Soarin' and Toy Story Mania expansion late 2016

[DDLand]

I'd take star tours out of that equation. Yes it was updated but nothing drastic. It will likely be updated again when the new movies come out but that won't change my impression of it because it will just be a new film or characters in it. Many would say mymagic+ wasn't an improvement, to me I was fine without it and I'm fine with it.

Not saying it was an E Ticket or anything. It was a product improvement though. There's no denying that.

I think that controversy has lost steam. All the people still complaining sound bitter and angry. Most see it for what it is. An improvement.

 

[rteetz]

Not saying it was an E Ticket or anything. It was a product improvement though. There's no denying that.

I think that controversy has lost steam. All the people still complaining sound bitter and angry. Most see it for what it is. An improvement.

Mymagic+ was an infrastructure redo and not everyone has experience it to a full extent either. Many like to go to Disney and be spontaneous and you can't do that anymore. I would say a lot of locals aren't incredibly fond of it while maybe the uber planners living in other parts of the country are. Everyone has their own opinion of it. I like it but could live without it.

 

[DDLand]

I admit I haven't been since Fantasyland opened, I will see that this summer, so I do admit that will be a change. But my magic doesn't really change my experience or the attractions that I visit, so I really don't count that as a new ride/attraction. I guess it is as you said, we have our own value of the park experience and ours appears to be different. To each our own.

It's beautiful. You'll love it. Didn't My Magic and the Magic Bands come out in full force in 2013? Or am I dreaming? Who knows...

 

[rteetz]

It's beautiful. You'll love it. Didn't My Magic and the Magic Bands come out in full force in 2013? Or am I dreaming? Who knows...

2013 was still test mode in many areas. It was there just not in full force.

 

[DDLand]

Mymagic+ was an infrastructure redo and not everyone has experience it to a full extent either. Many like to go to Disney and be spontaneous and you can't do that anymore. I would say a lot of locals aren't incredibly fond of it while maybe the uber planners living in other parts of the country are. Everyone has their own opinion of it. I like it but could live without it.

I don't mean to turn this into a My Magic debate thread. It's tempting though.

I'll just keep it in.

 

[DDLand]

2013 was still test mode in many areas. It was there just not in full force.

Got it, that doesn't even make sense for what @George4 is telling us. He said he'd never been to New Fantasyland and he'd used My Magic.

NF was already open.
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ning-celebration-at-walt-disney-world-resort/

Of course not fully, but still how come you didn't go man?

 

[George4]

I've never used MyMagic before, sorry if I misled with my comments. I just said that it isn't going to significantly alter my experience. When I was last there, the only part that was working was for tickets, room keys and room charges. I don't spend lots of time dealing with Fastpasses and such. I'll go online and do my 3 reservations - maybe. I like vacations to be a little more calm, and not worrying about getting to a ride at a specific time. I don't usually even worry about what park I'm going to on a specific day until the night before or the morning of. Magic Bands won't alter my vacation in any significant way, so I don't consider it to be a great new addition. It surely isn't a new ride or attraction.

I was last there in December 2013, and the only part of fantasy land open was Be Our Guest Restaurant and the Ariel Ride. Maybe Dumbo, but I don't remember. The other stuff wasn't open yet- the link DDLand provided even references that it is just Ariel and Beauty and the Beast in 2012. Magic Bands weren't up and running for everyone then. It was a surprise that we even got them because they were just rolling out in test mode the few weeks before we got there (we were part of a large group). Fastpasses didn't work then - at least not for groups. We tried. As rteetz said, I like a spontaneous vacation, not a preplanned one.

Sorry again if my comments misled on my experience.

 

[HopperFan]

I've never used MyMagic before, sorry if I misled with my comments. I just said that it isn't going to significantly alter my experience. When I was last there, the only part that was working was for tickets, room keys and room charges. I don't spend lots of time dealing with Fastpasses and such. I'll go online and do my 3 reservations - maybe. I like vacations to be a little more calm, and not worrying about getting to a ride at a specific time. I don't usually even worry about what park I'm going to on a specific day until the night before or the morning of. Magic Bands won't alter my vacation in any significant way, so I don't consider it to be a great new addition. It surely isn't a new ride or attraction.

I was last there in December 2013, and the only part of fantasy land open was Be Our Guest Restaurant and the Ariel Ride. Maybe Dumbo, but I don't remember. The other stuff wasn't open yet- the link DDLand provided even references that it is just Ariel and Beauty and the Beast in 2012. Magic Bands weren't up and running for everyone then. It was a surprise that we even got them because they were just rolling out in test mode the few weeks before we got there (we were part of a large group). Fastpasses didn't work then - at least not for groups. We tried. As rteetz said, I like a spontaneous vacation, not a preplanned one.

Sorry again if my comments misled on my experience.

