So, You Want to be an Imagineer Season 14 - Sign-Ups & Festival of Imagination

[MANEATINGWREATH]

My, am I thrilled with the cast list we have in store for this season. Truly, this has been the best - and quickest - turnout in So, You Want to be an Imagineer history. Seriously, we can't thank you enough for all your interest. To reiterate what Tiki said before me, we will be starting the game officially on February 4th, 2017. Mark your calendars now! I can't wait to get a jump on things! THE EXCITEMENT IS KILLING ME!!

Of course, I'm equally excited for the warm-up rounds of "Festival of Imagination" to be held over the course of this next week. The Non-IP Critter Country Dark Ride was an old favorite of mine. It also harkens back to the first season in which Tiki and I were in charge of the game. This would have fallen back in 2009 or 2010, I don't remember which. Remember, this optional mini-project is due on Monday, January 30th, 11:59 PM ET. The second project for the festival will be posted shortly thereafter.

@spacemt354 had requested a guide to the terminology of SYWTBAI. Allow me to explain for all you newcomers, as well as for all you contestants from both the past and present...

1. Project Leader: This one is simple. For each round, each of the three teams will be led by a bold and fearless Project Leader. It is the Project Leader's sworn duty to lead the brainstorming of their team, organize the project for completion, and turn it in right on schedule. At the end of each round, the Project Leader will also select the winner of...

2. The PoMVP: A long-standing tradition of SYWTBAI, the PoMVP is a guaranteed bit of immunity for one - and only one - round. The Project Leader will give the PoMVP to the player who contributed the most to their team's success at the end of each round, providing them with protection from elimination in the following round. The process repeats at the end of the following round, and so on. Later, following a mid-season merge, we, the judges will hand out the PoMVP to the...well...to the MVP!

3. Diamond PoMVP: Golly, it sure is pretty, Clark. I'm just going to copy & paste Tiki's description from above... "Diamond PoMVP can play their PoMVP (Power of MVP) on themselves or a person on their team of their choosing one time from round one until the round before semi-finals. Play the Diamond PoMVP gives the player an automatic free pass to the next round without the stress of elimination. It's definitely a great tool to have at your disposal going into what looks to be a very promising and competitive season!" Keep in mind, there are only three Diamond PoMVP this season, so play Festival of Imagination to win one!

4. Walt's Vault: Walt's Vault is the Pandora's Box of SYWTBAI. It can be a really good thing! But, it can also be a really, terrible, horrible, not-so-good thing... Trust me, I've been there before... It can really hurt and, worst of all, it's completely random. No one knows what's inside, except for Tiki and I... Should you open it? Well... It's up to you. Sometimes, if not a good portion of the time, its contents are super helpful and beneficial! Other times... Well, I'll leave it to your imagination.

Now then... To be honest, I haven't really talked this over with Tiki, but... Given that he and Evan had revealed the team names for Season 13 rather early on, it seems only fitting to do so now, just as a teaser!



Actually, just kidding. You'll have to wait and see.

 

[Brer Oswald]

Who's doing the Critter Country project?

 

[RMichael21]

Favourite non-Disney attraction
Great bear at Hershey park, PA. first park I've ever been to, and really tested myself on that coaster. After I went on it the first time, I knew I had to have more of the thrill. Disney's craft for coasters totally upended my idea of a ride, and now I find them even more fun and creatively interesting.

Welcome to the imagineer forum! Hershey Park is awesome! Great Bear and Sky Rush are my favorites.

Welcome to the imagineer forums @NAdoTEg ! And I completely agree with this! I've gone four times over the years (including once with my entire extended family when I was little) and I have some extremely happy memories at that park.

 

[RMichael21]

Who's doing the Critter Country project?

I believe anyone can participate.

 

[spacemt354]

Golly, it sure is pretty, Clark.

 

[MANEATINGWREATH]

Who's doing the Critter Country project?

Yes, this project is for anyone and everyone! Essentially, over the next week, we will release four different projects over the course of 48 hours each, each a reflection on a past season of SYWTBAI. If you by chance ring in one of the top four highest scores, you have a chance to win a Diamond PoMVP or the key to Walt's Vault in the first round.

 

[MANEATINGWREATH]

Also, when you have little to no photoshop skills, you use Microsoft Paint.

 

[TheOriginalTiki]

I'd like to formally announce the names of the three teams this season. All three teams are named in honor of people who aren't playing this season but have had a significant impact on the game over the years.

