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?
Did you read my whole post? I specifically mention
in that sentence one thing I would have done differently--used real water effects (waterfalls, jumping fountains) rather than video screens and plastic. I also alluded to other changes--making the ride faster to make the static figures less glaring, using more stylized decor in the queue and in the scenes--that hardly entail "tearin[ing] down the entire project."
I'm a huge Little Mermaid mark, I'm a huge dark ride mark. I WANT a LM ride, but I want it to be good, too. I'm not willing to forgive Stitch's Great Escape just because I love the character, I'm not about to do the same for FLE, either.
Another example on TLM queue. Imagine walking onto the Winnie the Pooh ride through the "Flight of the Hippogriff" queue rather than the 100-Acre Wood queue. Both are unique and imaginative in their own way, but both also ultimately fit the ride they lead to. Little Mermaid takes you through the Forbidden Forest just to drop you in Pooh's house.
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?
Not a rule so much as a guideline, or a things that have worked in the past. And if you don't see the importance of details to Disney attractions over the years, I'm just at a loss. Can someone repost the $10,000 spire story? Detail is what makes Disney "Disney."
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?
I agree either would be cool, but the apple drink (sans foam) actually worked in context for me. A caramel apple cider slushee is still not that far from cider, which would fit the era. My only problem is with the foam, which is both gastronomically and thematically unnecessary.
This doesn't make me feel good to say, but keep in mind Universal at one time borrowed from Disney.
I think every modern theme park in America borrowed heavily from Disney, at least in terms of conceptual ideas.
...but Potter was successful why would you not want to borrow from something that was successful.
Because the elements they borrowed don't fit the Katzenburg-era princesses' stories. B&tB isn't
The Black Cauldron. As built, Gaston's pub has nothing to do with B&tB--it doesn't look like it came right out of the provincial village in the "Good Day" scene. The current queue has little to do with TLM movie or ride--it's too busy trying to ape Hogwarts. Again, WDW replicated the sets/props from WWoHP, but didn't manage to capture any of the original's soul.
For the record I haven't been, but people who have tell me Cars Land got it right. You feel like you walked into the Radiator Springs of the movie. That is not the case here. So this isn't a Universal v. Disney post, this is a TDO v. skills in running a theme park post.