SoCal Theme Park Concepts

Harry Potter Coming to Hollywood

2011-12-01T03:00:00.000-08:00

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/11/harry-potter-theme-park-coming-to-los-angeles.html

There is news of Wizarding World of Harry Potter coming to Universal Studios Hollywood theme park. This makes me think that the executives re-evaluated their options for their Vision/Evolution Plan. Here is my speculation and what they could do.

http://www.screamscape.com/html/universal_vision_plan.htm

The parking lot across from Globe Fountain & Park Entrance could be a new Universal Amphitheater to replace the Gibson Amphitheater inside the theme park boundaries. This would provide a great visual to have the Globe be a real centerpiece as a plaza between the theme park, Citywalk, & Theater. Guests would still have to park their cars in the structure & walk thru Citywalk past shops & restaurants to get to the theater.

That bridge by the Saddle Ranch Chop House that currently leads to a parking lot could be a gateway to a new hotel.

(I'm still working on this part) Instead of the current Studio Tour Trams, this is where you board a Hogwarts Express train (peoplemover) and ride over the solar panels and the northern edge of this hill eastbound to the Falls Lake area. The property of Falls Lake, Psycho House, Bates Motel, & War of the Worlds set will be the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The Forbidden Journey would be built on the War of the Worlds site nearest the residential homes so the neighbors don't have to be bothered by the studio in the future.

As for the queue & entrance for the Studio Tour, it can still be down the escalators, but veering right instead of left for the trams. Essentially this is taking up a portion of the current Gibson Amphitheater. The trams may still travel past Wisteria Lane, but then drive behind Falls Lake backdrop for a direct path to the un/load station.

Curious George Play Area could be relocated to Coke Soak by T2:3D. The current play area could be used for a ride, and a play area does not need as much land as it would need if constructed for a parking structure. If Coca-cola still want their sponsorship, they can sponsor a new play area.

The former El Pollo Loco seating area can be expanded to have a second level and create a themed enclosed patio with Flintstones BBQ, Cinnabon, & Doc Brown's Chicken.

Perhaps the Universal House of Horrors could be a redesigned maze to replace the "Special Effects Stage". Then return it as a scare maze for Horror Nights.

The Gibson Amphitheater site I think is capable of hosting two separate dark rides. What theme can be debatable. There could be a smaller version of Men in Black...

Personal Rapid Transit

2011-03-06T15:01:00.001-08:00

This would be an appropriate representation to Innoventions Transportation.

ULTra:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7hgipbHBK8

Vectus:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5W3OSZu9oA

Skyweb Express:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiUDLYvNNbo

Morgantown PRT:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di5acGAmcm0

HumanCar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7aapY_yMnQ

Disneyland Rocket Belt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyvN3rF3mUM

Handcar Railers

2010-09-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

I remember as a kid loving the "Huff & Puff" at Knott's Berry Farm's Camp Snoopy. Well, the ride is a little too big for me now. But this inspired a grown-up version:

The "Handcar Railers" attraction is based on handcars that were used to manually power carts through a train track. The route would be taken around Grizzly Mountain in the Disney California Adventure park. It is also a mix of Legoland's Sky Cruiser and Fire Truck Academy.

Handcar:

Sky Cruiser:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6i1KcIUD2E

Fun Town Fire Academy:

"Sky Cruiser" because it is "self-propelled" human powered on a rail. Although the electric rail continues to advance the vehicle forward ever so slightly, powering the handles will make the car go faster. "Fire Academy" because the handles use separate handles on each side, allowing the person to move the handle at their own rate instead of relying on one or the other's rate of pumping. And the previous "Handcar" vehicle design is what I believe would be most efficient in capacity. Or have a 4 person sitter facing each other 2x2.

The current idea is to have the queue structure and load station in the Condor Flats Restrooms next to the Fly 'n' Buy store. Perhaps relocating the restrooms by the "Bear Left" signage. I propose the vehicles go clockwise around the mountain and downhill.

The area around Grizzly River Run's geysers would be the hold areas to prepare to unload at the station. Once into the station, the bottom level is reserved or unloading guests. The vehicles are then lifted to the top level to the load station. That also means if handicap guests wish to board, they must also start from the top level. Elevator to be provided of course. So the entrance will be at the bottom level and goes upstairs to the load station.

I haven't decided which lift to use to get the cars to the top...

Ferris wheel lift:

Vertical Elevator Lift System:

The attraction would also have a few Cast Members scattered along the track just in case. Similar to Grizzly River Run and Autopia. Restraints would be seat belts. The cars will also have intrusion systems to temporarily disable the car's power to bump the other car in front of them.

World of Color

2010-08-27T03:13:00.000-07:00

THIS POST IS FROM MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION AND HAS NO ASSOCIATION WITH THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY.

It's almost there, but not quite. Transitions and pace needs to be worked on.

I think in addition to the fire whip, they should have included "CO2 moving head jets". You can see an example of this on youtube. Should have also put CO2 blasters in the planters with the water jets. Apparently there is also multi-colored flame effects in the market as well. I know the creators don't want fireworks, but perhaps consider "sparker" low-level pyro that looks like a water fountain.

**OPENING- THE MAGIC LIGHT**

1) Get rid of the Walt Disney quote "Every child is born blessed with a vivid imagination". Use the television show's original title sequence with Tinkerbell.

2) Save this for a future show. Add a new arrangement of "The Spectrum Song". The words "red, yellow, green, blue, orange, purple", "Blend them up and what do you get?", and "Color has its harmony" will be the only lyrics in this sequence. The rest of the song is instrumental. Blackout after this sequence.

**COLORS OF THE SEA SEGMENT**

1) From an eariler test footage, I prefer the earlier "Part of Your World" sequence. The version now is too long and relies more on video footage. I just cut about 40 seconds of showtime.

2) "Under the Sea" is fine the way it is.

3) During the EAC, Jellyfish can be created with water shooting up, but lid creates a dome and tentacle effect. Dory exclaims "Oh, look. Whale!". Marlin shouts: "Move, Dory! Move!". NEMO characters in front screen and back screen transitions from EAC to whale swimming towards audience and "Pines of Rome" whales.

4) Cut out Whale Talk scene.

5) Cut out the shooting arrow sequence. It's nice on paper and on a TV/movie medium. But for a show like this, I think the transition to the WALL-E segment gets lost.

**COLORS OF THE UNIVERSE SEGMENT**

1) Stitch surfs the waves on the front water screen with flying whales in the back screen. Then Stitch rides a red hover cruiser and blasts off into outer space. When Stitch jumps to hyperdrive, he passes by Buzz Lightyear.

2) Buzz is hovering in space, looks to the audience and says "I am Buzz Lightyear. Alright. Stand back everyone!". Then continue with the current Buzz vs. Zurg segment sans "Gamma Quadrant 4" clip.

3) Get rid of the red coupling on EVE from the WALL-E segment. Cut out WALL-E giving EVE the plant. Leave the projection domes with planets, no image of WALL-E & EVE holding hands. At the end, let the planets sink under the water line.

4) WALL-E's fire extinguisher transition to the Toy Story clouds. But this actually transitions to the movie UP sequence instead.

**COLORS OF FLIGHT & IMAGINATION SEGMENT**

1) Delete the characters on the UP house and cut the lines "My name is Dug. I just met you. And I love you. Squirrel".

2) Cut out the Genie's entire appearance in the show. Save the program for another show in the future.

3) Return the original "Whole New World" opening sequence from the 1st version of the show. The sand animation is great. After "A Whole New World", add the phrase "You can fly! You can fly! You can fly!" from PETER PAN.

4) Put back "Go the Distance" from HERCULES.

5) The HERCULES sunset has an eclipse, transition to the Chesire Cat for the cut "Alice in Wonderland" sequence. One of the first things seen is Alice falling into Wonderland. The only song from the film will be "March of the Cards". Panoramic of tea table would be cool.

6) Then from "Alice in Wonderland", the last images have the plants and flowers branching over Alice (walking through the plants/trapped inside the bottle floating through water). This transitions to "Firebird Suite" featuring the Spring Sprite.

**COLORS OF EARTH SEGMENT**

1) The Spring Sprite, Pocahontas, Heimlich, & Little April Showers sequence is very successful now.

**COLORS OF FEAR SEGMENT**

1) No "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequence. Save the program for another future show.

2) The windmill vortex reveals the skull & crossbones from Dr. Facilier's hat & he says "I've Got Friends on the Other Side". The tiki masks & voo doo dolls appear on the globe projections and say "He's got friends on the other side". The Doctor says "yes... Are you ready?!". Tiki masks says "Are you ready?!" repeatedly. Instrumental upbeat.

