How To Make A Good Ride Worse
Parks do it all the time: In an effort to make an attraction better (or to save a few bucks), they "tweak" an attraction -- and make it worse. Share your horror stories of good rides gone bad.
From Joe Lane
Posted August 12, 2003 at 10:46 AM
Have you ever been on an attraction at a theme park that was good, only to ride it again at a later time and find that the parks improvements on the attraction were nowhere near what one could consider an improvement? In other words, have you ever seen a good ride take a turn for the worse?
My blog entry for this week touched upon a few Central Florida attractions that didn't quite make it, but I'd like to hear what you folks think--not just about Central Florida, but worldwide. Share your story with us.
Im sure that I sound like an ACER coaster nut when I say this. I hate trim brakes...very much. There have been a few rides that have been "tamed" by Six Flags after they took over a park. A few instances are the Revolution at Magic Mountain. I never got to ride it in it's original state...with lap bars and no trim brakes, but I hear tell of how much better it was when it was without these things. In the same park, the Viper, a wild Arrow looper, has been put on a leash. Six Flags really neutered a good ride when they took over Fiesta Texas. They installed trim brakes, and even rerouted some of the track on the Rattler. What a shame. If you really want to make a good ride bad, then install trim brakes.
From Mr. D. T.
Posted August 12, 2003 at 6:07 PM
The American Eagle at Great America I think has too many brakes. Have they always existed, or were some added a while back. I can find several unnecessary brakes on Raging Bull as well.
Of course, how can we forget the classic Journey Into Imagination be transformed into the piece-of-junk JIYI.
Two I can think of
Journey into your Imagination with Figment and Dreamfinder
Countdown to Extinction
Although I can't remember the final scene in the original Carosel of Progress, I'm sure it wasn't as lame as the one they have now where the kids watch Grandma rack up the points in a video game.
I would have to agree with another poster that i think disney ruined Journey into your Imagination and also Countdown to extinction. They were very good rides that were cheapneded/ruined.
I would also gree about American Eagle having trouble with the trims as well as Raging Bull at SGAM being slowed by trim brakes!!!
From Joe Lane
Posted August 12, 2003 at 10:08 PM
It had occurred to me that Countdown To Extinction (now Dinosaur) would fall into this category, but having never experience the attraction before the change, I didn't include it.
And while Grandma playing the video game on the Carousel of Progress is somewhat of a far shot, it does allow for the comedic value of the exploding turkey in the oven.
If I remember correctly, The Living Seas at Epcot have also had a lot of changes, including the removal of the seacabs. I don't know if this could be viewed as good or bad--any input from you folks?
The Inverts at the Busch Parks. Trims have killed both the original performances of Montu and Alphengeist
I have to disagree with one portion of your blog, Joe... the original Energy attraction was ATROCIOUS! Nothing more than a way-too-long Exxon commercial. Which was only made worse if you saw it soon after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Yes, the animatronic Ellen is bad, but the original Energy ride is a perfect definition of what needs to be removed from Epcot: rampant commercialism!
Not only is this seen in Spaceship Earth and Innoventions, of course, but other forms have crept into other attractions at Epcot. Was the Land film really improved by adding the Lion King characters? Could the Test Track post-show room be ANY more anti-climactic? Could Image Works get any worse and still be able to advertise Kodak film enough? UGH!
Other than that, JIYI and CTX/Dinosaur are probably the two most obvious examples of newer-but-not-better.
Hi Kevin!
I would like to have your opinion on sponsors. From what I understand, Walt used sponsors to finance the construction of new attractions. In return sponsors could get Disney's guests to USE OR TRY their products. For instance, you could eat their ice cream on main street. The guest did not see any problem with that because what was offered by the sponsor was in line with the theme.
In today's parks, we don't see that anymore. It is more like a showroom. You don't try or use the product, you are sold the product. This is why I guess it is irritating.
As far as Spaceship Earth I need to agree. The security voice KILLS the awe effect. It is unbelievable. It is so non show business. It is like If you would put a message in the carrousel of progress at the end of every show that says please stay seated, the theatre is about to move. Non sense.
