Many masterpieces of Imagineering age like wonderful wines, getting higher and turning into much more iconic over time. However, there are plenty of rides at Walt Disney World that haven’t fared so nicely, as a substitute turning into more and more outdated and even out of date. This record covers the sights–each large and small–which can be in want of overhauls or outright replacements.
There are a spread of causes that some sights at Walt Disney World age higher than others. A trio of Magic Kingdom classics–Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Jungle Cruise–all exemplify rides enhancing with every passing 12 months, turning into beloved by a complete new era of followers.
It can be straightforward to attribute that to 1 commonality, that every one have acquired film variations to maintain curiosity excessive. While that’s definitely true of the Johnny Depp and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson helmed franchises, it’s not honest to say the identical applies to Haunted Mansion. It didn’t enter the cultural zeitgeist due to a film adaptation nobody noticed that scored 14% on Rotten Tomatoes. But who is aware of, possibly the upcoming adaptation that includes *checks notes* Jared Leto might be what lastly places Haunted Mansion on the map!
Aging poorly just isn’t essentially indicative of an attraction’s high quality. To the opposite, many rides on this record as soon as have been nice, and nonetheless are regardless of that datedness. The commonality isn’t that they’re dangerous, however somewhat, that time has handed them by. This normally means expertise has made them out of date. There are loads of examples of older sights receiving redos that inject then-current expertise, and incongruity seems between the unique and up to date elements over time.
In different instances, sights take a very modern method to expertise that merely doesn’t maintain up years later. We may name this “The Mummy Returns Effect.” That 2001 movie leaned very a lot into bleeding edge (on the time) CGI, and the result’s Dwayne Johnson’s Scorpion King now trying prefer it was rendered by a Sega Dreamcast. Meanwhile, older movies like Jaws, E.T., Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and different outdated movies nonetheless maintain up as a result of they didn’t get carried away.
It’s an identical story with a number of the sights on this record. But let’s not get forward of ourselves. Instead, we’ll dig into the record of 10 sights at Walt Disney World which have aged poorly and are urgently overdue for an overhaul or at the least some updates…
Spaceship Earth — This slow-moving darkish journey by Audio Animatronics-heavy scenes showcasing the development of communication feels prefer it’s caught previously. Spaceship Earth was scheduled for a reimagining a couple of years in the past, which was desperately wanted. The observe is in tough form and the descent provides off deserted mall vibes, with random black mild triangles (rad!) and a sea of curtains cordoning off unused areas.
For an attraction highlighting how human communications have advanced, the best way during which the journey communicates to visitors–particularly within the finale–likewise feels antiquated. One may argue that elements of the attraction, sarcastically sufficient, fail to attach with visitors with storytelling that’s clunky and a conclusion that fails to encourage. Humanity’s shared story is a compelling one and the journey’s location inside Epcot’s iconic geodesic sphere is admittedly cool, however Spaceship Earth squanders a lot of its potential.
Purists may cringe at these criticisms, themselves (understandably) not eager to rock the boat and lose the final of Epcot’s Audio Animatronics-heavy sights. However, the present state of the second-half of the attraction is embarrassing, the script is drained, and the tacky screen-based ending is atrocious. Spaceship Earth deserves higher, and diehard followers shouldn’t must worry a refurbishment as a result of the tip consequence may, by some means, be even worse.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin – We most likely may save an honest period of time and keystrokes with one entry for all of Tomorrowland. I wish to love Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. I like the concept of it as a shooter journey that really makes use of bodily present scenes to make it participating for visitors who wish to benefit from the attraction passively. Some of the staging, props, and Audio Animatronics are actually cool. The interactivity is enjoyable, and Walt Disney World may use extra sights like this.
With that mentioned, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is basically proof of idea…that did show the idea. As different interactive shooters have adopted in its footsteps, this drained darkish journey hasn’t been modernized in over 20 years. It’s nonetheless a reimagined journey of one other reimagined journey (with some remnants of its predecessors, Delta Dreamflight and If You Had Wings, nonetheless in place). The parks in Anaheim, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai have all since iterated upon and improved the Buzz Lightyear shooter journey, and it’s long gone time for Magic Kingdom to comply with swimsuit.
Tomorrowland Speedway – Plenty of Walt Disney World followers will argue that Tomorrowland Speedway must be demolished and changed, because it takes up an excessive amount of prime actual property in Magic Kingdom. That perspective contends that the idea is outdated, and that the journey is noisy, pungent, and simplistic.