Visuals mostly include DR with color backgrounds in his musical number from the film (without Neveen & Lawrence) & shadow army from Tiki mouth(black figures against green background). Lasers make up colorful symbols in the air.

The Shadow Man is in the back water screens flying fortune cards at front water screens. The cards turn around to reveal fortune cards with Villains on them: Horned King, Firebird, & Chernabog. (The Horned King because it seems to fit "Hellfire" the best). Doctor says "Now we're cookin!" & blows his magic powder to transition to next scene.

3) Flaming dancers sequence. No projection of flaming Judge Frollo. Instead of the current Shadow Man appearance in the show, it is replaced by the Horned King activating the Black Cauldron. The same fountain from Buzz Lightyear's blast off will be reused. Return back to Firebird/Chernabog/Hellfire sequence.

4) Save this for a future Halloween show. During the "Night on Bald Mountain" sequence, have clips of Hades & Jafar throwing flames. At one point, Hades & Jafar are laughing in their glory on the sides of the water projections while Chernabog occupies the center screen.

Jafar clips: (1) blowing flames to the left frame, (2) laughing with smoking coming out of mouth, (3) walking thru flames.

Hades clips: (1)Waltzing (3 flame throwers)!! (2)Laughing to himself

5) Green River of Death vortex from HERCULES to replace Scar's introduction. Use the same music currently in show.

LYRICS: Adventure is waiting, Unrelenting

6) Cut out Scar & Mufasa saying their lines. No image of young Simba and Mufasa falling. Okay with Simba shouting "No!" but not "Dad".

**FEARS TO TEARS/HEART SEGMENT**

1) No Mufasa dead body projection. Aurora borealis appears slowly with slow opening from Brother Bear's "Transformation" music with video of where the lights touch the earth. Instead of this music becoming bigger, transition to "You'll Be in My Heart" from TARZAN to replace ENCHANTED's "So Close". The former is more on the romantic side whereas the later can be applied to almost any type of love.

**TEARS (LOVE CONQUERS ALL)/TRANSFORMATION SEGMENT**

1) I agree when someone said the double images on the water projections AND globe projections seem like overkill. So perhaps use symbols and objects from what is projected on the water. EXAMPLE: Beauty & the Beast with rose, Aladdin & Jasmine with lamp, Simba & Nala with Simba wall drawing, Pocahontas & John Smith with a compass, Hercules & Meg with the Symbol of the Gods.

2) Tinkerbell SHOULD NOT open the finale. Leave that to Fantasmic! The power of love/heart should be the element that brings back life and sets balance.

3) Simulate fireworks with fountains. Do not turn on lights until they get hit again by a bigger stream force and play fireworks sound effects with it.

4) Apparently in Glow Fest, they have Disney/PIXAR character kaleidoscopes. I wonder how that would look on the water or globe screens.

5) The Cheshire Cat seems to be really random in the finale. Should just be in the Wonderland sequence.

Vertical Drop on Roller Coaster

2010-04-11T04:05:00.000-07:00

The "surprise" is a vertical drop on a roller coaster. Exactly what I proposed for Universal's "Revenge of the Mummy". Storywise, it was to simulate the floor below you crumbling to the chamber beneath.

Disneyland Monorail System

2009-12-28T10:42:00.000-08:00

I was looking back at the WESTcot plans and especially what was to become of the Monorails and Peoplemover systems.

The Monorails opened INSIDE a theme park. A couple years later expanded to the Disneyland Hotel station. Whereas the Walt Disney World Resort and Tokyo Disneyland Resort monorail systems are stationed OUTSIDE of the park. This creates better efficiency as far as patrons with theme park tickets.

Placing a monorail station within DCA would cause more headaches for both Cast Members and guests. Especially when guests don't understand the system and CMs will continually have to explain that the ticket the guests have does not grant them entrance into DCA when they only bought a DL ticket.

SO, to make matters easier, a station that is located JUST OUTSIDE of a second main gate for DCA would help matters. There once was a separate hotel entrance for Paradise Pier Hotel guests between Dino Shack/Corn Dogs and Souvenir 66 store. That was closed down quickly.

But a gate west of where Burger Invasion once stood may be a good solution. A benefit for hotel guests to escape "out the back" and cross Disneyland Drive. Also for those who parked in the Simba Parking lot to elevate traffic exiting the Main Gate. And to those entering the park, they will already be occupying the back end of the park. Of course Main Street, USA was designed so people would have to funnel through the shops...

Guests may exit at this new station and banter later if they want to enter DCA park. Disneyland Theme Park tickets will still have to be required to board the monorails due to the Tomorrowland station.

MONORAIL ROUTE: Instead of the monorail beam making a right after the Grand Hotel, it would make a left to the new station. Afterwards, it would make a right across Disneyland Drive, ride alongside the driveway to Simba Parking Lot, then a right between Paradise Pier and Disneyland Hotel, then a right after ESPN Zone and a new Downtown Disney station over the parking lot between the Valet/Drop Off and self-parking. Then the train continues over Disneyland Drive and remains the same from here.

With this new system, a third monorail train will HAVE to be reconsidered for normal operation.

Matterhorn Mountain Bobsled Queue

2009-12-28T09:53:00.000-08:00

THEME PARK: Disneyland, CA

ISSUE: Chain queue that extends around the perimeter base of the mountain. The West side is often closed to make way for parades. The East side becomes clogged with pedestrians in two-way traffic. The South side becomes pinched in the most crowded days of peak season.

SOLUTION: An underground-type winding queue similar to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Pirates of the Caribbean queue themed as a natural underground sinkhole.

LOCATION: North side of the mountain. Between the load station and food stand and face painting. The walkway closet to the face painting would remain concrete. But the walkway that cuts through the middle of the area where the drinking fountain is, will be themed as a bridge crossing over the sink hole. Trees will branch out from the bottom of the sinkhole and provide shade, ala POTC.

ENTRANCE: Relocated under the monorail beam by Autopia where the old smoking area used to be. Will have a similar ramp that leads underground ala Knott's Berry Farm's Ghost Rider. First leading underground alongside the monorail beam towards Submarine Lagoon. Then a switchback to the sinkhole.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: Utilize East chain queue through exit due to possible stairway design ala BTMRR that leads from underground basin to covered ground level load station, the Swiss Chalet.

PHOTO REFERENCES:

http://www.kingsnake.com/westindian/sinkhole1.JPG

http://studentloancenter.com/uploads/sinkhole.jpg

http://islandlass.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/yucatan-4/

ADDITIONAL THEME: Vintage photos of bobsled races. Antique bobsled on display. Supplies stored for venturing up the mountain such as crates, lanterns, ropes, hooks,

Twist 'n' Splash

2009-11-19T20:39:00.000-08:00

This spinning teacup water attraction would be an excellent concept for a "Donald's Tugboat" theme in Toontown. From MACK RIDES.

Official Website: http://www.mack-rides.com/lang-en/c249/default.html

Concept art: http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/ride-makers-roll-out-5870/

Purpose: http://www.interpark.co.uk/news/2243/mack-rides-rolls-out-twist-n-splash/

From concept art, there's possibility to have shooters on donald duck's 2nd floor houseboat, and shooters from a rock/cliff formation.

Original SPLASH BATTLE idea:

Legoland Pirate Splash Battle:

There are designs where the boat is actually in the water. But still seemed to take up a lot of space and not "wacky" or "toony" enough. Track is above the water level, not exactly good theme.

Props & gag: Center of attraction is lightouse. Model ship featured with Chip n Dale. Fog horn, stern wheel, etc from Rustworthy in here. Seagull, pelican, and shark design from old shorts. Framed photo of Spike the Bee, inner tube short. Umbrellas. 1st level of houseboat queue. 2nd level for "play". Separate "play" platform on rock cliff or shipyard. Last play platform with Goofy's Plane Crazy queue.

Ride vehicles: barrels, lifesavers.

Music: Sailing, sailing, by the beautiful sea, sailor's hornpipes, row row row your boat, "no sail" song, blow the man down, "drunken sailor", "Spanish Ladies", "Fifteen Men (Bottle of Rum)", My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean, Anchors Aweigh, Beautiful Briny Sea

EDIT: A new idea for this now is the Twist 'n' Splash goes in Disneyland's Frontierland. Location at the Cascade Peak area. Entrance in the mine tunnel across from Big Thunder Mountain's exit. Exit to be between the north end of the wooden bridge for Big Thunder Trail and the Thunder Ranch. Vehicles themed as spinning barrels surrounded by Western themes. Buckskin Canyon influence.

