How much will I really miss recently closed attractions

One popular pastime among many Disney aficionados seems to be generating outrage whenever changes are announced. In recent years, some attraction closures have drawn the ire of many of those fans. While it certainly would be more socially acceptable, at least among the average Disney devotee, to join the crowd and pile on the criticism I chose to look at just how often I actually visited some of these supposedly beloved attractions. I realize my personal tastes are different than other guests, but suspect quite a few people would find similar results if they were inclined to keep the sort of (arguably pedantic) records that I do.

The numbers I will cite here reflect 24 different trips to Walt Disney World since 2010, during which time I spent 114 nights on or near Disney property. I've ridden 854 Disney World attractions over the course of those visits. Given that information, let's take a look at how often I actually chose to ride three of the most recently closed attractions that seemed to cause the most vocal angst in the Disney fan community.

Ellen's Energy Adventure (3)

It was tough to make the case that this attraction was not in need and and overhaul, so when considering whether or not you want to devote 45 minutes to an attraction that is well past its prime, the answer tends to be, "no." Clearly, that sort of thinking affected my choices, as I rode the attraction three times in the last seven years. By comparison, over the same time period I rode Soarin (35) and Spaceship Earth (32) ten times more often and even sat through the Circle of Life film as many times (3) as I traveled back in time with Ellen. If that isn't already striking enough, then perhaps this is. I haven't ridden Ellen's Energy Adventure at all since September, 2012, when I was traveling with a friend's family and one of his son's really enjoyed seeing dinosaurs (which meant that we also had to endure a meal at T-Rex Cafe during the same trip).

While I share some fans concern about the spirit of EPCOT Center being lost, I think that ship sailed long ago. Universe of Energy was a technically impressive pavilion that rarely made anyone's list of favorite original EPCOT Center attractions. Ellen's Energy Adventure didn't substantially improve on the original. Given it's length and our shortening attention spans it's no surprise that more folks chose to skip this pavilion. Whether or not you believe Guardians of the Galaxy will teach us about energy and inspire us to learn more about the topic (I think it's possible, but that's a separate topic), there's no doubt that most Epcot visitors weren't learning anything about the topic, because they weren't riding. I was no exception here.

Great Movie Ride (10)

I go through phases when I take an active interest in movie history. I was in high school when Disney-MGM Studios opened and by the end of my high school tenure I took in a year long film production/film history class, so as far as impressionable kids go, I was certainly in the target market for Disney World's third theme park.Years before we all carried around cameras in our pockets and iMovie made video editing accessible to nearly anyone, a peak behind the scenes of how movies were made was fascinating. The Great Movie Ride was a marvelous celebration of cinema, with tie-ins from classic films of the distant and relatively recent past.

After college I didn't visit any Disney theme parks again until 2010. When I returned to what was now Disney's Hollywood Studios the world had changed and the park was a shell of its former self. Movie and television production had long ceased in the park, the Backlot Tour had been gutted, there wasn't any animation production to tour (and even if there were, watching someone animate on their computer wasn't going to be nearly as compelling as seeing the process of hand-drawn animation), and the Great Movie Ride had lost its luster. I rode Great Movie Ride pretty regularly during my first few forays into the second generation of the Studios theme park, totally ten times in recent years. I rode the attraction on my last trip, in May of this year, but prior to that it had been more than two years since I last made time to see the attraction, skipping the ride nine consecutive trips. To be fair, I've found myself spending a lot less time in the Studios while most of the park's attractions have closed while the park metamorphosizes into Disney's attempt to recycle Universal's old "Ride the Movies" slogan. However, during the same time I've made a point to see Muppet*Vision 3D nearly twice as often  (19 times) as my ten Great Movie Rides, while riding Star Tours more than three times as often (36).

I loved what the Great Movie Ride once was, but over time the attraction lost much of its relevance and some scenes stopped being maintained. There were still considerable lines, sometimes stretching outside the Chinese Theater, but I think that was in part because there were so few other things to do in the Studios in recent years. I understand those who lament it's closing, as the attraction represented the last nail in the coffin of the original vision for the Disney-MGM Studios, but the truth is that original concept was long gone, and unlike EPCOT Center's original vision (which, I believe can be reinvigorated), a working studio in central Florida wasn't coming back. Given that I chose to abandon this attraction a couple years ago, I can't fault Disney for doing the same.

