What Makes Theme Park Ride Timeless or Dated?

[@StorybookAmusement]

Hey! Thank you all for checking out this video. You may have noticed the audio is a bit glitchy in some spots. I tried really hard to fix that before posting, but I couldn't figure out a solution at the time. Anyway, I've fixed it for my next video. Phew! Thanks for sticking with it!

[@Shockzone1495]

unpopular opinion: as much as everyone says that marvel superhero island is dated and needs to change, I'm honestly a huge fan of that land mostly because it feels like a timeless classic and the great throwback to the golden days of the marvel the comics. even the rides their feel timeless as well. with the amazing adventures Spider-Man being a huge example.

[@liamlennon3316]

I think the vibe is more dated than the actual land if that makes sense, it's very 90s. Also wish they would update the land to be based more on modern comics and more immersive like modern Universal lands

[@StorybookAmusement]

You can't go wrong with those classic comics! I think something like The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man has a longer shelflife since it's a general Spider-Man character, not Tobey Maguire or Tom Holland for example. There's a lot going for that place.

[@SplashSurfer216]

That’s true. Marvel Super Hero Island has a vibe that harkens back to the early golden age of comics before major motion pictures and such were made and we got stuff like the MCU. But at the same time there is the conflict of how Universal can only hold on to Marvel for so long now that Disney owns it and are slowly interesting the characters into their parks.

[@guillermogerban5797]

@@SplashSurfer216 the contract with marvel and universal is endless. Disney cannot use their marvel characters in Orlando unless it wasnt in the original contract like guardians.

[@brennacollins6000]

@@SplashSurfer216 Sonic The Hedgehog Replace Marvel Super Hero Island

[@alex47927]

I think being careful and considerate with IP usage is pretty crucial to a ride becoming timeless or dated. Many of the Disney rides that are timeless either are not IP based or were able to use an IP to craft its own interesting story that becomes an IP itself like Splash Mountain. Rides that use IP’s more carelessly seem to become dated, rather than timeless.

[@StorybookAmusement]

IP plays a huge role, for sure. It can take years to develop and construct a ride. They have to pick something with staying power, or else it'll be outdated before the ride even opens. That's why original rides are so wonderful!

[@2doot]

I love Astro Blaster's outdated look. Theres something SO insanely charming about how unapologetically 90's it is, and I've always adored the cheesy neon aesthetic of it. Its a must ride for me every time I go just because I have such a soft spot for it. Also the soundtrack unironically goes so hard lol.

[@StorybookAmusement]

It kinda feels like a proper trip to Pizza Planet, and I love it for that

[@idunnobutyay2520]

I liked it too! It made me feel like I was a kid again- and the ride was surprisingly tougher than I imagine.

[@2doot]

@@StorybookAmusement EXACTLY! You nailed it to a T, I've always had the idea that it was something you'd find in a huge pizza plex and I love it for that. I'm such a sucker for that kind of simplicity, as much as I love the big showy stuff like HM and PotC.

[@2doot]

@@idunnobutyay2520 Man, I'm absolutely doggy doodoo at it 💀 But it's so fun haha, some of my favorite memories is competing with my mom and we both sucked at it so we usually had a good laugh about who was the worst lol.

[@MichaelSar12IsBack]

Yeah, I love the Buzz Lightyear ride at the Magic Kingdom. Its 1990s look is part of the charm.

[@ChuckE.CheesesIllinois]

Splash Mountain is another one of those rides in the "untouchables" category despite it being removed. Say what you want about it's controversy or whatever but it truly did have quality, and it upset me how many people think it was bad and that Disney couldn't repair the animatronics when that obviously wasn't the case

[@StorybookAmusement]

I purposely didn’t mention Splash (or other controversial themes) since that’s a whole other can of worms. From a design standpoint, it was a very well-made ride. I’m sure that quality will carry over to the new iteration.

