Mouse Extra

Last week I got the chance to see the new Spaceship Earth post-show area for the first time.  It is called Project Tomorrow, and it is truly in the Epcot tradition of being a giant interactive commercial for whoever is helping Disney pay the bills for the particular attraction. 

The focal point is a giant illuminated globe pictured below that sits in the center of the area.  It is a truly impressive piece visually, though what it is showing is not nearly as impressive.  There are some advertising type messages, and some attraction related messages, but nothing ever really grabs you visually beyond the initial impression.

You’ll find a 3D game, whose name I can’t recall, where you take bones and assemble a skeleton.  It is a strange concept for sure, but it works to some degree.  The 3D aspect is always entertaining, but this is not something I would try again.  Also, there is a Super Driver game where you drive a technologically advanced car on a mission against a clock.  This is no more fun then your average Playstation racer game.

Apparently more is coming, and they have gone to great lengths to place signs in the empty areas to communicate that eventuality, such as the photo below.  When these are completed, there should be at least 4 different games to play.

All things considered, Project Tomorrow is exactly what one would expect from a classic Epcot post-show, but without anything to get really excited about.  It’s nice to see something there, but I can’t imagine myself spending much time here after I see everything for the first time.  Having a corporate message shoved down my throat is not my idea of fun.  I understand the need to do this, but I was hoping for something more subtle and more fun.  I was hoping to break the mold.

Here are some more photos from my trip to the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival last week.  First is a photo of Goofy dressed as a pirate that can be found at the World Showcase Plaza, the entrance from Future World between Canada and Mexico.  Goofy’s facial expression is wonderfully authentic and animated…

Here’s another great character in topiary form.  You can find him, and more of the Seven Dwarfs, over by the Germany pavilion…

And finally, the Flower and Garden festival is not made of topiaries alone.  Wonderfully colorful arrangements pop up all around Epcot.  Check out what they’ve done to the staircase at the Italy pavilion…

Major League Baseball came to Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports last night, as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays moved a home series against the Texas Rangers to the Mouse.  It was a great idea, but the reports from the game seem to indicate that it didn’t come off as well as I would have expected. 

First let’s take a look at the Associated Press story the Orlando Sentinel ran this morning…

…despite slow advance ticket sales, most of the seats in the minor league park at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex were filled. Attendance was announced as 8,443, a little more than 1,000 below capacity and slightly better than the 8,241 the Devil Rays and Rangers averaged for six dates at Tropicana Field last season.

Well, it may be better than the horrible attendance figure the Rays normally get for a Ranger’s series, but how could this not sell out?  As far as I know, this is the first time a Major League Baseball game that counts has come to Orlando.   Add the thousands of tourists in bus distance and they can’t sell out a 9500 seat facility?  As far as I am concerned, this is a major failure.

Now let’s take a look at the experience the Disney Blog is reporting…

Not sure how long the concession lines are when WWoS hosts spring training games, but long lines for food and drink were the name of the game tonight. Let’s just say that efficiency was not one of their strong suits at the concession stands. The couple behind us left in the middle of the second inning and didn’t return until the end of the 4th with their food (about 45 minutes). On the plus side, since no one was able to get their food or drinks there were no lines at the restrooms.

In fairness, the Disney Blog felt the game was an overall positive experience, but I can’t understand how this can happen.  Was Disney not aware of the possibility of this occurring?  If I had to wait on a 45 minute line for food, I would have been beside myself with frustration.

I don’t know about you, but unless tonight and tomorrow night’s games aren’t much, much better, I’ll be shocked if the Rays come back to the Mouse.  This really is amazing.  The fact that Disney could not market this to a sell out or host it well is just not what I expected to hear.

I know the new Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor has been open for some time now, and you’ve probably read dozens of reviews or even seen it already, but I can’t help telling you what I think.  I only saw it for the first time last week and since Imagineering put so much effort into this, the temptation of throwing my two cents in is just too high.

