Walt Disney – A Magical Life

[mickEblu]

Looks like a talented designer made do with a restrictive, odd space.

I would have removed the “two dramatic theater presentations” and made the “Now Featuring” a little bigger. Then fill in the space if necessary with some of that artwork in whatever way it needed to be placed around the words.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I would have removed the “two dramatic theater presentations” and made the “Now Featuring” a little bigger. Then fill in the space if necessary with some of that artwork in whatever way it needed to be placed around the words.

Going further: Remove "OPERA HOUSE" because the Opera House already says "Opera House."

Replace "OPERA HOUSE" with "NOW OPEN" and you don't need the "NOW" in "NOW FEATURING"

And use big initial caps as needed rather then all caps: LIKE THIS

Then there's room to expand the names of the attractions rather than use the really tight kerning.

 

[Too Many Hats]

I love it. The blue really pops. And I appreciate that Walt and Abe are given equal billing.

Noticed the sign was down last night; they must’ve installed it overnight.

 

[D.Silentu]

I’m glad they chose to rotate the two shows. The technical side of that really intrigues me. I wonder if the switch will require a brief down time between showings. I presume that A Magical Life will begin with a multimedia portion before the animatronic is revealed. Perhaps the length of the multimedia portions will be adjusted to cover the time it takes for the stage to switch.

 

[Disney Irish]

I’m glad they chose to rotate the two shows. The technical side of that really intrigues me. I wonder if the switch will require a brief down time between showings. I presume that A Magical Life will begin with a multimedia portion before the animatronic is revealed. Perhaps the length of the multimedia portions will be adjusted to cover the time it takes for the stage to switch.

I imagine its a rotating set underneath the stage so its easy to rotate the show without a lot of downtime, only having to change the show program for the multimedia package which is easy.

 

[D.Silentu]

I thought as much. I wonder if it’s a more complicated situation due to the advanced animatronics.

 

[Disney Irish]

I thought as much. I wonder if it’s a more complicated situation due to the advanced animatronics.

Lincoln was already rising from underneath the stage, so I can't see an issue where they can't put a rotating set down there too. Other than maybe needing to extend the stage in order to incorporate the duel sets.

 

[D.Silentu]

I never realized that he rose from beneath the stage. The show was already more technically dynamic that I gave it credit for.

 

[Disney Irish]

I never realized that he rose from beneath the stage. The show was already more technically dynamic that I gave it credit for.

Someone can correct me if I'm remembering that wrong, but yeah that is what I always understood that him and the chair rise from beneath the stage before the curtain opens.

And that the rumor for this refurb was they were expanding out the area beneath the stage in order to hold both sets so they could rotate. Again someone can correct me if I'm remembering that wrong.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Quick, we need a Mr. Lincoln uber-nerd to definitively tell us if he rises from below or is just always sitting there behind the screen! Reveal yourself!

I do know that American Adventure works like that, with all of the figures and scenery rising up onto the stage from below when it's time for each part to perform.

As for the sign: I like it. I do. It doesn't look like something they just phoned in, which I appreciate. But it's just a little too busy, there's a little too much going on. Sometimes less really is more.

 

[SuddenStorm]

I was given a private tour of Lincoln about 8 years ago- got to touch the figure and went under the stage.

There wasn't a lift mechanism. And I feel like that's something that would have been both obvious, and emphasized by the person giving the tour if there was. A maintenance guy was down there also and talked to us for abit, and again nothing about a lift.

And based on how all the tubing looked under the stage, I don't see how a lift would have been feasible.

And here's a Lincoln fun fact- the paper he's holding was signed by a few of the team that led the project bringing back the show, including Tony Baxter and Kim Irvine.

 

[SuddenStorm]

I'm just now realizing this Walt show isn't temporary.

This feels a bit like the 'Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island' where the want to retheme, but know if they fully commit the fans will be livid.

At least this is more tactful then most of their other recent offerings.

