The Extinct Attractions Discussion Series: Alien Encounter

[Escapay]

The Extinct Attractions Discussion Series: Alien Encounter



Keeping in line with snowbot's Disney Attractions series, what about all the gone-but-not-forgotten rides that have thrilled us over the years?

First in the discussion, the recently extinct "Alien Encounter" from Tomorrowland, which closed October 11, 2003.

I remember first doing this ride in 1999, and let me tell you, even at 14, that ride is SCARY! Feeling the alien "running" past you, breathing down your neck...it's disturbing. But at the same time it was also very humorous, with the robot and Skippy, along with the remarks in the dark like "Don't take me! Take him!" and "Whose brain is this?!"

Every time we went to Walt Disney World, we always made sure to ride it, and in 2003 during my senior trip, my friend Ally and I went on it twice cause the line was very short, and both times we sat up front and just laughed through the entire thing. The second time we went during the senior trip, this poor kid and his dad was next to me, and both me and Ally were just laughing so hard the entire time (amidst all the screams from other kids), and at the end we were still laughing and I heard the dad remark to the poor kid, "See, he was laughing through the entire thing, it wasn't so scary."

Escapay

[kevinsnow]

Yeah, this ride was great, especially when it breathes down your neck!

I didn't know they shut it down. Does anyone know why? It still seems so new!

[Melly]

kevin, they shut it down to remake it into Stitch's Great Escape which was supposed to be more kid-friendly, but from all reports it's just lame now.

I loved Alien Encounter. The first time I rode it in 1997, my friend was SO scared, I had fingernail marks all down my arm from where she kept grabbing me for reassurance! I thought it was a fantastic sensory experience and always came out giggling about how scared I got. I'm going to miss this one.

[Maerj]

My first time on Alien Encounter...

It was my first trip to WDW. I was there to get Carrie Fisher's (Princess Leia) autograph. To ensure that I'd get it, I waited in line outside of the Disney MGM Studios from around midnight until noon the next day. 12 hours, no sleep, standing in line. I met her, got the autograph and left the park happy. My friend Scott then decided to take me to the Magic Kingdom for the first time and the first ride we went on was Alien Encounter.

Now imagine going in there with no sleep and under the conditions stated above...it makes things a whole lot more realistic. I had no idea what was going to happen; I wondered if this was going to move or what. Needless to say, I was very surprised and had a great time.

I am looking forward to seeing the new incarnation of this attraction, which is of course Stitch's Great Escape. There has been some negative fan reaction to it online, but most fan reactions online are negative in general so I'll take that with a grain of salt. Also, I read that they are going to tweak the attraction, so by the time I get there all of the bugs should be worked out of it.

[BrandonH]

Alien Encounter is a great experience and filled with little jokes. The demonstration on Skippy and the video conferencing with the aliens are both delightful. Each time I went on this ride, I always bent forward as the alien breathing started behind me. I wouldn't do that now, but I was a little bit freaked out at that age.

[orestes.]

I will never ever get to experience this ride. So sad. It really sounded fun.

[pinkrenata]

I was very disappointed when I found out that Alien Encounter had closed. It seems like Disney is great at closing semi-popular attractions (i.e. Journey Into Imagination) and turning them into crap. Needless to say, however, the more I went on Alien Encounter, the less scary it became.

But Skippy kicks butt! I've heard that they still kept him in Stitch's Great Escape, so that's a bit of a comfort.

[disneywb]

This ride was really scary the first time I went on. I practically had it memorized b/c of a season pass. Then when I went on it a while later, it was dissappointing. I didn't figure I had changed that much, and determined that they had probably toned down the ride some from its first year in operation b/c of complaints. This was especially noticable with the way the shoulder covers clamped down on you; it didn't seem as pronounced as the first few times I had ridden it.

[tinkerbell-cup]

i was so scared when i went on the ride, i closed my eyes the whole time and i hated the part when it breathed down your neck. i was also scared that the seats were going to spin, but unfortunately they didn't.

[goofystitch]

I used to be terrified of this ride. So much so that I didn't give it another chance until just three years before it's closing. It was a lot of fun. However, I am anxious to see the Stitch version. But last time I was there when it was open, it was still generating long lines. I know they wanted to make Tomorrowland more kid friendly, but don't they also want successfull attractions? Why tamper with one?

[I am the Doctor]

I'm not sorry to see Alien Encounter go-it just wasn't very scary (at least for me). The lights go out-oh I'm so scared! Gotta admit that listening to the reactions of your fellow riders was fun however-so many would scream when the lights would go out or when the monster was supposedly breathing and/or chewing on you! The storyline was no great shakes either- oops we teleported a monster from an alien (natch!) planet to your location!
I say bring on Stitch-it may not be very scary but at least it might be entertaining!

