Monday, June 29, 2009

The Middle Kingdom Grows...

Here's the start of something...



A few pieces of preliminary artwork has been put out...

I'll be happier when they release better artwork for this.
Hurry please.





Grizzly Trail
Grizzly Gulch, Frontier Gold-Mining Town


The path along Grizzly Trail offers high-spirited frontier fun in an abandoned mining town called Grizzly Gulch, set amidst mountains and woods. The town was founded August 8, 1888 – the luckiest day of the luckiest month of the luckiest year – by prospectors looking to discover gold. Bears have now started causing havoc at the Big Grizzly Mountain Mining Company.

Key Technology and Creative Elements
• Guests visiting Grizzly Gulch are part of the action, experiencing hands-on water features, massive geysers and various leaking structures in the abandoned town.
• Life-size Audio-Animatronic® bears set the story in motion on Big Grizzly Mountain Coaster, an adventure aboard a runaway mine train through town. Guests careen backward down an incline that propels them through twists and turns, before a launch sequence “blasts” the mine train out of the mountain.
• A Wild West stagecoach, an old time Jail House, and the world’s largest nugget of gold provide fun photo opportunities.
• Guests can relax with a Wild West refreshment at the old Saloon or shop for mining supplies and souvenirs at the Bear Necessities merchandise stand.

Mystic Point

Mystic Point is the site of mysterious forces and supernatural events in the heart of a dense, uncharted rain forest.

In Mystic Manor, home to an eccentric world traveler and adventurer and his collection of exotic international artifacts, strange things are afoot as an enchanted music box releases its magical powers, thanks to a mischievous monkey.

Key Technology and Creative Elements
• Inside Mystic Manor, a trackless ride system enables vehicles to move “freely” about the attraction as the story unfolds. Audio-Animatronic® figures and special visual and audio effects help tell the story of mystical phenomena.
• Within Mystic Point lies a beautiful garden full of relics and mythological figures, where guests discover a hidden world of illusions and mysteries that trick the eye.
• Guests can dine at the Adventurer’s Club amid a vast collection of unusual artifacts from around the world or purchase exclusive curiosities and collectibles at the Archive Shop.

Toy Story© Land
Disney·Pixar-themed Play Area for Kids of All Ages


Andy, the young boy from the Disney·Pixar Toy Story films, has left his toys unattended in this immersive and highly themed environment, based on one of Disney·Pixar’s most popular film series. While Andy is away, the toys come to life and play...and Guests are invited to join!

Key Technology and Creative Elements
• Oversized outdoor rides and photo opportunities allow Guests to experience the different perceptions of scale, and shrink to the size of a toy.
• One attraction includes a shuttle coaster which propels Guests along a U-shaped style track.
• A drop-style parachute attraction lets Guests join a “training mission,” plunging from a 25m tall tower.
• Guests will enjoy fun, immersive and interactive environments with life-size toys.
• A themed food kiosk provides a barrel of fun snacks and refreshments and Guests can shop for Toy Story inspired collectibles at the merchandise location.

Commentary to follow a little later...

35 comments:

Brian said...

I'm happy they aren't just making carbon copies of rides and planting them in HKDL, but that Grizzly Trail looks and sound awfully familiar.

Spokker said...

It's going to be the most lopsided looking Magic Kingdom style park in the world.

Mystic Manor sounds very interesting. It's nice to see the trackless ride system being used for a different themed attraction.

Grizzly Trail sounds like a cross between Grizzly River Run's theming and Big Thunder Mountain.

Anonymous said...

it all sounds good hey they should have added their grizzly idea to DCA, not so excited about Toy Story though. It's as if HKDL has NOS and LS

Honor Hunter said...

The Grizzly idea was part of DCA...

Budget cuts forced the removal of all AA's which were to be included. They were also part of the DCA expansion originally. If there is a Phase 2 later next decade you can expect elements of HK's to show up in Cali...

And Spokker, the trackless system is cool, but it's not the Pooh one, I believe.

It'll be interesting to see more details and more artwork...

Kristof said...

Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris is currently constructing the exact same Toy Story (Play)land expansion. Expected to open in July/August 2010.

Our version will be mirrored. The barrel will be located on the other side and will eventually lead to the Ratatouille darkride which will also use the trackless system...

Anonymous said...

the only thing odd is the land placement/transitions... if mystic point is set in a rainforest, why isn't it where grizzly trail is? also there's still quite a bit of expansion pads outside the berm. i could see pirates going next to adventureland, unless they save that theme for a 2nd gate (perhaps a caribbean port of call at a hong kong disneysea???). overall very pleased and surprised at these plans.

Anonymous said...

is there any way to see the pictures larger?

Anonymous said...

i am interested in the Mystic Mansion at the New Mystic Point....

simmy25 said...

wow...if this comes true it's going to be the most different Magic Kingdom. quite interesting

Eli said...

it looks like mystic manor may be the adventure-themed haunted mansion-esque attraction we had been waiting for.

Anonymous said...

Pretty much the same plans I had seen. The only difference was that the Toy Story Land used to be an icy land, where there were scientists working. You had to take a helicopter ride to get there (if I remember right) similar to how you get to rafikis planet watch at DAK. The land had the same "U-shaped ride", only it was themed to ice, and the parachute drop is added.

Anonymous said...

Ok so grizzly trail basically sounds like a watered down version of frontierland. Im a little upset about how they still wont have a frontierland. Mystic Point actually sounds great! I think this will be the new mysterious island that will never be in the Americas. It sounds like mystic manor is its answer for haunted mansion although it has changed to focus on a different back story and more on the paranormal. But this land could develop greatly to become such a great land. Im really interested in seeing this land. Toy Story land well theyre getting this in Paris, shouldnt they have tried it somewhere first before making two lands based on this.

