Mouse Extra

Disney fans everywhere are anxiously awaiting Disney’s response to Universal’s recent announcement of a new area of their park dedicated to the phenomena of Harry Potter. Disney has been accused in the past of responding to competition with announcements of new attractions or parks they will say is unrelated to other theme parks. When Universal announced plans for its first Florida park, Disney threw together Disney MGM Studios. Many feel Disney’s Animal Kingdom is an attempt to lure visitors away from the similarly themed Busch Gardens and Sea World. Now, with its incredible popularity, the question is whether a new land at Islands of Adventure themed to ol’ Harry will have any effect on Disney’s bottom line. In all likelihood, it will have some effect for at least a short amount of time.

Still, Disney seemingly never responded to Islands of Adventure and as it turns out, didn’t really have to. Rumors were rampant that Disney was going to build its own park with the most popular being a park based on Disney villains loaded with thrill rides. But the competitor’s new park never really had any effect on Disney attendance and the Potter plan may be an attempt to boost poor attendance. Plus, Disney may have in actuality responded by constructing a few thrill rides like Mission Space and Expedition Everest. But will Disney respond now? And if so, how will they? Will they even need to? Rumors indicate that Mr. Potter will buy the farm in the last book of the series set to debut in July. If he does, that could have a major impact on the long-term viability of the character. Even if he lives, there is only two more movies left and the creator has no intention (at this time) to go back to the series. So we have no idea if the franchise will have any staying power.

If Disney does respond, they surely won’t do it in the form of the fabled 5th gate, i.e. a new park, at least, not one in Florida. Instead, any response would come in the form of a new attraction or even new land in an existing park. I would think that would mean some serious additions to MGM or the Animal Kingdom, which are often accused of being half-day parks. Whether that’s true or not, there is certainly less to do at those parks than at the older ones and the need for variety is great. I’ve already written about ideas on the Animal Kingdom as well as some ideas to expand the Star Wars area of MGM. Now, I’ll come up with some more ideas for Disney MGM Studios.

A rumor is going around that Disney is re-theming Mickey Ave. into Pixar Place with the upcoming Toy Story Mania ride as its centerpiece. I would also construct an Incredibles based ride. That movie has a ton of background that got limited play in the movie, specifically, the plethora of super heroes that got only quick references during the film or were featured in bonus materials on the DVD. I would throw them all into a dark ride. The plot: you’re Dash speeding through a battle between the heroes and evil robots (or aliens, or whatever). You would direct your vehicle through a series of fight scenes and have the ability to spin your car. Plus, the ride itself would move a bit faster that most dark rides. This section of the park might be a good home for a new restaurant, such as one based on Ratatouille.

The myth that this theme park is actually a working studio has been abandoned for quite some time. Its also time they abandoned the Backlot Tour which to me is a colossal waste of space (less so with the new Lights Motor Action Stunt Show). I would use the area for a new section of MGM and theme it much like the front of the park with its Hollywood at the the dawn of its glory days theme. Here, I would place Broadway, another great avenue of the entertainment industry, and place the theme somewhere in the past, perhaps the Roaring 20s. It would be a good spot for a Counter Service establishment, something sorely lacking at this park, as well as perhaps a nice lounge/bar with a Speakeasy vibe.

As for attractions, Disney could go in a few directions but I would certainly place a show or two. A stage show based on a Disney feature, Pixar or not, would be a popular choice. Perhaps an Aladdin show or one based on an old movie, like Sleeping Beauty or Pinnochio, movies often overlooked when considering new attractions. I know the Lion King has been converted to IMAX format so maybe an IMAX theater to show that and other Disney productions would be a fun option.

I would also get the rights to a franchise such as James Bond for a thrill ride. A coaster themed as a car chase through a city like New York, London or Monte Carlo is my idea. The guest/junior spy could dodge bullets, bad guys, explosions and oncoming traffic along the way. You could add a funny pre-ride show with John Cleese and a post ride gift shop to rake in the scratch. I would also love to see a real (that is scary) haunted house. Perhaps Disney could team-up with the master himself, Stephen King, even using some of his novel as a basis. Or, they could use the Nightmare Before Christmas franchise which would not be quite as terrifying. Either way, these ideas would be an interesting response to the Potter craze over at Universal. It would certainly be varied, enjoyable for all ages, not just the teen/young adult crowd.

