Skip to content

WDI

Cars Land – The Magic Is In The Details

Ornament Valley, the setting for Radiator Springs Racers

Walt Disney Imagineering is always pushing the corporate fiscal team to give enough budget to add that last layer of details that completes the theme park experience. The original DCA is the perfect example of what happens when the budget isn’t there. Ever since the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal Orlando and wowed everyone with the detail in the land, those controlling the purse strings have been more willing to let Imagineers do what they do best.

the town of Radiator Springs at night

Out east we’ve been focused on New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom as the first project to get the full treatment, but in the west, Cars Land is in soft openings and the verdict is that Imagineering has re-staked their claim on the top of the hill.

LUIGI'S FLYING TIRES

The magic, as they say, is in the details. Disney has just released a series of beautiful photos showing those details and a list of figures that show how in-depth the detail in the land actually is. It’s a big update, there are 20 photos, each of them is available to view larger if you click on it:

Read More »Cars Land – The Magic Is In The Details

Grizzly Gultch – Preview Hong Kong Disneyland’s Original Attraction

Hong Kong Disneyland is in the middle of a much needed expansion. One of the three lands will be a new concept for any Disney theme park – Grizzly Gultch. The main attraction will be a new roller coaster that is something of a cross… Read More »Grizzly Gultch – Preview Hong Kong Disneyland’s Original Attraction

Dumbo Interactive Queue Preview from Storybook Circus

Yesterday I shared some of the changes to the exterior of the new twin-spinner Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction in Storybook Circus, today I’m excited to be sharing some photos of the interior of that attractions. Wait, you say. Why would a spinner have an interior? It’s all part of Imagineering’s plan to make waiting for the ride less painful.

Back when WDI first started talking about the new Dumbo queue they said rather than lining up in a switchbacks, it would be a place where kids could move freely and interact with various elements in the building. Parents would be able to wait comfortably while watching their kids run around. One’s place in line would be held virtually and an announcement would indicate when your boarding group was ready to head to the loading zone.

Looking at these pictures shared by Disney, that vision looks essentially intact. Perhaps it’s a bit more playground / obstacle course than I envisioned.

Also, Disney says that instead of an announcement to tell you when to grab your kid and head to a loading zone, some sort of paging device will be used. Disney has tested out, in theory, how this system will work during some experiments over at Rock-n-Roller Coaster. According to sources, results were mixed. So we’ll keep a close eye on how this is working out once it opens to guests.

Update: Video of the queue ‘in use’ by kids and some background on the project from an Imagineer.

Read More »Dumbo Interactive Queue Preview from Storybook Circus

The Matterhorn’s Fresh Coat of Snow – Behind the Scenes

Imagineers at Disneyland take us behind the walls at Disneyland’s classic Matterhorn roller coaster to show what’s been going on since it went down toward the beginning of this year. The refurbishment has been fairly extensive with new safety railings and a lot of work… Read More »The Matterhorn’s Fresh Coat of Snow – Behind the Scenes

Disney Research Reveals Revolutionary Concept

While the presentation is not as slick as the recent Google Glass idea, the concepts behind “Touché” by Disney Research Pittsburgh could be equally as revolutionary. In fact, the two products working together make what was science fiction now very real. Here’s how they describe… Read More »Disney Research Reveals Revolutionary Concept

Be Our Guest – More Video Details From Disney’s Imagineers

I guess the first video Disney World released on the gigantic chandeliers at the Beauty & The Beast themed Be Our Guest restaurant was pretty popular. They’ve now released a second video with even more information and more video of the restaurant. That’s certainly going… Read More »Be Our Guest – More Video Details From Disney’s Imagineers

The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow – now confirmed!

When is an attraction announcement not really an announcement? When it’s published accidentally, that’s when. It’s no secret that the Prince Caspian exhibit has been moved out of its Sound Stage in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There has even been some speculation about what would be going into that space on various fan sites.

Usually those exhibits are ‘sponsored’ by some marketing budget or another from the Walt Disney Studios. Typically the goal is to sell DVDs or build audience affiliation for a sequel. So it was assumed that the next exhibit would be for a movie that had seen some success (which means it has a decent marketing budget) and is likely to have a sequel.

If the first movie that comes to your mind in The Muppets, then let’s say Great Minds Think Alike. Other likely candidates include John Carter or TRON: Legacy. However neither of those have had sequels greenlit. So Muppets it is. It even already has a tie-in with DHS.

Read More »The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow – now confirmed!

Imagineering Shares Minotaur Detail from Be Our Guest Restaurant

Those Imagineers are such teases. We know there will be a lot of amazing details in the new Beauty and the Beast themed restaurant “Be Our Guest.” This monster, apparently a mythological beast known as a minotaur, will be a part of the decor in… Read More »Imagineering Shares Minotaur Detail from Be Our Guest Restaurant