While searching through the archives of Jimhillmedia.com, I found this:
"Thanks for the kind words regarding JHM. As for the "Stitch" themed redo of WDW's "Alien Encounter," my sources at Walt Disney Imagineering tell that this project really is a go. WDW Guest Relations is reportedly tired of dealing with the constant customer complaints about how terrifying "AE" is to children. So the Imagineers are hoping -- once they load this much lighter, funnier, kid friendlier show into the old "Mission to Mars" theaters -- that these complaints will stop.
To back up what the nice folks over at www.wdwmagic.com have been saying, I too have heard that WDW's "Alien Encounter" will be closing sometime in the Spring of 2004. The current (extremely tentative, mind you) timetable calls for three to four month long rehab. The revamped attraction will have a soft opening sometime in the late summer. August at the earliest ... September at the latest. With the all-new "Alien Encounter with Stitch" having its official grand opening as part of WDW's annual October birthday bash/press event.
I know, I know. Some of you thrill monkeys out there will be sad to hear that this scare-filled sensory thriller is actually going away. But Disney's in the process of turning WDW's Tomorrowland into a more family friendly environment. Building on the success of "Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin," so to speak.
So look for "Alien Encounter" to get "Stitch"-esized sometime in 2004. And WDW's "Carousel of Progress?" Well, that's still being eyed as the possible site for an all-new enclosed version of that old Disneyland favorite, "The Flying Saucers." And -- if the clone of the Hong Kong version of Space Mountain that's going into Anaheim is met with lots of guest enthusiasm -- you can bet that WDW's version may go under the knife as well in the not-so-distant future (2006 or thereabouts).
Beyond that ... if you're even remotely nostalgic about this version of "Alien Encounter," now might be a really good time to rack up a few more visits to the Tomorrowland Convention Center. Better yet, if you'd like to make a killing on eBay in a few years, now might be a good time to drop by the Magic Kingdom's "Merchant of Venus" shop and/or "Once Upon a Toy" at WDW's Downtown Disney and pick up a few "Alien Encounter" toys. I mean, who knows what this stuff will be going for in 2014 ... long after Chairman Clench, Dr. Femus and the rest of XS Tech crew have beamed back to their home world?"
I guess if Jim says it's so, it's so. I just hope Disney makes this worthwhile! Did you catch the part about Flying Saucers? And that WDW may get the SM redo in 2006? And I didn't know that the DL redo of SM was a clone of what they are building in Hong Kong!
"Thanks for the kind words regarding JHM. As for the "Stitch" themed redo of WDW's "Alien Encounter," my sources at Walt Disney Imagineering tell that this project really is a go. WDW Guest Relations is reportedly tired of dealing with the constant customer complaints about how terrifying "AE" is to children. So the Imagineers are hoping -- once they load this much lighter, funnier, kid friendlier show into the old "Mission to Mars" theaters -- that these complaints will stop.
To back up what the nice folks over at www.wdwmagic.com have been saying, I too have heard that WDW's "Alien Encounter" will be closing sometime in the Spring of 2004. The current (extremely tentative, mind you) timetable calls for three to four month long rehab. The revamped attraction will have a soft opening sometime in the late summer. August at the earliest ... September at the latest. With the all-new "Alien Encounter with Stitch" having its official grand opening as part of WDW's annual October birthday bash/press event.
I know, I know. Some of you thrill monkeys out there will be sad to hear that this scare-filled sensory thriller is actually going away. But Disney's in the process of turning WDW's Tomorrowland into a more family friendly environment. Building on the success of "Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin," so to speak.
So look for "Alien Encounter" to get "Stitch"-esized sometime in 2004. And WDW's "Carousel of Progress?" Well, that's still being eyed as the possible site for an all-new enclosed version of that old Disneyland favorite, "The Flying Saucers." And -- if the clone of the Hong Kong version of Space Mountain that's going into Anaheim is met with lots of guest enthusiasm -- you can bet that WDW's version may go under the knife as well in the not-so-distant future (2006 or thereabouts).
Beyond that ... if you're even remotely nostalgic about this version of "Alien Encounter," now might be a really good time to rack up a few more visits to the Tomorrowland Convention Center. Better yet, if you'd like to make a killing on eBay in a few years, now might be a good time to drop by the Magic Kingdom's "Merchant of Venus" shop and/or "Once Upon a Toy" at WDW's Downtown Disney and pick up a few "Alien Encounter" toys. I mean, who knows what this stuff will be going for in 2014 ... long after Chairman Clench, Dr. Femus and the rest of XS Tech crew have beamed back to their home world?"
I guess if Jim says it's so, it's so. I just hope Disney makes this worthwhile! Did you catch the part about Flying Saucers? And that WDW may get the SM redo in 2006? And I didn't know that the DL redo of SM was a clone of what they are building in Hong Kong!
