Fantasyland Expansion - Part 2

[UNIrd]

Thanks for the awesome review, kimlovesfl.

I feel like criticism of the Little Mermaid ride has been worse for the FL version than the DCA one upon its debut, even though it's the same exact ride. Do you think the fantastic queue they built for it in WDW actually hurts it and makes the ride seem even more disappointing?

 

[Jakemeister]

I haven't been to DCA, but I can honestly say that the que was better than the last few scenes.

 

[Hatetofly]

The queue is terrible at DCA but I think it's just our crowd of fan boys are a little bit more critical. Simply because they offer much less here so anything that's actually new must face the fan boy firing squad. The LM got a pass their IMO because of everything else that was opening.

 

[Splatter]

Also to keep in mind for less than stellar reviews over FL's is because Mermaid is the anchor attraction that was cloned. Not only that it was more specifically the first cloned attraction of this sort for the states since the creation of youtube video and such sharing sites. Literally a million people knew what this ride was going to be all about by the time Disney bragged about it and opened it for the west coast. Many people are the same fans who either already saw that version or saw the videos online of the one that opened over a year ago in California.
In times passed, there were never such sites or an internet system/community of sharing details of attractions. You only saw it if you were there for the one that already existed or what Disney wanted to show you on tv.

 

[JungleSkip]

So yea, they've already raised food prices at BOG lunch by 25% across the board.

 

[Hockeyman55]

^That didnt take long, they are about due to raise ticket prices pretty soon also lol

 

[Friar Tuck & Roll]

I was able to attend the AP preview yesterday, and yes the new area of Fantasyland was beautiful. We were the first guests in the park that morning and since we knew the Enchanted Tales with Belle would have long waits so we did that first. The preshow areas were well decorated but tended to be on the claustrophobic side. The effect in Maurice's workshop was very reminiscent of the preshow of Poseidon's Fury. I agree with a previous poster that the fact that not everyone in the presentation does not get a picture with Belle will lead to a lot of complaints. We were in the first show and by the time we exited the wait time was already nearing the hour mark.

The Little Mermaid attraction is a well done dark ride. It is above par when it compares to the other dark rides in Fantasyland. The Queue, while looking great, will be brutal in the Summer with the rain and heat. The interactive area is not clearly marked as being optional and that forces a majority of the wait time to be out in the elements, while there is plenty of room to use the queue inside the building. And yes, I did find the final scene of the attraction to being weird and a little laughable. I did appreciate not being dumped into a gift shop at the end of the ride.

Disney greatly underestimated the popularity of Gaston's Tavern. There is next to no seating and the queue to purchase drinks just in the time it took us the ride the Little Mermaid went from about 10 people to probably over 100 with most waiting outside the building heading toward the new bathrooms.

Overall it was good, but there is definitely things that Disney can improve upon.

 

[jtsalien]

So yea, they've already raised food prices at BOG lunch by 25% across the board.

Probably had to raise employee's salaries so they would work in the terrible kitchen.

 

[Hatetofly]

Disney greatly underestimated the popularity of Gaston's Tavern. There is next to no seating and the queue to purchase drinks just in the time it took us the ride the Little Mermaid went from about 10 people to probably over 100 with most waiting outside the building heading toward the new bathrooms.

The one thing Disney didn't learn from Potter

 

[rhino4evr]

I was able to attend a CM preview of FLE last Monday, thanks to a co-worker. We actually spent 4 hours back there, and it will probably be the only chance I'll have to see it when it's quiet and not over-run with tourists and annoying children.

you alraedy lost me....:violin:

 

[JungleSkip]

Already? Quotes from Twitter:

My god. Mermaid is in horrible shape.

What did they do to the omnimover system? It’s screeching very loud.

Every projector is off. Under water effect, Ariel waving, Sebastian’s eyes, Ursula’s cauldron, Ariel’s legs, 2nd Sebastian & fireworks. Ugh.

The entire ride sounds like a loud squeaking door.

 

[Vyrus]

Is that multiple people or just one person tweeting a couple of times?

 

[JungleSkip]

Is that multiple people or just one person tweeting a couple of times?

One person.

 

[Vyrus]

Ah ok, let me know when its multiple people Then we know there is a problem

 

[JungleSkip]

Ah ok, let me know when its multiple people Then we know there is a problem

This person is a Disney fanboi to the 100th degree. If he's saying anything negative, I'd put stock in it.

 

[ChristopherSE]

They're probably testing or fixing something. I have no idea why the ride would squeak that bad, but I'm not at all worried about the projectors. This still isn't open for a few weeks, officially.

 

[Vyrus]

Well then, its a fan boi then we have reason to worry

 

[Brian G.]

Granted it's not something I want to hear, it's still technically under "Tech Rehearsals"

 

[Skipper Justin]

Be our Guest has be offering Lunch and Dinner for guests at the Previews so far. I read a few reviews and the food sounds very promising. I think it is kind of cool that each table has a computer inside it to the interact with the "magic rose" that tells the waiters where the food is located.

 

[YETI PINTRADER]

I also had a small squeak on the downward slope last week. That was on the second of seven ride-throughs that day so I think if they can fix it once they can do it again. And it is in tech rehearsal. We've had an entire beard change, so who knows what else they may be doing. Hopefully covering up the giant black rod coming out of the Ariel in the under the sea part.