Mouse Extra

Hidden inside Innoventions, just around the corner from the Epcot Character Spot, is a new and probably short lived gem of Walt Disney World.  It is called the Epcot 25th Anniversary Gallery, and it explores the history of this wonderful theme park.

The gallery has the words “Creating the New World of Tomorrow” above its entrance and it features a visual history of Epcot Center.  It is chock full of artifacts, models and concept drawings.  All of which are serious eye candy for the Epcot lovers and especially heartwarming for the purist.

You’ll find some great artifacts and even a wonderful collection of some of the very first merchandise sold at Epcot Center…

Those of you out there, and I know there are quite a few, who miss the classic Future World attraction Horizons may just shed a tear when they see this display case dedicated to the extinct attraction…

And these photos just scratch the surface.  It is not a big room, and they could probably make it three times as big if they wanted, but it is till a great walk down memory lane.  The next time you are at Epcot, get yourself out of the blistering heat or passing shower and take a look inside Epcot’s 25th Anniversary Gallery.  If you are a lover of Epcot, you will not be disappointed.

Bob Iger was recently quoted on CNN Money as saying the following:

“And not everything has to be a franchise. I was recently asked whether “Ratatouille” was a franchise. I said no: “Ratatouille” is an extremely good animated film and will be a classic unto itself, but it is not a franchise. You are not going to see “Ratatouille” attractions in parks. When you look at “Toy Story,” we’re making our third film, we’re opening two Toy Story Mania attractions at parks this summer, we have a very strong consumer products line, we have a “Toy Story” musical opening on the cruise line, we have a game in development - that’s a franchise.”

Of course, this nips in the bud the many rumors of a Ratatouille “wild mouse” coaster in Disney Hollywood Studios, a clone of the Crush Coaster from the Paris park. Which is too bad, since I think a wild ride through the sewers of Paris as a rat might have been fun. I feel Ratatouille is one of the better Pixar films.

But the real problem is the reasoning behind this. I can certainly live without a Ratatouille coaster, but i don’t want all future attractions restricted to those of a franchise. Does everything have to be based on the Princesses or Toy Story? Yes, I know Expedition Everest is not a “franchise” based attraction, not a pirate to be found anywhere. But that seems to be the exception to the rule these days. I hope this is not a sign of the end of original attractions like the Haunted Mansion or Soarin’ being imagineered. Lets hope not!

Good rumors just never seem to die.  And perhaps the longest running good rumor in Disney World history is about an e-ticket rollercoaster in the Japanese pavilion at Epcot’s World Showcase called Mt. Fuji.  Today, the blog Disney Gossip has started stirring this pot once again.

Mt. Fuji, long rumored to be a “Matterhorn”-esque roller coaster ride will be Epcots next big project. It is slated to be added to the Japan pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase and will be a very thrilling ride that will feature multiple coaster technologies along with the chance of getting wet.

Do I believe this rumor?  Do I think Mt. Fuji will finally be green-lit and construction will begin?  In a word…no.  Project is more likely dead than not.  I also question the need for a big ticket item in the World Showcase which has done perfectly well for over 25 years without one.

But it is hard to dismiss this rumor entirely because this is not the first time recently that we have heard this.  Back in November of last year the Disney Reporter also discussed a similar rumor regarding Mt. Fuji.  Could the drums be beating once again for this long shelved idea?  Don’t get your hopes up, but we’ll keep an eye on it.

The Orlando Sentinel has a short blurb this morning about a couple of new exhibits coming to Innoventions at Epcot.  While the report is somewhat short on details, there is one new exhibit that looks to be pretty exciting…

The weather-technology area, to be called “StormStruck: The Tale of Two Homes,” will be developed by Disney and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, or FLASH, a nonprofit group formed by several for-profit companies including State Farm insurance. The exhibit, scheduled to open late this summer, will give visitors a feel for severe weather such as a hurricane. After they experience “the storm,” they’ll have an opportunity to learn about cutting-edge research related to weather and the latest recommendation for protecting homes.

