I don't know if anyone has already posted before, but D-troops has a very interesting article about the coming up Living Sea Rehab.
http://www.d-troops.com/article.php?id=4
Brandon, first of all, I appreciate your email. Second, I, too, hope you’re VERY wrong in your assessment! Because I really think you’re going to like the Imagineers’ job on the Living Seas 2.0. Unless you can’t stand the “Finding Nemo” characters, I’ll pull a Jerry Gladstone: “Cut-it-out!”
You see, Brandon, there’s something being pumped into The Living Seas that just wasn’t a significant factor in “Imagination 2.0” or “Stitch’s Great Escape.” (And I’m not talking about water here!) To put it most simply, The Living Seas is getting the moola.
And what does budget have to do with a Disney project? Well, practically everything! An attraction with a poor budget will have little to no true Imagineering brain power. Simple ‘show quality elements’ are on the back-burner. Story is sacrificed. In short, it’s cheap. But what we’re going to see in The Living Seas when it reopens this November – well, that’s going to be a fish of a different color. Nothing short of tremendous, thanks to a pretty attractive budget.
The Disney Imagineers have made some smart moves over the past few years, Brandon. It’s almost been two years since Nemo first made an appearance at The Living Seas. And when The Living Seas reopens in November, “Turtle Talk” and “Bruce’s Sub Shack” will be a year old.
“What do’ya mean by all of this?” Basically, Disney was pretty cautious when adding the “Finding Nemo” elements to the Living Seas. Not sly, just cautious. They tested the waters one feature at a time. Beginning with a Nemo rockwork structure outside the building. . . and all of this ending with a home-run interactive show, “Turtle Talk with Crush.” And since these incorporations were first featured, attendance to the Seas has made a great turn for the better. With this success, Disney knew it could finally bring the project together. And knowing a guaranteed success was on its hands, Imagineering was given a good budget to work with.
If you explored The Living Seas over the past few years, listening to the visitors, you would have heard: “That’s all there is?” or “What is there to do here?” A new wow-factor was needed, especially one that could attract all ages. And Nemo, Dory, and Crush, who’ve captured the hearts of millions, will be on fin to solve that problem.
Brandon, this changeover will get rid of the aged, 1980s Seabase; vibrant colors will definitely add a visual punch to the place. Of course, come November, only the main “Seabase” – you know, that two-story series of modules and tank viewing areas? – will be up and ready for Epcot guests to explore.
“What about the Sea Cab vehicles Richie - - are they coming back?” You betcha! But most people don’t realize that The Living Seas – Under New Management (UNM) will have not one, not three, but… TWO openings. That’s right: while the double-story Seabase will be opening later this year, a trip THROUGH the “world’s largest manmade ocean” will be under construction.
You know what this means, Brandon? The Living Seas may have *two* separate budgets to work with. The first would be used to really cleaning up Seabase Alpha while the second would be dedicated to a Finding Nemo ride. I think that information is enough to make any Disney insider grin! I can hear you now: “The old double budget in the sea trick.”
Of course, now you have … questions. And the best way to address those is to give you a little tour of the Living Seas – UNM. Get on your scuba gear and let’s dive in - -
Okay. It’s late November 2005 and Epcot is all pretty with Christmas music and lights and decorations. But we’re here to check out The Living Seas. . . and whoa! What’s this? The main entrance isn’t open? But suddenly, we hear a giant *splash* and our eyes are directed to a pretty schnazzy new sign. Yep, that “splash” effect is back – but, man, this thing is really splashing!
No time to lose, let’s enter the revamped pavilion (and that’s through its original exit). And down the corridor we go to see the refurb’ed Seabase Alpha. And it looks great. New carpeting. Fresh paint. Sure, Nemo is everywhere. Bright colors. Even the Cast Member uniforms – uh, costumes – are bright orange and sparkly. It’s just a pretty cheerful place. The different modules (Find Nemo, Shark Shack, Turtle Talk) were already brand new, so a large chunk new work has taken place upstairs.
That’s about all I can say about Seabase Alpha, courtesy of my sources and The now-retired General. Some things I just don’t know – for example, what about the beautiful score and pavilion symbol? Those things you just never know about. But, Brandon, if you don’t think the changes to Seabase will be extensive, consider that this area will be closed for a targeted three months. Now think about the changes made to The Land pavilion earlier this year – that was also intended to be a three-month refurbishment!
Now on to the ride, set to open in 2006. I’d predict that its queue line would begin along the corridor that connects the hydrolators to the main Seabase level. One preshow theater will be knocked out, and another will probably stay put for a pre-ride briefing. (Or at least, that’d be awful nice). Then, it’s off to embark on a brand new ride through the Living Seas! However, something’s telling me we won’t be seeing the blue omnimover vehicles: (1) a new track is rumored to be constructed with about 100 ft of extra track added and (2) how can Nemo holograms interact with a long string of vehicles? So with the refurbishment, we might see new ride vehicles with single dispatches. Which would probably make the ride a bit more fun, now that I envision it.
So the future is pretty much bright, Brandon. I hope I answered your question well enough. With its good budget, The Living Seas will open with great show quality. Edutainment will be the focus, courtesy of the Nemo characters, and the ride will be back – likely in a much more effective and fun form. People are going to have fun and hopefully learn lots.
It’s time to relax now and await the final opening of the Living Seas – UNM. The great team who led the project has done some pretty great work in the past, and I really don’t think there’s much to worry about.
You send me a nasty email if I’m wrong. But I guess we’ll just have to sea how it all goes.
