Tokyo Disneyland
Topic: Could Monsters spell doom for Buzz

#	Author	Message
31	The Goddess Mara Fri 5/30/2008 7:31p	Lee, what changes have they made to 20,000 Leagues? The changes to Sinbad were major, and obvious, but aside from new shows in existing venues, I don't recall changes to any attractions except Sinbad.
32	SuperDry Fri 5/30/2008 10:03p	<<< They changed 20K? Please tell me they didn't add a song. :p >>> No - they added a drop! Seriously, the one change I'm aware of is the addition of the guest-controlled spotlights and the corresponding change in the narration to cue you into when to use them. Actually, I do think the spotlights add a lot to the attraction for something so simple, but overall, it's still a letdown in my book.
33	SuperDry Fri 5/30/2008 10:41p	Regarding Hunny Hunt and GPS, I don't think that either Hunny Hunt or Aquatopia use GPS. When people say "uses GPS" I think they mean some sort of RF-based system based on similar technology, and not the actual GPS system operated by the US military. At some point, someone in the know probably explained this as being "similar to GPS" and this through the game of telephone got changed to "Hunny Hunt uses GPS." The fact that the attraction is inside a building is enough to rule out actual GPS use. But as an aside, I do think that GPS would theoretically be usable for an outside attraction under normal conditions. A combination of a differential GPS base station local to the attraction and carrier phase locking receivers would be enough to provide location and navigation to sub-centimeter accuracy. But the number of fixed antennae in Aquatopia seem to indicate that they probably use their own custom version of a GPS-like system.
34	WilliamK99 Sat 5/31/2008 4:47a	***Considering the changes to many of the attractions at TDS like 20k*** Wow, it really HAS been a while for me. They changed 20K? Please tell me they didn't add a song. :p<< They added Disney characters to make the ride more relevant to today's guests.
35	leemac Sat 5/31/2008 5:11a	<<Lee, what changes have they made to 20,000 Leagues? The changes to Sinbad were major, and obvious, but aside from new shows in existing venues, I don't recall changes to any attractions except Sinbad.>> They spent close to $20m re-propping the attraction, switching out the lighting and narration edits. I must admit that I had to have the new stuff pointed out to me - I would never have noticed it either. I can't remember when it was done - but it was several years ago. Always hated 20k - great queue and ride vehicles but terrible show. Just doesn't work for me on any level. Mysterious Island is an incredible work of art but both of the main attractions are a letdown - Journey should have been a feast for the eyes but instead we get some stupid jumping mushrooms and a few SFXs before we see the Lava Monster and then it is all over. It always reminds me of the third climb on Big Thunder - how much better the mine explosion could and should be. Same for Journey - they should have amped up the claustrophobia and made the effects of actually tunneling a lot better. My main beef has always been the execution of the attractions - Aquatopia is just dumb, StormRider is just a big Body Wars (with equally stupid storyline and cheesy SFX), Sindbad was the right story but executed so poorly (those ridiculously high ceilings that serve no purpose), Magic Lamp Theater (a non-existent storyline - the pre-show is actually a better experience) and a mixed-up Indy (where some of the changes - like the three-dimensional stone reliefs spitting darts rather than painted flats and the smoke ring effect are improvements but others aren't as effective - like the main chamber). They spent so much on the infrastructure and the environment that the attractions became an after-thought. However the big argument is that OLC totally missed the opportunity to provide guests what they wanted - another cute fantasy park a la TDL. TDS just doesn't resonate with the guests in the same way that TDL does. I'm not saying that they should have followed that route - but the argument is there.
36	leemac Sat 5/31/2008 5:14a	And SD is right - it isn't technically GPS. It is a local positioning system that was developed for Hunny Hunt. Hence why it kept breaking down. And still does in the case of Aquatopia.
37	X-san Sat 5/31/2008 5:39a	**No - they added a drop!** lol. The Sindbad Syndrome!
38	leemac Sat 5/31/2008 5:42a	^^ Considering the size of that show building they could have done!!
39	X-san Sat 5/31/2008 6:08a	***My main beef has always been the execution of the attractions - Aquatopia is just dumb, StormRider is just a big Body Wars (with equally stupid storyline and cheesy SFX), Sindbad was the right story but executed so poorly (those and ridiculously high ceilings that serve no purpose), Magic Lamp Theater (a non-existent storyline - the pre-show is actually a better experience) and a mixed-up Indy (where some of the changes - like the three-dimensional stone reliefs spitting darts rather than painted flats and the smoke ring effect are improvements but others aren't as effective - like the main chamber). They spent so much on the infrastructure and the environment that the attractions became an after-thought.*** ***Mysterious Island is an incredible work of art but both of the main attractions are a letdown*** Funny thing is that I can totally appreciate all these comments (except I'd probably be less harsh on Journey and Indy...two first class Disney experiences warts and all imho), and yet it doesn't diminish my love for DisneySea. DisneySea and Epcot are the two parks that I can happily walk into, ride very few or no rides at all, and still come out feeling like it was money well spent. Just the overall vibe, I guess. I'm not saying rides aren't important..far from it..BUT the grand enjoyment of just strolling around both these first rate parks is worth the price of admission alone. Reason why as much as I miss Horizons, Cranium Command (one of MY personal "must see" things of WDatedW), the entire Wonders of Life pavilion, and as much as I think the new version of Spaceship Earth totally sucks, don't really dig the cartoonization of the Living Seas whatsoever and, in general, don't really see the new stuff in future world as much of an improvement, I still love the place. That's also why, where you wrote about how you'd take certain attractions at DCA over the ones at DisneySea I could appreciate THAT point as well, but I'd still chose a day at DisneySea over a day at California Adventure every time.
40	leemac Sat 5/31/2008 6:43a	^^ And (you'd probably be surprised to hear this!) you were the target audience for TDS. Steve Kirk was adamant that the environmentality was the key to the park's success. He wanted an immersive environment that people could just wander around. It is actually a little prophetic considering that the biggest long-term problem facing TDR is the aging population in Japan and the fact that thrill rides will probably diminish in popularity due to this. The master plan for TDL is going to add a lot more environmental additions like benches, shade etc. I just wish the balance between the infrastructure and the attractions had been better balanced. The reason why there are elements of DCA I truly love - the Golden State area for one - is that the narratives are open - you can explore a little and can reach your own conclusions like why Fly 'n' Buy is the way it is or the totems in the Challenge Creek area. TDS is exceptionally closed in that respect - everything is there. You know down to the smallest detail what everything is and why it is there. Plus I can't forgive the volcano behind Cape Cod Cookout. :-)

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