Celestial Dreamin' - Game Thread

[Lizzy May Bee]

Team Stella has won...
Privacy.

Team Stella gets a private brainstorming thread.

The members of Team Stella will be added to the other teams brainstorming threads so they can spy on them (but they are not allowed to comment on anything, just spying).

Team Stella, enjoy your privacy

We’ll be watching…

 

[Pi on my Cake]

We’ll be watching…

 

[Twilight_Roxas]

This looks very interesting.

 

[Pi on my Cake]

Our story begins where our last story ended, with Lemon Bird's attack!

Our heroes need help!

Time to call in reinforcements!

With some translation help, Skipper Pi and O.B. were able to explain the situation to C.C. (Captain Cacao).

With that, they all ran away to escape on the Moonship!​

 

[Lizzy May Bee]

Our story begins where our last story ended, with Lemon Bird's attack!

Our heroes need help!

Time to call in reinforcements!

With some translation help, Skipper Pi and O.B. were able to explain the situation to C.C. (Captain Cacao).

With that, they all ran away to escape on the Moonship!​

Oscar worthy

 

[TheOriginalTiki]

 

[Outbound]

RIZEMA

 

[Lizzy May Bee]

Pssst hey Team Helios this is just for you, you wouldn’t BELIEVE what Team Luna is doing okay now Team Luna this is for you, you wouldn’t BELIEVE what Team Helios is doing

 

[Architectural Guinea Pig]

Pssst hey Team Helios this is just for you, you wouldn’t BELIEVE what Team Luna is doing okay now Team Luna this is for you, you wouldn’t BELIEVE what Team Helios is doing

This thread in about 8 hours:

 

[Lizzy May Bee]

This thread in about 8 hours:

I can not confirm nor deny that this will happen

 

[Twilight_Roxas]

XD

 

[Half/CartoonHalf/Human]

Pssst hey Team Helios this is just for you, you wouldn’t BELIEVE what Team Luna is doing okay now Team Luna this is for you, you wouldn’t BELIEVE what Team Helios is doing

I don't like where this is going.

 

[ThemeParkPriest]

presents
Kaiju Kingdom at Universal Studios Japan

 

[Lizzy May Bee]

Proudly Presents…

Reading Music:
​

As part of their ongoing collaboration with Nintendo, Universal has just made a surprise announcement that the dreamlike world of Kirby will be featured in the upcoming Universal Kids Resort. With a familiar A-Ticket in the form of new PowerUp Band integration, a kinetic C-Ticket known as Tilt ‘N’ Tumble, and an exciting E-Ticket in the first ever family flying coaster entitled Kirby Air Ride, Kirby’s Dreamland will be sure to delight! Click on the map below to find out more:

​

 

[AceAstro]

Proudly presents…

 

[Pi on my Cake]

I look forward to diving into your projects! Reviews and Results should all come early tomorrow afternoon with a Podcast discussing the project tomorrow evening (Likely 8 EST, but timing is not settled yet)

The good news is that there will be no eliminations this round after all! Two of our imagineers have decided to voluntarily step away from the Moonship and end their time with the game.

@Lord Fozzinator & @PerGron have officially dropped out of the game, but are more than welcome to stay on as guest judges or stay involved in anyway they'd like. Two extremely talented imagineers who I look forward to working with again in the future!

Since there are no other eliminations this round, I won't wait for reviews to start the next Voyage. Also, as the cast shrinks and availability for some players change we are going to divide into two new teams! All of that should start shortly!​

 

[Pi on my Cake]

Welcome to the Third Galaxy

Celestial Dreamin' will be divided into 6 Wondrous Galaxies with each new Galaxy adding a new twist or element to the gameplay.

