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

[Eddie Sotto]

Things have gotten better from a year ago... EDL seems to be making some effort to fix up some of these details that have been ignored for a time.



One of the unofficial descriptions of Sci-fi City that came out a while back mentioned Galactic Circle, Cosmic Way, an Alien Zoo, Lunar-Rovers (conversion of the Grand Prix Raceway), a saucer-version of Astro-Orbiter, Rocket Bikes, and a Cratertown district saying "thrillseekers can search out the Space Pirates hideout." It also mentioned an overlay called HyperSpace Mountain (adding new pre-show, soundtrack, FX), but there was no mention of Cybermid. It's interesting to see how things are changed/embellished from source to rumor.

Going back to Xanadu... was it to be an actual resort hotel near the Studios or an attraction (walk-through) within the Studios?

We had an intergalactic "biker bar" across from the Rocket Bike Ride in Cratertown. Kind of a "chop shop" meets a "cantina". It was the place where the rougher alien trade hangs out. All the drivers for the rocket bike racing swapped stories, etc there. We may have referred to it as our space pirate bar in the early concept stages. Cybermyd may have been what we did in place of doing the whole land when the cash went to TDS. A phased addition in place of the bikes. I think that was when it appeared. The Zoo was incredible.

The Xanadu was near the entrance so it was a hotel attached to Sunset Blvd or something like that. A short lived idea, but I really wanted to work on it. Glad to hear DLP is getting some TLC. BTW- (Go angels!)

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Christopher Smith

BTW. I learned the other day of another true blue, amazing Imagineer and all around nice guy that was let go along with Tim and Valerie. Christopher Smith.

Chris was the son of Bob Smith, a senior exec at WDW that I met in France as he was managing the in-field design for DLP. That's when he introduced me to Chris. Bob asked me if I'd look at his son's work and back then it was nothing like it is today, I even think he did some drafting back in France. But he had talent but needed experience. Chris made it into WDI through his passion and hard work and his talent began to shine a bit more with each project. Now Chris is a first rate designer/illustrator doing the big pieces of art. He worked on "Pooh's Hunny Hunt" and all of the TDL stuff I was running a decade ago. Look at his latest pieces which are the new F'land additions for WDW. Chris is a fine talent and his paintings are top notch.

Look at his work here..let me know what you think of it.

http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2009/09/new-high-res-files-of-dumbo-little.html

WDI will miss you Chris, and I hope to work with you beyond Disney. (yay!)

 

[RandySavage]

Angels deserved the win after the Yankees started selling World Series tickets in advance.

You mentioned a Lucas T'land with droids battling in the old CoP. Can you elaborate on the attractions/layovers in this project. Was it to feature non-Star Wars Lucas (ie Alien Encounter) or Star Wars-Lucas or both? How close did it come to being reality? I'm guessing T'land 98 was the less expensive alternative that won approval.

Thank you for all these stories about concepts that never came to pass... it's a real treat.

 

[RandySavage]

It's a crying shame about Chris, Tim and Valerie. All terrific artists.

On that subject... Chris' Dumbo painting (with the Carousel next to it) is said to be from a proposed Tokyo Fantasyland redo from years back (which would have replaced the tournament look with a fantasy village) . Was that during your tenure and can you tell us a little bit about what was to have happened there?

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I was asked to do a rendering really quick and knock out a design for Barry Braverman who had EPCOT. Had lots of fun making the Bobsleds come out of the Mountain and race all around the rocky perimeter of the land. All the way out to jagged snowy peaks by the water so you go under them as you walk by. Real immersive and fun. Chalets, Bernese Mountain dogs, Fondue, Yodeling, the works. Result? Sudden Death on impact. Never heard another thing. Others had done similar years before, I was just the latest Test pilot. Wish it had happened... I LOVE all things Swiss.

Has your art over been posted? I'd love to see it.


And wow...It sounds awesome. Woulda been perfect for WS in the 1990's.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Angels deserved the win after the Yankees started selling World Series tickets in advance.

I just got my refund for Red Sox ALCS tickets yesterday. Every team does this.

 

[hack2112]

BTW. I learned the other day of another true blue, amazing Imagineer and all around nice guy that was let go along with Tim and Valerie. Christopher Smith.

Wow. I did not know that Valerie was let go. If I may just jettison off for a moment.

I met Valerie at Flower Street when I did the Adventures By Disney Backstage Magic tour. It was the dress rehearsal tour, and we were the first group of guests to go through Imagineering like this, and it was one of the most amazing experiences. The Imagineer giving us the tour was a writer named Mark, I believe. Anyway, our first stop was the sculpture room, and waiting to greet us was Valerie herself. As the biggest Disney fan on the tour, I recognized her. As I walked through the display cases she would explain anything up there, and would go into greater detail when she did the sculpture herself. She is an absolute treasure and I hope she continues to use her amazing artistic talents in incredible ways.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Angels deserved the win after the Yankees started selling World Series tickets in advance.

