Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

[pussnboots]

Apparently, the next big thing at the Studios (for the next three/four years or so, I suppose) is going to be Soarin'. Am I the only person who's not too thrilled about this?

The WDS has one too many attractions with bare queues, awful, force-fed pre-shows and mediocre show-shows. It gives you nothing to explore on your own and instead treats you like an idiot as it takes you by the hand on guided tours through backstage areas that have no on-stage areas while teaching you as much about movie-making as Sesame Street could teach you about counting. Soarin', while a much nicer ride than your average Armageddon: Special Effects, won't really fill any gaps in that area.

What I think it does need desperately is an upgrade for Art of Animation. I know there's not a lot of love for DCA, but there's no arguing with the fact that it has the best version of this attraction on the planet. If it had DCA's Animation building, it would have a proper, fun, interesting place to explore that would give the park something of a raison d'etre as well as a worthy competitor to Disneyland Park's "on-stage" rides. And what could be closer to the heart of a fake Disney Studios park than this marvelous pavilion?

I'll take it over Soarin' any day, at least.

[Zarniwoop]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

From what I've heard, before any new rides there will come some sort of overlay for Cinemagique and Stitch Live! area. It has a working title "Theatre District" so maybe it will give something to explore? Soarin will be part of this area later.

Placemaking should start early next year.

[pussnboots]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

From what I've heard, before any new rides there will come some sort of overlay for Cinemagique and Stitch Live! area. It has a working title "Theatre District" so maybe it will give something to explore? Soarin will be part of this area later.

Placemaking should start early next year.

Yes, apparently the Hollywood Boulevard sets have already proven so successful that they'll continue the formula for Production Courtyard. I'm expecting facades inspired by famous Hollywood theaters, and hoping for a shop or restaurant or two, personally. But we'll see.

Cinemagique certainly deserves nicer packaging, that's for sure. Let's hope for the best.

[milo_vhw]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

What I think it does need desperately is an upgrade for Art of Animation. I know there's not a lot of love for DCA, but there's no arguing with the fact that it has the best version of this attraction on the planet. If it had DCA's Animation building, it would have a proper, fun, interesting place to explore that would give the park something of a raison d'etre as well as a worthy competitor to Disneyland Park's "on-stage" rides. And what could be closer to the heart of a fake Disney Studios park than this marvelous pavilion?

I'll take it over Soarin' any day, at least.

I couldn't agree more on this one puss! Disney chose a 'Behind the Magic'-theme for the second gate. Then why are the attractions that offer a behind the scenes look lacking in many aspects?! As you said Art of Animation needs a big make-over, and the Tram Tour is definitely not what it should be!
Instead of spending big bucks on an E-ticket that doesn't even fit the theme, please fix the original attractions first. Since they represent what the whole park is about! For the same amount of money they can upgrade Art of Animation, add at least one new scene to the Tram Tour (Journey to the Center of the Earth, anyone?) and might even sprouse up the Backlot area!
A park doesn't suddenly makes sense by just adding an attraction!

[yesitsme]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

Well it looks like Boarin' has been put on hold for the time being (although I'd feel a lot better if they announced that it's never gonna happen) and the current rumours suggest some kind of Toy Story Midway Mania Attraction but possibly with a different theme (Monsters Inc?) or perhaps even a Ratatouille attraction.

I agree the park needs more placemaking before they add another attraction, I can't see placemaking taking more than 2008-2010 to complete though and I guess they could build a new attraction at the same time?

I just hope that they add some proper full street sets like in the old MGM plans.

[nathan detroit]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

I'm with you Puss. After all, it was me who coined the phrase "Boarin'"! And I'm damned proud of that!

[Peterwhite171]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

Soarin was a great attraction when I first went on it, but it has Zero re-rideability. It's fun, but I find it rather lame now.

[pussnboots]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

I couldn't agree more on this one puss! Disney chose a 'Behind the Magic'-theme for the second gate. Then why are the attractions that offer a behind the scenes look lacking in many aspects?! As you said Art of Animation needs a big make-over, and the Tram Tour is definitely not what it should be!
Instead of spending big bucks on an E-ticket that doesn't even fit the theme, please fix the original attractions first. Since they represent what the whole park is about! For the same amount of money they can upgrade Art of Animation, add at least one new scene to the Tram Tour (Journey to the Center of the Earth, anyone?) and might even sprouse up the Backlot area!
A park doesn't suddenly makes sense by just adding an attraction!

I would love to see the Tram Tour improved as you envision. But personally, I feel animation is what Disney is all about in its purest form, and the WDS (in Paris, at least) is the ideal place for any fun, yet educative experiences Disney might cook up in that field. Any park can fake a studio tram tour with props strewn about, but DCA's Animation building, that's Disney and only Disney.

