Mouse Extra

Disney recently announced some upcoming refurbishments for WDW. One eye opener was the rather extensive closure of a classic, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The coaster is shutting down as of January 9th. It will not reopen until Memorial Day, May 28th. Thats a whopping near five month shutdown.

Space Mountain closed for nearly the same length recently. Clearly, like Space Mountain before it, Big Thunder will be getting a new track. But what else- if anything- will change? Some suspect there will be added special effects in the ride. Perhaps better bats? a more realistic falling boulder? We will see.

There is one thing I would like: an interactive queue. I recently listed my 5 favorite queues in Disney World. Soon, I will list the 5 I think most need an interactive element. Big Thunder will be on that list. The Big Thunder queue is frankly dull. This is one attraction that could really benefit from a more themed line. The possibilities for the old Western town are exciting and I am sure imagineers would love to take a crack at it. A shooting gallery style game? A bank robbery? Can can dancers? Ok, maybe not that last one, but you get the idea.

It would be a hoot.

Disney has officially announced plans for the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game. Rumors about the game have been swirling around the internet for some time. Merlin will be recruiting people to play the game inside the Magic Kingdom, which apparently will be similiar to the extremely popular Kim Possible game at Epcot. Work has already begun on the project in Adventureland.

My kids love the Kim Possible game. In fact, both played it this past August. And I loved playing along with them. My only conern about this would be space. The Magic Kingdom gets a lot more congested than the wide open World Showcase.

Personally, I would love to see a Phineas & Ferb game as well. I originally though Phineas and Ferb would be a good replacement for Kim Possible as Kim Possible is not really in the kid’s culture these days. But the more I think about the more I would like to see a 3rd park use this. I would love a Phineas & Ferb game for Disney Hollywood Studios. And while we are at it, Disney’s Animal Kingdom could be an interesting choice for a game like this. Perhaps, Donald’s Safari Interactive game and what not.

The podcast, BetaMouse, did an excellent episode on the potentials of this game in thier episode 73, back in July. I recommend you check that out.

I am sure you have noticed the new trend in Disney queues. That is, the retooling of some lines to make them interactive. Disney has long saught a remedy to the long lines found at the parks especially during peak times. Fastpass was one answer to this. Now Disney is trying to be at least entertain you while you stand for an hour or more on lines.

To that end, Disney has added games to the queue at Soarin’. They have also created interactivty at the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and, more recently, the Haunted Mansion. I want to create a list of what I consider the 5 best queues in WDW (not counting the most recent changes). So here they are in order;

5. Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor: Yeah, I know this is a strange one, but I have always felt this attraction was underrated. And I put this on the list because of one of the things it does and thats incorporate technology. I think this queue is the beginning of a potential wave of interactivity. Its no secret that smartphones are, at this time, probably the number one form of entertainment while waiting in line. Here, Disney has, in a rudimentary form perhaps, began the process of using that tech within the queue and the attraction by allowing people to text jokes that may be used during the comedy show.

4. Pirates of the Caribbean; This queue just reeks of immersion. You really feel like you are in a dungeon. There are a lot of fun gags here, like the skeletons playing chess. And most importantly, its very cool, a wonderful place to cool down in the florida heat. The ride is pretty nifty too.

3. The Tower of Terror: Immersion to the nth degree. Stepping into the line, you are all of a sudden in a decrepit old hotel. The theming and the story telling is impeccable. The dust looks real. The boiler room is terrific. Its all so good. Its too bad I’m a chicken.

2. Expedition: Everest; Ok, so the yeti itself is a disaster, but the queue for this ride is absolutely wonderful. The artifacts from the Himalayas are fun, especially the ones dealing with the yeti. I particularly love the riped up tent and the statue of the yeti in the courtyard. The queue is so good you want to skip fast passes just to enjoy it.

1. Muppet Vision; This is my favorite pre-show/queue in all of Disney. Its an absolute hoot. Small screens show a movie about the muppets getting ready for the big show you are about to see. Add that to a plethora of sight gags throughout the “holding area” and you have a queue that may actully be better than the main attraction.

The new meet and greet for Mickey Mouse and his girl, Minnie opened its door yesterday, April 1st.  As noted earlier, it is the first use of the Fastpass system for a meet and greet. And I approve. Disney has released a video showing the inside of the theater and the Big Cheese himself.

Mickey has debuted on Main Street

The theater is themed around Magician Mickey. Disney will also be placing- temporarily- an area to meet princesses. I’m not sure how that will fit the theme, but it will only be used for that until the new princess meet-n-greets open in the redesigned Fantasyland.

It seems Disney is making some big changes over at Peter Pan’s Flight during this Fantasyland expansion. This is one of the most popular attractions at the Magic Kingdom so seemingly it would be safe from any major overhaul. But Disney has filed a permit to demolish the nearby old Skyway building.

So what you ask? Well, its to build bathrooms apparently. Not too exciting I know, but this allows Disney to demolish the bathrooms next to the Pan queue, allowing Disney to expand the queue for the attraction.

Now this is where it all gets interesting. Disney may very well make Peter Pan’s Flight the next attraction to become involved in the new “in” thing for Disney- the interactive queue. The immense popularity of the Pooh queue has sparked some interest in doing this elsewhere. Already the Haunted Mansion is getting a new queue with interactive elements. Soarin’, in desperate for something on that once dull line, has gotten some interactive games. 

Clearly, Peter Pan’s Flight can use some help. Simply put, the queue is one of the dullest in WDW. The ride itself is very popular with wait times being some of the largest in the park. Some interactivity would truly help here.  One thing I hope is they don’t get as ”kiddie” as they do for Winnie the Pooh. The Poohster attracts toddlers, but Pan seems to grasp a slightly older crowd. The games on the Pooh line would likely bore anyone over 6 pretty fast, so hopefully that wouldn’t be the gameplan for Pan.

It will take more than a plant to help Peter Pan

I hope in the coming weeks to post my thoughts on the Top 5 queues in Walt Disney World as well as the 5 most in need of plussing. Pan will make the latter list for certain. In fact, it might top the list now that Soarin’ has some help. Stay tuned to this as more news is leaked.

As we all know, Mickey is moving his Magic Kingdom digs now that Toontown is gone. He is moving to the front of Main Street at the old Exposition Hall. Its being renamed the Town Square Theatre (I like the name). And Mickey can be found there. Plus, while Fantasyland is being redone, Princesses will be there, as well. The queue will also be interactive following in the footsteps of the new Winne the Pooh queue.

For the first time, guests will be able to book thier meeting time with Mickey. The meet and greet will be the first to use Fastpasses.

I think this is a terrific idea. Meet and greets have become an intergral part of the Disney experience, with Mickey Mouse front and center. Instead of wasting over an hour in line to meet the Big Cheese, we can now get a fastpass. Although this is a bit of a trek from other attractions.

I would think this will be expanded to the new Princess Hall coming to the new Fantasyland. And perhaps even other hugely popular meet and greets.