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

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yoyoflamingo

yoyoflamingo

Well-Known Member
WDW1974 said:
Just wondering, along with Al Lutz, when TDA and George K are going to stop the political BS and admit they're showing three performances a night and keeping DCA open til 11. While locals and online Disney fans know, many visitors are getting shafted by this desire to act surprised and play the 'due to exceptional guest demand and crowds' card when they have the shows budgeted and the CMs scheduled for the month of July (and likely August by this point).
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Just to answer this WDW1974, they just announced today DCA will "keep" the 3rd World of Color through Labor Day. Guess they couldn't keep it a surprise any longer...
 
Eddie Sotto

Eddie Sotto

Premium Member
Oct 1962 National Geographic mentions HM tests

Was waiting to get my hair cut today and they have a pile of old National Geographics to look at. I noticed one from 1962 on Los Angeles (not the famous DL one from August 1963) and thumbed through it and landed on how the writer visited Disneyland back in 1962. He then mentions visiting the studio (and possibly WED).

Listen to this quote...

"Some of the things for Disneyland's future were coming off the drawing boards. I stood in a Haunted House and watched a skeleton materialize from a fireplace, float across the room, and disappear in mid-air. Another pesky skeleton threw a dagger which narrowly missed my head and quivered in a wall behind me. I saw Emerald city in the land of Oz, a metropolis inside a magic mountain, guarded by animated soldiers. This is in model form now; it will reach Disneyland in two to three years."

The scenes from the HM were likely mockups of effects being tested from the early walk thru storyline being developed back then. Who knows what the land of Oz thing was. Thought you may be interested.
 
AEfx

AEfx

Well-Known Member
Eddie Sotto said:
The scenes from the HM were likely mockups of effects being tested from the early walk thru storyline being developed back then. Who knows what the land of Oz thing was. Thought you may be interested.
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That's VERY interesting.

It's a shame the Oz concept has never been fully realized in a theme park setting. What was at the MGM Grand is gone (just a walk-through but nontheless an attraction), and the Land of Oz (though open once a year) is really a shadow of it's former self.

The section of the GMR is the best we've got, and I adore it, but what I wouldn't give for at least a real, full, Oz dark ride.

Thanks for the info!
 
HMF

HMF

Well-Known Member
Eddie Sotto said:
Was waiting to get my hair cut today and they have a pile of old National Geographics to look at. I noticed one from 1962 on Los Angeles (not the famous DL one from August 1963) and thumbed through it and landed on how the writer visited Disneyland back in 1962. He then mentions visiting the studio (and possibly WED).

Listen to this quote...

"Some of the things for Disneyland's future were coming off the drawing boards. I stood in a Haunted House and watched a skeleton materialize from a fireplace, float across the room, and disappear in mid-air. Another pesky skeleton threw a dagger which narrowly missed my head and quivered in a wall behind me. I saw Emerald city in the land of Oz, a metropolis inside a magic mountain, guarded by animated soldiers. This is in model form now; it will reach Disneyland in two to three years."

The scenes from the HM were likely mockups of effects being tested from the early walk thru storyline being developed back then. Who knows what the land of Oz thing was. Thought you may be interested.
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I recall hearing a story about how Rolly Crump and Yale Gracey were experimenting with effects for the Mansion and they got a call from personnel asking them to leave the lights on for the janitors at night so they set up an infa-red beam which would activate the effects if broken and then that night the janitors accidently broke the beam and the next day Rolly and Yale came in and the effects had been running all night long and right in the center of the room was a broom. They got a call from personnel saying they are never coming back' you will have to clean up your own mess from now on.
 
Eddie Sotto

Eddie Sotto

Premium Member
HMF said:
I recall hearing a story about how Rolly Crump and Yale Gracey were experimenting with effects for the Mansion and they got a call from personnel asking them to leave the lights on for the janitors at night so they set up an infa-red beam which would activate the effects if broken and then that night the janitors accidently broke the beam and the next day Rolly and Yale came in and the effects had been running all night long and right in the center of the room was a broom. They got a call from personnel saying they are never coming back' you will have to clean up your own mess from now on.
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I heard him tell that one too. Great story!
 
rsoxguy

rsoxguy

Well-Known Member
Eddie Sotto said:
Was waiting to get my hair cut today and they have a pile of old National Geographics to look at. I noticed one from 1962 on Los Angeles (not the famous DL one from August 1963) and thumbed through it and landed on how the writer visited Disneyland back in 1962. He then mentions visiting the studio (and possibly WED).

Listen to this quote...