Anonymous said...

Goddamn it, why aren't the US parks getting these attractions? Especially Mystic Point. Disney ought to think about adding that to WDW or DL, since Universal's Harry Potter attraction is opening soon...

It really ticks me off that the HK and Japan parks get so much cool stuff, and all we get is Tinkerbell's meet and greet. Crap!

Anonymous said...

It all sounds cool, but Toy Story. I'm not a fan of "theming" off-the-shelf rides. Grizzly sounds like a compination of our Grizzly at DCA and Evereest which would be awesome, and I'm excited to see how Mystic point turns out.

Anonymous said...

The concept art still leaves more to be desired but I'm still excited nonetheless about Mystic Manor. I dislike Toy Storyland, it looks very cheap with off the shelf attractions.

Capt. Tomorrow said...

Yet another opportunity passed by to do Western River Expedition. >:(

Anonymous said...

Always interesting to see how the various parks can alter their layout. Growing up at Disneyland, the idea of having a major part of the park situated outside the western railroad tracks, or any of the tracks (not counting show buildings) seems foreign. If only Walt was able to purchase more land...

-Tim

Disneytom said...

Am I the only one who does not like the placement of Toy Storyland? Why is it in Adventureland? And why do they add 3 different themed areas and not 1 big new land that has everything in it?
This looks like a cheap themepark with a new themed attraction in every newly themed land...

But I must say that the two other "lands" look great!!! Grizzly and Mystic Manor will be cool! Is it me, or doess Grizzly look like a longer version of Everest?

Theme Park Fan said...

what is the timeline? Which attraction do you think will open first? Are these considered new lands? within the lands of mystic point and Grizzly trail is their room for more than one attraction

Brian said...

I think Mystic Manor might be their Haunted Mansion. There was a rumor that elements of the Adventures club in Florida would be used and this seems to prove it.

I am sure some Adventure Club fans will either be pissed/delighted.

Anonymous said...

"The Grizzly idea was part of DCA...

Budget cuts forced the removal of all AA's which were to be included. They were also part of the DCA expansion originally."

Ah. That's what I suspected when I read that part of the press release. Real shame that DCA didn't get those things right away.

Anonymous said...

Wow... I was so excited for this new stuff...

Until I saw "Toy Story Land".

2 steps forward... one step back. I suppose that still counts as a "step", but the Disneyland parks really should refrain from areas based on single movies.

Rocco L. Morello said...

This sounds to good to be true. Is this legit?

Anonymous said...

Alec-- That is understandable. And to an extent I agree with you. But truth be told, the original Disneyland was based on movies and television from the get-go.
Adventureland was initially based on the True-Life Adventure films, Frontierland was based heavily on the popularity of Davey Crockett, Fantasyland was a place for people ride through the animated films, and as for Tomorrowland, when it first opened there was just a bunch of cooperate sponsored exhibits, and apparently helped get people excited about the space program.

Anonymous said...

"This sounds to good to be true. Is this legit?"

Yep, it is.

Anonymous said...

Cheap. Looks like a strip mall.

Double Oh Seven-11 said...

I'd like to know the strip malls you've been going to.

I also know that this is just a few pieces of art. It's not the actual designs. Wait till you see more before you Condemn it. I've been to HKDL and although it's small, it's lushly themed and I expect any additions to be as well. If it's not then I'll be on your side, but I've seen all the entertainment they offer there and everything is top notch. These additions will only make it a much better, fuller Disney theme park.

Mike Luzzi said...

RE- Anonymous' answer to Alex...

The original Disneyland was based on movies and TV shows, however they never made a land based on only one movie or show. How can you expand in a "Davey Crocket Land?" You can't that is the genius and charm of the Disney Parks.

Which apparently is lost on Lasseter> Do we really need a bunch of lands named after new pixar films?

(I love the pixar films BTW... I just think this move cheapens the park)

Anonymous said...

I'm glad that the rides are unique and not carbon copies of the original attractions. The thing that I don't like is that this expansion has basically destroyed HKDL's sense of a "hub". I think the main reason for this is because the park wasn't designed well in the first place.

Anonymous said...

technically, toy story land isn't based on one film but soon to be three as in TRILOGY.

Mike Luzzi said...

Anonymous:

Really? C'mon... trilogy, movie, same thing. It is one "property" if you want to reduce it to that.

Disneytom said...

"as long as there is imagination left in the world"...

a bug's land
Carsland
Toy Storyland

I guess the imagination went into the other 2 new lands...
The least they could do is NAME them differently and not "take the movie and put the word land behind it", like the other parks do...

PirateGuy 815 said...

I really don't see anything original in all of this. Mystic River sounds very New Orleans Sqaure-like, especially with the Mystic Manor, which I assume is going to be like Phantom Manor. Grizzly Trail sounds like it's just a differently themed Frontierland. And Toy Storyland, well, what can you say about that?

Granted, this expanison sounds really cool, and HKDL really needs it, but I'm not seeing the whole "it's so original" vibe that most people are seeing. And I'm someone who doesn't mind all that much if there are clones, as long as there are different aspects to each one.

Anonymous said...

"a bug's land
Carsland
Toy Storyland"

Well, to be fair "A Bug's Land" is just supposed to be a little pun based on the title A Bug's Life. And we still don't know for sure if the are going to go with "Carsland" as the final name. And I would suspect that the name Toy Story Land will get changed. (At least one would hope so.) After all, its still years away.

Anonymous said...

After taking a trip to Disney Imagineering last year... there was a prototype for the Mystic Manor vehicles... it looked similar to Pooh's Hunny Hunt by being able to sit 4...