The first person I'd like to honor with a team name is Season Seven's very own MouseketeerCole...aka David Younger. You might recognize that name if you've browsed Imagineering books on Amazon over the past year or so. His book "Theme Park Design" has truly become one of the biggest handbooks in the genre and a must-have guide for aspiring Imagineers. Cole is significant to the game for being a HUGE success story. After playing in season seven, Cole went on to participate in an Imagineering internship program where he rubbed elbows with the likes of Tony Baxter himself...Enough that he hung out with Mr. Baxter at Disneyland all day for his birthday one year. Yea, were dealing with a pretty important guy, and by far the most inspirational person who's ever played in the game for reaching his goals in a big, bold way. Give it up for...

Team Younger

​

Next up is a team name in tribute to one of my personal best friends in real life or online. Ever since season seven, Monkey has made a name for himself as one of the most funny, creative, and unique contestants in the history of the game. He was a pioneer in using different fonts and text colors to make presentations "pop", and his claim to fame is the humor he injects into his projects complete with his own trademark brand of humor.

Having hung out with him on three seperate trips to Southern California over the last year after podcasting with him for the better part of five years, I can truly say he and his family have become a big part of my own personal life. Named in honor of his comedy-based review Youtube channel Mist. C Laneous, give it up for...

Team Mist

​

Finally, the last guy I want to highlight is the person who I give all the credit in the world to for saving our Youtube Channel after the initial co-hosts got tied up in real life stuff and I was left on my own. BlueDragonFive is an amazing, rock-solid partner in crime in my Youtube career and has been for going on four years. I owe most of our sucess as a channel to him.

Anyone who knows Dragon knows how much of a huge fan of comics and superheros he is, to the point where it *kind of* became a running joke for ManEatingWreath, Monkey, and myself while we braved the insane holiday crowds in my Disneyland trip this past December. While Batman might be the hero closest to Dragon's heart, a big runner-up and someone who actually connects to Disney is Captain America. Dragon, I couldn't get you the video of Captain America saluting you, but I can give you the next best thing. Give it up for...

Team Cap

​

 

[spacemt354]

*not Slytherin not Slytherin*

 

[TheOriginalTiki]

*not Slytherin not Slytherin*

If Team Mist is Slytherin for the green, I guess that makes Monkey Snape...

 

[CookieMouse]

(A) My username is That Guy From Florida, and it represents, well, that I'm from Florida.
(B) Cheetah Hunt at Busch Gardens
(C) Before I had an account, I enjoyed lurking around future plans threads. I enjoyed seeing people's ideas for the future!

 

[Pi on my Cake]

-Set up-
Meet Arlo and Donny. Arlo (voiced by Arin Hanson) is a grumpy, cynical rabbit who wants to give humans a tour of Critter Country to show them how civilized creatures live. Donny (voiced by Danny Avidan) is a not so grumpy beaver who seems to be completely devoid of cynicism. He just wants to show humans how neat Critter Country is and make new friends!

These are your hosts for the Critter Country Grand Tour. A dark ride meant for all ages to enjoy! The ride system/vehicles are mostly unchanged from the Winnie the Pooh ride (which this is replacing in Disneyland). The vehicles will have an addition to the front for reasons I will explain later.

Before boarding the ride, you are introduced to our two host through a video preshow. Why is there a tv in the middle of the forest in Critter Country? "Cuz television is the only thing these tree-cutting, human mooks listen to," Arlo explains to Donny who is also confused as to why there is a television. They explain their reasons for giving the humans a tour of Critter Country. Arlo tells us that he'll be driving out ride vehicle. "I've heard of that 'roadkill' thing you guys do. I'm not trusting any humans with a vehicle."

-Ride-

Ride along a winding past through the forest! See all the critters living life in their "natural" habitat. Everything is recreated using the same clever dark ride techniques that Disney has been using for decades. Because of time, I won't walk you through scene by scene, but I will list some highlights. A waterfall room done similarly to Living with the Land.

