First up, Trey S. writes in to ask:
Hi Jim
A quick Why For for ya. I had a great time riding Expedition Everest last weekend at the preview. But one thing really perplexed me as I drove into the parking lot at Animal Kingdom that morning…why oh why didn’t they finish the back side of the mountain? This seems like such bad show, they had to know you were going to be able to see the thing from the parking lot. Any ideas?
Dear Trey S.
Yeah, admittedly the back of Forbidden Mountain doesn’t look all that hot from DAK’s parking lot. And I’ll bet that everyone from Joe Rohde (I.E. Animal Kingdom‘s lead designer) down to the hourly cast member who works the cash register at Serka Zong Bazaar knows this too.
But right now, the backside of this new DAK thrill ride isn’t really the top priority, Trey. Making sure that the cast is properly trained to run “Expedition Everest” (So that at least 1800 guests can then be safely and efficiently moved through this attraction each hour), making sure that all of those additional show effects are properly installed, not to mention making sure that EE is properly broken in and (more importantly) ready to go for its grand opening in April … THOSE are the top priorities for all the folks working on “Expedition Everest” right now.
I guarantee you, Trey, that once EE is finally officially open and this attraction is deemed a success … THEN the Imagineers will turn their attention to the backside of Forbidden Mountain. See if there’s enough money left in the budget to properly camouflage this enormous show building. Though I’d imagine that a single can of Look-Away-Grey paint isn’t going to cut it in this particular case.
FYI: That really is the name of the paint that Disney uses to paint the backside of all of its theme park show buildings. I’m told that it actually comes in two shades: Look-Away-Grey and Go-Away-Green. Anyway …
Next up, Karen checks in to ask:
Hi Jim,
Last week, I took my 8yr old son to Disneyland for a few days for some special one-on-one time together. He absolutely loves trains. So we waited at the Main Street station to be able to ride in the tender with the engineers. Wow, what an experience. Not just the different view of the park and seeing the interior of the engine, but getting to talk to those guys for the whole ride!
We were talking (with the engineers) about the history of the parks and the differences between WDW and DL. And I said that although I’ve been to WDW many more times than DL since I live on the east coast, I really prefer Walt’s original park. And that if only DL had a Test Track and a Mission: Space, it would be about perfect.
One of them told me that they had recently had some Imagineers riding with them who told them that Test Track was indeed coming to DL. To DCA, actually. Kind of behind DCA in the space that is now the Timon parking lot. That it would probably be breaking ground in 2007 or 2008. If this is true, I’ll be thrilled, but have you heard anything about this? They also said that around that same time, DCA was to get a complete overhaul, even changing the name, since it hadn’t been very well-received by the public.
That sounds kind of extreme to me, have you heard anything about this?
Thanks for any additional information you may have, I just love your site!
Karen
Dear Karen:
These engineers were probably talking about the “Cars” -themed attraction that the Imagineers have been toying with adding to DCA. As I understand it, this proposed addition to California Adventure would basically be a souped-up version of Disneyland‘s Autopia. One that would supposedly feature some of the more thrilling aspects of Epcot‘s “GM Test Track,” but — at the same time — basically be a family-friendly attraction.
Of course, that was before John Lasseter came on board as WDI’s new Principal Creative Advisor. And given that John has issued his “No more mediocre attractions” edict … Well, chances are that the proposed budget for DCA’s “Cars” -themed ride just got a very healthy boost. More importantly, that the plans for this would-be California Adventure addition are now being revisited. With the hope that this proposed attraction can then meet Mr. Lasseter’s exacting standards.
So — if I had to make a prediction right now, Karen — I’d say that a 2008 ground-breaking for DCA’s “Cars” -themed attraction would probably seem more likely. Given that WDI’s top priority right now isn’t what new rides & shows should be added to DCA. But — rather — what should be done with that entire theme park. What the Imagineers can do to make California Adventure that much more appealing to Southern California locals as well as tourists in general.
As for that complete overhaul / name change that you talked about … One of the concepts that’s supposedly being considered is that Disneyland becomes the home to just the Disney characters while DCA becomes the home to just the Pixar characters.
