July 2 ,2008
Toy Story Midway Mania vs. Men In Black: Alien Attack
By Kevin Contini (DisneyBoi1215)

What a better way to bring back my “Versus” series by taking a look at two very popular “game” rides. The idea of “shooting something to earn points” has been very popular among the theme parks for several years now. Walt Disney World started the craze of “shooter games” in Central Florida with the debut of “Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin” at the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland in 1998. When Buzz landed from going to “infinity and beyond,” Universal Creative decided that there must be a way to compete with WDW by opening a “shooter game” of their own. And what a better theme for it then their latest movie at the time starring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith.

Debuting in 2000 at Universal Studios Florida, “Men in Black: Alien Attack” opened to very positive reviews among theme park guests, theme park web sites, and more around the world. Built to represent the 1964 New York World Expo, the attraction has excellent theming and a superior team who fit in with the tie-in of “MIB Agents” rather well. When entering the first room, the announcement welcoming you to “The Universe and You”, which is to be an exhibit at the 1964 New York World Expo. The only problem I have with this is how cheesy the whole “pre-show” is, if you can even call it a pre-show. As you move through the building, the interior is shaped like the set from the MIB movies. I just wish those darn aliens were real! Whenever I ride, I have to double check to make sure they aren’t any of my relatives…they look so much like them.

The overall attraction is decent. I’m not one of those people who are automatically blown away by this ride that was based off two amazing movies. In fact, I never ride this anymore. I will spare you the details of why I do not ride it anymore, but let me just say---I was sick for the rest of the day after riding it. I was impressed, however, with the intricate detail of the interior rooms of the building and the somewhat rapid amount of dispatches the team was getting through. I was disappointed with their queue video. That video can be labeled with a capital Cheesy. Seriously folks, it won’t cost you that much more money to get Rip Torn and Will Smith to say the queue safety video. Sheesh!

After riding this ride last year, I swore that I would not ride anymore rides that had rapid spinning movements and horrible guns, except for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, even though the spinning on there you CAN control. There is one ride that I happen to LOVE that is like MIB but it doesn’t spin that bad. Yes, people, I am talking about the beloved, critically-acclaimed…TOY STORY MIDWAY MANIA! Having just opened on May 31, I was fortunate enough to have ridden it earlier in the month for Cast Member Previews. I entered the line expecting it to be good. But, Disney never ceases to amaze me. Toy Story Midway Mania is AMAZING! The entire ride is in 3-D and it’s a lot of fun. Since it has only been open for about three weeks, I don’t see any problems with this ride, except the ridiculously-long wait times and periods of NO Single Riders (enter mad face).

As far as theming goes between TSMM and MIB, TSMM wins this contest hands down. The details in the queue line and the building overall are amazing. I was thoroughly impressed with the talking Mr. Potato Head. YAY for Don Rickles!  Now that I think of it, I do have a problem with TSMM’s queue line. OMG, there are too many stairs! I am sick and tired of having to climb up and down those stairs just to ride the darn ride. Is it possible for them to build an elevator just for me? I don’t need to exercise, people! I just need to ride the darn ride.