I attended the new attraction at the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland very late in the evening of an already slow day.  There was no line at all, so in order to see some of the details in the queue, I needed to take my time walking through it.  Many people raved about this section, but not me.  It’s well done and funny, but it is rather simple.  It certainly does not compare to the amazing themeing in other queues, like Expedition Everest or the Great Movie Ride.  Basically there are some humorous banners hung on the walls, something that does not make one think of a great comedy club, or even Monstropolis.  In the waiting section just outside the doors to the theater, they played some fun videos, but they were way too infrequent.

The showroom itself is nice, and the screens are visually beautiful.  But again, this only hints at being a comedy club, rather than making you feel like you are actually in one.  Perhaps Monsters wouldn’t build something that looks like the Improv, but a more of an attempt would have added to the experience.

For those who don’t already know the storyline, the Monsters need our laughter to power their world.  To do this, they have created this comedy club with Mike Wazowski, Roz, and some new monsters as well.  There are three screens, and the animation is very nice.  Unlike Turtle Talk, it never once appeared even the least bit choppy.  Roz’s character is exceptionally well done.  The voice work is true to the characters and the fact that there are so many different characters really makes the show flow well.

What I find most interesting about this attraction is how little control the Imagineers have over people’s opinions as they leave the show.  These are not robots or looped films.  These are comedians doing the jokes and voices, and each audience will react very differently to each show.  The characters interact often with the audience, and the sense of humor in the people they choose to pick on is the essential ingredient in the show’s success.  Many people compare it in this regard to the Jungle Cruise, but the audience is even more of a variable here.

On a whole I liked it.  It’s not great, but good.  So far I have liked every Pixar inspired attraction they’ve built at Walt Disney World, and this is no exception.  It doesn’t have the re-ride appeal that other attractions may have, but it is worth seeing more than once because you can expect something new.  Kids will love it; adults may not love it as much unless the audience really has fun with it.  Most of the jokes are too corny for some adults, but there are enough funny ones to keep you smiling if not rolling on the floor holding your stomach.

Mouse Planet’s Mark Goldhaber is reporting that we are finally getting very close to a significant story change at Kilimanjaro Safaris at the Animal Kingdom…

The long-promised changes to the storyline of Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are now in process. Work is winding down on adding the ninth row of seats to the loading docks and the trucks, and the cast is in the process of learning the new script. Some trucks are currently using the new script and some are still using the old one. The story line featuring Miss Jobson will officially retire completely on June 1. The finale scene changes are in process and the plane may be removed at any time, as Disney filed paperwork with Orange County last Monday to “extend existing fiber and power for prop relocation” for the finale scene.

I have been actively rooting for such a change for years.  The Safari ride is one of the best creations Walt Disney Imagineering has ever produced, but the storyline has always been had a “thrown-in” feel to it.  The story never impressed like it should.

It certainly needs to be said that a change may not turn out to be a good thing when all is said and done.  While much information has leaked about this, almost nothing is being reported dealing with new story elements.  Keep an eye open for more to come.  According to Mr. Goldhaber, this is only a few weeks away.

As the parents of a preschooler and toddler, planning a Disney World vacation can be daunting. Especially when attempting the near impossible chore of maintaining each child’s level of happiness. Together we have compiled a series of articles to share our experiences and lend some insight into what may help make a day at the park even better.

Aah, the beauty of the Magic Kingdom, the happiest place on earth. The sights, the sounds, the smells, the constant worry of trying to avoid a meltdown from your toddler who does not want to be strapped into a stroller while her older brother rides Big Thunder Mountain for the fourth time.  Fear not parents, there is something for everyone at this park even while traveling with a toddler and preschooler.

Since children must be at least 40 inches tall to ride most thrill rides, height restrictions become a large factor in planning a day at the Magic Kingdom.  Many toddlers do not quite make that mark and tying up their hair or adding lifts in their shoes to gain a few inches is probably not the best of ideas.  But depending on the cast member attending the attraction, if a child is only a 1/2″ below the required height, he or she may be allowed to ride.

