The only way I see it fitting even the Imagination pavilion's theme is that the creatures are imaginary, which means almost all of the Magic Kingdom would suddenly fit the "theme."
Thank you. It was what I needed to get my thoughts in order.
Most of the time, when first encountering a bit of new Disney news, I have an immediate reaction. A gut feeling that I can't explain very clearly right away. Sometimes I can't quite put my finger on the particular WHY I feel it is either 'right' or 'wrong'. Same thing happened this time. When I first read the Hill article my very reaction was, "Well, it's about time!!" I then reread it looking for overt negativity (I sometimes miss this from Hill because my head is often nodding too fast in agreement). I found little negativity!! So, I quickly click to the DIS and started to write. As I was writing the little hairs on the back of my neck started to stand up. Something didn't 'feel' quite right. So I stopped, highlighted my opinion and hit delete. Instead, I merely posted the link. I needed time to think about it.
So, off to the 'thoughtful place' for some thinking. And I soon discovered what was bothering me about the story. It was going into EPCOT (MY BELOVED EPCOT). And it didn't fit! OK, I know it didn't fit, but why? Certainly YoHo, DisDuck and our favorite tag team of Captain Peter would be all over me without some sort of cogent argument (that they would likely lampoon anyway!).
Why didn't it fit? Cause I said so, that's why!!! - No. That wouldn't work.
Why didn't it fit? Because it doesn't hold with the over all theme of EPCOT.
Well, maybe. But is there really a theme left to EPCOT or has it merely become a hodge-podge of rides loosely based on some forgettable movies? And besides I could already hear YoHo, "Its monsters. Imagination - Get it?" - No. That wouldn't work. I still needed more.
Why didn't it fit? Because it doesn't hold with the over all theme of EPCOT. The only way I see it fitting even the Imagination pavilion's theme is that the creatures are imaginary, which means almost all of the Magic Kingdom would suddenly fit the "theme." Ah! Thank you!! That'll do.
I am very disappointed, if not downright mad, that once again they are more concerned with creating advertising for their movies than they are with creating a unique, quality and magical experience for their guests. I for one would LOVE to see NO movie tie-ins for EPCOT!! Some in MK, even a couple in AK and the rest in MGM. LEAVE EPCOT ALONE!!!! It also seems that a Dinosaur ride and a Space type ride doesn't really NEED a movie tie in. If the movies tank (WHICH THEY DID) the ride could stand alone. This one seems a little movie specific. I mean is there anyone else out there that is thrilled that Ei$ner wasn't around for The Rescuer Down Under? If he were in charge I'm quite sure we'd have Rescuer - The Ride or Journey Down Under!!
My other serious objection is one of length. IMO EPCOT should have experiences. PAVILLIONS or at least ATTRACTIONS!! Not just merely rides. How ordinary. And this ride is already one third shorter than the original. What are they thinking!! And they better be careful about how they portray Figment!! That's all I gotta say!!
Unless they do it right, it will come off as a desperate attempt to fix a problem they caused in the first place. A tiny band-aid that will not come close to repairing the bleeding artery. They've already disappointed everyone with their first "fix". It is time to make things right. And those little hairs on the back of my neck say, at least as Hill described it, "This ain't it!!"
Were Monsters, Inc. to come to DS, I'd bet it would be as the replacement to The Great Movie Ride rather than being a new attraction.
You got that one right!!!