LoT Meet for Carsland Craziness: June 15th

[CoasterMatt]

Yup Katie took the challenge and slayed it like a boss.

[Morrigoon]

OMFG so I finally got on Mater and RSR.... Awesome!!!! Love it all! Now the only one I haven't done is Luigi.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by madmonkeygirl

YES guests waited 6 hours to ride.

Actually, people waited over seven hours (talked to two separate groups saying that)

Originally Posted by Disneyphile

Yeah, but I'm still special. :P

As is evidenced by the length of the bus you ride in

[lashbear]

Originally Posted by Bornieo: Fully Loaded

Really regret not being a part of this.

Me too.

...and I'm not likely to get to DCA anytime soon. I'm UN-special.

Disney staying out of Aus SUCKS.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I love (and collect memorabilia from) Peter Pan, not because it's Disney's best movie, but because the ride is so wonderful that it makes me appreciate the movie more.

My reaction to the Cars movies was a generally positive one, but without much attachment to them. They were definitely my least favorite Pixar films (though we liked the second one more than others did, if they saw it at all.) But like Peter Pan, Cars Land has made me appreciate the movie so very, very much more.

Also, I'd just like to quote myself for the record, from a discussion here on 4/28 where people were complaining about it being a slot-car Test Track copycat with nothing new to offer...

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

Yeah, I know it has similar functionality to Test Track. But I really wouldn't call it a copycat.

Here's where some things differ from person to person. I couldn't give a blind rat's sweet bippy about state-of-the-art. I care about detail, theme and storytelling. I'd be a happy woman if some talented imagineer could come up with another Pirates or Mansion ride - even if it was the exact same chassis - if it had compelling storytelling.

I don't have crazy high expectations, and I don't have a company bias (having seen Potter in Orlando, I know it's probably better than anything Disney is doing.)

But I'm to understand that this ride has dark ride elements. And I'm a dark ride girl. This ride has characters and story -- it's not just about, you know, taking a test car for a spin. THAT is what makes a ride for me - when there's a story (however vague or broken, in the case of Mansion/Pirates) that compels me.

Called it! Though, fascinatingly, I'd say that Cars Land AND Buena Vista Street have the same kind of elaborate detailing and thoughtful execution as Potter does.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

Cars Land has made me appreciate the movie so very, very much more.

I liked the movie Cars, but it's really - imo - one of the lesser Pixar efforts and notably one of only two Pixar films I don't have in my personal library. That's too bad, because I'm sure Cars Land will make me want to see it again.

But I don't believe it will make me think it's a better film. Some films turn out to be better in other forms.

My prime example, and imho only, is The Lion King. I never knew what the fuss was all about with that movie. Yawn. I loved the art direction, it had a few enjoyable characters. Some of the songs were good, but the story was a boring re-tread, and I never though the movie was nearly as special as obviously most humans on earth thought it was.

But then I noticed something interesting. I found the Elton John versions of the songs better than the movie versions. The songs were better than I thought. Then the Broadway show came out, and I found that superior in every way to the movie. More oddly still, I found Disneyland's Lion King Parade to be the best of all. So it was a movie that didn't much move me, but had the kernels of great entertainment that I found better suited to other formats.


I'm sure Cars Land will strike me the same way. I'll find it Better than the very cute movie, and I'll be satisfied with that - - happy in fact that one of the Pixar movies I liked least got itself a second lease on life with a new and different inCARnation.




Meanwhile, Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday cannot get here soon enough!

[CoasterMatt]

The "dressed up slot car track" comment actually came to me from an Imagineer- who I think has been doing lots of drugs, because the first thing that hit me, was that RSR actually feels more like being in a car than Test Track, and the dark ride section is as close to anything done by WED/Imagineering at the height of their glory as anything I've ever seen. I'd say it's the best dark ride at Disneyland resort, and certainly near the top in the U.S. - Personally, I'd put it a notch above Transformers and Spiderman.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by CoasterMatt

The "dressed up slot car track" comment actually came to me from an Imagineer- who I think has been doing lots of drugs, because the first thing that hit me, was that RSR actually feels more like being in a car than Test Track, and the dark ride section is as close to anything done by WED/Imagineering at the height of their glory as anything I've ever seen. I'd say it's the best dark ride at Disneyland resort, and certainly near the top in the U.S. - Personally, I'd put it a notch above Transformers and Spiderman.

Above Transformers? That's quite an accomplishment....

Originally Posted by CoasterMatt

I can tell you that plenty of Imagineers have ridden Transformers and they consider it a superior ride to even Forbidden Journey. Disney has built a pretty area with Radiator Springs, but in an industry where they used to be trailblazers, they've been stagnant for years now.

As for myself, Like LSPoorEeyorick, I nailed it....

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Riding in a giant slot car would be freaking cool!

[madmonkeygirl]

Ya after yesterday and 3 more rides on Racers including a night ride I am now putting Racers as my number ONE favorite. As much as I like Transformers this is the first attraction by Disney that I find wanting to go back for more and more. (wanted a 4th ride but had to leave ) the dark portion beats anything else created. I really for the first time do NOT want to ride Test Track once it reopens. This in my opinion is much much better and I agree that Racers makes you feel like you are actually in a car unlike Test Track.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Two rides on RSR at the Saturday night preview event, which were phenomenal. Mater's is hysterical, Luigi's with Katie Sue was great fun. The beach balls add an extra level of silliness to the whole thing that totally sells it. No rides of any sort on opening day - BUT - after hanging out with the gang on Friday, exploring the Carthay, singing and dancing with Five and Dime, lunching at the FF&P, I had the happy fortune of meeting someone. Who I came back to hang out with on Saturday. Did Mater's, neon lighting, held hands on RSR, I can now say, without reservation, that Cars Land is the most romantic of all Disney Lands! Also, there was kissing!

caveat: He lives in San Francisco, so this may have been a one time only date. But still!