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Fantasyland Expansion - Part 2

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brian G.
  • Start date Start date Sep 3, 2012
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Scarletwebslingr

Scarletwebslingr

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #621
ReelJustice said:
^Nailed it
Click to expand...

^disagree

Other then the antlers (a staple of the tavern long before Potter), Gastons was nothing like Hogshead or Broomsticks aesthetically. It wasn't lacking detail, it simply wasn't meant to look dingy like Broomsticks/Hogshead (it also isn't as large because, unlike Brooksticks, it isn't the only restaurant in town). It's a swank tavern for a swank fellow. Now the mermaid queue is lame because doesn't match the ride? His review addressing the "Disney Fanboys" seems to be written in true Unifanfoy-fashion. This isn't a "Potter swatter" at all. That is to imply they are going after Potter's demographic for direct competition. They aren't. This is meant to pick up MK's usual demographic of little kids. Avatar, on the other hand seems more the "Potters swatter" since it too is a hot(was, anyhow) 3rd party property aimed at an older demographic and will likely have alcohol and thrill rides readily available, not to mention be it's own land.
 
Last edited: Oct 16, 2012
rhino4evr

rhino4evr

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #622
SeventyOne said:
Made if over to soft opening last night. First, for all the fanbois who insisted this was NOT a "Potter Swatter"--they doth protest too much. In person, the "feel" of the new land is exactly like WWoHP, albeit without the soul. The restaurant was closed, but standing at the bottom of fake rockwork behind gates, looking up at a forced perspective castle--the only sense I get is "this is just like Potter."

On to what was open...

Gastons. Fountain is cute, interior feels like a less detailed rip-off of Hogs head, down to the large round table in the corner. The dark, rustic look and feel is far more Potter than B&tB. I didn't see any cute little easter eggs from the movie. The "Disney details" that made attractions from Pirates to the Adventurers Club so awesome is missing--these feels like a Chuck E. Cheese version of the Hogs Head.

I kind of like the base of LaFou's Brew. The apple slush has some caramel notes that help it, although it is very sweet. But the mango foam does not compliment it at all. And they escallop it on top, like Duchess Potatoes, completely destroying the illusion that it's a naturally rising foamy head on the beverage. In other words, it's clearly not done for show--to create the illusion that this is actually a beer-like liquid--but because Butter Beer has foam on top of slushee and, hey, that sells.

Mixed emotions on the gift shop. Glad to see a return of stores that aren't entirely plush (although there is a corner). But nothing in it says "B&tB". Sure it feels like medieval Europe, but the Europe of Medieval Times or, you guessed it, Hogwarts, not Fantasyland. It feels like a shop out of Harambe Village plopped down at the exit to the Jungle Cruise, just incongruous. The new Main Street magic shop and Spongebob Storepants, to name two, do a much better job of integrating a gift shop to characters.

Exterior of Mermaid is awesome. Not getting the love for the queue tho. Sure, like Pirates, it's long and detailed--but the details are all highly realistic. That doesn't match the ride to come. Again, incongruous, perhaps the best word to describe FLE (or second best behind "rip-off"). All of Ariel's treasures look real--that doesn't jive with the candy-colored plastic version of her world we're about to visit.

There are two ways to do dark rides. Hyper-realistic--Pirates, Carousel of Progress, Countdown to Extinction--or hyper-stylized--Small World, Cat in the Hat, Splash Mountain. Mermaid is neither. Most of the decor just looks like cheap plastic, there's no thematic consistency. The first two Ariels look creepily like sex dolls. The Ursula sequence works very well, and "Kiss the Girl" is alright, but it would have been 100 times better with real water effects ala Splash Mountain. And by slowing the ride down to extend ride time, you just have more opportunity to realize how limited the movement of the animatronics are. Overall, not that much of an improvement over the 40-year-old Snow White ride they just demolished. In terms of atmosphere, Snow probably gets the edge.

Final verdict: overhyped, and tainted by bean counters who are clearly obsessed with The Boy Who Lives Up The Road but incapable of understanding why that land is such a hit. Every attraction/restaurant/shop ultimately comes down to story. You just need to know the story you're trying to tell.
Click to expand...

I am not going to tell you that you're opinions are wrong, even though I disagree with some of them, but I believe you had this written in your head weeks ago. Among others on this board who have been ripping apart this expansion with each new headline/update.