New Fantasyland, except for the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train, was all open by the end of 2012. That included the Storybook Circus expansion area.

Princess Fairytale Hall, technically in "old" Fantasyland opened September 2013.

7 Dwarfs Mine Train opened the end of May 2014.

So the only thing that will be new for your next trip is the mine train.

 

[rteetz]

New Fantasyland, except for the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train, was all open by the end of 2012. That included the Storybook Circus expansion area.

Princess Fairytale Hall, technically in "old" Fantasyland opened September 2013.

7 Dwarfs Mine Train opened the end of May 2014.

So the only thing that will be new for your next trip is the mine train.

Yep when we went in July 2012 storybook circus had opened a couple months before.

 

[skier_pete]

I'm sort of in the middle on this one. Expanding capacity on rides that don't have enough capacity is a good thing.

However, there's an even better way to expand capacity and shorten lines on TSMM and Soarin'. Build new rides that are even better than these rides.

I realize that the solution they are using is probably slightly more cost effective. However, it's a little disappointing to think they are likely sinking $100 million into this and we aren't really getting anything for it.

Hey, everyone, at least they are replacing Maelstrom!!! (Ducks down behind his chair.)

 

[George4]

Storybook circus doesn't have any new attractions in it. Barnstormer has been there for 10 years, dumbo added a second of the same ride, and it added two shops. If it doesn't add an attraction, I don't see how you can call it a new attraction.

 

[rteetz]

Storybook circus doesn't have any new attractions in it. Barnstormer has been there for 10 years, dumbo added a second of the same ride, and it added two shops. If it doesn't add an attraction, I don't see how you can call it a new attraction.

That I completely agree with

 

[DanBoris]

Hmm, you bring up an interesting point. I'm just not sure how valid it is. Complaining about massive new ride additions can take you down interesting paths. I think history will serve us well here.

E-Tickets of Disneyland Resort (this is as best as I can remember so be sure to remind me if I miss one)
1959-Matterhorn, The New Autopia, Disneyland Monorail System, and Submarines. Time since last E-ticket opening (TSLEO)=N/A

1967-Pirates of the Caribbean TSLEO=8

1969-Haunted Mansion TSLEO=2

1977-Space Mountain TSLEO =8

1979-Big Thunder Mountain TSLEO=2

1987- Star Tours (debatable) TSLEO= 8

1989-Splash Mountain=2

1995- Indiana Jones=6

2001- Grizzly River Run, California Screamin, Soarin TSLEO=6

2004- Tower of Terror TSLEO=3

2008- Toy Story Midway Mania= 4

2012= RSRs TSLEO=4

You notice something? How the years between E-Tickets is getting progressively smaller? Disney Parks aren't stagnating. It's true that Eisner ushered in a pretty bad culture that exists to this day. However as far as building new things current management has done a pretty great job.

Notes: I think it's worth mentioning things like Tiki Room, Jungle Cruise, etc. I'm not sure that they're E-Tickets but still all the same pretty noteworthy. Walt was prolific. However reading a book about Disney history can be slightly confusing because they're condensing decades of history into a couple paragraphs.

I put these statistics together recently. This is how many new rides were added to WDW

1. I am just focusing on rides here since it was the easiest attraction category to do. "Ride" can be a little subjective, I don't consider Carousel of Progress a ride but I do consider Universe of Energy. I don't think this would skew the numbers to much.

2. I am not counting refurbs unless they significantly changed the ride. Again this is subjective, Test Track is clearly a new ride since it's totally different from WOM, but Test Track by Cheverlot is debatable, but I gave it the benefit of the doubt and included it. I am not including Maelstrom->Frozen since we don't yet know who significant the change will be.

3. I am including 2 Avatar rides in 2017 since this is the only new rides we can be reasonable confident in for this decade. Not saying there won't be more, this is just all we know about right now.

1971-1979: Added 19
1980-1989: Added 14
1990-1999: Added 14
2000-2009: Added 7
2010-2017: Added 5 (Estimated)

 

[DDLand]

I put these statistics together recently. This is how many new rides were added to WDW

1. I am just focusing on rides here since it was the easiest attraction category to do. "Ride" can be a little subjective, I don't consider Carousel of Progress a ride but I do consider Universe of Energy. I don't think this would skew the numbers to much.

2. I am not counting refurbs unless they significantly changed the ride. Again this is subjective, Test Track is clearly a new ride since it's totally different from WOM, but Test Track by Cheverlot is debatable, but I gave it the benefit of the doubt and included it. I am not including Maelstrom->Frozen since we don't yet know who significant the change will be.

3. I am including 2 Avatar rides in 2017 since this is the only new rides we can be reasonable confident in for this decade. Not saying there won't be more, this is just all we know about right now.