Kevin, what do you think should be the ideal involvement of a sponsor in any ride?
MA Routhier
Montréal Canada
I may be in the minority on this one, but I really hated Tiki Birds Under New Management. I thought they should have at least let the birds sing more of the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room Song. Also I really missed "Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, It's out the door you go..."
I hate the new song in Carousel of Progress.
When we were kids, C of P was one of the few free rides at MK (the others took tickets), so we rode it until we knew the old song by heart. (The one the goes "Now is the time, now is the best time".) The new song stinks! (IMHO)
From Kelly G
Posted August 13, 2003 at 6:33 AM
Good morning. This does not really have to do with changing the attraction itself, but rather how they work the attraction. Last September (2002) I went to islands of adventure. I have muscular dystrophy which restrains me to a wheelchair, so there are very few attractions that I can actually ride(not that I care because I love it).
One of the attractions that I can go on is(was) Cat in the Hat. I have been visiting islands basically since 1999. I have always been able to go on this attraction in my electric wheelchair (not motorized scooter) without getting out. Last year, they tell me in order to go on the attraction I must transfer to a regular wheelchair which is not possible for me. I completely understand that the attractions are not geared specifically for disabled people, however when an attraction will allow somebody with a disability to go on and then makes changes, they lose many people willing to go on these attractions.
Drackenfire!First, trim brakes were added. Second, an inversion was removed. Finally it was dismantled altogether, removed from the park and smelted : ( There is no worse of an improvement to any existing attraction.
Also, trim brakes were not added to Alpengeist as stated by another poster. I have ridden Alpengeist more times than can be imagined since its opening day and the ONLY trim brakes appear after the second loop (where they are needed).
4-D Theatre!
"Pirates" was funny and watchable over and over, while "Haunted Lighthouse" sucks the shivers out of me timbers : /
Wild Thing!
Moved from Paragon Park in Boston to SixFlags America in Maryland, "Giant Coaster" (or, Wild Thing!) was one of the world's BEST out-n-back coasters until SF decided to destroy the 'drop' return and replace it with a 'banked' curve. Horriblé!
Top Spin
Themeing, yes. Water, why?!?!? ... While I have not ridden Tomb Raider, I can personally state I would not ride Top Spin while jets of water loom menecingly under my face : /
Kk
Actually, there are two sets of brakes on Alpengeist...The first set is at the top of the lift hill that is designed to reduce the stress on the train as the front of the train starts going down the hill and around the curve. The second set of brakes is the MCBR. The strength of the MCBR is probably what most people complain about. Busch Gardens has tweeked with the intensity of the brake, and if you pay careful attention, varrying conditions and different trains will cause the brakes to fire differently. When Alpengeist first opened, the MCBR used to by a fly through, similar to the way Raptor is at Cedar Point, but the MCBR has been ramped up, and most of the time, trains are significantly slowed through the MCBR. The slowing is also determined based on the number of trains on the track at once.
The same thing has happened to Montu. The most annoying trims are not actually trims, but the MCBR. The MCBR is extremely heavy on Montu, almost bringing the train to a complete stop before entering the second half of the ride. Yes, there are trims before the Batwing, but I feel that Montu's batwing still pulls really high g's even with the trims on.
Is Busch Gardens turning up the MCBRs because of complaints, or to increase the longevity of the rides? It's probably because of the latter. By slowing the trains, even slightly, you reduce the stress on the track and trains, and allowing the ride to run longer without major maintainance. Trims and MCBRs can also be used to help space out trains so that riders aren't sitting in the block before the station waiting to get off the ride. Apollo's Chariot at BGW is a great example of this. On most weekends, BGW will start the coaster off with 2 trains, and if you ride it with two trains on the track, you will notice that only 1 of the 3 brakes fires, and that's the MCBR. Later in the day if the park gets really corwded, they'll add a third train. When there are 3 trains on the circuit, all 3 brakes activate.
Trimming may be annoying, but it usually serves a purpose, and in many cases it's not to slow the train to enter and maneuver, it's just smoother to slow a train before a maneuver as opposed to during a maneuver.
