First a quick thanks to all those kind souls who took part in last month’s beta tests for the JHM Disneyland and DCA tours. Given that no one got injured (except possibly me, the moron New Englander who forgot to put on some sun screen and/or wear a hat … the idiot who ended up with a Class-6 sun burn, not to mention a medium-sized case of sun poisoning) and everyone seemed to have a pretty good time, it looks like JimHillMedia.com will soon begin offering tours of the Disney theme parks as a regularly scheduled feature at the website.
Speaking of which … if any of you folks would be interested in taking part in the inaugural run of the JHM WDW tours, drop me a line ASAP. Why for? Because I’ll be down in Orlando during the first week of May. And I’m giving some semi-serious thought to trying out the initial set of Disney World tours while I’m in Central Florida.
Okay. Enough with the shameless plugs. Let’s get started, shall we?
First up, Shannon writes in to ask:
Hey, Jim –
In planning for my upcoming Disneyland trip, I was checking out the calendar on the Disney website. The Sleeping Beauty Castle attraction walkway is listed as “Closed for Refurbishment” until at least July (that’s when the calendar stops). Any idea what they’re doing up there?
Shannon
Dear Shannon –
I’m afraid that I have some rather bad news for you. Based on recent conversations that I’ve had with longtime Disneyland staffers as well as WDI insiders, it would appear that the Mouse has no plans whatsoever to re-open this classic Fantasyland attraction. In spite of what it may say over at Disney.com, there is no actual refurbishing going on inside Sleeping Beauty Castle. Nor is any rehab work underway. The walk-through is just closed. And it will probably stay closed for the foreseeable future.
Why for? Well, truth be told, there are three different issues involved here:
1. The War with Iraq / Post 9-11 security concerns: The FBI has reportedly told senior Disney Company officials that certain terrorist organizations have placed Sleeping Beauty Castle very high on their “To Do” list. So the easiest way to safeguard this Disneyland icon was just to restrict the public’s access to the structure. Keep the upstairs walk-through — with all of its hard-to-monitor nooks and crannies — locked up tight. So that some (please fill in the ethnic group / religious faction / terrorist organization of your choice here) extremist isn’t tempted to leave some sort of device behind.
2. The Castle’s ADA issues: Given that the Americans with Disabilities Act requires the Walt Disney Company to at least try and make all of the rides, shows and attractions in its theme parks handicap accessible, retrofitting Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through with the necessary elevators, wider walkways and lower sight lines for all of the displays (not to mention changing the entire interior of Sleeping Beauty Castle so that this exhibit could be presented on one floor, thereby making it easier for guests in wheelchairs to experience the attraction) would be prohibitively expensive. So — rather than have to swallow the multi-million dollar cost involved with bringing this Fantasyland favorite up to ADA compliance — Disneyland officials are now reportedly thinking that it may just make better business sense in the long run to keep the Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through closed from here on in.
3. Disneyland’s 50th anniversary plans: Given that the folks who actually run the Park are giving semi-serious thought to outfitting Sleeping Beauty Castle with thousands of fiber optics (so that the structure could appear to be awash with pixie dust after dark) and/or painting this entire Disneyland icon (to help celebrate the theme park’s golden anniversary), keeping the castle’s walk-through closed will make it that much easier to get those plans in gear … should Walt Disney Company officials actually free up the cash necessary to go forward with either of these plans.
Long story short, Shannon, Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through will remain closed for the foreseeable future. At least ’til the War with Iraq and/or America’s war of terrorism is resolved. At least ’til Disneyland management decides whether they really want to spend the millions necessary to bring this Fantasyland favorite ADA compliant. And at least ’til DL officials figure out what they’re doing with Sleeping Beauty Castle in 2005 during Disneyland’s 50th anniversary celebration.
To be honest, the only way that I can see that the castle will re-open anytime soon is if new Disney Parks and Resorts head Jay Rasulo remains on his capacity kick. Given that Jay is reportedly toying with re-opening Disneyland’s long-moth-balled Submarines just because he wants to raise the hourly guest capacity level at the Anaheim theme park, bringing the Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through back on line would at least do something to alleviate this situation.
Unfortunately, Shannon, that’s a really unlikely situation. Based on the conversations that I’ve had with veteran Disneyland employees as well as Imagineering insiders, I don’t see anything like that happening ’til the War in Iraq is over and/or President Bush declares that America’s war on terrorism has been resolved.
Sorry to be such a downer, Shannon. Next, Max (AKA DisneyMax) writes in to ask:
Hey, Jim –
This is probably going to be a difficult question … but … Last week, I recorded the Travel Channel’s show on Animal Kingdom. And – toward the end of the show – they mention some of the things that are future plans for Animal Kingdom.
And – while they were talking about (DAK) future plans – they (showed) a very very short low quality CG clip of a giant bug (Or something. At any rate, it looks like it would be a very cool AA figure) rearing up at a passing ride vehicle. Do you have any idea what the heck that clip is from?
Thanks,
Max (DisneyMax)
Dear Disney Max –
Actually, I DO know what that footage on the Travel Channel was all about. That CG was actually a very rough representation of an Audio Animatronic magma worm. This enormous robotic creature is supposed to rise up out of the volcanic muck at the end of DAK’s “Journey to the Center of the Earth” attraction.
That’s right, DisneyMax. WDI is reportedly toying with bringing this particular piece of Tokyo Disney Sea’s “Mysterious Island” area stateside over the next 5 to 7 years. The idea is that the “JTTCOTE” ride — particularly when it would be nestled inside of an enormous ride building that would be shaped to look like a smoldering volcano — might make a great anchor for a revised / revived version of DAK’s “Beastly Kingdom.” Not to mention that this mountain would make a lovely addition to Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s skyline.
