Okay, I know he's been on the job for a bit, but I have to say that I am deeply impressed with Matt Ouimet. What with taking over from the two losers before him who left DL a mess, literally, he's definitely putting his stamp on the park and ensuring it's future and reputation as the theme park to beat. Why do I think so? Here are a few new happenings I read about over at miceage that Al Lutz has posted. And if the rumors are to be believed, he deserves major kudos for setting the park back on track.
1. Putting the Entertainment Dept in its place and taking away the carte blanche hold they've held on the parks, and refocussing time and money on the attractions to draw people in.
2. Reworking of the Superstar Limo attraction into a Monsters Inc. themed ride. DCA could very easily be getting a Monsters Inc. ride in the spring of 2006 that uses the original Limo vehicles. As it's currently planned, the new ride would be themed to a trip through Monstropolis as Mike and Sulley head out to look for Boo who is lost in the city. While it's not as ambitious as the original Monsters Inc. plans, it would certainly be an improvement over the current ghost town that exists back in that pocket of DCA.
3. Finding Nemo version of the Submarine Voyage awaiting formal approval from Eisner and Iger for a spring 2007 opening.
4. The framework of a dramatically expanded Frontierland may be rising up from the ground behind Big Thunder Mountain.
Since Matt inherited the dusty plans for a Submarine Voyage and Superstar Limo remake from past management, this big Frontierland expansion would be something Matt would oversee from inception to completion. And with a major new E Ticket, plus a snazzy family-friendly D Ticket and an atmospheric C Ticket included in this ambitious Frontierland plan, it would really allow Matt to put his lavish stamp on Disneyland, much like the previous Disneyland President Jack Lindquist did with Toontown, Fantasmic! and Indiana Jones in the 1990's. By fiscal year '08, or '09 at the latest, these three new Frontierland attractions would open, along with the expected new shops and restaurants surrounding them.
5. Installing new original costumes individual and unique to each land for Outdoor Vending Dept castmembers.
Instead of the generic Pressler-era uniform that all ODV Cast Members wore, the ODV cast members (CMs) on Main Street were just outfitted with colorful new uniforms that theme much better with their turn of the century surroundings. The new Main Street ODV uniforms are more formal, with collared shirts, bow ties, and even straw boaters. And there will be more of that to come for the ODV CM's all around Disneyland, with uniforms that fit in better with the other Stores, Foods and Attractions CM's that wear heavily themed "costumes" that fit their specific area.
6. The refurbishment and new paint applied to attractions and buildings. You can definitely see what they're working on and it just brings a smile to your heart knowing the original Kingdom is getting a real good one over.
1. Putting the Entertainment Dept in its place and taking away the carte blanche hold they've held on the parks, and refocussing time and money on the attractions to draw people in.
2. Reworking of the Superstar Limo attraction into a Monsters Inc. themed ride. DCA could very easily be getting a Monsters Inc. ride in the spring of 2006 that uses the original Limo vehicles. As it's currently planned, the new ride would be themed to a trip through Monstropolis as Mike and Sulley head out to look for Boo who is lost in the city. While it's not as ambitious as the original Monsters Inc. plans, it would certainly be an improvement over the current ghost town that exists back in that pocket of DCA.
3. Finding Nemo version of the Submarine Voyage awaiting formal approval from Eisner and Iger for a spring 2007 opening.
4. The framework of a dramatically expanded Frontierland may be rising up from the ground behind Big Thunder Mountain.
Since Matt inherited the dusty plans for a Submarine Voyage and Superstar Limo remake from past management, this big Frontierland expansion would be something Matt would oversee from inception to completion. And with a major new E Ticket, plus a snazzy family-friendly D Ticket and an atmospheric C Ticket included in this ambitious Frontierland plan, it would really allow Matt to put his lavish stamp on Disneyland, much like the previous Disneyland President Jack Lindquist did with Toontown, Fantasmic! and Indiana Jones in the 1990's. By fiscal year '08, or '09 at the latest, these three new Frontierland attractions would open, along with the expected new shops and restaurants surrounding them.
5. Installing new original costumes individual and unique to each land for Outdoor Vending Dept castmembers.
Instead of the generic Pressler-era uniform that all ODV Cast Members wore, the ODV cast members (CMs) on Main Street were just outfitted with colorful new uniforms that theme much better with their turn of the century surroundings. The new Main Street ODV uniforms are more formal, with collared shirts, bow ties, and even straw boaters. And there will be more of that to come for the ODV CM's all around Disneyland, with uniforms that fit in better with the other Stores, Foods and Attractions CM's that wear heavily themed "costumes" that fit their specific area.
6. The refurbishment and new paint applied to attractions and buildings. You can definitely see what they're working on and it just brings a smile to your heart knowing the original Kingdom is getting a real good one over.
