As nice as all that is, I'm sure to most people, the announcement of two new animatronics being added to the attraction probably garnered the most excitement. Two new animatronics. But where would they go? And how would they install them soo quickly without having to shut down for a lengthy refurb?
We got our answer yesterday and it was surprising in many ways. It seems to me the main purpose of this 50th Anniversary Update (besides celebrating an anniversary) was to minimize the logging aspect of the attraction without disrupting the theme and push the hootenanny storyline into the limelight, injecting the energy found at the end of the attraction all throughout.
This all starts at the main logging mill at the top of the first lift, where a new animatronic logger is handing out fliers for the hootenanny and there is a new banner advertising it. Previously the hootenanny isn't first mentioned until the second show scene, where an unfinished banner is being painted. Speaking of which, our second new - but not really - animatronic is actually the welcome return of the hitchhiker, now relocated right outside the second show scene. This seems to be a much safer spot for him. Back to the hootenanny expansion, what I haven't mentioned yet is the biggest change of all...the addition of music throughout most of the attraction (which I'm told was provided by Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies). Think Splash Mountain. The loggers are now soo excited for the hootenanny that they can't help singing about it from the very first scene at the top of the hill. To me, this drastically alters the feel of the attraction.
Some may hate it, some may love it. I'm not sure where I stand right now. I think I like the concept of adding music throughout the attraction to energize it a little more but I think the execution was a little haphazard. My rule, no vocals if there isn't any characters around, instrumental only. I feel they should've had an instrumental version of the song they're singing playing all throughout the outdoor sections. Instead they have some vocal sections and some silent sections with no music at all. I also feel there is a little too much celebration going on in the first scene with men hard at work. Probably should leave the vocals out of that scene and add a speech for the new animatronic logger getting these hard working men excited to let loose at the hootenanny (also, take down the banner. The speech will be advertisement enough and it makes no sense why the one earlier is more finished than the one later in the attraction). The whistling in the the cave is awesome (shows isolation while being upbeat) but the music in the forest scene doesn't match the chaos of whats happening to this lone camper. Its the full blown hootenanny music and it sounds like a town celebration while this guy is supposed to be alone in the forest. I guess another rule I'd have is that no music should be as "big" as the hootenanny. There should be some kind of musical progression leading up to the big climax.
Really, a little reorganization and refinement could make this musical redo of the Timber Mountain Log Ride something truly next level. As it is now, its the same great Bud Hurlbut classic but with a twist. Like it or not, I know I'm truly grateful Knott's is continuing to invest in their classics like this.
