BusinessWeak...

We screwed up, this was our attempt to fix it...





Bob Iger did an interesting interview with BusinessWeek that just came out...

Focusing almost entirely on the Extreme Makeover and rebirth of Disney California Adventure, he talks to reporter, Devin Leonard about Buena Vista Street/Cars Land. While it's a short interview, done while exploring the park, it's interesting getting into the mind of Iger, and how it relates to balancing the creative and business side of a company as big as the Mouse. I also like the fact that the CEO can admit mistakes. That's a rare quality that isn't shared with the former head of Walt's Empire.

Give it a read and find out for yourself...

Carmageddon...

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I can't wait to see that animatronic Whoopie...



It appears that the Suits in Burbank finally got the crowds they were expecting for the Second Gate...

Not that you couldn't tell it was going to be a success, and long lines couldn't be have been see months ago. I'm sure Paul Pressler felt that Superstar Limo was supposed to have a six hour wait, but the park he planned wasn't what people expected out of a Disney theme park. Even with the warning signs, Eisner and his team went forward with what they thought was a surefire hit: California in California.

It wasn't.

Especially the idea of a contemporary, extreme sports type park that became dated before it opened. The Imagineers have taken that concept and twisted it into something that not only actually works, but appears as though it was actually planned that way. A view of California the way it was while Walt was here. Each area were nostalgic representations of the Golden State that no longer exist. From the Roaring Twenties when he arrived, to the Idealist Sixties when he left this world for the next.

Imagine what a child walking into this park over the next decade will think? The presentation they will experience and the attractions they will get to enjoy are an entirely different kind than guests got in 2001. Imagine what the park's fifteenth anniversary will bring? The improvements, plussing and additions that will further make DCA a worthy sister to Disneyland. The long lines we saw yesterday are an example of what happens when you create something that people desire to see. This was something lost on the bean counters a decade ago. But it wasn't lost on WDI when the rope dropped yesterday. You could tell that from the smiles on the Imagineers faces as they watched guests head into the reborn park. They did a great job turning a piece of coal into a diamond.

Good job, daydreamers...

Relaunched In 7 Days, Reborn In 11 Years...

California Adventure actually is an adventure now...








In a week, those entering Disney California Adventure will get an amazing experience...

Let me just say that Buena Vista Street and Cars Land are so detailed, and so amazing that the rest of the park looks bland by comparison. Not to put down all the detail and improvements that have happened over the past five years, but it's truly another level of immersion when you walk down these lands compared to what was there before.

There will be modest improvements over the next few years, but any major adjustments will come later. None are officially approved yet. And they won't until the Suits inside the Team Disney Building have seen the figures, but I don't think they have anything to worry about. This new front entrance and new land are great and take you to a Disney park that fans have hungered for since walking into Sunshine Plaza over a decade ago.

I imagine the wonder in a young child's eyes on that Friday morning, next week...

Cars Show, D23 Style...

I am speed...







I didn't get to go to the D23 Expo panels on Sunday due to a previous commitment...

There were only two events I wanted to attend, if I had been about to be there on that day: the Marvel Panel and the Cars Land Panel. Well, thanks to the wonders of YouTube, you and I can watch that panel. Just imagine all those people that waited in line only to be told the room was full? They could have been riding something in the parks and just clicked on this once they got home. So here it is for your viewing pleasure:

Cars Land Panel One

Cars Land Panel Two

Cars Land Panel Three

And this time next year you'll be in another line; one for these attractions...

Blue Sky Buzz: Going Vertical...

If you start showing up at DCA over the next few weeks you are going to finally see noticeable change...

After over a year the new pier will opening up to give guest a look at a much more detailed section of the evolving Victorian shoreline that Paradise Pier will become between now and 2011. Then later this year the rest of the boardwalk where the stores are will go down and transform into the same stylings as games near the Midway Mania attraction. The Maliboomer dismantling that was originally proposed, then abandoned, then postponed is now on again and the area will become a meet-and-greet location for guest and characters. The trees, benches and shading should serves as quite a contrast to the cold steel and themeless environment of this horrible import from Knotts/Six Flaggs.

Across the pier we should soon start seeing The Little Mermaid attraction begin to take shape and form surprisingly fast. By the Holiday season you'll be able to get a very clear idea of the detail and size of this new experience.

