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Rivers of America (plus Railroad & Dioramas) Re-Imagineered 2017
- Thread starter TP2000
- Start date
We look forward to the only real way for you to respond; by vlogging back.
Stevek
Well-Known Member
Yep. And these plus Space Mountain. I would love to have more but wall space is at a premium.Is it this one?
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Hey you're also a Disneyland YouTuber and celebrity now. Don't sell yourself short.
Curious Constance
Well-Known Member
Yeah, before you know it, he'll be calling you out and you'll be forced to defend yourself against him.
Curious Constance
Well-Known Member
(Per Disneygeek, he said the notes said to leave the wood chips by the beavers.)
D
Deleted member 107043
FerretAfros
Well-Known Member
Like much of TL98, they're a poor man's version of a concept from Discoveryland at Disneyland Paris that was twisted, cut, and contorted to the point that they never made any sense in the final installation in Anaheim.
The original backstory of Discoveryland was tied to it being on top of a volcano, which was integral to the original Discovery Mountain concept, where an Intamin Freefall ride would have dropped guests into an active volcano, among other attractions within the single structure. The rocks themselves are similar to basalt columns often found in volcanic areas, created by the rapid cooling of lava into crystal-like shapes
(Side note: similar rock formations have been seen along the north bank of Rivers of America, though I don't think they're accurate to the geology of the American frontier. Our favorite ladyblogger captured them around 5:10 in this video:
)
The rocks at DLP's Discoveryland work as a visual transition from the expansive park-like hub, drawing your eyes to the Visionarium building (now Buzz) and Space Mountain beyond. As a way to move from a flat open space to one that's dominated by buildings, they're very effective at blending what could be a harsh connection, while maintaining long sightlines. And because of the park's overall scale, there's plenty of room for wide walkways in addition to the rocks
Additionally, the rocks are surrounded by pools of water, with various levels cascading into one another (similar to DLP's castle moat). Water begins trickling out near the tops of the rocks, and continues through the various pools below
When the park opened, there were even smoke and fire effects on the water, further reinforcing the volcanic concept. These effects were lost over time, but were recently recalled with fiery lighting at night. Here's a nifty gif showing the original effects in action
https://twitter.com/CafeFantasia/status/563820079172059139
These rocks are a unifying motif throughout the land, including surrounding the Orbitron, helping to define the queue space within the large plaza. Throughout the land, most of the planters repeat that style
By the time Space Mountain was built in 1995, the scope of the project was vastly reduced, leaving just the rollercoaster and ditching all direct volcanic references. The structure was still surrounded by angled volcanic rocks, as though it were thrust up through the earth's surface. The adjacent pond is home to the Nautilus (which visited a volcano in the novel) and uses similar terraced waterfalls to those at the land's entrance.
Which then brings us to Disneyland's Tomorrowland entrance, where the rocks are plopped down into a narrow walkway for no apparent reason, where there's no need for a large transition due to the smaller scale of the hub and buildings, and there are no similar rocks elsewhere in the land to reinforce the concept
If you know where they found their inspiration for the TL98 redo, it kind of makes sense. But with what actually got built, they really don't make any sense at all.
D
Deleted member 107043
Discoveryland is one of the coolest concepts Disney Parks has ever executed. I wish DLP management would stop fiddling with their Space Mountain's story line
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britain
Well-Known Member
Word is that after Hyperspace, it will return to its former Jules Verne / Earth to the Moon glory.
GiveMeTheMusic
Well-Known Member
Fixed that for you
D
Deleted member 107043
LOL. Wasn't it the previous management that initiated the changes? DLP has only been fully controlled by the WDCo for what, a month maybe?
GiveMeTheMusic
Well-Known Member
Yes, but Disney started asserting more influence in preparations for the 25th, hence DLRP jumping onto hideous ideas like Hyperspace Mountain. It's not like someone challenged them for control - they basically controlled Euro Disney SCA to begin with. Only now, it's official.
My favorite part of Disney's strategy to take over DLRP completely was letting the resort rot for 10+ years. Guests first, that's the Disney way!
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
None of us mere mortals know.
Only Tony Baxter, and his hairdresser, knows for sure!
I know, but I'm not talking.
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Antaundra
Well-Known Member
the concept art for the Atlantis submarine ride features a large volcano. We're these rocks and that volcano the basis for a unifying Tomorrowland story that never came to fruition?I know, but I'm not talking.
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sedati
Well-Known Member
Found this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_places_with_columnar_jointed_volcanics#North_America
Seems they're more prevalent than thought.
D
Deleted member 107043
I'm sure you've heard of Mount Lassen, Mount Shasta, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Rainier, all volcanoes on the west coast, two of which are in California. Also don't forget the Yellowstone caldera, the so-called "super volcano" in Yellowstone National Park.
180º
Well-Known Member
They're actually accurate, and a rather nice touch! As just one example, here's the Devil's Postpile in Mammoth, CA.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devils_Postpile_National_Monument
Ismael Flores
Well-Known Member
Hopefully more landscaping besides trees are coming to help hide the large flow of guests from the river.Here's a new shot; a view of the new walkway that will wind north of the Hungry Bear Restaurant and snake its way under the railroad berm and then back into Star Wars Land.
That pathway, once it winds its way under the trestle and then between a landscaped canyon, will eventually lead to the westernmost of the three entrances to Star Wars Land here. The pathway is seen on the upper level of this WDI sketch, going over the bridge above what will be extended queue space for the Alcatraz Battle ride. (WDI artwork always manages to make extended queue switchbacks look dreamy and lightly populated)
Would be also cool if they had dyed the concrete to look like soil. Maybe they will go back and stain it so it doesn't stand out so much.
It's all looking great
Ismael Flores
Well-Known Member
Like much of TL98, they're a poor man's version of a concept from Discoveryland at Disneyland Paris that was twisted, cut, and contorted to the point that they never made any sense in the final installation in Anaheim.
The original backstory of Discoveryland was tied to it being on top of a volcano, which was integral to the original Discovery Mountain concept, where an Intamin Freefall ride would have dropped guests into an active volcano, among other attractions within the single structure. The rocks themselves are similar to basalt columns often found in volcanic areas, created by the rapid cooling of lava into crystal-like shapes
(Side note: similar rock formations have been seen along the north bank of Rivers of America, though I don't think they're accurate to the geology of the American frontier.
Although the largest collection of pillar volcanic rocks or Basalt columns are found in Ireland these Basalt columns are also found on the Columbia river in Washington. They are actually quite a few areas throughout the Country where you can find traces of these kind of rock formation just not in large groups as the ones in Ireland
Also as a side note these same rocks are also found in another area of the resort. They are quite a few of them around the grizzley rapids waterfall right behind the queue
Sorry just noticed other people had mentioned the rock formations as well. I actually had Seen a couple other sites that kept referring to them as alien rock formation as part of the transition for Star Wars in their updates. Having traveled quite a bit it was a bit frustrating to read that
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Phroobar
Well-Known Member
Those rocks are great looking in the proper environment. Blocking the entrance to TL they do not