Mexican Boat Ride Junkies II

[Eeyore3138]

I miss the song!

[jsw123]

I just had to reply! We were there in July and my DD3's favorite character encounter was with Pancito outside the Mexico pavillion. (She met 30+ characters that week!). She could not stop talking about him!

We went to ride the Mexico river boat and a cast member approached her. He asked if we would be special guests on one of the boats! We got to ride, only our family, on a boat. She LOVED it! That Pancito was featured prominently was great!

I had been on the previous ride that featured Mexico, and that was great, too.

But, My DD3---winning a Dream---that was the greatest! She still talks about Pancito as her favorite character!

[jclightchasr]

These are great responses anyone else?

[lightyearfan]

me and dw loved the old version of this ride, but it was in need of a makeover, it's more enjoyable now.

Victor

[Von-Drake]

I know my opinion is skewed being a big Donald Duck fan, but I enjoyed the old ride too. They needed to do something with it, but it is still one that I must go on every time I go. It was actually kind of good to see the use a theme from such a older film release.

[Figgyluv03]

I don't recall hearing about the refurb. When did this take place? Did the ride change alot or did they just add to it. Fill me in peoples! DBf likes Donald, so I'm sure he'll get a kick out of it.

[LauraSAnne]

I chose El Rio del Tiempo.

--LOVED the music
--was one of the only "romantic" rides
--appreciated the historical value of the beginning
--don't like the addition of characters, or at least them taking over the WHOLE ride

I do agree that it needed to be updated, but there are ways to update the good points of a ride (They did it with Haunted Mansion). It would have been neat to keep the main concepts but make them not look so outdated. Now that I'm really thinking about it, it's the beginning with the Aztec's that I really feel is a very sad loss, in addition to the music/song. I wish they would have left that idea at the beginning (but updated) and then had the characters come in after that or at least integrate them into it.

[RedheadWriter]

(not so) humble opinion timeEl Rio Del Tiempo had a respectful air about it regarding the culture of Mexico. This Gran Fiesta is too cartoony and to me. makes no sense. I am a nostalgic fan... goodness, I am still mourning the loss of Horizons... so going on this ride last week was a HUGE disappointment. There would have been better ways to update this attraction.
I can say that I will not be going on again.
Also, did I miss something? Isn't Epcot supposed to educate as well as entertain? Did I miss the education experience while in my food festival induced stupor?

[ILoveLegos]

I miss the song!

Me too, too bad they can't add the song after the stage ending just before the exit.

[rnin02]

(not so) humble opinion timeEl Rio Del Tiempo had a respectful air about it regarding the culture of Mexico. This Gran Fiesta is too cartoony and to me. makes no sense. I am a nostalgic fan... goodness, I am still mourning the loss of Horizons... so going on this ride last week was a HUGE disappointment. There would have been better ways to update this attraction.
I can say that I will not be going on again.
Also, did I miss something? Isn't Epcot supposed to educate as well as entertain? Did I miss the education experience while in my food festival induced stupor?

I have to agree with you...I hate this update. It is so cartoony, I just hate it. Change it back!!

[dumbo ears]

ive never ridden rio del tiempo but ive ridden the 3 cabbeleros ride and it is really cool. So i voted for that one.

[Polynesian Dweller]

Not really a fan of either. I voted for the new version because at least its an upgrade which the original needed. I just wish they had done more. There is so little explanation of what you are looking at. It has the potential for so much more to sell you on visiting the country so the upgrade was a disappointment on that level.

[GrmGrninGost]

I always enjoyed the El Rio Del Tiempo, but I must admit to liking the new ride better! It is very colorful and exciting!

[dog-ears]

I'm in the "like the old version better" camp - I like Donald but found him a little annoying in this version. Also like others have said, the ending is not as good and I miss the song. Kind of miss the merry-go-round in the middle too!

But it did need an update ....

[crazeedizneefinatic]

I voted for the old version too. I enjoyed the mist when you entered and the ending with the merchants. The new one is good too but not the same. The ending could have been better. We always enjoyed looking at the merchant wares and now fake balloons just sit. Two very small things we miss. Don't get me wrong we enjoyed the new version and will continue to ride it. Hmmmm let me see just 317 more days!!

[jsdt]

I voted for the new one as it's more enjoyable for kids, however, I really miss the market scene where the sales-person followed you from the one video screen to the next.

[kdsjjb]

I wish I could vote five times,because none of us liked the new look.

We discovered Rio del Tiempo purely by accident the second time we were there, and it instantly became one of our favorite things to do while in Epcot. DW, the kids, and I all loved it.

We agreed that it could have used some sprucing up, but none of us liked what they did to it.

Sad to say, but it has gone from a "must do' to a "nah, nevermind" for us.

[Meghan]

I voted for the new version. I love both, and even back when it was River of Time, I rode it just about everytime I went to Epcot.

I perfer the current version just a smidge, because I hated the pushy mexican sales people (stereotype much?) and I really love the song at the end of the ride now. I'm a strange girl, that's always been one of my favorite Disney songs.

I think its good that the changes have brought people back to the ride. It's hard to seeing really great attractions just sitting there. The ride seems to have at least a bit of a wait now, when before the wait was almost always non existent.

[lioness8978]

My husband and I DID NOT like the new version. I agree with others about how much more enjoyable the other version was. I also loved riding past the pyramid and see the aztecs. It did need more of that and less puppets but now it REALLY doesnt make any sense. I also miss the ending where the voice says something like "Peace be with you" in spanish and english.

[ldn324]

I don't really care for the new one either. DH and I both found it rather confusing - almost like there was supposed to be a story line, but we couldn't exactly figure out what it was supposed to be. Mainly because it didn't hold our attention.

We'll probably ride again next year just to give it the benefit of the doubt but I can't see myself liking it as much as the old one. Still a good place to get off your feet and enjoy the air conditioning!