Is There a Change in Plans for Tiana's Bayou Adventure?

Could this new piece of concept art for Tiana's Bayou Adventure signal the end of Imagineering's ridiculous food co-op idea as the story line conclusion for this attraction that was once known as the beloved  Splash Mountain? According to Carmen Smith, Senior Vice President, Creative Development - Product/Content & Inclusive Strategies, who shared this piece on the Disney Parks Blog, guests will join old familiatr friends from Disney's Princess and the Frog film as they "prepare to host a one-of-a-kind celebration for the people of New Orleans".  I say the simpler, the better. I want Magic Kingdom and Disneyland guests to enjoy the music and its characters and love the attraction instead of encountering a story that feels forced, unnatural, and out of character with the rest of the parks' stellar line-ups. What about you?

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Goodbye Tarzan's Treehouse, Hello Swiss Family Robinson!

Straight from the "I never expected that to happen!" department, the Disney Parks Blog quietly announced the return of the Disneyland classic Swiss Family Treehouse. That's right- it is not Encanto- it's the Adventureland Treehouse.

These pieces of Imagineering concept art point me to two potential ideas: One- The film division is planning a reboot of the iconic original film for a new Disney+ series or individual flick, and Two- There are other, grander plans, for Encanto in the parks. With a hit movie that spawned a massive musical soundtrack and more, there's no way something will not be rolling out soon.

For now, I'm thrilled! Is it too much to ask for a brand new attraction poster?

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

THIS is What I Wanted from Disney+

Here's the big announcement directly from the Disney Parks Blog:

Go ‘Behind the Attraction’ in a New Original Series Coming to Disney+ on July 16

A new series is coming to Disney+ on July 16 that gives an exclusive peek ‘behind the curtain’ of the most beloved attractions and destinations at Disney Parks and Resorts around the world, from Jungle Cruise to “it’s a small world” to the Haunted Mansion to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. 

“Behind the Attraction” is a 10-part series narrated by Paget Brewster that  delves into Disney Parks’ rich, amazing history using archival and never-before-seen footage and photographs to unveil how the attractions came to be and how they’ve been refined over the years as new ideas surface and technology evolves.

Hear the unique story behind each Castle at the Parks and learn how Disney Imagineers designed and built them and discover the intricacies of the transportation systems at each park, and how the iconic Disneyland Hotel came to be.

Including rare interviews with Walt Disney, each episode also features exclusive interviews with Disney Legends and dozens of past and present Imagineers, including Bob Weis, Jeanette Lomboy, Kim Irvine, Scott Trowbridge, Tom Fitzgerald, Scot Drake, Carmen Smith, Joe Rohde, and others who divulge insider secrets of the parks and how iconic Disney attractions were brought to life.

Avengers Campus Falls Flat

How do you take Marvel, one of the most successful of all movie franchises, and turn it into failure? Open Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure with a slightly improved Toy Story Mania as your main draw.  WEB Slingers- A Spider-Man Adventure should be so much more than it is. But this is Imagineering of the 2020's and certainly not work found under the original first generation or the often equally talented second generation. Shops and restaurants play a big part here where they should take on a supporting role. 

Viewing the Disney Parks Blog live stream of the grand opening, it is easy to see the Imagineers were hamstrung by the budgets and the direction given from the suits, and the enthusiasm for the new land was as manufactured as could be. Until grander plans come to fruition, Avengers Campus will be for die hard fans and little kids used to Saturday morning cartoons. So much potential wasted.

Rare Imagineering Art from the Disney Parks Blog

Back before the official Disney blog changed, fans of Imagineering concept art would do well to keep an eye on it. Years back, the Disney Parks blog ran a series of pieces celebrating their participation in the 1964 World's Fair fifty years ago. All the pieces posted today, sans one, are that individual day's website banners- which I quickly saved to my hard drive. (The above piece is my favorite of the bunch.) I am sure full sized art exists and that these are only slices to fit the web. Not that I mind. I'll take what I can get! Disney park concept art is one of my favorite Imagineering things!