The ride vehicles then "float" in the river formed by the waterfall (using the Pooh vehicles like in the rainy day scene of the current ride). In actuallity, the water is rerouted into a basin beneath the ride track, but to riders it will look like theyre entering the river. The riders drift down until a beaver dam stops them and the vehicles "go back to dry land" for the rest of the ride. Arlo asks, "Hey, Donny. Is that the dam you built? It's nice!"
"Nah, that one is my cousin Brian's. This one is mine!" As Donny says that, riders see another much smaller and more poorly constructed dam.
"Well, that's not the worst dam I've ever seen." - Arlo
"Aw! Thanks bro!" - Donny

The climax will happen with a forest fire. Donny gets stuck in a tree. Arlo leaves the vehicle (we never see him riding with us, but it is assumed he is in the added front part by guests) goes to save him, but can't reach. We turn a corner into a dark room. We hear Donny yell like he falls. We then hear a thud as our car shakes. When we go back into a lighted room we see Donny has now popped up from the extended front part of the car! The humans caught him! Donny is safe!

Arlo learns that maybe us "meat eating, forest chomping, globe warming, critter hunting" humans aren't so bad after all. Us humans learn to appreciate nature and the animals around us more. And Donny makes some new pals.

-Appeal-

Part of the prompt was to create a ride that will appeal to all ages. This ride will appeal to adults due to the serene and interesting visuals as well as the smartly written comedy (written by people smarter and funnier than I am lol). This ride will appeal to teens and young adults through the use of internet celebrities (Arin and Danny were chosen to be the voices of the characters due to their experience in comedy and voice work as well as the popularity of their YouTube channels the Game Grumps). This will appeal to kids because of the comedy and talking animals.

Sorry this is a bit short and sloppy. I did this while in line for the 7 dwarves mine train on my phone haha!

 

[RMichael21]

I did this while in line for the 7 dwarves mine train on my phone haha!

I'm so jealous.

 

[Brer Oswald]

-Set up-
Meet Arlo and Donny. Arlo (voiced by Arin Hanson) is a grumpy, cynical rabbit who wants to give humans a tour of Critter Country to show them how civilized creatures live. Donny (voiced by Danny Avidan) is a not so grumpy beaver who seems to be completely devoid of cynicism. He just wants to show humans how neat Critter Country is and make new friends!

These are your hosts for the Critter Country Grand Tour. A dark ride meant for all ages to enjoy! The ride system/vehicles are mostly unchanged from the Winnie the Pooh ride (which this is replacing in Disneyland). The vehicles will have an addition to the front for reasons I will explain later.

Before boarding the ride, you are introduced to our two host through a video preshow. Why is there a tv in the middle of the forest in Critter Country? "Cuz television is the only thing these tree-cutting, human mooks listen to," Arlo explains to Donny who is also confused as to why there is a television. They explain their reasons for giving the humans a tour of Critter Country. Arlo tells us that he'll be driving out ride vehicle. "I've heard of that 'roadkill' thing you guys do. I'm not trusting any humans with a vehicle."

-Ride-

Ride along a winding past through the forest! See all the critters living life in their "natural" habitat. Everything is recreated using the same clever dark ride techniques that Disney has been using for decades. Because of time, I won't walk you through scene by scene, but I will list some highlights. A waterfall room done similarly to Living with the Land.

The ride vehicles then "float" in the river formed by the waterfall (using the Pooh vehicles like in the rainy day scene of the current ride). In actuallity, the water is rerouted into a basin beneath the ride track, but to riders it will look like theyre entering the river. The riders drift down until a beaver dam stops them and the vehicles "go back to dry land" for the rest of the ride. Arlo asks, "Hey, Donny. Is that the dam you built? It's nice!"
"Nah, that one is my cousin Brian's. This one is mine!" As Donny says that, riders see another much smaller and more poorly constructed dam.
"Well, that's not the worst dam I've ever seen." - Arlo
"Aw! Thanks bro!" - Donny

The climax will happen with a forest fire. Donny gets stuck in a tree. Arlo leaves the vehicle (we never see him riding with us, but it is assumed he is in the added front part by guests) goes to save him, but can't reach. We turn a corner into a dark room. We hear Donny yell like he falls. We then hear a thud as our car shakes. When we go back into a lighted room we see Donny has now popped up from the extended front part of the car! The humans caught him! Donny is safe!

Arlo learns that maybe us "meat eating, forest chomping, globe warming, critter hunting" humans aren't so bad after all. Us humans learn to appreciate nature and the animals around us more. And Donny makes some new pals.

