What makes an attraction a success?

[whoever]

Is is guest satisfaction?
Is it rider ship?
Is it the average wait time?
Is it the merchandise in the gift shop adjacent to the attraction?
Is it the bump in overall park attendance when this attraction was opened or reopened from refurb/updating?

Thinking about TOT, I considered it to be a successful attraction. It always had a substantial queue, the gift store always had people lined up in the check out lines. It had a cult following. Yet, Disney decided to retheme it into that abomination of GOTGMB. What will make GOTGMB a success whereas TOT was not in Disney's eyes?

 

[whoever]

Let's use Luigi's as an example... the attraction was flawed. The weight range was too narrow to allow for proper execution of the vision. Why did Disney bother changing it? They could have said tough, we don't care if people ride it or not. Why invest $, what was the success factor here or lack thereof?

What about country bear jamboree? What about rocket rods? People mover? Carousal of progress? Swiss family Robinson?

 

[HydroGuy]

No answers here bit some ideas...I would say it is a mix of:

- immersion
- nostalgia
- inclusion of your family or friends
- in some cases, adrenaline

 

[tarheelalum]

Disney spent a boatload of money on Marvel and people probably felt pressure to stick something having to do with Marvel in the parks. It was corporate politics that killed TOT.

 

[GatorChris]

Triggered!

 

[cruisehopeful]

I think it's all about getting more people sucked into the parks and other things they sell. There are Star Wars fans and Marvel fans who have zero interest in Mickey Mouse stuff. Now, they will probably go to the parks to check out the theme stuff that they like. They want the Marvel people's money. They are probably hoping those of us who will miss TOT will spend more money, by going to ride it in Florida.

Some of the other things you mentioned, I was very attached to. Swiss Family Treehouse - that thing was so cool! However, kids and younger parents of today probably have no idea what that was. They know the Tarzan cartoon, though. Country Bear Jamboree - Dang, that was the best place to have a sit and still keep my very active daughter entertained back in the day.

Most of those things never seemed to have a line. People mover was always walk on. Carousel of Progress was really cool, but I guess not modern enough? There probably wasn't high demand for people mover or carousel of progress merchandise. It's really all about the $.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

You mean for a success for Disney? I think it's a combo of factors - basically that their data and surveys and such reveal that the "drawing" power of a ride justifies its cost.

Wasn't the TOT switch in part because they'd have had to renegotiate their Twilight Zone rights? Am I making that up?

 

[cruisehopeful]

Wasn't the TOT switch in part because they'd have had to renegotiate their Twilight Zone rights? Am I making that up?

There was a rumor about that, but they still have TOT in WDW. So, it doesn't make sense.