Of course, the highlights for the 5 and older crowd are the exhilarating attractions like Splash Mountain, which can add the snare of ensuring toddlers are not “left out” amid all the excitement.  Fortunately, ideally located at the exit of Splash, is a shaded playground perfect for little ones to play a game of peek-a-boo or enjoy some freedom while playing in the house and on the adjoining slide. There are also strategically placed benches close enough for parents to sit and rest while observing their children at play.

Another option can be taking youngsters to see the Country Bear Jamboree.  This is a great idea if the wait times for Splash or Big Thunder are lengthy. The show is comprised of many animatronic animals, mostly bears, singing country songs and telling corny jokes. The kids love it and parents will be grateful for the air conditioned atmosphere.

While visiting Tomorrowland, the Astro Orbiter and the Wedway People mover (yes, I still call it that), are the best choices when the remainder of the party opt to ride Space Mountain.  The Buzz Lightyear attraction is there too, and while the Toddlers won’t appreciate the video game aspect, they will love seeing the neon colors and hearing the little green men speak.

It is no doubt that Fantasyland is the place to be for toddlers and FastPasses for Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh are a must.  These attractions tend to have longer wait times than the Mountains these days.  There is also the chance a character may share a ride with the toddlers.  Our daughter had the honor of riding the carousel with Mary Poppins, a memory she still recalls today. Characters from Alice in Wonderland may be spotted twirling around on the teacups, but parents may need to dope up on the Dramamine in order to take in this ride, it can be rough.

Dumbo is immensely popular but the line moves at glacial speeds.  It’s not unheard of waiting times exceeding an hour for a 90 second spin.  The best suggestion if Dumbo is out of the question, would be to hop on over to Aladdin’s Magic Carpets in Adventureland.  This is basically the same ride, and while it may seem a sacrilege to the old timers, the kids of today know Aladdin better. Yet, before leaving Fantasyland, the 3-D movie Mickey’s Philarmagic proves to be a good initial test in a toddler’s ability to sit through longer movie presentations. Although the one size fits all 3-D glasses, may give them a struggle, the video can still be seen without wearing them.

There are a few attractions which may seem scary to the little ones.  Many can handle the Tiki Birds even though the lights go out, thunder strikes and the statues come to life. Also, during the Jungle Cruise there is an area with a darkened temple and a few gunshot sounds.  However, the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion are a different story.  This may need a parent’s judgment to determine what their child can handle when visiting these. The dark corridors and skeletons in the Pirates ride may spook the littlest ones in the boat and hands may need to be held when descending down the waterfall in the dark. Our daughter was fine, but we warned her ahead of time.  She was even okay during the Haunted Mansion, and while no two kids are the same when it comes to the “spooky factor”, we believe preparation is the real key ingredient to these attractions.

But, there are attractions to avoid for little ones.  The Swiss Family Treehouse entails a lot of climbing for children, or more accurately, a lot of parents carrying them.  Since it is just a walk through exhibit of the Swiss Family Robinson’s home, the kids are easily bored. Another snoozer for toddlers is the Hall of Presidents.  And while the Speedway may look like fun, children aren’t actually allowed to drive the cars, thus seriously reducing its appeal. Tom Sawyer Island is too big for the littlest ones to be given any freedom from Mom or Dad, plus, the fort and cave theme is not fully appreciated by tots.

The best recommendation for dining with small children is Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. The food, like most in the Magic Kingdom is mediocre, but the kids love being entertained by Sonny Eclipse, an audio-animatronic alien lounge singer.  If searching for a better meal, hop on the monorail to the Polynesian or another resort. Although, it may be a little tiring for the youngsters, try asking a cast member at the front of the line, if the lead car with the driver is available to ride in.

There are plenty of little things along the way that will keep a toddler entertained.  Various characters can always be seen throughout the park, while the parades are always a big hit. Woody’s Roundup in Frontierland is presented several times during the day, while Belle has story time in Fantasyland and Mickey and company can be spotted at different intervals in Toontown.  If the tots are still raring to go after all of this, a nice relaxing dip in the pool back at the resort can top the day off just right.

Today’s article was written by Mike and Brooke, contributing writers to Mouse Extra and parents of the two biggest Disney nuts I know.