djbrcace1234 Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 Seeing that Carsland will soon make its way into DCA, I just have say I have come to the realization that I do truley miss the Rocket Rods, even if it was somewhat dull (at least now it would be.) My question is this though, Was the 98 expansion a good addittion, or did it do more harm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatdaddy Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 Rocket Rods pretty much sucked, If I'm not mistaken Disney is going to try and undo what's been done in Tomorrowland, or something to that effect. The new Star Tours will be a great start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coaster-crazy Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 My father and many other of my friends who had gone to Disneyland when Rocket Rods was open, loved it. I think the one thing that did hurt Tomorrowland was the closure of that ride. All that did was leave a big eye sore throughout the entire area. If they kept that ride up and running(or found a way to), the land I believe would be better now than it is without that ride going. ...that, and Astro Orbiter getting moved down to the front of the land. That ride truely belongs back where it did before, up above the Rocket Rods station, in the middle of Tomorrowland. But that's just my opinion. ~Nicholas p.s. I never rode Rocket Rods, however, I would've been to young to remember it anyways.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Cow Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Yeah, having finally gone to both Tomorrowlands, I've found the difference in flow in design between the two are incredible. Disney World's is wonderfully done and really conveys the whole movement symbolism, while the Disneyland one seems like they just threw together all the popular Disney World rides and took all the symbolic rides out. Rocket Rods fits here, as although I've heard it sucked, it's predecessor was pretty legendary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry_Gumball Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 I think the Tomorrowland makeover was still in progress when I went. It was spring break of 1998 when I went, and my main thing was to ride Space Mountain...and Rocket Rods...but RR was still probably under construction. There however was just too much gold going on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatdaddy Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 ^^^If you never rode it, why the nostalgia, when I see the track i think of the people movers that were there for many years, not rocket rods, which a lot of people don't even remember. I have heard rumors of returning the rockets to their proper place, but of course all the old stuff has been removed and it would take a major project to do that. Also, there have been many plans to use the existing People Mover track for another ride, I have heard everything from theming it The Incredibles to Tron, even Star Wars. From what i understand the track is still useable and I have heard from some of the monorail drivers that they have seen the track being looked at, but for what reason they don't know. Anyway, all rumor and speculation as far as i can tell, at least for the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
testtrack321 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 The original plans for the referb were to be amazing, instead costs were cut and we got this crap. I forget who posted the plans (maybe Jim Hill) but I can't find them right now. Three rides closed, one new one put in that was quickly closed. Added one showplace that's always empty. HISTA. *sigh* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djbrcace1234 Posted July 2, 2010 Author Share Posted July 2, 2010 Still, TL 98 brought new additions that also help reunite such a pale area. It brought use back to America Sings building, and the old mission to Mars attraction. I know that Rocket Rods was a total failure, but at least it fell under the Motto behind Tommorrowland. How Buzz lightyear claims title in such a land still puzzles me, but at least it is a crowd faviorte. Just my thoughts though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeoplemoverMatt Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Buzz Lightyear fits in Disneyland's Tomorrowland the same way that Monsters Inc. fits in Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland - it kinda doesn't, but better that than an empty facility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatdaddy Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 One more note while on the subject of how Buzz fits, and again rumors and speculation, but I've also heard they might theme it more like Sci-fi than future, which I think would give them a lot more leeway in what they could get away with and still be within the theme. I think all the rumors are basically saying that Disney knows they want to change it, but they haven't yet decided what directions to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarmor Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 I always thought buzz light year fit in since its space themed...like astro orbiter and space mountian, which is also space themed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBJ Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 I appreciated the concept, but felt that the execution was lacking at the time. Having see HISTA at WDW, was dissapointed that it showed up at DL, and not something new. RR could have been great. The focus on putting another thrill ride was exciting, then I waited 3 hours to ride it. Wasn't as thrilling as I had hoped. Hopeful with the advances in tech, that a proper RR can be built there. Disney has kept that SBNO eyesore since 2001. Time to take it down at the very least. Although I suppose with Buzz Lightyear now in the RR "q", where would people line-up for any new attraction in that space? 1998 was also the year they closed the Subs, which at the time was a huge dead space in the middle of the land that lasted a very, very long time. Innovations was and will forever be a waste of space at DL. Talk about selling part of the park just to advertisers! Hope one day there can be a real attraction in the building once again. Also, losing Mission to Mars was a suprise. While not the greatest attraction, I thought more could have been done with it instead of opening another eatery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djbrcace1234 Posted July 2, 2010 Author Share Posted July 2, 2010 "A vista into a world of wondrous ideas, signifying man's achievements.... A step into the future with predictions of constructive things to come. Tomorrow offers new frontiers in science, adventure, and ideals, the atomic age, the challenge of outer space and the hope for a peaceful and unified world." - Walt Disney's Tomorrowland Dedication Speech - July 17, 1955 Buzz lightyear, despite having a futuristic look, it's just a character; a simple action figure. DBJ- I agree with you completely! However I wasn't suprise HISTA came. Just like most chained parks have thier relocation programs, Disney will always duplicate most to all rides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAL Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 TL 98 was an utter failure. The area went from vibrant and full of kinetic motion to a hollow wasteland. As others mentioned, even prior to the closure of that monument to half measures Rocket Rods, Disney management shuttered multiple attractions (not all at once), only to replace them with corporate advertising space, an already aging 4D movie, and a mediocre restaurant. But who could forget that state of the art fountain and giant marble in the plaza? Please! The mall down the street had one just like it. Utter fail - a dozen years later much of the damage is undone, but the heart of the land remains dead and still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djbrcace1234 Posted July 2, 2010 Author Share Posted July 2, 2010 ^ I have to agree as well. As soon as Rocket Rods closed, everything was lost. Nothing still has yet to reunify the area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatdaddy Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 First off, I don't think Rocket Rods was ever the amazing ride that was going to save TL. The fact is that Rocket Rods was half a$$ed by Disney after they lost sponsorship that was supposed to pay for the People Mover track to be banked, which cause the ride to have to brake hard in the turns, and pretty much the braking lead to the ride breaking. Had it been done properly I'm sure it would have been a great ride, but what was actually built was mediocre at best. I would take the People Mover and Adventures Through Inner Space over Rocket Rods any day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big So-So Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 I was a disgusted 15-year-old when I visited Tomorrowland in 1998. The new color scheme made me sick, and I hated Rocket Rods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djbrcace1234 Posted July 3, 2010 Author Share Posted July 3, 2010 Fatdaddy, You have it right. The Big So-So, I too was dissapointed, but if Disney put in the money that was intentionally planned for the ride, it would have been a much better ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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