In Keep, Update, Or Demolish, I have selected and reviewed attractions that I’ve heard a lot of critical reviews of. I combine my personal opinion with the general consensus of these attraction and determine the fate of certain Disney Parks attractions – whether Disney should keep it, update it, or demolish it.
The Circle of Life – Demolish
One of the great things about Epcot is that it makes educational experiences enjoyable. The Circle of Life show is an educational experience, but disappointingly it feels more like a cheap film that elementary school children are shown. There isn’t anything special about this theatre. There aren’t any special effects that keep your children’s attention, and overall the film is just boring. I am all for learning about environmentalism, but I expect the “Disney Difference” when I watch a film like this. This isn’t a massive space, and I haven’t a clue what the Imagineers should do with it, but I can tell you they need to do something. There were rumors that this attraction was closing permanently in February 2016, but those rumors were dismissed.
Ellen’s Energy Adventure – Update
Ellen’s Energy Adventure has a lot of potential. As it is now, it is a slow, boring, outdated attraction that is used most commonly for guests to take naps on. It doesn’t have to be this way. Learning about alternative energy sources is becoming even more important today than when the ride first opened, and the star of the show, Ellen Degeneres, is as beloved as she has ever been. Unfortunately, as the attraction is now there are currently entire sections of this ride that currently make me want to doze off. By speeding up what is now a 45-minute attraction, adding some new information about alternative energy, and bringing back Ellen Degeneres to redo an outdated video this could be a really great attraction.
The Gran Fiesta Tour – Keep
Last December, The Three Caballeros animatronics were added to the end of The Gran Fiesta Tour. This small change made guests excited to ride it again. This attraction is a great example of why even small updates make a huge difference. These small changes can keep attractions relevant for a much longer time. Not all rides have to garner huge lines for it to still be relevant. The Gran Fiesta Tour plays its part as being a small attraction that can be enjoyed by families looking for a quick boat ride without a long line.
Innoventions – Update
Innoventions should be a preview into the concepts for the future of science and technology. It should be a convention for the future! Instead we have an odd conglomerate of companies that have nothing to do with the future of science and technology. This should be a presentation of what companies like Tesla, Apple, and Samsung have in store for the future. Instead Innoventions has the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Glidden (a paint manufacturer), and Raytheon (a defense contractor). This weird combination of sponsors is there simply because they were the highest bidder. Obviously that was Disney’s only intention, there couldn’t have been a more random selection of companies to showcase. If Disney is only using Innoventions to make money, that is their choice, but then they should stop selling it as “a look into what the future holds.” This could be one of the easiest attractions to fix in Walt Disney World. Simply replacing companies that have little to do with the future with ones that will actually have an impact could fix Innoventions in a short amount of time.
Journey Into Imagination – Update
The only prescription for this attraction was its original downfall. Journey Into Imagination was closed, was updated in 1998, and then reopened with a thud in 1999 as Journey Into Your Imagination. What was once a great attraction was completely ruined by this update. The updated version stripped Dreamfinder and Figment from the ride, which were originally staples of this attraction. Although Figment has returned in another update that was done in 2002 (Journey into Imagination with Figment) the attraction has never returned to its former glory. While I can’t say another update will certainly fix all the problems with this attraction, I don’t see a better solution. This attraction is a shell of what it used to be. Disney needs to take an all hands on deck approach when updating this attraction, and giving it a re-birth into something guests would actually be excited about going on.
Living With The Land – Keep
Living With The Land is a perfect example of how an educational attraction can be fun. This ride has just enough frills that guests can feel the Disney touch. Like the Gran Fiesta Tour, this attraction doesn’t typically garner a very long line, but its lack in popularity shouldn’t define whether it needs an update or not. Living With The Land is perfect the way it is, and I hope it isn’t replace or updated with an intellectual property. We really don’t need Elsa and Anna explaining the different biospheres.
Mission: SPACE – Demolish
Mission: SPACE had huge shoes to fill when it replaced Horizons in 2003. The attraction was meant to become a huge groundbreaking E-Ticket attraction, but instead it is more associated with making guests feel sick. The G-Forces are both the ride’s brilliance and downfall. I personally love thrill attractions, and there was a time that I did enjoy Mission: SPACE, but after seeing how sick it makes the people around me, I’ve begun to dismiss the ride because I’ve realized I’d have to ride it alone. Of course they have the less intense version of the attraction, but like I said, the brilliance of the attraction has always been how realistic the G-Forces feel. Without the G-Forces, there is no point to riding this attraction, in my opinion. At this point I just choose to not ride it anymore, and I know many guests who feel the same way. It is time for Disney to start over and replace this attraction.
Spaceship Earth – Keep
Spaceship Earth is a classic Walt Disney World attraction, and it should be kept exactly the way it is. Riding Spaceship Earth is an essential part to any Walt Disney World vacation, and changing the attraction might ruin some of the nostalgic feelings guests have toward this ride. It is a timeless attraction, and although it has gone through some small changes over tim,e the integrity and message of the ride has remained constant. Although some small changes might be necessary in the future, as of right now the ride is perfect.
