WDW's Coaster Phobia

[Disney Frenhines]

I think WDW has got it right. Perhaps one extreme coaster would do well, but, what could the theme be? And why have one for the sake of having one? I would love to see Crush Coaster from DLRP built at WDW, that is an awesome ride, not extreme in the height or loops and corkscrew sense, but, a complete blast of a ride.

 

[jeffbear]

OK ... so "real" coaster wise Disney has what in Florida?

Space Mountain ... sort of. It's a double Wild Mouse in the dark. Cool but not in the class of the big boys

Rockin' Roller Coaster ... nice enough. Fast launch, fun theming, indoors, but it's only got one inversion and is a very short ride

Everest ... bigger in scale, still cool theming, the backwards travel is a nice twist.

I mean, really. That's it. The rest are transitional rides or minor coasters at best. So I'd conclude that if you're expecting Disney to add a big, modern coaster with super high drops and multiple inversions, you're really asking them to completely break character. And if there's one thing Disney as a theme park operator rarely does, it's break character.

Just sayin'

 

[maxiesmom]

OK ... so "real" coaster wise Disney has what in Florida?

Space Mountain ... sort of. It's a double Wild Mouse in the dark. Cool but not in the class of the big boys

Rockin' Roller Coaster ... nice enough. Fast launch, fun theming, indoors, but it's only got one inversion and is a very short ride

Everest ... bigger in scale, still cool theming, the backwards travel is a nice twist.

I mean, really. That's it. The rest are transitional rides or minor coasters at best. So I'd conclude that if you're expecting Disney to add a big, modern coaster with super high drops and multiple inversions, you're really asking them to completely break character. And if there's one thing Disney as a theme park operator rarely does, it's break character.

Just sayin'

Exactly. And even if Disney ever decides to do a thrill coaster, it will have to have a point, fit into a theme. And it would take years for them to do. For all any of us know, they are talking about it. But even if that is true, it will be years and years before anything happens. No use getting all excited about it.

 

[MystikaFaith]

I'm not opposed to huge thrill coasters. They have their place, but Disney is not it. One of the reasons I love Disney is the appearance of perfection and amazing theming. Big chunks of metal just doesn't do it for me.

I certainly wouldn't miss primeval whirl if it vanished.

And lol at the idea that US's Hulk ride is actually themed. Theming requires more than a paint job.

Anyways, a few more rides like rockin' roller coaster or tower of terror would be great, but nothing tacky...

 

[Angel Ariel]

OK ... so "real" coaster wise Disney has what in Florida?

Space Mountain ... sort of. It's a double Wild Mouse in the dark. Cool but not in the class of the big boys

Rockin' Roller Coaster ... nice enough. Fast launch, fun theming, indoors, but it's only got one inversion and is a very short ride

Everest ... bigger in scale, still cool theming, the backwards travel is a nice twist.

I mean, really. That's it. The rest are transitional rides or minor coasters at best. So I'd conclude that if you're expecting Disney to add a big, modern coaster with super high drops and multiple inversions, you're really asking them to completely break character. And if there's one thing Disney as a theme park operator rarely does, it's break character.

Just sayin'

I don't know that good sized drops and an.inversion or 2 is breaking character. California Screamin is a great coaster ay DCA....it doesn't come near what you'd find at cedar point or six flags, but it is definitely a step up from the WDW coasters, and it doesn't break.character.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've been going to WDW since '99...not a hugely long time. My dd is now almost 21, and started WDW when she was 5, turned 6 on that first trip. She was horrified by BTMR back then....quickly became a favorite. After a few years of WDW rides, she ventured out and started doing larger coasters. She now does all the 'big boys'. She does more than I do, in fact. We head to US/IoA every so often...and enjoy it. But, we love WDW the most. The theming is what does it for us. As someone else already said,, it would be hard for Disney to stick a huge metal coaster in someplace. They might be able to do it with AvatarLand...guess we'll see.
As far as people going to US/IoA goes, I doubt that Disney is hugely concerned. Yes, some will go, but truly not enough to notice.
Disney is all about 'family'. They aren't trying to attract groups of teenagers on their own....which is what US/IoA gets. I like IoA, I really do. But I can't stay over there for more than 36 hrs....I get nudgy. I want the great theming I get at wdw. Sure, those bigger coasters are fun, but not for extended periods of time. And I'll bet many others feel the same way.

