Mickey's Movieland

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.

Carthay Circle Theater

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.