What I hate is when rides are not propperly maintained, an aspect of a ride is completely changed, or when a park does not operate a ride to its full capacity despite a full park.
From Joe Lane
Posted August 13, 2003 at 9:04 AM
I may grant you that Universe of Energy was a giant Exxon commercial before the revamp, but I still don't think the newest version is any better. This may be an instance of 'How To Make A Bad Ride Better'--which is something I want to explore, but not right now. And Universe of Energy certainly isn't GOOD right now by any standards, just taken an entirely different direction--if you can't advertise the product, bring in the big name Hollywood stars.
At least you don't enter an Exxon gift shop at the end, right?
And yes, I was a little disappointed the first time I walked off Test Track and onto a show room floor. At least I've never been accousted by salespeople like at a real car dealership.
And from what I understand, The Land film was basically just something to hype up Animal Kingdom--I don't know if it still does that now or not.
From steve lee
Posted August 13, 2003 at 9:18 AM
I can't remember for the life of me what the post ride area was on World of Motion...was it a "CARS OF TOMORROW!" type display?
The only thing I remember about the prior version of Universe of Energy was the really interesting screen that had rotating tiles. I think I enjoyed watching those more than the actual dinosaur section...
From Anonymous
Posted August 13, 2003 at 10:08 AM
The PCing of Pirates of The Carribean has to be one of the dumbest 'correcting' of a ride in recent memory. Namely, the Pirates chasing the women and visa versa. Pirates never chased women unless they had food for them to eat...uh huh.
"Argh!! Shiver me timbers, lad!! Look at the superstructure on that wench....but she don' have no food!!! Never ye mind!"
Disney World bungled the make-over of the Tiki room at Disney World, but did well by simply removing the plodding Offenbach number at Disneyland. So, one down and one up there.
Same score for Disneyland's holiday make-overs. The Haunted Mansion's raising that classic to a new level, making it one of the best dark rides ever developed. But the Small World holiday make-over undermines the ride, destroying the very theme of the attraction.
But the worst make-over of an attraction I've seen recently was Knott's destruction of the Peanuts Playhouse. Granted, the old playhouse was worn and in desperate need of an upgrade. But rather than fix it, Knott's gutted it into a creepy walk-through that disturbed me and my kids. Yuck.
From Anonymous
Posted August 13, 2003 at 11:08 AM
Splash Mountain got worse when we could no longer stretch out and relax. Them tight seats got more cramped.
Now you got to have legs the bend, and make them short and you got be able to get out of a suqat position with insufficient hand holds.
I would agree that the Haunted Mansion at DL is a great addition to the ride!!!! I hope the runors are true and that wdw will get the same makeover in 2004.
But i also really enjoyed the Its a Small world makeover as well. Im not a fan of the ride normally but i really enjoyed the x-mas decorations and it was different seeing that ride having longer waits while i was there than what Indiana Jones had. Without a fastpass the wait was very long.
From Joe Lane
Posted August 13, 2003 at 6:59 PM
Regarding the Haunted Mansion Holiday coming to WDW in 2004, there's no doubt that the hype is out there--it's evident here, at Jim Hill media, and even Doombuggies.com, but according to an HM Cast Member I spoke with this past weekend, the WDW bosses have heard nothing of the positive on this at the current time.
And it disappoints me, too! Not only do I love the mansion, I'm also a die hard Nightmare fan! I'd love to see this overlay come out to Orlando myself, but chances are slim and here's why:
Disney's major competition during Halloween is Universal's Halloween Horror Nights. The test to see if Disney is making all the right moves involves seeing if they sell out during Mickey's Not So Scary Event without having to spend additional money. Last year was a sell out, which is why we won't see Nightmare this year. If this year is a sell out, Nightmare will likely be delayed yet again--you know Disney--WHY spend more money than necessary?
Disney might be pushed to the limit this time, however, according to rumors of Universal's new extreme haunted house--one where you have to sign a waiver to participate in.
Here's hoping Jack might be able to visit us in Florida next year.