 

[Angel Ariel]

California Screamin' is an example of what was wrong with the original DCA and why it went through a huge overhaul a couple of years ago. An unthemed coaster is just, not very "Disney".

If it is what was wrong with dca, then why didn't they just tear it down when they tore down its neighbor Mulholland Madness? (I think that was its name..). And why wasn't it touched at all, save to remove the mickey ears from the loop, during the entire 1 billion dollar overhaul?

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Universal changed direction with better themeing and have increased their market share.

WDW is the largest most popular theme park in the world and not one coaster is ranked in the top 100. They may be content to let the tween/teen demographic head over there for a couple of days as part of a families overall Orlando vacation.

 

[Delirium]

I don't think Disney should consider putting such an attraction at one of the existing gates. If they ever decide to add a 5th gate, then the entire park could themed with a little more edge. It would fit much better in an environment like that.

 

[Brian Noble]

1

If they ever decide to add a 5th gate

I think the chances of this are very low.

The point of adding gates is to capture more of a typical family's vacation time to Central Florida. However, WDW already has enough to fully cover the typical domestic vacation---and that vacation is getting shorter, not longer.

The only way a 5th gate is even on the horizon is if international visitors continue to grow to start making up a larger and larger share of Central Florida tourism. Such visitors do tend to stay longer to amortize the cost and trouble of more distant travel. But, depending on what you think the cost of airfares/oil will do over the medium term, that's a risky bet. Disney has been moving away from risk (by e.g. building DVC to lock in guests long-term, removing Deluxe resort rooms in the process) rather than toward it over the past many years. AoA is the first new rental stock they've started since 9/11, and that's meant to serve a demographic that isn't currently served by either existing rental stock (poor fit for larger families) or DVC (higher on the price curve).

 

[mummabear]

Personally when I think of family parks I don't think of (mostly) steel coasters. Those types of rides are suited at US and Busch Gardens where teens and rowdy 20 year olds can hang out. WDW is for families but it's also full of princesses and lovable characters. Who do you think Disney believes they should cater to: the family of four with a 3 year old girl and 5 year old boy who book dinner in Cinderella's castle and pay to look like a princess and pirate, or the family of five with teenagers who don't spend extra on princess or pirate paraphernalia?

Thrill rides are not just for rowdy teenagers, I am a 30 year old mother of 3 under 5 and I love them.
I tell you 3 teenagers may not buy Princess dresses but they pay for adult tickets plus the amount they spend on food etc. they may still buy souvenirs, the jewellery etc.
Lastly it is about catering for all families, having some truly exciting coasters to keep older kids interested will also help those with a larger gap in their kids ages, if you have a 7 and a 13 year old for example.

 

[mummabear]

1
I think the chances of this are very low.

The point of adding gates is to capture more of a typical family's vacation time to Central Florida. However, WDW already has enough to fully cover the typical domestic vacation---and that vacation is getting shorter, not longer.

The only way a 5th gate is even on the horizon is if international visitors continue to grow to start making up a larger and larger share of Central Florida tourism. Such visitors do tend to stay longer to amortize the cost and trouble of more distant travel. But, depending on what you think the cost of airfares/oil will do over the medium term, that's a risky bet. Disney has been moving away from risk (by e.g. building DVC to lock in guests long-term, removing Deluxe resort rooms in the process) rather than toward it over the past many years. AoA is the first new rental stock they've started since 9/11, and that's meant to serve a demographic that isn't currently served by either existing rental stock (poor fit for larger families) or DVC (higher on the price curve).

A 5th hate would also expand park capacity for crowds.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

I'm all for Disney building a state-of-the-art thrill coaster as long as it is heavily themed like all of their previous coasters.

 

[Bullseye]

We just went on SDMT last Tuesday for the first time. It's a wonderful childrens rollercoaster...fun for the the whole family. But, I'm with you Jimmy. I really wish they would start adding some bigger thrills to their parks. RNR is really just a small mediocre steel coaster. The rocket launch and the fact that it is in the dark are the only thing that makes it kind of fun. EE is a fun coaster. SM and BTMRR are ok. Adding some big thrill coasters with a decent amount of theming to AK, HS, and even Epcot would not hurt the parks images and would help enhance the whole FP+ endeavor.

 

[mare1203]

As a former cast member with friends still in the business, Disney has made the decision that they will not be building any rides that require a height restriction above 48". They won't be building any big coasters in the near to distant future or until the top brass decides to veer from that decision. As others have said, Disney has decided to cater to families with attractions and entertainment everyone can enjoy together and has made this decision more prominent since the mid 2000's (closing of Pleasure Island, etc.). They have made a conscious decision that they will not have a lot of thrill rides, which most often cater to teens and young adults, and although that demographic is certainly not the only one to whom thrill rides appeal, they would rather not have them than be overrun with that group because it lessens the appeal for those with younger children. You see a lot fewer strollers at parks with lots of thrill rides for a reason.

As much as I would like to see another thrill ride or two I have resigned myself to the fact that I'll have to visit another theme park to get it. There are some great ideas out there for a 5th gate, the best I've heard being a Villains park with an emphasis on more thrill rides. I would love to see this and think it makes the most sense thematically, but I don't think it'll happen

 

[Spork24]

I haven't read every thread, but one of the main reasons disney won't just slap a state of the art mega coaster in WDW is sight lines. WDW's skyline is filled with beautiful sights of trees, mountains, hotels and castles. That's one of the main reasons RNRC is low profile and inside. Disney's not interesting in getting into a steel contest with all the little guys. Disney does what it does best which is entertain!

That being said, I think disney will add another good thrill ride in the next decade or so, but don't expect it to be a 350 ft steel behemoth. That will most likely never happen in a current WDW park.

 

[jeffbear]

I don't know that good sized drops and an.inversion or 2 is breaking character. California Screamin is a great coaster ay DCA....it doesn't come near what you'd find at cedar point or six flags, but it is definitely a step up from the WDW coasters, and it doesn't break.character.

And if you dropped that coaster into MK tomorrow, the crowd hollering for a thrill ride would complain all the more. Which was sort of my point.

WDW just isn't a thrill ride kind of park complex. It never really has been

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

I haven't read every thread, but one of the main reasons disney won't just slap a state of the art mega coaster in WDW is sight lines. WDW's skyline is filled with beautiful sights of trees, mountains, hotels and castles. That's one of the main reasons RNRC is low profile and inside. Disney's not interesting in getting into a steel contest with all the little guys. Disney does what it does best which is entertain!

That being said, I think disney will add another good thrill ride in the next decade or so, but don't expect it to be a 350 ft steel behemoth. That will most likely never happen in a current WDW park.

I agree about the visuals. If they were to build a state-of-the-art thrill-coaster it needs to be hidden/enclosed and heavily themed.

 

[Angel Ariel]

WDW just isn't a thrill ride kind of park complex. It never really has been

This thread isn't about wdw becoming a thrill park. I didn't see the OP advocating.for that, nor am I. I don't even see anyone talking about adding something like this to MK, but to 1 of the other 3 parks.

Adding 1 coaster on the more "thrilling" end does not make WDW a "thrill ride kind of park," just as the existence of CS within DCA has not made DCA a "thrill ride kind of park."

 

[leebee]

I don't "do" coasters. I have been on Splash 4 times, never on RnRC or EE. BTMRR is MY idea of a thrill ride! I still think Disney should do a bigger, better, closer to state-of-the-art roller coaster. There are easy themes- how about the bedroom door scene from Monster's Inc, where Mike and Sully are riding through the factory, being chased by Randall throughout, flying through the air among the doors? That'd be cool- and Disney has the Imagineering to do it! Does it have to be the biggest, baddest ride around (just watched the clips from Cedar Point)? No- because everyone should play to their best demographic. However, I think Disney could figure it out and do something amazing in the larger-coaster area.

OH! But wait!! Disney HAS spent money to be a leader in the theme park world; we have Magic Bands!!!