T3 Celebrates the Wild Decade! 4/22/08 Update

[t3techcom18]

Hey there folks!! I'm FINALLY back with an update for once! Sorry for the lack of updates, as I've been really busy with extracurricular activities, plus work, plus other unforeseen things. Soo, why not start an update with the celebration of AK's 10th!

Early in the morning, clear as day, around 7 am, the empty plaza awaits...

The rest of the early risers!

The purpose and goal!

The super team that makes up WDW Celebrations organzing their table!

More early risers!

They're ready...yet eerrie...

The risers that are early...but not from 7am-ish! haha.

The look of the line behind me waiting for the turnstiles to get in!

The clear morning view ahead, as the people stream in...

The cameras are ready from the local networks...

LOTS more to come!!

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Great update!AK looks like fun!

 

[t3techcom18]

And now...for the photos I deemed crappy, yet, okay for the circumstances. This was a BIG thing this event got wrong. They should've had ar LEAST a stage our front, yet they had nothing. For the whole thing being on a hill, and we are standing on the top of the slope, and the base being where the event was...oof. People even standing on the chairs couldn't see half of what was going on!! Grr. Well, at least I got people's heads I guess, haha.

The event begins! The truck carries Erin Wallace, Dr. Jane Goodall, and mr. Joe Rohde:

Trying desperately to get a good shot...

Trying...

Again, trying...

Her ape call!! WOO!

And my last chance for getting it right, with Mr. Rohde, haha:

I got to say...this is THE best show I've EVER taken of the Tree of Life, fittingly on it's 10th birthday. Money shot!!!

Now, the running to Theater in the Wild, and finally arriving there...even if I took the pic upside down without realizing it...:hammer:

The projection on the back wall for the slide show:

Still tons!

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

Thank you- and more photos please!
I so wanted to go but instead just posted a tribute on my blog to this GREAT park~!

 

[doop]

Nice pictures, wish I could have been there..

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

Looks like it was great fun! Wish I could have been there.

BTW - Am I the only one who thinks that AK needs more turnstiles out front? I understand that this was a special event, so there were more people than usual trying to get in, but there are long lines even when there are no special events. Everytime I've been to AK, I've had to wait at least 10 minutes just to get into the park. This has happened in both the morning AND afternoon. DHS seems to have the "too few turnstiles" problem as well. Epcot and MK move people fairly quickly, but AK and DHS always seem to have excessively long waits to get in, at least for me. :shrug:

 

[t3techcom18]

AK's VP introducing Mr. Rohde:

JOE!

Mr. Rohde explains the picture of what's where and the relative location of the lands and major attractions before any construction began:

He then explains how, when everything was cleared, everything turned into one giant dune pile, comparing it Lawrence of Arabia, (haha) and him actually getting lost in it one time:

Then, he explains how architecture and nature was woven together to create a story, as well as how each side must be wary of the other (I'll get into this later):

Explaing the mythos and mission statement on nature and architecture and his 'laws' set out for the team in charge:

The brainstorming of ideas for taglines, stories, goals, etc:

The original shape for the park, a la Epcot at the original TTC location:

Interesting!! Early concepts for the entrance. This one is, obviously, Noah's Ark. The idea, explained by Joe, was how all the animals and all the people were suppossed to be called in by something big, something central; in this case, the Ark. Due to the legal and other ramifications it could cause, this was pretty much discarded immediately:

Still more!

 

[DisneyDude121]

Did he announce anything new?

 

[wdwmagic]

Did he announce anything new?

No new announcements.
If you want to see the entire presentation, get the video at http://www.wdwmagic.com/animal.htm

 

[t3techcom18]

Another interesting concept: A mix of buildings (looking somewhat like the finished product), lush plants, and statues of the animals going to one central location, like the Ark concept. However, when they saw people were going to view this, they got away with it, as we all think that it's a bit...strange, to see an animal's rear before the head :lol: . Would make for an awkward entrance:

The original concept for the Tree of Life, and explaining how it was going to be originally about 40 feet tall, a mini-walkthrough, and was to be even smaller than the Robinson Treehouse over at the MK:

The original concept for The Oasis area, which was actually going to be a grotto. However, once they say that the grotto would need more than 350 feet of rockwork, then they deemed it too much. However, as you can tell by the left side, parts of the design was saved, and transformed into the finished product:

Another concept for the Tree of Life, before the animal art to be carved in was thought of:

The original structural and engineering design for the Tree! This has an interesting story: They said how the top was about to be a geodesic dome, like SSE, BUT, instead of the triangle, it would just be tons of faux branches. When another engineer saw this, he said, hey, those main 4 trunks you got there are strong enough to hold anything, and that's when they changed their minds to put the branches that are there now. Also, the Tree was designed to be 3 levels: The top, having an overhead view of the park, a la Tower in SeaWorld; the middle, as an open space for anything concievable in the form of a show, including ITTAB; and lastly, at the roots, was suppossed to be a high-end restaurant. However, these plains came to ruin, as Eisner said he wanted ITTAB, to have 'synergy', (Same situation as I found out later, with the entirety of Camp Minnie-Mickey and Dinoland USA, and especially Dinosaur) 7 months before 'A Bug's Life' actually came out, and therefore, all the plans were scrapped and ITTAB was put in place instead (sad but true story):

The original idea for Asia, which came out pretty much looking how it is now, except for the foux Everest facade with the temple from Bhutan in front on the left side. This is where they looked at the painting again later on, and revisited the idea of Everest, and therefore, EE was born:

Now, afterwards! A fan that had his shirt signed by Mr. Rohde!

Another closeup of Mr. Rohde:

And then, the random pics I took, remembering what he said before during his lecture that made me inspired to take these pics (Which, again, I'll explain at the end):

Still...MORE!

 

[t3techcom18]

More! No worries, next one is the last one!

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

Keep em' coming! Lovin' this info! :wave:

 

[t3techcom18]

Mr. Rohde singing books and taking photos at Island Mercantile between 2-3!

Annnd another pic of Mr. Rohde (with a fan)!

The 10th anniversary merchandise available at the store:

The organizers waiting to start the History Walk:

Annnd lastly, the VP of AK comes out again, to talk a bit to the group before the History Walk:

Now, with what I have to say about Mr. Rohde's lecture. WOW...simply wow. I can definitely say he is such a gifted individual, and an intellect beyond my imagination. The way he coordinated everything, the way he really told his story of AK to the audience as if he was the park himself...WOW. He talked about the great topic that is very much in tune with today's society, and talked deeply about 'the intrinisic value of nature'. With him going on about how every bit of landscaping and the architecture and the landscape, and the rules and strategies that his team made up through and through during the creative process, was simply amazing. He told us how he brought the story to life, and how the park should be treated as, as he gets upset when lots of people get in, and they're like, 'Let's go this, let's FP this', and he definitely says that isn't the way AK should be at all. I knew about the whole wildlife and conservation message the park is suppossed to be sending, but this definitely brought a new light for me in that regards. Even to me, personally, a guy who writes by hobby, it taught me SO much, that, a little more, I would have to have gotten out a piece of paper and pen for notes (and I would've, if I had some, argh). It was definitely the most intellectual speech I have EVER heard. Definitely watch the speech online here.

It's definitely well worth your time!! :sohappy:

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

Will definitely check out that speech after that glowing report. Now I'm really intrigued to hear exactly what he said!

Thanks for the pictures and report! Its greatly appreciated for those of us who were unable to attend. :wave:

 

[vickyvale]

Wow! Someone who loves Joe Rohde more than Joe Rohde.

Great pix & update. Glad you enjoyed the day!

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

"Hang me just as high as you please, Brer Fox", says Brer Rabbit, "but for the Lord's sake, don't fling me in that Spaceship Earth discussion thread!"

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Great signature vicky!

Sorry, now back to the T3 Celebrates the Wild Decade! 4/22/07 thread.

 

[lpet11984]

Thanks so much for sharing all your pictures and your perspective! I too will have to check out the speech...

 

[Sherrybaby]

Thank you for the pictures and the detailed information.

Don't let the sarcastic comments of other people ruin your spirit. Those are just little people who are trying to feel better about themselves while hiding behind a computer screen because they don't have the courage to do it in "real life".

Again, great work!

Sherry

 

[Spyne]

Wow, awesome pictures! Thanks! Man, it sure looked crowded.

 

[NewfieFan]

Thanks for the details and pictures!:wave: