Mouse Extra

Disney has announced the official opening date at Walt Disney World for Star Tours the Adventure Continues, or as I refer to it as Star Tours 2. The attraction is re-opening on May 20th. Disney has not announced when the California version will reopen.

This date should come as no surprise. Late May is typically when the wildly popular Star Wars Weekends occur and it would make zero sense not to have the attraction up and running by then. Or perhaps, even premiere then. Considering that May 20th is a friday, that could very well be the first Star Wars weekends event.

It appears the Living Character Initiative that Disney has been expounding on the last couple of years has taken the next step in its development. This project has been responsible for such interesting and popular ideas as Lucky the Dinosaur, the first walking audio-animantronic, Turtle Talk with Crush, and the cool interactive Mr. Potato Head seen in the queue for Toy Story Mania.
 
Now, at Disneyland, you can see the newest creation from this Walt Disney Imagineering project. It’s a talking Mickey Mouse, and he is holding meet-n-greets at the California Park in Toontown.  Check out the video from Disneyland News Today.

Over the past few years we have seen these types of animated characters used in stage shows, but those spoke written lines in choreographed settings.  But ever since the introduction of those characters, we have been waiting and hoping that the same technology could be used in the meet-n-greet setting.  This could an absolutely groundbreaking enhancement of the experience for children at the Disney Parks

I can only imagine that this will make its way to other Disney parks sooner rather than later.  And we can’t wait!

When Mouse Extra’s contributing writer Mike told us back in March about the upcoming release of a DVD documentary dealing entirely with Imagineering Disneyland I was very excited.  Disneyland Resort – Imagineering the Magic arrived at my doorstep yesterday and it is a very good, if not overwhelmingly great, look at the people and the processes that helped create Walt Disney’s playground.

It is a two disc set and it is sold at Disneyland as something of a video keepsake.  The first disc is the main program which is about an hour long and features many great Imagineers, including Tony Baxter and Marty Sklar, talking about the conceptualization, history, and details of just about every attraction found in the original Disney theme park.  My only complaint is that this feature could have been three times as long and it still would not cover all that it could.  Instead, you get the feeling that it rushes through some of the most popular stuff.  But even with the overly fast pace, it is filled with terrific visuals and trivia and is worth every penny.

The second disc is nothing more than a few fun extras.  There are four programs, none more than ten minutes long, dealing with other aspects of Imagineering and Disneyland.  One of them, again not more than ten minutes in duration, deals with the development of Disney’s California Adventure.  Most will probably be happy to not devote any more than a few short minutes to such a subject.

This DVD is a concept I have been hoping Disney would release at all of its theme parks for years.  I know a similar DVD focusing on Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is in the works and I hope they continue with these and add the rest of Florida’s parks as well.  Disneyland Resort – Imagineering the Magic may not be perfect, but it is by far the best official theme park DVD souvenir I have ever owned.

There have been numerous items written on the subject of Imagineering, including the recent field guides to Imagineering. And there have been documentaries that delve into this topic, as well, such as the History Channel’s Modern Marvels. But if you will be at Disneyland on April 5th hop over to the Disneyana Shop for your copy of Disneyland Resort-Imagineering the Magic DVD, then head to the Main Street Cinema to have Tony Baxter, Dave Fisher, Kevin Rafferty and Michael Sprout, Imagineers themselves, sign your copy.

The DVD seems on its surface to be a goldmine for Disney theme park lovers. The DVD apparently focuses on the early problems faced by Walt and his staff, but does take you through the development behind the recently opened Finding Nemo submarine attraction. According to the Disney site, this 2 disc set covers the Disneyland park in he first disc. The second disc covers Imagineering in general, California Adventure, and Imagineering new attractions.

The set will be available at the parks but also online, while supllies last. Whatever that means. Plus, later this year, be on the lookout for “Imagineering the Magic-Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort”. I can’t wait.