Around the same time, expect to see a mass of steel heading skyward over in the new Carsland area. This collection of metal and concrete will begin to take form and slowly become the primary focus of the park. It will be the white elephant in the room. You won't be able to avoid. And each day, week, month there will be some new detail to watch come into play.

As the seasons change and the year winds down you can expect to see one half of front entrance go down and then back up again as it's rebuilt to the past. The focus on the late 20's/early 30's will start to transform the entrance into something uniquely Disney and not look like something that was transported from The Block.

After all these years of hearing about expansion, construction and change the largest part of it will begin to happen this year. Next year will be even more chaotic with all the construction, but it will also bring a great deal of excitement. It's as if we're getting a whole new park. A park worthy of being across the Esplanade.

Truthfully, it is and we will...

It Has Begun...

Even though construction had already started on office facilities and a round house for the Red Cars weeks ago, groundbreaking officially began today of "Cars Land" in the Timon parking lot.

Counting the days till Summer 2012...

Cars, The 2012 Model...

It appears that Disney has officially announced the sequel to Cars. Merrick from Ain't It Cool News is reporting that Disney has announced this in New York. The timeline is summer 2012 for the release...

Why then?

Those familiar with this blog will note us talking about that date. It just happens to correspond with a new land opening up in DCA based on the Cars characters. Coincidence? Don't believe it... It's going to be interesting watching the premiere of Cars 2 in the new screening area in Paradise Pier and then going over to experience the land that the film occupies. This kind of synergy falls in line with what John Lasseter has been referring to. Whenever possible, he wants WDI to work with Walt Disney Pictures/Walt Disney Animation Studios/Pixar Animation Studios to maximize the experience of both films and attractions.

Stay tuned.

Hat Tip to Ain't It Cool News

Layering On The Narrative...

There was a lot of great feedback about my 20,000 Leagues Under The Influence post and some were asking how DCA will be different now than what came before...

The main difference is everything that's being designed has a theme, a narrative that focuses on the actual ride. There will no attraction like the "Maliboomer" which is essentially a carnival ride with little theming and no story. Don't believe me? Remember the focus of that Influence article used the descriptions of TDS based on the Mouse's press kit. Well take a look at this official description of what the new land opening in 2012 will be:


"Carsland nestled in the heart of Ornament Valley, Carsland will be home to the characters from Disney-Pixar's smash hit 'Cars' spanning 12 acres this brand new land will transport guest to the heart of Radiator Springs, where they will experience ground breaking attractions, a dine-in restaurant and free wheeling fun for the whole family.

Radiator Springs Racers a speedy 'E-Ticket' attraction will place guest right in the middle of the amazing detailed world of Mater, Lightning McQueen, Doc and Sally. After a quick race briefing from Doc and Lightning, passengers will suddenly find themselves in the midst of an exciting race through shadowy woodlands, canyons and valleys, waterfalls and tunnels, complete with hairpin turns, steep banks and a heart-pounding dash for the finish line.

Carsland substantially increases the size of the park, with two additionally immersive rides featuring Luigi and Mater. "This is the the first major project of DCA that goes outside the boundaries of the themepark and really starts to add space and activities," Bob Weis said.

At Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, a full-size moving, talking and dancing Tow Mater will be the disc jockey at a spinner ride that will have passengers whipped around the desert floor in truck trailers. And at Luigi's Roaming Tires, guest will find something molto specile. With the help from Guido, Luigi has taken delivery of a new shipment of tires from Rome, but every time he tries connecting the compressor, he creates an "air"- racing car ride."


See how there is a story... an attempt at least to tell an idea or create a narrative structure. It's going to take time, but slowly this park will have all the details that were missing when it opened and then some. The story for "The Little Mermaid" attraction will be just as good too. There are also a few surprises you'll find in the pier over the next two years. Annual Pass Holders who've visited the area lately will notice how the details keep being piled up. Just take a look at the "Midway Mercantile" shop riders will have to go through as they exit. The sign alone shows how much quality has improved. I'll talk more about this a little later this month in another Blue Sky Alert...

Yes, there will be one coming. Patience. You can stop sending me e-mails about it.

Soon...

Time Bombs...

"Are we there yet?"

"Are we there yet?"

"Are we there yet?"