You mentioned a Lucas T'land with droids battling in the old CoP. Can you elaborate on the attractions/layovers in this project. Was it to feature non-Star Wars Lucas (ie Alien Encounter) or Star Wars-Lucas or both? How close did it come to being reality? I'm guessing T'land 98 was the less expensive alternative that won approval.

Thank you for all these stories about concepts that never came to pass... it's a real treat.

They fought hard and yes, deserved it. Lackey held the door shut for 7 innings and to me, he was huge. I'm so in front of the TV on Saturday.

The Lucas thing is harder to remember. Beyond "Star Tours" and "EO", Disney was exploring how much more stuff they wanted to do with George. I later got to do concept work on Indy with Herb Ryman. It was my first week or so there and I was thrilled to be in brainstorming meetings with Lucas. He is rather quiet and does not suggest so much himself as he sifts the thoughts of others and restates them as he sees them. Tim was there as well and following the meetings did work on overlays to DL Tomorrowland. My first assignment was illustrating how the Carousel could be converted into a spaceship (Millennium Falcon class ship) that landed with a traveling show. Tim suggested an Alien Show and Rick Rothschild developed it. I made other suggestions, one being a gladiator-like Droid Dome on the upper floor of the carousel where Droids from other planets duke it out and you cheer for your favorite to win. Funny stuff, not too violent. All new characters. Lucas liked that idea. I was in early "Alien Encounter" brainstorms for the "Mission to Mars" building too as Lucas had been involved in conversations about what to do there. WDI hired Jean Giraud Mobius, the french comic artist (Airtight Garage) at Lucas' request as he said he took the styling cues for Star Wars from his books. Tim worked with him directly and JGM did some cool overlay styling designs for the land. I sat next to Mobius at the opening of EO and all he liked was the spinning rock in the first ten seconds. LOL.

The fate of this idea and the rise of the T'land you see are far apart. Lucas wanted a certain sum per show and I'm sure would want a huge chunk for a land. He came down to see a model we did of the Carousel but the effort eventually died out and the Alien show went through several incarnations. They went with Indy which was a smart move. They were doing sequels and Star Wars was on ice. The 98 T'land is a budget driven reaction to T'land 2055 driven by Bruce Gordon and Tony. It had no Lucas aspects at all and was Tim's DLP Disco'land styling overlaid by TB on DL.

BTW- The Rocket Bikes that we discussed for TDL were first suggested for the Peoplemover beamway in DL for T'land 2055, but technically could not work indoors for clearance reasons and was abandoned. The "Rods" did "wheelies" at launch because the bikes did that. I had developed it so I took it to Japan and we went much further to the point of testing them.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Has your art over been posted? I'd love to see it.


And wow...It sounds awesome. Woulda been perfect for WS in the 1990's.

Not that i'm aware of, it was pretty obscure and done in sepiatone, not a painting. However, I'm continually shocked by what old concept art I run into online. Disney and more blog has lots of it.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

It's a crying shame about Chris, Tim and Valerie. All terrific artists.

On that subject... Chris' Dumbo painting (with the Carousel next to it) is said to be from a proposed Tokyo Fantasyland redo from years back (which would have replaced the tournament look with a fantasy village) . Was that during your tenure and can you tell us a little bit about what was to have happened there?

It was. With the addition of Pooh, a huge restaurant would be needed to replace the Small World Buffeteria that was in the way, like over 300 seats. The scale of that alone is daunting as it dominates the area and would have to live between the HM and IASW. Talk about tough transitions! I thought that disguising it with a ride like Dumbo would take the sting off of the perception that this huge eatery was the backdrop to the land. So we incorporated Dumbo (1 ride, not 2) inside of a food court of wagons in a "Circus tent", This was good for the wet Tokyo weather and guests queued on curved "grandstands" (like the Grand Circuit raceway) with the food underneath like at a stadium or Circus. You can eat and watch the ride, which had the fire clown scene and music , etc. A bigger show overall. We got pretty far on this, but I don't think Oriental Land Co. could deal with the notion of combining a ride and food. Their heads just kind of exploded over it. I could not sell it, so we tried Alice as a theme and sold the "Queen of Hearts" design that Chris also worked on instead. This was all part of a F'land redo master plan that did not happen, but in that scheme we were going to do a "Be My Guest" version of the Tea Cup Ride with "Chip" and do a performing dishes, AA Lumiere, Centerpiece and make it a great little show. We had a 101 Dalamations ride too.

Life as an Imagineer is also about getting REALLY excited about things that most often do not happen. Like the Angels...you have to believe.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Wow. I did not know that Valerie was let go. She is an absolute treasure and I hope she continues to use her amazing artistic talents in incredible ways.

