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IAAPA Expo – An Amusement Park Fan Favorite

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IAAPA, the international organization for amusement parks and theme parks, held its annual convention last week in Orlando. Always a glitzy affair the IAAPA Expo is actually open to the public, but admission costs are steep (well over $100/person) and it’s primarily a trade show, not a traveling carnival. That said, there ARE some rides to sample here (think spinner ride, several simulators, and an odd carousel or two), as well as giant inflatable bounce houses and other amusements.

This being a trade show, you’ll find vendors here displaying new technologies such as debit card readers, or the latest in automated cotton-candy vending machines (a neat trick, actually). They are hoping to talk to buyers from theme parks, regional parks, and even family fun centers, all of whom are looking for a way to make their attraction memorable and unique (and profitable). A lot of business gets done at IAAPA in this fashion.

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But it’s not all work; there is always a chance to play. One corner of the cavernous convention center is given over to the latest in ticket-spitting games of chance (and skill?), and there are many video games and pinball machines here too. The new Star Trek pinball machine is a clear winner, but I’m less certain we’ll see the standup arcade game for Plants versus Zombies everywhere (you play as the pea shooter). Namco had a nifty wraparound dome screen in a cockpit; it’s like being on Soarin, but the screen is sized just for one person and you’re right next to it.
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New Avatar-land concept art and video from James Cameron and Joe Rohde

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Early Saturday morning here in Orlando, but mid-day Japan time at the first D23 expo in that country, Disney revealed big news with the first concept art for the new AVATAR land coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2017. Today they’ve released the video James Cameron and Walt Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde filmed for the D23 announcement.

It highlights the creative work underway on the AVATAR-inspired land coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The promise the new AVATAR-inspired land will be a transformational experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Sounds pretty good to me, what do you think?

Make sure you watch through. At the 3:00 mark there’s a preview of the ‘Soarin’ over Pandora’ attraction in pre-viz mode and then some wow moment bio-luminescence technology.

A few interesting frame caps from the video are below with my comments:

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Videopolis: The Making of Disney MGM Studios

Here’s a little blast from the past; a video from 1989 that details the making of Disney-MGM Studios. The park, even with a new name, has lost touch with the original vision articulated in that video. We keep hearing rumors about how Disney’s Hollywood Studios… Read More »Videopolis: The Making of Disney MGM Studios

Your Disney Memories.

What’s your favorite Disney memory or even your worst?  Some things that happen in Disney parks that are universal: The first time you saw the castle, eating at Cinderella’s Royal Table, watching the fireworks at night. All of these make for special memories but sometimes… Read More »Your Disney Memories.

Universal Orlando Plans to Hold Disney’s Feet to The Fire

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There’s one thing Universal Orlando wants you to know. It is not content playing second fiddle to Disney’s Orlando theme parks. They want to challenge for the lead, well, they at least want to close the gap between them and Disney’s least attended park.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom attracted 9.9 million last year and Islands of Adventure just 8.0 million. Universal Studios Florida did not experience the same boost as IOA did with the addition of Harry Potter, but they’re making up for it in 2013 with a better parade, Transformers 3D, and soon more Harry Potter with Hogwarts Express and Diagon Alley.

But even if you add in all that additional ride capacity it won’t be enough to match the people eaters that are Disney’s parks. So Universal has committed to spending $500 million more on its domestic theme parks. We know that Universal Studios Hollywood will get a Harry Potter attraction or two (construction walls are going up now). But what does that mean for Orlando? How about two new rides for Islands of Adventure.Read More »Universal Orlando Plans to Hold Disney’s Feet to The Fire

Walt Disney World opens Instagram Account

Walt Disney World had added another social media platform to their quiver of digital arrows. It looks like they plan to feature the best photos of the parks and resort taken by their fans. You can follow them at @WaltDisneyWorld and use the hashtag #WaltDisneyWorld… Read More »Walt Disney World opens Instagram Account

Princess Fairy Tale Hall Adds A Marquee

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Yesterday we looked in on the progress of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, the last piece of New Fantasyland and scheduled to open sometime in 2014. But before that day arrives, there’s one other element of the New Fantasyland changes that is set to open. Disney’s Imagineers have been working on changing the interior of the Princess Fairy Tale Hall from it’s incarnation of Snow White’s Scary Adventures into a space worthy of a queen, or princess in this case.

The hall, which is set to open this fall, will be the home to two Disney Princesses, Cinderella or Rapunzel, to start. Each accessible via a separate entrance. Each princess will also have a special guest, usually another Disney princess.

This week Disney’s Imagineers started installing some of the exterior elements of the meet and greet. More photos below the jump:

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My Kid’s in American Idol Experience as part of Limited Time Magic Junior Performers

My son Indigo made it onto American Idol Experience as part of the Limited Time Magic Junior Performers. He’ll be in the 6pm show tonight. We hope to get a large group to come to Hollywood Studios and cheer him on. Please come on down… Read More »My Kid’s in American Idol Experience as part of Limited Time Magic Junior Performers