MEW's Dream Disney Resort - The Final Chapter - Winner of a Lemon Tree Award, Sponsored by Applebees

MANEATINGWREATH

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Yes, I'll definitely be covering the hotel and shopping district in the final draft. I'll also have one or two pieces of concept art to share thanks to a wonderful artist I know who is putting together a rendering or two for me!

Anyone else have any suggestions or requests? @DisneyManOne? @orlando678-? Anybody? Lol. I'd love to hear some more feedback.

Mos Eisley will be here soon enough.
 

DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Anyone else have any suggestions or requests? @DisneyManOne? @orlando678-? Anybody? Lol. I'd love to hear some more feedback.

This is a really wonderful thread, MEW. But I have a few questions: Geyser Mountain serves as this park's Big Thunder Mountain, right?

In addition, I remember back when the Visions Fantastic forums had that 80-page brainstorming thread about DLA, and someone suggested putting Splash Mountain in Fantasyland. Do you think that would work well? Besides, as someone who believes Song of the South deserves more love in not only the parks, but in the Disney company as a whole, Splash Mountain is a quintessential Disney attraction.
 

MANEATINGWREATH

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
This is a really wonderful thread, MEW. But I have a few questions: Geyser Mountain serves as this park's Big Thunder Mountain, right?

In addition, I remember back when the Visions Fantastic forums had that 80-page brainstorming thread about DLA, and someone suggested putting Splash Mountain in Fantasyland. Do you think that would work well? Besides, as someone who believes Song of the South deserves more love in not only the parks, but in the Disney company as a whole, Splash Mountain is a quintessential Disney attraction.

Thank you!

Geyser Mountain is the resort's stand-in for Tower of Terror. Glacier Peak is the Big Thunder Mountain stand-in. Geyser Mountain represents the Southwest, Glacier Peak represents the Northwest.

Well, I've nixed Splash Mountain for a number of reasons, mostly due in part to my Pirates of the Caribbean being held in a Splash Mountain-style format; inside of a tropical mountain with a climactic waterfall drop down the front. I do remember the original DLA having Splash Mountain in Fantasyland. I loved the idea at the time, but were I to end up incorporating it into the final product, I'd include it in a Critter Country sub-area of Frontierland, kind of like a different take on Florida's version. It would be a woodsy little area tucked near the French Quarter with the Country Bears most likely. We'll see...

I do not have my heart set on Splash Mountain at the moment, but, give it time, and I might end up incorporating it. If that's the case, Pirates might have to change as well. I don't want to have two log flume-type attractions, haha.
 

MANEATINGWREATH

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Upon mine writing this, I've realized that the 10th Annual Christmas Town Bobsled Run would be redundant with a podrace attraction and Radiator Springs Racers also in the same park. That being said, I will be changing the bobsled attraction in the final draft to a different bobsled attraction. More on this later.

This is one of my biggest posts in this thread yet, so stay with me here.
_________________________________




"For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire." - Obi-Wan Kenobi

From a distance, one might almost expect to see the twin suns of Tatooine rising or setting over the rooftops of Mos Eisley Spaceport, the next leg of our journey through Disneyland Australia.

tatooine2004.jpg


"Mos Eisley Spaceport. You'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy." - Obi-Wan Kenobi

In a departure from the other land-entryways, the entrance to Mos Eisley Spaceport does not utilize a bridge spanning the waters of Fantasy Lagoon. A quick glance from the Tomorrowland side reveals that the moat appears to "end" at the base of a butte-like formation (in reality, the waters are passing beneath said butte and underground towards Marvel City's entrance), giving the illusion that all water evaporates when subjected to Tatooine's harsh climate. Crossing a sand-dusted land mass, we pass through the city limits and enter a bustling trade town architecturally inspired by the adobe huts and Egyptian villages of the Middle East peppered with a distinct intergalactic flare. Upon entering, we are immediately cast into an authentic recreation of the legendary city, complete with alien lifeforms meandering through the streets, passing droids chirping to themselves, parked speeders, signs written in strange languages, and a perfect photo opportunity for any Star Wars fan: an "actual" bantha roped to a stable near the entrance, loudly mooing the day away. This is also the appropriate location for Smiga's Bantha Shack a fast food joint of the "galaxy far, far away" variety selling bantha burgers, blue milk, bantha jerky, and much more...of course, banthas aren't really real, so the meat sold here is actually bison...but we don't need to know that... Smiga, the shack's crustacean owner can often be seen in the kitchen, pecking at his employees in angry Huttese.

bantha-main-image_b3ab933d.jpeg


Mos Eisley Spaceport as a whole represents just one of the factors that makes George Lucas' space opera the beloved franchise that it is to so many people around the world. This is hand-crafted Disney magic at its finest, an immersive, out-of-this-world (literally) experience that truly transports us into a different time and a different place. From the moment one sees the first alien walk by to the moment they depart from their own spacecraft, Mos Eisley Spaceport is the pinnacle of live entertainment; real magic if you will.

In Mos Eisley, we find the land separated into three distinct time periods: Old Mos Eisley, Mos Eisley, and New Mos Eisley, each of the three sectors representing a different era in the Star Wars Saga. The variation in generations is represented through the mere passing beneath archways and down the winding streets, never truly established unless one takes the time to read the multilingual signage above each transition point marking the next area as "Old Mos Eisley," "New Mos Eisley," etc. The first sector is that of Old Mos Eisley, set during the events of the Prequel Trilogy, a time when the Jedi were the guardians of peace and justice and the Sith were not-so-secretly at large once more.



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As a whole, the architecture of Old Mos Eisley appears fresh and less worn by age, standing as the city might have stood in its earlier days in the saga. The city itself, while located in Tatooine (which in turn is located in the Outer Rim-territories) is currently under the weak jurisdiction of the Galactic Republic on Coruscant, although this does not help much with the ongoing crime rate, mostly due in part to the vile Hutts. Despite their sluggish presence, Clone Troopers and cloaked Jedi do meander the streets seeking the presence of ne'er-do-wells or Separatist forces; after all, the Clone Wars are well underway at this time.

Fresh steam from a grill blows past in the desert wind, pointing our attention to a small collection of street vendors among the sheltered-walkways and alleys. Covered-patios and bar areas provide shelter from the "twin suns," offering indoor seating in the case of a vicious sandstorm which occurs all-too-often in this bustling port town. Amid the street vendors, we find countless intergalactic offerings from Tatooine and beyond, all represented through the goods and services of merchants, both alien and human (although humans operate most of the stalls). Otoh Gunga Delights, the stall of a much-despised Gungan merchant (not Jar Jar) sells fried frog legs and "Naboo Fries," all the while maintaining the story of a Gungan gambler in debt with Gardulla the Hutt. Fried Womp Rats in the neighboring stall sells huge chunks of "womp rat meat," fried and jammed onto a stick. Animatronic womp rats in a cage chirp and coo whenever a purchase is made, knowing all-too-well that they might be next... The Thirsty Tauntaun, a frozen lemonade stand uses ice that is sworn to be imported directly from Hoth in their concoctions, while Lars Moisture Stall, owned and operated by a representative of Cliegg Lars' moisture farm on the outskirts of town sells fresh water harvested from Tatooine's humidity, as well as blue milk (Mos Eisley's answer to Universal's butterbeer), and fresh fruits and veggies grown on the farm. Watto's Grotto is a practical treasure trove of ill-gotten merchandise and goods of the Star Wars variety, all under the dealership of Watto, the only Toydarian who could ever claim to have once owned Darth Vader. Although Watto lives in distant Mos Espa, several of his employees operate his Mos Eisley establishment. Watto's isn't the typical souvenir superstore, but instead sells items unique to its establishment, including the popular build-your-own-droid kiosk and a feature new to Disneyland Australia: build-your-own-podracer. Of course the podracers are small and Hot Wheel-style... The real gimmick of Watto's are the animatronic Pit Droids meandering about the shop displays and getting into mischief.

A short distance from the entrance to Old Mos Eisley sits a sight yet unheard of in the Star Wars canon: the Mos Eisley Jedi Temple, the final resting place of an ancient Jedi Order who once resided upon the sands of Tatooine.



Protruding from the sands stands the monumental Jedi Temple, long-since abandoned in a Tatooine-based battle centuries ago during the time of the Old Republic. Ancient text (written in Aurebesh) and crumbling sandstone statues of now-fallen Jedi guard the entrance and point us down a desert pathway, leading into the outdoor remnants of the former place of worship and meditation. In a Stonehenge-type fashion, the temple appears "in-the-round," its focus pointed to a rocky mainstage and large shrine of some kind sealed with a massive, stone barrier ridden in text. This is the natural venue for Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple. In this interactive show, young Padawans are invited onstage by a Jedi Master and his pupil whom have both been searching for this presumably lost temple until now. Subsequent to a brief training session in basic lightsaber technique, the Jedi recruits intentionally reopen the shrine's barrier, releasing Darth Maul and Darth Sidious. Fortunately, they happen to be mere illusions illustrating the fears of the Jedi and appear to the trainees as simple tests. Luckily, the minimal training and power of the more seasoned Jedi defeats the illusions, sending them back within the shrine...but, this is not all that awaits the trainees...the shrine unveils a vision that reveals the Chosen One's fate in just a few years time...Darth Vader. With the help of one lucky recruit, the vision of Darth Vader is defeated and sent back into the shrine, bringing peace to the temple once more. Also found in the Jedi Temple is the land's first kiosk for the always popular build-your-own-lightsaber option found within Scavenger's Hideaway, the livelihood of several Jawas who have scavenged the ruins of the temple, unearthing all the parts needed to build one's own lightsaber. As an added bonus, Jawas make random meet-n-greet appearances throughout the whole of Mos Eisley, Old, New, and "contemporary."

Meandering through the streets of Old Mos Eisley brings us to Docking Bay 25 (named for the year the final prequel was released; 2005), the first major meet-n-greet location for characters from the Star Wars Saga. As Old Mos Eisley is held sometime between the events of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, the featured characters in Docking Bay 25 are all from the prequels, including a young Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Padme Amidala, Mace Windu, Captain Rex, Cad Bane, Jango Fett, and even Darth Maul all in separate rooms themed to a different side of the Force, Light or Dark.

Trade Federation Battle Droids turned into hand-painted "victory trophies" sit just outside t
he main attraction in this portion of town; something that many Star Wars and Disney fans alike have waited for since the late-90's...



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Ziro's Grand Prix is perhaps the Star Wars answer to Test Track or Radiator Springs Racers, but on a far more interstellar level, especially considering that Radiator Springs Racers is an attraction in Disneyland Australia. Rivaling Mos Espa's Boonta Eve Classic, Ziro's Grand Prix (Ziro's granee Prix in Huttese), hosted and produced by everyone's least-favorite Hutt of the Clone Wars-era, takes us behind the controls of our own podracer in a manner similar to Shanghai's TRON Lightcycle Power Run mixed with California Screamin'. Held within the confines of a sand-kissed show building to the north of Mos Eisley's Hub entrance
, we step into a podracer hangar past racers being warmed-up or tuned-up by nonsensical Pit Droids and their alien masters. The hangar leads us to the outskirts of Mos Eisley, back "outside" (really just the interior of the show building) and into a magnificent arena in the spirit of the Roman Colosseum. Boarding our own podracer, we latch onto the steering mechanism and hear Ziro the Hutt do the official countdown in Huttese, soon after blasting off at an extraordinary speed into the dangerous terrain of the desert planet, including Beggar's Canyon and the Dune Sea, all the while evading booby traps set by other racers and some of the more flesh-desiring wildlife, i.e. krayt dragons and Tusken Raiders. The race ends when our racer is sent spinning out-of-control and into the streets of Mos Eisley, narrowly avoiding innocent bystanders and citizens, ending with a crash-landing in the grandstands of the arena, scattering aliens and droids everywhere who angrily bark at us as we exit into the Podrace Winner's Circle gift shop. This attraction takes inspiration from the format of the TRON Lightcycle Power Run in Shanghai, taking us on a near-level track at excruciating speeds past special effects, immersive scenery, and so on. New to this incarnation is a dueling track that rides right alongside the other, thus simulating an actual race. Victories are randomized, but everyone feels like a winner after riding this thrill ride through the vast desert.