They’re proper and incorrect. Like Dumbo and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Tomorrowland Speedway is a ceremony of passage attraction that’s deserving of its place in Magic Kingdom. For youngsters, sitting within the driver’s seat and steering by a automotive course is admittedly cool. However, youngsters don’t writer blogs like this one (regardless of what the writing high quality, or lack thereof, may recommend) in order that perspective isn’t typically voiced.
Nevertheless, if Tomorrowland Speedway is deemed ‘culturally significant’ (or no matter) and worthy of a lot house in Magic Kingdom, it must be differentiate itself from dime-a-dozen go-cart rides. Replacing the fleet with trendy automobiles having placing design kinds and present scenes with character can be a begin. Make the automobiles enjoyable for all ages, and the surroundings worthy of a Sunday drive.
Journey into Imagination with Figment — If you’re visiting EPCOT for the primary time right now, it’s not possible to grasp how what seems to be a Spyro knock-off and his underwhelming attraction have such a fan following. You may simply chalk it as much as Disney Adult idiosyncrasies, very like I assume folks like Dunkin’ Donuts as a result of they’ve by no means had every other doughnuts or espresso. In each instances, there’s extra to it than meets the attention.
Figment is well-liked not for the present attraction in its present sorry state, however for the unique Journey into Imagination. If something, the truth that the journey and its star character nonetheless have a robust maintain on adults of a sure age a long time after they disappeared speaks volumes in regards to the indelible impression they left on the youth of the Eighties and Nineties.
The authentic Journey into Imagination was mesmerizing. Above all else, it was imaginative, as cliche as which may sound. As a younger youngster, I used to be spellbound by the unique, its characters, and the evocative scenes they inhabited. I keep in mind it in vivid element not as a result of my household rode it time and again (though we did!), however as a result of it was a timeless attraction that captivated visitors, sparked their imaginations, and solid lifelong Walt Disney World followers.
The substitute, Journey into Imagination with Figment, looks like it strives to harass somewhat than encourage. Ironically sufficient, it showcases the facility of creativeness…with the least imaginative and obnoxious attraction doable. What was as soon as an okay band-aid between the Figment-less Journey into Your Imagination and a brand new attraction has now outlived the unique, and is trying actually worse for put on. Everything about it’s outdated, the the primary three-quarters of the ride-through looks like one thing is lacking. What’s lacking is creativeness.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh — I’m going to say what everyone seems to be considering: Winnie the Pooh is a baller. No, you weren’t considering that? Well, solely as a result of the Walt Disney Company has completely squandered the potential of Winnie the Pooh, sidelining he and his posse’s potential for pranks and tomfoolery.
In a simply world, it will be Winnie the Pooh and never Paddington who’s beloved by generations. Think about it, what does Paddington possess that Winnie the Pooh doesn’t? Preserved jam sandwiches? Give me a break. Winnie the Pooh is a straight-up honey fiend, risking life and limb for a style of the candy stuff. Pooh is simply as laid again, chill, beneficiant, and deferential as Paddington. On prime of that, Pooh rolls deep, with a crew extra pure of coronary heart than AFC Richmond.
But I digress. The level is to not disparage Paddington, himself a world treasure, however to query why Winnie the Pooh doesn’t obtain extra love amongst Americans? This journey, that’s the reason. It is rudimentary and dated (regardless of not being that outdated), failing to showcase the center and appeal of those beloved characters. An attraction primarily based on Winnie the Pooh must be timeless, crammed with childlike surprise, and extra well-liked than Peter Pan’s Flight. We know a Pooh-centric attraction can attain these heights as a result of there’s an older one that’s precisely all of this stuff…but it surely’s at Tokyo Disneyland.
Peter Pan’s Flight – Speaking of which, that is certain to be a controversial choose. That’s very true given the enduring reputation of Peter Pan’s Flight and the truth that it instructions a number of the longest wait instances in all of Walt Disney World. It’s additionally certain to be controversial as a result of Peter Pan hasn’t precisely aged nicely as judged towards modern cultural and social requirements. But that’s not why Peter Pan’s Flight makes this record–though I do suppose there’s one easily-updatable scene that’s overdue for substitute.
Rather, Peter Pan’s Flight makes the record regardless of its reputation. As good because the attraction premise is and as particular as it’s to fly over the streets of London and Neverland, it nonetheless has unrealized potential. Plussing the journey to combine projection mapping or different lighting results–as has been finished in Anaheim, Paris, Shanghai, and Tokyo–may very well be a gamechanger. Overhauling the journey system so the flight is much less jerky and extra easy would assist with suspension of disbelief.