It's great that you say it could have been "100 times better"..but really, what would you have done differently, besides tear down the entire project and make a Disney Villains coaster?

I don't think there need to be "rules" on dark rides like you are spouting, but I guess I see your point. I just don't really care that much about those details?

We've known what was coming for months, the only real surprise will be this Dwarf Coaster, which I am almost 99% positive will be ripped on the minute it opens.

I guess I just don't understand what makes everyone so unhappy about this expansion. It could be better? So could a lot of things at Universal and other parks. Thinking that way is not going to change anything.

This expansion will NOT please everyone, but it will please a lot of people nonetheless.
 
Nick

Nick

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #623
I will never EVER agree that anything from that Snow White ride is better than Little Mermaid. That ride was low quality, worn down, poorly maintained and overall just cheap.
 
violarum

violarum

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #624
I stand by the fact that this land is a children's version of Potter with two (soon to be three) kinds of stories. The integration from the village to the ocean doesn't work for me, the obvious copying with Be Our Guest and the brew and the Belle M&G and the mine coaster is an eye-roller, and the Mermaid dark ride isn't even that good of a competitor - it is, as stated, thematically inconsistent.

But when I go to see it in a few weeks, I'm not going to give any rat butts about all that. This is true WDI theming, and as copy-cat as it is in its base form, it's still something I live for. I'm going to smile like a little brat on Mermaid because Part of Your World gets me horribly sentimental. I'm going to get chills in the castle because, even though it's trying so hard to be Potter in configuration, it still works as a wonderful restaurant based on a movie that I fell in love with years ago.

So yes, you can view it cynically, but I'm not going to, nor will any of the other Universal-oriented fans here in Orlando. At least Potter got Disney rolling again and reviewing its horrible mistakes made in the recent past.
 
shiekra38

shiekra38

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #625
This doesn't make me feel good to say, but keep in mind Universal at one time borrowed from Disney. The execution was very different but the basic formula was the same. Even though I do think this expansion needed more than a restaurant and an omni-mover I would like to say that the detail is very well done and the restaurant is amazing (even more-so than Mythos). Does it rip off some elements from Potter? Well, of course it does..but Potter was successful why would you not want to borrow from something that was successful. Yes there was a time when Disney had the new cutting edge ideas, that is now passed on.
 
rhino4evr

rhino4evr

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #626
I think if Disney keeps expanding their parks...say Carsland in DHS, Avatar in AK, and ? in Epcot...then this expansion won't look so bad. I think the biggest problem is that this expansion only satisfies a particular audience..if they keep expanding other parks to satisfy other demographics we'll see a lot more excited people.
 
Jakemeister

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #627
I stand by my statement that this will not draw away from Potter. It might encourage people to spend more money in the Magic Kingdom, but I don't think we'll see increases above what is considered average. People who live in the South East are the ones most likely to go during the typical November off season and most of them already have Universal Annual Passes. I haven't seen the land yet, and I'm sure I'll love it, but from everything I've seen I'd have rather 2/3 of the cost of this been injected into the park for refurbs and the other 1/3 of it being allocated to Animal Kingdom.
 
BJCool

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #628
rhino4evr said:
I think if Disney keeps expanding their parks...say Carsland in DHS, Avatar in AK, and ? in Epcot...then this expansion won't look so bad. I think the biggest problem is that this expansion only satisfies a particular audience..if they keep expanding other parks to satisfy other demographics we'll see a lot more excited people.
Click to expand...

