Theme Park Apprentice 2 Challenge 10: Fantasyland Coaster

December 30, 2010 at 8:35 AM · I'd LOVE to go on the Cave of Wonders coaster! I wish Aladdin got more attention in the parks!

December 30, 2010 at 8:45 AM · Great ideas, once again, everyone. Some things that stand out to me:

1) Anthony indicated that the current Aladdin Magic Carpets midway spinner would be removed: HUGE bonus points for him. Just taking that ride out and replacing it with nothing would be an improvement to the Magic Kingdom IMO!

2) Anthony likened his ride to Pteranadon Flyers at IOA however, the throughput on that attraction is atrocious, and the thrills minimal at best. But, the attraction he ultimately described did not sound like the Flyers except for the ride vehicle and track. I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

3) James ripped on the Jungle Cruise citing it would be too easy to improve it... major bonus for that comment!

4) The coaster James describes seems like it would be the most thrilling, offer the most variety (three tracks), and it has a launch (bonus!), however I think the height requirement (48" probably?) might put the ride out of reach for many MK visitors.

5) Dan compared his ride to Primeval Whirl, a major no-no in my book, but he recovered (a little) by putting much of the ride indoors which would improve even PW, IMHO.

6) Dan does get bonus points for choosing a nostalgic theme and bringing Toad back in a triumphant new form. I humbly disagree with Tim's statement that the idea lacks originality. Taking a defunct theme and breathing new life into it is exactly the sort of re-imagineering that keeps Disney parks at the forefront of the attendance wars.

In the end, while the choice was exceedingly difficult, I decided Anthony's Cave of Wonders coaster would be the best fit for the park. While I wish he would have given a little more detail, it just seems like this type of mostly enclosed, special effects-laden attraction will offer the most "magical" experience for guests visiting this most magical park.

Still, great job everyone. And as I have stated before, if I was a billionaire theme park mogul, I would hire you three to be on my Theme Park Advisory Board without a second thought!

December 30, 2010 at 12:05 PM · James while interesting the storyline and themeing you used would be very out of place in the magic kingdom. The idea of an attraction being an attraction and being aware of it's place and surroundings is called post modernism and in my opinion has no place in a Disney park. The only example I can think of is the tiki room under new management which offers a few winks at it being an attraction. Much to the chagrin of certain fans. Your attraction on the other hand is built on this principle. The idea that the ride was built to be a ride because the ducks were bored with other rides in their "park" besides being a terrible excuse for a ride also destroys the immersiveness of the magic kindom. In no other attraction will you find this kind of self awareness. Also an unthemed coaster (or a coaster themed to a coaster) has no place in fantasyland or even the magc kingdom for that matter. That kind of thing is found at six flags not Disney.

Also on the idea of sight lines this ride would destroy the story book village atmosphere of fantasyland with a huge loud garishly painted coaster hovering over the whole park! How would that look from frontier land? Or tomorrow land?

I really have liked a lot of your ideas but I'm afraid this is not one of them.

December 30, 2010 at 12:13 PM · I described it to Pterdon Flyers because it was the same kind of general technology. Cave of Wonders will be more thrilling than that.

Peter Pan on steroids a better example?

December 30, 2010 at 12:38 PM · Anthony, I actually saw it as more of a Harry Potter Forbidden Journey ride, but the Peter Pan comparison is just as valid.

But lots of steroids, right? And some methamphetamines for good measure? ;)

December 30, 2010 at 2:26 PM · MMMMM...Coaster Drugs!

I voted for James' idea, because unlike a certain anonymous poster above, I don't over-analyze. I voted for the coaster I'd most like to ride, because riding coasters is what I love to do. It's really that simple. And that anonymous poster, while dissing James' creation, gave no indication of what he/she DID vote for, and why.

December 30, 2010 at 4:13 PM · I LOVE the Aladdin cave of wonders coaster!!! I also think that a coaster based on Mr Toad's Wild Ride would be great, but possible only for those of who are nostalgic for the original. Most kids don't even know who Mr. Toad is!

December 30, 2010 at 4:29 PM · My 2 cents:

The Cave of Wonders I think fits better either in Adventureland or even Morrocco because of the dessert and old adventure tales that Alladin is based off of. Alladin is kind-of a hard theme for Fantasyland because it could fit better elsewhere in WDW. If the theme of the attraction is based on Jasmine or Genie not Alladin then I think it can fit in the theme of Fantasyland.

Huey, Dewey and Loui's Downhill Derby is a great theme and ride, kind-of jealous that you imagined it, but is it better placed in DHS in Magic of Disney Animation?

Mine I had a hard time with this one trying to tell of the story of Mr. Toad, retheme it and then find a design that fit the theme. Thats how I thought about doing this competition. I dont think bringing the same Mr. Toad will go over well because of the Snow White and Winnie the Pooh already there and basically there the same ride, and you can always go to Disneyland and ride the original so thats why I decided to retheme and bring it back. Now choosing the right design and type of coaster was hardest for me, do I put a tame, wild or in between coaster and then whos my main audience kids or adults? So I choose one where most will enjoy it!

December 30, 2010 at 6:24 PM · Mike, thanks for your response to Anonymous. I have just one thing to add. Anonymous, you don't think that a coaster belongs in Fantasyland, or in Magic Kingdom at all. Our assignment was to design a roller coaster for Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom. Why did you complain that I did that when that is what I was supposed to do? Boy, people say that I take this too seriously! It's supposed to be fun for all, contestants and readers.