1971-1979: Added 19
1980-1989: Added 14
1990-1999: Added 14
2000-2009: Added 7
2010-2017: Added 5 (Estimated)

Interesting, thanks for the share! I think it's notable how Disney has progressively done fewer small rides, and more big E Ticket rides during the 2000s. However that seems to be shifting with this talk of Pixar Place which will primarily be made up of spinners and other carnival treats. Carsland also shows a change too.

 

[HopperFan]

I put these statistics together recently. This is how many new rides were added to WDW

1971-1979: Added 19
1980-1989: Added 14
1990-1999: Added 14

2000-2009: Added 7
2010-2017: Added 5 (Estimated)

I think it's hard to really come to any conclusions because during the first three groupings Disney was also adding 3 new parks. So guessing this wouldn't represent new rides to existing parks, something that we are looking for now, but a combination. I'm also not sure if your first grouping includes the initial construction of MK.

During the last two groupings I wouldn't have expected tremendous additions because of the economy and much lower attendance. While I miss these days of having the park more to myself and low crowds, the higher crowds and their cash will lead to more attractions. I am thinking, and hoping, the current expansions and possible introduction of Pixar "carny rides" are to bridge until the bigger plan can be put in to place.

 

[rteetz]

I put these statistics together recently. This is how many new rides were added to WDW

1. I am just focusing on rides here since it was the easiest attraction category to do. "Ride" can be a little subjective, I don't consider Carousel of Progress a ride but I do consider Universe of Energy. I don't think this would skew the numbers to much.

2. I am not counting refurbs unless they significantly changed the ride. Again this is subjective, Test Track is clearly a new ride since it's totally different from WOM, but Test Track by Cheverlot is debatable, but I gave it the benefit of the doubt and included it. I am not including Maelstrom->Frozen since we don't yet know who significant the change will be.

3. I am including 2 Avatar rides in 2017 since this is the only new rides we can be reasonable confident in for this decade. Not saying there won't be more, this is just all we know about right now.

1971-1979: Added 19
1980-1989: Added 14
1990-1999: Added 14
2000-2009: Added 7
2010-2017: Added 5 (Estimated)

That's one reason why Iger isnt as well liked in WDW. He just hasn't done much in terms of new things. This clearly shows that. Three out of the four WDW parks needs some sort of expansion. One of those three is getting it but will it be enough?

 

[rteetz]

I think it's hard to really come to any conclusions because during the first three groupings Disney was also adding 3 new parks. So guessing this wouldn't represent new rides to existing parks, something that we are looking for now, but a combination. I'm also not sure if your first grouping includes the initial construction of MK.

During the last two groupings I wouldn't have expected tremendous additions because of the economy and much lower attendance. While I miss these days of having the park more to myself and low crowds, the higher crowds and their cash will lead to more attractions. I am thinking, and hoping, the current expansions and possible introduction of Pixar "carny rides" are to bridge until the bigger plan can be put in to place.

That is very true but when a park only has 6 rides they should be expanding more. Expansions with more high capacity rides would help even out crowds as well.

 

[rteetz]

Interesting, thanks for the share! I think it's notable how Disney has progressively done fewer small rides, and more big E Ticket rides during the 2000s. However that seems to be shifting with this talk of Pixar Place which will primarily be made up of spinners and other carnival treats. Carsland also shows a change too.

I think it needs to shift because of the high crowds. Disney needs those people eating rides.

 

[HopperFan]

That is very true but when a park only has 6 rides they should be expanding more. Expansions with more high capacity rides would help even out crowds as well.

Just so I'm on same page ... when I said "current expansions" I mean the TSMM and Soarin' work that they are doing to bridge capacity, not the new possible attractions. I totally agree that bigger capacity is critical, which these new "carny rides" won't have.

DHS absolutely needs the new potential lands and more attractions that appeal to a broader age base. We do spend lots of time there for DS but honestly I am over every single show they have there. They have depended too long on Indiana Jones, LMA and Fantasmic to suck in huge numbers for crowd control. I'd rather see both the day shows go in lieu of numerous creative attractions/rides. So much potential in that park, it has a creative base but it's been a hodge podge since the beginning. Let's hope the imagineers get it right this time.

 

[rteetz]

Just so I'm on same page ... when I said "current expansions" I mean the TSMM and Soarin' work that they are doing to bridge capacity, not the new possible attractions. I totally agree that bigger capacity is critical, which these new "carny rides" won't have.

DHS absolutely needs the new potential lands and more attractions that appeal to a broader age base. We do spend lots of time there for DS but honestly I am over every single show they have there. They have depended too long on Indiana Jones, LMA and Fantasmic to suck in huge numbers for crowd control. I'd rather see both the day shows go in lieu of numerous creative attractions/rides. So much potential in that park, it has a creative base but it's been a hodge podge since the beginning. Let's hope the imagineers get it right this time.

The imagineers usually get it right the problem is how much money the board/company will give them.