Today’s Building My Imagineering Resume is from Mike, comtributing writer to Mouse Extra

Today’s Building My Imagineering Resume is the third and final part to Mike’s sweeping plan to revolutionize Disney’s Animal Kingdom in the minds of theme park fanatics.  

Now lets get back to the Beastly Kingdomme. Many believe that ship has sailed and I don’t really disagree. Frankly, many of the imagineers who developed it high tailed it over to Universal and helped create the Islands of Adventure park. Still, I would love to see a land dedicated to mythical animals and Disney currently has a franchise chock full of them- Narnia. So, I propose a land called “Narnia” at the Animal Kingdom, between the Camp Minnie Mickey and Africa areas. The land would be centered around the White Witch’s Castle which would be home to a flume ride. The premise: you are fleeing the castle chased by scary minotaurs, knife wielding dwarves and talking wolves, among more of the witch’s minions. It all culminates in a big drop.

We can integrate other ideas left over from the Beastly Kingdomme, as well. The Unicorn Maze would fit nicely. There was also a heavily imagineered Mother Goose shop that can be easily tweaked to fit the area. I would also add attractions for the younger crowd. Perhaps a ride in the air on griffons. A play area with audio-animatronic animals like beavers and foxes would be well received. Their real-life counterparts could be exhibited nearby, as well.

The big loss from the defunct Beastly Kingdomme was the loss of Dragon Tower. The idea was a fascinating one wherein the guests are a group of knights recruited by talking bats into stealing an evil dragon’s treasure horde. The set up was pure old-school Disney. However, it does not exactly fit into Narnia although the talking bats seem right out of the series, don’t they? And I know a dragon pops up in the series. Perhaps, the best course would be to make the ride only accessible from a boat trip off of Discovery Island, thereby making it part of that “land.” I don’t know, but it sure sounds fun.

Now, I’m not saying Disney has to build all of this, but one of my proposed lands would go a long way. Two and we’re no longer talking about Disney’s Animal Kingdom being a half day park. Three of them and this park may be one of the best there is. It can certainly lead to a big night ending event, like the rumored lantern light parade, and will keep those turnstiles going all day.

Today’s Bulidng My Imagineering Resume is by Mike, contributing write to Mouse Extra/  Part two of his three part proposal to expand the Animal Kingdom brings us to Australia. 

Now, let’s move across Discovery Island to the Theater in the Wild where the Nemo musical is currently playing. It seems to me this would be a great jumping off point for a new area dedicated to the world’s aquatic environments, called “Aquatica.” Everyone who has seen the newest Little Mermaid Special Edition DVD has checked out the animated mock up Little Mermaid ride. Put it here.

As for animals, we already have an indoor coral reef at Epcot. So to avoid duplication, we’ll pay tribute the National park system with Alligator River Park trail. American alligators and crocodiles would be viewed along with other animals from the region like herons, ducks, raccoons, bobcats, and maybe even manatees. I would include a building for the smaller creatures like insects, frogs, snakes, and fish. I would also add displays on the history of our national park system. Other exhibits could include sea lions, which are always popular. At my zoo, we have a huge flight cage for pelagic (ocean going) birds like gulls, terns, cormorants, and penguins. This area could host an old idea from the aforementioned Beastly Kingdomme, Loch Ness Landing. This would be a restaurant with seating around a lagoon. Periodically, guests would hear bag pipes in this distance followed by a bubbling in the center of the water. Finally, old Nessie would come up and look down at the diners.