Of course, the problem with that plan is — given the tens of millions of dollars that the Disney Company has just poured in the construction of “Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters” as well as the on-going work on the new “Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage” attraction — it would be hard to believe that the Mouse would suddenly turn its back on an investment of that size. Just so all of the Pixar-themed attractions could then be grouped together over at California Adventure.
But then again, “It’s Tough to Be a Bug,” “Flik’s Fun Fair,” “Turtle Talk with Crush,” “Block Party Bash” (I.E. DCA’s daily street party that stars ” … your Pixar film pals!”) and the recently opened “Monsters, Inc. — Mike & Sulley to the Rescue” are already up & running over at California Adventure. So this troubled theme park already has a very strong Pixar presence.
So now (I guess) the big question is … Would the “You can only see the Pixar characters if you go over to California Adventure” gimmick actually be enough to boost DCA’s attendance levels? More to the point, given his well-known love of Disneyland, would John Lasseter really go for an idea that would deliberately keep the Pixar characters out of “The Happiest Place on Earth”? All as part of a last ditch effort to save/revive California Adventure? Somehow, I don’t think so.
Let me do a little more poking around here, Karen. Call a few friends at WDI and see what else I can find out.
In the meantime, Travis R. writes in to say:
Jim:
I enjoyed your article on the changes at PI for 2006. I was fortunate enough to participate in the WDW College Program (in the) Summer (of) ’89 and your article resurrected memories of all of the fun that my friends and I had at PI. We remember XFR’s Beach Club, the cowgirl riding a real horse around the island “shooting” shots (liquor) for guests, the lighted Jessica Rabbit over the old gift shop, and especially the Comedy Warehouse. One of our favorite skits was the parody of a day at Walt Disney World. There were skits including the characters of “it’s a small world,” and other truly funny and irreverent looks on the guest experience.
I wonder, if with your connections, you might be able to secure a script or rundown of some of that old act, now forbidden. Matter of fact, I think I remember from somewhere that it might have been called “Forbidden Disney.” Anyway, thank you for your columns, they are very enjoyable.
Respectfully,
Travis R.
Birmingham, AL
Dear Travis:
You know, I’m kind of ashamed to admit this. But — while I was actually on hand for the grand opening of Disney-MGM Studio theme park in May of 1989 — I was back up in New England by the time Pleasure Island had finally officially opened a month later. And then — by the time I got back down to Disney World in December of that same year — the “Forbidden Disney” show had already been discontinued. And in its place, the Comedy Warehouse had begun running improv sets instead.
Still, I’ve heard from various PI vets that some of the shorter skits from the original “Forbidden Disney” show were occasionally folded into the improv sets that were presented at the Comedy Warehouse. I recall one bit in particular where two performers — illuminated only by flashlight — played tourists trying to find their rental car in a pitch-black Disney parking lot.
But as for the full-blown version of “Forbidden Disney” … Sorry, Travis. I never got to see that. Mind you, I’ve had WDW cast members describe — in painfully funny detail — the “World of Crotons” sketch (Which managed to send up each & every Epcot pavilion) as well as the “Casey at the Park” poem (Which depicted — in verse, no less! — one man’s attempt to ride every single attraction at every Disney theme park in Florida in a single day). But that’s not like actually having seen the really-for-real show.
Soooo … I don’t suppose that some kind JHM reader out there ever made a tape of the “Forbidden Disney” stage show? And — if so — I don’t suppose that they’d then be willing to send me a copy of that tape?
Better yet, I don’t suppose that some nice Pleasure Island vet has a copy of the original “Forbidden Disney” script that they’d like to lend me? My understanding is that Michael Eisner — after attending a late-in-the-game dress rehearsal — actually ordered that a number of the show’s funnier sketches be cut. All because Disney’s then-CEO either didn’t get the jokes and/or because Eisner worried that some of the skits made too many jokes at the expense of Disney World’s paying customers.
Anyway … Here’s hoping that some nice JHM reader out there can come through with this material that I’m looking for. I’d dearly love to be able to write a story someday about Pleasure Island’s “Forbidden Disney” show.
