Walt Disney World and Disneyland(s) Discussion

[Coheteboy]

I went on it again this morning... fun ride. It's a winner.

 

[Coheteboy]

More pics!

 

[Coheteboy]

Taking a huge U-Turn over to Pirates of the Caribbean, they changed the Davy Jones projection to Blackbeard starting today.

And here's a few other photos

From a Tomorrowland Popcorn machine

Silly Symphony Swings in Paradise Pier

 

[Shatterer of Dreams]

man can't wait to go on Wednesday, love Disneyland so much.....

 

[jungle jom]

For those who just can't wait and want a taste of the locations you visit, here's a highlight reel:

YouTube - ‪Star Tours 2 ride - New Destinations, Darth Vader, and more at Walt Disney World and Disneyland‬‏

WOW! You almost don't need the three-d glasses to get the effect!

 

[2ndname]

My fiancé just came back from Disneyland and she got both of us the grape soda pins, sweet!

 

[Shatterer of Dreams]

Ok. Went on Star Tours on wednesday and I have to say that it was a lot of fun. Dare I say even better than the original? I like that ther are 54 variations to the ride so that you get a diffent experience evey time. Went on it twice and got a different ride each time (except for the pod racing part). Got to see Vader and Fett, awesome!

 

[Coheteboy]

I stopped by Disneyland today and while I didn't do Star Tours, everything else I checked out was also brand new!

First stop was the Disneyland Hotel. Gone is the Lost Bar. Present is the brand new TRADER SAM'S ENCHANTED TIKI BAR (and tangaroa terrace restaurant). This bar is so cool. If you like the Enchanted Tiki Room, you'll love this bar! It's even got the occasional thunderstorm sound effects! I'll post pics tomorrow.

Then I headed on over to Disney California Adventure because they soft opened the new Little Mermaid ride. The wait was 20 minutes so I went ahead and boarded the omnimover. The animatronics in this are impressive and it's the dark ride this park always needed. But I feel that because it's basically a ride through all the musical highlights of the movie, you're missing a lot of story that is usually a big part of these rides.

I'll also post pics of this tomorrow.

 

[Agent0028]

I'm excited to see the Little Mermaid ride when it opens here. I kindof would have liked to see an original storyline for the ride, but I know following the movie really makes more sense.

 

[Coheteboy]

I'm excited to see the Little Mermaid ride when it opens here. I kindof would have liked to see an original storyline for the ride, but I know following the movie really makes more sense.

I think following the movie will be the more popular choice because there's also two sequels and an animated series for The Little Mermaid... if they followed that route the vast majority would not appreciate that (and for good reason). Ride based on the original resonates the most.

And I hope I'm not spoiling anything by posting some pictures here. Walt Disney World will be getting their own version of the ride in the more appropriate land: Fantasyland. And I'm hoping that it's not just a clone of the Disneyland version... I hope they really take the time to flesh it out and make it better.


Over at Disney California Adventure, Ariel's Undersea Adventures finds Paradise Pier home. I've had my beef with this land because when it comes down to it, a translation of the land would equal "Seaside Amusement Park Land". Amusement parks already have rides but Disney parks have "attractions". Basically having an attraction in a Seaside Amusement Park Land means... it's just a ride.

This new "ride" replaces a film-based attraction called "GOLDEN DREAMS" starring Whoopi Goldberg. She plays Califia, or whatever the California goddess is and she takes us through the history of the state. Racism is dealt with and it left me sore. It's actually a really well-made film but I don't think I want to see that in a theme park setting. It was a real downer.

Like all Fantasyland-type dark rides, a mural sets the tone:

Wreckage provides our entry point..

A Scuttle animatronic starts us off

This attraction isn't like the other fantasyland attractions that retells us the story of the film. Instead, they chose to take us through the key musical moments. I think that was the wrong way to go but that's just my opinion. Here's "Part of Your World"

 

[Coheteboy]

"Under the Sea" is a massive set piece and we spend a lot of time there. Down where it's better... down where it's wetter.

 

[Coheteboy]

Flotsam and Jetsam interrupt the fun as we enter Ursula's chambers.

Ursula is a massive animatronic featuring "squash and stretch" motion to simulate her bounce.

Ariel turns human via CG imagery...

And whaa... next thing you know, they're ready to Kiss the Girl

And rather abruptly, they're in love

The finale

Wave goodbye

And scuttle finishes it off.

Hope you enjoyed a look at the new LITTLE MERMAID attraction. It opens officially June 2nd.

 

[Coheteboy]

Oh yah... here's a look at the new bar: TRADER SAM'S ENCHANTED TIKI BAR at the Disneyland Hotel

It's a fun place to grab a drink.

 

[RyanSD]

Huzzah! Me and the lady are heading up this Thursday and Friday to check out Star Tours and the other new stuff. Haven't been up there since the first week of April, and we like to go at least once a month. So excited for Star Tours!!

 

[Agent0028]

The dark ride looks pretty cool. I'm sure that ours will be the same. I suppose they could add more by putting some scenes as transitions, but I bet it'll be the same.

 

[Coheteboy]

The dark ride looks pretty cool. I'm sure that ours will be the same. I suppose they could add more by putting some scenes as transitions, but I bet it'll be the same.

Yah, that's what I've been hearing actually. That they're already laying the track down and it's a complete clone. They ordered double of everything they put into California.

So... aside from the exterior, it'll be the same ride with an abrupt ending. sigh.

 

[forestlite]

Great shots Coheteboy! Thanks for posting. I am looking forward to riding the Little Mermaid...looks great. Have to agree that the ending is kind of abrupt. Seems to me the scene of a huge Ursula destroying the ship would have been a given. But looks like space and money ran out....

 

[Coheteboy]

Great shots Coheteboy! Thanks for posting. I am looking forward to riding the Little Mermaid...looks great. Have to agree that the ending is kind of abrupt. Seems to me the scene of a huge Ursula destroying the ship would have been a given. But looks like space and money ran out....

Thanks, Forestlite! I was looking at the model of The Little Mermaid attraction and there was a scene that showed Ursula against a ship. I guess that didn't happen and now we have a silly "eric and ariel fall in love" while poor Ursula is far off in the distance having bad gas.

I took some photos of the grand opening...

Jodi Benson sang

and a few more shots from the ride

 

[forestlite]

I kind of thought I remember seeing an Ursula scene at the Blue Sky Cellar. You must be talking about the production maquettes/sculpts they had displayed?

The opening day celebration looked awesome! I probably won't get out there until next year. Do you collect any of the Olszewski Main Street pieces? I hear a rumor that Disneyland wants him to start working on attractions from DCA. Little Mermaid, Soaring, and Monsters, Inc. would be a great start!

Hey, anyway I would be able to get hi-res images of your Mermaid photos?
Thanks again for posting Coheteboy!

 

[Coheteboy]

I kind of thought I remember seeing an Ursula scene at the Blue Sky Cellar. You must be talking about the production maquettes/sculpts they had displayed?

Yah in the Blue Sky Cellar there was a scene following "Kiss the Girl" that involved Ursula vs a ship.

Do you collect any of the Olszewski Main Street pieces? I hear a rumor that Disneyland wants him to start working on attractions from DCA. Little Mermaid, Soaring, and Monsters, Inc. would be a great start!

I used to collect them but I stopped after realizing I will never have the space to display the entire thing. And I haven't heard about DCA pieces but that's... interesting as I don't think they would sell very well.

Hey, anyway I would be able to get hi-res images of your Mermaid photos?
Thanks again for posting Coheteboy!

Kinda depends on what you're going to do with them I guess?


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