Or in the eastern helix of CA Screamin' themed after Little Toot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZiAkAAb9fY

USH Halloween Horror Nights

2009-11-15T15:28:00.000-08:00

**REVENGE OF THE MUMMY: THE RiDE**

Basically just return a scareactor back into the indoor queue. And staff a scareactor at the exit hallway.

**JURASSIC PARK: IN THE DARK**

Essentially from what I hear, they add raptors with body parts in their mouths. This is a good direction. Perhaps add a live actor at the raptor cage running around trying to warn the guests. But then he gets eaten himself and disappears.

**ZOMBIE SLAYERS OF SLAUGHTERWORLD**

I was thinking of something alongside SHAUN OF THE DEAD or ZOMBIELAND. But I feel an original storyline and concept would fit the bill the best here instead of relying on movie. But movies based on zombies could still be advertised in this venue.

Essentially trying to do the Slaughterworld the right way. It's main appeal would killing monsters in bloody and gory ways and still have sex appeal without the overuse of sex jokes. The Atoll would be the last ocean fortress from the threat of zombies to safeguard the last humans on earth, including the audience. But the zombie army has found the fortress and penetrates its operation. Now the last of the humans must kill the zombies in order to survive. Will they succeed?

Zombies would also enter from the walkways between the grandstands. Taking the place of the Deacon is the Zombie Queen, a human out to destroy the world and creator of the zombie virus. Zombies who are killed can be reused to be killed again giving the illusion of endless zombie attacks. The kills that were created from the previous shows would be reused and added, included the jet skier lit on fire. More pyro would also make use of the night setting. To make the kills and potential death not seem so gloom and doom, the humans make a game out of the killings and give each other points to how good the kill is. Perhaps even get the audience to help shout out scores and project a scoreboard.

**ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW: A TRIBUTE**

To help introduce the audience into shouting out various phrases during the show, re-use the pre-show video to visual display phrases to still frames of the movie. This lets the audience know when and what to shout.

I like the 2009 setup in the Terminator 2:3D show building. I also liked how they reused the theater effects. Projecting the movie clips on the center screen helps relive those midnight screenings of the film with the live performers on stage. Let's try reusing the side screens for lyrics & helping the audience reply to phrases from the movie. Examples would be shouting "SLUT" and "ASSHOLE" at the characters. The USH audience is still adjusting to this whereas the USF already has that established connection.

**COKE SOAK/ FRANKENSTEIN PARKING**

I heard in the past that the parking level under the Terminator show buliding (also used as Valet Parking) has been used as a maze. I propose using half of that parking level as a maze. And using the overflow parking lot west of the parking lot toll booths for additional valet parking. The park entrance is easily accessed by walking over the bridge.

Queue and switchback through the Coke Soak. This can be easily set-up between closing the park from day visitors and opening for HHN. Otherwise, the queue can remain set-up while day vistors are in the park. Enter towards the lookout point towards emergency exit stairway. Only use the left side for entry while and right side remains clear for emergencies. Exit on the west side emergency stairs behind the T2:3D building. When guests exit, they will exit through the T2:3D store. One half of emergency stairs used as exit while the other half cleared for emergencies.

************************************************************************************
**USH: Halloween Fun for Day Guests**

**ANIMAL HOUSE OF HORRORS**

Essentially the animal show with more creepy creatures such as spiders and snakes. And take a cue from Fear Factor LIVE segments with eating animal parts, head caged with scorpions, wheel of torture, and opportunities to hold on to strange things that go bump in the night.

**HALLOWEEN HAUNTINGS OF STAGE 13**

This was essentially bringing back the "Beetlejuice's Rockin' Graveyard Revue" and "Beetlejuice meets Extreme Ghostbusters" to the Blues Brothers stage. But why not bring in more characters and create a new show, if the money is there and all that. In the evening, the area is converted back into extended queue for HOUSE OF HORRORS.

This idea is for the Blues Brothers/ Stage 13. In the daytime, this would be used for a Halloween family-friendly musical stage show. The plot is the Blues Brothers come out to do what they think is their regular show. But they find out the stage is haunted and need help. Scooby-Doo & Shaggy join them. But they realize they are dealing with REAL ghosts. So they are professionals with Ghostbusters. The gang bring out Beetlejuice into the lime-light. That ghost starts playing tricks on everyone until he's spooked by something he fears: a friendly ghost, this one named Casper. The show ends on a happy note. This show will involve 7 actors and 1 puppeteer. Puppeteer would operate Slimer and Casper in the crates that are props on stage.

Blues Brothers (Jake & Elwood Blues) - "SOUL MAN/GHOST RIDERS IN THE SKY"
Scooby-Doo & Shaggy - "SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU"
Ghostbusters (Spengler & Venkman) - "GHOSTBUSTERS"
Beetlejuice "DAY_O/JUMP IN THE LINE"
Casper - "CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST"

Mickey's Movieland

2009-07-25T01:10:00.000-07:00

Revisiting an old concept for Disney-MGM Studios. This land was designed for an EPCOT pavilion about Hollywood filmmaking. Then Universal Studios was building a park in Florida so Disney essentially responded. And according to JimHillMedia, Bob Weis who is WDI's DCA VP, may want to bring this to DCA's HPB after that land's previously scheduled events. So I hope this will be the 2nd major phase for DCA after 2012.

The exterior was to be designed after the 2719 Hyperion Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027 address formerly home to Hyperion Studio/ Walt Disney Studio from 1926-1940. The interior was to feature how Mickey Mouse cartoons were made. Ala Disney-MGM's "The Magic of Disney Animation", Disney's California Adventure's "Disney Animation" building, and the"Disney: The Music Behind the Magic" exhibit. Recreation and displays of old equipment such as the multiplane camera, animator's desk, ink & paint department, etc.

Considering WDI is planning to resurrect the Carthay Circle Theater from the grave, it would be appropriate for the Hyperion Studios as well.

I would plan for Hyperion Studios on the corner alongside DCA's MuppetVision*3D and Stage 17 (Millionaire building). MuppetVision*3D would be the new location for DCA's "Disney Animation" attraction. Stage 17 would perhaps be demolished inorder to properly fit Mickey's Philharmagic. As guests enter between the buildings, they have a choice between "Disney Animation" exhibits or Philharmagic. The 3D theater will exit to the Animation building. The Muppet Theater is redesigned as the main lobby while the preshow and queue are redesigned as the exhibits like Sorcerer's Workshop, Turtle Talk, and Drawn to Animation. Perhaps a 2nd level above the preshow can be used.

I was thinking the Monsters, Inc. facade would be redesigned as Pixar Studios, but there's enough Pixar influence everywhere. I would completely redo this ride building for "Muppet Movie Mayhem" (The Great Muppet Movie Ride and a cross with Superstar Limo). And the facade would resemble Muppet Studios. Guests are featured actors for an upcoming Muppet Show and must ride their limo to the set. But mayhem ensues as the limo crashes through different soundstages of "upcoming" Muppet features like TREASURE ISLAND, CHRISTMAS CAROL, WIZARD OF OZ, etc. Finally, we reach the end. Instead of CDA cleaning, it's an audience full of muppets. Across the bleachers is a penguin band. Roz is replaced by Statler and Waldorf.

Hollywood & Dine would also need a complete demolition for what should be DCA's answer to Disney's Hollywood Studios' Rock n Roller Coaster to counteract with Tower of Terror and to REALLY attract the crowds into this corner of the land. For now, my best choice would be a "TRON: Lightcycle Chase" attraction based on the Zamperla Motocoaster design rather than the Booster Bike. Why? Motocoaster appears to be more up Disney's alley with compact usage of land and multi-levels to ensure a fun thrill factor vs. a coaster that needs lots of stretches of land which the Disneyland Resort is unable to provide.

To make this more interesting, actual dual coasters could begin with coaster 1 lining up with coaster 2 in a launch sequence ala Radiator Springs Racers. But then will be like Universal's Dueling Dragons where they meet a few times in the dark ride building lit by blacklight. The bikes would glow and riders be able to see them ala Space Mountain pre-2005.

Furthermore, I would like the current animation building to be a new version of "The Great Movie Ride" based only on live-action Disney films, post-show exit into a real movie set of upcoming films ala Disney's Hollywood Studios' 101 Dalmations, Narnia, and Haunted Mansion. Pre-show should display concept, props, make-up, costumes, etc from past successful and recognizable films. The "Off the Page" store relocated in the center of the "Hyperion Studios" recreation.

