5/10: 50th Launch Aftermath

[Al Lutz]

Fireworks & Parade Tweaks, Merchandise Shortages, DCA Still Struggles, More... Discuss it here!

[NTSC Mickey]

Re: 50th Launch Aftermath

Another perfect update, Al. Thank you.

[JiminyCricketFan]

Great job as usual!! I am hoping for an additional Mission: Space announcement in July. I know that it is a far-out, long shot, but I can hope, can't I? :o

[testtrack321]

Al, it's lines like these why I love your site....

And though many retired Disneyland executives like Ron Dominguez returned for the May 4th party and marveled at how stunning Disneyland's cosmetic turnaround has proven to be, somehow the party invitations for Paul Pressler and Cynthia Harriss were lost in the mail. In fact, not a single executive from the Paul Pressler regime was in attendance at the event. Now that it's perfectly acceptable, and even encouraged in some cases, for TDA suits to acknowledge the sins of the past 9 years and try to atone for them in Paul and Cynthia's absence, it seems those two former TDA inhabitants were the only ones to not get the notice that all the old Anaheim executives were invited back to Disneyland for the 50th kickoff.

I'm sure Paul and Cynthia had plenty of jeans to fold anyway.

Ouch, burn man! As they say, revenge is a dish best served cold! Thanks for the update.

Also, to add, I saw a video the PoD (what's with the titles of the parades these days? Tapestry of Nations, Tapestry of Dreams, Parade of Dreams, etc...) and I agree that the show stops really do suck and they are very long. I think the floats should stop, do their small thing, then roll on. Like the Lion King float, about 1/4 of the show stop nothing is happening. They should just cut it out. Have the floats stop, the tree rise, have the girls spin, characters run around, then move on. It removes all the crap and adds emphasis on what is important, the cool things on the float.

[Carlarella]

Brilliant! Awesome!

Great job as usual!! I am hoping for an additional Mission: Space announcement in July. I know that it is a far-out, long shot, but I can hope, can't I? :o

Oh, how incredibly sweeeet would that be? Honestly, that's the sort of thing that they need to do to really spruce up Tomorrowland. Too bad they can't find a place for that sort of thing in DCA. Maybe Mickey's Philharmagic could be squeezed in next to Condor Flats?...Hey, it could happen!

A new Star Tours would be great, too, but I hope that they keep the current (ie. classic) tour going as well. Sometimes it's just fun to recite along under your breath, y'know?

I am so excited about all of this. It's like I'm getting a home makeover!

[Dustysage]

Al, I'm right with you on the parade stops. They suck and take away from an otherwise ok parade. Pump up the music and keep the parade moving!

[Athlonacon]

The serious consideration being given to a new version of the PeopleMover, as well as moving the rockets back up on top of the PeopleMover loading station. And with George Lucas hinting broadly at Star Tours updates and WDI scrambling to finish their Star Tours 2.0 concepts for presentation to Jay Rasulo and Bob Iger next month, by the middle of July there could be quite a few things to announce for Tomorrowland.

Dare we say it could even be considered a New Tomorrowland project all over again?

There's also the new monorail fleet and Space Mountain to consider in this New Tomorrowland. Combined with the new paint job, the new and updated rides in the past 2 years and all the updates and remodelling, I think it might be even *more* of a New Tomorrowland than the 1998 thing. It really shows Matt Ouimett's showmanship to not acknowledge this transformation as a "New Tomorrowland". Whereas Pressler slapped on some rust brown paint, took out a few rides and marketed it as the "New Tomorrowland", Matt has done WAY more and he isn't even acknowledging it as anything but a set of new rides! Matt's New Tomorrowland is much more justified in calling it that, but it seems he's not remodelling Tomorrowland just for an excuse to make a press event.

Now, after all the new projects if they can just replace Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (highly appropriate name by the way) and do something more innovative with Innoventions then Tomorrowland might be an interesting place to visit once again. It'll never be back to the 1987 incarnation, but with years of fine tuning after this New Tomorrowland is done, it might come close.

[fanofwalt]

50th Ears

There were plenty of 50th Anniversary Golden Ear hats at DL on Sunday 5/8; however, if you wanted yours personalized with a name, the wait was 2-3 hours. We were told to "go on 4 or 5 rides and then check back with us to see if it's ready". The delay was due to the new automatic embroidery machines, which take considerably longer to personalize.

On a related note, do the new hats denote that all wearers are Disney retirees?

[mickhyperion]

My hat's off to Al this week. I've been critical of his last couple of updates, but this one was well done throughout. Good job.

[Lady Peg]

Al ~ fabulous recap! Right on! We had thought the same thing about the 'show stops'...the only time we can remember that working at all was during the Party Gras parade years ago. (That is one of our all-time favorites....).

