We need better imagineers

[hauntedmansion79]

I am absolutely in love with Disney, but mostly with older Disney. I feel that the imagineers in the past have created far better rides. I haven't been impressed with Buzz Lightyear Spaceranger Spin, Stitch's Great Escape, The New Tiki Room, The new Journey Into Your Imagination, etc. They don't even compare to Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Spaceship Earth, etc. I just think that the imagineers need some revamping. There must be people out there who can think like the old imagineers used to. I just want to see Disney keep up the reputation they have had for so long. And sadly, the new rides seem to be disappointing people.

 

[Ted and Holly]

I am absolutely in love with Disney, but mostly with older Disney. I feel that the imagineers in the past have created far better rides. I haven't been impressed with Buzz Lightyear Spaceranger Spin, Stitch's Great Escape, The New Tiki Room, The new Journey Into Your Imagination, etc. They don't even compare to Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Spaceship Earth, etc. I just think that the imagineers need some revamping. There must be people out there who can think like the old imagineers used to. I just want to see Disney keep up the reputation they have had for so long. And sadly, the new rides seem to be disappointing people.

I think a big problem is the lack of adequate funding given to projects.

Stitch's great Escape was done pretty inexpensively. Journey Into Imagination (latest edition) was supposedly done with a lot less money than was originally supposed to go to it.

It is hard to execute great ideas if you are on a very tight budget.

Place blame where ever you wish for the money problem.

Ted

 

[Chuck S]

But along with the rides you mentioned, there is also Mission Space, Soarin' and Exp. Everest. Unfortunately, the tastes of park guests have changed. They no longer want a 15 or 20 min attraction with a story. Instant "thrill" and on to the next experience. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say they don't want to watch a bunch of dummies (animatrons), or see a movie-based attraction (I can do that at home). Apparently, and unfortunately, folks seem to like "dumbed-down", short, instant gratification type attractions.

 

[capthooksmom]

I am absolutely in love with Disney, but mostly with older Disney. I feel that the imagineers in the past have created far better rides. I haven't been impressed with Buzz Lightyear Spaceranger Spin, Stitch's Great Escape, The New Tiki Room, The new Journey Into Your Imagination, etc. They don't even compare to Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Spaceship Earth, etc. I just think that the imagineers need some revamping. There must be people out there who can think like the old imagineers used to. I just want to see Disney keep up the reputation they have had for so long. And sadly, the new rides seem to be disappointing people.

I've heard from several different places that Universal is scooping up the Imagineers. Anyone know if this is true? It sure would explain some things...Spiderman, Seuss Landing, Mummy.....

 

[WDSearcher]

Well ... it's harder to totally "Wow" people these days. Too much technology overload in our daily lives, you know? Not to mention that Disney's got a lot of competition today. Back in Walt's time, no one had ever done anything like he was doing, so everything was over the top. Walt also didn't have to answer to stockholders, and he could set his budgets at whatever his brother would allow.

If an Imagineer of today developed a ride along the lines of POC, I'll bet that the majority of theme park people would yawn and say, "so?" They'd be looking for the big coaster or the super duper effects. Just story and animatronics doesn't cut it any more. POC and Haunted Mansion are cool because we grew up with them. If Haunted Mansion didn't exist and it was developed, exactly as is, in 2004, people would be talking about cheap effects and no technology.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

I am absolutely in love with Disney, but mostly with older Disney. I feel that the imagineers in the past have created far better rides. I haven't been impressed with Buzz Lightyear Spaceranger Spin

What you might not realize is that the concept of the Buzz Lightyear ride was Imagineered in the early 1970s -- they just had to wait for the right character to be developed over the years to connect with the idea. It wouldn't surprise me one bit to learn that there are many concepts that have been Imagineered that are sitting on a shelf somewhere, just waiting for the right character or theme to plug in. This is contrasted with ideas such as Mickey's Birthday/Tootown which went from idea to reality in 3 months.

My family just returned from a weeklong trip to WDW. While DW and I are sentimental for "old" Disney, we also enjoyed "new" Disney and some of the concepts and rides developed since we were there in 1997.