But we do have the Living Seas. I can feel some of you out there wanting to steer clear of the water. I think its different enough, but I do have an alternate plan. The Nemo musical could also be a springboard for an Australia area. A walkabout exhibit featuring kangaroos, wallabies, and the like from Australia’s wild lands would be the main exhibit. I would also construct a rainforest home for kiwis, snakes, and koalas. A thrill ride could also be developed such as a hybrid coaster (part coaster, part flume) racing the through the outback. Of course, the obligatory “shrimps on the barbie” food stop would be there.

Today’s Building My Imagineering Resume is by Mike, contributing writer to Mouse Extra.  Today is the first of three articles dedicated to Mike’s ideas for building upon the Animal Kingdom theme park. 

One of the things you consistently read on Disney websites, message boards, and blogs is the Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a half day park. I’m not a subscriber to that theory myself, but that may be due to the fact that I am a zoo “buff.” I have volunteered at the world renowned Bronx Zoo for over seventeen years. I own volumes on biology, conservation, and zoo exhibitry. However, I know most people are not that extreme in their feelings on zoos. While I can spend an hour easy leisurely strolling through the Maharajah Jungle Trek, others whip through it in ten minutes pausing briefly along the way. Zoos have long known that the average visitor spends less than a minute at each exhibit. For those people, maybe the Animal Kingdom is merely a half day park which was only increased by a half hour with the addition of Expedition: Everest. For this reason, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has less single day pass guests than the Magic Kingdom or Epcot. If Disney invests in additional attractions at the Animal Kingdom, it can be safely assumed that the single day and non-park hopper crowds will increase.

Let’s start off with Camp Minnie Mickey shall we. This was initially meant to be a temporary land occupying the space destined to become the Beastly Kingdomme (more on that later). However, Camp Minnie Mickey turned out to be popular and the Beastlie Kingdomme (or however its spelled) turned out to be quite expensive. Thus, Disney turned the theater for the Festival of the Lion King into a more permanent structure. Now, I love that show. It’s the best of its kind at Walt Disney World, but it belongs in Africa. So lets move it to either somewhere near Harambe or adjacent to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. I understand the expense of that is prohibitive to the Board of Directors, but what the heck.  It’s my article, right?

Instead, I would turn both the character greeting area and the Pocahontas show into attractions in a new land, “America.” Since each continent has at least one walk through exhibit, we’ll create Grizzly Canyon, a mountainous terrain with Mexican wolves, cougars, and other animals. The path leads into a darkened cave where the lights switch day and night so the nocturnal animals, such as foxes, owls, and badgers, are more active. This would also include a colony of small fluttering bats, perhaps even vampire bats. At the Bronx Zoo, we used to have a colony of these creatures and they would lap up blood from a small dish. The path would end, of course, at the Grizzly bear’s domain.

I would also like to see an area for younger kids. Near the Canyon, I would construct Bambi’s Grove, or maybe something themed on Pocahontas. Here, I would have small exhibits with common critters like white-tailed deer, beavers, rabbits, and porcupines. Mixed in with the animals would be a carousel where children ride forest animals like elk, moose, and bison. A kiddie-coaster (along the lines of Goofy’s barnstormer) called Flight of the Bumblebee would zip kids past oversized flowers, spiders, and ladybugs in a giant garden.

Also, in this land, I would develop an ancient Mayan ruin named after an ancient Mayan word, perhaps meaning “unity” or some such. This area would contain the gift shops, maybe one with a Native American flare, the counter service food area, and a sit-down restaurant. I would go with Cuban and/or Caribbean cuisine as neither choice has been given any real justice at the World. The highlight of this area would be Amazon, an aquatic journey deep into the Amazon rainforest. The ride would start off passing riverbank exhibits for jaguars, capybara, tapirs, and a troop of loud howler monkeys. Then, your boat slides under a heavy canopy turning everything pitch black, where all you hear are insect calls and all you see are a caiman’s eyes. You then drop down a short (like Maelstrom) waterfall drifting into a brightly lit greenhouse filled with colorful tropical birds, like toucans and macaws, and primates. If you’re lucky, you may spot the sloth or tree anteater. In the water, there are species of turtles and Amazon fish. Perhaps, there is even the rare Amazon River porpoise. The dark drop is for two reasons- the lack of light keeps the birds from flying away, the drop keeps the fish in.

