Mouse Extra

I must applaud the Blue Sky Disney blog for writing one of the most tantalizing posts we have seen on the internet in quite some time.  Among the many topics discussed in today’s piece, he drops this little nugget on us…

…By early 2008 there will be some form of an announcement about Star Tours 2.0. The folks at WDI are hard at work creating a sequel to our current attraction that will be designed to mimic the lines at the Finding Nemo Submarine Ride. There will be more of a synergy between the two companies regarding the Star Wars properties, both here in Anaheim and WDW(more on that in a future post). There has been talk of having some form of promotion to coincide with the new Star Wars television show that will debut in about a year and a half.

So now that he has successfully ensured that we will all be checking his blog everyday waiting for the “more on that in a future post” to show up, what do you think?  The sentence he has about mimicking the lines at the Finding Nemo Submarine Ride is a bit confusing, but what I think he means is that Star Tours 2.0 will be a true gate-buster.  Considering the power the Star Wars franchise has, it is not difficult to see that being the case.  Everyone fears Lucas will push the prequels into the parks, but that seems unlikely at this point.

Can any of our many Star Wars aficionados tell us more about this proposed television show?  What is the premise?  Is this being budgeted to the point that I think a sci-fi series needs to be in order to really be good?

That loud cheering you heard yesterday was the collective jubilation of Disneyland Resort lovers.  Upon hearing the news that Disney executives have approved a huge budget for fixing the maligned Disney’s California Adventure theme park, one can understand the joy. 

You’ll find many stories on the internet about this.  Most of them have little to no information about what new attractions may be going into DCA, but the rumor mill will certainly spin out of control now.  Reports of the budget size are staggering.  Here’s what the Disney Blog had to say…

…the number I’m hearing tossed around is $1.1 Billion (give or take 10%). This is just for the park itself, a separate budget is included for hotels and vacation club expansion and for continual improvements over at the original theme park, Disneyland.

This is good news. $1 billion is about 30% more than was originally spent on the theme park in the first place. Which proves, if you’re going to do something, it makes more sense to do it with quality the first time around instead of trying to cut corners or short change your customers.

Yes, California Adventure will always go down as the final straw for Disney addicts when dealing with Michael Eisner.  Most of the goodwill he earned in the beginning of his tenure and during the Disney’s America battle was gone by the time the park was built.  But as people entered and saw what his budget cuts left guests with, he was finished.

I have never been to DCA, and I had no intention of ever going.  There is just nothing there that makes me want to experience the park.  So those of you who have been there, please feel free to leave your ideas and reactions in the comments section below.  Perhaps these billion dollars will make me want to spend my cash at Anaheim’s second gate.  Can you think of a better birthday present for Disneyland?