I agree with Deborah-- I liked the "Now is the Time, Now is the Best Time" Song better too. It should be noted however that the current song, "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" IS the original song from when the attraction opened at the 1964 World's Fair and Disneyland and the one that Walt commisioned for the ride. The song was changed to "Now is the Time" when the attraction was moved to Disney World.
Im going to wdw in Dec 2004 sao i hope the hype/rumors are true about the halloween Haunted Mansion. I sqaw it last year at DL and it was one of the few things as of late that disney did a great job on and helped to make a classic even beter.
Jim Hill is usually right on, so I imagine it would be coming. It isn't all that expensive, and with Disney/MGM possibly getting their own Halloween event, maybe this is a way to keep everyone from just abandoning the Mickey thing at MK.
As for sponsors, I certainly don't have a problem if something is sponsored by Coke, for example, and Disney promises only to sell Coke. That's kind of like FedEx, which Disney promised to be its only overnight delivery service or some crap, in exchange for sponsorship. Don't know what kind of deals Met Life or Exxon had/have. Maybe it's just for naming rights, like sports stadiums. But having an Innoventions-like exhibit at the end of your attraction is not only tacky, but I think it takes away some of the good feelings you had to the ride. At least when you exit into a gift shop, you are still remembering the ride. Most of us like to buy stuff, right? Who likes car-shopping? Answer me that, GM!
I don't know how diveded some people were on this, but for one thing I didn't get the opportunity to ride Kennywood's Steel Phamtom in it's original state. When they revamped the now Phamtom's Revenge into a hypercoaster without the inversions, I heard from a lot of people that this made the ride less thrilling, a lot more tamer. All depends on if your a speed freak, or one for the inversions I guess.
Can you say ALIEN ENCOUNTER?
From Joe Lane
Posted August 17, 2003 at 8:16 PM
That's a good point. I myself never experienced the original attraction, but I heard there were a lot of differences between the first and this one, and Eisner had them changed.
Rumor has it a Stitch Encounter is going to replace the current attraction. I love Stitch, don't get me wrong, but Alien Encounter was a piece of original Disney Theme Park work--in no way related to any films or movies or pre-existing characters. That kind of attraction is a dying breed.
I agree with Joe.
Its nice for disney to have orginal rides and not everything based on one of their movies!!! Thats why i always enjoyed Journey into Your imagination as an example!!!
Taking the guns off the Jungle Cruise. We used to crack open the blanks and add more powder to make 'em go BLAM!
It's rather sad that political correctness made disarmed the jungle skippers. After I'd shoot the second hippo I would often turn to the crew and say: "Actually this is 38 caliber handgun. It couldn't stop a gerbil."
Since when was the Jungle Cruise a "good" ride?
;-)
Since around 1971 until around 1984-ish.
Not to mention making Pirates of the Caribbean "PC".
How about making Pirates entertaining? Was just on it with all of a 10-second wait and when it was over I said, "Well, we clearly waited too long for that ride!" I wish they would make it MORE un-PC and have the animatronics all chopping each others' heads and limbs off. Then maybe some of us who aren't entertained by 13th century robotics can have something to look at!
Okay, I was probably a little irritated by the heat, but damn if this isn't the most overrated attraction in the world!
Joe: What you say may be true, but lest we forget, the attraction was originally supposed to utilize the license from Fox's ALIEN series, thereby forgoing the need for exposition and getting right to the thrills.
From Joe Lane
Posted August 23, 2003 at 1:48 PM
Fox had an Alien series? I can't remember that--how long ago was it? I really had no idea Disney had a deal with Fox.
From Joe Lane
Posted August 23, 2003 at 1:52 PM
Sometimes, Kevin, I wonder why you go to the parks at all.
Thou hast never seen the ALIEN films? Ripley? Hudson? Nostromo? "Get away from her, you BITCH!"? Any of this ringing any bells?
Disney had licensed the characters from the ALIEN films from fox to use in their attractions (hence the xenomorph's appearance not long after the gangster/rustler hijacks your tram in the Great Movie Ride). The original project was referred to as "Nostromo," and had one of the xenomorphs running loose inside the theater. The imagineers who came up with the plan thought it would be a good idea to base the ride around a well-known character so exposition could be avoided in possible. The old-school imagineers thought this was too scary for a Disney park, and demanded the show be lightened up, thus the "X-S Tech" show that exists today.