-Appeal-

Part of the prompt was to create a ride that will appeal to all ages. This ride will appeal to adults due to the serene and interesting visuals as well as the smartly written comedy (written by people smarter and funnier than I am lol). This ride will appeal to teens and young adults through the use of internet celebrities (Arin and Danny were chosen to be the voices of the characters due to their experience in comedy and voice work as well as the popularity of their YouTube channels the Game Grumps). This will appeal to kids because of the comedy and talking animals.

Sorry this is a bit short and sloppy. I did this while in line for the 7 dwarves mine train on my phone haha!

Well done! Lol Arin and Danny ! Is it too much to hope for a JonTron cameo?

 

[kmbmw777]

A Beaver's World

Meet Bob and Cole Beaver - two twins born and raised to become engineers, like every other beaver in Critter County. Except Bob may not be cut out for that sort of deal. Bob is a little dumb. Cole is a genius. Together - they can accomplish almost nothing. But nonetheless join them on a hilarious journey as Cole fixes Bob's many mistakes, and have to find their way home.

Ride Facade
The ride features an exterior in a similar building manner to It's a Small World where you board your boats outside on the side of a river. Instead of the Small World facade, a forest of trees and wildlife is present.

Ride Vehicles
Get in some of Cole's small wooden boats for this water dark ride, much in the style the nearby Pirates of the Caribean.

Ride Summary

As you leave the station, witness Bob destroy the dam which houses himself and his family. His mother and father watch as their two sons get swept down the river by a strong current.

Bob and Cole land near a cave where a scary predator roars. Cole fashioned a set of armor and sword from wood for himself, while Bob holds a poorly made sword backwards.

In the next scene, we see Cole sitting in a treehouse, while Bob dangles from a vine below the tree, and wolves bark at him. Cole can be seen building something to help Bob.

As we move out of the jungle, we see that Cole has built a big boat for him and Bob to ride on, but Bob is chewing away at the wood.

In the next scene, their boat has crashed. Cole is trapped inside of the ship, but Bob is on shore.

The finale sees Bob build some wooden tools and saves Cole from drowning.

Song
Only the best can build
Only the best can craft
So join us beavers in
Our quest to build the best

Destiny calls the bright
Destiny calls the handy
So join us beavers in
Our quest to build the best

etc.
​

 

[Pi on my Cake]

Well done! Lol Arin and Danny ! Is it too much to hope for a JonTron cameo?

JonTron can be a duck in the river. Just have him yell "quack! Quack! Ech, my throat. Quack!"

 

[spacemt354]

Bob is a little dumb. Cole is a genius. Together - they can accomplish almost nothing. ​

Reminds me of...

 

[Suchomimus]

Reminds me of...

 

[Suchomimus]

*not Slytherin not Slytherin*

Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure? You could be great, you know. It's all here in your head. And Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, there's no doubt about that. No?

 

[spacemt354]

What Does The Fox Say?
The next Disneyland classic dark ride -- Gering-ding-dingling into Critter Country in 2019


The age old question -- what sound does a fox make? Will now be answered in Critter Country at Disneyland.

Ride through the forest with a variety of talking animals along this musical adventure thanks to Ylvis and their ingeniously crafted lyrics throughout this 3 1/2 minute adventure. To make room for this sure fire hit, the Winnie the Pooh building will be expanded upon to increase capacity for the attraction.

Queue
The queue is mostly outdoors while the load area is indoors, so you wonder around the forest hearing all sorts of animal sounds...but not the fox. You're told that "dog goes woof, cat goes meow" just in case you forgot before you load into your vehicles.

Ride Vehicles
Trackless and EMV combination vehicles are used for this attraction to ensure the premium Disneyland experience for all guests. We spared no expense on this attraction.

Ride-Through
It's quiet and you hear the music in the background...until the question arises

What does the fox say?

Your vehicles bounce up and down to the bass, weaving in and out of the trees of the forest. As you weave around, other animals pop out with their own sounds

Hatee-hatee-hatee-ho
Hatee-hatee-hatee-ho
Hatee-hatee-hatee-ho
says the bear

Joff-tchoff-tchoff-tchoff
Joff-tchoff-tchoff-tchoff
Joff-tchoff-tchoff-tchoff
says the raccoon

And this lyrical pattern goes on for about 3 or so minutes...until the ride just...sort of ends.

But not before you hear what in fact the fox does say...

A baabede bom bom be dom.
A baabede bom bom be dom.
A baabede bom bom be dom.

​