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage AUDIO PLUSSING Suggestions

2009-07-16T18:42:00.000-07:00

These are just my little tweaks and plussing suggestions to try and appease the nostaglic demographic. This is also to help stir the attraction away from the "book report" aspect.

(As described by Tony Baxter, "book reports" are not fun like in Pincchio's Daring Journey. The movie-based attraction should be able to stand on its own and be an extension of the original movie like Peter Pan's Flight and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. This is also the reason the DLP Little Mermaid scenes were mixed around avoiding a follow-through of the movie. This is where FNSV succeeds and creates issues with nostaglic critics for Walt Disney's original Submarine Voyage. Taking away the "discovery" for pure "entertainment". I also do not find the "cartoons don't belong in the lagoon" valid enough considering the original had mermaids and serpents.)

DIALOUGE:

**************************************************************
MR. RAY: Come aboard, explorers! Explore, explore, explore, let's go explore the big blue world!
STUDENT #1: Wait, Mr. Ray. What's that coming from behind the rocks?
MR. RAY: Ah, that's just a curious explorer.
STUDENT #1: That yellow sea monster is staring at us!
MR. RAY: Oh, science is great there's so much to know. Climb aboard explorers it's time to go!
STUDENT #2: Don't look at it, maybe it'll go away.
MR. RAY: Ah, don't worry. Just keep your eye open for 'em on the way.
STUDENT #1: Look, it's swimming out to sea!
MR. RAY: Let's go explore, explore, explore...
SQUIRT: Hey, Nemo. Let's follow it to the EAC.
NEMO: Wow, I've never been to the EAC. Let's go, dad!
MARLIN: Come on Dory, we're going on an adventure!
DORY: That sounds memorable! Wished I packed my bags.

1st MATE: Captain, we're approaching the EAC.
***********************************************************
CAPTAIN: The powerful flow of the East Australian Current is like an undersea highway. Many creatures can be found commuting in this current, including the majestic sea turtle!
CRUSH: Coo coo ca chew.
SQUIRT: Hey, dad. Look who I brought! Whoa!
CRUSH: Welcome to the EAC.
DORY: Oh, I don't do well in spinning rides!
NEMO: Gnarly moves.
CRUSH: Check out the long yellow board. I wonder who's surfin' the deck.
MARLIN: Rip it, roll it, and punch it!
SQUIRT: Grab some shell! We're gonna hit the cahuna... cowabunga!
CRUSH: Righteous! Righteous! ...Catch you later, lil dudes.
CAPTAIN: Submarines can dive below the violence of surface storms. Other crafts have not been so fortunate. Witness the evidence of their fate.
***********************************************************
BRUCE: Right then, mates. Easy does it. You wouldn't want one of these "balloons" to pop.
CAPTAIN: Pilot, steer clear of the tottering sea mines.

*THUMP*CREAK*
1st MATE: No good.
CAPTAIN: All hands, brace for impact!
*BOOM*
CAPTAIN: Secure all stations! Systems check!
1st MATE: Holding steady, sir.
CAPTAIN: Right. Let's resume speed.
1st MATE: All ahead full. [bell dings] Warning light, sir. We've reached maximum depth limit.
CAPTAIN: Ease her back up to 80 phantoms.
1st MATE: 8-0 phantoms. Aye, aye.
CAPTAIN: Here in this realm of eternal darkness, nature has provided creatures with their own eerie illuminous.

DORY: I see pretty lights. Reach for the light.
MARLIN: No, Dory. Stay away from the light. It's dangerous!
ANGLERFISH: ROAR!
MARLIN: Swim away! Oh, I can't see in this abyss.
DORY: Hey, snappy jaws. Hmm... I wonder if clownfish taste funny?
MARLIN: Dory, do something.
DORY: Peek-a-boo.
MARLIN: Oh!
DORY: You can't catch me.
BOTH: AW!
DORY: Oh, like I'm scared now. Oh, you wanna piece of me. Huh? DO ya? Do ya?
MARLIN: You're not helping.
DORY: Ne, ner, ne, ner, ne, ner. Oh yeah, too fast for you.
MARLIN: Stop fooling around.
DORY: Can I get a little light in here? It's kinda dark.
MARLIN: HELP!
DORY: It's echoy in here. Echo!
*COMPLETE DARKNESS*
MARLIN: They're gone.

DORY: Ah, something touched me.
*****************************************************
MARLIN: Uh-oh. What's that? It looks like...like...
DORY: Oh, oh! Me first! I-I'm thinking of something pink and bouncy that looks like a mushroom.
MARLIN: Ah, jellyfish!
DORY: Right! They're just like trampolines. Bounce with me. Boing.
MARLIN: No, it's jellyfish!
DORY: Hmm, they don't look much like fish. And they don't look tasty either. Boing. Boing.
MARLIN: Jellyfish is not to be played with.
DORY: Don't worry about it. Boing. Boing.
MARLIN: Stop playing games! They're everywhere.
DORY: Come on, it's fun. Boing Boing.
MARLIN: No, Dory. We're playing hide-and-seek. Let's go.
DORY: You can swim, but you can't hide. Ya-hoo!
*****************************************************
1st MATE: Captain, deepsea volcano straight ahead. Status remains active!
CAPTAIN: Right, that'd be. Proceed with caution. Check the air pressure.

MARLIN: Nemo, I found you!
*****************************************************
* LEAVING VOLCANO*
DORY: Hey, have you guys noticed the erupting volcano?
ALL: Whoa!
DORY: Hey, I found a hot tub.

CAPTAIN: We now appear to be safely out of the area of volcanic disturbance and we...
1st MATE: Captain, sonar reports unidentifiable conditions dead ahead.
CAPTAIN: All hands, keep a lookout for anything unusual.

NEMO: Can we do it again, dad? Huh? Can we?
MARLIN: Oh, of course. When fish can fly.
DORY: I found Chico.
STUDENTS: Nemo! Yeah, Nemo.
SQUIRT: Hey, Pearl! We saw a huge volcano that went ka-boom!
PEARL: Ah, you made me ink.
SQUIRT: Hey dad. You shoulda seen me surf the volcano!
CRUSH: Whoa, give me some fin... noggin... dude.
SQUIRT: Hey, Nemo. Check out all the whale.
*WHALE MOAN*
SQUIRT: Whoa. That's one humongous whale.
1st MATE: Sir, approaching pod of whales.
CAPTAIN: That must be our unidentifiable conditions. Yellow alert. All hands to your stations.
NEMO: Sandy Plankton is never gonna believe this.
SQUIRT: Awesome.

DORY: Hmm, does it smell kinda whale-ish to you? Is it me? *sniff* Hmm, that's funny. Sounded like "hold on tight, I'm gonna"... WWWHHHHOOOAAAA.
CAPTAIN: Red Alert! Emergency manuever. All engines!
1st MATE: Emergency manuever, aye, aye.
DORY: Ah. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. AH, a big yellow whale. Wait, stop. GGOOOODDDDBBBYYYEEE, WWWWHHHHHAAAAALLLLLLEEEEE!!!!!!! Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do, we swim, swim, swim. BYE!
CAPTAIN: Crikey!
1st MATE: Shall I enter any of this into the log?
CAPTAIN: No mate, forget it. Nobody would believe it anyway. I think we've been submerged too long. We better take her up before we have a run in with a sea serpent or encount with a mermaid.
1st MATE: Aye, aye, captain. [whistle]

Magic Change

2009-06-20T23:07:00.000-07:00

http://www.mouseplanet.com/8861/The_Enchanted_Tiki_Room_Under_New_Management

I thought this was an interesting article about "change" in the Disney parks. This involves "Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjournment".

Frontierland Dark Ride

2009-06-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

Queue begins at south end of Big Thunder Ranch. Exit past Big Thunder Mountain BBQ and Ranch (typically where most guests enter/exit the Festival Arena).

Dark ride on wind wagons to meet folk heroes, myth, and legend on western adventures.

-Attraction name: "Wind Wagon Legends"
-"A Cowboy Needs a Horse" as shown in Frontierland shop
-Disney's "American Legends" DVD (paul bunyun, casey jones, john henry, etc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney's_American_Legends

-Additionally characters include Pecos Bill, Pocahontas, Lewis & Clark, Davy Crockett, Sleepy Hollow, Zorro, Lone Ranger?
-Sam the Eagle from "America Sings" as host?