Imagineering bought it proper with Peter Pan’s Flight a long time in the past, and it’s a actually timeless attraction that might be loved by generations of visitors to return. That doesn’t imply that there aren’t little methods to boost the attraction to maintain the icon contemporary. Imagineering has finished precisely that with Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean over the past a number of years. It’s about time Peter Pan’s Flight left its datedness within the mud and bought an opportunity to soar increased.
Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage — This stage present retelling Beauty and the Beast in condensed kind is actually as outdated because the animated film itself. It’s satisfying, doing an enough job with choreography, performances, and dramatic styling. And in equity, not each theatrical manufacturing must be edgy or envelope-pushing to seize visitors’ consideration. Sometimes simple-but-good is greater than sufficient.
Those are honest factors, however this simply feels outdated. I can’t fairly articulate why or how, however just about all the pieces about it simply provides off Nineties vibes. In isolation, it’s troublesome to level to any particular ingredient that offers the present away as being dated. It’s the totality of all of it, and the way it contrasts with newer variations of animated films that offers it away. So many extra trendy productions have come and gone at Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line that may very well be plugged into DHS and can be a breath of contemporary air, comparatively talking.
Space Mountain — I’ve lengthy defended Magic Kingdom’s Space Mountain, which stays my favourite even in comparison with the newer variations at Disneyland and past. Although it lacks audio…and a easy journey…it makes up for that with extra character within the queue, post-show, and the journey itself. However, I’m very cognizant of the truth that that is the nostalgic in me talking.
The datedness of this darkish curler coaster goes to be thrown into even starker reduction as soon as TRON Lightcycle Run opens instantly subsequent door to it. I don’t know what the answer is, and I’d hate to lose Space Mountain and all of its historical past and iconic qualities, however having two in-the-dark curler coasters proper subsequent to 1 one other was all the time going to lead to side-by-side visitor comparisons, and the circa-1975 Space Mountain is woefully outdated as in comparison with the circa-2016 TRON Lightcycle Run.
Dinosaur — Dinosaurs deserve higher. Scientifically talking, they’re the awesomest animal of all-time (edging out hammerhead sharks, that are mainly aquatic dinosaur reboots). It’s actually exhausting to imagine that creatures so cool ever roamed the earth. I can see why dinosaur deniers are a factor, as a result of it’s simpler to reside in a world the place they by no means existed than one the place we by no means bought to see their glory and grandeur IRL.
Imagineering had the chance to rectify that, bringing dinosaurs to life in a manner that might encourage, educate, and presumably lead to world peace. There are dozens of slam dunk concepts involving dinosaurs in theme parks, and just about something that causes suspension of disbelief in visitors would’ve been wondrous to behold.
Instead, they gave us a crappy carnival and a knock-off of Indiana Jones Adventure, however with 75% of the journey in darkness. What a joke. Technically, this hasn’t simply aged poorly–it was all the time a matter of vastly squandered potential. (But the CGI from 2000’s Dinosaur undoubtedly doesn’t maintain up!)
Soarin’ Around the World — Another choose that’ll undoubtedly be polarizing given the recognition of this hang-glider simulator journey. I’m not significantly averse to Soarin’ Around the World, however the CGI, tacky animals, and distortion has worn on me over time. With every passing 12 months, both it seems to be worse or I get grumpier. Probably each, however stick to me right here.
You understand how somebody seems to be youthful proper after they’ve had a facelift (or no matter beauty surgical procedure is in style nowadays), however over time, their pores and skin begins trying faux and plastic-like? Meanwhile, the one who embraced their chuckle strains and crow’s toes seems to age gracefully? It’s the identical concept with Soarin.
I had the prospect to catch each variations days aside earlier this 12 months, and felt that Soarin’ Over California has aged much better. To make sure, it doesn’t look model new and there are little clues that it was shot within the late Nineties. However, OG Soarin’ advantages from its footage being actual movie, whereas CGI Soarin’ already seems to be dated as in comparison with newer visible results.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Do any sights at Walt Disney World strike you as significantly outdated or out of date? Think there are any newer rides which have aged poorly by advantage of leaning too closely into evolving applied sciences? Anything you suppose our record “snubbed” that belongs amongst WDW’s outdated rides? Do you agree or disagree with our record? Any questions we will help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!