The Junkyard allows little ones who are not quite yet tall enough to ride Ziro's Grand Prix a chance to mess with some broken down Battle Droids and Droideka leftovers from a Trade Federation failure and play in a truly bizarre playground composed of old ship pieces and battered motors. Docking Bay 18 is a quick refreshment stand and shelter from the desert heat. The Museum of the Republic next door allows us to take an educational tour of the history of the galaxy, incorporating bits of knowledge in regards to the origin of the Republic and Jedi, the never-ending onslaught between the Jedi and Sith, and the current onslaught of the Clone Army led under the wise leadership of the ever-trustworthy Chancellor Palpatine. Also featured in the museum is a Hutt-enforced exhibit on how the Hutts have benefited Tatooine and the Outer Rim-territories throughout the years, graciously sponsored by Jabba himself.

The last portion of Old Mos Eisley takes us to the Mos Eisley Station for the MagicWay PeopleMover which soars through the upper-levels of Mos Eisley in nearly all areas. Notably, the Disneyland Australia Railroad is not visible from any portion of Mos Eisley, mostly due in part to a real-world steam train ruining the atmosphere of a Star Wars-themed world. While passing the expanse of the spaceport, the trains go through a "life-sized" diorama showcasing the
Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, a Tomorrowland exhibit realizing Walt's original vision for Epcot in Florida. It is at the forefront of Ziro's Grand Prix that we come to a fork in the road with New Mos Eisley to our right and just Mos Eisley to our left. Being fans of the Original Trilogy ourselves, we decide to visit Mos Eisley first, having been hardly able to contain our excitement to leave behind the prequels for good and focus on some more familiar friends.



Jump ahead into the future of the Star Wars Saga...the Jedi have fallen and the Sith have proved victorious, overtaking the Republic and turning it into the first Galactic Empire under the ruthless dictatorship of Emperor Palpatine and his feared enforcer, Darth Vader. As per Imperial regulations, the Empire has instated a garrison in place of the former Republic, wishing to weed out any "rebel scum" or those who dare oppose their iron fist. Stormtroopers and Sandtroopers alike patrol the streets proudly, seeking victims. The alien lifeforms seen in an abundance in Old Mos Eisley seem to hide and parade around less-freely, perhaps a result of Imperial-based concerns. A couple of Dewbacks greet us as we step foot into the quarter, as does a sky-high Ronto nearby.

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The main focal point in this portion of Mos Eisley is the crash site of the Dowager Queen (pictured above), the wreckage of a colonist ship that subsequently resulted in the founding of the spaceport soon after. Rooftop billboards written in some strange text (Huttese perhaps?) advertise intergalactic services and some of the presumably illegal trades throughout the city, such as the ongoing spice trade, or the not-so-secretive smuggling of illegal arms. Of course these images appear innocent and as close to legal as possible as to not offend the Imperial forces. Much of this sector consists of hangars and launchpads, starting with Docking Bay 93, a clever meet-n-greet location for Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, C-3PO and R2-D2 aboard a Rebel Blockade Runner. Next door is the infamous Docking Bay 94 where the Millenium Falcon rests.

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A quick step aboard the opened Corellian freighter takes us on a quick walking tour of the legendary craft, right down to the miniscule details (Holochess, anyone?). At the end of the meet-n-greet we find ourselves face-to-face not just with a young Han Solo but also with the mighty Wookiee, Chewbacca.

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Docking Bay 95 is a bit darker and decidedly more "grim" than any hangar we have visited thus far. This is due in part to an Imperial Shuttle making its home here, often surrounded by Imperial spies, officers, and Stormtroopers on guard duty at all times. A step inside the opened-shuttle takes us to a meet-n-greet for Darth Vader himself, often joined by Boba Fett. The Dark Side of the Force is strong here...so we leave...

Back in the open-air streets of town we find the threshold of our next major adventure: Star Tours, respectively located in the Mos Eisley Star Tours Terminal, an intergalactic airport of sorts, complete with PA announcements and baggage checks.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBhm8VuZodw

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Designed specifically for Disneyland Australia, this HD-3D version of the classic attraction takes us to where no Star Tours has gone before in an original series of adventures. Boarding a StarSpeeder 3000 operated by a fearless RX droid (each cabin has a different droid with a different gimmick), we take off for one of several randomized vacation destinations: Hoth, Bespin, Endor, Yavin 4, Coruscant, or Jakku. As we are living in the time of the Galactic Empire, all of these locations are protected under the jurisdiction of the Emperor, even the rather lawless Jakku. It is almost written in the stars by our captain that the Imperials will interfere with our journey...sure enough, they do. When it is revealed that our astromech droid, R2-D2 is carrying secret plans for the Rebellion, Darth Vader himself inquires to take us down, only for R2 to disobey our captain's orders and send us on a fool's quest to one of the six planets in a randomized simulated-adventure. Along the way we encounter familiar characters such as Yoda, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, C-3PO, Boba Fett, Luke Skywalker, and Han Solo, all randomized through computerized means. Even though each cabin bears a different RX droid, each droid is pre-programmed to react to whatever location is bestowed upon the cabin, making each experience with the attraction different. Unlike Star Tours - The Adventures Continue, once the ship has landed on one planet, they stay there for the remainder of the journey, although the character cameos are always randomized.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzWSJG93P8

The Imperial Academy a few doors down from the Star Tours terminal gives us a first-hand glimpse of the Empire and their brutal governing-style. On-duty Imperial officers instruct us in the mission statement of Emperor Palpatine and how he has bettered the galaxy over the years. Imperial Inquisitors provide information about the hunt for the remaining Jedi and their plight to vanquish their existence from the galaxy, once and for all. Despite the grim happenings in the Imperial Academy, the Rebel Base across the street (cleverly disguised as a junk shop) instructs us in the ways of the up and coming Rebellion and their desire to reinstate the Republic and avenge the long-lost Jedi. The ongoing conflict of the Galactic Civil War is always present here, unfortunately, but in a way, it satisfies the fantasies of many a Star Wars nerd, such as myself. Both the Imperial Academy and Rebel Base feature gift shops themed to their motives and characters, so don't expect to find a Luke Skywalker t-shirt in the Imperial Academy's gift shop.

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Just a few steps from the Rebel Base is Star Wars Launch Bay, a glimpse into the past, present and future of the series, with actual costumes, props, and set pieces used in the films, as well as models, dioramas, and a preview center for upcoming films, games, attractions, and books in the never-ending saga. In a back corner of Launch Bay, a small screening and panel room is held in the occasion that an iconic Star Wars celebrity is visiting Australia, allowing a space for Q & A sessions. It is only natural that seasonal celebrations themed to the beloved franchise are held in Mos Eisley Spaceport and Launch Bay's theater is no exception to these events.

The Starcade is the "George Lucas" interpretation of what an arcade might look like in a galaxy far, far away, complete with weird arcade machines, virtual reality Imperial training sessions, actual games of holochess, etc. The Starcade itself is a perfect compliment to a DLA original, the Intergalactic Zoo.

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Over the years, Star Wars has become notorious for its rich supply in alien monsters, both hostile and peaceful, some a little bit of both. Mos Eisley's Intergalactic Zoo is no exception to this notoriety. The Intergalactic Zoo takes us on a trip through a shadowy complex of enclosures inhabited by the galaxy's strangest creatures, from Tauntauns to Rancors, all presented in full animatronic form. The zoo itself is in run by Jabba the Hutt himself who makes his first in-park appearance near the end of the exhibit.

On the distant horizon of the Dune Sea, we see the shape of Jabba's Palace. While not accessible for obvious reasons (how would we be able to enter a miniature?), we can get a taste of the palace's scum and villainy inside the moment we've all been waiting for the second we laid foot inside the spaceport: Chalmun's Cantina, the famous Mos Eisley Cantina.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak0zy49qsHE

This must be the hive of scum and villainy that Obi-Wan was talking about...

Immersed into a shady restaurant and tavern of the intergalactic variety, bizarre specimens and ugly-eyed creatures partake in the cantina's inventory, from fizzy fruit drinks to alcoholic blue milkshakes. The famous Cantina Band plays music at all times like a Chuck E. Cheese animatronic band (on a much grander scale, obviously), as does the Max Rebo Band, Jabba's house band on loan to the cantina for the day. Such hits as "Jabba Flow," "Jedi Rocks," and more fill the air, an appropriate backing for such a grimey setting. As usual, droids are not allowed inside the bar, but humans of all ages are.
For those seeking a more family-orientated dining experience, the owners of the cantina recommend the far less intimidating Dewback Grill next door, a luscious restaurant that is truly a sci-fi-inspired eatery with bizarre furniture, overhead tarps, etc. Live entertainment from distant worlds take place in the center of the restaurant while chefs prepare fresh meals at our table a la Benihana. Naturally, each and every dish is of a distinctly unfamiliar flare, all adding to the exotic flare and mood of the bustling spaceport.

With our bellies and gullets satisfied, we head back through the fork in the road in Old Mos Eisley and head towards New Mos Eisley, the spaceport as it appeared during the Sequel Trilogy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uggMUO23L58

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New Mos Eisley jumps the setting forward by several decades, taking us into a post-Empire galaxy where the New Republic has been destroyed and a conflict between the First Order and Resistance is well underway. First Order Stormtroopers now patrol the streets, often led in a processional by the always-shiny Captain Phasma. As we have yet to see Tatooine or Mos Eisley in the Sequel Trilogy, New Mos Eisley resembles what the town might have looked like following the collapse of the Empire.

Sadly, the celebrations seen in the streets at the end of Return of the Jedi were all for nothing. Shortly following the creation of the First Order, Supreme Leader Snoke implied that he, too, wished to hold power over the lawless desert world, especially following the death of Jabba the Hutt who held such a powerful grip on the system. In a matter of weeks, the First Order overtook the port, utilizing it as a recruitment center for those who wished to rebel against the New Republic in addition to an additional location where the evil-minded government could train their unwillingly-recruited forces under the guidance of the vile Captain Phasma.

Today, the Resistance has also set up a secretive location in town to protect those who still live in fear in Mos Eisley. It just so happens that we've arrived on the same day as a battle between the Resistance and the First Order, and the battle is all around us. One of the first things to greet us as we enter New Mos Eisley is a crashed Tie Fighter to our left and a crashed X-Wing to our right, clearly fallen in the midst of an overhead dogfight not too long ago (smoke still emits from them). Even the background music in this part of town has gone from quaint atmospheric orchestrations to an exciting, battle-driven score. Stormtroopers can often be seen scattering from one position to the next, occasionally perching on the rooftops and taking aim at the horizon. Scorched-buildings and smoke are all apart of the atmosphere here.

New Mos Eisley is unique as in not only is it the smallest portion of the land, but also as in it has only one shop and no restaurants to its name. The main focus of New Mos Eisley is its major E-Ticket, the third major E-Ticket in the land. Star Wars: Escape the First Order is a trackless dark ride in the spirit of Pooh's Hunny Hunt on a far grander scale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueqKtype7Kk

Boarding our battle-bound vehicle for the Resistance, we journey off into the Jundland Wastes of Tatooine where the First Order launches a full-on siege. In this epic attraction, we encounter the likes of General Hux, Captain Phasma, and Kylo Ren, all the while assisting the likes of Finn, Rey, General Leia, Poe Dameron, and BB-8. This immersive dark ride takes us not just through the deserts of Tatooine but also through the bowels of a First Order base and a run-in with the almighty Sarlaqq Pit. Along the way, we narrowly avoid getting crushed by a falling Walker, evade getting blown up on more than one occasion, and even fall into the belly of the aforementioned Sarlaqq Pit. This is a must-see for any park guest, period.

