[Question] Any post-refurbishment disappointments?

[DrFink]

Are there any rides you loved that were closed for a major refurbishment and you wound up real disappointed after experiencing the updated ride?

The main one for me is Star Tours. I have loved Star Tours since I was a little kid (Star Wars geek tbh) and when I rode the new 3D Star Tours this past March I walked away real upset. It wasn't so much the 3D, although I find the 3D unnecessary, but the way they mix and match the Star Wars movies in each take annoyed me the most. The one time I rode it we started in Episode V and then it flipped into Episode II and ended with Episode I. I wish they would have just left it alone or at least taken the time to keep the continuity. If you start in the original trilogy then you should stay there for the whole ride. The point is to have a different experience every time. If you got an original storyline and wanted a prequel storyline then all you need to do it hop back in line and ride it again.

[DaHatTrick]

Re: Any post-refurbishment disappointments?

I havent been able to go to Disneyland lately, but Im quite disappointed with the refurbishment of the Matterhorn.

[DrFink]

Re: Any post-refurbishment disappointments?

I watched an on-ride video of the new Matterhorn on YouTube and it didn't look that different to me. I mainly noticed the different train cars and the "snow."

[DisneyIPresume]

Re: Any post-refurbishment disappointments?

I watched an on-ride video of the new Matterhorn on YouTube and it didn't look that different to me. I mainly noticed the different train cars and the "snow."

It doesn't look different, but believe me -- it feels different. And not in a good way.

[DrFink]

Re: Any post-refurbishment disappointments?

It doesn't look different, but believe me -- it feels different. And not in a good way.

Yikes. I'm set to return in October so I guess I will find out.

[Bronco21]

Re: Any post-refurbishment disappointments?

I found the Matterhorn to be my best experience with refurbs. We got new sleds that are less padded but I found them just as uncomfortable as the old ones, we got a new single rider line (which is awesome!), a complete repaint of the mountain, and enhanced lighting effects that makes the yeti's more exciting. Most of my experience with refurbs have been that most of the time they barely do anything noticeable. Matterhorn, Star Tours (I disagree on this one), and Space Mountain are they only major refurbs that I have been really happy about.

As for being very disappointed with a refurb I would say its a small world, Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, and Tarzan's Treehouse. It's a small world's addition of characters kind of defeated the purpose of the attraction. Pirates additions of Johnny Depp animatronics were well done but unnecessary and now many think that the ride came after the movie which is pretty upsetting for me (idk why). Finding Nemo was revitalization of one of my favorite attractions and was said by Disney to be a major e-ticket attraction. It wasn't even as good as the original attraction. The projections were cool, but only cool for the first few rides. They turned an underwater adventure into a underwater movie... Tarzan's treehouse actually could have been a lot better had they decided to not include the cheap statues and annoying sound effects. I just hated the idea as a whole since I love Swiss Family Robinson's treehouse.

[calsig31]

Re: Any post-refurbishment disappointments?

Lets see, there were several:

The Motorboat Cruise was turned into the Motorboat Cruise to Plywood Gummy Glenn Bears.

Small World was turned from a message of peace through the world's children into Find the Hidden Disney Character.

The Rocket Jets were turned into Block the Walkway Astro Orbitor.

And then there was the refurb of the Rocket Rods . They went down for refurbishment and we got a new ride, the Stand in the Shade Under the Crumbling Track Rride.

[DrFink]

Re: Any post-refurbishment disappointments?

I found the Matterhorn to be my best experience with refurbs. We got new sleds that are less padded but I found them just as uncomfortable as the old ones, we got a new single rider line (which is awesome!), a complete repaint of the mountain, and enhanced lighting effects that makes the yeti's more exciting. Most of my experience with refurbs have been that most of the time they barely do anything noticeable. Matterhorn, Star Tours (I disagree on this one), and Space Mountain are they only major refurbs that I have been really happy about.