 

[SnackyStacky]

The Imagineers of old dictated what people wanted. Because they created it BEFORE the public knew that they wanted it.

That takes TONS of research and development. And that takes money.

To a certain degree I definitely agree that people's expectations have changed.

The reason that Pirates was SO amazing was because it WAS way ahead of its time. Who, back when Pirates premeried - knew that they wanted it? The Imagineers - that's who.

I think that everything that's come out of Imagineering lately is a lot of fun. But I honestly believe that they are amusement park attractions, done up Disney.

I hate to compare, but Universal has superceded Disney when talking about calibre of rides. Spiderman takes the technology that's used in Dinosaur, and Indiana Jones at Disneyland and pushes it forward by leaps and bounds.

With the Mummy, Universal has taken the dark ride to new heights by mixing it with a coaster.

Universal continues to push the envelope, while Disney is content to find great ways of making amusement park rides seem like more.

 

[SimbaNoodle]

For me, I find Disney Magic in the simplest things. I enjoy just being at Disney, taking in the atmosphere. Some of the rides are better than others, but on a whole, Walt Disney World is by far my favorite place to be.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I think a big problem is the lack of adequate funding given to projects.

Stitch's great Escape was done pretty inexpensively. Journey Into Imagination (latest edition) was supposedly done with a lot less money than was originally supposed to go to it.

It is hard to execute great ideas if you are on a very tight budget.

Place blame where ever you wish for the money problem.

Ted

Walt Disney Imagineeing is broken. It seems that as long as creative ideas need to be submitted to the strategic planners for approval, things will not improve. WDI must be allowed to take some risks. Ideas must be appraised based on their creative merit as well as their financial feasibility, and those conducting the appraisal must have a solid understanding of why Disney theme parks are appealing to people. These practices may seem like common sense, but unfortunately they no longer take place.
-www.savedisney.com
That being said: if you are looking for more hip & edgy rides, more coasters and Islans of Adventure type things, it isn't going to come from Disney. That's not WDW's vision. Walt & Roy built the parks for the entire family to enjoy together. Not so the Mom or Dad could take the baby on kiddie rides and the older kids could run off to the coasters. There will aways be more slow moving animatronic rides at WDW because that's what they do.

 

[jordanyosh]

I agree with a few other posters in this thread. The 4 attractions mentioned by the OP are rethemes of existing attractions. The quality was hampered by budget constraints. More fault should be put on those holding the purse strings.

As far as other new attractions not mentioned by the OP...Mission: Space, Expedition: Everest, Soarin' and the hidden gem that is the buzz of the amusement park industry--Turtle Talk, all show that WDI still has the chops to create great attractions.

I believe Disney has a different philosophy when it comes to creating attractions than Universal does. Both want the newest technology to be incorporated into their rides. However, Disney wants to use that technology to assist in telling their story. Disney also wants to have a broader appeal for their attractions than Universal does. Overall,though certainly not in every case, Disney wants families to be able to experience attractions together. In order to do that, they tame many attraction down so those young and old can experience them together. Test Track probably could've been much more intense, but I can ride that attraction with my 72 yr old uncle. I don't think I could enjoy the Hulk or Fire and Ice with him. I don't even think he would have much interest in Mummy as much as he does for "testing a car". This is just my opinion.

 

[hauntedmansion79]

I agree with everything. I do blame much on the budget. I also agree with everyone who said Disney shouldn't join the trend of thrill coasters. I strongly believe that Disney is as popular as it is because it is different from other theme parks. Their rides are unique, art pieces. Even if some consider the older rides boring, I think they have more imagination to them. I like the new rides too: Mission Space, Test Track, Rockin' Rollercoaster...but I think the "magic" is missing.

Perhaps rides such as POC and Haunted Mansion won't be built ever again, but for the love of God, I hope they never remove them for bigger, faster rides. I already see this trend happening (Carousel of Progress, Horizons, World of Motion, possibly Spaceship Earth). I just hope people realize that Disney is built on magic more than thrills.