Imagine putting Tomorrowland's icons back where they belong! The rocket on top! The subs underwater...the People Mover back on track! What a concept! I do miss the sky buckets, too...but don't want to open THAT can of worms!

Thanks for keeping us posted on all the ins and outs of what's happening! While TDA will never publicly give us actual attendance counts, it's nice to know we can get the scoop right here!

Thanks, Al!

[Al Vernon]

I loved the smarmy comments about Pressler and Harris having their invitations lost in the mail.

You just know that Paul Pressler is watching the old Disneyland execs on television and wondering how in the world a little nobody like Al Lutz ever got the best of him.

[nish221]

Thanks for the update, Al!
Yup, I also have the 50th hangover, but for me, it's still an "after-glow"! :-)
(I can't wait till I get there in July!)

Yes, I think that DLR folks are in the rights to be aware that mid-July is going
to be an even "worse" version of what 5-5-05 when it comes to APs! Nice to
hear that they realize this. Also thanks for the nice pic from the Gallery. And
the explanation of what's going on w/ the Subs.

I'm really curious as to the design for the PM2 though...

[BigDaddyKyle]

Great update, AL, Can't wait to hear more about the 50th!

[Orcatime]

No surprise Paul and Cynthia weren't there, and if Eisner WAS booed, think of the reception those two would have gotten from the crowd.

[TDLFAN]

Al,
You and the crew did an excellent job this past week. THANK YOU.

[wolfy]

As always....Thanks Al!

[BDBopper]

Great update Al. I've been reading your updates for awhile. I want to make sure you know that thye are definitely appreciated.

I thought the analysis on the crowds were fascinating. Is it just me or does it seem like Kisneyland is doing things in a differant way than the other Disney pars as far as the celebration goes? Don't get me wrong I think it is great what Disneyland is doing. Yes there are new parades and attractions at Disneyland but it seems that most of the exhibits, the fireworks, and the sprucing up all cater to the people that have been to Disneyland before and continue to return time and time again (AP's and others). Meanwhile the emphasis at other Disney theme parks is getting people to spend their vacations at the differant resorts with all new rides and attractions.

For example the fireworks are very well done but if you have come to the park for the very first time, the soundtrack during the majority of the show probably won't mean anything to them (especially the pieces from attractions that are not there anymore).

[BoneDaddy]

There were plenty of 50th Anniversary Golden Ear hats at DL on Sunday 5/8; however, if you wanted yours personalized with a name, the wait was 2-3 hours. We were told to "go on 4 or 5 rides and then check back with us to see if it's ready". The delay was due to the new automatic embroidery machines, which take considerably longer to personalize.

Now there's progress for you.

[xfkirsten]

I must be one of the few who actually likes the show stops. When they're well thought out I think they add a lot to an otherwise generic parade.

That being said, I think that really only the Lion King and Pinocchio show stops are well-thought out. The others just seem pointless. I really like the idea of adding acrobats into the show. I also like that, while the character action is going on at the front of the float, the acrobats are going at the back of the float for folks sitting back there. I think they really should have added more in that vein to the other floats. Also, I do think the show stops run a bit long. I've noticed that the aerialists on the Lion King float spend a lot of time "changing" for the show stop, which kind of kills the momentum. IMHO, they should keep the show stops, but they need to shorten them and add something a bit more inventive to the units that are lacking.

As for Remember, I love it just the way it is! For a show as spectacular is that, I could care less about the crowd flow issues. It's worth it. I certainly hope that they do no remove any effects just to try and ease crowds.

[LeeLi]

I must be one of the few who actually likes the show stops. When they're well thought out I think they add a lot to an otherwise generic parade.

That being said, I think that really only the Lion King and Pinocchio show stops are well-thought out. The others just seem pointless. I really like the idea of adding acrobats into the show. I also like that, while the character action is going on at the front of the float, the acrobats are going at the back of the float for folks sitting back there. I think they really should have added more in that vein to the other floats. Also, I do think the show stops run a bit long. I've noticed that the aerialists on the Lion King float spend a lot of time "changing" for the show stop, which kind of kills the momentum. IMHO, they should keep the show stops, but they need to shorten them and add something a bit more inventive to the units that are lacking.

As for Remember, I love it just the way it is! For a show as spectacular is that, I could care less about the crowd flow issues. It's worth it. I certainly hope that they do no remove any effects just to try and ease crowds.

I agree,shorten the show stops but not get rid of them. I watched the performers on the trampoline on the Alice float and was suitably amused. Also, show stops give the face charecters a chance to interact with the crowd, which is very important for that five year old that got a personal greeting from a princess instead of just a wave.