[@vectorwolf]

I don't think it's that they couldn't fix the animatronics, I think it wasn't going to be at all cost effective or practical to do so. First of all, Splash is full of, well, splashing water. Water and animatronics don't mix well, and there's a distinct maintenance tax on any mechanical device. Secondly, Splash 's hardware was largely hand me downs from America Sings. This is why there were so many units compared to other rides... and they were well past their expiration date. So /entirely aside/ from the social narrative (which Disney would like to bury anyway), just from a technical standpoint Splash would have been an utter financial nightmare to refurb...just for the sake of keeping it the same. Sure, they COULD, but between replacements and future maintenance, that money could be put somewhere else. Like maybe bringing back Murphy. So since they were going to have to gut the thing to the walls anyway, they took the opportunity to start over. While I'm not really defending their choice of IP or their execution of such, the one thing I m not going to fault them on is reducing the number of units in the ride.

[@JakeCoasters]

What a great idea for a video and a great discussion on this subject! For me Toon Lagoon feels like it's on the verge of becoming classic, but that may be because I grew up with it

[@StorybookAmusement]

It feels like if you wait long enough, anything can become timeless!

[@brennacollins6000]

Pikmin World be New

[@Rachael8989]

I think what you said about quality is so so important. For example a lot of the newer rides in theme parks seem to be rushed, and therefore lacking quality, and also full of ‘gimmicks’ and what the creators of the ride think people will like now, as opposed to what future generations will get out of it (if the ride is still there then).

[@StorybookAmusement]

It seems like theme parks play it safe now and don't take too many creative risks. Don't get me wrong-there's still a lot of innovation-but newer rides can have a corporate polish to them, absolutely. It feels like they're trying to make the right business decision and nothing more.

[@aegisofhonor]

Dudley Do Right's Ripsaw Falls is an amazing water ride, I was shocked to learn it was over 24 years old when I rode it. You play through an episode of Dudley Do Right and the ride is over 5 minutes long and has 3 drops with a ton of theming throughout the ride.

[@StorybookAmusement]

It's a very well-designed ride! I have a blast every single time

[@MattMcIrvin]

The little area with monuments to Snuffy Smith, Crock and Tumbleweeds is embarrassing, but I will die on the hill of Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges being an immortal classic.

[@brennacollins6000]

Pikmin World Will be New Similar to Pandora The World of Avatar

[@averyeml]

I adore Ripsaw Falls so I get it lol

[@loonytunescrazy]

I consider Dudley Doo right Rip saw fall a classic too

[@mattrost2574]

Great presentation! And I agree about everything you opined; excepting one thing. I LOVE The Simpson's ride. I'm hoping that when Springfield "expires" at UO, they keep the ride system for this ride. A brighter screen would be nice.

[@StorybookAmusement]

To each their own! The screen could definitely use some work. But I'm glad you enjoy that ride! 😅

[@86wellacre]

Honestly I think it’s down to how much creativity and rich story telling they put into the ride. That makes a ride last for a very long time. The technology can be outdated but it can be overlooked if everything else is so wonderful to look at.

[@StorybookAmusement]

The creative side is massive. I feel like some recent attractions have been done the "right way," but they don't take many creative risks. They can almost feel corporate.

[@Wunderbolts]

I can’t explain why but Epcot future world is definitely timeless but Tomorrowland in magic kingdom feels dated.

[@StorybookAmusement]

No no, you’re totally right. I feel like things like Stitch and Monsters Inc. date Tomorrowland, but the lingering land makeovers don’t help much either. EPCOT’s architecture feels so distinct; it works in any era.

[@sandygames7691]

@@StorybookAmusement Why do you think monsters sa and stitch date tomorrowland? I think it's because they have nothing to do with the future, but why do you think?

[@robertbarga3694]

Great video. Part of the charm for me at Walt Disney World is nostalgia from the rides and attractions that have been there forever. Each time I go back it's like visiting an old friend. For me personally, If I don't get to experience Haunted Mansion, Pirates of The Caribbean, It's a small world, Carousel of Progress, Hall of Presidents, Space Mountain, etc.-it wasn't a successful trip.

[@StorybookAmusement]

Like an old friend. I love that!

[@charlesintune]

I like your ending statement: enjoy a ride while its still here.

[@StorybookAmusement]

Make the most of it!

[@Blade.s15]

Disney dropped the ball on Avengers Campus. They threw away all concepts of timelessness and design principles that Imagineering pioneered for the sake of putting out a product that’s catapulted into popularity as fast as possible. This is coming from a huge Marvel fan. They did the franchise dirty and wasted real estate in DCA.

