Disneyland Resort (DL, DLR, DCA) Discussion Thread

[cfc]

I have a feeling Alien Encounter, much like the flyer saucers should have been, is an idea that's best left to memory.

 

Alien Encounter was my favorite attraction at Florida's Magic Kingdom, but it scared too many kids and ticked off too many parents.

 

That's what made it good.

Edited March 25, 2014 by cfc

[PeoplemoverMatt]

I have a feeling Alien Encounter, much like the flyer saucers should have been, is an idea that's best left to memory.

 

There just isn't much left in the ride after the balls are removed.

[WFChris]

I watch Captain EO every time I go to the park. My favorite part is when the evil queen robot thing says 'So we can all agree to your stupidity!' It's so 1980's and you can see all the parents get visibly uncomfortable when it happens. Love it.

[Nrthwnd]

It was kind of bizarre seeing CE very many decades later,

at Tokyo Disneyland - once - one with others in the 2011 tour,

and last year, my partner David relived it all, (with Neil I think)

in that tour. I managed to find something else to amuse myself.

 

We saw it together back in March of 1987 at the Imagination pavilion, EPCOT.

 

This was retro, and quite icky with plot and lines, but still.

At the time, it was a great fun addition to the US Disney parks.

[dannyboy13]

I was there last week (3 days). Now, it may just have been my timing, but every time I walked by the Captain EO queue, there was no one waiting there at all. I can't remember another trip where I didn't see people lining up for the next showing at least one time

[COASTER FREAK 11]

Did you ride it at all? There's the front queue that's never ever used. And then there's the back holding area where everyone waits. You cant see it really unless you actually go and ride it. That being said, there aren't that many people who are riding it.

[dannyboy13]

did not view it no. Just walked by it several times while on the way up the ramp to Space Mountain. I've seen it so many times at this point (and never really liked it that much in the first place, except as a kid when the whole 3D thing by itself was cool), it holds no interest to me at all.

[cfc]

Frankly, I've never liked Captain Eo and never understood all the nostalgia for it.

[urzishra]

Frankly, I've never liked Captain Eo and never understood all the nostalgia for it.

 

I did when I was a kid. I thought it was the coolest thing I did at Disney Land. I remember jumping back at some of the 3D special effects at the time.

 

But I imagine that if I watched it now, it would ruin the good memories I do have of it. Why not do a Star Wars 3D show instead?

[Jew]

Frankly, I've never liked Captain Eo and never understood all the nostalgia for it.

 

It actually terrified me as a kid. Being that it was Michael Jackson, that might have been a good thing!

[dylanreich]

Why not do a Star Wars 3D show instead?

I think the park might be hesitant to have two Star Wars 3D experiences right next to each other.

[urzishra]

Why not do a Star Wars 3D show instead?

I think the park might be hesitant to have two Star Wars 3D experiences right next to each other.

 

If not Star Wars, surely something else Disney bought up the past few years.

[cfc]

Frankly, I've never liked Captain Eo and never understood all the nostalgia for it.

 

It actually terrified me as a kid. Being that it was Michael Jackson, that might have been a good thing!

 

I just thought it was irritating; then again, I wasn't a kid when I saw it.

[dannyboy13]

Totally off topic here, but I can't be the only one who wishes they would bring back the people movers when they re do Tomorrowland. I never got on the Rocket Rods, but was always a fan of the People Movers as a kid

[WFChris]

You are not alone. The biggest contribution they provided was constant movement all over the themed area. I personally think it pushed the whole retro-future vibe.

[gisco]

Totally off topic here, but I can't be the only one who wishes they would bring back the people movers when they re do Tomorrowland. I never got on the Rocket Rods, but was always a fan of the People Movers as a kid

 

I loved the Peoplemover. A nice way to kick back for a few minutes and see Tomorrowland.

[COASTER FREAK 11]

Everyone loved them, and I'll bet they look back and wish they could have kept them open. But the simple fact is that they will probably never come back. We just have to be happy that the ride still exists in the Magic Kingdom.

 

And now with the rumored Star Wars redo of the back half of the land, its even less likely now.

[dannyboy13]

Just such a bummer. The track is still there, the queue is still there.... Someone who knows Star Wars more could think of a way to theme this to Star Wars, no?

Edited March 26, 2014 by dannyboy13

[cfc]

I think the only thing they can do with the old Peoplemover track now is remove it, which is a shame. It was a very nice, relaxing attraction.

[COASTER FREAK 11]

Some of the track is still there, and most of the queue is gone, taken up by Astro Blasters. And what track is there is completely un-usable. It would need to be demolished and rebuilt. That is the main hindrance in bringing the ride back. As well, the ride no longer has right of way though some of the old show buildings.

 

The cost to bring it back in its original spaces is very very high.

 

The issue isn't one of theme, its purely cost.

[WFChris]

^Peoplemover never really had much of a queue, what is now Astro Blasters was a queue built for the Rocket Rods, in the location of what was the relatively dumb 'Circlevision.'

[COASTER FREAK 11]

Right, I know that. The original queue was a speed ramp like in Florida coming down from the center.

 

For those that don't know what I'm talking about, here's a pic:

 

 

The original queue space is now a DVC UFO thing, an Outdoor Vending Cart and seating. So they could put it back, with tons of work. The original area was gutted for the Rocket Rods queueand a spiral staircase coming up from a tunnel under tomorrow land is there now.

 

Here is the Rocket Rods stairs where the Speed Ramp used to be.

 

[dannyboy13]

what's wrong with the track? was it damaged during building/removal of the Rocket Rods?

 

The queue I was referring to was just what is visible on the loading area, still seen from Monorail and other places

[COASTER FREAK 11]

It needs to be brought up to safety and building standards, and its apparently not possible to do that, or its not cost effective. It would have to be rebuilt. I don't think its structurally unsafe though, but they wont use the current structure as it is.

[DJeXeL]

DOSH would have a field day with the Rocket Rods track.