Quote:
Originally Posted by ryguy222
IDK, they don't lay off Imageineers for not using there design. If that was the case they would've laid off every Imagineer they have. They make tons of ideas and sometimes it gets close to making the cut, but because of budgets they don't come out. That is no reason to fire an Imagineer.
Also where are your sources? How do you know IOA didn't make DD? Plus a reason Disney wouldn't make that is they like theming a lot. Disney Doesn't normally make those kind of rides, thats why EE was built.
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What are you talking about with lay offs? No one that I saw mentioned anyone getting laid off or fired....
As far as sources....Most journalists don't reveal their sources but since I am not a journalist let me tell you this much. I worked at WDW for about 25 years and was there for both DAK opening and IOA's opening. It was pretty much common knowledge inside both places how DD came to be. It was originally a Disney attraction, but got sold. IDK at what point of development it changed hands, but it started as a plan for DAK. The original logo for DAK also included the mythological dragon creature, but that was changed a year or so after the park opened. At one point in DAK's early period there was a boat ride around the Tree of Life. You went past a cave with steam coming out and some blackened suits of armor on the banks. It was pretty cool, but some guests complained that it was too gruesome, so it went away. The boat ride was otherwise pretty dull, so it is gone completely now.
And you are correct Disney does like theming, and DD is elaborately themed. It is not like any other standard coaster with a weaving queue and some spaghetti track. There is an entire story woven as you walk through an ancient castle that has been attacked, about a wizard who called forth two elemental dragons. A video at the beginning, you wander through multiple chambers of ice and fire and into the dungeons of the castle. It is extremely detailed and extraordinarily defined. When you do arrive on the coaster the fronts of each train is shaped like a dragon with eyes and teeth. And each car has shoulders down the side, so that as a suspended coaster, the guests feet become the dragon's feet.
The two coasters are usually synched and each side is different. They weave and twist over each other. Fire loops up and over ice at one point while the ice does a cobra roll. Ice hurtles towards and up the wall of the castle, which makes you feel as if you just ran up the wall yourself.
You would be surprised how many people work both places and what kinds of ideas have passed back and forth. It is kind of cool, actually.
You are also correct that Disney doesn't usually design those kinds of rides, which was also a contributing factor to their decision to move away from it.
However, if you look back in history, Walt himself implied that he didn't want roller coasters in his park. He drew comparisons to his ideas and specifically mentioned them, in his comment about a place where families can enjoy the park together without "having their bottoms dropped out from under them on a roller coaster" (It'll take me a bit to find the reference for that one, but it is there. I may have paraphrased it a bit).
Anyway, DAK is a great park and DD is a great coaster, if you have never been to or on either, you need to go....