Maelstrom (8)

This is going back a couple years, but few attraction closure announcements generated quite the fury as did the closing on Maelstrom in Epcot's Norway pavilion. To be fair, a lot of the criticism was directed at the decision to theme its replacement to another popular target of Disney fans, the film Frozen. The name of that film seems to have a polarizing effect on many people, either eliciting joy or a reflexive need to express anger at something that became more popular than it may have deserved, with the latter being the expected response in most cases. I can make the argument that the characters from Frozen actually fit quite well with Epcot's intended purpose (I'm working on a more in-depth article addressing that topic), but for now let's focus on how popular the attraction Frozen Ever After actually replaced really was.

I actually rode Maelstrom pretty regularly up through September, 2014, my last visit to Epcot before the attraction sailed off forever, taking eight boat rides past bears, trolls, and oil rigs to learn what life is like in Norway. [NOTE: From 2010 through September, 2014 I rode 451 attractions across all four Disney World theme parks]. This lagged behind the number of times I visited Spaceship Earth (18), Test Track (14), Soarin (13), but was more often than I went on Living with the Land (7) or sat down to watch the American Adventure (3), so I didn't dislike Maelstrom, but I didn't really love it either.

Most of my visits were motivated by convenience and the lack of other moving attractions in World Showcase. The attraction itself was short, less than five minutes long, and there was just about never a line for Maelstrom in its final years. It was rare that I couldn't spare a few minutes to sit down in air conditioning and think back to when the Norway pavilion was new. I somehow managed to wait 11 minutes in line for the boat ride in March, 2012, getting in line at 12:45 PM and not finishing the ride until just after 1:00 PM, but after that I never again waited more than seven minutes for Maelstrom. Did any of those visits inspire me to consider visiting Norway or studying its history? No, it was a choice I made to pass the time in between snacks and drinks while touring World Showcase. In the short time since Frozen Ever After has been open I've already ridden that attraction nearly as many times (7) as I rode it's predecessor in recent years and have stepped off the boat with a smile on my face far more frequently than when I was walking away from Maelstrom.

Summing it Up

As I noted above, these numbers only reflect one person's choices (mine) about how often I chose to experience these attractions, but as I also noted I believe my choices were far more common than some of the loudest critics of these attraction closures would have you believe. There are reasons that I will miss having the chance to trigger memories of the era when these attractions were relevant and vibrant additions to Walt Disney World, but frankly, I won't miss that very much. Seeing as how I already drifted away from riding these attractions very often, it's hard to look back after the fact and argue the spaces they occupy couldn't be put to better use. In the case of Frozen Ever After, we can see that's already happened, so let's hope the same will be true for the new versions of the Energy pavilion and the centerpiece attraction of whatever Disney's Hollywood Studios will be named in the future.

Disney Parks Stars Wars Announcements from D23 Expo 2017

Disney made two significant announcements pertaining to the presence of Star Wars in Disney World during today's Parks and Resorts presentation at D23 Expo in Anaheim.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

The official name of the new land was announced, but opening dates were not. It was noted that the land will open first in Anaheim, then later in 2019 in Disney World. The lands will be essentially the same in Disney World and Disneyland, differing only in how you enter the area. The land will contain two attractions and at least one dining option, the cantina. The area will be populated by characters (including some droids), some familiar and some new, that will interact with you, supposedly based on choices you make during the attractions, and perhaps elsewhere in the new space. Disney released a video exploring a model of Galaxy's Edge, while Inside the Magic also have video of the model that includes an interview with Portfolio Creative Executive at Disney Imagineering, Scott Trowbridge. Trowbridge appeared during the Expo presentation and repeated a lot of what he told Inside the Magic.


The attractions both sound pretty ambitious. In one, you will pilot the Millennium Falcon, though it's not clear how that will work. It was suggested that it's possible to crash the ship, so guests will clearly be able to effect the ride experience, though Chapek also noted "everybody works as a team," which I interpret as "everybody in a particular ride vehicle will have the same result." One of Disney's talking points during the Expo has been that you will be commended for successfully completing a mission here, presumably by walk-around characters in the park or in restaurants, but if you fail you may lose galactic credits, then you might upset someone and find that bounty hunters are out to get you.

The second attraction will take place inside an Imperial Star Destroyer. Not much was said about this attraction beyond that, but the ride vehicle was revealed among the Expo exhibits. WDW News Today has a variety of photos of the First Order Fleet Transport. The vehicle suggests this will be a trackless ride system, which Disney has used effectively as part of attractions in different overseas parks. This adds a level of unpredictability, as you don't follow the same path each ride, so you will likely see and hear different things each time you visit.

