| # | Author | Message |
1
| monorailblue
Sat 12/6/2008 3:56p | I think one reason Disneyland is so superbly successful when compared to other parks is the duration of many rides. For example, consider the rides (rides only) at Disneyland that exceed five minutes:
Disneyland Railroad
Jungle Cruise
Pirates of the Caribbean
Haunted Mansion
Splash Mountain
Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes
Mark Twain
Columbia
Storybook Land Canal Boats (doesn't it?)
"it's a small world!"
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Disneland Monorail
Now, consider the rides at DCA that exceed five minutes:
<cough>
Part of the superb execution is the duration of the ride experience--and few parks anywhere have any rides anywhere that exceed 5 minutes--much less 10 or 15 as several do at Disneyland.
Is this a critical factor in Disneyland's success? |
2
| monorailblue
Sat 12/6/2008 3:57p | (Note: I do not suggest that short rides are inherently probelmatical--merely that including longer rides in the mix is vitally imporant.) |
3
| Disney and beyond
Sat 12/6/2008 4:02p | Agreed, esspecially when compared to the Six Falgs-style parks, where it is choc full of Rollercoasters that last at times less than a minute. |
4
| EmmaJayne
Sun 12/7/2008 2:27a | This was one of the things that amazed me at Disneyland.
At the theme parks here (Australia) I can think of only one ride that actually exceeds five minutes and three that come in aroudn the 3-4 minute mark.
It's also the attention to detail within that time.. as in, you don't spen one of those minutes slowly going up a flume ramo waiting for your turn to go down. |
5
| trekkeruss
Sun 12/7/2008 6:57a | <<Now, consider the rides at DCA that exceed five minutes>>
And yet somehow DCA is still in the top 20.
I don't see length as a critical factor, but as a component to the experience. Long by itself does not make something good. |
6
| monorailblue
Sun 12/7/2008 8:43p | Somehow? Here's how: Disneyland Park. |
7
| ecdc
Sun 12/7/2008 11:05p | It's hard to judge if this is a critical factor or not. Even if the length of the ride itself does not contribute, the underlying reason for the lengths, most likely does. Disneyland rides, especially those created and supervised under Walt, are an immersive experience in another place. They are designed to transport you somewhere else - a river in the jungle, the Mississippi, a Caribbean town ransacked by pirates, a haunted New Orleans mansion, etc. It's impossible to achieve this immersion without spending more than a few minutes. Disneyland was never just about the rides. All theme parks have rides. Disneyland was about the experience.
I'm not quite sure how to characterize DCA. It seemed to want to be the best of both worlds (immersive and thrill) and fell short on both counts. The themes seem more obligatory than anything - "Well, DL has lands, I guess DCA should too!" Mind, I'm not a rabid DCA hater - I'm frankly not that invested in the pro/con DCA argument. But I find it hard to believe that even DCA's most ardent defenders could say it matches DL's theming and immersion. |
8
| PetesDraggin
Mon 12/8/2008 8:31a | "Now, consider the rides at DCA that exceed five minutes:
<cough>"
Doesn't GRR exceed 5 minutes? I may be wrong but it seems like it does. |
9
| monorailblue
Mon 12/8/2008 9:04a | ^^^ I've been stuck on the lift for more than 5 minutes, so it definitely does! :O) |
10
| SleepingBeauty82
Mon 12/8/2008 8:00p | I think GRR is about 5 minutes if you don't get stuck waiting at any of the drops. How long is Toy Story Midway Mania? Seems like about 5 minutes to me... |
