Disney Film Travel Posters Hint at Future Park Attractions

Travel posters of places home to Disney movies' animated characters. What's not to love? As you'll see, there are some similarities to the original Disneyland attraction posters that everyone loves. At top is Atlantis, from Atlantis: The Lost Empire. The cool blues and greens and purples call out to me. Part of me wishes this was for an attraction based on the film. Real concept art for an attraction at Disneyland exists, and the new version of the Submarine Voyage was teased. You can see it all here. A guy can dream, right?

Ah, the islands! The next two here are for Moana and Peter Pan. Both very good movies, and the latter one is one of my all time Disney favorites. Makes for a great Fantasyland attraction or one at Tokyo Disneysea's new Fantasy Springs area. Will a Moana flume ride make it to the Magic Kingdom's Adventureland? Maybe one day. Those Imagineers are always up to something.

Zootopia's staying power has surprised me. Even though the first was a lot of fun, it was really the second movie that made me appreciate the franchise even more. Will I go to Shanghai Disneyland to see the park's land? Probably not, but it seems Disney California Adventure could get its own version if the rumors are true that this is what new Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro wants. Goodbye Pandora West.

It could work in California Adventure- 

the park where theme goes out the window.

Big Hero 6 gives us San Fransokyo. While I think the film is great, the land doesn't seem as well done. There's no real attraction. I mean, as fun as it may be, a meet and greet with Baymax is just not enough. But again, this is Disney California Adventure where the bar gets lower and lower each time an addition is added. 

This is not a precursor to Villain's Land! But it very well could be as the underworld of Hades would make a compelling but very dark backdrop to all those bad guys. 

This next one could be a real life location in Italy! We've been to the Cinque Terra, the inspiration. And it is lovely by any definition. Luca is a clever film that enchants with its atmosphere. Its main characters Luca and Alberto are best friends, much like the Bible's David and Jonathan. You can read into their relationship however you want. I prefer what's really there in the film over what's not. 

Disney Adventure World in Paris is getting the world's first Lion King themed land. The old studios park needs something like this. Frozen is beautiful but the main attraction is not an "E Ticket" by any definition. The new park layout looks beautiful, however. 

Hopefully, this is part of a new and ongoing poster series!

Back to Disney California Adventure

Summertime means a visit to a Disney park, usually Disneyland. As a Californian now in Colorado, it takes more effort, but it is worth a day at the world's beloved original kingdom of Walt. Disney California Adventure may have its charms, but after my last visit there in 2028, I'm just not that motivated to go back since my last visit in 2018. Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout was fun, but I'm in no rush to see Avengers Campus in its current state or even San Fransokyo, although I love Big Hero 6. It's going to take Coco to get me back. I'm a sucker for boat rides! But it had better be good!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Baymax! Cancelled

One of my favorite Disney characters, the very kid friendly Baymax from Big Hero 6, is a tool... a tool of The Walt Disney Company which feels it now has to insert political and sexual agenda into their product. As I've said numerous times before, I think parents have the right and responsibility to educate their kids on sexuality. And I do not want Disney, Marvel, or anyone else doing that job. 

This new series Baymax! (exclamation point to indicate excitement) had me excited- that is, until I watched the episodes. This PG rated series discusses menstruation and same sex coupling with a dash of transgender inclusion (wink, wink). This is only season one. These are not PG issues. These are at least PG-13 issues and should be labeled and dealt with as such. Ugh!

Parents and grandparents, you are making a big mistake by letting those little minds watch Disney+ without supervision. By doing so, you are not giving the chance for these little ones to ask questions that need to be talked about in a safe environment from the family they trust. Disney's lack of labeling on content shows they no longer care about what parents want. Innocence is lost quick enough. At least show some respect. Bob Chapek, you and your board better wake up.

I'm cancelling Baymax! and Disney+ is on the way out as well. I've had enough.

What Epcot's Japan Showcase Needs

It's late at night at Epcot. The nighttime show has ended, and the crowds are thinning out, making it the perfect time for a leisurely stroll. Ever wander into the small hidden gardens and find Katsura Grill? It's a gem! A lovely place for a snack or quiet meal or even just a perfect spot to stop and reflect on life. 

These two photos of Katsura Grill

are official Disney shots.

Although Japan's showcase seems close to perfect with its great dining options and extensive shopping and entertainment, there's so much more that could be done- even going beyond what will be the inevitable Big Hero 6 attraction. Here's a few things- several attractions- that never saw the light of day:

We all know about the cancelled projects like the Mount Fuji bobsled run, Meet the World carousel theater project, and perhaps even the bullet train attraction seen above. 