You know the questions we get when kids become impatient about where they're going...

We all know after hearing the rumors for the past few years that many Disney Geeks/Fans will be asking a similar question:

"When will it be done?"

Well, I guess it's time to show you a preliminary guide to the divisions of work to be done in "Phase One". Now, some of these could change depending on construction delays, weather and other factors but you can pretty much use this as a guide to the coming construction and which projects will go before others.

I call these phases "Time Bombs"...

Weapons of creativity to fend off the mediocrity of a generic theme park. These things have already had their timer set. Once they go off they're going to explode these areas and the results will be a decimation of the bland and boring with the plastering of rich, lavish theming all through the park.

These Time Bombs are set to go off at different places at different times and the results will be nothing short of being visually stunning. Four and a half years from now you'll walk through DCA(don't get used to that acronym) and not realize it's the same park... sure some areas will be familiar, but overall you'll have never been to this park before.

Shall we get started on our bombing run? Good...

Time Bomb 1

Paradise Pier and the surrounding area has been under construction since 2005 so it's had a bit of a head start. The Pier with its richly themed heavy D ticket will be through with construction in July. Actually, it'll be done mainly by April, but there will be tests and previews all the way through July which is when it is tentatively scheduled to open. The surrounding midway with its rethemed games will be open as well. Basically everything between the Carousel and Maliboomer will be finished by next summer. All the additions in the pier will be installed early next year so as to not interrupt the view of that new section. The retheming of the Sun Wheel is currently scheduled to be completed around this time as well. Once redressed, Mickey's Fun Wheel should make its debut by the end of 2008 unless the current plans change.

Time Bomb 2

The transformation of Sunshine Plaza to Walt Disney Plaza is supposed to get started in fall of next year. Once the temporary entrance is done expect bulldozers to start rolling and construction to be completed on this visually extravagant set-back to the late 20's/early 30's by late 2009 or early 2010. The construction will probably be done in two phases with the front section being done first and then the courtyard with its trolley, restaurants and shops going up after that part is done.

Time Bomb 3

The retheming of this section of Paradise Pier and the absorption of Route 66 will start in late 2009 and continue through late 2010 or early 2011 to be finished around the time of the tenth anniversary. The shops and beer garden will layer the area in a bygone era... while "Goofy's Sky School" will stick out, but be a much more immersive and lavishly themed coaster that doesn't resemble the Mulholland Madness kiddie coaster of today. The Maliboomer should be removed around this time and the work on the Orange Stinger and the surrounding area will begin as well.

Time Bomb 4

The Little Mermaid attraction and area will start to arise when the Golden Dreams building is removed in early 2009 and the construction of an elaborate show building is constructed. Work on the expanded viewing area should start in late 2008 so that the area will be available for use in late 2009 when "Disney's World of Color" is tentatively scheduled to make its bow.

Time Bomb 5

The areas atop where Ariel's Grotto and the surrounding stores should start to see work begin on them in early 2009. The plan is to have construction done by the time DWOC debuts and the lower levels are supposed to get enclosed so as to not get any paying diners wet. This area should be done by late 2009 should no delays come up.

Time Bomb 6

The final and largest part of the expansion gets underway in late 2009 when planning for "Cars Land" turns into overdrive. By early 2010 the area will be a hive of activity. The construction walls and signs will point to the great new addition that takes up 20 percent of the park and will change the skyline and theming once done. The area around "Bugs Land" that people see when walking by that exposes the outside of the resort(hotels, power-lines) will disappear by the time this expansion opens up in 2012.

By the time DCA has its tenth anniversary the entire park will be remade and look brand spanking new... the only thing that won't be open by the tenth will be "Cars Land", but it will be ever-so present... with the construction of those giant mesas looming overhead Disney Geeks/Fans will be running about the new park, most likely with the new name all giddy. Peering over their shoulder at the final jewel, the final present of "Phase One" to be opened in the summer of 2012.

If by that fall the clicks are starting to edge up to the 9 million mark...

Iger will give the official nod to "Phase Two" and you can expect some form of announcement at the end of that year or the beginning of 2013 talking about even more goodies. John Lasseter and Bob Weis have a few surprises up their sleeves that are expected and at least one that will give the faithful a reason to have faith.

A LOT of faith...