Galaxy's Edge will also include what was only described as "the cantina," which would suggest it will be evocative of the cantina from the original Star Wars film (now Episode 4). A face familiar to Star Tours fans will appear inside this dining establishment, as Captain Rex, the original pilot from Star Tours, will work as the DJ. Those who remember Rex know that he has a habit of making mistakes, and it was implied that is likely to continue in his new role. Not much else was said about the cantina, except that blue milk will be available.

No other attractions, dining, or merchandise locations were announced. The only other specific entertainment (of sort) that was mentioned was a character with whom you can trade items. This sounds similar to the experience Jawas have offered in Disney's Hollywood Studios in recent years, though on a larger scale. I didn't catch the correct spelling of the name, but I believe Trowbridge referred to him as Dak Andar.

Within Galaxy's Edge, there are to be three distinct areas, a resistance outpost, a bustling trading post, and an area occupied by the First Order. Generally speaking, Trowbridge described Galaxy's Edge as a "stepping off point for adventures." It is clear that Disney intends for there to be much more to your Star Wars land experience than just riding attractions and eating food, as walk-around characters (human, alien, and droid) are supposed to interact with you and be familiar with the reputation you have earned. Presumably, this will be done by tracking your MagicBands or RFID tickets that will notify these characters what you have done in the land and how successful you have mean, which will further add to the unpredictability that the two attractions will offer. Trowbridge added that you will create "your own adventure." If Disney is successful in integrating attractions and other experience, then it will set a new standard for what is possible in theme parks in a way we have not seen since a long time ago.

See Disney's official announcement.

Star Wars Resort

Avid Disney Parks fans may have heard about this idea in April, when concept art from a Disney guest survey made the rounds on social media. Today, Disney officially announced a Star Wars resort will be built in Disney World, but did not say much else. In April, speculation was that the new resort will be near Disney's Hollywood Studios, but no official announcement was made about the location.

What we do know is that the resort will make it appear as if you have stepped onto a starship and everything you encounter should further that theme. One noteworthy item was that Bob Chapek announced, "every window has a view into space." This suggests no actual windows into the real world (which would disrupt the theme), perhaps something akin to the popular virtual portholes on the Disney Cruise line, though on a larger scale. Chapek described the overall experience as "100% immersive," which doesn't mean a whole lot (except to serve as further proof that Disney believes it important to describe every initiative in their parks these days as "immersive"), but does suggest this will be more than just a hotel that looks like something you might see in Star Wars. In a similar manner to how characters are to react to your choices inside the new Galaxy's Edge land, it sounds as though the characters you encounter at this resort may do the same. Chapek said the experience "will culminate in a unique journey for every person who visits."

See Disney's official announcement.

Luigi's Flying Tires Flies Away from DCA

Yesterday marked the final day of operations for Luigi's Flying Tires in Disney California Adventure and the Disneyland Resort in California. Sadly, the ride met the same fate as the Flying Saucers ride that inspired it, closing after a relatively short run in the park. I only had a chance to ride the tires once, so I'll share my pictures from that day when I had the chance to visit DCA with some friends from the +Disneyana Fan Club.


I'm not sure how well the Luigi's tire hats sold, but they were hard to miss!

The queue for the attraction was cleverly themed.

I never did find anyplace that actually served these drinks.

A visiting celebrity left his mark.

The attraction seemed to be most entertaining when there were other people you knew, so you had someone to run into, and you never know who you would run into on the ride.

Summary of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Live Chat

This afternoon, the Disney Parks Blog hosted a live chat with Dave Minichiello, Imagineer and Creative Director for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Minichiello answered questions, mostly from the moderator, Disney Parks blogger Jennifer Fickley-Baker. Below is a summary of what was covered.

PROGRESS / OPENING DATE

Minichiello explained that construction is on schedule and at this point, "pretty much every day is a milestone."  He spoke of the recently unveiled Dwarfs Cottage, "which is going quickly and looking amazing" and how trees are now being planted so "we’re starting to see [the attraction] as a part of the forest." On the outside of the attraction, Minichiello said that the "final rockwork is being completed" and "thematic painting" continues, while the progress of the interior of the ride is "going very well."  Now that we see ride testing taking place it is easy to get excited about when soft openings or guest testing may occur, but when asked about an opening date, Minichiello only offered, "spring."