Imagineering's Joe Warren produced

this piece for Disneyland's 50th anniversary celebration

and how it would be celebrated at Epcot.

But have you heard about Collin Campbell's omnimover attraction? In this piece of concept art below, we can see the Imagineers created a visually stunning conclusion to the ride- ready with sponsorship symbols for Japan Airlines (JAL). Eventually, grand ideas gave way to more shopping and dining, but with a different focus than what is already there.

How about something classic and feudal in look? Here's the plan to add an old world shopping district to the existing pavilion: 

This was one of many proposed ideas to spruce up and refresh the World Showcase pavilions for the park's Millennium Celebration. Doesn't this look like something you'd find in the ancient city of Kyoto. The very top photograph of this post shows the real Kyoto, a place I had the opportunity to visit as a very young man. The country is stunning, but this ancient city is the place everyone has to go if they visit Japan!

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company. Top photo of Kyoto by Oscar Boyd.)

More Beauty and the Beast Art for Tokyo Disneyland- Video Too!

This just in from the Tokyo Disney Resort- a new release of concept art, models, and a video showing the brand new Beauty and the Beast area of Fantasyland. Not a truncated version like Florida's Magic Kingdom, but a full sized castle with an entirely new and complete experience- an E Ticket worthy attraction. Proving again that the best things come to Disney's overseas parks.

First the video:

Now for some models:

The round area is the Big Hero 6 take on Mater's Junkyard Jamboree.

Saving the best for last, concept art from the Imagineers:

It's the whole package here.

In other words, more than you'll find in Florida.

As a specimen, yes, he's intimidating.

Gaston's Tavern.

No Be Our Guest restaurant- but the full B&tB attraction instead!

Of course there's shopping! After all dear, this is Disney!

The final product.

Looks to be a real Beauty! Coming to Tokyo in 2020!

Where did it all begin? Where else has Disney let Beauty and the Beast shine in the parks? Read it all here.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Disney Hype Machine Has Me on Overload

In the latest announcement from Disney, Zootopia has made over $1 Billion in box office ticket sales. This continues a string of successes like Frozen (naturally), Tangled, and Big Hero 6. Why doesn't this seem all that exciting to me?  I think I am just so done with Disney's hype machine. And yet, the opening of Shanghai Disneyland is just around the corner...

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The Tradition Continues: Tokyo Disney Resort Once Again Offers the Best in Disney Theme Park Attractions

Proving once again that the brightest and best in Disney theme park entertainment is now found overseas, the Oriental Land Company released several new Imagineering images detailing their expansion plans for both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. The concept art is stunning!

Explore Beast's castle as never before!

Beauty and the Beast will be the big addition in Fantasyland. Using the popular trackless vehicle technology found in Pooh's Hunny Hunt and Hong Kong Disneyland's Mystic Manor, guests will be immersed into the world of Belle and Beast as she tries to win his heart. Additional expansion includes Belle's village with Gaston's Tavern and a brand new Fantasyland theater.

Big Hero 6 comes to life in a spinner- 
but it's a start!

Baymax makes his first attraction appearance in Tomorrowland.

Just look at those themed ride vehicles!

A beautiful entrance to what will be a popular addition.

Over in the second park,  the incredible Tokyo DisneySea, Soarin' finally takes flight in the beautiful Mediterranean Harbor. Whether the Frozen planned seaport gets added as originally planned has not been revealed.

Let's just sum up by saying a visit to Japan in 2020 may be worth this traveler's cash.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Best and Worst of 2014

A mix of the important, the personal, and the fluff related to entertainment-

The Worst: 

