Photo by Jeff Lange
Okay. Maybe you’ve already seen pictures of the exterior of DCA’s new “Monsters, Inc.” attraction. Which (obviously) apes the look of the title sequence of that 2001 Pixar Animation Studios release.
And maybe you’ve also already heard about how this redo of “Superstar Limo” will be a dark ride in the tradition of Disneyland’s “Peter Pan Flight” and “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.” As in: This attraction won’t follow the exact storyline of this Peter Docter film. But — rather — will recreate memorable moments, scenes & settings from this computer animated motion picture.
But here’s something that you probably didn’t know. As part of the installation of this new California Adventure attraction, this section of the Hollywood Pictures Backlot is due to receive a rather extreme makeover.
Why For? Well, to be honest, DCA visitors never actually embraced the story that the Imagineers were trying to tell in this part of the theme park. As in: Hollywood Pictures Backlot was supposed to be just like a real Hollywood studio backlot. Full of facades that look great from the front. But — when you wander around to the back — these buildings just look bland.
Well, nobody comes to a Disney theme park to see bland & boring buildings. Which is why — as part of “Project Sparkle” (I.E. A new initiative for this four-year-old theme park. Which is supposedly going to allow the Imagineers to “plus” various parts of California Adventure over the next two years) — the area around “Muppetvision 3D” and “Monsters, Inc.” is going to get a facelift.
Current plans call for the Imagineers to install an attractive fountain in this open plaza. The exterior of the “Muppetvision 3D” theater is also due to receive some TLC. So that it can then go from its current industrial appearance to something more whimsical & fun.
“So what’s the timetable for this beautification project?,” you ask. Well, based on what I’ve been hearing, the construction walls go up in late September and then will come down again in late November / early December. Just in time for “Monsters, Inc.” ‘s soft opening.
Speaking of openings … By now, most every Disneyana fan knows that Disneyland’s “Space Mountain” is due to re-open on or about July 15th. So that this Tomorrowland attraction will then be available for DL guests to ride on the theme park’s really-for-real 50th birthday.
Photo by Jeff Lange
Given all the hoopla that will be going on inside “The Happiest Place on Earth” on July 17th, one wonders what the Mouse is going to do to try & convince people to go over to California Adventure that date. Well, how about debuting a DCA version of that popular new Epcot attraction, “Turtle Talk with Crush”?
Yep, that 150-year-old sea turtle from “Finding Nemo” will be setting up shop inside the old “Drawn to Animation” theater in the “Magic of Disney Animation” building. Where Crush will be interacting in real time with California Adventure guests, teaching everyone dude speak, etc.
So — as you can see — what with the new “Block Party Bash” parade, the “Turtle Talk with Crush” show and the “Monsters, Inc.” dark ride, the folks in the Team Disney Anaheim building are really counting on the power of Pixar to draw more people into DCA. And — given that development continues on an “Incredibles” -themed E-Ticket for California Adventure (With the hope that this new attraction may be able to come on line as early as 2007) — Pixar is going to continue to play a big part in this theme park’s future.
So what do you think, folks? Is this too much of a good thing? Particularly when you consider that it’s still not all that certain that the Walt Disney Company is going to be able to persuade Pixar Animation Studios to renew its co-production / distribution deal with the Mouse.
Your thoughts?