Tuesday, August 30, 2011

TOP 5 List // I'll take a pass...


My last Top 5 post featured my dream work locations, or the cream of the crop of my favorite attractions at Disney World. On the flip side, there are a handful of attractions (even some I may love experiencing as a guest) that would make me question my sanity if they became my work location.


5) Ellen's Energy Adventure at the Universe of Energy - Epcot

Rawr! if you love energy!
I have to state up front that I actually enjoy this attraction. I will never forget that I once saw a Disney World commercial when I was 5 that featured the dinosaur scenes from this attraction and how excited it made me when my mom told me that when I graduated high school, she'd take me to Disney World to see those dinosaurs.

The attraction is a bit different now, as it features Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye the Science Guy as the "hosts" of the show. It's still an educational and entertaining show/ride about the world of energy. However, if I don't do this ride first thing in the morning, it becomes a huge, moving napping couch to me.

Yea it's interesting, but it's also soothing in the movement department, has air conditioning and lasts 45 minutes. After spending hours in the Florida sun, sitting for longer than 10 minutes = automatic nap. While I appreciate the attraction, I don't want to spend my days working in a gigantic napping arena that happens to include dinosaurs.


4) Chester and Hester's Dinorama - Disney's Animal Kingdom

Step right up!
I enjoy Triceratops Spin here, and actually adore the themeing (it's intentionally tacky in that good ol' American road side tourist trap way). I appreciate that kids of all ages enjoy midway games and carnival-esque rides. Heck, I love those! The area does a good job of what it sets out to be.

But, to put it simply: I didn't apply for the Disney College Program to work at a carnival. Yea, it's a Disney level carnival, but it's still a carnival.

I would much prefer to work at an attraction that is more immsersive, where I can really get into character. Chester and Hester have built a nice place to visit, but not live day to day.

3) Studio Backlot Tour - Disney's Hollywood Studios


The Michael Bay demonstration area
This tour was cool once. Back during the brief era that DHS actual housed buildings involved in production of their shows and movies. The pre-show is decent and involves the audience. There's a costume shop and some other points of interest that you could actually see in operation. There's also a pretty neat collection of props from popular Disney and Paramount films that you get drive by and check out. There's also a little demonstration featuring an earthquake, flood and crashing semi (a la Universal) that is pretty good entertainment.

However, the days when this back lot was actually "real" are long gone. (It's the same story for the big sound stages that are gathered in the far corner of DCA in California). It's basically just a shell of what it used to be, and you can drive by old buildings and be wowed by what was formerly housed there. The props are neat of course, and it's always fun to watch a small semi blow up. Last time I was there, at least there was a fun and interesting Cast Member serving as tour guide.

So why wouldn't I want to be that tour guide?


Oh, that's right. Because they don't exist anymore.

Yes, the Cast Member is still on tram with you. But they don't spiel. You listen to pre-recorded voice overs. This thing literally exists now just to suck up a lot of guests at once.


2) Fantasyland - Magic Kingdom

When I started working at Disneyland, Fantasyland there made my list of places I didn't want to work as well. Not because I don't utterly adore Fantasyland, because I love it. I just didn't want to work on the teacups or Small World, mostly. Still, the Fantasyland attractions are beautiful, tell wonderful stories and are a ton of fun. The architecture is some of my favorite in all of Disneyland.
Please explain.
Which brings me to one of the main reasons I don't want to work in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom. For whatever reason, nearly every attraction here is inside a facade that looks like a circus tent. No cute little village here. Even Small World, which (even if you don't like the ride) looks super impressive from the outside. That facade is inside a circus tent - like building. I have no idea why. Also, the first word that comes to mind every time I walk into Florida's Fantasyland is "concrete."  Which is usually followed by "sun."  Granted, this Fantasyland is a lot newer than DL's, and the trees haven't had the time to grow into the aged beauties in California. And yes, a big expansion project is going on that looks to be fantastic when completed. But still, what is with the circus tents?

I do love those rides inside the circus tents and enjoy eating at Village Haus, however.

1) Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin - Magic Kingdom

When I first found out my work location during my last program, my excitement came with just a teenie tiny bit of disappointment, as I'd been hoping for Adventureland. Throughout my program, I grew to love my "little Buzz ride" and greatly miss my boss man Mr. Lightyear. I worked with wonderful people, loved the attraction, and wouldn't trade my Space Ranger experience for anything.

That said, I'm looking to try something different in Florida, rather than be a Space Ranger again.
However, this goes a little bit deeper. 

Space Ranger Spin does not come close to matching Astro Blasters at Disneyland. The blasters are attached to the cruisers, and though that's probably nice for the Cast Members at the end of the night, it sure makes the game a pain to play. The queue is "meh." The scenes inside aren't as well done. They're also out of  story order in the middle. And to top it off, the characters don't have the same voices as the DL ones (which happen to be the original film voices. There might be a valid reason they're different in Florida, I just don't know it). 

LIAR!

That's not my boss man. That's an imposter and I don't want to work for him.


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That concludes another round of "Top 5 List!" Are there any attractions you think would bring your sanity into question if you were a Cast Member working on them?






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