The other area of New Mos Eisley is Docking Bay 15, a meet-n-greet location for Finn, Rey, BB-8, Poe, and in a separate corner: Kylo Ren. Not much else needs to be said about this other than it is AWESOME.


With a true sense of intergalactic adventure in our hearts, we depart from Mos Eisley Spaceport and head towards the next part of our day at Disneyland Australia:
Marvel City.

____________________________

Thoughts? This took me a long time to write, my eyes are numb. Lol.
 

IAmNotAHufflepuff

Well-Known Member
Upon mine writing this, I've realized that the 10th Annual Christmas Town Bobsled Run would be redundant with a podrace attraction and Radiator Springs Racers also in the same park. That being said, I will be changing the bobsled attraction in the final draft to a different bobsled attraction. More on this later.

This is one of my biggest posts in this thread yet, so stay with me here.
_________________________________




"For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire." - Obi-Wan Kenobi

From a distance, one might almost expect to see the twin suns of Tatooine rising or setting over the rooftops of Mos Eisley Spaceport, the next leg of our journey through Disneyland Australia.

tatooine2004.jpg


"Mos Eisley Spaceport. You'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy." - Obi-Wan Kenobi

In a departure from the other land-entryways, the entrance to Mos Eisley Spaceport does not utilize a bridge spanning the waters of Fantasy Lagoon. A quick glance from the Tomorrowland side reveals that the moat appears to "end" at the base of a butte-like formation (in reality, the waters are passing beneath said butte and underground towards Marvel City's entrance), giving the illusion that all water evaporates when subjected to Tatooine's harsh climate. Crossing a sand-dusted land mass, we pass through the city limits and enter a bustling trade town architecturally inspired by the adobe huts and Egyptian villages of the Middle East peppered with a distinct intergalactic flare. Upon entering, we are immediately cast into an authentic recreation of the legendary city, complete with alien lifeforms meandering through the streets, passing droids chirping to themselves, parked speeders, signs written in strange languages, and a perfect photo opportunity for any Star Wars fan: an "actual" bantha roped to a stable near the entrance, loudly mooing the day away. This is also the appropriate location for Smiga's Bantha Shack a fast food joint of the "galaxy far, far away" variety selling bantha burgers, blue milk, bantha jerky, and much more...of course, banthas aren't really real, so the meat sold here is actually bison...but we don't need to know that... Smiga, the shack's crustacean owner can often be seen in the kitchen, pecking at his employees in angry Huttese.

bantha-main-image_b3ab933d.jpeg


Mos Eisley Spaceport as a whole represents just one of the factors that makes George Lucas' space opera the beloved franchise that it is to so many people around the world. This is hand-crafted Disney magic at its finest, an immersive, out-of-this-world (literally) experience that truly transports us into a different time and a different place. From the moment one sees the first alien walk by to the moment they depart from their own spacecraft, Mos Eisley Spaceport is the pinnacle of live entertainment; real magic if you will.

In Mos Eisley, we find the land separated into three distinct time periods: Old Mos Eisley, Mos Eisley, and New Mos Eisley, each of the three sectors representing a different era in the Star Wars Saga. The variation in generations is represented through the mere passing beneath archways and down the winding streets, never truly established unless one takes the time to read the multilingual signage above each transition point marking the next area as "Old Mos Eisley," "New Mos Eisley," etc. The first sector is that of Old Mos Eisley, set during the events of the Prequel Trilogy, a time when the Jedi were the guardians of peace and justice and the Sith were not-so-secretly at large once more.



market2.jpg


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As a whole, the architecture of Old Mos Eisley appears fresh and less worn by age, standing as the city might have stood in its earlier days in the saga. The city itself, while located in Tatooine (which in turn is located in the Outer Rim-territories) is currently under the weak jurisdiction of the Galactic Republic on Coruscant, although this does not help much with the ongoing crime rate, mostly due in part to the vile Hutts. Despite their sluggish presence, Clone Troopers and cloaked Jedi do meander the streets seeking the presence of ne'er-do-wells or Separatist forces; after all, the Clone Wars are well underway at this time.

Fresh steam from a grill blows past in the desert wind, pointing our attention to a small collection of street vendors among the sheltered-walkways and alleys. Covered-patios and bar areas provide shelter from the "twin suns," offering indoor seating in the case of a vicious sandstorm which occurs all-too-often in this bustling port town. Amid the street vendors, we find countless intergalactic offerings from Tatooine and beyond, all represented through the goods and services of merchants, both alien and human (although humans operate most of the stalls). Otoh Gunga Delights, the stall of a much-despised Gungan merchant (not Jar Jar) sells fried frog legs and "Naboo Fries," all the while maintaining the story of a Gungan gambler in debt with Gardulla the Hutt. Fried Womp Rats in the neighboring stall sells huge chunks of "womp rat meat," fried and jammed onto a stick. Animatronic womp rats in a cage chirp and coo whenever a purchase is made, knowing all-too-well that they might be next... The Thirsty Tauntaun, a frozen lemonade stand uses ice that is sworn to be imported directly from Hoth in their concoctions, while Lars Moisture Stall, owned and operated by a representative of Cliegg Lars' moisture farm on the outskirts of town sells fresh water harvested from Tatooine's humidity, as well as blue milk (Mos Eisley's answer to Universal's butterbeer), and fresh fruits and veggies grown on the farm. Watto's Grotto is a practical treasure trove of ill-gotten merchandise and goods of the Star Wars variety, all under the dealership of Watto, the only Toydarian who could ever claim to have once owned Darth Vader. Although Watto lives in distant Mos Espa, several of his employees operate his Mos Eisley establishment. Watto's isn't the typical souvenir superstore, but instead sells items unique to its establishment, including the popular build-your-own-droid kiosk and a feature new to Disneyland Australia: build-your-own-podracer. Of course the podracers are small and Hot Wheel-style... The real gimmick of Watto's are the animatronic Pit Droids meandering about the shop displays and getting into mischief.

A short distance from the entrance to Old Mos Eisley sits a sight yet unheard of in the Star Wars canon: the Mos Eisley Jedi Temple, the final resting place of an ancient Jedi Order who once resided upon the sands of Tatooine.



Protruding from the sands stands the monumental Jedi Temple, long-since abandoned in a Tatooine-based battle centuries ago during the time of the Old Republic. Ancient text (written in Aurebesh) and crumbling sandstone statues of now-fallen Jedi guard the entrance and point us down a desert pathway, leading into the outdoor remnants of the former place of worship and meditation. In a Stonehenge-type fashion, the temple appears "in-the-round," its focus pointed to a rocky mainstage and large shrine of some kind sealed with a massive, stone barrier ridden in text. This is the natural venue for Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple. In this interactive show, young Padawans are invited onstage by a Jedi Master and his pupil whom have both been searching for this presumably lost temple until now. Subsequent to a brief training session in basic lightsaber technique, the Jedi recruits intentionally reopen the shrine's barrier, releasing Darth Maul and Darth Sidious. Fortunately, they happen to be mere illusions illustrating the fears of the Jedi and appear to the trainees as simple tests. Luckily, the minimal training and power of the more seasoned Jedi defeats the illusions, sending them back within the shrine...but, this is not all that awaits the trainees...the shrine unveils a vision that reveals the Chosen One's fate in just a few years time...Darth Vader. With the help of one lucky recruit, the vision of Darth Vader is defeated and sent back into the shrine, bringing peace to the temple once more. Also found in the Jedi Temple is the land's first kiosk for the always popular build-your-own-lightsaber option found within Scavenger's Hideaway, the livelihood of several Jawas who have scavenged the ruins of the temple, unearthing all the parts needed to build one's own lightsaber. As an added bonus, Jawas make random meet-n-greet appearances throughout the whole of Mos Eisley, Old, New, and "contemporary."

Meandering through the streets of Old Mos Eisley brings us to Docking Bay 25 (named for the year the final prequel was released; 2005), the first major meet-n-greet location for characters from the Star Wars Saga. As Old Mos Eisley is held sometime between the events of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, the featured characters in Docking Bay 25 are all from the prequels, including a young Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Padme Amidala, Mace Windu, Captain Rex, Cad Bane, Jango Fett, and even Darth Maul all in separate rooms themed to a different side of the Force, Light or Dark.

Trade Federation Battle Droids turned into hand-painted "victory trophies" sit just outside t
he main attraction in this portion of town; something that many Star Wars and Disney fans alike have waited for since the late-90's...



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Ziro's Grand Prix is perhaps the Star Wars answer to Test Track or Radiator Springs Racers, but on a far more interstellar level, especially considering that Radiator Springs Racers is an attraction in Disneyland Australia. Rivaling Mos Espa's Boonta Eve Classic, Ziro's Grand Prix (Ziro's granee Prix in Huttese), hosted and produced by everyone's least-favorite Hutt of the Clone Wars-era, takes us behind the controls of our own podracer in a manner similar to Shanghai's TRON Lightcycle Power Run mixed with California Screamin'. Held within the confines of a sand-kissed show building to the north of Mos Eisley's Hub entrance
, we step into a podracer hangar past racers being warmed-up or tuned-up by nonsensical Pit Droids and their alien masters. The hangar leads us to the outskirts of Mos Eisley, back "outside" (really just the interior of the show building) and into a magnificent arena in the spirit of the Roman Colosseum. Boarding our own podracer, we latch onto the steering mechanism and hear Ziro the Hutt do the official countdown in Huttese, soon after blasting off at an extraordinary speed into the dangerous terrain of the desert planet, including Beggar's Canyon and the Dune Sea, all the while evading booby traps set by other racers and some of the more flesh-desiring wildlife, i.e. krayt dragons and Tusken Raiders. The race ends when our racer is sent spinning out-of-control and into the streets of Mos Eisley, narrowly avoiding innocent bystanders and citizens, ending with a crash-landing in the grandstands of the arena, scattering aliens and droids everywhere who angrily bark at us as we exit into the Podrace Winner's Circle gift shop. This attraction takes inspiration from the format of the TRON Lightcycle Power Run in Shanghai, taking us on a near-level track at excruciating speeds past special effects, immersive scenery, and so on. New to this incarnation is a dueling track that rides right alongside the other, thus simulating an actual race. Victories are randomized, but everyone feels like a winner after riding this thrill ride through the vast desert.

The Junkyard allows little ones who are not quite yet tall enough to ride Ziro's Grand Prix a chance to mess with some broken down Battle Droids and Droideka leftovers from a Trade Federation failure and play in a truly bizarre playground composed of old ship pieces and battered motors. Docking Bay 18 is a quick refreshment stand and shelter from the desert heat. The Museum of the Republic next door allows us to take an educational tour of the history of the galaxy, incorporating bits of knowledge in regards to the origin of the Republic and Jedi, the never-ending onslaught between the Jedi and Sith, and the current onslaught of the Clone Army led under the wise leadership of the ever-trustworthy Chancellor Palpatine. Also featured in the museum is a Hutt-enforced exhibit on how the Hutts have benefited Tatooine and the Outer Rim-territories throughout the years, graciously sponsored by Jabba himself.

The last portion of Old Mos Eisley takes us to the Mos Eisley Station for the MagicWay PeopleMover which soars through the upper-levels of Mos Eisley in nearly all areas. Notably, the Disneyland Australia Railroad is not visible from any portion of Mos Eisley, mostly due in part to a real-world steam train ruining the atmosphere of a Star Wars-themed world. While passing the expanse of the spaceport, the trains go through a "life-sized" diorama showcasing the
Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, a Tomorrowland exhibit realizing Walt's original vision for Epcot in Florida. It is at the forefront of Ziro's Grand Prix that we come to a fork in the road with New Mos Eisley to our right and just Mos Eisley to our left. Being fans of the Original Trilogy ourselves, we decide to visit Mos Eisley first, having been hardly able to contain our excitement to leave behind the prequels for good and focus on some more familiar friends.