[@StorybookAmusement]

I haven't personally been to Avengers Campus yet, but it certainly looks like a superhero Target. It's definitely not their best or most creative work, at least from what I've seen from a distance.

[@bluegold1026]

Truly. Let's see how long it'll be before it becomes dated.

[@FunnyStarRunner]

My favorite genre of dated rides are IP-based rides that are still operating but are themed after a property that is either no longer relevant or has had a serious change in image after it opened.

[@StorybookAmusement]

There's something special about getting to visit a real life time capsule like that.

[@joedavenport5293]

The Great Movie Ride was timeless and should have been kept. They could have just added more current movies to keep it fresh. And at Epcot they should have added an attraction the high lights or promotes green energy and sustainability.

[@StorybookAmusement]

The Great Movie Ride definitely had staying power if given the right care. Live cast/team members always bring so much life to an attraction!

[@jasonking3182]

Jaws was a perfect ride that celebrated the movie that created the word block buster. It was denied the chance to age into timelessness. Back to the Future was starting to show some age when I was on it last, but it deserved a better fate than being erased.

[@garywillig5143]

Honestly, I find Toy Story Mania to be more dated and less fun than Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. The former is just screens and you are facing the same way for the duration of each game. Buzz Lightyear has actual physical sets and moreover, you have to aim everywhere and manually turn your vehicle to aim in all different directions.

[@StorybookAmusement]

Set pieces will almost always age better than screens. Midway Mania could use upgraded graphics, for sure. I personally think Space Ranger Spin is a wonderful ride! Even though it's not perfect.

[@disneyfan8178]

In fact, when talking with someone about the original "Little Shop of Horrors" movie (1960), he felt that the film was dated, I commented "sometimes the more dated something is, the better it is (although, when I said it, I was really thinking of "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In").

[@StorybookAmusement]

There's definitely a charm to some dated media!

[@idunnobutyay2520]

I kind of feel that Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin’s retro look works for it

[@StorybookAmusement]

I actually personally agree. That ride and its arcade feel make me really happy.

[@SplashSurfer216]

You make some great points about what it means for an attraction to be either timeless or needing serious updates. I’ve been thinking of Toon Lagoon lately and while it’s still a fantastic area, it is showing some of its age and the fact that younger audiences aren’t as familiar with characters like Betty Boop, Popeye, and the Jay Ward gang (Rocky & Bullwinkle, Dudley Do-Right). I’m not saying they should do away with those characters as they are still beloved in some capacity. The way I see it, Toon Lagoon could do with a minor or massive expansion. Since Universal’s license with Marvel won’t last forever now, it would be a good opportunity to expand Toon Lagoon to take up the place of Marvel Super Hero Island. Add in some more characters within Universal’s library or reach to coincide with the others, like the Harvey Toons (Casper, Little Audrey, Baby Huey etc.) or Scooby Doo and SpongeBob, or even modern but still timeless comic strip characters like Garfield or Calvin and Hobbes. Even bring back Jay Ward characters that have had a resurgence like Mr. Peabody. Also, and this is a must, BRING BACK WOODY’S PRESENCE IN THE PARKS. Since KidZone is being rethemed, it would be a great opportunity to bring Woody Woodpecker permanently to IOA.

[@StorybookAmusement]

There's a lot of potential for Toon Lagoon, as you pointed out! I love Woody in his little adventure outfit for IOA. I'd love to see more of him, for sure!

[@brennacollins6000]

@@StorybookAmusementPikmin Replace Toon Lagoon to Pikmin World Similar to Pandora The World of Avatar and Minion Land

[@liamlennon3316]

Universal contract for rights of Marvel is endless, it has no end date which allows them to keep superhero island as long as they want

[@brennacollins6000]

@@liamlennon3316 Sonic The Hedgehog Replace Marvel

[@SplashSurfer216]

@@liamlennon3316 oh brother. That’s like saying The Simpsons will always be at Universal. And now Disney owns them. They can’t hold onto all those rights forever.

[@kayangstrom4692]

There's also the question of craftsmanship vs engineering. Rides like Mr. Toad's feel classic because of the artistry and hand painted touches of craftsmanship. Rides that rely on engineering like RotR can eventually feel dated as the technology becomes dated.

[@StorybookAmusement]

That's a great point!

[@sandygames7691]

What is RotR?

