[Park Hopper]

DW and I went to the passholder preview of Stitch's Great Escape yesterday and came away neither terribly impressed nor terribly disappointed. Overall, it was kind of a blah experience, entertaining in some parts and boring in others.

I must say, though, that if you were a fan of the old Alien Encounter, you will absolutley hate Stitch's Great Escape. The imagineers took many of the best elements of Alien Encounter and tried to make them less scary (not always succeeding) for young ones. The end result is an attraction that still is quite likely to frighten youngsters and be boring for older children and adults.

On the other hand, Stitch fans likely will love the attraction.

Probably the best part of the whole preview was the Stitch passholder pin. Really cute.

And on a completely different note, WDW crews yesterday were erecting the Christmas tree in front of the Contemporary -- a sure sign that the holidays are on the way.

[Erin]

OH! CHristmas trees!! :c)

I was afraid that would happen with Stitches escape. I loved Alien Encounter :c(
Thanks for the update Parkhopper! Always informative!

[15 mins to wdw]

I was there yesterday morn to and my thoguhts were the same as park hopper's, well except there is a new smell on this show that you will never forget.

I was wondering what that crane was for out in front of the Cont.

[Dana]

This are the same reactions I read on AllEars this week. I am trying to keep an open mind and hope for the best. I never went on AE due to traveling alone with my DD who was terrified to even try that attraction, so maybe we'll like it.

[Erin]

Without having AE to compare it to, I'm sure it will be great! Do you like Stitch? I think he's funny, but my kids watched the show so much, he kinda get's on my nerves.

[MerlinMatt]

Now, it hasn't OFICIALLY opened yet right? Isn't it possible that they'll still be tweaking it a bit?

I'm pretty sure that Mission:Space was tamed down just a bit from when it first opened because AFAIK, not as many people are getting sick as when it first opened.

[PrincessJill]

Did they do something to the Dinosaur ride too? Besides changing the name?? Because I loved it back when it was Countdown to Extinction, but now that they've changed it, it seems a lot darker - I could hardly see what was going on. It actually wasn't fun, it was just beating me around and flashing lights between periods of complete darkness. Is this all in my imagination, or did I happen to ride it the second time when it was broken or something??

[cinderbella]

I loved Alien Encounter....although....I distinctly remember thinking "this is kinda weird for disney to do something this scary....they should make it something to do with a character." hm...i should work for disney....i love stitch...loved alein encounter..except for the whole alien part.....i cant wait

[Dana]

Originally Posted by PrincessJill

Did they do something to the Dinosaur ride too? Besides changing the name?? Because I loved it back when it was Countdown to Extinction, but now that they've changed it, it seems a lot darker - I could hardly see what was going on. It actually wasn't fun, it was just beating me around and flashing lights between periods of complete darkness. Is this all in my imagination, or did I happen to ride it the second time when it was broken or something??

I only got to see it once. It scared the pants off my DD four years ago and she still flat out refuses to go on it..lol I can only remember a grown man in the seat behind me screaming like a little girl....it still makes me laugh. I laughed through that whole ride from listening to him..lololol got the giggles now.

[DarthTortoise]

The imagineers took many of the best elements of Alien Encounter and tried to make them less scary

I am all about that. AE was too scary, and so is Dinosaur. Let me tell you, their is no rollercoaster or any other fast moving type ride that I cant handle, the more intense, the better.
But scary isnt fun to me. I'll never do Halloween Horror Nights.

[Erin]

I think Halloween Horror nights would be too scarey, too. I dont' even like the commercials :c( I would be miserable the whole night!
My husband would LOVE it!


But, I didn't think AE was scarey. I thought it was kinda neat.

[PrincessJill]

I liked AE too, I thought it was a fun kind of scary. And because of that I decided to try Halloween Horror Nights too. I let my friends talk me into it, being the naive little girl that I was... how bad could it be? Wellllll turns out it could be pretty bad. One word: CHAINSAWS. Some of my friends (cough cough... Baloo85!!...ahem...) laughed at me the whole time because I was screaming nonstop. It wasn't pretty!! Unless you enjoy being scared out of your mind, avoid Halloween Horror Nights at all costs!!!

[DarthTortoise]

Unless you enjoy being scared out of your mind, avoid Halloween Horror Nights at all costs!!!

I have some friends who haved worked them, one of them was the rat lady, and they tell me about what they are doing each year. Ugh, no thank you!!! I'll be just fine with MNSSHP!!!

[Metalfan]

Yeah..not a huge fan of being scared here...lol...I'll stick to Halloween, Disney's way!

[Cavey]

Originally Posted by PrincessJill

Did they do something to the Dinosaur ride too? Besides changing the name?? Because I loved it back when it was Countdown to Extinction, but now that they've changed it, it seems a lot darker - I could hardly see what was going on. It actually wasn't fun, it was just beating me around and flashing lights between periods of complete darkness. Is this all in my imagination, or did I happen to ride it the second time when it was broken or something??

You know, I thought the same thing. In 2001, it was one of my favorite attractions from the entire trip. In 2003, I just kept waiting for the ride to end asking myself why I didn't enjoy it this time. Of course, I felt that about the entire Animal Kingdom. In '01 it was our favorite park, after EPCOT. In '03, we wish we had skipped it.