December 30, 2010 at 8:06 PM · Without a doubt I would chose Dan's attraction! Being a CM who has worked in the MK his ride best fits into WALT's dream of the MK theme park. Some of the other attractions described do not fit into the area of Fantasyland and would need to be placed in other areas. The Derby attraction sounds great and would best fit ToonTown without a doubt while the other one would fit into adventureland. Dan's sticks to the concept of FantasyLand!

December 30, 2010 at 8:22 PM · With Toontown soon to be removed from Magic Kingdom, where are the original Disney characters supposed to call home? It seems strange to me that the only place that really seems appropriate for an attraction featuring some of them to be is at DHS, which is a very nice park, but it is NOT what most people think when they think of the Disney family. There has been so much talk about the new Fantasyland having no place for boys that I thought putting in an attraction designed by and for boys would be a welcome addition. Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Donald Duck....all soon to be homeless. How sad. Will the Disney Imagineers put some cardboard boxes for them under the bridge to Cinderella's Castle? ;+)

December 30, 2010 at 8:25 PM · And for James Rao- I put that comment about the Jungle Cruise into my proposal specially for you! I thought for sure that would buy...er, win me your vote!

December 30, 2010 at 8:36 PM · It almost worked, James, but I had to weigh your Jungle Cruise comment against Anthony's promise to remove that crappy Aladdin spinner. I had to go with Anthony on this one, but just by the slightest nudge. ;)

December 30, 2010 at 9:16 PM · Did it really come down to 1 vote?

December 30, 2010 at 9:19 PM · Just reopened poll. I knew it would close out at about 11 tonight and didn't want it left at a tie! It will close tomorrow at 12 noon ET manually.

Such a close race!!!

December 31, 2010 at 7:29 AM · As I look at this vote, for the second time this morning, I am disgusted! It seems we have another little rat playing games with the vote. When I last checked at 11 o clock last night, Anthony and Dan were tied. So I reopened the poll, hoping to break that tie, but knowing it would be extremely close. However, When I woke up, it seemed there was over 50 votes placed. And then in the past half hour, nearly another 50 placed, with the majority going in favor of Dan's attraction. I'm not going to play the blame game on Dan, because I do not believe him to be the type of person who would try to fix this competition. I believe, that this is some annonymous person who is being a bit of a jack a** right now. I will continue to try and solve this problem and eliminate people like this person who has more than likely casted over 100 votes in a manner of short time. The part that gets me the most is that its a game, the apprentices do not win 1 million dollars, nor do they have their ideas submitted to a theme park company. It is only for fun, but it still should be fair.

Now its been 65 since i've posted this...

December 31, 2010 at 10:21 AM · Perhaps the problem is that Dan is just so well liked and it isn't his fault.

He is a Disney World cast member and probably not the only Disney World Cast Member going around TPI. Some of them probably saw them, told their friends, and voted.

I also think Dan's submission really hit a spot for some people, especially cast members and Disney World fans because, lets face it, we all miss Mr. Toad. Now with the new expansion, why not give Toad a chance to return. Its still a pretty popular ride in DL so Why not plus it at WDW?

Still, this is still a silly little game so we all need to remember that!

December 31, 2010 at 10:29 AM · I have without a doub that Dan did not intend for this to happen. He still did have a great idea, but I am reporting that I saw his score go up nearly 5 percent in the matter of an hour. Obviously, there was a number of people voting for him at once, multiple times, which I don't want happening. Gaining nearly 100 votes in an hour is absurd, and automatically signifies that something fishy is going on.

December 31, 2010 at 10:40 AM · Wow, I posted a comment and it didn't even show up! His idea was spot on and I told many people to vote for him as well! His concept was Pure Disney! As a WDW CM I know what would work and what might not! Congrats Dan on a job well done!

December 31, 2010 at 10:48 AM · I have no doubt that nobody involved in this competition was responsible for the voting fiasco. I am sure that if anyone here knew who it was that they would turn them in. I know we all want to win, but I also am convinced that we all want to win fair and square. I think Tim's answer to the final vote is fair, but I'm still a little concerned about two things 1)what's to keep the "rat" from still screwing up the public vote, even if it is only one vote, and 2) there is an even number of voters. What if there is a tie for first place (3-3-2 or 4-4-0)? As close as the voting has been (before the "rat" appeared) I can see that happening.

December 31, 2010 at 7:52 PM · Okay... here is my take on this fiasco.

Some people have taken this far too seriously, and WAY too literally, as in "well THAT attraction wouldnt fit there, and I KNOW what Walt would want..." and like comments. Give me a break! I'm sorry, but just because you work for Disney does not give you magic powers to know what a man who died over 40 years ago would like. And the assertation that over 100 votes just happen to appear after the poll was reopened stinks to high heaven. I've seen this kind of behavior on other web pages.

Lastly, I don't like the idea of people commenting "anonymously".... if you have something to say be an adult and log in with a name and identify youerself. Don't hide.

Whoever the rat was that got in and screwed up the voting, I'm sure that those who wanted to participate in the next callenge that has been pulled would like to thank you for spoiling the fun.

that's what it's supposed to be, isn't it?