstormer, right?

 

[amg35]

But it's double the length of Barnstormer, right?

I've never been on that either!

Well...it looks nice at night?

 

[bwang123]

Um, was that video condensed at all?

Well, it's something I've not been on before, so there's that.

if anything, it looks like they slowed the video down to make it seem longer.

 

[JanaDee]

Ride through: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX4REwQeDEY

60 second ride with short dark portion.

That's it? Really??