Jump ahead into the future of the Star Wars Saga...the Jedi have fallen and the Sith have proved victorious, overtaking the Republic and turning it into the first Galactic Empire under the ruthless dictatorship of Emperor Palpatine and his feared enforcer, Darth Vader. As per Imperial regulations, the Empire has instated a garrison in place of the former Republic, wishing to weed out any "rebel scum" or those who dare oppose their iron fist. Stormtroopers and Sandtroopers alike patrol the streets proudly, seeking victims. The alien lifeforms seen in an abundance in Old Mos Eisley seem to hide and parade around less-freely, perhaps a result of Imperial-based concerns. A couple of Dewbacks greet us as we step foot into the quarter, as does a sky-high Ronto nearby.

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The main focal point in this portion of Mos Eisley is the crash site of the Dowager Queen (pictured above), the wreckage of a colonist ship that subsequently resulted in the founding of the spaceport soon after. Rooftop billboards written in some strange text (Huttese perhaps?) advertise intergalactic services and some of the presumably illegal trades throughout the city, such as the ongoing spice trade, or the not-so-secretive smuggling of illegal arms. Of course these images appear innocent and as close to legal as possible as to not offend the Imperial forces. Much of this sector consists of hangars and launchpads, starting with Docking Bay 93, a clever meet-n-greet location for Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, C-3PO and R2-D2 aboard a Rebel Blockade Runner. Next door is the infamous Docking Bay 94 where the Millenium Falcon rests.

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A quick step aboard the opened Corellian freighter takes us on a quick walking tour of the legendary craft, right down to the miniscule details (Holochess, anyone?). At the end of the meet-n-greet we find ourselves face-to-face not just with a young Han Solo but also with the mighty Wookiee, Chewbacca.

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Docking Bay 95 is a bit darker and decidedly more "grim" than any hangar we have visited thus far. This is due in part to an Imperial Shuttle making its home here, often surrounded by Imperial spies, officers, and Stormtroopers on guard duty at all times. A step inside the opened-shuttle takes us to a meet-n-greet for Darth Vader himself, often joined by Boba Fett. The Dark Side of the Force is strong here...so we leave...

Back in the open-air streets of town we find the threshold of our next major adventure: Star Tours, respectively located in the Mos Eisley Star Tours Terminal, an intergalactic airport of sorts, complete with PA announcements and baggage checks.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBhm8VuZodw

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Designed specifically for Disneyland Australia, this HD-3D version of the classic attraction takes us to where no Star Tours has gone before in an original series of adventures. Boarding a StarSpeeder 3000 operated by a fearless RX droid (each cabin has a different droid with a different gimmick), we take off for one of several randomized vacation destinations: Hoth, Bespin, Endor, Yavin 4, Coruscant, or Jakku. As we are living in the time of the Galactic Empire, all of these locations are protected under the jurisdiction of the Emperor, even the rather lawless Jakku. It is almost written in the stars by our captain that the Imperials will interfere with our journey...sure enough, they do. When it is revealed that our astromech droid, R2-D2 is carrying secret plans for the Rebellion, Darth Vader himself inquires to take us down, only for R2 to disobey our captain's orders and send us on a fool's quest to one of the six planets in a randomized simulated-adventure. Along the way we encounter familiar characters such as Yoda, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, C-3PO, Boba Fett, Luke Skywalker, and Han Solo, all randomized through computerized means. Even though each cabin bears a different RX droid, each droid is pre-programmed to react to whatever location is bestowed upon the cabin, making each experience with the attraction different. Unlike Star Tours - The Adventures Continue, once the ship has landed on one planet, they stay there for the remainder of the journey, although the character cameos are always randomized.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzWSJG93P8

The Imperial Academy a few doors down from the Star Tours terminal gives us a first-hand glimpse of the Empire and their brutal governing-style. On-duty Imperial officers instruct us in the mission statement of Emperor Palpatine and how he has bettered the galaxy over the years. Imperial Inquisitors provide information about the hunt for the remaining Jedi and their plight to vanquish their existence from the galaxy, once and for all. Despite the grim happenings in the Imperial Academy, the Rebel Base across the street (cleverly disguised as a junk shop) instructs us in the ways of the up and coming Rebellion and their desire to reinstate the Republic and avenge the long-lost Jedi. The ongoing conflict of the Galactic Civil War is always present here, unfortunately, but in a way, it satisfies the fantasies of many a Star Wars nerd, such as myself. Both the Imperial Academy and Rebel Base feature gift shops themed to their motives and characters, so don't expect to find a Luke Skywalker t-shirt in the Imperial Academy's gift shop.

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Just a few steps from the Rebel Base is Star Wars Launch Bay, a glimpse into the past, present and future of the series, with actual costumes, props, and set pieces used in the films, as well as models, dioramas, and a preview center for upcoming films, games, attractions, and books in the never-ending saga. In a back corner of Launch Bay, a small screening and panel room is held in the occasion that an iconic Star Wars celebrity is visiting Australia, allowing a space for Q & A sessions. It is only natural that seasonal celebrations themed to the beloved franchise are held in Mos Eisley Spaceport and Launch Bay's theater is no exception to these events.

The Starcade is the "George Lucas" interpretation of what an arcade might look like in a galaxy far, far away, complete with weird arcade machines, virtual reality Imperial training sessions, actual games of holochess, etc. The Starcade itself is a perfect compliment to a DLA original, the Intergalactic Zoo.

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Over the years, Star Wars has become notorious for its rich supply in alien monsters, both hostile and peaceful, some a little bit of both. Mos Eisley's Intergalactic Zoo is no exception to this notoriety. The Intergalactic Zoo takes us on a trip through a shadowy complex of enclosures inhabited by the galaxy's strangest creatures, from Tauntauns to Rancors, all presented in full animatronic form. The zoo itself is in run by Jabba the Hutt himself who makes his first in-park appearance near the end of the exhibit.

On the distant horizon of the Dune Sea, we see the shape of Jabba's Palace. While not accessible for obvious reasons (how would we be able to enter a miniature?), we can get a taste of the palace's scum and villainy inside the moment we've all been waiting for the second we laid foot inside the spaceport: Chalmun's Cantina, the famous Mos Eisley Cantina.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak0zy49qsHE

This must be the hive of scum and villainy that Obi-Wan was talking about...

Immersed into a shady restaurant and tavern of the intergalactic variety, bizarre specimens and ugly-eyed creatures partake in the cantina's inventory, from fizzy fruit drinks to alcoholic blue milkshakes. The famous Cantina Band plays music at all times like a Chuck E. Cheese animatronic band (on a much grander scale, obviously), as does the Max Rebo Band, Jabba's house band on loan to the cantina for the day. Such hits as "Jabba Flow," "Jedi Rocks," and more fill the air, an appropriate backing for such a grimey setting. As usual, droids are not allowed inside the bar, but humans of all ages are.
For those seeking a more family-orientated dining experience, the owners of the cantina recommend the far less intimidating Dewback Grill next door, a luscious restaurant that is truly a sci-fi-inspired eatery with bizarre furniture, overhead tarps, etc. Live entertainment from distant worlds take place in the center of the restaurant while chefs prepare fresh meals at our table a la Benihana. Naturally, each and every dish is of a distinctly unfamiliar flare, all adding to the exotic flare and mood of the bustling spaceport.

With our bellies and gullets satisfied, we head back through the fork in the road in Old Mos Eisley and head towards New Mos Eisley, the spaceport as it appeared during the Sequel Trilogy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uggMUO23L58

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New Mos Eisley jumps the setting forward by several decades, taking us into a post-Empire galaxy where the New Republic has been destroyed and a conflict between the First Order and Resistance is well underway. First Order Stormtroopers now patrol the streets, often led in a processional by the always-shiny Captain Phasma. As we have yet to see Tatooine or Mos Eisley in the Sequel Trilogy, New Mos Eisley resembles what the town might have looked like following the collapse of the Empire.

Sadly, the celebrations seen in the streets at the end of Return of the Jedi were all for nothing. Shortly following the creation of the First Order, Supreme Leader Snoke implied that he, too, wished to hold power over the lawless desert world, especially following the death of Jabba the Hutt who held such a powerful grip on the system. In a matter of weeks, the First Order overtook the port, utilizing it as a recruitment center for those who wished to rebel against the New Republic in addition to an additional location where the evil-minded government could train their unwillingly-recruited forces under the guidance of the vile Captain Phasma.

Today, the Resistance has also set up a secretive location in town to protect those who still live in fear in Mos Eisley. It just so happens that we've arrived on the same day as a battle between the Resistance and the First Order, and the battle is all around us. One of the first things to greet us as we enter New Mos Eisley is a crashed Tie Fighter to our left and a crashed X-Wing to our right, clearly fallen in the midst of an overhead dogfight not too long ago (smoke still emits from them). Even the background music in this part of town has gone from quaint atmospheric orchestrations to an exciting, battle-driven score. Stormtroopers can often be seen scattering from one position to the next, occasionally perching on the rooftops and taking aim at the horizon. Scorched-buildings and smoke are all apart of the atmosphere here.

New Mos Eisley is unique as in not only is it the smallest portion of the land, but also as in it has only one shop and no restaurants to its name. The main focus of New Mos Eisley is its major E-Ticket, the third major E-Ticket in the land. Star Wars: Escape the First Order is a trackless dark ride in the spirit of Pooh's Hunny Hunt on a far grander scale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueqKtype7Kk

Boarding our battle-bound vehicle for the Resistance, we journey off into the Jundland Wastes of Tatooine where the First Order launches a full-on siege. In this epic attraction, we encounter the likes of General Hux, Captain Phasma, and Kylo Ren, all the while assisting the likes of Finn, Rey, General Leia, Poe Dameron, and BB-8. This immersive dark ride takes us not just through the deserts of Tatooine but also through the bowels of a First Order base and a run-in with the almighty Sarlaqq Pit. Along the way, we narrowly avoid getting crushed by a falling Walker, evade getting blown up on more than one occasion, and even fall into the belly of the aforementioned Sarlaqq Pit. This is a must-see for any park guest, period.

The other area of New Mos Eisley is Docking Bay 15, a meet-n-greet location for Finn, Rey, BB-8, Poe, and in a separate corner: Kylo Ren. Not much else needs to be said about this other than it is AWESOME.


With a true sense of intergalactic adventure in our hearts, we depart from Mos Eisley Spaceport and head towards the next part of our day at Disneyland Australia:
Marvel City.

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Thoughts? This took me a long time to write, my eyes are numb. Lol.


Just out of curiosity, will you be doing any attraction overviews before Marvel City?
 
With Marvel you could say that NBCUniversal gave Disney full rights to use there attractions like The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman.
That wouldn't be very sensible. If they were going to give the rights back, why would they invest so much in refurbishing Hulk?
Outside of the eastern United States ("east of the Mississippi" is how they define it), Disney has full theme park rights to all characters appearing in Marvel comics. For example, there are Spider-Man meet-n-greets at Walt Disney Studios Paris and Disney California Adventure. So something built in Australia could have any Marvel character you like.
 

MANEATINGWREATH

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Just kidding! Here it is, way earlier than previously expected!

With the advent of Marvel City, three attractions that I have previously covered will no longer be apart of my dream resort. Geyser Mountain, Curse of the Stone Tiger, and Mater's Junkyard Jamboree have all fallen victim to progress. By progress I mean me changing my mind in favor of not one, but all three major attractions in Marvel City. Geyser Mountain gives way to a new Avengers attraction, Curse of the Stone Tiger gives way to a Guardians of the Galaxy attraction, and Mater's gives way to a Big Hero 6 attraction. As disappointing as this loss may seem, I promise to come up with something that equally rivals or betters the lands that the three lost attractions were once apart of. In my opinion, I feel as if the three Marvel attractions fit better anyhow.