Historians correctly note that the public's response to Disney at the fair was the proving grounds to see if a Disneyland styled park and resort would be a hit should one be built on the East Coast. Of course, we know the results spoke for themselves, as Disney's work on four pavilion's were among the most popular. All setting the stage for Walt Disney World to move from dream to reality.

EPCOT Center's CenterCore or the 1964 World's Fair?

Ford's "Magic Skyway" was one of the most popular attractions. Guests cruised in automobiles back in time to the world of dinosaurs. If the concept seems much like EPCOT Center's beloved World of Motion, well it is. The Future World attraction, sponsored by General Motors (and with an incredibly good voiceover tour by Gary Owens) used several variations on the same theme. If you look at the concept piece directly above, you may see the inspiration the ending of the attraction as guests cruised into CenterCore, the city of the future.

Sharp eyed viewers will find a number of similarities between the entrance to the EPCOT attraction and what was built for the Fair. In each, the cars were shown to guests as a draw into the attraction, moving in a circular path. Not only was it innovative, it was charming! If something works, there's no need to reinvent the wheel. It's Fun to Be Free!

Each of these attractions would return from the fair back to Disneyland in one form or another, making "Walt's park" even better than it was before. Magic Skyway was represented as part of the now Grand Canyon /Primeval World diorama (dinorama?) bringing a whole slew of prehistoric creatures as a dazzling finale to the grand circle tour.

Unfortunately, for most of the art shown on the Disney blog, there is no artist information made available for any of these pieces. (Imagineer Mary Blair's pieces-below- are instantly recognizable for It's a Small World collection, however!) Regardless, they do make a nice addition to my collection! She was a genius, and her color styling never quite duplicated in any other Small World. 

Love it or hate it, It's A Small World was a fan favorite from day one when it made its debut at the fair. The Pepsi show had it all- charm, warmth, and great atmosphere- not to mention the iconic song. I'm particularly fond of the forward looking color scheme in the second piece. Pundits suggest the attraction should be moved or removed. May they never go this route! Part of the Disney park experience is this taste of innocence and friendship. Something so sorely needed in our world.

When it came to designing the attraction for Florida's Magic Kingdom, could it be the Imagineers looked at the piece above as inspiration for the new ending? The carousel and ferris wheel make the perfect setting for a playful conclusion- but not for a theme park. Sorry, Pixar Pier!

Third on today's list: Carousel of Progress or Progressland as it was called at the fair. The innovative attraction also traveled from the fair to California and landed in Tomorrowland in 1967. It was a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow for the extensive re-Imagineering of the Land of the Future. Perhaps the best of all versions of Tomorrowland in Anaheim.

Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln. The State of Illinois hired Disney to bring this remarkable one man show for visitors from all over the world. After a few problems, he performed perfectly, proving to Imagineering that they could in fact pull off human characters so convincingly. In the last couple of decades, the Disney suits thought about removing Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln more than once- including replacing this patriotic masterpiece with a new home for the Muppets. I'm sure Walt Disney was turning over in his grave! Wiser heads prevailed, and after a strange attempt at renovation, Tony Baxter was given the job to update the show. True to form, he handled it with his usual impeccable style and restraint. 

As I said at the beginning, keep your eyes on the Disney blog. In the meantime, if you want to hear and see more about Disney at the Fair, order the boxed set. It's well worth the money if you can find it!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Christmas at the Carousel of Progress

Do you follow the official Disney Parks Blog? I do visit but not as often as I used to do. All too often, its become absolutely frustrating! Sometimes, it just pushes the latest item for sale just as an online outlet mall, sometimes something from the Food Network, and all too rarely do they give us something meaty about the actual attractions at their world famous parks. 