Perhaps the longest running rumor in Walt Disney World’s history is that of a new Star Tours attraction. Since the time of Pee Wee Herman’s movie theater fiasco, we have heard rumors that a new attraction was in development. Then with the prequel trilogy, rumors were hot and heavy that an updated movie would replace the old with a focus on the newer films. Now it seems every spring with the arrival of Star Wars weekends at Disney MGM Studios, these rumors start anew. The latest one had George Lucas spotted at the park discussing new ideas with Imagineers.

A newer film representing the prequels would be nice (especially if its 3D), but this, I feel, would be too small-scale. I think we need a Star Wars area or “land.” Universal has created a series lands based on movie tie-ins and this one is the best Disney’s got. With the continued hardcore fan base, merchandise bonanza, upcoming TV series, pending re-release of the movies in 3D, and the aforementioned weekends at the park, its a perfect choice for expansion.

First of all, I would keep the current Star Tours as is. I have always found the ride fun and would hate to lose an attraction based on the better of the two trilogies. Instead, I would add and one idea is this: you and other passengers in your vehicle are padawans in a chase through the city planet of Coruscant pitted against bounty hunters, droids, and, for the grand finale, Darth Maul. This would combine a track system, motion simulation, and 3-D technology for a great experience.

Here’s another idea: You board an individual starfighter designed like the pods of CyberSpace Mountain. These motion simulators would be linked via a computer system in one great space battle based on either trilogy. This would seem to be relatively easy in light of today’s computer power and the interplay of shared on-line fantasy/role-playing games. You would all be in the same five to ten minute battle, steering and firing in real-time with others.

Now, lets say we can expand the area even more. Lucas himself has been instrumental in the advancement of sound technology for the movie industry. You could easily convert Sounds Dangerous into an attraction based on recent tech from THX using Star Wars and/or other films using that systems, including many recent Disney films.

Disney-MGM Studios is also famous for its heavily themed eating establishments. I can’t understand why the Studios hasn’t created a Mos Eisley Cantina. CMs walking around in costumes as aliens and stormtroopers could mix with people eating bar food and cocktails with strange sounding names. Who wouldn’t want an autograph from Greedo? You could even have an audio-animatronic band playing famous tunes from the movie every half hour or so. So lets demolish the Backlot Express and create a little futuristic desert town.

Finally, Star Tours is right next door the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. With the new Indy film coming soon, rumors are out there about a possible redo here, or maybe even a ride. You could create an entire LucasArts area. Heck, the Sci-Fi Dine Theatre next door fits the theme, as well. Lucas has always been a great admirer of those cheesy flicks.

Todays installment of Building My Imagineering Resume is by Mike, contributing writer to Mouse Extra

Screamscape reported a rumor yesterday that Disney World officials are contemplating adding some Pirates of the Caribbean themed suites to the Caribbean Beach Resort.  For those who don’t know, there already are similarly themed units at the Disneyland Hotel.  Here’s a photo…

                                              photo copyright Disney

I have heard similar rumors for quite some time now, but not specifically at the Caribbean Beach.  The Disneyland version has reportedly been successful, so this would seem to be a logical addition.  It makes plenty of sense.  Such a renovation is relatively cheap, already been tested, and could re-awaken the public to the Caribbean Beach Resort, which is the oldest of the moderate offerings.

The problem I have is that Disney is once again catering to those with loads of expendable cash.  I believe this can go for as much as $2500.  I got a better idea.  Parts of the Caribbean Beach Resort are in need of some refurbishment.  How about we turn one of the sections into the Tortuga or Port Royal from the films?  (Maybe even both, as this idea has serious potential if I do say so myself.)  You can place decorations in the current rooms similar to those from the suites, give the whole place a coat of paint, add a pirate’s playground for the kids, and dress the pools up.  Then we can bring a fun, new hotel experience to guests that may not have cash falling out of their ears…like me.