Been seeing more reactions to Tiana which brings up interesting bit in that those who have actually been on it praise it more than watching video. Notable for me is Posideon Entertainment, who's been more than down on Disney in his You Tube vids, rode it and raved about it with commentators going "are you kidding" and his reply basically, "guys, I've been on the ride, you haven't, maybe I can judge it better."
This does bring up how so many seem a bit judgemental on a ride off POV vids when actually being on it so much different. Hit me as wasn't sure on DCA's Spider-Man ride on vids but enjoyed it when riding. Anyone else have the feel of a ride wary on seeing the vids than realized the actual experience so much better?
If I don’t mind being spoiled (or if the attraction is at a park I’m unlikely to visit anytime soon, if at all) then I’ll watch an on-ride POV out of curiosity or to get an idea of what to expect. But watching an on-ride POV is ultimately like watching a band play live on tv. Sure, you may love the music but nothing will compare to the in-person experience. There are sensory elements that simply can’t be reproduced on a video: ambient sound, smell, touch (when applicable), music, the mood you are in when you ride and how you and your group may feel afterwards, etc…
I think a lot of people allow online chatter to color their perception of something to the point of disliking something before ever actually trying it themselves. If someone has seen online videos and entrenched themselves in the online vitriol-spewing groupthink then I’d imagine that they’d have a hard time convincing themselves that they enjoyed the ride once they finally rode it (even if they secretly did). Perception is reality, and for many today social media decides that perception.
When my kids were younger, I would use on ride videos to show them a ride to see if they could handle it or not.
This gave them the confidence to try a new attraction.
This discussion has been archived and is no longer accepting responses.
I think you can get a good feel for most rides through a POV, but it will never replace physically experiencing an attraction in person. However, there's something to be said for establishing an expectation before experiencing an attraction in person. There also can be variability in experiencing attractions in person due to scenes in "b-mode", what train/seat your on, and even your general mood when you're riding. I've been on plenty of rides where I've been disappointed for one reason or another, and then ridden the same ride the following year and it completely changed my view of the attraction even though nothing substantial was changed.