About halfway into the overview, you'll catch on that some of the featured characters are not owned by Disney in the sense of movie rights. That being said, this is a theme park, not a movie. As Captain-Nemo stated above, anything west of the Mississippi (this includes Australia) can have any Marvel-based attraction it wants per Disney and Marvel's arrangement. Since this isn't a movie, these characters can and will be featured. These characters I'm referring to are of course Dr. Doom and the Fantastic Four, as well as a much smaller cameo by Deadpool and the X-Men.

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The sleek highways of the MagicWay PeopleMover whisk above the metallic-plated and meticulously-tiled entry-bridge to the next leg of our journey, the hyper-realistic, futuristic realm of Marvel City.
Stepping foot into said city is a sensation similar to what one might experience if one were entering the hand-drawn pages and panels of a Marvel comic book. From the mere second we enter, we are immediately whisked into a fantasy world where it seems as if the likes of Iron Man or Spider-Man are bound to come flying (or swinging) in at any moment. With distinct architectural inspiration from real-world cities such as New York City, Shanghai, Tokyo, Melbourne, and Los Angeles, Marvel City warps us into the fictitious city of Starkville, an idealistic world of tomorrow as designed by the genius minds behind Stark Industries.

Naturally, much of the innovative technology crafted by the scientists in Stark's employ (and Stark himself) is seen throughout the architecture and windows of the various buildings, all complemented by the nonstop motion of the PeopleMover chugging by on overhead highways throughout the city. As night falls upon the city, Starkville is washed aglow in bright shades of neon, almost TRON-like in appearance, although clearly not themed to the cult classic. If Tomorrowland takes a more realistic look at a utopian tomorrow, Starkville takes a more fantastical look, representing technologies and ideas that could only exist in the world of fiction.


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A statue of Tony Stark, back-to-back with his superhero persona Iron Man is one of the first major sights to greet us as we enter. Said statue stands all-too-close a distance from the Hall of Fame, a winding museum and tribute to the Marvel greats; Captain America (complete with the exhibit pictured above), the Incredible Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Baymax and Hiro, Rocket Raccoon, Thor, and Marvel heroes who have yet to appear in the MCU or other Disney-related canon; the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Deadpool, you name it; everyone has representation. Stan's Comics sits as the Hall of Fame's appropriate next-door neighbor, a multi-accessible comic book store named for the man, the myth, the legend: Stan Lee. Interestingly, this is no ordinary comic book store. The vibrant hero and villain-centered displays often come to life and create quite a scene (e.g. the Hulk punching the wall and causing the whole building to tremble).




Stark Expo on the other side of Tony's statue showcases the latest innovations of the always-innovative company, including an opportunity to "suit up" ourselves in a lift of the popular Disneyland attraction, Iron Man Tech - Presented by Stark Industries. Visiting Mr. Stark's Hall of Armor, we are given a proper view of Iron Man suits Mark I-VII and are then offered the chance to suit up and experience a simulated operation of our own take on the famous suit, customizable through a series of computers. In a departure from the original concept in Disneyland, Iron Man himself makes meet-n-greet appearances near the Hall of Armor, said costume utilizing actual sound bytes from Robert Downey Jr. as Tony. Other inventions are also on display, some seen in the MCU and comics, others not. Stark Expo is also the home of the Marvel Preview Center, a small theater similar to Star Wars Launch Bay in neighboring Mos Eisley. In the Marvel Preview Center we are treated to sneak peeks at the latest Marvel films, comics, video games, and merchandise. A short walk from Stark Expo stands the mighty Stark Tower II, a "sequel" to the original Stark Tower in New York. As this tower is the land's major "weenie," it has more than one side; the side facing the park's interior bares the logo of the Avengers, but the side not facing the interior bears the logo of Stark Industries. At night, searchlights pierce the skies from all corners of the tower, a natural attraction to the structure. This is the home of an immersive new E-Ticket themed to The Avengers.

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This is no typical Age of Ultron or Infinity War. This is an all-out brawl within Stark Tower II for the betterment of mankind, if not the entire planet. As the story goes, for the first time ever, all of the Avengers have assembled for a panel with those who admire them the most: the fans. Yes, even in the actual superhero world people dress up like they're going to a Comic Con when in the presence of such celebrities. All of the original cast have reprised their roles in this thrill ride, with additional appearances by Ant-Man and Spider-Man, while several new actors (and a clever Stan Lee cameo) have been recruited to play the characters who are introduced in this attraction into the MCU.

The convention goes awry when Dr. Doom crashes the panel and makes his MCU debut (voiced by Ron Perlmen), utilizing some wacky tactic of his invention to hypnotize and take control of Bruce Banner (aka the Hulk) and his incredible power. With the sheer manpower of the Hulk as well as his own power, Dr. Doom wreaks havoc on the tower, promising to use the power of the transformed-doctor and turn it into a bomb of apocalyptic proportions, but not until he's wiped out all of the Avengers... In the midst of battle, we are relocated to an out-of-service maintenance elevator for "safety," as per the request of Stark Industries' legal representatives. Despite our hiding, the battle soon makes its way into the elevator shaft, Thor's hammer unintentionally bringing power back to the elevator and sending it up...

Hitting several floors of the tower, we are shown several vignettes of epic superhero action, even going so far as to become unhinged from the shaft and travel around through a floor, narrowly avoiding uncertain doom (literally), a la the original Tower of Terror in Florida. Eventually, the Fantastic Four arrive to assist the Avengers, also making their MCU debut (actors TBA). In a combined effort, the Fantastic Four and Avengers reclaim the Hulk and take to the skies with Doom, ending in a climactic series of randomized free-fall drops down the elevator shaft. Of course, the day is saved and Dr. Doom is given his just desserts. All of this and more awaits us in the exciting new E-Ticket,
The Avengers vs. Dr. Doom. At the exit of the thrill ride, Stark Tower Gifts allows a gift shop themed to the attraction where we can also purchase the picture taken prior to the final series of drops.

As to not dwarf Snow White Castle, Stark Tower II is built into the earth rather than above it, thus eliminating any skyline-damaging conflicts. The same is true for the park's many mountains and other massive icons.

Meandering through the streets of Starkville brings us to a near-legendary eatery seen in what might be one of the most infamous credits-scenes of all-time. Starkville Shawarma & Burgers is a hole-in-the-wall diner typical to New York, only, this diner has been practically destroyed and partially caved-in due to the events in neighboring Stark Tower II. Notably, a Dr. Doom-shaped crater has been scarred into one wall, while hammer-shaped holes have been shattered into dysfunctional vending machines. Nonetheless, the shawarma and burgers served here are fantastic and one-of-a-kind in terms of Starkville dining. For a less violent experience, Aunt May's, a quaint coffee shop in a Brooklyn-style apartment building allows a bit of relaxation in a world that appears to be constantly on the move. The Daily Bugle next door is a cleverly-disguised bookstore and full-functioning newsstand themed to the livelihood of Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man. While all these things may seem to be an amalgam of all-things Marvel, Starkville is exactly that. It is a representation of not just the future that could be (at least from a Stark perspective), it is that of a community where all of Marvel's characters can seamlessly coexist and unify into one epic experience. Hiro's Workshop, an interactive labyrinth of wondrous ideas leads us to a meet-n-greet space for both Hiro and Baymax, in the...er, flesh? Hiro's Workshop neighbors that of a flat-ride, the only flat-ride in Marvel City, sheltered beneath a San Fransokyo-inspired covering.

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Jamming to the beats of techno-inspired rhythms, we whip around in rhythmic movement while a Baymax clone shuttles us around from an "engine" supposedly built by Hiro. Similar to Mater's Junkyard Jamboree in California, Baymax's Whip & 'Nay 'Nay...just kidding! The real name of the flat-ride is Baymax's Whip & Whirl, and unlike the other two major attractions in Marvel City, it's fun for the whole family. Although nothing has been built there yet, an expansion pad resides not too far behind Whip & Whirl, clearly set aside for a Big Hero 6 E-Ticket.

Another notable icon found in Starkville is that of the S.H.I.E.L.D. H.Q., somewhat of a Marvel supercenter featuring unique merchandise, additional walk-through exhibits, and a series of meet-n-greets involving Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, and for the first time ever, Black Widow, all meetable within themed sections of the building. S.H.I.E.L.D. also allows us a glimpse into the inner-workings of this fictitious version of America where superheroes and supervillains alike are a living, breathing topic. An interactive map of the globe allows us to see where every known hero or villain originates, what their power(s) is, what their motives are, and their origin story.
The MagicWay PeopleMover makes its fourth and final station stop at the Marvel City Station near S.H.I.E.L.D., as does the Disneyland Australia Railroad which quietly re-emerges from the Epcot diorama behind Mos Eisley, gently pulling into the aptly-named Starkville Dept. of Transportation.

In a decidedly more quaint portion of town, Rhodes Park allows us to take in the sights and sounds of nature in a Central Park-type setting. Although Rhodes Park with its snack vendors, park benches, and luscious fountains is more of a place for relaxation, our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man can often be found swinging into battle with the Green Goblin amid the park setting, initiating the antics of The Amazing Spider-Man. In this outdoor, almost impromptu stunt show, Spidey and the Green Goblin go head-to-head in a stunning display of web-slinging and marvelous special effects.



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Of course, not all the attractions found in Marvel City all take place on Earth...well, they do, but this one is a bit more intergalactic than the normal Marvel-themed attraction. Enter Guardians of the Galaxy: An ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. You read that right. Aliens have landed...as has Star Lord.

In case any of you cared to remember, the original ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter was a fantastic Magic Kingdom attraction that relied on the use of "3D sound" and in-theater effects to scare the living daylights out of park guests, centering around a man-eating alien that broke loose and menaced the spectators in the dark. Sadly, the attraction was plagued with complaints by those who did not read the logo, as well as being in the wrong park at the wrong time. This is no longer the case.

Jump ahead decades past Alien Encounter's untimely demise. Disneyland Australia's Marvel City area boasts a new and far more light-hearted (but still scary) take on the would-be classic attraction. Guardians of the Galaxy: An ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter takes us into a strange building with hand-carved embroiderment of frail humans holding up the weight of Greek gods.

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Inside, we learn of the Guardians landing in Starkville as per Stark's request to examine some strange alien relics found deep below Starkville during the construction phase. Believing to know something of their origin, the Guardians invite us to take part in the demonstration and investigation of the relics. Starting with an introduction by S.I.R. and Skippy, back from the grave, we are ushered into a viewing chamber where the Guardians strap us in and unintentionally resurrect an unnatural alien creature that is centuries old and hungry for some din-din. Luckily, Groot and Rocket are both well-equipped to save us from the ancient creature. With plenty of wit, dark humor, and some definite thrills and chills, this modern day Marvel-incarnation of Alien Encounter finally accomplishes the dreams of all those Imagineers years and years ago who longed to create an immersive encounter with a bloodthirsty alien. The Awesome Mixtape Shop, a music and Guardians-themed merchandise store sits at the exit of Alien Encounter.

Despite its bold intentions and sci-fi-futuristic ambitions, Marvel City is one of the park's smallest lands, taking up the real estate between Mos Eisley Spaceport and the distinctly larger Hollywoodland with great pride and wonderful stage presence. If anything, Marvel City is built in the spirit of New Orleans Square; one small land with two major E-Tickets of the utmost quality. It seems only fitting that the high-roofed buildings of Starkville gradually give way to the fresh-faced and fanciful architecture of Tinseltown in the Golden Age of Cinema. Welcome to
Hollywoodland, the final land in Disneyland Australia...

 

MANEATINGWREATH

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Very excellent job with Marvel City, MEW! I'm particularly intrigued by your Guardians of the Galaxy-based Alien Encounter idea. I honestly think it could work well at Magic Kingdom, replacing that awful Stitch's Great Escape. Think you could possibly do a full-fledged ride-through of this, like you did with "small world" and Indiana Jones?