This is Richie signing off.
http://www.d-troops.com/article.php?id=4
Brandon, first of all, I appreciate your email. Second, I, too, hope you’re VERY wrong in your assessment! Because I really think you’re going to like the Imagineers’ job on the Living Seas 2.0. Unless you can’t stand the “Finding Nemo” characters, I’ll pull a Jerry Gladstone: “Cut-it-out!”
You see, Brandon, there’s something being pumped into The Living Seas that just wasn’t a significant factor in “Imagination 2.0” or “Stitch’s Great Escape.” (And I’m not talking about water here!) To put it most simply, The Living Seas is getting the moola.
And what does budget have to do with a Disney project? Well, practically everything! An attraction with a poor budget will have little to no true Imagineering brain power. Simple ‘show quality elements’ are on the back-burner. Story is sacrificed. In short, it’s cheap. But what we’re going to see in The Living Seas when it reopens this November – well, that’s going to be a fish of a different color. Nothing short of tremendous, thanks to a pretty attractive budget.
The Disney Imagineers have made some smart moves over the past few years, Brandon. It’s almost been two years since Nemo first made an appearance at The Living Seas. And when The Living Seas reopens in November, “Turtle Talk” and “Bruce’s Sub Shack” will be a year old.
“What do’ya mean by all of this?” Basically, Disney was pretty cautious when adding the “Finding Nemo” elements to the Living Seas. Not sly, just cautious. They tested the waters one feature at a time. Beginning with a Nemo rockwork structure outside the building. . . and all of this ending with a home-run interactive show, “Turtle Talk with Crush.” And since these incorporations were first featured, attendance to the Seas has made a great turn for the better. With this success, Disney knew it could finally bring the project together. And knowing a guaranteed success was on its hands, Imagineering was given a good budget to work with.
If you explored The Living Seas over the past few years, listening to the visitors, you would have heard: “That’s all there is?” or “What is there to do here?” A new wow-factor was needed, especially one that could attract all ages. And Nemo, Dory, and Crush, who’ve captured the hearts of millions, will be on fin to solve that problem.
Brandon, this changeover will get rid of the aged, 1980s Seabase; vibrant colors will definitely add a visual punch to the place. Of course, come November, only the main “Seabase” – you know, that two-story series of modules and tank viewing areas? – will be up and ready for Epcot guests to explore.
“What about the Sea Cab vehicles Richie - - are they coming back?” You betcha! But most people don’t realize that The Living Seas – Under New Management (UNM) will have not one, not three, but… TWO openings. That’s right: while the double-story Seabase will be opening later this year, a trip THROUGH the “world’s largest manmade ocean” will be under construction.
You know what this means, Brandon? The Living Seas may have *two* separate budgets to work with. The first would be used to really cleaning up Seabase Alpha while the second would be dedicated to a Finding Nemo ride. I think that information is enough to make any Disney insider grin! I can hear you now: “The old double budget in the sea trick.”
Of course, now you have … questions. And the best way to address those is to give you a little tour of the Living Seas – UNM. Get on your scuba gear and let’s dive in - -
Okay. It’s late November 2005 and Epcot is all pretty with Christmas music and lights and decorations. But we’re here to check out The Living Seas. . . and whoa! What’s this? The main entrance isn’t open? But suddenly, we hear a giant *splash* and our eyes are directed to a pretty schnazzy new sign. Yep, that “splash” effect is back – but, man, this thing is really splashing!
No time to lose, let’s enter the revamped pavilion (and that’s through its original exit). And down the corridor we go to see the refurb’ed Seabase Alpha. And it looks great. New carpeting. Fresh paint. Sure, Nemo is everywhere. Bright colors. Even the Cast Member uniforms – uh, costumes – are bright orange and sparkly. It’s just a pretty cheerful place. The different modules (Find Nemo, Shark Shack, Turtle Talk) were already brand new, so a large chunk new work has taken place upstairs.
That’s about all I can say about Seabase Alpha, courtesy of my sources and The now-retired General. Some things I just don’t know – for example, what about the beautiful score and pavilion symbol? Those things you just never know about. But, Brandon, if you don’t think the changes to Seabase will be extensive, consider that this area will be closed for a targeted three months. Now think about the changes made to The Land pavilion earlier this year – that was also intended to be a three-month refurbishment!
Now on to the ride, set to open in 2006. I’d predict that its queue line would begin along the corridor that connects the hydrolators to the main Seabase level. One preshow theater will be knocked out, and another will probably stay put for a pre-ride briefing. (Or at least, that’d be awful nice). Then, it’s off to embark on a brand new ride through the Living Seas! However, something’s telling me we won’t be seeing the blue omnimover vehicles: (1) a new track is rumored to be constructed with about 100 ft of extra track added and (2) how can Nemo holograms interact with a long string of vehicles? So with the refurbishment, we might see new ride vehicles with single dispatches. Which would probably make the ride a bit more fun, now that I envision it.
So the future is pretty much bright, Brandon. I hope I answered your question well enough. With its good budget, The Living Seas will open with great show quality. Edutainment will be the focus, courtesy of the Nemo characters, and the ride will be back – likely in a much more effective and fun form. People are going to have fun and hopefully learn lots.
It’s time to relax now and await the final opening of the Living Seas – UNM. The great team who led the project has done some pretty great work in the past, and I really don’t think there’s much to worry about.
You send me a nasty email if I’m wrong. But I guess we’ll just have to sea how it all goes.
This is Richie signing off.
