FoxFurr has begun posting regularly over at 2719 Hyperion. It’s a great match and I’m happy to see her writing get wider recognition. In “Too Much Stuff?” FoxFurr looks at the offerings at the Walt Disney World resort and wonders if it’s the right balance… Read More »Too Much is Never Enough
Traveling with your potty trained child has always been easy on the Disney Cruise Line. You could drop them off in the morning at one of the ship’s great programs and pick them up for dinner (or not, as often the child wanted to stay and play). DCL also had some programs for younger kids, but now they’re expanding that program to make it even easier to bring the youngest children along.
Traveling with infants and toddlers on Disney Cruise Line will soon be easier than ever thanks to a cruise industry-first service that delivers baby supplies directly to guest staterooms and a host of child-friendly offerings onboard the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder.
Beginning March 15, families preparing to sail on Disney Cruise Line with little ones will have access to an online service that allows them to order baby supplies in advance of their cruise and have them delivered to their stateroom. The new service is exclusive for Disney Cruise Line guests and provided by Babies Travel Lite, an online retailer offering more than 1,000 brand-name baby products including diapers, baby food, infant formula and specialty travel items.
Read More »Cruising with Toddlers is Child’s Play Onboard Disney Cruise Line
There’s never a good time to be laid off from one’s job. But in a down economy when jobs are melting away across the spectrum, it’s particularly bad. So it goes without saying that our thoughts here at The Disney Blog are with the people… Read More »Layoffs grow wider at the Mouse House
The dates for Star Wars Weekends have been announced for 2009. In a move that should make fans of the event happy, the dates for the first weekends have been moved back into May. It’s often less hot and less crowded (school is still in… Read More »Star Wars Weekends 2009 Dates Announced
I have absolutely no idea what happened on Lost last night. But I loved every minute! Time travel is one of my favorite devices and last night’s episode was chock-full of it. I’m pretty sure this is how the rest of this season will be. A confusing mass of skipping ahead and back and crossing over and under the time of the last four seasons! (Bad 1955 anyone?) So, let’s get right to it. I’m sure this recap will make no sense whatsoever but I’ll do the best I can.
Ready?
Begin.
On Jan. 28, 2009 an 80-foot-tall hot air balloon, shaped like Epcot’s Spaceship Earth icon, floated above the Magic Kingdom carrying the Birkett family, of Scottsdale, Az. The special flight was one of the dreams awarded as part of Disney Parks’ 2008 Year Of A… Read More »Family Flies over Disney in Balloon as part of YOMD prize packet
Don’t forget that LOST season 5, episode 3 titled “Jughead” is on tonight. It looks to be more of a Desmond centric episode which always means plenty of time traveling goodness. Yummy. Here’s the official show description (might be a tad spoilery): “Desmond goes in… Read More »LOST – Season 5 Episode 3 – Jughead on Tonight
The BBC has a great story examining how two of the most recent attractions to open at Walt Disney World point the way toward future development from Walt Disney Imagineering. Disney sees current and future generations of youth who are already so inter-mediated with video games, texting, MP3s, video downloads, and 3-D movies (sometimes all at the same time) that they’re afraid standard attractions just won’t be enough to inspire repeat visits down the line.
“The emerging generation expects more immersive, personal and interactive experiences in every facet of their lives,” says Bruce Vaughn, chief creative executive of Walt Disney Imagineering.
The two attractions the article looks at are Toy Story Midway Mania and Kim Possible. TSMM takes the ‘video game’ experience and brings it into the parks in a very Disney way. While Kim Possible is one of the first examples of how Disney can build an attraction using overlay technology. No need to expand the footprint of the park, just intertwine the experience with what is already there.
Sure, WDI can continue to pump out the heart pumping thrill rides like Expedition Everest or new entertainment environments like The American Idol Experience, but really, so can anyone these days (usually with the help of laid off Imagineers). What will set Disney themed environments apart in the future are overlays (or an even more exciting technology called Total Immersion, but that’s coming well down the line).
Just about exactly 8 years ago, I wrote a short story for LaughingPlace.com (unfortunately, the second page of it appears to have gone missing, so I rescued it from the Internet Archive Wayback machine (woo hoo) and have included it in full below the cut) forecasting where this overlay technology might be heading in the future. If it seems familiar, that probably means you’ve used a Pal Mickey before. It also gives you an idea of how long these ideas percolate in Imagineering before making it into the parks. Additionally, I’m almost finished with a novel by Vernor Vinge called “Rainbows End” which takes this overlay concept to the umpteenth level and extends it worldwide via a combination of future social networking and an economy based on themed design and role play.
I think it’s important to remember that it all comes back to quality story telling with the type of rich detail that Disney knows how to intertwine with entertainment. If Disney keeps their eye on that, the technology is just another color on their canvas.
Read More »Disney’s next generation theme park entertainment, already here?