The third Galaxy we encounter is named: The Waterworld Galaxy! Named after Universal Studio's 1995's Kevin Costner's Waterworld! A genre defining blockbuster hit that set the world on fire by being the most expensive movie ever made at the time. I should clarify that by "blockbuster hit" I mean that it famously failed at the box office and only eventually made a profit years later through home media sales (see, before streaming ruined the whole studio system, VHS/DVD were considered an integral pillar of the movie making business and a key avenue to allow riskier movies to make a profit and the move to streaming is why now only franchise films are considered feasible 90% of the time)

There will be 2 Imagineering Expeditions in this galaxy with a focus on building something great from something so-so. Waterworld despite costing what was considered an absolutely insane ridiculous amount of money (or roughly what RDJ is about to be paid for the next Avengers), was not seen as a great movie. It is looked back on a bit more fondly now, but still only has a 60% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 44% from audiences. Consensus is cool ideas, but not well executed. Ok at best. Despite this, Universal based a stunt show off of it that has been so popular, beloved, and successful that the show has been added to nearly every Universal resort around the globe. Making something great from something bad!

There will be at least one elimination at the end of the Galaxy, but there will be rewards for the rounds before then!

Now, let's take a look at our NEW teams!

@AceAstro
@Architectural Guinea Pig
@Mr. Sullivan
@Outbound
@spacemt354
@tcool123
@ThemeParkPriest
@WaltWiz1901

@AidenRodriguez731
@Brer Panther
@Disney Warrior
@DisneyManOne
@Half/CartoonHalf/Human
@JokersWild
@Lizzy May Bee
@TheOriginalTiki ​

 

[Pi on my Cake]

Imagineering Expedition #04

Waterworld was infamously a failure of a movie. Reception from critics and audiences was mixed at best and it lost money at the box office. A huge expensive dud. BUT it made for an incredible theme park attraction.

--What you need to know--

Waterworld is not the only bad movie to make a good ride. Splash Mountain has always been a famous example of a good ride based on a bad movie. If you call Tron Legacy a bad movie in front of me I will slap you in the face, but critic reviews for Legacy are worse than Waterworld and audience scores aren't far behind, yet Lightcycle Run is an amazing coaster.

Often what matters most in taking an IP and turning it into a theme park attraction is less about the quality of the IP and more about finding the diamond in the rough. Taking what did work (no matter how small a part that is) and making it shine!

--The Prompt--

Do a Waterworld

What park you choose is up to you. Universal, Disney, Busch Gardens, Alton Towers, Iowa State Fair, etc. Any park works. All you need to do is build one attraction (mini-land around it is ok if that is what you want to do) based on a bad IP. Movie, TV Show, Video Game, Broadway Musical, whatever. As long as it stinks, you can use it!

The goal is to make one genuinely great theme park attraction based on something that genuinely was NOT good.

There will be one elimination at the end of this round from the losing team as well as a fabulous prize for the winning team!

--Team Navigators--

If your team wins, the Navigator will be granted a Golden Pizza Moon and immunity from the next Elimination.

Team Citrus - @TheOriginalTiki
Team Cocoa - @spacemt354

--When is it due?--

This project is due Wednesday, February 11th, 2026 at 11:59 pm Universal Hollywood Time
(3 am WDW Time, 2 am Six Flags over Texas Time, 5 pm the next day Tokyo Disneyland Time)

--Some Brainstorming Music--
​

 

[Pi on my Cake]

Hear more thoughts with Tiki and I tonight at 8 EST on a live podcast!

Team Stella Review​

• First Impressions
  
  • Using the Universal Kids Resort was a really inspired out of the box idea and a perfect fit for Kirby as the Nintendo franchise most focused on younger audiences (while obviously still having older fans too Kirby is great and adorable). The presentation and the art have a great colorful soft feeling that sells the Kirby style perfectly. I was worried your land would be too “big” or too “grand” for the small scale kids park, but you rode that line well and made something really fun and cute!
  • Very great map btw. Sometimes realistic hyperdetailed maps are best, but often especially in cases like this land the more stylistic map was perfect!
• Land Overview (+PowerUp Bands) - Jokers
  
  • I love the more dreamlike take on a Nintendo land and I think this works great as a compliment to the Mario version og Nintendo world. Softer lines, winding paths, flowing water, calm yet whimsical. Even having your own version of Power Up band games that puts a new twist on what IRL Universal is doing.
  • It is interesting because in many ways this land is defined and built around “Being like the Mario land but also being intentionally distinct” and usually I would feel like defining your land by a different land would be a mistake. But in this case it worked really well because despite the connections to Mario it still feels uniquely Kirby. I could go into this with no knowledge of any other parks and still enjoy this as a great Kirby land with a great interactive game!
• Tilt ‘N’ Tumble - Tiki
  