Those are some really big IFs. :P
 
Jimpossible87

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #629
so many opinions...very interesting to read as always. I think the FLE is definitely a for kids only area...other than the restaurant that looks like a beautiful but very close together banquet room. I think the theming is incredible at FLE and the mermaid ride was a fantastic kids ride and a great addition to MK. kids will love it, so will my mom. It wasnt made for me so I cant knock it for being what it is.same goes for the rest of FLE if I had little kids Id be running but otherwise Id like to go see it but not in any hurry for repeats. The apple juice thing is a bit corny and definitely is trying to knock butterbeer ...and its gross, although i hate apple juice sooo. The B&B area is really pretty to look at, the gaston tavern, i have to agree just made me say , wait a minute. really? with the barrels. Its very Disney but its like the same place only cartoony and smaller. My biggest problem is if Disney is supposed to be trying to one up WWOHP with this then why did they make everything just as small and smaller after everyone complained about that when WWOHP opened? there will be thousands of people in there when it is officially opened and therres like 4 tables in Gastons, so I guess noone can really sit down and have some pork and apple juice. Otherwise, to me it is what it is, the parks are trying to compete with each other, and that is sadly usually done by copying the same ideas or formats or however you want to put it. If something at MK doubles their annual gross you can sure bet Uni will be trying to make something like it as soon as they can. Its the way it works. I think the expansion is great but Im not their audience. Just those stupid mugs of apple juice...thats the only thing that really bugs me. Really? Disney couldnt come up with an orignal treat?? That just really gave me a groan.
 
rhino4evr

rhino4evr

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #630
Still think they should have added some sort of unique root beer float instead of apple juice. or of course, actual beer. How cool would it be if Gaston's was actually a microbrewery?
 
S

Splatter

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #631
All points already made aside...

The Phil Holmes picture that is not even characterized as a portrait is absolutely disgusting and kills anything in the nearby area.
 
Scarletwebslingr

Scarletwebslingr

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #632
rhino4evr said:
Still think they should have added some sort of unique root beer float instead of apple juice. or of course, actual beer. How cool would it be if Gaston's was actually a microbrewery?
Click to expand...

What a golden idea! I'd be there all the time.
 
S

Superior62

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #633
rhino4evr said:
I think if Disney keeps expanding their parks...say Carsland in DHS, Avatar in AK, and ? in Epcot...then this expansion won't look so bad. I think the biggest problem is that this expansion only satisfies a particular audience..if they keep expanding other parks to satisfy other demographics we'll see a lot more excited people.
Click to expand...

^ Exactly!!! That's the nail on the head right there. ^
 
BJCool

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #634
Splatter said:
All points already made aside...

The Phil Holmes picture that is not even characterized as a portrait is absolutely disgusting and kills anything in the nearby area.
Click to expand...

Talk about patting himself on the back........ :rant:

iYhbcdhGOSGDP.jpg



Maybe if it was more subtle like being a background character in something else like a easter egg that you would have to look for, but his portrait in Bonjour! Village Gifts is so huge and centered that it's practically a major part of the store's interior design.
 
Last edited: Oct 16, 2012
Jakemeister

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #635
It's funny, considering this is the man who was adamant about not implementing new attractions into WDW, especially those based on not current movies.
 
BJCool

BJCool

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #636
New pics of the "West Wing" dining room of Be Our Guest restaurant from Disney Parks Blog.

iby2aMAWB5GCYm.jpg


ibovaG6OgMfd6P.jpg


i8CqWJjbvGFWP.jpg
 
YETI PINTRADER

YETI PINTRADER

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #637
I felt that Gaston was not really ripping off three broomsticks as heavily as people are making it out to be. Being in booth broomsticks has a more dirty inn feel while gaston has a lodge feeling. Yes they both have antlers, but Gaston's been using antlers in all of his decorating for years. As for it being small, this is a compliment to be our guest for crowded days but we don't have BoG yet. Gaston has one food item and most everything else is meant to be grab and go.
 
Parkscope Joe

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #638
Here's my shot at making Phil look more hand drawn...

trollphill.jpg


There we go.

[edit] Before anyone blows this up, I'm doing this in jest. It ain't easy runnin a park, but man, put up a portrait of yourself in an attraction, you're kinda asking for some joking around. [/edit]
 
Last edited by a moderator: Oct 16, 2012
jtsalien

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #639
I'm going to join the Disney College Program and become a Fantasyland CM just to be able to sneak around, steal that portrait, and destroy it.

[video=youtube;7uo-g4-AN0U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uo-g4-AN0U&feature=related[/video]
 
M

maxairmike

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  • Oct 16, 2012
  • #640
testtrack321 said:
Here's my shot at making Phil look more hand drawn...

trollphill.jpg


There we go.

[edit] Before anyone blows this up, I'm doing this in jest. It ain't easy runnin a park, but man, put up a portrait of yourself in an attraction, you're kinda asking for some joking around. [/edit]
Click to expand...

You, sir, win the internets today with that! Well done.
 
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