• The killing of young black men all over America, both by the police and by black on black violence
• Young black men (and all people) choosing to break the law, placing themselves in the position of having to encounter police
• Meryl Streep's ridiculous swipe at Walt Disney
• Losing my job
• The continued move of American business operations to overseas locations at the cost of jobs for our citizens
• Disney's continued characterization of Epcot. Losing Norway to Frozen
• Maroon 5's latest album
• Lame plans for Disneyland's 60th Anniversary
• Middle Eastern thugs terrorizing the nations and beheading innocent civilians
• Joel Osteen and his brand of "Christian" wealth and prosperity doctrine. Sure worked for Jesus and certainly works for most of the Christians suffering all over the world- yeah, right!
• Americas continued reliance on abortion as birth control
• Hollywood's seeming emphasis on dumb, over the top, sex fueled entertainment
• Continued genocide all over the world
• The state of disrepair at Disneyland Paris
• High prices for cars and high fees to use public transportation
• Texting when a conversation deserves face to face communication
• The continued high price of airline tickets
• Frontier Airlines' website
• Too many reality television shows
• Remaking Disney animation classics into Live Action films
• Over the top greed in the business world. CEO salaries out of control
• When friends disappoint and show their true colors
• No Friends movie in the future
• Thugs posing as athletes in professional sports
• Sports leadership making excuses for such behavior and being slow to respond appropriately
• "Naked" television
• Excessive awards shows on television
• Putin's moves toward a new Soviet Union
• The new Polynesian Village Resort Lobby at Disney World
• The number of broken effects at Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland and all over the park in places you'd never expect
• The high cost of health insurance and the mess of Obamacare. When will our government understand its never better or cheap to add even government layers of oversight to a social service?
• News stations that interpret the news versus delivering it
• Kim Kardashian's exposed butt. Niki Minaj's too. Should I add Miley Cyrus' self-degradation to this list?
• Musical artists that have to swear and use highly crude sexual language to sell their music
• Parents not disciplining their kids in public and giving into their every whim
• Big Hero 6 not being the breakout hit it deserves to be
• Suits at Disney refusing to give Frozen an E Ticket attraction in the Magic Kingdom where it belongs
• The price of Disney one day park hopper tickets
• The legalization of marijuana in Colorado
• School shootings continue on
• The infiltration of humanism in the Christian church 
• The devolution of Epcot
• Fewer Caribou Coffee locations
• The French air traffic controllers strike during our vacation
• The lack of an Avengers film this year
• Having to book attraction and meal times far in advance at the Florida Disney parks
• No new original, non-IP based attractions at the Disney parks
• A wet and green summer
• Losing Shakira on The Voice
• Seeing friends lose their children and their parents
• Not enough time to give this blog the attention it deserves
• Shoddy concept art by Disney for new additions
• Disney's focus on more retail and restaurants than creating groundbreaking attractions in its parks
• The overall dumbing down of America by bringing culture to the lowest common denominator

The Best:

• Everyday heroes serving in their communities
• The announcement of Incredibles 2
• More grandchildren
• Cleaner air
• Films that value family, such as the Thousand Foot Journey
• The addition of Ratatouille to Disney Studios Paris
• The return of old school R&B music
• The continued excellent maintenance of the exterior of the show buildings at Disneyland
• A hot cup of coffee and a quiet morning to read and pray
• Picking apples with my grandsons
• The transformation of California Adventure and the hope of the suits finishing the job in the original areas of the park
• The new and overdue investment into the Africa section of Disney's Animal Kingdom
• Adam Levine and Blake Shelton bromance on The Voice
• Watching my son in law get baptized
• Alain Littaye and the Disney and More website
• God's continued faithfulness even when I do not understand what He allows
• The excellent refurbishment of Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• A trip to Switzerland- almost free
• A supportive wife and family
• Having more than enough to be able to give to others
• Tim Tebow on Good Morning America. A great match of human interest stories and good-hearted host.
• A new job
• Seeing Christians boldly live out their beliefs by following Jesus at all costs
• Longer movie previews
• Finding personal joy and fulfillment even while making less money
• Chipotle and their barbacoa tacos
• Better treatment of immigrants
• Lower gasoline prices
• Aging gracefully and without plastic surgery
• Rumer and Harriet making new music
• The overall good sportsmanship at the World Cup
• Old albums finally coming to compact disc
• The generosity of friends and family at unexpected times
• Removal of the Hat at Disney's Hollywood Studios
• George Benson
• Watching our favorite local Chinese restaurant survive the economic downturn
• Visiting our son, daughter in law and grandson in Kansas City during game six of the World Series
• Universal's new Harry Potter attractions and the transformation of both the Studios and Islands of Adventure
• Having four living parents, especially as we are grandparents ourselves
• Walking along the beach in Laguna
• Praying for physical headings that would take God doing a miracle- and seeing it happen
• The forums at A&M Corner and WDW Magic
• H&M comes to Denver
• The return of Downton Abbey
• A night of Ticket to Ride with family and friends
• Great Reads by David Platt and Francis Chan
• Five Guys' french fries
• The new Union Station in Downtown Denver
• Discovering great BBQ in Orange County
• Finding new friends when you least expect it
• The upcoming details for the remake of Disney's Hollywood Studios
• Having faithful and wonderful readers of this blog!
• ...and so much more

Big Hero 6 - A Huge Hit!

Big Hero 6 is a hit! In fact, it's such a huge hit here in Denver, that we couldn't get tickets at all... time to try again tomorrow! Bummer...