[@StorybookAmusement]

Rise of the Resistance, Star Wars

[@HydraGen2299]

Great video. Personally I feel like galaxy’s edge is already dated due to it taking place between episode 8 and 9

[@StorybookAmusement]

The canon timeline of any themed land I feel like its own conversation. That's a great point!

[@RoseDupouy]

This is a concern of mine regarding Spaceship Earth. So much tech they showed as "futuristic" has long become everyday life for our generation. I remember seeing video calls like some Jetsons supersonic craziness and now it's super easy! I would like to know how they would update an attraction like that in the near future

[@StorybookAmusement]

Spaceship Earth has been due for a refurb for some time now. You may have heard that they planned on it recently, but that project was shelved. Theme Park Stop has great info on that!

[@mupty]

They should have kept the '94 version with the Jeremy Irons narration. It was the most beautifully done version of the ride and wasn't remotely dated like the current version is.

[@liamcollinson5695]

I think one good uk example is Valhalla at blackpool pleasure beach which was opened inthe 2000s but recently got re imagined but the whole Viking theme because of shows like the Vikings or games like GOW Ragnarok have kept people interested for 24 years i am not sure some over theme would off actually been more popular now than when it was first built

[@StorybookAmusement]

Oh that's a good perspective! I haven't heard that point about Valhalla before.

[@semkoppejan]

Great video! Ripsaw was the attraction in orlando I found the most outdated, I hated it😅 also, phantom manor aged to much alteady in my opinion!

[@StorybookAmusement]

Poor Ripsaw Falls 😭 I would love to check out Phantom Manor!

[@mr.pencilsharpener8004]

I think there are a few key points that create a timeless attraction, but a major one is that it should engage you beyond impressing you. The vast collection of AAs in Pirates was impressive in the 60s, but riders today are engaged simply because of the storytelling. It’s part of the reason why something like Mission: Space is less popular- there’s not much storytelling beyond the tech that’s no longer impressive. Also, I slightly disagree with your take on the focus on time period. If a ride acts as a period piece, like Peter Pan in the 1900s, then it’s not dated to reflect that. If it takes place in current day, then I agree with your analysis. I also don’t think creators should think to much about timelessness, because it may stifle their creativity if they have a specific vision.

[@StorybookAmusement]

My point about time periods was more about how relevant that time period is to the theme. Peter Pan, in my opinion, can translate to almost any time period and still retain the main theme of childhood innocence. The theme is bigger than its setting. You're right! I think exploring a range of themes and eras can pull out really creative ideas.

[@yoshim616]

I will preface by saying I am a huge Star Wars fan so anything I say is fully biased. For me I think Star Wars is one of those universes that is so different from our own that the theme park stuff has a good chance at being able to be timeless. I think you need to update the tech over time, but the world and theming are so distinct that it will always feel like an escape from our world. But that’s just my opinion.

[@StorybookAmusement]

I really wanted to include Galaxy's Edge, but it feels like we're in the "too soon to tell" period. But I agree! It'll be interesting to see how the rides hold up, but the aesthetics of Star Wars really lends itself well to being timeless. It's spacey tech that never existed on Earth, so we don't have any biases toward it outside of Star Wars content.

[@angeldog1975]

Disneyworld on an absolute whole is a museum most of it needs to be updated

[@Acidonia150reborn]

The Universal Marvel area only got the videos in the line for The Hulk coster changed over the years for a much worse CG set of videos which have less video footage so loop more and got more dated and look worse than the original 2d Animated ones the little plot the ride had was changed too. They can not change much though which is a good thing since the mid 90s comic vibe was when marvel was known for Toy Biz action figures,fighting games like marvel vs capcom and cartoons not movies to most.

[@StorybookAmusement]

The newer Hulk videos have a 2010s feel to them, for sure. At least there's still the old Spider-Man queue video!

[@wimberkers6901]

What are the underlying factors of quality for themepark rides? That part wasnt really clear to me

[@StorybookAmusement]

It's of course subjective, quality can be a variety of well-produced elements. That can be anything that leaves an impression: visuals, thrills, audio, and so on. Dense show scenes, for example, add a lot of depth, which takes a lot of care and detail to create. It's more than a gimmick. That's just my take on it!