-Johnny Appleseed Congesta Wagon serving Apple Dumplings, Apple Pie, Carmel apples, apple sauce, apple slices, apple slush, apple juice, apples

EDIT (02/06/10): The reason I post this now is because Jim Hill did a little article that has a similar idea to this involving the "American Legends". It was from Imagineer Bruce Gordon who wanted to put these characters around the Rivers of America.

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2010/02/05/from-just-around-the-riverbend-here-comes-a-brand-new-why-for-column.aspx

I think the river should remain "realistic". Which is why putting these "animated" characters in a dark ride setting is more appropriate to separate from the Frontierland realism and as a segway to Fantasyland. At least "Woody's Roundup" wouldn't be the segway, less PIXAR/TOY STORY, and introduces semi-new characters to the park that would re-introduce guests to new stories.

VIDEOS:

Wind Wagon

Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventure

Tall Tale Theme

Zorro

The Lone Ranger

Little Hiawatha

Davy Crockett

Pocahontas

Casey Jones: The Brave Engineer

John Henry

Johnny Appleseed

Paul Bunyan

Pecos Bill

Sleepy Hollow

Sam the Eagle & Ollie the Owl as hosts?

Tall Tales & Legends

DCA Park Name Changes

2009-06-01T14:50:00.000-07:00

There's been talks of renaming and/or rethemeing Disney's California Adventure. The idea now is to envision the park as "Walt Disney's California Adventure". It's a good step and a reflection of what the park should have been at opening: to talk guests back in time to what made California the state it is today and remind people what and who made it.

There is an odd issue of how everything in the park will now have to be themed to the 1920s according to when Walt arrived in California. That's a great backstory for the Walt Disney Plaza. But I don't think it should reflect the rest of the park necessarily.

Here is what I feel could be a good solution to name changes for the whole park and its lands:

1) From "Disney's California Adventure" to "Disney's Grand Adventure". A reflection of the "Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa" and the closed "MGM Grand Adventure" theme park from Las Vegas. MGM did have a name at "Disney-MGM Studios". I think this would make a nice little nod and appropiate theme tie to the rest of the park.

Each official land will have sub-lands. Kind of what is right now. But the current lands seem to mix and match a lot.

2) "Hollywoodland" to consist of "Walt Disney Plaza" formerly Sunshine Plaza, "Hollywood Pictures Backlot", and "Hollywood Studios Centre/Square" sublands. I haven't decided which I like better "Centre" or "Square" for this area of Muppets, Monsters, and Hollywood Backlot Stage. I like the idea of continuing the main entrance's theme into a whole land.

3) "Golden State" will be separated into main lands. "Grizzly Peak Recreation Area", "Bountiful Valley Farm", and "Discovery Wharf".

4) "Grizzly Peak Recreation Area" will be what it is now and "Condor Flats" rethemed to reflect the change. I will have a separate post about "Country Bear Jamboree".

5) The returned name of "Bountiful Valley Farm" will consist of "Flik's Fun Fair", "Golden Vine Winery" sub-lands. There will also be a post about a "Corn Maize Maze" and "Barney Stormin's Flying Circus".

6) "Discovery Wharf" is the current "Pacific Wharf" plus Treasures in Paradise store and Ariel's Grotto. It would be good to connect this smaller land to the lagoon. This land will be inspired by the "Discovery Bay" and Disneyland Paris' "Discoveryland" concepts.

7) "Paradise Pier" locations will be the same. The areas between CA Screamin' to Maliboomer (essentially the same length as the roller coaster's presence) would be a "Boardwalk Funland" sub-land reflecting the early 20th century as depicted from the miniature model in Blue Sky Cellar and concept art. From Pizza Oom Mow Mow to "Mulholland Madness" would be "Beach Party Bash" reflecting the mid 20th century and the emergence of "Beach Party" films in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. "The Bay Area" from the San Francisco restrooms to "Souvenir 66" soon to be renamed "Seaside Souvenirs" and Golden Zephyr will reflect the late 18th century seaside entertainment.

Universal Studios Hollywood Queue

2009-05-22T02:04:00.002-07:00

Set it apart from Disneyland and other theme parks' queue.

Place movie props, costumes, sketches, and vehicles in the queue for guests to admire as they wait in line for the appropriate movie-themed attraction. The Universal Experience display that replaced "I Love Lucy Tribute" is a good example. This idea would go especially well with Terminator, Jurassic Park, and Mummy.

uWink

2009-05-22T01:57:00.001-07:00

http://www.tapcode.net/

uWink is an "entertainment dining experience" involving interactive screens to order food and beverage and also play games from computer screens. I'm not too sure if the dining experience could be met in Tomorrowland with Pizza Port and TLT. But the interactive game screens could be a fun addition. This would also evoke that sort of "Starcade" experience I suppose. Perhaps Disney can close the Starcade area and name the video consoles as "Starcade Screens" or something.

Toontown Trolley

2009-05-22T01:35:00.000-07:00

Why should this only be shown for "Toontown Morning Madness"? I would like to see this in person as a regular day guest. The music is amazing. Although I would think it's because of the crowded walkways, perhaps having this during non-peak season and in the morning would be best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g7gvE4U0Ro

The Trolley would only be used to bring out characters for the short street show and to do meet and greets. Guests may not ride the Trolleys.

This is similar to the Universal Studios Hollywood Character Trolley.

Goofy, Donald, and Chip 'n' Dale

2009-05-22T01:33:00.000-07:00

I need to put all three of these ideas together because they all work together. Instead of "Mickey's Neighborhood", renamed "Uptown Toontown" in contrast to "Downtown Toontown" reflecting the loss of a "neighborhood" in this reimagining.

1) Goofy's Plane Crazy

Inspired by "Goofy's Glider", "Goofy's Barnstormer", and Mickey's "Plane Crazy" short. Lift by "toony" mechanism and zooms by Mt. Toon-more, above Toon Lagoon, through Harbor Tower, and over Chip 'n' Dale's queue.

Maintenance bay similar to current setup to backstage.

Goofy's Glider

Mickey's Plane Crazy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCZPzHg0h80

2) Donald's Tugboat

Inspired by "Mickey's Tugboat"

Location: Expanded Toon Lagoon. Taking out Donald's Boat permantly. Using some props from that boat inside Goofy's House. Goofy's House renamed Harbor Control/Tower/House and sawing off Goofy's green hat from the top.

Nautical themes inside house such as stern wheel & compass, blow horn, hammock, Daisy bow mast, flags/hanging laundry, raincoat hanger, nets, photos, etc. Queue from front door, porch, enter house from the back, then outside against cliff to Donald's Boat, but redirected back along house to new docking port to tugboats. Maintenance port on westside backstage like for the roller coaster. Perhaps just need enough room to take out and put back one or two boats. Then boats relocated to maintenance building.

Flume track runs in Toon Lagoon directly under roller coaster tracks to "Goofy's Plane Crazy". Small boats designed after tugboats and serve similar purpose to Fantasyland's extinct "Motorboat Cruise". Obviously the vehicles had a long front, which would not be good for Toon Lagoon's compact size.

Mickey's Tugboat

The Whalers

Boat Builders

3) Chip n Dale's Nuts n Bolts

Using the similar tech to LEGOLAND's Kid Power Tower. Located in Goofy's Playhouse (more specifically the backyard playground). This is redressed as the Toontown Community Garden. Gadget (from the Rescue Rangers) is an inventor and friend to Chip n Dale. They asked her to help build a nut collector. She invented this mechanism to help collectors lift into the trees and thus gather nuts. The queue will consist of the current garden gags as well as those seen at Magic Kingdom's Toontown Fair. The Goofy clothes line will need to go, perhaps for the Mickey Dark Ride.

Here's a concept for a "spider-type" ride. Arms themed as branches and vehicles themed as acorns?
http://www.fallingpixel.com/3d-models/11936

Guests enter where they now enter for the Playhouse. And circle the perimeter of the playground. The playground itself will be the site for the power towers. The exit will be alongside Goofy's house. The queue will be covered by a breezeway covered with vines and grape. At night, the grapes will light up. The breezeway doubles as the circling coaster track to "Goofy's Plane Crazy". There will be two power towers to accomodate capacity. I'm not sure if there can be a third, perhaps if need be, use the space from Toon Park.

Chip n Dale Treehouse

Rescue Rangers

If and when maintenance required, use backstage doors beside Minnie's House.

Mickey Mouse Dark Ride and Meet & Greet

2009-05-22T00:08:00.000-07:00

There has been the consistent outcry for remodels of Disney's California Adventure, Tomorrowland, and Mickey's Toontown. Here is one of about five solutions. A Mickey Mouse Dark Ride.