As for being very disappointed with a refurb I would say its a small world, Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, and Tarzan's Treehouse. It's a small world's addition of characters kind of defeated the purpose of the attraction. Pirates additions of Johnny Depp animatronics were well done but unnecessary and now many think that the ride came after the movie which is pretty upsetting for me (idk why). Finding Nemo was revitalization of one of my favorite attractions and was said by Disney to be a major e-ticket attraction. It wasn't even as good as the original attraction. The projections were cool, but only cool for the first few rides. They turned an underwater adventure into a underwater movie... Tarzan's treehouse actually could have been a lot better had they decided to not include the cheap statues and annoying sound effects. I just hated the idea as a whole since I love Swiss Family Robinson's treehouse.

I agree about It's a Small World. I am not a fan of the ride to begin with and try to avoid it whenever I go but the addition of the Disney characters like Aladdin and the toys from Toy Story isn't even relevant to the ride.

[gatheringrosebuds]

Re: Any post-refurbishment disappointments?

As for being very disappointed with a refurb I would say its a small world, Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, and Tarzan's Treehouse. It's a small world's addition of characters kind of defeated the purpose of the attraction. Pirates additions of Johnny Depp animatronics were well done but unnecessary and now many think that the ride came after the movie which is pretty upsetting for me (idk why). Finding Nemo was revitalization of one of my favorite attractions and was said by Disney to be a major e-ticket attraction. It wasn't even as good as the original attraction. The projections were cool, but only cool for the first few rides. They turned an underwater adventure into a underwater movie... Tarzan's treehouse actually could have been a lot better had they decided to not include the cheap statues and annoying sound effects. I just hated the idea as a whole since I love Swiss Family Robinson's treehouse.

Lets see, there were several:

The Motorboat Cruise was turned into the Motorboat Cruise to Plywood Gummy Glenn Bears.

Small World was turned from a message of peace through the world's children into Find the Hidden Disney Character.

The Rocket Jets were turned into Block the Walkway Astro Orbitor.

And then there was the refurb of the Rocket Rods . They went down for refurbishment and we got a new ride, the Stand in the Shade Under the Crumbling Track Rride.

I second all of these.

[Mr Wiggins]

Re: Any post-refurbishment disappointments?

Lets see, there were several:

The Motorboat Cruise was turned into the Motorboat Cruise to Plywood Gummy Glenn Bears.

Small World was turned from a message of peace through the world's children into Find the Hidden Disney Character.

The Rocket Jets were turned into Block the Walkway Astro Orbitor.

And then there was the refurb of the Rocket Rods . They went down for refurbishment and we got a new ride, the Stand in the Shade Under the Crumbling Track Rride.

Bingo x 4.

Pirates of the Caribbean was turned into Promotion of the Film Franchise. The Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse was turned into a Tarzan Disney Store Display. And after decades of neglect, the Submarine Adventure thru Liquid Space was turned into the Finding Nemo Underwater Kiddie Kartoon Video Rehash -- a $150 million exercise in dumbing-down which Tony Baxter proclaimed a "major E-Ticket."

But doubtlessly Disney's biggest brainfart was Small World, where a blue cartoon alien with anger issues was product-placed in a UNICEF-inspired homage to the world's children. Topping their own bad taste, not only did Disney fib to the fans about what would be included in that "upgrade," but Marty Sklar himself bashed the complainers in a letter at the time.

[gomezaddams]

Re: Any post-refurbishment disappointments?

The Matterhorn is a complete loss. If you completely discount the tortuous new sleds, the attraction is painfully slow. Ignoring the lumbar & hip torment that lasted 45 minutes after disembarking, we left the ride in total disbelief of the lack of thrills the attraction now holds. I can stand some physical discomfort for a good attraction, but there is no way that i will endure any discomfort for the 'Horn as it now stands. The net effect to the positive side of the refurb balance sheet is that Harold now has a couple of new colored strobe lights. That lasts a bit under two seconds. This was a six month refurb & the only thing that they succeeded in doing is to completely screw it up.