Next up, TJ writes in to ask:
… a question I’ve been meaning to ask for a while. Are the two main characters of John Lasseter’s “Toy Story,” Buzz and Woody, a reference to the team from SDI, Buzz Harrison and Woody (C.V. Wood), who did–well, you know what they did. From a Disney geek like Lassester, this pairing seems too unique not to be an intentional reference to the men who did the land use and site report for Disneyland in 1953 and 1954.
Dear T.J.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I mean, that’s definitely an intriguing theory and all. But — based on conversations that I’ve had with several Pixar vets — Buzz Lightyear and Woody don’t have any ties to (respectively) Harrison “Buzz” Price & C.V. “Woody” Wood (I.E. The two gentlemen from the Stanford Research Institute who actually did the initial site survey work for Walt’s Disneyland project). It’s just an (admittedly bizarre) co-incidence that these “Toy Story” characters share the same names as these Disney Legends.
But here are two very cool “Toy Story” -related pieces of trivia that you may not know:
1) Care to guess which actor was Pixar’s first choice for the voice of Buzz Lightyear? Would you believe Billy Crystal, the veteran comic who would eventually provide Mike Wazowski’s voice in “Monsters, Inc” ?
Pixar really went out of its way to try & woo Billy for this role in “Toy Story.” Even going so far as to put together a piece of test animation (Which actually starred a very earlier version of Buzz Lightyear. Back when this character was still called Lunar Larry) that was done to dialogue that Pixar’s animators had culled from Crystal’s 1989 hit, “When Harry Met Sally.”
But in the end … Billy just didn’t get “Toy Story.” He didn’t understand the appeal of this proposed CG project. Which is why Crystal turned down the role and Tim Allen then wound up as the voice of Buzz Lightyear.
As you might expect, Billy eventually came to really regret this decision. Which is why the very next time Pixar came calling, Crystal immediately said “Yes.” Which is how Billy wound up playing Mike Wazowski.
2) Getting back to Buzz Lightyear now: Who do you suppose inspired the final look of everyone’s favorite toy astronaut? Would you believe that it was Disney’s new Big Cheese, John Lasseter?
Strange but true, folks. You see — back in the days when the artists at Pixar were initially boarding this film and still trying to get a handle on Buzz — John would stride into the room and say: “No! He’s got to look more heroic. Buzz should stand like this.” And Lasseter would then strike a heroic pose and the storyboard artists would quickly sketch him.
And — eventually, over time — that’s how Buzz Lightyear began to look like a lot like John. From Lasseter’s slightly oval face right down to his somewhat pointy chin.
Anywho … In our final question from this week’s JHM mailbag, Lauren H. writes in to ask:
Hey Jim,
I’ve been wondering what Dan Lund and Tony West are up to lately. What’s going on with “Dream on Silly Dreamer” ? Will it ever be released on DVD?
Thanks in advance,
Lauren
Lauren:
It’s funny that you should bring this up now. Just last week, I got an e-mail from Tony West. He wanted to let me know that he & Dan Lund’s film about the demise of Disney’s traditional animation unit will soon be available on DVD. In fact, according to Amazon.com, the DVD version of “Dream On Silly Dreamer” actually goes on sale on February 14th! Which will be a really sweet valentines present for all you animation fans out there.
Soooo … If you missed your chance to see this remarkable little movie while it was out on the film festival circuit, now you can own your very own copy. It’s like a “Dream” come true, don’t you think?
Of course, what would be a real dream come true would be if John Lasseter were to actually revive Disney’s traditional animation unit. And according to the rumors that have been bouncing around Burbank this week … That may happen. And sooner rather than later.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here, people. That’s a story that’s best saved for another time. Like — say — maybe next week here at JHM?
Anyhow … That’s pretty much it for this week here at JimHillMedia.com. Except for a private message for Brian. Which reads: “Sure. I’d be happy to look at that. Please send it along.”
See you folks next Monday morning. When JHM rolls out its very next edition of “MouseWatch.”
Til then, have a great weekend, okay?