  • Love this idea for a flat ride. Kinetic and playful in a perfect way without being too intense for kids! Your write up does a great job selling both it as a set piece for the land and it as a playful ride. It feels joyful in the exact way I would want a Kirby flat ride to be! The engineer in me wants to ask questions about the safety of an unpredictable ride in a young kid’s park, but most of me just wants to ride this and go wheeeeeeeeeee yay yippee woo!
• Kirby Air Ride - Walt Wiz (Queue) & Bee
  
  • Just to get my one big negative out of the way right off the bat is that “Anchor attraction based on the kart racing spin off with a queue through the villain’s castle” is the same set up the Mario Land has and this is the one part that feels a bit similar. Obviously the execution is WAY different and it is what makes the most sense as the ride AND this being in Texas a resort without a Mario Kart ride helps it a lot to not feel repetitive. But still I need to call out the similarities as it is the only real downside here.
  • That out of the way, I REALLY love this ride and ou did a great job capturing what makes Kirby so special. A very fun way to zoom around the land and get to see all the cute sights from a new angle. Really fun ride system choice. Great selection of show scenes. Just enough dark ride elements to elevate the ride, but not so much to distract from being a fun coaster for families.
  • I don’t have a ton to say here, but that’s not a bad thing. If I wrote more it would just be synonyms for “Cool! Yay! Yippee!”
  • HAL Room was a clever touch
• Dream Buffet - DisneyManOne
  
  • Really simple and cute, but with plenty of little touches. Sometimes what makes a project shine is those little touches. The paper hats and soft color scheme. The smart selections of menu options. The passionate (and appreciated) defense of theme park buffets. The disclaimer at the end about fireballs not being guaranteed. So many little touches and “plusses” in the writing that turn a simple restaurant into a standout part of the project!
• Final Thoughts
  
  • Just like with the Hitchcock project, what makes this team shine is your writing and how well this team works together. Every aspect sells the tone and style of the land elevating a relatively simple concept. So many little touches that make the whole land feel playful, fun, and cute! And a team so in sync that it almost feels like a solo project. There are maybe a few too many similarities to Mario, but not all of those similarities are problems because this is the only Nintendo rep in Texas. Overall a really strong addition and a great project! I’ve said it once or twice already while reading but it bears repeating: Yay! Yippee!

Team Helios Review
​

• First Impressions
  
  • Slotting this into the Re-Epic Universe from Voyage Zero instead of real Epic is a very VERY fun detail and clever touch. I love that idea of going back and building on past projects!
  • There was some communication and availability issues that held the team back a bit, but despite a lot being done last minute it really turned out great and you made something special!
• Intro - Outbound
  
  • I was worried the “world collide” type set up would feel scattered or needlessly complicated, but it worked really well and sold this as a very unique and visually striking land! A world stitched together violently by dark forces. Taking the familiarity of 1990s small town horror and twisting it into something incredibly exciting and visually insane. What I was worried would make the land feel scattered instead elevated it into something really special! The writing also helps a lot to sell the tone and style for both the visual design and the excitement of it. With a smart focus on IT/Stranger Things that keep the world feeling consistent even as other Stephen King or 80s set horror icons are added in.
• Land Lore + Layout - AGP
  
  • This does a good job setting up the story for people like me who haven’t kept up with Stranger Things since it was just a show about them at the mall fighting like a few monster wolves. The Overlook Hotel/Hawkins Lab split building is a fantastic symbol for the park selling the mashup fusion nature.
• Stranger Things: The Mothergate - Ace/AGP/Outbound
  