A few years ago, however, the writers on the blog did something that surprised me. They surprised us with a gift. And here it is- they displayed a piece of rare concept art from Imagineer Dorothea Redmond. A beautiful rendering for Walt Disney World's iconic and recently abused Carousel of Progress at the Magic Kingdom. It's as if they are a fan of their product instead of just promoting it. Can you imagine that? It's something that should happen more often.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Art for Carousel of Progress at Christmas

Do you read the Disney Parks Blog? I do every day, but sometimes it feels like an online store. Maybe even like reading articles from the Food Network. 

There seems to be a growing obsession with Disney food and merchandise, making me think that the suits would rather grow revenue by focusing on those kind of offerings year round.

I know they haven't forgotten new attractions, though. Or even old ones. Here's a piece of concept art for an old but classic attraction! From Imagineer Dorothea Redmond, a great slice of art for Walt Disney World's iconic Carousel of Progress at the Magic Kingdom. Every once in awhile someone in charge of the blog must be a fan of their amazing parks instead of just being the one put in charge of promoting them.  

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

What Were They Thinking?

Sometimes I just have to wonder about the Walt Disney Company. It was bad enough that the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was remade into Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout and plopped down into California Adventure. The Imagineers had made such progress on a big chunk of the park, bringing together the diverse themes into something that at least felt a bit coherent. About 5 years later, they screw it up with this change and that of Pixar Pier, the brainfest of no doubt of Bob Chapek and Robert Iger. Fans who care about theme were rightly upset.

Now, the official Disney Parks Blog seems to show off just how badly parts of the misguided transformation do exactly what die hard fans thought: They clash in a big, very ugly, way. Don't you agree?

(Photograph copyright Disney Parks Blog.)

When Reality is Better Than Imagineering Art: Tokyo DisneySea's Mermaid Lagoon

Back before its revision, the Disney Parks Blog featured jaw droppingly beautiful concept art not seen by most people outside the halls of Imagineering.  Take a look at this piece from Tokyo Disney Sea! Here's Mermaid Lagoon in all it's splendor. Now, that's how you design an area primarily for children and young families.  (Click on it to see it in the largest size.)   

Although gorgeous, this is nothing compared to what they really built. Here's a photograph to prove it is possible for the  marketeers to deliver what is promised:

Tokyo DisneySea continues to be the summit of what can be  accomplished by Imagineering when Imagineers are supported by the suits and accountants with the appropriate funding. 

Unfortunately, Ariel doesn't have as spectacular a home in California or Florida. Ariel's Undersea Adventure is a "D" Ticket at best, with an "E" Ticket exterior in a prime location, giving guests the expectation of an attraction on par with Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean but delivering an experience that is a hybrid of these with Peter Pan's Flight.

Yes, concept art can be wishful thinking or even intentionally deceiving. When it comes to Tokyo DisneySea, however, brick and mortar is more beautiful than the artistic vision!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Goodbye California Screamin'- Hello Incredicoaster!

Here's your first look at the new-ish Pixar Pier- the really awful but ultimately unavoidable transformation of the better than it was but still not great Paradise Pier. Just when the park was getting more cohesive, somebody from headquarters forces Imagineering to come up with this. Glad they left the Mickey head.

Screamin' goes goodbye in January, and the Incredicoaster launches in Summer of 2018- just in time for chapter two of the Incredibles story. One of my favorite Pixar movies, but the transformation is unnecessary. At least the coaster will finally be painted.

Hopefully the attractions from A Bug's Land will make it over before the area is destroyed to make room for Marvel. 

Lastly, I'm glad this is happening in place of the Disneyland Resort "gaining" its own Toy Story Land. That would be much worse.

More transformation information on the Disney Parks blog.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Saturday Night Special: World's Fair Dinosaurs

You've got to click on this one! Incredible in the largest format! This beautiful piece of concept art by the multi-talented Disney Imagineers was created for the 1964 World's Fair. Specifically built  for the Ford exhibition, Magic Skyway, the attraction was a huge hit with the fair's audiences. Guests boarded the newest model convertibles for a splendid, innovative, eye-popping journey back to the beginning of time and continued all the way to the Disney imagined future. The striking colors and retro feel make this one of my favorite pieces of art. One of several pieces I snagged it on line before the Disney Parks Blog changed its design. Enjoy!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

But How Many More Years of Disco Yeti?

The Disney Parks blog loudly and proudly marks 10 incredible years of Expedition: Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom. It is a thrilling landmark attraction! The Imagineers under Joe Rohde created a masterpiece that finally drew fans to the park. But the questions remain: How many of those years was the centerpiece  Yeti broken? And how many more years will guests have to settle with "Disco Yeti"- the long broken Audio-Animatronic?

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Frozen and More Comes to Tokyo- Concept Art Released: Quick Update Added

We've been waiting for it, and here it is: New Concept art showing what we've long thought to be true. Frozen is coming to Tokyo DisneySea! Certainly the image above shows it will not be a quick layover like what is being built in Norway at Epcot. Walt Disney World will get a cheaper overlay but over in Tokyo, there will be a first class land and a state of the art "E Ticket attraction". All this to be fleshed out by shops and restaurants.

Not to be left behind, Tokyo Disneyland will get new Fantasyland areas themed to Beauty and the Beast (above) and Alice in Wonderland (shown below).

Although details on these projects are scarce, you can bet the suits are planning the Be Our Guest restaurant along with a few surprises. A closer look at the art makes it appear to be a full size castle for the beast. For fans of the Alice film, the hedge maze is a sure bet, creating a mini land of sorts just as in Disneyland in Anaheim.

Projects are set for completion after 2017. The full English press release can be found here.

UPDATE: The Disney Parks Blog finally shared the same photos on April 29th. A very savvy reader slyly commented on the project. I wonder how long it will stay on line!

A leak of additional news can be found on the web. Alice's addition should include a stunning "E Ticket" attraction along with the expected hedge maze. 

My bet is that Beast's castle will include the long abandoned Audio-Animatronics based show once planned for Disneyland Paris.. And, get ready for this - one insider says there is NO plan for a Be Our Guest restaurant but perhaps an actual dark ride. It's all intriguing, but one thing seems certain. Tokyo tends to get it right, don't they?

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

One Day Only Imagineering Special: Space Mountain

Here we go again: I'm telling you lovers of Disney Imagineering concept art- keep your eyes on the official Disney Parks blog if you want to find some rarely seen pieces.

This time its Space Mountain and its 40th anniversary at Walt Disney World.  Posted awhile ago on their blog. 

Two caveats:

#1- Yes, we should be celebrating amazing, groundbreaking new attractions that have been built in recent years. But these exist overseas in the Asian parks or at California Adventure, not in Disney's Florida parks. 

#2- The concept art above is pretty cool, and although its more common than the other two, its a nice clear image here versus the one that showed up in park pictorial souvenirs in the 70s.

I've presented these pieces in the order you would experience the actual attraction. Top piece is a rendering of the mountain if it had contained an outdoor section. Look at it closely, and you'll see it. Even better blown up.

Next, riding the rockets with an attractive blonde. (Been there, done that- for 33 years! The benefit of working hard at your marriage and the Lord's grace upon it!)

Bottom piece: Post show mural when it contained RCA's look at the future. You know, when Tomorrowland was actually about the future and not filled with cartoon characters. I remember those days. Do you?

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The World in a Day

When it comes to the state of Walt Disney World these days, count me among the first in line to complain about all the changes. There is, in general, a downgrading of quality. Exceptions exist but they seem to be just that. You see, I remember Walt Disney World from 1975, when it consisted of a freshly minted Magic Kingdom, a couple of beautiful hotels, and not much more.