Toontown:

Minnie's House will be demolished to make way for Mickey's Movie Barn queue and load station structure. The complex will evoke a similar experience when inside Mickey's House for the meet and greet starting from the Movie Barn exterior to the movie screening room. The gardening, carrot/gopher, and chicken gags will be relocated from the original plans of this structure. The old photo-op sets for Steamboat Mickey, The Band Concert, and Sorcerer Mickey will be redesigned in this queue. The movie that is currently shown may have to add scenes like a safety video similar to "Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye". But Indy has more motion than this attraction will have.

Minnie's House:

Minnie's Backyard:

Minnie's Microwave from Florida:

Mickey's House will still be intended for Meet and Greets. The path inside Mickey's House after the laundry room will be redirected to Mickey's garage. The garage will relocate closer to the streetside making less driveway space. When guests walk from the laundry room towards the garage, the garden theme will resume with the gardening, carrot/gopher, and chicken gags. Guests enter Mickey's Garage and await their turn inside his Movie Trailer to meet the mouse himself in his dressing room. The space inside the garage between the trailer and garden will determine the number capacity of people in groups entering the trailer. Once the meet n greet is over, the guests will walk out past the garage and back into the street. Mickey's House kinda acts as a weenie into that part of Toontown, Mickey's Neighborhood.

Mickey's House:

The dark ride itself will occupy the rest of the Mickey House building behind and under the Toontown hills and signage. Chip n Dale's acorn pit and treehouse will be demolished and used for the new dark ride. Perhaps as a maintenance bay.

The dark ride system will be recycled from Critter Country's "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh". That ride system evokes a "bounce" which would contrast to Roger Rabbit's spins. The ride system is also able to perform tight turns especially at the load station, so I don't believe space is much of an issue. A problem with that attraction now is that it takes up too much space for its own good. The unused queue space for that attraction I think will have a similar size in Toontown and will be used more.

Disneyland's Winnie the Pooh:

The attraction will also SLIGHTLY evoke DCA's Superstar Limo:
YouTube Video by ParkHopper

The plot for the dark ride is (Peg Leg) Pete has stolen the film reels from Mickey's/the Disney vault and intends to change history by putting himself in Mickey's famous film roles so he himself can be the hero and get all the fame, fortune, and public affection. Guests ride in either limos, movie trucks that carry equipment to different locations, or toon cars designed for either Mickey, Donald, or Goofy. Pete blasts your car tires which explain why you keep wobbling along.

Guests will ride through Steamboat Willie, The Band Concert, The Brave Little Tailor, and Sorcerer Mickey. Then we jump out of the film reels and crash into Minnie's house (relocated gags like dishwasher, stove, oven, and self-opening fridge. We ruined her pie as it is now all over her new dress), Donald's house (Donald is in his famous fighting pose yelling and Pete says "What did he say?"), and Goofy's house (he gets knocked over and falls into a pit screaming his famous yodel). We finally crash back into Mickey's Movie Barn with Pete wrapped up in film strips. Mickey explains that Pete made everyone a star. Without his help, the gang wouldn't be where they are today. Pete is grateful.

The Disney character Audio-animatronic will use the same model as Tokyo DisneySea's Sinbad's Seven Voyages.

Ride exit between the current Mickey and Minnie House.

EDIT: Mickey's Neighborhood renamed "Uptown Toontown" to reflect "Downtown Toontown" of the major changes.

Gravity Railroad and Rack Railway

2009-05-21T22:40:00.000-07:00

This is based on the rumor about a sort of "Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland" type of attraction around the Grizzly Peak. Rumors also say it is physically impossible due to the mountain's initial construction. I still have full confidence a train ride is possible.

Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland:

Links to explain the gravity railroad and rack railway for Disney's California Adventure Grizzly Recreation.

Gravity Railroad:

Ride the Cog!:

First, I think a functional Rack Railway would be out of the question. But I strongly believe it can be used as decor along with a water tower on the mountain alongside the parade route between the grapevine and waterfall.

Gravity railroad I'm still having a hard time imagining this working as it was designed on the mountain. So I will reply on the "train engine in the back" configuration as seen in Disney's Animal Kingdom's Expedition Everest. Especially the steam effect at the load station.

Approaching Station:

Dispatching from Station:

The lift mechanism I would like to see something unique. I will suggest a spiral lift hill to be located between Grizzly River Run's lift hill and the newly opened San Francisco restrooms.

Six Flags' Whizzer Spiral Lift:

After the lift, the train will become a "gravity railroad" and gently glide back down making its way graciously to the load station. That load station is to be at the large area between the Grizzly River Run's finale drop turn and the main walkway.

I am also thinking of Disneyland's Fantasyland Casey Jr. Train. That has a real engine that pulls the train, yet has that one chain lift near the middle of the ride. But I think a Linear Synchronous Design (LSM) will work just as good rather than Linear Induction Motor (LIM) system along the track from station to spiral chain lift will work just as fine. The Paris version seems to run under this type of system with a real conductor at the front engine. Although the next videos show the trains going at a good speed, that is not my intention. It will be will as fast as an Omnimover system.

Disneyland's Casey Junior Circus Train:

Disneyland Paris' Casey Jr. Le Petit Train de Cirque:

Sky Roller

2009-05-21T22:29:00.000-07:00

I stumbled onto this and my first thought was the Tomorrowland rumor. Sending Astro Orbitor to yesterland and bring a rocket jetpack attraction to the former Rocket Jets tower over Peoplemover.

Spinning Roller Coaster

2009-05-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

PROJECT NAME: Echo Mine Carts
RIDE TYPE: Spinning Roller Coaster with Vertical Lift
INSPIRATION: Echo Mine Chase scene from "Home on the Range".
LOCATION: Currently planned Sally Cone Motel for Carsland.

The mountain itself will contain most of the tracks. The facade and part of the queue should look like an adobe and cliff-dwelling. The vertical lift will be themed as a mine elevator shaft. At the top an explosion sends the carts down the tracks. This attraction evokes "Big Thunder Mountain Railroad". The indoor caverns will be similar to the film "Home on the Range" with brightly-lit colors. These types of attractions also feature an on-ride video for purchase.

Gerstlauer Amusement Rides

Six Flags' Tony Hawk's Big Spin:
(These are the vehicle designs I favor with riders facing each other)

Six Flags' Mr. Six Pandominium:

Galaxy Spinner:

MACK Rides

Knott's Berry Farm's Sierra Sidewinder:
(Focus here is the attached cars to increase hourly capacity)

Home on the Range - Echo Mine:
(The focus here is on the production design)

Dollywood's Mystery Mine:
(Although not a spinning coaster, there's a part where it has the dynamite explosion I like)

Ball Coaster

2009-05-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.intaminworldwide.com/iag/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=47&Itemid=32

I know there has been some that looked into the flying coaster for a "The Rocketeer" attraction. Examples of flying coasters are Six Flags' Tatsu, SeaWorld's Manta, and Paramount's Tomb Raider. But this takes up a lot of real estate and most likely be exposed as a steel roller coaster. I have another suggestion: The Ball Coaster.

Ball Coaster:

Six Flags' Tatsu:

Paramount's Tomb Raider:

This "The Rocketeer: Stunt Pilot" Ball Coaster is to be located between Radiator Springs Racers and Tower of Terror. Either multiple or a longer version of this will need to be designed for higher hourly capacity and/or a longer ride time experience.

The seats will be designed like Rocket Jetpacks and "Peevy" Peabody would be the host for the attraction. The mechanic character guides your flight by radio communication. The facade would be themed as Bigalow's airplane hanger storage. The rest of the attraction is hidden behind a desert mountain range. Props from the film would be decorated outdoors including the billboard from the film's opening. The cast members are dressed as flight crew mechanics.

Golden State Plaza Fountain

2009-05-21T17:39:00.001-07:00

Hong Kong Disneyland's entrance has a really neat water fountain feature. But I'm not still not sure how classic Disney characters spoke "beach fun" in China. I think the fountain fits more into Disney's California Adventure. It would be nice to have these statues. I would only approve of the Mickey and whale water feature. The water, music, and light show aspect should remain with Hong Kong. World of Color is coming and the original fountain looks to be quite big. This would be a good contrast to Disneyland's Central Plaza mini-Disney character statues that surround the Partners Statue.

Still photos from niallkennedy:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/niallkennedy/sets/72157605416166233/

The Partners Statue will already have the planned statue of younger Walt and Mickey in Walt Disney Plaza.