It's definitely a possibility! I'm going to do Hollywoodland first, then the final draft of the park, but if I have time, I'll do GOTG before the final draft. If not before the final draft, it will be one of the many ride-throughs/scripts that I will post following the final draft. This thread is going to be around for a very long time in other words. GOTG is definitely on my checklist, I just need to rewatch the movie to capture that humor.
 

MANEATINGWREATH

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
As you all know, Hollywoodland is the final overview until the final draft of the park is released later in June. To those of you who have been with me from the beginning, thank you. To those who have been with me from the beginning, middle, or as of late, thank you. I promise that the final draft will not disappoint in the slightest, and that it will be dedicated to you, as well as all those who have been apart of my armchair Imagineering "career" for the past eight years.

Expect to see revised sub-areas, new sub-areas, deleted sub-areas, new attractions, new ideas, possible new lands, better-worded overviews, a daytime parade, proper grammar (I'm going to be an English major, so I should know better), coverage of Port Disney (the shopping district), overviews of both hotels, and much, much more. Also expect to see some fantastic concept art by my wonderfully-talented friend @Basketbuddy101 in regards to my park's Haunted Mansion. The park itself might have to expand in size with all the new and old material I have coming your way!

One of the dark rides included in Hollywoodland will call for the removal of the Snow White Castle Mystery Tour. You'll see why soon enough.

Even then, the final draft won't be the end of this thread. There are still plenty of scripts, ride-throughs, and detailed overviews to go into, and, to a possible extent, the slight chance of a second theme park, although the latter is a far-distant concept that has yet to be determined for a number of reasons.

Seriously, you haven't seen anything yet, and that's a promise. Today, we will dive into Hollywoodland and from there, we'll move on. As always, enjoy.

_____________________________



In our day at Disneyland Australia, we've explored the furthest reaches of a galaxy far, far away... We've ventured to the darkest jungles of Africa, Asia and South America... We've journeyed into a timeless kingdom of childhood enchantment and fantasy, and now, we find ourselves headed southwest from the Hub and towards the ornate entryway of Tinseltown as it appeared in its Golden Age. Inspired by the 1916 film Intolerance, golden elephants stand atop adjacent Babylonian-pillars, triumphantly looking to Adventureland across the Hub. The Red Car Trolley passes through the entryway and towards what one would naturally expect the land's weenie to be: the Hollywoodland Sign high atop a grass-covered hill. At its forefront, the legendary Chinese Theatre casts a series of searchlights to the heavens, attracting our attention to the City of Angels as it appeared not so long ago.

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Stepping into Hollywoodland is a step back in time to an era where "any office boy or young mechanic could be a panic, with just a good-looking pan." This is yesteryear Los Angeles as it appeared in a time when anyone and everyone could make it, a romanticized representation of the "Hollywood that never was." Trolley cables hang throughout the "skies," while the Red Car Newsboys exclaim the "daily" headlines through song and dance aboard their trolley "stage." Keystone cops patrol the streets in search of ne'er-do-wells, while an overly-flamboyant movie starlet canoodles her poodle to the adoration of her "fans." The Citizens of Hollywoodland simply and thematically add to the immersive environment, all the while setting a period that is further established in Art Deco architecture and rooftop billboards representing fictional and nonfictional products of the 1930's and 40's. Big band beats fill the air, only, unlike Adventureland, they are played in crisp, fresh orchestrations rather than crackling radio transmissions.

Hollywood Boulevard serves as the main drag of Hollywoodland, leading us directly to the forefront of the aforementioned Chinese Theatre and Hollywoodland Sign. But before heading there, we pay a visit to the various shops and eateries located along either side of the street. Fairfax Market is an outdoor grocery stand selling fresh fruits, snacks, and refreshments, represented as an authentic open-air grocery stand of a bygone era. Adjacent to Fairfax is Philippe's, the first international spin on the world famous Los Angeles French Dip shop, complete with French Dips, pastrami, Lamp Dips, and an abundance in authentic details, from sawdust on the floors to jars of pickled eggs on the counters. The Red Car makes its first of two Hollywoodland stops outside Julius Katz & Sons, a family-run business selling home decor and Disney-themed kitchen supplies. The Red Car Five & Dime is a "one-stop shop," that, while featuring generic merchandise, also features merchandise related to the Red Car and other railways. It seems only fitting that the 20th Century Limited, Disneyland Australia's take on Club 33 sits next door.

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Held within a facade inspired by Union Station, the 20th Century Limited welcomes a select few aboard America's most famous train of yesteryear, a private, "members only" restaurant entirely found aboard the lavish steam train's dining car(s). While we dine, the windows and rumbling floor simulate a trip around the vast expanse of California through stunning means of technology. For those who can't afford the club's exclusive membership, a small "taste" of select wines and appetizers sold aboard the train are sold in a small bar inside the station called Gable's, supposedly frequented by Clark Gable himself between movie shoots, as evident by his autographed-headshot above the alcohol supply.




The Hollywoodland Five & Dime, a band of madcap jazz musicians and their beautiful female lead vocalist can often be seen parading up and down Hollywood Boulevard aboard an old jalopy performing daily routines outside the Chinese Theatre, shortly followed by a set from the previously mentioned Newsboys. The Emporium takes us back to a department store of a bygone time, boasting crystal chandeliers, sweeping rotundas, stylized-mannequins, and period inventory (i.e. fedoras and extravagant jackets). Next door, Hollywood Forever (no, not the cemetery in California of the same name) sells presumably fair-gotten props and relics from film, featuring a back-of-house prop room lined with more expensive inventory, such as a recreation of Dorothy's ruby slippers and Luke Skywalker's self-built lightsaber. Sid Cahuenga, Talent Agency assures us that they can turn anyone or anything into a STAR, dressing us up as a star and placing us on the cover a magazine or in our very own acting headshot. Hollywood Clothiers may or may not assist in Sid's business, promising to dress anyone up like the greats in a matter of seconds.The Hollywood Brown Derby, famous for its hat-shaped restaurant and Cobb Salad finds new life in Disneyland Australia, boasting an interior decorated with celebrity-based caricatures and paintings of the era. Mickey's of Hollywood sells any and all things related to kid-friendly merchandise, from stuffed Mickeys to Disney character-themed clothing. As cheesy as it the name sounds, Award Wieners at the final corner of the blvd stands in the spirit of Hollywood's famous Pink's Hot Dogs, selling hot dogs and gourmet sausages from a window with a line that stretches around the block. Streetside tables with umbrellas provide ample dining space and perfect views of the live street entertainment.

Only one attraction makes its home on the curbside stretch of Hollywood Blvd. This attraction is, respectively, Just One Dream - The Walt Disney Story.



Appropriately held in the "historic" Roy Disney Theatre, we find an exhibit showcasing the man, the myth, and the legend who was Walt Disney. Amid relics of the Walt Disney Company's past, we find animation cells from classic animation, a model of Disneyland in California, and a hand-painted mural of Walt surrounded by not one, but all of the major film characters overseen in his tenure with his company, from Mickey Mouse to Captain Hook.

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(So, only some of the characters seen in the above mural would be excluded, but I'm sure this helps get the idea across)

Just One Dream sits us in an intimate, Main Street Opera House-type theater where we learn the inspiring story of Walt and his brother Roy as they started out with nothing and worked their way to the top in a moving, historical presentation with varying means of media in use, including the title song of the attraction: "Just One Dream." Historical moments featured include the conception of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey Mouse, the advent of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and of course, the opening of Disneyland. Interestingly enough, Walt makes his first audio animatronic appearance in any theme park, recreating that famous opening day speech as well as several classic quotes.

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The world famous Chinese Theatre greets us as we reach the end of Hollywood Boulevard, also bringing us to a fork in the road with Sunset Boulevard to our right and Valiant Street to our left. As expected, cement panels embroidered with the signatures and handprints of countless "Disney celebrities" greet us as we approach the theatre, the theatre itself playing home to a modern-day incarnation of the Great Movie Ride: Adventures in Cinema.



Evading the typical box office fee, we enter the Chinese Theatre and find ourselves magically transported into not the interior of the theatre, but instead the black and white laboratory of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Fronk-en-Steen) of Young Frankenstein fame. Weird bits of machinery and macabre gadgets hint at an ongoing experiment by the mad doctor. Our suspicions prove true when Igor (Eye-Gore) pops-up, informing us that the latest Fronk-en-Steen invention is bound to be a real thrill, supposedly able to transport living matter into the cinematic world like never before. When we board said invention ourselves, we are whisked into the reels of countless classic films both new and old, ranging from Gone with the Wind to The Wizard of Oz, all ending in an outrageous movie crossover and battle between all the visited worlds, a la Blazing Saddles. Heck, the finale is even set in the town of Rock Ridge, the setting of Blazing Saddles.

Exiting the Chinese Theatre, we head to the left-side of the fork in the road, heading down Valiant Street to the south. Valiant St is appropriately named for Eddie Valiant, the detective hero of the animation-live action-hybrid, Who Framed Roger Rabbit.



With a distinct 1940's-flare, Valiant Street takes us through a quaint portion of Hollywood alongside the Red Car which chugs past the abandoned stronghold of Cloverleaf Industries, Judge Doom's former evil enterprise that appears now as nothing more than the hollowed-shell of a building. Valiant & Valiant across the street is the false facade of Eddie Valiant, Private Eye. The Terminal Bar sits in too-close-a-proximity with the passing Red Cars, the bar under the ownership of Dolores, Valiant's no-nonsense girlfriend. The bar itself offers cheap drinks and appetizers, making every hour of the day a "happy hour" despite the Red Cars causing the entire bar to shake and quake like an earthquake is well underway. Valiant St seamlessly transitions ourselves and the Red Cars into Blue Moon Boulevard in Eliasburg, transitioning with the Sci-Fi Diner of Eliasburg. Billboards advertising the latest monster movie help strengthen this sci-fi transition. Ignoring Eliasburg for now, we continue to explore what Valiant St and Hollywoodland have to offer, starting with the pinnacle of Hollywood animation: Disney Animation.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TuPkbyPOBw

Held inside an Art Deco studio appearing to be held in place by statues of the seven dwarfs (much like the real animation studio in Burbank), Disney Animation gives us a first-hand account at the magic of the pen. Inside the well-sized building, we are greeted by a lobby inspired by California Adventure's attraction of the same name. Interchanging segments cast upon giant screens showcase stills and artwork from countless Disney and Pixar classics, appropriately played against the most memorable songs from the featured film. This Animation Lobby serves the purpose of being a "hub" for the rest of the building's features, starting with Animation Academy. Visiting the Animation Academy treats us to a demonstration from a trained Disney sketch artist. We are allowed a first-hand experience in drawing the same character, even being allowed to take our sketch home with us. Sorcerer's Workshop takes us deep into Yen Sid's private chambers, where we are able to draw basic animation reels and try them out in "reels," all while Yen Sid peers at us and says bits of wisdom from his animated portrait. Also found in Yen Sid's lair is the mesmerizing Toy Story Zoetrope, a constantly-spinning optical illusion that brings to life several sculptures of characters from the film(s). Sorcerer's Workshop paves the way into Ursula's Grotto, the eerie but humble abode of Ursula the Sea Witch. Rather than stealing our voice for her own benefit, Ursula allows us to do a bit of voiceover work, re-recording our own voices over classic scenes from Disney animation. Following Ursula's Grotto is one of the most beautiful areas in the entire park: the Beast's Library. A portrait of Prince Adam overlooks the whole of the monstrous library directly above the ever-wilting enchanted rose. Every so often, the last petal of the rose falls, causing the lights to dim and the unseen Beast to cast a gash clear across his own portrait's face. In the library, Lumiere and Cogsworth allow us to test our personalities and discover which Disney character "we are," often resulting in humorous results.