BACKGROUND

There was some discussion about the thought process that went into the creation of the Mine Train Ride.  The Mine Train ride was described as the "centerpiece" of New Fantasyland and that it will "create kinetic energy throughout the land." Minichiello said that Imagineers were "looking for a family coaster type of experience" and chose "Snow White and a Mine Train type of vehicle." This was in contrast to the design process of many other attractions, where Imagineers start with a story and then develop the ride.  The discussion of the ride vehicle continued (see below), as this was clearly one of the talking points Disney wanted to make sure we focus on as we anticipate the opening date.

ATTRACTION DETAILS

Many of the questions addressed details about the Mine Train. During these press events, Disney is always careful not to reveal too much, while it introduces the terminology the company wishes us to use in describing a new attraction.  Along those lines, host Fickley-Baker described this attraction as "a combination of a family coaster and a dark ride." Disney was very successful in combining a dark ride and a moderately-paced thrill ride (albeit not a "coaster") with Radiator Springs Racers in Disney's California Adventure park, so it will be a tall order to see if the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train can live up to that standard.

Other details that were revealed or confirmed, include:

• When asked how the coaster compares to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain, Minichiello described the experience as "unique" and "unlike anything else in our parks"
• When asked if all the major characters from the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs film would be present (specifically Snow White, the Prince, and the Evil Queen), Minichiello offered a vague reply, "you’ll be able to experience many of your favorite characters from the film"
• Regarding views from the attraction, Minichiello said, "we wanted to showcase those sightlines and see Storybook Circus, a little bit of Mermaid."  He also added that after leaving the mine you see Prince Eric's, Beast, and Cinderella castles.
• When asked what to expect when the ride slows, Minichiello offered only "to allow the guests to enjoy the details of the scene"
• When asked about music on the attraction, Minichiello spoke only about music in the queue, which will be all instrumental, as though it were played by the Dwarfs. That queue music will include a "surprise song" that was written for the Snow White film, entitled 'Music In Your Soup' (this appears to be the song)
• Continuing with the queue, it was revealed that it will contain "some interactive elements," including "an area where guests can sort and wash jewels"
• When asked about Hidden Mickeys, Minichiello did not offer and specifics, but spoke about the wood grain on the ride vehicles and "throughout the attraction," so look for Mickey in the wood grain
• Guests will be able to make FastPass+ reservations for this attraction
• The height requirement to ride will be 38 inches

RIDE VEHICLES

Many of the questions that were selected and some of the moderator's own questions focused on the mine car ride vehicles, which Minichiello said will give "the guests a new sensation they've never had before."  The ride vehicles, described by host Fickley-Baker as "unique to this attraction," offer what Minichiello describes as "the sensation of pivoting back and forth." Riders should be able to "feel differences in the various terrain around the mountain," though the ride is still described as "very smooth." The mine cars will operate at different speeds, slowing down for some of the more detail-laden parts of the attraction, which it sounds like will primarily be inside the mine (in the "dark ride" part of the attraction).  The weathered appearance of the faux-wooden cars was also discussed, as Fickley-Baker noted each car will be "individually handpainted and aged."

Disney also shared a video combining their CGI concept model shown side to side along with a ride video showing the current ride in its current form:

You can read the chat in its entirety by following this link: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/02/live-chat-talk-seven-dwarfs-mine-train-today-at-230-p-m-edt/

Brainstorming for Disneyland

[ED NOTE: Revised because I had omitted World of Color from my "must do" list, since a viewing was part of our tour, but it should be part of the list.  I also moved some items around thanks to the advice of Seth Kubersky and Guy Selga]

I'm going to Disneyland!  Just about four months ago, as I watched Cars Land open its doors I decided I finally had to see Disney's west coast park for myself.  The seeds for this idea were planted the year before when I first saw videos of World of Color, perhaps Disney's most innovative and spectacular nighttime performance, then seeing the landscape of Cars Land and the ride videos from Radiator Springs Racers inspired me to study Disneyland in greater detail.  I knew that park had history on its side, but I also found an impressive array of attractions packed into a relatively small space, giving the California parks a remarkable "fun density."  The only question was when I could find time to visit and who I could convince to make the trip with me.