Now please keep in mind, DisneyMax, that we’re talking about a DAK attraction that’s still very much on the drawing board. Even if construction were to get greenlighted anytime soon, it would still be 2008 or 2009 before any of us could actually get on line to ride “Journey to the Center of the Earth.”
First things first, folks. First “Forbidden Mountain: Legend of the Yeti” has to open. Then Walt Disney Imagineering has to decide what the theme of DAK’s live animal exhibit area will be (I keep hearing that – provided that “Brother Bear” is a sizable hit once it hits theaters this fall, that WDI may opt to make Animal Kingdom’s next big enclosure an area that celebrates North American creatures. Animals like grizzly bears, buffaloes and bald eagles. You get the idea, right? … Anywho …) Then — and only then — will the Imagineers decide whether or not they’re actually going to add “Journey to the Center of the Earth” to DAK’s line-up.
And what sort of other other-worldly rides and shows might be added to this radically rethought version of “Beastly Kingdom?” … Stay tuned to JimHillMedia.com, DisneyMax. I’ll try and pass along that info as soon as I hear something definite.
Next, Jeremy H. writes in to ask:
Dear Jim:
Watching “Alice in Wonderland,” I have a particular affinity to the recitation of the poem, “The Walrus and the Carpenter” or “The Story of the Curious Oysters.” Every time I cue it up, I enjoy it thoroughly until Mother Oyster winks her eye, shakes her heavy head, and looks at the calendar which displays (the month of) March. (Then) the Capital “R” glows red and flashes … as she warns the young oysters.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? Is it something to do with spring oysters tasting better than oysters harvested in the fall? Help me, O Mighty Disney know-it-all.
Thanks a lot. I really enjoy your long winded style.
Jeremy H.
Dear Jeremy H.
What? You’ve never heard the old wive’s tale about how you’re only supposed to eat oysters during a month that has the letter “R” in it?
Mind you, this outdated bit of advice dates back to an era when refrigeration wasn’t readily available. A time when it was quite likely that oysters — freshly harvested or not — would quickly go bad in the warmer months of May, June, July or August. Which is why it was probably wise to avoid shellfish during the hot summer months way back then.
Of course, nowadays — thanks in large part to vast improvements in modern food handling techniques and technology (not to mention those enormous factory ships that prowl the seas with their own on-board refrigeration units) — you no longer have to worry if you’re offered an oyster during a month without an “R” in it. So, if you have the chance to sample some shellfish this summer, Jeremy, feel free to indulge yourself.
Me personally? I can’t stand oysters. I wouldn’t eat one of those slimy things if you held a gun to my head. Give me a bucket of fried clams anytime.
Finally, Jim S. writes in to ask:
Dear Mr. Hill:
By now, I’m sure that you’ve heard that – once again – Disney and the Muppets are doing their little dance. Jim, is this deal ever going to get done? And – if yes – what kinds of things can we finally look forward to at the parks.
Keep up the good work,
Respectfully Yours,Jim S.
Dear Jim S.
Well, you’re right. The Walt Disney Company is currently in negotiations with EM.TV & Merchandising AG (the German entertainment consortium that currently owns the Jim Henson Company) to purchase certain portions of the Henson corporation. Not the entire Jim Henson Company, mind you. Just the rights to the Muppet characters themselves as well as the 600 or so hours of motion pictures and television programs that JHC has in its film library.
So — should this deal actually go down — what would this acquisition mean to the Disney theme parks? Well, for starters, the Imagineers are hoping that — once this deal is finally signed off on (which could come as early as the tail end of April / the first few weeks of May) — that they can immediately begin work on changing DCA’s defunct “Superstar Limo” into “Miss Piggy’s Superstar Limo.” Where guests will board a stylized version of a limousine for a trip through a Muppet-ized version of Tinsel Town. This revamped ride would come to its conclusion when Disneyland Resort visitors would arrive at the big Hollywood premiere of a film starring the one, the only Miss Piggy.
So what exactly would this proposed change-out of “Superstar Limo” involve? Well, as of this moment, the plan is that the ride system for this Hollywood Pictures Backlot attraction is supposed to remain the same. Likewise the ride vehicles and the track layout. Thankfully, the rest of this much maligned DCA attraction is slated for demolition. The ride’s original 2D sets will be torn out and those minimum-tronic figures of Drew Carey, Regis Philbin, and Cher are headed straight for the recycling bin.
Look for “Miss Piggy’s Superstar Limo” (provided that it actually goes forward) to feature a whole new set of sets, not to mention a wide selection of full-sized Muppet figures. More importantly, expect this radically revised version of this Hollywood Pictures Backlot attraction to have all the style and wit that the original “Superstar Limo” lacked.
Mind you, this all depends on Disney actually being able to close the deal with EM.TV to acquire the Jim Henson Company. And — given that the Mouse has managed to screw up this deal several times before — well … I won’t actually believe that the Muppets have become part of the Disney family until I see the Kermit the Frog walk-around character strolling around DCA, signing autographs for tourists.
Once that happens, I’ll feel better about telling you all about the “Miss Piggy’s Superstar Limo” clones that are reportedly headed for Disney-MGM in Florida and Disney Studios theme park in Paris. Not to mention how the “Days of Swine and Roses” character show may be end up revived for staging inside the “Goofy’s Beach Party Bash” theater at Disney’s California Adventure theme park.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves now, shall we, Jim S.? Once Disney finally finalizes its deal with EM.TV & Merchanding AG, THEN we’ll talk. Okay?
Well, that’s enough for this week, folks. Have a great weekend, okay?
jrh