 

[Parteecia]

Quick, we need a Mr. Lincoln uber-nerd to definitively tell us if he rises from below or is just always sitting there behind the screen! Reveal yourself!

Back in the '70s we sometimes had our union meetings in there. The curtain was open so our reps could use the stage and he was sitting slumped over (which made for some dark jokes).

 

[Disney Irish]

Thank you to several of you for correcting me, I must be remembering something else or a rumor that didn't happen (or yet to happen)

Well guess someone is going to have to go to the D23 event on the 18th and ask Imagineers how they are going to do the rotation from a technical aspect. Or hopefully MC or some other Disney site will think to ask and we'll get the answer.

 

[TP2000]

Going further: Remove "OPERA HOUSE" because the Opera House already says "Opera House."

Replace "OPERA HOUSE" with "NOW OPEN" and you don't need the "NOW" in "NOW FEATURING"

Exactly! I noticed the double Opera House problem immediately. It's too busy in the middle, but I've certainly seen worse signage pop up in the parks the past decade or so. At least they didn't misspell any words this time!

All that said.... Count me among those who was weary when this was first announced, but am mildly interested and hopeful now.

I'm heading to La Jolla for a few weeks after the 4th and family will be there, but my sister and her sons/wives no longer have any desire to do Disneyland (they used to be fans, but are over it now). Do I dare drive up there for a day on my own and see this new show, plus do a nit-picky, white-glove visit to the park where I find churro cart hand wash sinks not up to snuff (a funny story from another current thread) and document all the Attraction Hosts that look like greasy bearded bikers instead of clean-cut surfers? That could be fun!

I'll probably wait to see the reactions to this show online, but I have half a mind to make a ticket reservation the third week of July. Hmm.....

 

[PiratesMansion]

This feels a bit like the 'Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island' where the want to retheme, but know if they fully commit the fans will be livid.

Or Haunted Mansion Holiday.

I have to think they know that this show only has so long before the crowds it attracts becomes indistinguishable from Lincoln's, so they figure that at least some of the time they could have something there they feel better about, or that's more modern, or that they feel like they put their "personal touch" on.

 

[Too Many Hats]

It could be worse, may I remind you of what the same company did to the French theatre marquee at Epcot that shows two presentations?

I just looked this up. Horrendous.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

but I have half a mind to make a ticket reservation the third week of July. Hmm.....

I was just there - Disneyland is in good shape! Lots of Main Street vehicles operating - 3 trains running the railroad again.

The cannons are working on rise again - along with ever iffy effects. I may have just gotten luck but all fog effects on Indy and Big Thunder were working as well.

Paint the Night is great to see again - lots of great live entertainment.

biggest mess that I noticed is counter service restaurants focus on efficiency over everything else. High prices and CM’s barking orders telling you exactly how to stand in line - the rules change. I literally saw 2 CM’s arguing about where i and other guests stand to wait to order food at hungry bear - it was ridiculous.

 

[Parteecia]

Exactly! I noticed the double Opera House problem immediately. It's too busy in the middle, but I've certainly seen worse signage pop up in the parks the past decade or so. At least they didn't misspell any words this time!

All that said.... Count me among those who was weary when this was first announced, but am mildly interested and hopeful now.

I'm heading to La Jolla for a few weeks after the 4th and family will be there, but my sister and her sons/wives no longer have any desire to do Disneyland (they used to be fans, but are over it now). Do I dare drive up there for a day on my own and see this new show, plus do a nit-picky, white-glove visit to the park where I find churro cart hand wash sinks not up to snuff (a funny story from another current thread) and document all the Attraction Hosts that look like greasy bearded bikers instead of clean-cut surfers? That could be fun!

I'll probably wait to see the reactions to this show online, but I have half a mind to make a ticket reservation the third week of July. Hmm.....

Let me know if you need a beard.

 

[DCBaker]

Walt Disney Imagineering has shared a behind-the-scenes look at creating the attraction poster for “Walt Disney - A Magical Life”: