Which rides which should be imported to Orlando?

[Josh Hendy]

It would seem to me that it's a slam dunk to bring over the best rides that are developed for non-Orlando Disney parks, and build them in WDW as a kind of "constant improvement" strategy.

I mean, you can coast for years living off the accumulated reputation for magic vacations, simply by keeping the same old rides/movies and doing no major additions or changes. Treating the existing parks as a kind of milk cow in other words.

But imagine how hard it would be to get a good reputation back, if it ever happened that a critical mass of people started to return from WDW vacations and told their friends and family, "You know, we were a little bit disappointed on this trip that so many of the same old, lame rides are still there from 20 years ago and not much is new." (*cough* Captain EO, Ellen's Energy, Carousel of Progress, come on down!) Maybe the executives right now are only focused on the value of their own shares, stock options and bonuses for the next 1 to 3 years, but SOMEBODY should be thinking about the bottom line 'way in the future. Like, 5 years from now. And they should be thinking, "Ruh roh!" (if they're a dog).

Now that the negative comments are out of the way, how about the positive list of cool rides developed elsewhere that really should be brought to Orlando? These are rides whose major, sunk costs are done and over with, all design issues and bugs have been ironed out long ago, and which (I assume) could only have a positive effect on WDW profits in the medium to long term.

I just saw a POV video of Ratatouille (DL Paris) and .... wow! I want one!!!

What else? California Screamin'? The Tokyo Pooh ride with autonomous cars? Journey to the Center of the Earth?

Feel free to name an old, lame ride that could be swapped out for the new ride, or else share any ideas about what park/land would be the best home for the "new" (to Orlando) ride.

For example the movie in France is pretty much a yawner. In an age of 150 channels and millions of online videos who needs to watch a 20 year-old film in WDW to find out what's in France? Not me. Put Ratatouille in there instead and make France a must-see, must-eat and must-shop pavilion.

 

[ChrisNY2]

I have mixed opinions - because on the one hand, I go to WDW most frequently and would love for it to have new rides, on the other hand, I enjoy checking out the other parks around the world (only HK and DLR so far, but can't wait to visit more!) and would prefer not to have too many of the same rides that I can get here.

I would love if they brought the Hong Kong version of Festival of the Lion King to Florida. The one in Florida now I think is cheesy.

 

[aacvacation]

I'd love for WDW to have the Monsters Inc ride from DL. But I could never get enough Monster's Inc so I am very biased, haha! I'd also love Pooh's Hunny Hunt from Tokyo and the Ratatouille ride from Paris.

 

[Celesdragon]

Would love to see the trackless system brought to Epcot, not for Ratatouille, but to refurb Journey into Imagination, and redo the whole thing as a new Figment ride, like Mystic Manor.

The new TRON coaster. With how Hollywood Studios seems to be slowly converting into 'lands' (Star Wars, Pixar, etc), I would love to see a 'digital frontier' area encompassing Tron, Wreck it Ralph, and other computer movies, etc. Have the Tron coaster brought over from Shanghai and the elecTRONica area brought back from DL. Get Flynn's arcade back up, a restaurant/bar, etc.

Not necessarily a ride, but I'd love to see the SEA (Society of Explorers & Adventures) finally expand outside of the Asia parks & cruiselines. I personally feel that they should have a presence in WDW, specifically in Animal Kingdom. Give them a 'headquarters' there, similar to how they are set up in DisneySEA, with the focus on searching for mystical animals and legends, like the Yeti, etc. Lots of opportunities that way to finally utilize the dragon symbols on the park's logos, etc.

 

[DebbieB]

Disneyland's version of Space Mountain
California Screamin

 

[figment_jii]

All of the parks have their own and I wouldn't want to lose the current version at the MK, but DLP's Phantom Manor is pretty neat. It's definitely more on the "creepy" side than the WDW version.

From DLR, I would love to have DL's version of Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin show up. The guns are movable and you can email your ride photo for free!

From a nostalgic point of view, I'd love to see Mr. Toad's Wild Ride re-appear or be copied from DL.

I suppose one of the other biggies from DLR would be RSR. It's one of the best rides at DLR.

 

[BrianL]

I think they should be judicious on what they bring over. Like Indiana Jones from DLR is very similar to Dinosaur, so it would be redundant. TEst Track = RSR, etc. Also, having unique rides at each park makes them a destination.

However, I would like to see certain ride systems used, perhaps with new theming. Like the trackless 4-car system from Pooh's Hunny Hunt or Mystic Manor should be brought over, but given a new theme. WDW already has Pooh and HM. I do like the Jules Verne themed stuff from Tokyoo DisneySea.

 

[stky6]

Millennium Force 305' drop, 96mph....set in the forest of Pandora

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

I'd nuke Tomorrowland Speedway in a heartbeat to get it completely reconfigured as Radiator Springs.

 

[MinnieTink]

I would definitely be on board with bringing the DLP Ratatouille ride to WDW

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I would love to see more attractions, both thrill rides and more calmer rides. I just don't want to see duplicates of the same rides from other parks, and I don't want them to replace existing rides. I want them to add new and original rides.

I like having a reason to go to DLR. California Screamin', DLR version of POTC, DLR version of Space Mountain, DLR version of a speedway, Cars, etc., all make me want to go to DLR. If they were all at WDW, then I would never want or need to go to DLR.

Also, we enjoy Ellen and CoP. My mom, along with many others, aren't really able and/or willing to only ride the bigger rides. She likes more low key stuff these days, Test Track is probably the most intense thing she'll go on, so replacing the "lame" rides would mean she'd have little to do when it comes to attractions.

 

[Disney Frenhines]

I'd nuke Tomorrowland Speedway in a heartbeat to get it completely reconfigured as Radiator Springs.

Me too, that is an awesome ride.

Crush Coaster from DLRP is flipping awesome, a very deceptive thrill ride, oodles of fun. Cinemagique instead of American Idol (I'm a broken record on this one, but, it is fabulous and an updated version needs to be at DHS)

 

[ucfknight]

Would love to see them dust off the plans for a Switzerland pavilion at Epcot between Italy and Germany (just like in the real world) complete with an updated version of the Matterhorn.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

I'm torn. On one hand I despise the homogenization of the Disney parks and prefer for them to be as unique as possible, on the other hand there are plenty of attractions at the international parks that I may never have the opportunity to experience.

That said, I'd be happy to see Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril or Raging Spirits stateside. Assuming of course, that Imagineering has completely given up on original thrill rides.

 

[Mrs. Toaster]

I would love to have the Ratatoille ride! My family loved Radiator Springs Racers, so I hope that makes it to WDW some day.

 

[mmmears]

I like the nostalgia of Carousel of Progress...

But WDW is really missing out on the Indiana Jones ride at DL, and Radiator Springs would be a nice addition as well.

 

[tinkfan160]

I haven't seen many videos of rides from other parks (we frequent WDW and I have been to DLR/CA for one day), I did watch a video of Phantom Manor after reading about it on here and I definitely think that ride or one like it would be an awesome addition in Florida! Now I have to go check out the Ratatouille ride!