Then in 1982 came the once amazing EPCOT Center. An incredible place previewing the future with attractions that were almost entirely "E Tickets", a place you could spend days exploring. And we did just that. Usually, it took us one whole day to see Future World and one full day to see World Showcase.  Anyone else remember beginning their days with breakfast at The Good Turn restaurant and booking dinner reservations at a World Key kiosk before heading off to the World of Motion or the original and best Journey into Imagination? Everywhere I looked, I seemed to be surprised that the Imagineers at the Walt Disney Company could pull off such a feat of imagination and engineering. The thoughtful detail throughout the park brought such a welcome picture of the future and our world.

Yes, it's all in the details. In the years prior to the opening of EPCOT CENTER, I began to collect everything I could find about the place. Newspaper articles, magazines and books kept this incredible project in front of the public. Keeping my eyes open, it was easy to recognize rarer pieces of concept art when I saw them. Sometimes, they were seemingly hidden from view as they appeared in small scale renderings. Here's a few of the lesser seen:

Leading off this article, we discover Morocco. Fans of the film Casablanca finally had the chance to explore the country in which the film was represented- even if it was only the work of a backlot studio in Hollywood! The pavilion is the most unique and unexpected in all of World Showcase. Back alleys, shops, and scents from the area's restaurants create an atmosphere like none other to be found on Florida soil.  It's as close to going to the real thing as can be found. One of the places where it's pretty easy to forget you are in a theme park. This is something that is becoming harder and harder to do with Vacation Club booths popping up in unfortunate locations.

China was one of the original World Showcase countries. On opening day, it was instantly a place that drew me in. Even after 30 years and counting, it remains one of my favorite pavilions.  The Circle-Vision 360 attraction is a must-see. The visuals, the narration, and the delicate music make for an experience worth standing for. I am generally not a big fan of the growing use of film in theme park attractions. It seems like mostly a lazy excuse for creativity by the Disney Budgeteers- to the dismay of most old school Imagineers- but in this case, nothing can capture the beauty of one of the largest and most diverse countries on the planet.

I travel quite a bit to Asia but have not yet made a trip to the Chinese Mainland. Shanghai Disneyland could make that change, however. It's probably one of my favorite countries in which to snack! Sitting at a cafe table along the winding street and taking in the sights is just something I really enjoy. The shopping here is pretty good too. Filled with items that range from expensive to very affordable, it takes about an hour to go through it all.  My favorite pieces? They certainly have to be the authentically reproduced Terra Cotta Warriors. At least until I get to photograph the real ones.

Once my favorite World Showcase location, Mexico is still beautiful even if it is now home to the dumbed down and uninspired Gran Fiesta Tour. But I so miss the exotic and mysterious El Rio del Tiempo. Stepping into the temple and discovering a small town lit by the moonlight still surprises and delights me. 

The food at the San Angel Restaurant is no longer top-notch and even more pricey than ever, but it is a good place to sit with an appetizer, (do they still serve Queso Fundido?) and a big margarita to take it all in. When it's really nighttime outside, the temple lighting adds to the mystery. And this is where Disney Imagineering completes the illusion with mariachi music, lush landscaping and nice sightlines.The lagoon is harder to see with the new full service restaurant now lakeside, but what are you going to do? It's all about the bucks now at Epcot, and they seem to think nothing is faster at creating cash than selling liquor and overpriced food. Oh, and shopping. If you think I'm kidding, just keep your eye on the official Disney Parks blog. Generally when Epcot is mentioned, it is about food, booze, festivals, and merchandize. Sad.

Take a good look at this next miniature sized piece of art. You've got Italy on the left and Japan on the right. Due to overspending at the creation and construction of the park, they are still without the attractions that were once planned. Having been to both countries, I can tell you with authority that the representations are pretty accurate! Venice is the inspiration for the Italian showcase and scale aside, the Epcot version does a great job of bringing it to Florida. It could be so much more, especially if they would recreate the gondola ride you can find at Tokyo Disney Sea.