Character Close-Up provides a randomized meet-n-greet experience with the "Character of the Day." Every morning, a character is selected by a computer and scheduled for an all-day meet-n-greet in the space providing an experience that always proves to be different. Two additional features focus on something that might be considered odd, but whatever, they're fun! Back To Neverland, while slightly dated, is reintroduced in Disneyland Australia as a tribute to its stars, the late Robin Williams and Walter Cronkite. Back To Neverland showcases how hand-drawn animation is (or was) created. In it, Walter Cronkite narrates as Robin Williams is turned into a little lost boy and sent to Neverland where he engages in conflict with Captain Hook, of course ending happily. Following the short film, another film is played, this film being entitled Back to Neverland - Again. Narrated by Geoffrey Rush, Hugh Jackman is put in the shoes of Robin Williams this time around, discovering how modern CGI and hand-drawn animation are born and picking up where the first battle with Hook left off in an all-new dimension. Of course not all animation is hand-drawn or computer-animated...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQYcmV3Qq7c

Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop is unique to Disneyland Australia in the sense that it provides live puppet shows and an exhibit all about Jim Henson's Muppets from their early days in Sam and Friends to their heyday in The Muppet Show. For a good sum of money, we can design our own Muppet and receive one-on-one tips from a trained-Muppeteer. If we do not wish to pay, all we have to do is pick-up a spare Muppet Whatnot from the Muppet Chest and enjoy. Other features in the workshop include a viewing room constantly playing Muppet sketches from over the years, and a meet-n-greet with Kermit the Frog.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBPSh5h42sg

Back outside, the familiar tune of "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2" hums out from the close-knit walls of the infamous Ink & Paint Club. Entering through a "secret" entrance, we step foot inside the speakeasy-like lounge which also just so happens to be one of Hollywoodland's finest eating and drinking establishments. Like the film, the club stands as somewhat of a mismatched collaboration of the human and Toon worlds, with a cartoon octopus at the bar (although real humans serve the drinks) and "live entertainment" from Donald Duck who pounds away at the keys of a grand piano, constantly quacking wisecracks. Human musicians also play when Donald is on break. Although our waiter is human, the penguins from Mary Poppins do wander about the restaurant with bussing trays, frantically attempting to make a living prior to their film debut more than a decade later.

Just a short distance from the Ink & Paint Club sits the stronghold and birthplace of all overtly-outrageous gags and pranks seen in cartoons, the Gag Factory. Aside from being our easy access to multiple gags and gifts, the Gag Factory serves a more thematic purpose than just being a gift shop. Just beyond its back-wall and around the corner of the building is the squiggly-lined border to Toontown, the living space of many a Toon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8pFJGYTygg

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Dr. Seuss-like architecture and a distinct lack of straight-lines makes up the fictitious Hollywood suburb of Toontown. Wacky architecture and bizarre scenery are all apart of the mix, warping us into the colorful reels of Who Framed Roger Rabbit's animated segments. Unnaturally-designed automobiles line the streets, while fireworks sound off and belch smoke from the clearly-burnt firework factory. Classic Silly Symphony themes overpower the big band beats; the old jailhouse allows convicts of any age to bend the bars and escape; the gas station pumps appear to be inhabited by googly-eyed goldfish; gunshots and cowboy-like hollers emit from the "Western Prop Warehouse." Overwhelmed with our surroundings, we first pay a visit to the small residential portion of Toontown.

Goofy's Paint 'n' Play is our first stop, held inside the twisted towers and altogether ramshackled facade of Goofy's House. This non-ride experience allows us to take control of a "paint-gun" and blast a multitude of vibrant colors at the walls, turning each room of Goofy's abode into a truly "artistic" masterpiece. Goofy himself appears in his garden near the exit of the Paint 'n' Play. Donald's Boat stays afloat in nearby Toontown Lake, providing explorations of the S.S. Daisy and an all-day Donald meet-n-greet. Launchpad McQuack's Plane Crazy is a family-friendly coaster found among the vibrant hills of Toontown, themed to everyone's favorite duck pilot from the soon-to-be revived DuckTales. While aboard our own plane-train, we encounter various sight gags and obstacles, such as a coop filled with squawking chickens and a run-in with a freak thunderstorm, the storm clouds having a rather disgruntled facial expression. Chip & Dale's Treehouse features a playground in the spirit of the original Chip & Dale's Treehouse at Disneyland, complete with a lawyer-friendly tree-slide and "acorn crawl."

Naturally, both Mickey's House and Minnie's House finish the remainder of the residential area. Both houses, next door to each other, of course, provide a walking tour of the homes of Mickey and Minnie, as well as an all-day meet-n-greet with both. As such, both Mickey and Minnie are able to speak to guests and blink their eyes, an interactive feature unique to this portion of the park.


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Back in the downtown area near the Ink & Paint Club and Gag Factory, we find the aforementioned jailhouse, firework factory, and such, as well as the Toontown Opera House, home to Mickey's PhilharMagic, the park's only 4D film. Attending the 1st Annual Toontown Philharmonic Concert, we pay witness to Donald sneakily steal Mickey's sorcerer cap and unintentionally get warped into the various worlds of Disney animation. Visited locations include Aladdin, Dumbo, Peter Pan, The Lion King, Hunchback of Notre-Dame, and more, the film itself clearly updated from the Magic Kingdom original.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BAqWWOlH_0

Not too far from the Opera House sits a facade mixed in the Art Deco and Dr. Seuss-style, inspired by a mix of Union Station in Los Angeles and Grand Central Station in New York City. Stylistic skeletons in the style of The Skeleton Dance appear to hold up the weight of the building, while a familiar owl and series of mean-eyed cats join the embroidered-decor. A slanted doorway leads us inside the "station" and through the mean-eyed (literally, mean-eyed) back alleys and shadowy corners of Toontown. What we find beyond is the infamous Disney Villains' Nightclub, a madcap trip through an outrageous nightclub infested with the worst of the worst, the vilest of the vile, the meanest of the mean, the ugliest of the ugly.

Manager Pete welcomes us to the jazz lounge where we find Oogie Boogie, Emperor Zurg, and Frollo partaking in a friendly game of cards. When Frollo realizes that Oogie is cheating, Zurg is thrown into a fit of rage, blasting us backwards with his ion-cannon and onto the dance floor where countless villains interact in a collective environment of scum and villainy. After a quick trip through the kitchen (run by some seriously gristly chefs; i.e. the Evil Queen, Brer Fox, and the Horned King), we have a second run-in with Pete, Pete having attained the power of dark magic, transforming himself into a Pete-headed dragon, a la Maleficent. Luckily, Sorcerer Mickey arrives just in the knick of time, saving the day and giving us a happy ending as we ride off onto the smiley-faced sunset.

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(Concept art pictured above was drawn by @Disneyson a long, long time ago. He created the concept art for me when I pitched the villain ride to MiceChat back in 2009)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr4WwrQjEWI


The real point of interest in downtown is Roger Rabbit in Motorcar Madness! For the first time ever, we are thrust into the action of a Roger Rabbit and Baby Herman cartoon. Hopping aboard Lenny the Cab, we are thrust onto the set of the cartoon, overwhelmed in an immersive, three-dimensional environment that appears to be almost two-dimensional. As this is an EMV ride in the spirit of Indiana Jones Adventure, thrills are well underway the moment a resurrected Judge Doom (finally appearing in his non-Christopher Lloyd disguise) and the Weasels crash the film shoot and kidnap co-star Jessica. What ensues next is a madcap adventure through Toontown that results in countless gags, such as a trip to the sloth-operated DMV (before they were famous), an explosive visit to the TNT Factory, and a happy ending only Roger Rabbit and his outlandish crew could dish out. Having enjoyed the trip so much, we return to the Chinese Theatre to see what else Hollywoodland has to offer, hopefully something that's just as fun, if not more fun!

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Venturing down Sunset Boulevard from the forefront of the Chinese Theatre, we find that the street splits into two diversions itself, one headed straight for neighboring Marvel City to the north, the other leading to a darkened corner of old Hollywood, a la the infamous film and musical, Sunset Boulevard...even the precious convertible seen in the beginning of said film makes an appearance at the street corner, only mysteriously, the car seems to have been unattended for some time... Intrigued by the split, we decide to head straight first, first passing the iconic Carthay Circle Theatre, the home of another exploration into the expansive world of cinema: Cinemagic. Cinemagic, an updated lift of the Walt Disney Studios Paris film is presented in glorious HD with in-theater effects, and performances by Martin Short and Julie Delpy. Presented entirely in English, the film is updated from the original, allowing new clips, re-recorded dialogue, and more. Cinemagic, while somewhat similar to Adventures in Cinema is a much calmer alternative to those who do not wish to encounter the life-sized animatronics of Godzilla, Nosferatu, or the Alien from Alien in Adventures in Cinema.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=polT8hzNsB4

The majestic Babylonian Palace, inspired by the ancient ruins and deities of Babylon stands tall above Sunset Boulevard, a lavish, Broadway-style theater that seats more than a couple thousand people at least. Inside is a live production that not only has the longest name of any attraction in the park, but also the most ridiculous; Monty Python's Spamalot, Presented by a Big Business Agreement Between Monty Python and Disney takes us back to the decidedly outrageous Dark Ages in a musical recreation of the classic comedy, Monty Python & the Holy Grail. In this fifty-minute, family-friendly (but still hysterical) version of the Tony Award-winning comedy, we join King Arthur, Patsy and Arthur's Knights of the Round Table as they embark on a quest to find the Holy Grail. Along the way, we encounter a Killer Rabbit, a near-immortal Black Knight, the riff-happy Lady of the Lake, Tim the Enchanter, the Knights Who Say "Nee," and countless other classic characters. Rousing music and dance routines include "Knights of the Round Table," "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," "Find Your Grail," "The Song That Goes Like This," and much, much more.

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Also on Sunset Boulevard's straightaway we find Camelot Lot, a Monty Python-esque gift shop designed in the artistic style of Terry Gilliam, the weak-hearted artist seen having an unexpected and rather humorous heart attack in Monty Python & the Holy Grail. Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe, named for the Three Little Pigs of Silly Symphony lore sits near the border of Marvel City and Sunset Blvd, decorated with memorabilia of the Silver Lake Sisters, the real-life inspiration for Fiddler, Fifer and Practical. Tinseltown Treasures, a jewelry shop overlooks the last stretch of Hollywoodland before we venture into Starkville, but before heading back there, we decide to check out the split in Sunset Blvd. To the west, a shadowy street leads us not into a bustling corner of movie town, but instead into an almost-forested portion of road that appears to have been forgotten for some time, particularly forgotten by time itself. At first glance, one might expect to see the likes of Norma Desmond's mansion or even the residence of the delightfully macabre Addams Family or the Munsters, but instead, we find a different house... I've saved my favorite attraction for last...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPM_66dgUyc

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In the legend and lore of "Haunted Hollywood," most stories begin with one old house, scarcely noticed by day, but carefully avoided by night. Strangely, the mansion's grounds and courtyards are painstakingly groomed and well-kempt, but as night falls, eerie lights pass from window to window, while the unnatural silhouette of an otherworldly wraith peers out from the attic window. As it seems, the old manor is apparently abandoned, perhaps the estate of a forgotten silent film star. The Pueblo Deco architecture and imposing clock tower eternally stuck on the Roman numeral of XIII (13) have caused many a rumor to surface among the locals, almost all claiming this house to be a Haunted Mansion.

Hollywoodland's Haunted Mansion is just as foreboding... A peculiar chill shivers through us... The hairs on our neck stand straight up... And we feel as if someone is watching as we hasten past the family plot... A high, cast iron-fence stands around the property... Is it there to keep somebody out? Or something inside... The massive doors creak open, as our "Ghost Hostess" urges us to step "lively," others are just dying to get in... Inside is a rotting piece of real estate inhabited by 999 happy haunts from around the world. In this "country club-type" atmosphere, we board a Doom Buggy for a supernatural journey through a labyrinth of frightful chambers. We glide past a casket-filled funeral parlor, a chilling séance circle, a "swinging" wake in the graveyard out back, and an unforgettable encounter in the dust-blanketed screening room, all guided by the sultry voice of our Ghost Hostess...

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Disneyland Australia's Haunted Mansion takes us into the scariest version of the attraction yet that retains all the humor of the original with all the scares of the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. With new rooms, new ghosts, and particularly bone-chilling special effects, the Haunted Mansion is an unforgettable tour through the boundless realm of mist and decay, all culminating in a tour of Memento Mori Cemetery, an overgrown, almost ancient graveyard just outside the Mansion's crypt-exit with a secret underground tunnel connecting to Fantasyland's Halloween Town sub-area. In this peaceful burial plot, we pay tribute to some of Hollywood's fallen icons, as well as some family pets and former residents of the Haunted Mansion, including silent film star Roland Gracey, the owner of the Mansion itself...even in death... Strange & Frightening Sounds sits inside the Mansion's guest house which sits just on the outskirts of the property, the appropriate venue for a Haunted Mansion-themed gift shop where strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKh6XxYbbIc

Having completed our tour of Disneyland Australia, we realize that...this is just the beginning. This was just a rough draft tour. In fact, none of our trip ever even happened. It was all a pitch from the Imagineers to us, the executive board of the Walt Disney Company. The question now is...should we approve it?
















YES.


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Stay tuned, my friends! With Shanghai Disneyland's premiere coming up and many other factors coming into play, expect to see the final draft of Disneyland Australia this June! In the meantime, look out for some ride throughs and other things to keep interest going.
 

MANEATINGWREATH

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Great job. I bet I know who the voice of the Ghost Hostess is.

Thanks!

Who? I'm actually searching for an Australian actress to better suit the culture of the audience, but in the end, it might be confusing having an Australian female narrate an attraction set in 1940's California. Were I to go back to having a Ghost Host, it would be a solid competition between Geoffrey Rush or Barry Humphries, two Australian actors with recognizably scary voices when they need them.

Today's post is a bit different... Today, we'll be exploring the dark and tragic history of Disneyland Australia's Haunted Mansion. Now, to start, DLA's HM is themed to that of a retirement home for 999 happy haunts, just like the original(s). Despite this, a backstory is still present and official, it just isn't as explored in a manner such as Phantom Manor explores itself in Disneyland Paris. Instead of focusing entirely on the mysterious past of the house, the ride only hints at its history, inside and out. Graves in Memento Mori Cemetery contain fallen family members... Portraits and full-on spectres alike illustrate the likeliness of more than one character known to the house's history... Subtle and not-so-subtle details as such truly translate the mystique and lore of the Mansion like never before, implying that this house has a dark past, while not truly exploring it in detail. The ongoing theme of a retirement community remains.

So, for now, turn off the lights, cuddle up in a blanket, and enjoy, as we dive into the bloody history of... Gracey Manor... This is Part One.

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Prologue

Prior to the events of our story, the Haunted Mansion, or simply, the "Mansion" was built in 1885, over an entire century after the founding of Los Angeles. Ward Edwards, a wealthy railroad tycoon placed the site of his future home in a dark corner of the then-small farming community of Hollywood, California. Despite claims from the locals that the site was that of an Indian burial ground, construction commenced, unwittingly causing the construction to become plagued with freak accidents and accidental deaths. Not wanting involvement from the law, Ward personally hid the bodies of his deceased employees in the infrastructure of the home, paying off the others to keep quiet. By October, nearly all of Ward's employees had either fled or died, causing the greedy baron to finish the construction himself.

Still plagued with paranormal activity, Ward's wife pleaded that he create false doors and endless hallways to lead the ghosts of the fallen astray. By doing this, he would quite literally ward off any unwanted spirits. Reluctantly, Ward added several staircases to nowhere, doors that opened up into walls, trapdoors leading down chutes, and other booby traps to "protect" his family from restless spirits, despite his own disbelief in the supernatural. "There's no such thing as ghosts," he would say. "Only greedy government workers."

By 1888, Ward's entire family had at one time lived in the mansion, but strangely, no one ever heard from them. Presumably, the belated guilt of burying construction workers in the infrastructure had caused old Ward to go mad. Although the exact details of his disappearance are unknown, rumor has it that the family fled after Ward himself snapped and sealed his own body in a wall. In the following years, the abandoned homestead became a hideaway for criminals; bank robbers, banditos, train robbers, the mafia, etc. As Hollywood's population grew, a cemetery, appropriately entitled "Memento Mori" was built a few yards away from the Mansion. The then-mayor believed it would be a good location given the foreboding nature of the house and the Indian burial ground beneath it... To this day, no one knows of the corpses hidden in the walls, except Ward and the restless spirits of the hidden...


Book One - Humble Beginnings

Our main story begins - as most stories do - once upon a time, in the faraway land of Italy. Abramo Graciano was born to Elizabeth and Alfonso Graciano on Halloween night, 1898. The Graciano Family was of the utmost disgust and distaste in Venice, their hometown. Not only was the family notoriously poor and generally filthy, rumors circulated of Alfonso having once had a romantic affair with a vampire while on cross-continental business, more specifically a bride of Count Dracula in distant Romania. Of course, these rumors were pure fantasy...at least one would hope...

Early in his life, Abramo discovered that he had the distinct ability to charm and seemingly mesmerize any person or animal with his unnaturally good-looks, even as a child. But looks aside, Abramo's childhood was unpleasant; after being tirelessly mocked for being a Graciano, Alfonso took to homeschooling his son, eventually resulting in Abramo halting his studies and going on to undertake a series of odd jobs and dirty work to help his family make ends meet, often involving the mafia and other underground organizations. With what little money he kept for himself, Abramo would venture to the local cinema or nickelodeon to watch the latest silent films, and by 1918, Abramo decided that it was his destiny to move to America and become a film star himself.

Tragically, Alfonso Graciano passed away in 1919, just shy of Abramo's twenty-first birthday. Although the circumstances of Alfonso's death were uncertain (some claimed that Dracula had discovered the "affair" and gotten his revenge), Abramo and Elizabeth used their small inheritance to gain safe passage to America. Upon arrival at Ellis Island, the Gracianos were given a name that would go to live on in Hollywood infamy for all-time: Gracey. Abramo, finally having rid of his family's ill-reputed name changed his own first name to Roland, much to Elizabeth's displeasure. Abramo was her father's name, after all.

Sometime in 1920, the newly-dubbed Graceys arrived in Los Angeles, just in time for the golden age of silent film. Still having little money, Roland Gracey did his best to support himself and his mother, picking up odd jobs at local restaurants, sweeping floors, shining shoes, etc., and although it placed multiple women into a trance, no male studio head was as easily mesmerized by Roland's dashing demeanor in an audition. To them, he was a mere immigrant with no talent aside from a handsome face. Roland was crushed. That is, he was crushed, until a chance encounter with a gypsy by the name of Madame Leota occurred.

Madame Leota, being forty-years of age at the time of their meeting, never married. She didn't have any children, nor did she have financial backing to her liking. To those who knew her, her predictions were often false, simply rooted in particles of clothing worn by her few customers. As a psychic, Leota only had one natural-born talent, and that talent was communicating with the deceased. Leota's shop window claimed to have "Over 999 Served," whatever that meant. Roland, being superstitious himself, sought the help of Leota, promising whatever finances she needed in return for a life on the silver screen. Entranced by the handsome foreigner, Leota denied Roland's limited funds, instead requesting that he marry her the second he made it in film. Roland, although reluctant, accepted. The two shook in blood, and mysteriously, a rather frazzled, almost hypnotized studio head got into contact with Roland the following morning, offering him a role in his next picture. Roland was thrilled and, overnight almost, Roland Gracey became the biggest silent film star in Hollywood.


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Anyone like the backstory so far? Clearly, there is more to come.
 

MANEATINGWREATH

Well-Known Member
Original Poster


Book Two - Before The Jazz Singer

For six years, Roland Gracey was the hottest star in Hollywood, his face on billboards, his name in lights, his likeliness on every box of prepackaged food. After a brief stint on the still-young Broadway in an unknown Cole Porter musical (to which swooning female critics stated his Italian accent was "gorgeous"), Roland had attained plenty of financial backing to purchase both he and his mother a real "movie star mansion." Having searched everywhere in Los Angeles County, the mother and son duo settled on the decrepit property of the long-since vanished Edwards Family. Despite warnings from those who still remembered Ward Edwards and the criminal activity that happened inside the withering house, and despite its proximity to Memento Mori Cemetery, the Graceys purchased the old mansion, restoring it to its former glory and rechristening it "Gracey Manor." Elizabeth used her son's newfound wealth to obtain and import statues and fountains built in Greece and Rome, with them creating a luscious garden to satisfy her newfound hobby of gardening and landscape design. Of all the statues she collected, a pair of winged-lions with ram-horns were her favorite, so much in fact that she placed the lions atop the Mansion's column-bound entryway. To this day, the lions stand watch over the property. Although nowadays, their eyes appear to glow red under the right light...

During the restoration process of Gracey Manor, Roland, now calling himself "Master Gracey" (as in "Master of the Cinema") installed a swimming pool, unintentionally uncovering the skeletal remains of not one, but several humans, their origin unknown, perhaps residents of the legendary Indian burial ground. Gracey shrugged off the discovery as a crude prank to prohibit a star such as himself from moving in. Stubborn laborers refused to finish the swimming pool, leaving it dried-out and empty for several years as Master Gracey was just as stubborn by not finishing it.

Over time, Gracey Manor became a beacon for the show business elite. Master Gracey and the elderly Elizabeth became known for the Gatsby-esque parties they held every weekend. A new screening room installed by Gracey called for more than one movie premiere, always climaxing in a party of Olympian proportions held in the sprawling backyard or lavish Victorian-era ballroom. All the while Master Gracey partook in a life of sin and debauchery, he completely forgot about his promise to wed the aging Madame Leota... Clearly seeking her just dessert, Leota attended every party in search of Master Gracey, only to be sent home by the master's cold-hearted butlers and maids. Furious, Leota vowed revenge. If she couldn't have Roland...no one could...

It was in October of 1926 that Elizabeth Gracey was found dead, having quietly passed in her sleep...at least that's what the police and coroner claimed. Elizabeth's nursemaid swore that she had heard screams from the eldest Gracey's chambers, but by the time she had arrived to solve the commotion, Elizabeth was silent. The only sign of foul play came in the form of Elizabeth's wrinkled finger, just barely pointing in the direction of her askew bedroom window; the window had been cracked and slightly ripped from its hinges, while the blood-red curtains had been torn and dirtied. The police refused to investigate further. Roland resolved into a state of depression at the loss of his mother, turning to the bottle for comfort. In the meantime, he soon began a fascination with the occult, beginning to collect sinister artifacts and decor, from an Egyptian mummy (complete with sarcophagus) to a pet rat with beady red-eyes, claimed to be the direct descendant of the rat responsible for the Black Death in Europe. In a matter of weeks, Gracey Manor had become a "museum of the weird" as the tabloids called it, unable to catch a glimpse of said artifacts as Gracey had put an end to his legendary parties. Still, he paid no mind to his bride-to-be, Madame Leota.

Shortly before the autumn of 1927, Roland heard rumors of Warner Bros. developing the first "talking" motion picture, a piece called "The Jazz Singer." Believing such a concept to be witchcraft, the "master" ignored the omen on his career, continuing to enjoy a successful motion picture career. Even though critics claimed his performances to be fading in quality and his looks to be growing pale (after all, his hair had grayed following Elizabeth's death), Master Gracey continued to make a career for himself, living in perfect solitude as Madame Leota secretly brought an end to all those in his employ, one by one...


It wasn't until Roland met a young starlet by the name of Emily Hutch that things began to look up, even if for a short while...
 

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