It gives the park a reason to be; while the Disneyland Park is (and all MK parks are for that matter) memorable in its own right, the WDS could be the place where people are reminded of the way they felt when they for instance saw Lady & the Tramp for the first time. Then they could go next door for a three-dimensional interpretation of that film called Pizzeria Bella Notte. What I'm trying to say is, a certain portion of the park could be like a Disney animation museum* with coolness, nostalgia and fun thrown in. The current Art of Animation attraction just does not suffice.

I'm with you Puss. After all, it was me who coined the phrase "Boarin'"! And I'm damned proud of that!

Ah, so it was you then. You know, back in 1992 I once called Euro Disney a "cultural Chernobyl"... I wonder if that ever caught on?

*which most first-timers think it is, anyway.

[Pressler69]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

They should not be turning Disney Parks into carbon copies of each other. And if they are, they should be plussing these attractions to make them better or unique to each park.

[Malin]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

When is it said the next attraction will be Soarin. As its the complete oposite to what I've been hearing. The next attraction is supposed to go in the back of the Studios next to the Stunt Show and is going to be a lot like the Toy Story/Midway Mania attraction thats currently being built in the DHS and DCA.

[pussnboots]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

When is it said the next attraction will be Soarin. As its the complete oposite to what I've been hearing. The next attraction is supposed to go in the back of the Studios next to the Stunt Show and is going to be a lot like the Toy Story/Midway Mania attraction thats currently being built in the DHS and DCA.

From DLRP Magic:

I doubt they'll be building two more E-tickets "within a few years" after just having finished the (for ED standards certainly) immensely expensive ToT. But if Toy Story Mania turns out well, I hope you're right.

[Malin]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

Sorry but what creadible sources do DLRPMAGIC.com have in regards to this ?

Soarin is not coming to the Studios first I can assure you of that!

[pussnboots]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

Sorry but what creadible sources do DLRPMAGIC.com have in regards to this ?

Soarin is not coming to the Studios first I can assure you of that!

There is a set of know-it-alls on their forums who have been right before. But again, I hope you're right.

[Kinoo]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

Malin, I don't know what your sources are, but they're kind of wrong. Soarin' definitely IS coming to the Studios. That's the next big thing the imagineers will be working on after TOT, Playhouse and a rumored C ticket that could be build with the money left from the 250 millions euros allowed to the expansion.

[soundtracker]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

Kinoo! Bienvenue sur notre petit forum anglophone. Ca fait bien te voir ici. (Maintenant, il ne faut qu'amener La Rouquine avec toi!) mdr.

I've heard a few rumours about a proposed C-ticket ride for the Studios. Any idea what it could be? I'm guessing something for Toon Studio.

[Kinoo]

[TDR_Fan]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

Would Soarin' be an exact copy of the ones in California Adventure and Epcot, or would they change it to reflect the European audience?

[CheriBibi]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

there was words about Soaring Over The World renaming... To make sure it could go with any audience. Soaring over different regions of the world would be sweet. I always thought they should have done it for WDW, for an attraction about California there seems rather... rushed into addition. Don't think it would have taken them too long to create anther movie/ride program.

Sure hope they eventually do it for Europe. Soaring is a great attraction, and europeans seems to really enjoy screen/simulator rides. The Futuroscope here is a very popular amusement park, and it's only about screen projection rides... Soaring would be the perfect competition.

[TDR_Fan]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

My main complaint about Soarin' is that it has no cohesive storyline at all and very bare theming. The transitions are so jarring and abrupt that it's not clear if you are actually flying in real life, or it's all just a test program to try out the hang gliding technology.

[Pressler69]

Re: Post-ToT WDS: Soarin' over good sense

My main complaint about Soarin' is that it has no cohesive storyline at all and very bare theming. The transitions are so jarring and abrupt that it's not clear if you are actually flying in real life, or it's all just a test program to try out the hang gliding technology.

The transitions have to be tolerated or you wouldn't have the wide range of locations featured in Soarin' Over California. They could have had you exit through the clouds in each scene and descend from the clouds at the start of each scene but I think that would look tacky.

You're right about the bare theming. I remember Soarin' was originally supposed to have a skylight that showed different planes taking off and landing. It still has a skylight, but no such activity. The pictures of aviation legends is interesting, but you can get that sort of thing at any aviation museum.

Soarin' is still one of the few E-Tickets at DCA. I do think of it as a prototype. After all it was a first. The ride system is especially interesting to me. The story goes that an Imagineer build the first model of Soarin's ride system out of a Knex set.