Disney Odds and Ends - D23 Edition and More

There's surprisingly a lot going on in the Disney news world these days, but not too much of it rattles fans stateside- that is until D23 comes along today. 

Just for a little fun, I thought I'd spit out my predictions in great anticipation of D23's announcements for the theme parks.

(By the way, why this photo above for D23? Just a reminder that the best plans of men who work for the mouse get changed all the time.) 

Darth Vader and friends coming to a new and expanded location.

Mouse on the Web: Sadly, Al Lutz has gone missing, and his once powerful MiceChat / MiceAge has almost morphed into just another fan site- almost. They've brought some gusto back to the game with their latest update, however! As sure as the Second Coming of Christ, you can bet Disney suits will be doing something huge and significant with their stellar Star Wars property- at least at my beloved Disneyland for now. (It does leave Tomorrowland a thematic mess, however.) It would be nice to feel assured of the same quality coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios/Adventure, but given the recent track record, I have my doubts. Prove me wrong, Disney! And please finish the work before 2021.

Spiderman and more coming to California Adventure.

Marvel, however, makes perfect sense on the West Coast (perhaps not in theme at California Adventure), since the suits are under contract to forbid anything with the Super Heroes in Florida. Imagine a really compelling new Spider-Man attraction, one so good that it just might discourage folks from going to Islands of Adventure in Florida- that is, if that pesky Harry Potter went away. Anyway, expect Marvel at California Adventure in a big way. Even though it is out of theme in my mind, I help it is excellently done. Well, at least this leaves the space for the Third Park free for a brand new concept.

Close by on the web, Mouse Info remains a fun place to visit with & WDWMagic being the place to go for the inside scoop on Walt Disney World. Alain Littaye still rocks on Disney and More, and my little boutique blog Insights and Sounds continues on doing its own thing. I know these guys will all be bringing us great stuff in the days ahead. Can't wait and Thank you!

Animal Kingdom: Yes, the big news out in the lushest Disney park ever built is Avatar land / World of Pandora. That fun website Da Mouse was the first one to really hit the nail on the head and identify it as a "quiet transformation" on the scale that the parks in Florida have not seen that often. Moving of the Lion King show, creating an expanded Harambe in a couple of areas, changes to the Tree of Life and to Discovery Island. Lots of construction- and perhaps even a few things we know nothing about. Of course Rivers of Light is scheduled to open sometime next year. I go back and forth on Pandora. Sure, it will look cool- but will it have something unique that really is a compelling attraction or two? Doubtful. I'm kind of over simulators, Soarin' aside. But the Disney suits have lots of prove after their big push for the project coming off their loss of Harry Potter to Universal. All said, Animal Kingdom has some of the best potential to be a powerhouse of a theme park since Tokyo Disney Sea. We'll see.

China, China, and more China!

Disney's (Disastrous) Hollywood Studios: With Star Wars certain and Pixar expansion a necessity, this park will be the one to watch in the year ahead. Closures abound in preparation for the future. Magic Kingdom has had its big splash in New Fantasyland, and Epcot is being ignored for now. The big budget almost guarantees a relaunch a la Disney California Adventure, but unless the suits allow the Imagineers to do it up big time, the park will become one where folks talk about "what could have been". Not a good thing- unless you're Universal Orlando. Many see Robert Iger as a man who cares most about stock value versus great product. When will he finally see real quality and real investment bring great results? Toy Story Playland? Been there, done that. It's time for something new instead of another rehash from overseas.

Beautiful, yes!

Shanghai Disneyland: Speaking of Iger, the plans for Mainland China's Disney park look great. Many unique aspects and that Tron coaster than should have come to the States. My bet is there's a few more pieces of concept art and some great models. Should be fun to hear what the Imagineers have to say abut it all. Expect nothing political, though.

The one that got away!

Frontierland Expansion for Florida: This one will be on hold for a couple of years. I'm sure something will happen in the Magic Kingdom for its 50th, (not that they need a new draw for THIS park), but the plans will stay wrapped up. Unless a miracle happens, long time park fans can kiss any version of Western River Expedition goodbye. It's too bad- this could be a great way to honor Walt Disney World's story- and Imagineer Marc Davis- and build that dedicated fan base similar to that of Disneyland. Instead, I fully expect a toon-based attraction.

Do you want this in your park or the truncated version below?

What won't we see at D23? Anything Frozen for Tokyo Disneyland or even the slightest peek at plans for their new Fantasyland expansion. The suits will never reveal so clearly why the Asia parks are the ones to get most all the great stuff while the States can sometimes get knockoffs and second rate versions of what's built overseas. 

Fast, quick and easy.

Would you want your U.S. fans to compare what's coming to Epcot vs. what the Imagineers are doing with their biggest hit in Tokyo? I didn't think so.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Blue Sky Disney and DCA "Time Bombs"

Back in the day, MiceAge was the ultimate Disney fan site if you were looking for what was to come at the Disneyland Resort. California Adventure was a pitiful mess, and Disneyland was slowly being left to rot, one attraction after another. Site owner Al Lutz became a fan favorite for holding Disney's feet to the fire by using the media to expose the plans of mice and men.

Years later, Honor Hunter's  (gotta love the name!) "Blue Sky Disney" came on line. His information was usually dead on accurate. As proof, here's a copy of his post from October 23, 2007:

Time Bombs...

"Are we there yet?"

"Are we there yet?"

"Are we there yet?"

You know the questions we get when kids become impatient about where they're going...

We all know after hearing the rumors for the past few years that many Disney Geeks/Fans will be asking a similar question:

"When will it be done?"

Well, I guess it's time to show you a preliminary guide to the divisions of work to be done in "Phase One". Now, some of these could change depending on construction delays, weather and other factors but you can pretty much use this as a guide to the coming construction and which projects will go before others.

I call these phases "Time Bombs"...

Weapons of creativity to fend off the mediocrity of a generic theme park. These things have already had their timer set. Once they go off they're going to explode these areas and the results will be a decimation of the bland and boring with the plastering of rich, lavish theming all through the park.

These Time Bombs are set to go off at different places at different times and the results will be nothing short of being visually stunning. Four and a half years from now you'll walk through DCA(don't get used to that acronym) and not realize it's the same park... sure some areas will be familiar, but overall you'll have never been to this park before.

Shall we get started on our bombing run? Good...

Time Bomb 1

Paradise Pier and the surrounding area has been under construction since 2005 so it's had a bit of a head start. The Pier with its richly themed heavy D ticket will be through with construction in July. Actually, it'll be done mainly by April, but there will be tests and previews all the way through July, which is when it is tentatively scheduled to open. The surrounding midway with its rethemed games will be open as well. Basically everything between the Carousel and Maliboomer will be finished by next summer. All the additions in the pier will be installed early next year so as to not interrupt the view of that new section. The Sun Wheel is currently scheduled to be completed around this time as well, although construction on it may drag a bit. Mickey's Fun Wheel should be done by the end of 2008 unless the current plans change.

Time Bomb 2

The transformation of Sunshine Plaza to Walt Disney Plaza is supposed to get started in fall of next year. Once the temporary entrance is done expect bulldozers to start rolling and construction to be completed on this visually extravagant set-back to the late 20's/early 30's by late 2009 or early 2010. The construction will probably be done in two phases with the front section being done first and then the courtyard with its trolley, restaurants and shops going up after that part is done.

Time Bomb 3

The retheming of this section of Paradise Pier and the absorption of Route 66 will start in late 2009 and continue through late 2010 or early 2011 to be finished around the time of the tenth anniversary. The shops and beer garden will layer the area in a bygone era... while "Goofy's Sky School" will stick out, but be a much more immersive and lavishly themed coaster that doesn't resemble the Mulholland Madness kiddie coaster of today. The Maliboomer should be removed around this time and the work on the Orange Stinger and the surrounding area will begin as well.

Time Bomb 4

The Little Mermaid attraction and area will start to arise when the Golden Dreams building is removed in early 2009 and the construction of an elaborate show building is constructed. Work on the expanded viewing area should start in late 2008 so that the area will be available for use in late 2009 when "Disney's World of Color" is tentatively scheduled to make its bow.

Time Bomb 5

The areas atop where Ariel's Grotto and the surrounding stores should start to see work begin on them in early 2009. The plan is to have construction done by the time DWOC debuts and the lower levels are supposed to get enclosed so as to not get any paying diners wet. This area should be done by late 2009 should no delays come up.

Time Bomb 6

The final and largest part of the expansion gets underway in late 2009 when planning for "Cars Land" turns into overdrive. By early 2010 the area will be a hive of activity. The construction walls and signs will point to the great new addition that takes up 20 percent of the park and will change the skyline and theming once done. The area around "Bugs Land" that people see when walking by that exposes the outside of the resort (hotels, power-lines) will disappear by the time this expansion opens up in 2012.

By the time DCA has its tenth anniversary the entire park will be remade and look brand spanking new... the only thing that won't be open by the tenth will be "Cars Land", but it will be ever-so present... with the construction of those giant mesas looming overhead Disney Geeks/Fans will be running about the new park, most likely with the new name all giddy. Peering over their shoulder at the final jewel, the final present of "Phase One" to be opened in the summer of 2012.

If by that fall the clicks are starting to edge up to the 9 million mark...

Iger will give the official nod to "Phase Two" and you can expect some form of announcement at the end of that year or the beginning of 2013 talking about even more goodies. John Lasseter and Bob Weis have a few surprises up their sleeves that are expected and at least one that will give the faithful a reason to have faith.

A LOT of faith...

(end of article)

Now, isn't that amazing? Where is Honor and when will Blue Sky return?

On the East Coast, we thankfully have Steve over at WDWMagic and frequent poster WDW1974, an industry insider that shares the dirt on the Walt Disney World Resort.. and more worldwide. It's rarely good news these days, but at least it's news. While Universal gets ready to unveil Diagon Alley at the Studios, Disney seems content to flog a remake of Epcot's Maelstrom into a Frozen attraction while they putz around with MyMagic+. Sure, Avatar is coming to Animal Kingdom, but how much excitement is that really generating? Star Wars at the Studios will happen years from now, but in the meantime, Epcot sinks to new lows. 

It will be great fun to see what the future holds for both US resorts, and one day, I'll be looking back at old posts from these insiders, reviewing their predictions.

Now about that Phase Two for DCA...

(Art copyright Blue Sky Disney.)

The Avengers Lose Their Way

Robert Downey Jr. owns this film, but that is not his fault or the fault of the other actors. Compared to Tony Stark's suave and focused Iron Man, Marvel's poor superhero Captain America has little to do in a film where brotherhood should rule the day. For all the other characters, it's more of the same. Much ado about nothing. 

Captain America's heart is full of integrity, straightforwardness, and outright old fashioned patriotism. Combined with his self sacrificial attitude and military training, Steve Rogers is a true hero and a nice counterbalance to Stark's cynicism and irreverence. It's part of what made his first appearance in his own movie so compelling. Chris Evans does the best he can with a script strong on visuals but weak on dialogue, terrific one liners aside. It's a problem all the others seem to share. 

The centerpiece villain is left to inactivity for most of the film. Huge misstep. Tom Hiddleston is made to play the evil character, Loki, yet the script treats him as if he were a nuisance versus a real threat. His brother, Thor, is better here as part of the team than a solo star in his own film. Perhaps Chris Hemsworth just needed a better cast to pull it all off. The sole key female, Scarlett Johannson... just doesn't fit.

I'd give The Avengers a high mark for visual appeal and interesting main characters. However, the film also gets low marks for making poor use of the cast and an even poorer story line. Seems Jon Favreau and company cannot decide between making a Transformers film, sticking to what Marvel does best, or just spending his time setting up a series. The team, including Stan Lee, is stuck between playing tongue in cheek with it all and creating a film where the characters truly believe the world in which they live. 

The potential is huge, and the market is waiting. There's always the next film and a theme park on its way.

Cruising the Blue Sky Disney Blog

Ever find a Disney blog that is so much fun that even the old posts are worth looking at now and then? Well, Blue Sky Disney is one of those for me.

Above is a piece of artwork for a post on Cars Land, circa December 2007.

Honor Hunter creates compelling reasons to read: fresh news, great art, and insightful commentary on the world of Disney. Be it the transformation of California Adventure, new plans for Disneyland, or the latest in movie and television news, Honor never disappoints. Thanks for all the hard work!

Stalled Out

Epcot's Test Track takes a cruise to a very long refurb, closing down until Fall of 2012. Blue Sky Disney has been gone for way too long. The poor little Studios park at Disneyland Paris can't get its Ratatouille attraction in gear, and the billion dollar redo of California Adventure seems to go on and on with its world of walls. What's a guy to do? Wait patiently. I've been stalled myself with a virus eaten machine, too much of a workload, and a mind currently lacking imagination. Maybe it's time for an overhaul...

Light Cycles on Their Way to Shanghai

Honor Hunter (love the name!) over at Blue Sky Disney must have some of the best connections to the Walt Disney Company, particularly in Imagineering! In his latest post, Honor spills some of the beans on the attraction roster for Shanghai Disneyland. As expected, there is a great line up, but it is the Light Cycles attraction from the movie Tron: Legacy that has me most excited!Sure, it looks like it is coming at the expense of the classic Space Mountain, but it could be a worthwhile tradeoff. Want to read more of Honor's headline worthy news for the Disney fans? Go here.

Dreamworks, Disney, and Glen Keane

Could the wonderful Disney animator, Glen Keane, really be leaving Disney for Dreamworks? Blue Sky Disney thinks it is a possibility. Glen seems to be a good man as well as um, a "beast" of an animator. In fact, on animating the Beast for the film Beauty and the Beast, Disney animator Glen Keane says,

"This is the moment- this is what I was born for...
As I started animating it, for me it's really an expression of my spiritual life. There's a verse in the Bible that says 'If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away and all things have become new...'

Because it is really about an inner spiritual transformation that's taking place with the Beast. I saw it as a parable of my life."

If you want to see Glen's great artwork in various forms, here's the place to go:The Art of Glen Keane . In the meantime, may God be with him wherever he goes!

Blue Sky Disney?

(With both apologies and thanks to Blue Sky Disney's Honor Hunter...)

It does, in fact, seem as if the skies are blue over the Walt Disney Company these days!

The buzz on World of Color is having a great impact on attendance at Disney California Adventure. Seems guests are very pleased with what they see. For the first time at the Disneyland Resort, the nighttime show Fantasmic! is having some competition. Although the Disney suits are hesitant to say so, seems more guests are translating into more evening dining in the park. Maybe even an increase in purchasing at the shops.


Regardless, folks are staying longer in the park, and there is no way they cannot notice all the change and construction going on. For better or for worse regarding the new design choices and direction for this place, this little sister of a park could become a more serious contender for Disneyland's dollar once Ariel's Undersea Adventure opens along with Cars Land's Radiator Springs Racers. A newly constructed Buena Vista Street only adds to the atmosphere as does the revamped Paradise Pier.

In Florida, Walt Disney World continues to pull in the crowds as it is more of a vacation destination than the west coast resort. Eventually, the suits will have to approve some additional attractions for the third and fourth gates, as both Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom remain substantially less satisfying an experience. The new Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom will be a pull, but will take away more guests from the aforementioned parks versus increasing their attendance. And we all know increased attendance means increased spending for Walt Disney World's captive audience.

I won't address the overseas parks here and now, but we can pretty much be assured the Tokyo Disney Resort will remain profitable while Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Paris continue to bleed, with Shanghai Disneyland remaining a mystery until plans are unveiled.

These blue skies continue for fans in the realm of film. Pirates of the Caribbean 4 is on the horizon, and Johnny Depp certainly draws a crowd. Closer to today's date, the newest animated film, Tangled, (hate the title!) is generating good word of mouth. Hopefully, the film will be better than its advertising and usher in the next wave of feature animation greatness. The one Princess and the Frog almost delivered. It was a very good movie, but for some reason, crowds stayed fairly disinterested.

ESPN remains a successful brand for the Company. Perhaps ABC Television shows will muster some ratings clout. Results for daytime shows seem much stronger than the evening fare, although Castle is great fun. Yet this season of Grey's Anatomy once again lost me as a viewer as did the now horrible Private Practice. Seems creator Shonda Rhimes cannot leave a good thing alone. The first season's characters and storylines of both shows were much stronger and far more appealing than what we see now. (Kevin McKidd's terrific Owen Hunt aside. And why has the gifted Kate Walsh seen her character morph into this insecure, "gotta have a man" no longer alpha female? Makes her amazing and powerful entrance at the end of Season One Grey's seem like two different women.)

Consumer Products? Well, let's just say with the Christmas holidays coming up, I am sure Disney has some tricks up their sleeve- even if it isn't the "fabulous" overhaul of the Disney Stores that I hoped for!Just more cheap plastic and plush... so, I guess it is not Blue Sky Disney everywhere.

If it is blue skies now, will it stay that way? It certainly will be interesting to see the state of our favorite company a year from now. Will Disney delight us or disappoint? Should delight be the end result, we will certainly and happily give them our hard earned cash.

Should we be disappointed, well, Robert Iger will need to lead the company into trying a bit harder. Remember, even Walt Disney himself had some cloudy days in between all his creative and financial success. Anything is possible but the sky's the limit!

New York City Board Loses Its Common Sense

Sure, go ahead and build that mosque by Ground Zero! Go ahead and do it while the radical Muslims laugh and the core of America stands by in shock and disbelief!

This action by the New York City Board only confirms what I have suspected for awhile: Political Correctness is the cause for much of a lack of common sense and good taste. An amazing display of disrespect for America and an astonishing insensitivity for those lost in the attacks and the friends and family left behind!

One Big Disney World

Disney and More, Miceage, Blue Sky Disney- You just cannot read these great blogs without realizing the Walt Disney Company is becoming a global player in a world economy. Most any company trying to keep up its growth is doing the same thing: going with the flow that leads to one big world. Yet, there is a dark side.

It is clear that the actions of each person and those of each country effect others around them. If you've read this blog for long, you know how I feel about treating people well, caring for others, and "being Jesus" to those around you.

There is a clear and strong international movement toward creating a global currency, and the United States needs to refrain from becoming a part of it. (Just think the Euro goes intercontinental, and you get the idea. Something similar is going on in South America as well.) Don't believe me? Check out this website: Single Global Currency.

Or check out this article (below) from US News and World Report. It's as true today as it was when first written a year ago:
Here's one of the problems it creates: When the world goes this direction, a smaller and smaller group of people will be in charge of what happens to the majority of us living on the planet. We all know "money makes the world go round", and this is where it will all begin. Sounds like the Book of Revelation in the Bible.

One money, one government. Whose values will be embraced and whose politics enforced by this type of dictatorship? Do you want someone else deciding what is an acceptable way for you to live? Not me! It's time to wake up.
Global Economy -Yes; Global Currency- Just Say No!
----------------------------------------------

From US News and World Report:
March 25, 2009 10:34 AM ET by James Pethokoukis

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner says he is "quite open" to a massive reduction in the economic power and influence of the United States.

O.K, what Geithner actually said earlier today is that he is "quite open" to China's idea of a global currency system linked to the International Monetary Fund's Strategic Drawing Rights. But it might be pretty much the same thing since the whole point of the embryonic idea is to lessen the influence of the dollar. More from Geithner: "As I understand it, it's a proposal designed to increase the use of the IMF's Special Drawing Rights. I am actually quite open to that suggestion ...[though it should bee seen as an] evolutionary building on the current architecture rather than moving us to a global monetary union."

The Black Hole

All quiet on the Disney theme park front, isn't it? When both Blue Sky Disney and Miceage are lacking news and rumors to report, you know the suits are behind it. Disneyland and Walt Disney World news woefully lacking, aside from the tragic losses for which the Florida park is becoming known. Nothing much to say for Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort or Hong Kong Disneyland either. The news is even stilled regarding Shanghai Disneyland!

Don't worry! Until the next D23 convention, the empty void will soon be filled as World of Color will debut at California Adventure with multiple first hand reports, publicity shots, and tales of those long lines Disney once predicted for the opening of Disneyland's sister park.

Paradise Pier Sparkles

Let's be honest: I really don't like the concept of a Disneyfied carnival in any of the parks, and I have been a pretty vocal critic of its execution. That said, in the evening, Paradise Pier- and really the entire park- takes on an entirely different and quite magical feeling.

This unique piece of concept art gives a small taste of what magic seems to be waiting after dark. Surprisingly, even the most ordinary of attractions, such as the Golden Zephyr, become quite enjoyable in the cool dark evening. The whole land just sparkles with great lighting, adding to the atmosphere and making up for the relative shortage of true Disney quality attractions. The nighttime is transforming. The pier's major attraction, California Screamin' takes on a whole new feel then, and zooming high above Disneyland Resort landmarks becomes California Adventure's equivalent of a ride on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad over at Disneyland. Too much fun!

When World of Color debuts, plans are to keep the park open later than it is at present. Maybe, just maybe, the soon coming Little Mermaid 's adventure and some new shops and eateries will make Paradise Pier a must see. That would be the most magical thing of all.

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Blue Sky Disney: Voice of Mickey Passes Away

Per Blue Sky Disney, Wayne Allwine, the voice of Mickey Mouse has passed away. Rest in peace.