We generally don’t discuss Disneyland that much on Mouse Extra as much as we should.  And I certainly try not to discuss the Re-Imagineering blog, whether we agree with it or not, as it clearly has a one-sided agenda.  But they posted a letter yesterday from Kevin Blair, the son of Imagineering legend Mary Blair, lambasting rumors of changes to It’s A Small World.  It has become the talk of the Disney internet community and I just couldn’t help but comment on it.

I would suggest you read the entire letter, but the part that is making the most waves deals with a rumor that WDI may insert Disney characters and remove the rainforest sequence while adding a patriotic tribute to America.

My Mother and I have always had a strong sense of patriotism for America and I DO support a tribute to America. Disneyland has several venues, which are perfect places for this tribute including “Main Street USA” or “New Orleans Square”; unfortunately the “It’s a Small World” ride is NOT one of them. Once again this will marginalize the children of the world theme and bastardize my Mother’s original art. Furthermore ripping out a rainforest (Imaginary or otherwise) and replacing it with misplaced patriotism is a public relations blunder so big you could run a Monorail through it.

First, we obviously have some political overtones in this statement with regards to the rainforest area.  Saying it will be a public relations blunder is assuming that folks will see some symbolism into the change that reflects upon certain conservation issues.  That may be the case for some, but I am not so sure that the majority of guests are going to walk away from the ride thinking Imagineers are a bunch of planet killers.  Disney actually does a lot for conservation, especially at the Animal Kingdom, and I don’t think their efforts in saving the real rainforest are going to be trumped because they dismantled a cardboard one.

The other thing that truly drives me nuts is this “misplaced patriotism” statement.  I’m sorry, but has Kevin Blair seen these plans?  I don’t believe he has, so how can he possibly judge it as misplaced?  It may very well turn out to be terrific and fit in perfectly.

No, the issue here is not misplaced patriotism or saving the rainforest.  It’s about purism.  These other issues are simply rationalizations for saving the classic ride from a major refurbishment regardless of whether or not the changes are for the better.  Here is the next paragraph.

As a former WED employee I am saddened to realize the degradation of the company’s talent and focus and the subsequent decline at the Disneyland Park itself. I cannot believe someone from WDI was paid to come up with such an idiotic plan as this.

An idiotic plan?  How do you know it even is a plan?  Has WDI announced something?  No, they have not.  These conclusions have been reached on a completely conceptual basis and are not rooted in hard information.  It’s an internet rumor!  Is that truly enough to slam WDI like this?

I can’t help but be reminded of my favorite Diane Disney-Miller quote…

“…with the park, it’s something you could change, something that can grow.  But the people who really love it won’t let them change any of the old attractions.  I don’t think he ever thought that would happen.”

I understand the children of Mrs. Blair want her terrific creations to endure forever, but that is simply not the Disney way.  For better or for worse, Walt wanted time to march on inside the park.  I know this may not be a popular notion among Disney purists, but it is what it is. 

In a long and great tradition of Super Bowl champions and other sports winners, Eli Manning is going to be honored at a Disney theme park for his terrific effort.  I don’t know about you, but I know I wait around after the game to see the “I’m going to Disneyland” commercial.  Here’s a bit from the press release…

The pronouncement, captured on tape at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., just moments after the Giants’ dramatic 17-14 upset victory over the previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, became the latest episode of the “I’m going to Disneyland/I’m going to Disney World” commercial produced over a 22-year span. Manning led his team on an improbable, 83-yard drive where he scrambled, broke tackles and completed clutch passes before tossing a 13-yard touchdown pass to receiver Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left in the game.

In a terrific little piece of coincidence, the very first Super Bowl quarterback to get the honor was Phil Simms, also of the New York Giants, after the 1987 bowl.  Now Manning joins a list of heroes that also includes basketball players, hockey goalies and figure skaters. 

To be honest, I am not a Giants fan even though I am born and raised in the great state of New Jersey.  But it was hard not to be a fan of Eli and his team watching what was nothing short of a heroic effort last night.  These guys were given no chance to win against the juggernaut Patriots, but they did and in dramatic fashion.  Enjoy the parade Mr. Manning, you deserve it.