My wife and I find Japan's gardens to be especially beautiful in the evening, a favorite place to wander long after Illuminations and the crowds have departed. Hiding just outside the teahouse with our small plates of food, it feels as if we are on the other side of the world.  The quiet surroundings- so quiet you can hear the crickets- lit by small garden lamps transport us to the back streets in old Kyoto. 

We've taken many trips to Walt Disney World. We do not travel there as often as we used to now that there's just the two of us and going overseas is less expensive than a Disney World vacation.  But the ability to travel the world in a day at Epcot is still very appealing. 

I love the new and improved California Adventure. The incredible Cars Land alone is worth a visit. Clearly the best thing Disney's built stateside in at least a decade. But the Disneyland Resort will never be able to compare to what can be found on Florida's soil. They had their chance to do so when they created Westcot, but blew it by being cheap and abandoning the plans. 

Now, with land for the third theme park seeming to be set aside for Marvel adventures, I will be forced to go to Florida to see World Showcase. It's too bad as I may not go back for awhile. Epcot, especially World Showcase is stuck in the past. Nothing new aside from a few restaurants has been built in decades. (Sorry but character overlays to international attractions do not count.) Shame on the Walt Disney Company for letting Florida's jewel lay dormant!

Will the suits ever allow the Imagineers to create more attractions or pavilions for Epcot's World Showcase? Who knows. But I can tell you they would be fools not to. Who else can give us the world in a day?

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Alice Goes Down

If you're a fan of this Fantasyland classic, you'd better get over to Disneyland prior to March 9th. The Disney Parks Blog just announced that Alice in Wonderland will go down for an extended refurbishing. This means OSHA requirements will be met by changing the outside of the attraction once and for all. Hopefully, the Imagineers have great plans to meet the requirements without losing the whimsy. With laws so screwed up in California, who knows what is next.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Carousel of Progress Christmas Concept

You have to wonder about the Disney Parks Blog at times. It feels like an online outlet mall, sometimes something from the Food Network, and all too rarely do they give us something meaty about the actual attractions at their world famous parks. 

Today, however, they surprised me with a piece of concept art from Imagineer Dorothea Redmond- and one for Walt Disney World's classic Carousel of Progress at the Magic Kingdom. It's almost as if someone in charge of the design of the blog is actually of fan of their product instead of just being put in charge of promoting it. Imagine that!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Tokyo DisneySea Mermaid Lagoon Concept

Every once in awhile, the Disney Parks Blog dishes up a piece of beautiful concept art previously unseen by many outside Imagineering. Like today. Just checking in to see if there's anything of interest, and while the articles were not, the header art certainly was!

Tokyo DisneySea's beautiful Mermaid Lagoon. There it was in its rendering glory- even more stunning in the large image. You can click on it. Yes, we Disney park fans know TDS is the epitome of what Imagineering can do when given the right vision and elaborate budget. Just as we know what happens when corners are cut in budget, space planning, and vision. (Yes, I'm looking at you Ariel's Undersea Adventure- a "D" Ticket that is enjoyable but had the potential to be a super "E" as in the glory days of Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. Sadly it is not.)

As with many things Disney, the planning art can be deceiving. But in this case, all you have to do is find photos and video of the end result to know Tokyo DisneySea and its Mermaid Lagoon really deliver what was promised.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Iron Man Attraction to Hong Kong Disneyland in 2016!

Looks as if the first real attraction featuring a Marvel character will come to Hong Kong Disneyland in 2016! A moving vehicle will transport guests into this Marvel world, actually the city of Hong Kong itself- where good faces off with evil. Iron Man Experience will be the first but not only attraction en route to Asia.

Thanks Disney Parks Blog for the information.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Mysterious Concept Art

Every once in awhile, the Disney Parks Blog highlights a piece of Imagineering concept art I've never seen. Today is such a day. Looking at the above piece, I am guessing it is for the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland or Disneyland Paris' Phantom Manor. Anyone in the know want to share the scoop?

(Art copyright the Walt Disney Company.)