The Sculpture Room at WDI is this vault from the past. You visit the faces you've seen in every great attraction, all on a shelf. The smell of clay is in the air and the wood floor creaks like you are in the Louvre of Disney. Valerie and Adolpho were the fixtures there. Edwards and I worked closely on an Art Nouveau styled fireplace for Walt's Restaurant in DLP. I had done a tight scaled drawing, but that style has to be developed in dimension as it has to flow like liquid around corners and what is drawn does not always work when brought to life. Valerie's specialty is that style and we worked together to get that thing to sing. She pulled it off. Her maquette was stunning and in turn so is the fireplace when it was carved in brazilian mahogany. Tom Scherman even made a brass Nautilus Sub to place in it's dome. My respect for her talents was sealed when she took on that assignment. It's one thing to critique, it's another to execute. Val could do both and continued the tradition of Disney quality and was tireless in upholding it. I look forward to working with her on the outside, if she's up for it!

 

[Lee]

Edwards and I worked closely on an Art Nouveau styled fireplace for Walt's Restaurant in DLP. I had done a tight scaled drawing, but that style has to be developed in dimension as it has to flow like liquid around corners and what is drawn does not always work when brought to life. Valerie's specialty is that style and we worked together to get that thing to sing. She pulled it off. Her maquette was stunning and in turn so is the fireplace when it was carved in brazilian mahogany. Tom Scherman even made a brass Nautilus Sub to place in it's dome.

This one here. Awesome.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

This one here. Awesome.

WOW!!! That was fast! Yes, Tom was very proud of that little display case for his sub! I really liked him. He did a great job and i think his work deserves a setting like that too. I remember placing it inside the bubble and trying not to bust it. You guys are amazing.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Not that i'm aware of, it was pretty obscure and done in sepiatone, not a painting. However, I'm continually shocked by what old concept art I run into online. Disney and more blog has lots of it.

Well, if you ever find it... Please post it!

This one here. Awesome.

Sheesh. That's amazing, Lee! Your picture?

 

[Lee]

Sheesh. That's amazing, Lee! Your picture?

Nope. Can't say I was ever in the room with Tom Sherman. Would've loved to have met him, he seems like a fascinating guy.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Nope. Can't say I was ever in the room with Tom Sherman. Would've loved to have met him, he seems like a fascinating guy.

Indeed!


Ah, well, though...

 

[hack2112]

The Sculpture Room at WDI is this vault from the past. You visit the faces you've seen in every great attraction, all on a shelf. The smell of clay is in the air and the wood floor creaks like you are in the Louvre of Disney. Valerie and Adolpho were the fixtures there. Edwards and I worked closely on an Art Nouveau styled fireplace for Walt's Restaurant in DLP. I had done a tight scaled drawing, but that style has to be developed in dimension as it has to flow like liquid around corners and what is drawn does not always work when brought to life. Valerie's specialty is that style and we worked together to get that thing to sing. She pulled it off. Her maquette was stunning and in turn so is the fireplace when it was carved in brazilian mahogany. Tom Scherman even made a brass Nautilus Sub to place in it's dome. My respect for her talents was sealed when she took on that assignment. It's one thing to critique, it's another to execute. Val could do both and continued the tradition of Disney quality and was tireless in upholding it. I look forward to working with her on the outside, if she's up for it!

Wow. You got the feel of the sculpture room down to a t. Me and one of the Adventure Guide shadows (who became one of the Disneyland Ambassadors for either this or last year I believe) looked for our favorite AAs, and we found them both! Sam the Eagle from America Sings and Figment.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Indeed!
Ah, well, though...

Tom "Nemo" Scherman only liked to draw on napkins and knew the Nautilus interior by heart. It was his life. His apartment was decorated as in the interior till the landlord found out.
He was another twisted by gifted man. Twisted in a good direction I'll add. Tony made it a mission to sell the Nautilus walk-thru attraction in DLP to give Tom his wish of building one full scale before his terminal cancer took him. And he did. This link is all about Tom.

http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2009/08/tribute-to-tom-scherman-part-one-making.html

http://www.vulcaniasubmarine.com/TOM SCHERMAN.htm

 

[HMF]

Funny you say that. Paul Pressler wanted the Rocket Bikes to be developed as Star Wars Speeder Bikes. I quit right after that.

You quit because of Pressler?

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Wow. You got the feel of the sculpture room down to a t. Me and one of the Adventure Guide shadows (who became one of the Disneyland Ambassadors for either this or last year I believe) looked for our favorite AAs, and we found them both! Sam the Eagle from America Sings and Figment.

:sohappy:

Tom "Nemo" Scherman only liked to draw on napkins and knew the Nautilus interior by heart. It was his life. His apartment was decorated as in the interior till the landlord found out.
He was another twisted by gifted man. Twisted in a good direction I'll add. Tony made it a mission to sell the Nautilus walk-thru attraction in DLP to give Tom his wish of building one full scale before his terminal cancer took him. And he did. This link is all about Tom.

http://www.vulcaniasubmarine.com/TOM SCHERMAN.htm

Wow. Very touching.