Instrumental music selection:
"By the Beautiful Sea" - For Me and My Gal: The Musical
"Beautiful Briny Sea" - Bebknobs & Broomsticks
"Candle on the Water" - Pete's Dragon
"Beyond the Sea" - Finding Nemo
"Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride" - Lilo & Stitch
"Jolly Holiday" - Mary Poppins
"Just Around the Riverbend" - Pocahontas
"Whale of a Tale" - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
"Under the Sea" - The Little Mermaid
"Fathoms Below" - The Little Mermaid
"Sailor's Hornpipe" - Folk Music
"Row Row Row Your Boat" - Nursery Rhyme
"Sailing, Sailing" - Folk Music
"By the Sea" - Sweeney Todd

I have to assume there will be more "The Little Mermaid" music around the Meet & Greet and Ariel's Adventure.

By the Beautiful Sea (Mickey's Fun Songs):

Sailor's Hornpipe:

Whale of a Tale:

Although not a "sea" song, it fits with the era I think: "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"

Electric Railway

2009-05-21T16:59:00.000-07:00

This is a solution counterpart to Disneyland's Steam Trains and Tomorrowland's Peoplemover for Disney's California Adventure's lack of any transportation and kinetic energy.

Tokyo DisneySea's Electric Railway.

From my understanding, if Tokyo's trains have more than two station stops, then it must fall under "transportation" guidelines instead of as an "attraction". This goes the same for Tokyo Disneyland's Steam Trains only making round-trips.

Instead of what is currently seen with the station stops merging into one track and the rest of the track length having double paths, for DCA, it should be the opposite. The stations will have double tracks and the track length will be one. In this pattern, the center island at the stations will have guests choose in which direction of the train they will like to go. The trains will be going in opposite directions from each other. This will contrast from the Steam Trains and Peoplemover only going in one direction.

One station stop will be in Paradise Pier over where "Corn Dog Castle" is now. This area will also be a transportation hub where ground vehicles may turn around back to Walt Disney Plaza as another transportation option from the park entrance like Disneyland's gasoline vehicles. The path winds out of DCA between Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Disney Way. Then it will replace the Monorail pathway through the hotel. There will NOT be a station stop in the Hotel because guests already have their own private entrance to the park.

The second stop will be over "Soarin's Over California" in a wooden structure above that attraction's exit ramp, replacing the rocket engine mister, and preparing for Condor Flats' transformation to a new Grizzly Recreation theme.

The third stop will be over "Monsters, Inc.: Mike and Sulley to the Rescue". It will occupy the very unused extended queue for that attraction. The path will wind around between The Hollywood Backlot Stage/ Disney Animation Buildings and Hyperion Theater and over that street. The overhead track will hug the HBS and DA side leaving Hyperion alone as well as for the future remodel of that buliding towards Tower of Terror.

The maintenance facility for the Electric Railway will be in the newly enclosed Hyperion Theater lobby/ waiting area. The cars may also use the backstage area on the east side for further maintenance.

The overhead path will continue above Tower of Terror's Fastpass Distribution and squeeze between Tower of Terror and Flik's Fun Fair. Future plans have rumors that the backstage gates between the Fun Fair and Tower will be opened up to allow easier park access.

The track will wind around hugging Flik's Fun Fair until it makes a final stop before Bountiful Valley Farmers Market and over that deserted red barn stage where "The Ugly Bug Ball" used to play. This is the fourth and final stop.

Pacific Electric Red Car

2009-05-21T16:12:00.000-07:00

The plan is to bring the Pacific Electric Red Car back and run them on the streets of Disney's California Adventure's new Walt Disney Plaza and Hollywoodland. I love the idea. Many relate to the film "Who Framed Roger Rabbit". But it is also very important historically speaking. Many had worries of Mylar balloons hitting the overhead power lines. It is no problem with today's technology.

Old Time Venice & Pacific Electric:

Who Killed the Electric Street Car?:
(HINT: It's not Cloverfield Industries)

Basically GM not only screwed up public transportation, but Flint, Michigan as well...

The Americana Glendale's Trolley by Gomaco Trolley Company:

Inductive Power Transfer System (or IPT) is the most likely power source for the trolleys. Walt Disney Imagineering would only really have to add faux overhead powerlines to complete the historical accuracy, nostalgia, and atmosphere. A balance is brought from Disneyland's horse-drawn cars and gasoline vehicles.

Carthay Circle Theater

2009-05-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2008/01/disney-california-adventure-placemaking.html

This blog has lots of concept art posted of the Disney's California Adventure remodel.

I wanted to focus on the future of the park's new icon, the Carthay Circle Theater. Rumors said it would have a new movie attraction about Walt Disney, Mickey's Philharmagic, Golden Dreams, and then nothing at all due to space issues and be used for special events. Golden Dreams was to feature Audio-animatronics like EPCOT's The American Adventure.

1937 Snow White Premiere:

I have a different proposal. This should reflect the function now current in Disneyland's Main Street Opera house. The "lobby" should have concept art, models, and videos of the development for DCA similar to Blue Sky Cellar. In the next area, shift the Disney Animation here in this more compact space. It should essentially be similar but tightened up. From concept and aerial photos, it looks as if the Circle Theater will have as much space between the Opera House and Playhouse Disney LIVE space.

Animation Lobby:

I know many people such as myself really do enjoy the video loop in the lobby. The new lobby inside the Circle Theater should still have that circular/ horseshoe presentations along the outer rim/ perimeter of all those projected images like it is now. But there should be two levels so as to save on space. The first ground level should have the return of the live-action/animation stage show "Drawn to Animation", "Animation Academy" to learn to draw characters, and the "Character Close-up" exhibit of sketches, concept art, maquettes, and zoetrope. There should also be a rotational exhibit to accommodate anniversaries of feature films such as Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.

Drawn to Animation:

To access the second level, a grand stairway should be constructed. And for handicap guests, a dublicate of the Genie elevator from DisneyQuest.

Cybrolator:

"Sorcerer's Workshop" should be kept intact on the second level along with creating animation, which character you are in Beast's Library, and lend your voice to Ursula's Grotto. A new section will have "Ludwig Van Drake's Color Spectrum" where Drake will periodically sing the song along with Alice in Wonderland's Queen's painter playing cards.

Spectrum Song:

The room will be similar to Disney Cruise's Animator's Palate. The whole room changing from back and white to color and back again.

Essentially what is happening here is guests will have kiosks to work on adding digital colors to characters and backgrounds. Paint brush and other tools will be used as decor. In the center of the various kiosks will have Van Drake and painter plaing cards Audio-animatronics popping up and singing the Spectrum Song.

The next new area will be Sound Stage to record sound effects for animation. Essentailly this will be an automated Foley Stage. There is already one set up for a "Disney: The Music Behind the Magic" exhibit. The current one is of "The Band Concert" and about four people are able to be in the studio at once. I suggest probably making others to accommodate capacity and variety based on shorts and features. And also using different tools to accomplish the task. Along the walls should have behind-the-scenes video and glass display cases of old foley tools.

Casey Junior Foley Session:

Transition from sound effects to music would be "Bambi". "Bambi" used music to convey sound effects.

The last new area will be for Disney music. This will be hosted by an old Audio-Animatronic figure called Professor Owl. This is also to convey the feeling brought from the old "Disney Sing Along Songs" but focused on music like in "Toot, Whistle, Pluck, and Boom". Ursula's Grotto makes good use of sing-alongs anyways.

Disney Sing Along:

Disneyland Owl:
(Although the presentation is about animals, you get the general idea)

The obvious crown jewel would be "Fantastia" mixing Disney Animation and classical music. In fact, "Fantasia 2000" reminds me of the Disney Animation lobby alot.

Mega Whip

2009-05-21T10:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.gordonrides.com/products.html

This company features a Mega Whip ride concept. It's a next generation of the classic "Whip" flat ride. It's very likely going into Disney's California Adventure's Carsland for Tow Mater's Junkyard Jamboree. A concept such as this has been hinted in concept art, Blue Sky Cellar's video loop of John Lasseter in a parking lot, and YouTube videos of "The Whip".

"The Whip":

Los Angeles Times article: http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/best-of-2007-disneys-1149/

Next Generation Water Slides

2009-05-21T00:38:00.000-07:00

Splash Encounters:

Splash Encounters POV:

ProSlide Tornado by ElectroWorks Inc:

Movie Water Slide:

Water Slide:
(Reminds me of Space Mountain)

Time Travel Voyage

2009-05-20T23:34:00.000-07:00

PROJECT NAME: Voyage Thru Time
LOCATION: Pizza Oom Mow Mow at Disney's California Adventure. Wide area where street and grass area is on Southwest corner of this block. Ride buliding can also act as visual bearer as parades go in and out of nearby parade gate.
INSPIRATION: SeaWorld's "Journey to Atlantis", "JimHillMedia's article on the never-built concept for Discovery Bay (http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2006/08/17/5118.aspx)

Universal Studios Hollywood's Jurassic Park-River Adventure:
(Mostly admiring the opening and multi-levels. I am currently more interested in altered ending for a compact splashdown breaking system.)

