What Happened to Alien Encounter???

[DisneyJade]

I just picked up my 2006 Disney guide books!

Wow, you go away for just a couple years and everything changes.
Park Hoppers are "Magic Your Way".. EE comes and goes and then comes back as "Extra Magic Hours"... and a relatively new headliner disappears????

WHAT HAPPENED TO ALIEN ENCOUNTER? It was pretty new when I was just there a few years ago. Anyone know why WDW dispensed with it?

Also, I thought Spaceship Earth was being turned into a different ride, but according to my guide it doesn't sound any different. Am I crazy?

Finally, it seems WDW has added at least 3 new headliners just in the past couple years. Can anyone tell me how Mission Space & Soarin' are affecting line traffic at Test Track and other Epcot rides.. and likewise, how Expedition Everest is impacting the morning stampede to the Safari?

THANKS !!!!

 

[grinningghost]

Stitch has taken over the building.

I haven't been to the World since 2003 myself, and yes, things sure have changed. It took me about 5 months to figure out what ticket to buy - with the wacky option packages available now.

But in the end, I just told the CM, "just give me the equivalent of the Ultimate Park Hopper for my entire length of stay" and I think I'm all set now.

 

[candykisses]

Alien Encounter was reworked, watered down and became Stitch's Great Escape. Stitch is ok, but I liked AE.

It's nice that the Extra Magic Hours are back. We're early risers and take advantage of that hour in the morning. Even better is the 3 extra hours in the evening. We especially liked being in the MK until 2:00 AM.

We were there for 15 days over the 4th of July last year and MS had very little wait times. Soarin' was 80 minutes on some days for stand by.

Can't help you with EE, we won't be going back until 4th of July 2007.

Sounds like your going to have alot of fun getting caught up in the changes. Don't miss Mickey's Philharmagic.

 

[eblack0409]

Alien Encounter is now Stitch's Great Escape....I personally think Stitch stinks!

 

[cjtorres]

Alien Encounter is now Stitch's Great Escape....I personally think Stitch stinks!

true

 

[princess aurora]

Alien Encounter is now Stitch's Great Escape....I personally think Stitch stinks!

Literally!

 

[Sweedee]

Alien Encounter is now Stitch's Great Escape....I personally think Stitch stinks!

I know that some people like Stitch...but we stood in a line for almost 45 mins to be subjected to that lame, disgusting attraction. It will definitely not be a repeat!

 

[Mickey1122]

Stitch's Great Escape is essentialy the same exact thing with a different audio animatronic.

 

[Mickey1122]

Stitch's ride is definitely horrible, especially the part with the smell.

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

Oh yeah..I agree. I love Stitch the character, and watch the show on Disney Channel. But, as you walk through the attraction, you still see some of the same robots and effects as AE. The least they could have done was change it up a little bit. I do not like the ride, I have ridden it twice, but it just does not appeal to me. You should try it atleast once, though.

 

[momrek06]

Stitch's ride is definitely horrible, especially the part with the smell.

YUP

 

[DisneyJade]

Thanks Folks!
I think I'm going to skip stitch. I only have limited touring time this trip, since I'm in the world for a convention.. and stitch sounds like a let down.
Since I do have limited time, I'm a little concerned about that 80 minute wait time.
hopefully, with the help of passporter and the unofficial guide, we'll run into some luck and be able to ride most of our highlights.
THANKS AGAIN!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Another vote here for saying Stitch's Great Escape sucks!

 

[Brocktoon]

I believe AE was orginally supposed to involve FOX's ALIEN franchise, having the ALIEN break loose and terrorize the audience. It was deemed too frightening, and AE was the final result. Picture AE as complete, but just substitute your favorite Gieger acid blood alien for the Disney creature. I guess it never caught on, and the weak Stitch re-fab was the result.

As much as the original AE was good, I think an ALIEN themed AE would have been incredible!! If they can have a Star Tours, Disney really dropped the ball with the Alien adventure

 

[David R]

how Expedition Everest is impacting the morning stampede to the Safari?

I'm never there during the morning stampede but for what I hear, everyone heads out to Everest. If I were you, I would probably go get a FP for Everest (they run out by early afternoon) and walk to the Safari since animals are active early in the morning. I'm guessing that some people will do that and others will get a FP for Everest and then go on standby just to ride the new ride twice.

But I doubt that Safari would have a huge standby line so early in the morning since FP return times will not be in effect yet. Then after riding Safari, I would get on the single riders line at Everest before my FP for Everest kicks in. I would normally suggest Dinosaur though, I love the ride but the FP here last through most of the day and the standby line has not been getting very long now that Everest has opened. Yet Everest lines, even the single rider line, get big very quickly.

But again, I'm not a morning stampede person so my logic may very well be completely flawed!

 

[Chuck65]

I hate they got rid of Alien Encounter That ride scared the bejeepers out of me! To feel that hot air blowing on the back of your neck That was a great ride!

 

[eblack0409]

Alien Encounter almost always had an hour wait.....Stitch's wait is 5 minutes! I think they need to bring back AE!!! How can you take a ride designed by the almighty George Lucas and change it?????

 

[DisneyJade]

david, thanks for the info on EE. I think we're going to do exactly as you suggested... head straight to EE, but get FP and then go to the Safari. I'm sure EE is great, but the safari has a special place in my heart. It's my absolute favorite ride at WDW.. and I'd rather see perky animals than an animatronic yeti.
...not that i'd miss EE of course. i'll still take a turn on it.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

i am sad that alien encounter is gone, too!

it was such a change from the other rides in the MK, i thought it was fun...especially where the alien escaped and breathed down your neck!

i haven't been there to see the stitch thing, but i don't think i'll go out of my way to do it!

 

[canda]

I believe AE was orginally supposed to involve FOX's ALIEN franchise, having the ALIEN break loose and terrorize the audience. It was deemed too frightening, and AE was the final result. Picture AE as complete, but just substitute your favorite Gieger acid blood alien for the Disney creature. I guess it never caught on, and the weak Stitch re-fab was the result.

As much as the original AE was good, I think an ALIEN themed AE would have been incredible!! If they can have a Star Tours, Disney really dropped the ball with the Alien adventure

AE was a work partnership with George Lucas and Disney. It had nothing to do with Ridley Scott's "Alien" (though that would have been scary. could you imagine the smaller mouth extending from behind your head.)


What happened to this ride was tooooooo many "maroons" as bugs bunny would say, would take their 4-6 year olds on the "ride" and get scared to death. Then they would yell at CM's outside for being too scary and un-Disneylike ride. So they added lights and jokes about mother in laws to the sound track and then the scary ride became to lame for adults and still to scary for kids. Ok now to the real reason the ride was switched.....

Stitch was popular and needed an attraction so AE was converted because it was very cheap to do. Now you can sell merchandise of stitch where you could not do so with AE.