[Kram Nebuer]

I don't remember the ride that much but I remember standing in line and seeing Skippy. I think I've only been on it twice or once or I dunno. Jane McCoy pulled a muscle in her foot so she was in a wheelchair the whole WDW trip one year so we got to sit in the wheelchair section right next to the door. For this reason I was terrified an animatronic alien would pounce through the door, but alas it did not so it wasn't so scary since you weren't immersed in the attraction with all the other guests.

Anyhow, I was really scared so I put up my collar (I was wearing a golf shirt that day) like a "rebel w/o a cause" and I didn't feel its breath. I closed my ears and didn't hear it coming. I remember shaking and that's about it. It's a shame I didn't get a chance to really get freaked out by the attraction like other ppl.

Though I am looking forward to seeing the Stitch version. From the commercials on the Disney Channel, it looks very cutesy and predictable, but still entertaining.

[The Little Merman]

I find it immensely depressing that I cannot ride this apparent gem.

Sigh.

*tlm

[MichaeLeah]

I agree with some of the others that the ride was stupid. I thought the attraction was quite laughable and stupid. Stitch is an improvement over the stupid Alien but neither attraction is really terrific. I think riding TTA is more exciting and fun than riding Stitch.

[Fidget1234]

Alien is prob by far one of the most original, exciting attractions ever to be experienced @ WDW Resort.

It's a real shame it has gone DARK...& turned it into the travesty Stitchs' Great Escape. Wow....what a mistake.

Now- some wicked bragging...haha.

So some of u know that my step-father Skip was an Imagineer for WDW. One of his attractions he worked on was Alien.
He personally worked along-side George Lucas for construction of the attraction.
In the pre-show w/ S.I.R, Skippy & Scruffy- I guess there was alot of issues in that room while under construction & the aliens were not yet named. George personally/jokingly named the cute little alien Skippy after Skip- the aliens i guess took alot of work & were alot of trouble before it opened....the name was just a in-joke - but it totally stuck & the imagineers kept the name & Skippy has become a favorite attraction created AA.
Yes- he's still there in Stitch- but it's so not the same.

AND ANOTHER THING...

Alien had that awesome "catwalk" part of the attraction where the crew member got his head bit off by the alien- that was Shane's favorite position when he worked Alien.
Every 9 minutes he'd go from chamber to chamber (there were 2) and walk the catwalk for about 45-60 minutes, flash the flashlight down on the audience & then "get his head bit off by the alien" (really going back into the waiting room & flip through magazines for another 9 minutes-haha)- that extra position is now bumped off. Stitch doesn't attack any crew members.
Now- Shane & Skip both refuse to go on the attraction...once was enough for them since the change. Like many of us- they are both highly dissapointed...
As you can see Alien was the #1 attraction for my family for more reasons then one- always will be- & Skippy RULES!


P.S- As a thank you fpr all his hard-work on the attraction, George drew a Captain Mickey (way before dcl was launched) for Skip & personalized it for him. It is one of his prized possessions...he's no Disney animator- but it's really a cute pic. Next time I go to FL & to his & my moms house- im so taking a pic to share w/ this board on the forum.

I MISS U ALIEN! Never again- will u scare me & that is a horrible sad thing...

[cydney]

I remember this ride, I actually got to go on it the one time I was at Disney World. My parents were so excited to take us on it because they had been on it the year before. I freaked out when they put the shoulder thing that holds you down on me because I thought it was gonna turn me upside down or something. I didn't even realize that they had closed it, I thought it was pretty fun and scary.

[Fflewduur]

I was at WDW with some friends in the summer of '95 when we got roped into a scavenger hunt for a golden idol in Adventureland---not the sort of thing I usually do at WDW, but my party thought it was fun. I was glad we did it when we won't our prize was the opportunity to cut to the front of the line for a single attraction of our choice (this was in the days before FASTPASS). Alien Encounter was new, and our obvious choice.

I never thought it was especially scary but I enjoyed it very much. My big complaint was that some of our party were larger individuals, 6'4" or taller, and the shoulder harnesses wouldn't engage unless they slumped down in their seats most uncomfortably.

Extinct attraction fans should enjoy <a href="http://www.waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/">Walt Dated World</a>.

[crunkcourt]

Hey that link didn't work for me for some reason, but I did a google search and came up with this link:
http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/index.htm

But I must say I really miss Alien Encounter; Stitches Great Escape just isn't anywhere as good.

[Argenbrit]

I only rode Alien once and it was scary. Everyone was shouting in the dark and my friend was squeezing my arm all the time. Then I went out and said "That was it? I was told worse things about it."

Now I'll never get to see if the second time was less scary.

[GIANTfraggle]

I loved Alien Encounter & I'm very sad it's gone. I haven't got to ride Stitch yet, but to me it seems like it should be a Fantasyland ride. I will always cherish my Alien, Scruffy & Skippy action figures which are sitting here next to my computer