Eddie Sotto's take on the current state of the parks

[whylightbulb]

Aaaah. Now that you mention all of this, I DO recall riding around in a Black Sedan test vehicle one hot afternoon and it threw you around in sharp turns and so forth, VERY FUN.

yes I remember that. I still don't understand why this ride system has not been implemented yet. I do vaguely remember the Test Track crew talking about it but I think they went so far over budget that they ended up cutting this function, among others, to get it open. I think many would be surprised how far into design and R&D we got for this project. As fun as the ride system was, some of the show elements we mocked up had a lot of promise as well.

 

[jt04]

yes I remember that. I still don't understand why this ride system has not been implemented yet. I do vaguely remember the Test Track crew talking about it but I think they went so far over budget that they ended up cutting this function, among others, to get it open. I think many would be surprised how far into design and R&D we got for this project. As fun as the ride system was, some of the show elements we mocked up had a lot of promise as well.

Side comment....

Building franchises around a project that involves Madonna and Beatty? Yeah that was sound judgement.

The ride was doomed not to happen the moment the movie was cast.

Next thing you know someone will cast George Clooney as the Lone Ranger and plop a animatronic likeness into the middle of Big Thunder Mountain. :brick:

 

[whylightbulb]

Side comment....

Building franchises around a project that involves Madonna and Beatty? Yeah that was sound judgement.

The ride was doomed not to happen the moment the movie was cast.

Next thing you know someone will cast George Clooney as the Lone Ranger and plop a animatronic likeness into the middle of Big Thunder Mountain. :brick:

The Disneyland stage version did pretty well. I'm not sure how it went over at Disney-MGM though. Once again, I don't think the success or failure, or who was cast in the film, would have affected the ride's popularity. It had every ingredient to make it a theme park classic.

 

[jt04]

The Disneyland stage version did pretty well. I'm not sure how it went over at Disney-MGM though. Once again, I don't think the success or failure, or who was cast in the film, would have affected the ride's popularity. It had every ingredient to make it a theme park classic.

I'm just talking about it as a franchise. The movie failed as soon as it was cast. And when the movie failed the franchise failed. And any offshoots were then destined to fail sooner or later.

 

[CaptainMichael]

Mr. Toad was also a book, although it's a stretch...... I'll be quite honest, I never really cared for that ride, and don't get the hoopla over it anyway.

Hoopla!

 

[mcjaco]

^ :lol:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I don't know if the Tracy ride would be a hit or not, I never saw the concept work, but to your point about familiarity, I had NO idea who Mr.Toad was as a kid. There was no way to see the film in the 60's as it was not in the reissue rotation (and no VHS). How many kids actually saw that short? The most obscure Ride/Film reference I can think of. Basically "Grand Theft Auto meets a Featurette".

Maybe the ride created his character, for him? I had always thought about that, seeing that he wasn't a modern character.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I'm just talking about it as a franchise. The movie failed as soon as it was cast.And when the movie failed the franchise failed. And any offshoots were then destined to fail sooner or later.

The movie itself did not fail, I don't know why you thought it did.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=dicktracy.htm

As for franchises failing it may have had to do more with Tracy along with Pretty Woman begin the only hits made by Disney in 1990 and the concern with taking risks I already brought up from Eisner's book. That an the enormous expense in making the ride.

Of course, they were ready to make a sequel to The Rocketeer before it was released.

 

[jt04]

The movie itself did not fail, I don't know why you thought it did.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=dicktracy.htm

As for franchises failing it may have had to do more with Tracy along with Pretty Woman begin the only hits made by Disney in 1990 and the concern with taking risks I already brought up from Eisner's book. That an the enormous expense in making the ride.

Of course, they were ready to make a sequel to The Rocketeer before it was released.

I guess I'll take Jeff's take on it. This is also how I remember it.

Although Disney was impressed by the opening weekend gross, studio chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg expressed disappointment. He suggested that ________ Tracy had cost about $100 million in total to produce, market and promote. "We made demands on our time, talent and treasury that, upon reflection, may not have been worth it," Katzenberg reported.[

 

[The Conundrum]

I guess I'll take Jeff's take on it. This is also how I remember it.