SeaWorld Orlando's Journey to Atlantis:

SeaWorld San Diego's Journey to Atlantis:

SeaWorld San Antonio Journey to Atlantis:

Efteling's De Vliegende Hollander (The Flying Dutchman):
(In the splashdown, the tracks hide in the water)

Europa Park's Poseidon:

Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Escape From Pompeii:
(For the cool fire effects)

Pilgrims Plunge:
(Vertical lift looked interesting)

Considering how much real estate a flume roller coaster takes up, a lift device such as this and experienced from SeaWorld San Diego's Atlantis would be most beneficial and an extra thrill to guests.

[I need to flesh out my ideas for this as well]

CONCEPT: The beginning of the flume starts out like a tribute to "The Tunnel of Love". But the local scientist wanted to use the boats as time vessels for his experiments. The coaster portions are themed as "time-circuit warps". The brake zones will be themed as "time tunnels" so as to explain why the vessels slow down. These will be themed like the tunnel entrance to "Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin"'s Power Plant scene. Various scenes will include The Ice Age, Dawn of the Dinosaurs, and Prehistoric Cavemen. The Ice Age will feature Mammoths, Saber Tooth Tiger, Wooly Rhino, etc. Dawn of the Dinosaurs features Dino audio-animatronics from Disney's Animal Kingdom's DINOSAUR attraction. Prehistoric Cavemen has people writing on caves, creating fire, inventing the wheel, etc. The scientist finally gets the guests back, except he landed them on top of a hill ready to splash down into Paradise Bay. Original intent was to go down where S.S. Rustworthy was and inbetween Orange Stinger and Golden Zephyr. Passageway to be under the parade route/ walkway so as not to disrupt and place any aerial obstacles over parade route to future parade entertainment productions.

Ride building designed to look like San Francisco's (Second) Cliff House restaurant of (1896): http://www.cliffhouse.com/

Villains Dark Ride

2009-05-20T23:23:00.000-07:00

PROJECT NAME: Disney Villains Spook House; Villains' Hideout; Villains' Lair; House of Villainy
RIDE TYPE: Next generation Wild Mouse roller coaster.
LOCATION: Mulholland Madness at Disney's California Adventure.
INSPIRATION: Unbuilt "Bald Mountain" concept, "Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster", "Dante's Inferno" and "The Dark Knight" Six Flags coaster.

NEED: A new overlay theme to the current Wild Mouse roller coaster offering at DCA. The proposed "Goofy Sky School" is only a temporary overlay to begin with. This will also cover attraction to Disney's Grand Californian Hotel guest balcony into Paradise Pier. A rumor proposal has Disney Villains themed on CA Screamin'. I do not agree with what I have read and seen.
GOAL: Offer guests a more unique coaster offering at the same time paying tribute to classic haunted house dark rides of the boardwalk.
OBJECTIVE: 1) Unique dark ride experience inspired by animated Disney Villains.
2) Short thrills and chills of visual and physical attributes.
3) Detailed homage to seaside haunted house amusement dark rides with the Disney twist.

This indoor MACK-style wild mouse coaster will have dark ride portions, sudden stops, sharp turns, and backward motion. Inspired by the Spook House darkrides of the amusement park pier rides...

Here's "Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster":

Here's "Dante's Inferno":

Imagine this entrance with Chernabog billowing down smoke at guests:

Here's the current "Mulholland Madness":

Six Flags' The Dark Knight Coaster:

(Looked like the flaux fire effect was behind the windows instead a facade building. Kind of a next step forward to Pirates of the Caribbean's billowing fire effect)

Faux Fire:
(Also seen in USH's Revenge of the Mummy)

Second Video of The Dark Knight Coaster:

[I need to organize and flesh out the second portion of this. It was from a previous post I made.]

There was a never built concept called "Bald Mountain" which was to have Disney Villains chasing riders. The story could be riders stumble into a Disney Villains headquarters and must get out before they are discovered (hence dark ride portion). Riders enter a vertical lift thinking they are near freedom. But at the top of the lift you confront the villains who push you backwards. Then they spin you around trying to confuse you. Riders go through a maze (zig zag portion) and confront a main Disney villain at each corner and must make a sharp turn to avoid them. Riders set off a booby trap that sends them into more chaos (coaster hills, etc) and experiencing close encounters. Finally you find an exit and try to get out before the villains find you... .

The facade would look like a rundown Victorian pier structure version compared to the nice, clean themeing that will be represent on Toy Story Midway Mania & The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Adventure. May also have bits of rockwork & briar patch parts. I was thinking the vehicles could be themed to look like The Horn King from "The Black Cauldron". He's a Disney Villain but probably not well-known enough to be featured in the attraction. This would be a nice subtle nod to a great looking villain.

Individual villain show elements in the maze/zig-zag portion (not in any special order but effects may interchange so a different character is present & makes the ride more repeatable)

1) Capt. Hook/Ratcliffe shooting a cannon at you (smoke ring effect)
2) Hades/Frollo setting the walls ablaze (flaux fire effect)
3) Cruella/Medusa about to smash her car into you (blinding headlights & sound effects)
4) Kaa/Jafar transforms to a snake & in the dark he spits water venom at riders
5) Enter Maleificent dragon's mouth into green smoke & glowing yellow eyes
6) Orge and other minions shoot airblast arrows and spears
6.5) OR Big Bad Wolf blows air at you and/or from behind you (blasts of air)
7) Chernabog is at the end of the maze to send riders into a whirlwind of evil spirits (coaster section in darkness with spirits projected moving around)
8) Perhaps Ursula has tentacles descending upon you (although she would also be represented in TLM ride...
9) Maybe Queen of Hearts hurtles a ball at riders/Headless Horseman hurtles pumpkin.

Maybe instead of a vertical lift in a creeky cage, Maleificent finds you and sends you up in her yellow/green flame like in the movie when see transforms into a dragon.

OH, one of the best parts is we can have an excuse for a Disney Villains store!! So long Sunglass Shack!!

Some more villain appearances:

1) Magic Mirror could be your host. Kind of like how he was the narrator in the Fantasyland Snow White show. He'll mostly pop in the beginning and end of the ride. Hopefully similarities to Universal Studios Hollywood's Shrek 4D will not be compared.

2) A room could be themed to rocks... and either Shere Khan or Scar pops up from the end of the room to pounce on you. They interchange to make this room different.

3) Witched Witch/Old Hag can pop-up however like in Snow White's Scary Adventure... I mean come one, she's scary looking and still freaks me out in that Fantasyland ride!!

4) Another interchangable room switches between Gaston and Clayton holding a hunting gun.

5) Ride exit into Villains store.

6) A snack shop nearby themed to Gaston's Tavern or Yzma's Fruity Potions.

7) I would prefer to not use a vertical lift because it doesn't seem to give off a "scary" tone. Other than the thrill of going vertical. A standard lift can give off a tense feeling as seen in Splash Mountain.

Europa Park's Matterhorn Blitz:

Welcome One and All

2009-05-20T21:49:00.000-07:00

Welcome all to SoCalThemeParkConcepts blog.

MISSION: Express my thoughts, feelings, and research regarding ideas, improvements, and solutions to issues mostly regarding the Southern California theme parks of The Disneyland Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.

VISION: To communicate to the public my views, responses, and reactions to news and rumors of Southern California theme parks especially to The Disneyland Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.

NEED: I need to create a dedicated blog about theme park designs for the purpose of concentrating the various thoughts I have of theme park design concepts into one public location.

GOAL: To hopefully one day be recognized for the growing observation and realistic theme park concepts and be offered a position in theme park creative design.

OBJECTIVE: 1) Showcase videos of theme park entertainment
2) Showcase photographs of theme park entertainment
3) Showcase theme park designs
4) Showcase original theme park design artwork to illustrate proposed concepts

QUALIFICATIONS: I am a student of Cal State Northridge in the Multimedia Production. I have been interested in Walt Disney and his company since freshman year of high school but have also had Disney on my mind since childhood. I have done some freelance videography, artistic talent, and expressed my interest in theme park designs.