Everything fell into place rather quickly when I learned about the Backstage Magic tour, offered by Adventures by Disney.  I'll cover the tour in detail later, but this seemed like the perfect opportunity for my father and me to travel to Disney's Southern California parks, along with some other locations that we couldn't just walk off the street to see, like the Jim Henson Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering.  As excited as I am for the tour and getting to see Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure, the constraints of the tour present some unique planning challenges.  Since Todd has been talking about planning in the context of our recent trip to Disney World, I thought it may be useful to share my thoughts in preparing for this trip out west.

When going on vacation I like to have a plan, or at least a rough idea what I want do each do while away.  Generally, most items on the plan won't be carved in stone (except sometimes for prepaid items, some tours or dinner reservations , or other items that may require advanced planning or would be difficult to reschedule), but at least I'll have an idea what I want to do.  This begins by brainstorming a list of things I want to do, then prioritizing that list.  This post covers the brainstorming steps.

As I've studied Disneyland I realized that there any many more differences in the park and Disney World's Magic Kingdom than I originally realized.  Thus, my priority will be to see things I can't see in Florida, but hopefully still with time to see some favorites that are also available back east.

Wish List Meals

Our Adventures by Disney tour includes a dinner at Steakhouse 55 and breakfasts at Goofy's Kitchen and Storyteller's Café on different days.  Some other meals are listed as "provided" without a location specified.  From what I can tell, we'll be on our own for two lunches and one dinner during the tour, then lunch and dinner when we stay in the parks the day the tour ends, and there may be time for lunch before leaving for the airport on our last day.  I will be traveling with my father, so I want to choose places that both of us will like (for example, the Blue Bayou gets good reviews, but my father doesn't like anything he perceives as "Cajun", so a New Orleans bayou themed restaurant won't appeal to him).

• Carthay Circle - one of my father's favorite places to eat in Disney World has been the Brown Derby; I think Carthay offers a similar combination of upscale food and old-fashioned class
• Flo's V-8 Café - Trying a newer restaurant is appealing to me and the views of Cars Land make this look like a pleasant place to sit and enjoy a meal
• Hungry Bear Restaurant - The setting by the Rivers of America looks like a relaxing place to take a break for a meal
• French Market - this was suggested and looks like a good place to eat, but I'll have to show my dad the menu to see if there's anything he would like

Wish List Attractions - Disneyland

I've organized this list from "must dos" (shows and rides that I would be disappointed if we didn't see) and into other categories in declining order of interest.  The idea is to see things that are unique to Disneyland or where attractions are not exact duplicates of what I've seen in the Magic Kingdom.

MUST DOS Indiana Jones (closed) Pirates of the Caribbean Haunted Mansion (want to see holiday overlay) Monorail Finding Nemo Submarine Castle Walkthrough Mr. Toad Roger Rabbit Pinocchio Space Mountain Storybook Land Canal Boats (closed)	SHOULD DO Fantasmic (if show is running) Railroad Matterhorn Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln Alice in Wonderland Snow White Buzz Lightyear	LIKE TO DO Penny Arcade Star Tours Splash Mountain Big Thunder Jungle Cruise Disney Gallery
OTHER ATTRACTIONS OF INTEREST Chip ‘n Dale Treehouse Main St. Cinema Riverboat / Sailing Ship Tarzan’s Treehouse

Wish List Attractions - DCA

MUST DOS Radiator Springs Racers World of Color Little Mermaid Luigi’s Flying Tires Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree Monster’s Inc Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! Toy Story Mania (my father hasn't ridden this in WDW yet) Blue Sky Cellar	SHOULD DO California Screamin’ Aladdin Soarin’ Five and Dime Tower of Terror	LIKE TO DO Red Car Trolley Redwood Trail (if it is accessible to someone who has trouble walking)
OTHER ATTRACTIONS OF INTEREST Mickey’s Fun Wheel Muppet*Vision 3D (this is still running Frankenweenie previews) Bakery Tour Goofy’s Sky School Grizzly River Run (don't really want to get wet) Sorcerer’s Workshop

So, that's what I want to see.  We'll see how everything works out in California.  I know I'll have fun no matter what, but thought it would be interesting to share my thinking before leaving home.  What do you think?  Do any Disneyland veterans have any suggestions for other things I should do? or, things that I should skip?