[@ThomasKyleVideos]

I personally feel like Test Track was timeless before they “modernized” it. The crash test dummy theme was fun and interesting, but stripping all of that for a sleek look just made it boring.

[@StorybookAmusement]

I unfortunately never got to ride the original Test Track. I'm very interested if they'll bring any of those ideas back for the new one or just reference World of Motion.

[@onionrovirosa]

Honestly Universal destroyed its true classics: Kong BTTF Jaws. Should have never been closed. Others like Mymmy

[@StorybookAmusement]

Those were absolute classics!

[@giospage]

how do you have 3k? this is defuntland level stuff here

[@StorybookAmusement]

Thank you!

[@michaelschroeck2254]

For me a ride needs to go away simply based on the wait time. Carousel of progress and hall of presidents….. no one goes on these unless they want to nap in air conditioning.

[@StorybookAmusement]

Carousel of Progress helped me wait out a heavy rainstorm, so I was thankful for the low wait then! 😅 I think those attractions have value for tradition's sake.

[@andretect]

The carousel of progress fills its role perfectly, and the history of the ride is amazing.

[@wundervideo]

Carousel of Progress is an attraction that deserved an overhaul for the 50th anniversary or Disney100. It’s pivotal to the history of Disney attractions and should be treated like it. I don’t think it has gotten a “substantial” update since the 90s.

[@FM7Studios]

Excellent video!

[@StorybookAmusement]

Thank you! I’ve really been enjoying your videos recently!

[@FM7Studios]

@@StorybookAmusement Thank you that means a lot!

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Hey FM7 It your follow KZbinr #DisneyDiva ❤

[@FM7Studios]

@@MsDisneylandlover Hello 👋

[@MsDisneylandlover]

@@FM7Studios lol

[@loonytunescrazy]

I love toon lagoon

[@StorybookAmusement]

The best

[@brentgreenhalgh5637]

WDW Autopia…dated. Disneyland Autopia…timeless. Both need better vehicles however.

[@StorybookAmusement]

I'd love to see those rides get updated ride vehicles, definitely

[@idunnobutyay2520]

I wish they’d change the Disneyland Autopia cars from gas to electric. Maybe even solar

[@ThemeParksUncovered]

Absolutely great video! Very well researched, extremely well articulated & delivered! Awesome job man! Proud 🫡

[@StorybookAmusement]

Thank you thank you!

[@MsDisneylandlover]

#DisneyDiva ❤

[@guillermogerban5797]

you are clearly more of a disney fan! Thats fair! I would say most of those rides you alluded to in Disney are dated.

[@StorybookAmusement]

I love all theme parks! But I’m actually a Universal Orlando fan mostly. Some of my examples were an attempt to be neutral.

[@ghostdoom3218]

Disney tries to be timeless but really just does modern day which isn't good. Universal stays timeless because every land is a different piece of quality from a past era, even 2000's with Kong. Stay losing disney fans epic universe will be even more timeless

[@StorybookAmusement]

Epic Universe is going to be a huge win for theme park fans everywhere

[@ghostdoom3218]

@@StorybookAmusement I think so, yeah. I appreciate Universal's innovation, and while lands are dated like Marvel Superhero Island, I think it's quality over timelessness. They keep the best of all eras, which makes them dated but also timeless or amazing in a sense. The opposite is disney which keeps a lot from different eras, but replaces them sometimes for new things that I mostly don't like. Exceptions would be things such as rise of the resistance. Epic Universe is an entirely new park which will benefit everyone. Maybe if epic universe blows Disney out of the water, the competition will make them more competent, hopefully improving them, even though I prefer Universal.

[@swarlesbarkely2449]

Pirate's is certainly dated.

[@StorybookAmusement]

I love how it's a mishmash of different eras with old and new animatronics and storylines blended together.

[@swarlesbarkely2449]

@@StorybookAmusement I like Peter Pan and E.T. which ate pretty similar but for some reason I don't really enjoy Pirates.

[@StorybookAmusement]

@@swarlesbarkely2449 That's the beauty of theme parks and art. Different strokes for different folks.

[@Kafj302]

I am like number 170

[@StorybookAmusement]

Thanks!

[@SagaciousSilence]

The Star Wars rides are high end, yet dated and bad.

[@StorybookAmusement]

I don't follow the Star Wars franchise, so ignorance is bliss in this case 😅