  • First off want to say ya’ll did a great job pivoting from original plans and working together to pull this off last minute. Some great team work on display, great communication, and just a great job getting it done. If I didn’t see the behind the scenes I wouldn’t be able to guess this had three authors and was done in like 2 hours.
  • The ride vehicle feeling like a more high tech blend of ET and Dinosaur was a perfect choice and a great way to capture the 80s nostalgia driven “Kids on Bikes” genre of horror. A good exciting ride that blends thrills with a dark ride. The mash up would probably be a nightmare for the lawyers to make work but would be incredible to see!
  • My only real complaint is that it is maybe slightly fnaf heavy. Don’t get me wrong, I love fnaf and it fits really well here. Just kind of overshadows the other sections in length. But I think that slight imbalance comes mostly from the real life issues leading it being put together late in the game. But even with that issue it works really well as a ride and flows very nicely with a great sense of escalating danger and suspense!
  • I love that it feel like a solid 3 act structure with act one as the slow build with fnaf, act two as slashers start jumping out at you, and act three as Stranger Things takes you to a hellish world with larger creatures. It has a great build in a way that covers a ton of ground without feeling unfocused or scattered. I always love a well structured dark ride with a good flow. Plus with the focus on emotional journey/vibes/set pieces over story it keeps it flowing well.
  • It tells a story, but keeps the story simple resisting the temptation to add a ton of exposition. Avoiding the problem I have with many Universal rides where the characters just talk the entire time explaining every little detail. Simple is often better for a dark ride story and the focus on atmosphere and the experience is what sells this.
  • I was really getting scared with how seemingly difficult it was to get this ride off the ground, but I am happy to report that it turned out incredible and is a real stand out here!
• IT: Mad Carnevil - AGP
  
  • I don’t have a lot to say about this, but not in a bad way at all. There are so many clever effects and neat touches. I love the bait and switch of the fake circus show. I love the interactive walkthrough bits that make it feel almost like a horror version of Poseidon’s Fury. The mix of storytelling and simple circus acts and special effects. Really great show! Honestly my only complaint is that this definitely feels more like a D or even E-Ticket level experience. Which isn’t an issue you’ve done a great job on the show! Just a bit much for the limitations of the prompt which was built around working within limits. But also it is tough to complain when horror puppets are attacking guests and secret passages open up and everything here works so well!
• Night at the Overlook - Space
  
  • Space’s talent for atmospheric writing selling the environment and immersing readers in the world he creates shines in a walkthrough experience like this! This is a standout experience and a fantastic showcase of your talents!
  • Like the IT carnival, I gotta point out that this definitely feels like more than an A-Ticket. When you’re having what you describe as an “advanced animatronic” in scene 3 not even as the grand finale that is tough to call it an “A-Ticket” when you compare it to something like Tarzan Treehouse which just had statues. The attraction itself is great, but the limitation of scale was part of the challenge so it has to be called out briefly.
  • With that out of the way, that is really the only issue here. The experience is a great showcase of what makes Shining great while also just working as a great attraction pulling guests into this unsettling world. Exiting right into the bar/restaurant was an inspired choice. The pacing and the build is fantastic. The illusions ride the line between simple and grand well with so many cool touches and details. It might not be the best scene overall, but the peppers ghost “Redrum” reveal is just such a fun ghostly moment.
• The Gold Room - Outbound
  
  • I love that this feels like both a good eerie dining option as well as a perfect continuation of the walkthrough. A great way to just chill out and bask in the atmosphere of the Overlook. I love that it is not overbearing though. It would be easy to go way over the top, but the restraint you showed really helps it shine.
• Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria - Half Cartoon
  
  • A good addition to round out the land. Making it character dining was a fun touch, though maybe a bit too family focused of a concept for such a dark land. Not that fnaf needs to be for kids, but character dining usually is focused on kids. Not a bad idea, just a bit of an odd choice to have a character meal in such a dark land. What you have here is a great fnaf restaurant, but I feel like leaning more into the lore or tone of the land connecting with your team more could have elevated this into something greater and more unique. But still a very good execution on a fnaf pizzeria as is.
• Family Video - Disney Warrior
  
  • The retro video store is a perfect fit for the main gift shop theme. A simple write up, but a great choice that sells the nostalgic mash up vibe while giving it the chance to have some meta fun in the way Universal excels at. The Stranger Things connection is a good touch, but I appreciate that it can stand on its own too.
• Final Thoughts
  
  • There’s some issues with scale in terms of how it fits the prompt, but ticket levels have always been fuzzily defined and weird. Aside from that though the land is a great mash up in a way that just works so well! All my concerns about the land feel incongruous or feeling too scattered were completely unfounded. Partly due to how well this team worked together and was able to build off of each other. I often compare armchair imagineering to improv where the most important skill is being able to “Yes, and” your teammates. This team excelled at that this round.

Team Luna Review​

• First Impressions
  
  • Such a classically “Universal” feeling land with some great ideas that work as an incredible spiritual successor to Kongfrontation turned into a really fun land. I know there was some issues with availability behind the scenes, but despite being a smaller project the final result still turned out great! Goes to show that sometimes less is more
• Map with notes - TCool
  
  • Simple yet effective map. Some labels would help, but also your layout is set up so clear and cleanly that I can tell what everything is without words. Very well designed telling a story with your layout through visuals.
  • It is also nice having this section as a little preview of the land as a whole giving some bullet points of what to expect
• Intro - Panther
  
  • Love the mix of tone setting and actual land description here. Simple, yet effective. Sets the stage for a fun yet intimidating world to explore. Gets me excited to see what comes next! Only note is that a reference photo could help. I’m vaguely familiar enough with seaside Kyoto to picture what you mean, but even without time to do original art just a simple photo of the city or a screenshot of a Godzilla movie would help sell it more
• Godzilla Encounter - Priest
  
  • Usually I would say something like “Oh, this just feels like a reskinned Kongfrontation I want something more original” but honestly in this case keeping it so similar to Kongfrontation/Earthquake is what sells it. Some nice twists to make it stand on its own, but still feeling like a perfect spiritual successor that captures the magic of the original. Big train/tram rides with grand effects spectacles and oversized animatronics is Universal’s bread and butter from their classic era and making a modern take on it personalized for USJ was a great call. Perfect choice for the E-Ticket!
• Mothra: Guardian Flight - TCool
  
  • Greanhouses and gardens and unique hybrid architecture and atmospheric rides… You’re speaking my language here!
  • I was worried this would feel too big for a C-Ticket, but you keep it simple enough where it feels less like a coaster and more like just a brisk peoplemover experience. Love it!
• Shobijin Garden Snacks - TCool
  
  • Very fun snack stand with a neat popcorn flavor I would hate lol
• Kaiju Museum - Mr. Sullivan / Priest
  
  • A small movie museum is a perfect A-Ticket for Universal Studios and a good way to tie it back to the studio theme without compromising the immersive nature of the land while you are in it. Great pick here!
• Final Thoughts
  
  • A bare bones write up (though mostly due to unexpected issues affecting availability for the team), but an effective one.Though some more pictures or art or a snazzier presentation would’ve gone a long way to sell it even more even if just stuff as simple as changing page colors and adding some movie screenshots. But you hit all the highlights and did a good job communicating what makes the land special. I miss a bit of the fluff and pomp/circumstance, but honestly sometimes a simple straight forward project is best with all the fat trimmed. If you have a good idea, sometimes all the project need to do is just enough to sell it.

 

[Pi on my Cake]

The Winner of the ACE Voyage is...

Spoiler: Winner of the ACE Voyage

Team Helios!

This was a very very close race once again. The short and sweet no frills nature of Team Luna sold me on a great concept in a very effective manner. And Team Stella once again had an incredible writing style selling the tone of the land just as much as it sold the land itself. I went back and forth a lot especially between Stella and Helios. But ultimately despite some aspect being a bit larger scale than they should be, Helios just clicked for me in a way that is tough to describe. It felt unique and creative with a crazy twist that elevated the simple land concept. This really was a round close to being a tie, but ultimately Helios scared up a win.

Remember, the Navigator of the winning team gets a Golden Pizza Moon. Granting @AceAstro immunity from the next elimination.

With @PerGron and @Lord Fozzinator needing to step away from the competition, there will be no eliminations today. So, all Golden Pizza Moon holders keep their immunity still and remain safe from the next elimination​