Book Review: Building a Better Mouse: The Story of the Electronic Imagineers Who Designed Epcot

By Steve Alcorn and David Green
Theme Perks Press: 2007


I was initially disappointed by what was not included in Building a Better Mouse, but was soon taken in by the unexpectedly compelling story of the construction of EPCOT Center mostly from the perspective of the electronic engineers in California who designed the systems that operated the attractions in the park, primarily the American Adventure.  When I first purchased this book and read it (a year and a half ago) I hoped to read about all the pavilions in their early days and see pictures of EPCOT Center being built.  This book does not attempt to take on the ambitious task of documenting all of the construction of a park as vast as EPCOT Center.  Instead, the book attempts to put you in the shoes of some of the people who helped bring that park to life and does so effectively.  Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising, given Disney's history of impressive storytelling, that the authors would know how to tell a tale.

The book is rather short, with only 130 pages of text, and the edition I read would have been considerably improved by the addition of pictures and diagrams to better tell the story.  There is a new "30th Anniversary" version of the book, which includes a note that it is now "with Photos," so if you are considering purchasing the book, then I recommend the newer version [Note: At last check, Amazon was selling both versions of the book for the same price; our link at the bottom of this review is to the newer version].  Continuing my list of gripes is that with two different authors it can sometimes be difficult to know which one is telling the story, but my biggest complaint with the book is the casual use of first names.  Whether it be Mark, Marty, Jane, Brian, Jenny, or a host of other names I often felt as though I should have known who people were as they appeared in stories.  Early in the book more than a dozen engineers and managers are introduced within a few pages, so the second time I read the text I made note of all of their names and (when-provided) the descriptions of their jobs, but even after doing so I still found a host of new characters appeared in different anecdotes without a proper description of who they were or what role they played in the story.  Generally speaking, I could still figure out what was going on, but it would often have helpful to know who some of these people were - managers, colleagues, co-ops from college, engineers from another team?  Too often it felt like people telling inside jokes that I wasn't in on.

Despite that criticism, the story is otherwise very-well written, introducing the "normal" work environment of a Disney imagineer in California in the late 1970s and early 1980s and documenting how their lives and jobs changed as employees relocated to Florida in preparation for the opening of EPCOT Center.  The book documents the increasingly hectic days when the previews prior to the park's opening drew near through transcripts of an audio diary kept by engineer Glenn Birket.  This successfully conveys the strain everyone was under to bring the American Adventure online in time to the park to open, along with the seemingly impossibly long hours that were needed to do so.  The book also serves as a reminder that projects of the size of EPCOT Center don't last forever, and as much as building the park consumed the lives of so many people, it was not long after construction was complete that their services were no longer needed.  As the author's elegantly describe, their "ears were amputated."

"A project like this is so vast in scope it will take the cooperation of many people to make it a reality."  These were the words of Walt Disney, describing his original concept for EPCOT in a film promoting the plans for his Florida Project.  Near the beginning of the book the authors quote several paragraphs from that film that were part of the "pixie-dusting" of young engineers (and presumably others who built the park) as they started their careers as Disney Imagineers.  These words, in particular, serve as an important reminder that actual people, lots of them, built the park that so many of us look back upon with fond memories.  It is easy to remember the shows and rides, but Building a Better Mouse sets out to make sure we don't forget the people behind the scenes who made that happen.

If you wish to purchase Building a Better Mouse, then please use this link to amazon.com.  NOTE: Using this link will help support this web site, as amazon will offer (at no additional cost to you) a small portion of the purchase price of the book to our site.

If you enjoy this book, then you may also enjoy some of Steve Alcorn's other books, including another focusing on theme park design and a handful of novels.  You can see these books listed on his publishing site (http://www.themeperks.com/).  Alcorn also offers an online class in theme park design at (http://www.imagineeringclass.com/) and appeared on The Season Pass Podcast (http://www.seasonpasspodcast.com/) Episode 157: The Steve Alcorn Interview - http://traffic.libsyn.com/seasonpasspodcast/The_Season_Pass_157.mp3

Summary of New Fantasyland Live Chat

This afternoon, the Disney Parks Blog hosted a live chat with Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Director Chris Beatty.  Beatty, the "overall creative director of the New Fantasyland expansion," answered questions, mostly submitted through the blog post announcing the event or from the moderator, along with a few questions from those watching live.  The presentation highlighted the new restaurants of New Fantasyland, briefly discussed the new Little Mermaid ride, and ended with a few other topics.  Below is a summary of what was covered.

Be Our Guest Restaurant

The presentation began with a video featuring imagineers talking about the Be Our Guest Restaurant.

As you first see Beast's Castle, imagineer Tim Warzech suggests, "when you're at a distance we really want you to see that you're being drawn to the castle itself."  Then, the story continues as imagineer Ted Robledo says you, "have to cross that iconic bridge, guarded by gargoyles along the way."

   

All of the imagineers, in the video, and during the chat seemed required to use the word "foreboding" to describe your entrance to Beast's Castle.  Above the doorway is a mosaic that tells story of Beauty and the Beast, but most of the rest of your introduction to the castle should evoke a feeling of trepidation, similar to what Belle would have felt when she first approached Beast's home.  Chris Beatty described the West Wing in detail during the chat:

The West Wing is meant to feel like any minute you’re in there that the Beast could come busting in the door. There’s a sense of foreboding to the room - the ambiance is very dark and heavy and it really takes on the personality of the Beast. You get this sense that you’re trespassing in some place you should not have been.

This portrait of the prince changes to Beast when all of the petals from the Enchanted Rose drop.

The "Rose Gallery" dining room will include a jar "in front of a set of windows that have a nighttime effect and as the storm approaches, the windows change color."  That room will also feature a large music box in the center of the room, that is designed to look like it was built by Maurice as a gift for Belle and Beast.  The designs for this music box are supposed to be visible as part of Maurice's Workshop, as seen during Enchanted Tales with Belle.  The music box will play periodically.  During the video, imagineer Warzecha suggests everyone look up to see the stained-glass rose above the music box, as it is a detail that could easily be overlooked amidst the impressive surroundings.

Inside the restaurant, portraits and tapestries on the walls feature Belle and Beast, along with their enchanted friends.  This will be the only place where you see those characters in the restaurant, as Beatty noted, "there are no current plans to have a character dining experience."

Gaston's Tavern

Inside Gaston's Tavern, look for the fist marks on the wall from the brawl that just ended.  There will also be "some fun hidden elements hanging from some of the antlers as if a party just ended."  Beatty also added that "there’s one more element that’s missing from Gaston’s Tavern that will ‘sit’ next to Gaston’s portrait," but did not offer any further information about what that might be.

Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid

In describing the queue for The Little Mermaid, Beatty noted, "it's important for us to start the story as soon as you approach the attraction."  Those who have seen the attraction thus far have been impressed with the detail you see while waiting in line and the ability to subtle interactions with the crabs that help Ariel organize her belongings.  Beatty said that the story of the Mermaid attraction in the Magic Kingdom is "identical" to that in Disney's California Adventure, but guests "will notice subtle differences throughout."  As an example, Beatty described fog in the cauldron of Ursula's Lair.  Beatty also shared a picture of the submarine from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea carved into the rock work before you enter Ariel's grotto.

Other Topics

• Disney Parks Blog will host a Be Our Guest Meet-Up, with appearances by Disney Imagineers, at the restaurant on November 17, 2012.  Details about the event were not released, but it will be open to a "select number of Disney Parks Blog readers", so you will need to sign up in advance to attend.  This sign up "will take place in November".
• In response to a question about whether the Evil Queen will be part of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Beatty said the ride "really focuses on the Dwarfs themselves, but I wouldn't rule out the witch making an appearance."
• In response to a question about construction where the Skyway station used to be located, Beatty did not mention the new restrooms directly, but did say, "we looked at opportunities to enhance guest comfort."  He also noted "there are no plans" for character meet and greets in this location.
• In response to a question about the "dress rehearsals" of New Fantasyland, the host of the chat, Jennifer Fickley-Baker responded, "there may be times when it’s necessary to suspend operation of a location, or even the entire area."  She also added film crews will be working in the area at times, to there are no guarantees New Fantasyland will be open before the previously announced November 19th preview date.

You can read the chat in its entirety by following this link and clicking the “Replay” button: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/10/live-chat-talk-new-fantasyland-with-imagineer-chris-beatty-at-2-p-m-edt/ 

Epcot's 30th: Mickey and Goofy Explore The Universe of Energy

Often lost in looking back on Epcot's pavilions is The Universe of Energy.  While the energy pavilion doesn't have the fans that Horizons, World of Motion, or the original Journey into Imagination may inspire, it is one of Epcot's originals, and even though the videos and theme have changed quite a bit, the ride is very similar to what was there in 1982.  One thing that has changed over the years, however, is how the general population feels about energy choices.  This Exxon brochure in the guise of a comic book (I believe from 1983) reflects that.