From Joe Lane
Posted August 23, 2003 at 6:54 PM
Oh... THAT Alien... I wasn't aware it was Fox owned. Sorry--and thanks for the details. ^_^;
Hmm--for me, I guess it's the "PCing" of the Pirates of the Caribbean. As I recall, the fat pirate in the chase scene uses the same words to offer riders a turkey leg that he once used to offer them a woman: "I be willin' to share, I be!"
Is it just me, or is anybody else disturbed that a turkey leg can be so easily substituted for a woman?
Honestly, Joe... I comment how much I don't like one ride - in a frappin' thread about BAD RIDES - and you wonder why I go to the parks at all? I would have expected more from you...
From Joe Lane
Posted August 25, 2003 at 7:20 AM
The thread is called "How To Make A Good Ride Worse". The attractions in question are those who have been changed or revamped by theme park owners, and how those changes have failed to make the ride any better--on the contrary--they made the ride worse.
If you mentioned you disliked the Pirates because they no longer chased women but women with food, that would've been one thing, but going to the extreme and then calling the attraction overrated, and insulting the animatronics, that's all a whole other story--the pirates have practically been running as is for years now, despite the PC changes. And this is a Disney attraction, you won't see anybody get limbs chopped off (goes through his memory of Disney attractions), well you might get splattered with "blood", but you won't see it happen.
Lord, heaven forbid anyone should try to be a little extreme without other people acting like they are being totally serious. And heaven forbid even further that anyone go on a bit of a tangent since that NEVER happens on this site. And heaven forbid to infinity that anyone should ever post an opinion of a single thing without someone turning it into something far beyond the scope of what was said.
From Joe Lane
Posted August 27, 2003 at 6:36 AM
Kevin, as a journalist and researcher, you're very talented and that's respectable, but your brand of sarcastic humor is just so strong sometimes, I can't tell when you're serious or not. Forgiveness, please.
From Anonymous
Posted August 29, 2003 at 9:54 PM
Anyone ridden Minebuster at PCW lately?...'nuf said!
From Ben Mills
Posted August 30, 2003 at 4:01 AM
Having never ridden Pirates at DL, I can't comment on that, but when I rode WDW Pirates, I was appaled at its crummyness. Someone please tell that DL's is better! They should really update it taking note of Paris' version, which is great. Still, more fire for the purists, I guess.
pirates is really good at paris but i really dont see the point of taking a photo from that skull head thay should do it as you are coming down the drop!
From Ben Mills
Posted August 30, 2003 at 12:31 PM
Yeah, I noticed that had been added too. It's about time, but a better place would be near one of the drops.
DL's is definitely better, but that's all relative. There is a lot more spooky mood-inducing stuff at the beginning, which is cool. Maybe it's just me but unmoving skeletons are just more entertaining than moving unrealistic robots.
And I used to really enjoy the ship scene, but the cannonballs dropping around you now only go "bloop" in the most ineffectual manner that it does nothing but make you realize how old this ride is. I think most of the rest is the same, with probably more animatronics here and there at DL. MK's is so short and pathetic.
So what makes Paris's so special? Please 'splain.
From Joe Lane
Posted August 30, 2003 at 12:51 PM
I rode the Pirates at DL long, long ago, during a vacation to California that I can barely recall. I do remember the New Orleans theme, of course, and it was so much more impressive than WDWs "paper-mache cave". Granted Pirates is still a nice ride, but there's a magic about DLs that makes it better.
Fireflies, perhaps.
From Anonymous
Posted September 2, 2003 at 11:12 AM
I have to agree with Kevin on the pathetic nature of the cannonballs on the POTC ride. I just got back from Disneyland (I live in Portland). We rode this a couple of times, but the cannonballs merely make you look in the direction of the water sound - "bloop" is a perfect description, although that might even be an overstatement. In no way does it make you feel as though you are in the middle of a battle. On the otherhand, I still think it's a pretty neat ride.
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