I’ll admit that I do not pay Innoventions the attention that I should.  I normally walk right past it without ever going in and exploring what it has to offer.  To me, most of what is there is what I call a “one timer”, something I only need to see once.  Perhaps this new exhibit will break that trend.

I know there are some Innoventions fans out there.  And there are certainly those who cry to have Communicore back.  Even though I tend to ignore this area, even when it was Communicore, I do appreciate that Disney has held on to the concept.  After all, at the very root of the Epcot idea is to have new technologies and discoveries on display for all to see.  Don’t give it up Disney, not everyone’s as short sighted as I am.

TouringPlans.com reported yesterday on changes coming to the Imagination pavilion at Epcot’s Future World.  Rumors seem to be constantly swirling around Figment’s house.

Disney has filed a permit to refurbish the post-show Kodak Imageworks area of the Imagination pavilion. Rumors suggest that perhaps the upstairs portion of the building may reopen, though the permit only specifies new carpet and such. The upstairs are is rumored to be currently use as staging area for the Waste Management exhibit coming to Innoventions East in February.

Recently, Imagineering has accomplished some great things with refurbishments to older attractions.  But that was certainly not always the case.  There was a period when Imagineering garnered more criticism then praise and nothing is more a poster child for that time then this pavilion.  People fell in love with its trippy and whimsical playfulness when it first opened, only to be repeatedly disappointed when less then interesting updates ruined much of the appeal.

Since then rumors seem to be constantly circling this building, perhaps caused by the wishes fans have to see a return to its former glory.  And this rumor seems to be no exception.  Even though the permit seems fairly specific about what the work will include, we can only hope that it is just masking more intense changes.  But I doubt anything of real inertest and fun will be added here.  Sooner or later the time will come for Disney to either turn Imagination back into an attraction that actually attracts attention, or turn the page to something else that will.

When a new Travel Channel show debuts, I usually have mixed expectations as I sit down if front of my television.  I love to see footage of Walt Disney World, but these shows often have canned and sometimes dated footage.  But last night’s “Disney Holiday Magic” with Samantha Brown really went beyond my expectations.

This is a remake of a similar show that Brown did and has been airing for years.  It was one of those shows which cause me to be a bit cynical when viewing these kinds of programs.  But after the first few minutes of this new one, I started to get excited.  After a behind the scenes look at Mickey Jingle Jungle Parade, we were treated to a tour of Expedition Everest with Imagineer Joe Rhode, the man who led the development of the coaster.  It was fascinating to hear him speak about the inspiration and story behind everything from the ride vehicle to the artifacts that fill the Yeti Museum.  When you expect to see nothing but holiday related subjects, to get this was a real treat.

Holiday decorations are obviously a big theme in the show and for guests that travel during the season.  Brown highlighted some of the resorts as well as the usual theme park offerings.  I was especially delighted to see the show focus some time on the holiday decorations that guests at the Fort Wilderness Campground set up on their campsites.  This is a longstanding and fun tradition at Walt Disney World and one that is largely overlooked. 

There was a great focus on Imagineers that really made this show special.  Besides the aforementioned Rhode segment, we got to see interviews with others as well.  An Imagineer walked us through the famous Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights, and then two more talked about the terrific new lights on Cinderella’s Castle.  If you can’t get there to see this for yourself, the show really does a good job at visualizing how impressive it really is.

As you would probably imagine, a good amount of time was spent at the World Showcase.  Many of the decorations and traditions from around the world were highlighted and even the Epcot tree lighting ceremony was there.  But I must say, I got very jealous and even a bit nostalgic when Brown walked into my beloved Rose and Crown pub for a pint.  I can wathc that segment over and over again…

All the parks were covered, as well as Downtown Disney and even a little bit of Disneyland.  Sometimes Samantha Brown can be over the top with silliness, but not in this show.  This show is one of the best I have seen on Walt Disney World and Disney can learn a lot from it.  Everything they produce, from the travel DVD’s, to the parade coverage on television, to the in-room shows, are nothing compared to this.  It is on again this Friday at 8pm and then again on Sunday at noon.  Take a look and enjoy a little holiday cheer Disney style.