Although Disney was impressed by the opening weekend gross,studio chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg expressed disappointment. He suggested that ________ Tracy had cost about $100 million in total to produce, market and promote. "We made demands on our time, talent and treasury that, upon reflection, may not have been worth it," Katzenberg reported.[

The ________ Tracy saga is recalled in James Stewart's Disney War. An excellent read.

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

Now wouldn't be a good time to talk about the Titanic Attraction I thought of when I was a teenager right? :lol: :lookaroun

 

[jt04]

Now wouldn't be a good time to talk about the Titanic Attraction I thought of when I was a teenager right? :lol: :lookaroun

They are building a giant one in Pigeon Forge Tenn. So you are in luck!

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

Darnit.....*please don't steal my collapsing funnel, grand staircase idea* :zipit:

 

[jt04]

Darnit.....*please don't steal my collapsing funnel, grand staircase idea* :zipit:

Yep in 3-D.

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

My idea was PoTC, but on steroids. Guests would travel on a lifeboat along the water (in doesn't make much sense because there would be no people on the ship, and why is the lifeboat heading back into the ship?) you see the first funnel, hear the groaning sound of metal; your lifeboat floats through the open windowframes of the promenade deck and into the A deck landing where water is cascading down the Grand Staircase, the lights flicker a bit, and you hear the sound of the funnel collapsing and then a deluge of water (Catastrophe Canyon style) pouring out through the dome and spraying guests in the lifeboat.

The only experience I have in environment work is concepting environment ad spaces as a Jr. Art Director...but I hope to movie onto bigger things.

Even though my team didn't make it into the finals for the 2009 ImagiNations Contest, we are waiting to hear who the finalists were in this year's competition before we decide what we will do for next year....if we go with one of our initial ideas.... guests may be encountering the Gods of Mt. Olympus

 

[jt04]

My idea was PoTC, but on steroids. Guests would travel on a lifeboat along the water (in doesn't make much sense because there would be no people on the ship, and why is the lifeboat heading back into the ship?) you see the first funnel, hear the groaning sound of metal; your lifeboat floats through the open windowframes of the promenade deck and into the A deck landing where water is cascading down the Grand Staircase, the lights flicker a bit, and you hear the sound of the funnel collapsing and then a deluge of water (Catastrophe Canyon style) pouring out through the dome and spraying guests in the lifeboat.

The only experience I have in environment work is concepting environment ad spaces as a Jr. Art Director...but I hope to movie onto bigger things.


Even though my team didn't make it into the finals for the 2009 ImagiNations Contest, we are waiting to hear who the finalists were in this year's competition before we decide what we will do for next year....if we go with one of our initial ideas.... guests may be encountering the Gods of Mt. Olympus

Awesome! Hold on to that idea you had for the DHS plaza too. You might even want to find a way to get that to an Imagineer. Can't hurt to make a mock-up and a written discription. That idea alone told me you "get it". Keep Imagineering. And keep us updated here. They definitely read these boards sometimes.

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

I thought about asking Kim Irvine (Art Director) for feedback on my portfolio, but they only provide the Flower Street address....is that ok because I know of no other way to contact WDI other than looking at the Disney Careers database which is currently looking for mechanical engineers and not anyone in creative. :brick:

 

[jt04]

I thought about asking Kim Irvine (Art Director) for feedback on my portfolio, but they only provide the Flower Street address....is that ok because I know of no other way to contact WDI other than looking at the Disney Careers database which is currently looking for engineers and not anyone in creative. :brick:

If you don't have any connections it can't hurt to go to one of those Imagineer lunches and ask politely. "Imagineering" as a conept is really not just a Disney thing so I think education and keeping your options open is the best path. See if Eddie Sotto will accept a PM from you. Can't hurt to try.

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

hmmm

 

[jt04]

I'm not an Imagineer (obviously) but networking and continued education are your best bets in my opinion. Follow your dreams, it is not a cliche. Eventually the right opportunity will present itself especially to those who strive for one. The american dream is real, at least for now. Good luck!