"Some of the things for Disneyland's future were coming off the drawing boards. I stood in a Haunted House and watched a skeleton materialize from a fireplace, float across the room, and disappear in mid-air. Another pesky skeleton threw a dagger which narrowly missed my head and quivered in a wall behind me. I saw Emerald city in the land of Oz, a metropolis inside a magic mountain, guarded by animated soldiers. This is in model form now; it will reach Disneyland in two to three years."

The scenes from the HM were likely mockups of effects being tested from the early walk thru storyline being developed back then. Who knows what the land of Oz thing was. Thought you may be interested.
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I love everything said in this post, but I had to chuckle at the fact that you went to get your hair cut, and there was an issue of National Geographic from 1962. Where do you get you hair cut, at Floyd's Barbershop in Mayberry? :)
 
Giraffe Lounge

Giraffe Lounge

Member
AEfx said:
It's a shame the Oz concept has never been fully realized in a theme park setting. What was at the MGM Grand is gone (just a walk-through but nontheless an attraction), and the Land of Oz (though open once a year) is really a shadow of it's former self.

The section of the GMR is the best we've got, and I adore it, but what I wouldn't give for at least a real, full, Oz dark ride.
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There's an Ozland as part of Universal Studios Japan, where a 30-minute version of Wicked plays. There's some good pictures if you google it.

I don't believe there is a dark ride there though.
 
Castle Cake Apologist

Castle Cake Apologist

Well-Known Member
The Oz models were likely for the scenes that were planned for the inside of Rock Candy Mountain.

There's concept art and photos of the models out there if you look hard enough.
 
AEfx

AEfx

Well-Known Member
Giraffe Lounge said:
There's an Ozland as part of Universal Studios Japan, where a 30-minute version of Wicked plays. There's some good pictures if you google it.

I don't believe there is a dark ride there though.
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Thanks very much, I took a look - very neat. I'm almost glad they don't have a dark ride, though - because then I'd have no choice to go to Japan on the next flight. ;)
 
Eddie Sotto

Eddie Sotto

Premium Member
DisneyExpert said:
The Oz models were likely for the scenes that were planned for the inside of Rock Candy Mountain.

There's concept art and photos of the models out there if you look hard enough.
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Speaking of mountains, we pitched doing some kind of a glacial cavern restaurant inside the Matterhorn once. It's probably in the drawer next to the Rock Candy Mountain stuff. I love the mystique of that Mountain. It gushes yodeling. There is so much more that could be done surrounding it. We proposed one for the EPCOT Swiss pavilion within in a cool Swiss village setting. Kind of obsessed with the whole Matterhorn vibe, to the point of adding a button on my phone's homescreen that is a Zermatt webcam, so I can always see what the real Matterhorn looks like! Even the family dog is Swiss! Fondue anyone?
 
jt04

jt04

Well-Known Member
Eddie Sotto said:
Speaking of mountains, we pitched doing some kind of a glacial cavern restaurant inside the Matterhorn once. It's probably in the drawer next to the Rock Candy Mountain stuff. I love the mystique of that Mountain. It gushes yodeling. There is so much more that could be done surrounding it. We proposed one for the EPCOT Swiss pavilion within in a cool Swiss village setting. Kind of obsessed with the whole Matterhorn vibe, to the point of adding a button on my phone's homescreen that is a Zermatt webcam, so I can always see what the real Matterhorn looks like! Even the family dog is Swiss! Fondue anyone?
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Swiss pavilion? I never it was that far along in the development process.

A fondue venue sounds great for the new DTD. And it would compliment a Belgian waffle stand perfectly.

Do you ever consider working with Disney as a third party restaurant operator?
 
Eddie Sotto

Eddie Sotto

Premium Member
jt04 said:
Swiss pavilion? I never it was that far along in the development process.

A fondue venue sounds great for the new DTD. And it would compliment a Belgian waffle stand perfectly.

Do you ever consider working with Disney as a third party restaurant operator?
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I'd like to at some point, yes. I am currently developing a "hip-Swiss" concept (as long as there's a Bernese Mtn. Dog in it, I'm open to it), so who knows?
 
jt04

jt04

Well-Known Member
Eddie Sotto said:
I'd like to at some point, yes. I am currently developing a "hip-Swiss" concept (as long as there's a Bernese Mtn. Dog in it, I'm open to it), so who knows?
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I was actually recently thinking that there really could be a market for such a thing here in the states. It seems like something that could really catch on with the under 30 crowd but also with older people. I think you might be at the right place at the right time. Your restaurant is definitely trendy from what I can see and not in a temporary way but rather truly trend setting. I see why Disney hired you. I'm not just saying this because you are well known but because I think you are seriously talented. OK, I guess I've put you on the spot. :lol: No need to respond.
 
HMF

HMF

Well-Known Member
I read an article in Newsweek yesterday about declining creativity in grade-school students. That could possibly be harmful to Imagineering in the future. They need creative people.
 
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