The Apprentice's Idea Box

[TheSorcerersApprentice]

''Hear Ye... Hear Ye... !''

The Chanticleer ~ Disneyland Paris' Newest Adventure

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Disneyland Paris' Fantasyland is arguably one of the visually most impressive lands with a satisfying line-up re-telling classic Disney fairy tales such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Alice in Wonderland. As a fan of Walt Disney Imagineering I've often thought of upcoming additions to the parks when visiting and with Disneyland Paris being closest to home, I've grown passionate of imagining the resort's future. The addition of The Chanticleer was based on expanding Fantasyland with a story related to France. Moreover, this attraction would be the French response to Disney's popular attraction, Splash Mountain, adding yet another e-ticket to the park and adds a new level of thrill to Fantasyland (where at the moment, Casey Jr - Le Petit Train du Cirque offers the most thrill in this area of the park). Though yes, people might argue that Europe's often cold weather conditions do not allow for Disneyland Paris to add a water-based attraction, there are various solutions to that problem. In one scenario the attraction would feature a summer and winter version, with expanding outdoor scenes during warm seasons but remaining indoors during cold seasons. Another option would simply be to temporarily shut the attraction down on cold days, but this is a strategy often used by other big theme park companies throughout Europe. The attraction itself is based on a pre-WWI French play called ''Chantecler'' by Edmond Rostand, which was also the basis of a never released Disney animated feature film. The film was in development at the Disney studio from the 40s up until the mid 60s, but never saw completion. In this alternate universe, however, The Chanticleer has finally made it to the screens and serves as the influence for Disneyland Paris' newest addition (though ideally, I'd say that somewhere in its first 15 years would have been better, if it hadn't been for the financial issues). This attraction would be placed behind the Fantasyland Train Station, through a tunnel themed to an underground burrow, transitioning into a critter-inhabited French countryside.

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Guests enter the queue in front of the main drop viewing area. The queue winds past the French farm on which the story of The Chanticleer takes place and into the main first room where animals and farm tools with cogs and gears are scattered around. Various farm animals can be heard talking about The Chanticleer, and even their shadows or physical appearances can be seen by Guests as they pass through the queue, which winds around the barn structure until it reaches the loading area. Passengers ride aboard six-to-seven-seater logs with six single-file seats. The log departs the loading area and ascends two conveyor-type lifts before floating gently through scenery designed to evoke the feeling of a river in the French countryside, with its winding hills. The homes of the farm animals and aged farm equipment are incorporated into the landscape, along with an instrumental version of The Chanticleer Song emanating from hidden speakers along the waterway. Before the logs enter the indoor portion, we pass by Reynard’s fox den where we see Reynard and his family grumpily lurking at the barn. His wife sings ‘You No Good Reynard’, in which she berates her husband for never having given her and the kids a chance at a finer lifestyle despite promising to do so many times. After a short drop, Guests enter the indoor portion of the attraction, where various AA-barn animals such as chickens, pigs, goats and turkeys sing the attraction and movie’s first musical number, ‘’The Chanticleer’s Song’’, during which they sing of how much they adore their leader, the rooster as they wake up in the morning. After rounding a corner, riders see the vicious fox Reynard and his ruthless band of Night Creatures planning their evil scheme, expressing menacing grins every few seconds.

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‘’Look, mes amis… dinner is served early today. We need to get rid of that rooster…’’​

Our vain rooster whose leadership the other barnyard animals had accepted because they believed his crowing was what brought the sun up each morning, is seen outside his Rooster coop, bragging to a few chickens how wonderfully he has brought up the sun this morning. The chickens all look mesmerized at the rooster. The beautiful Pheasant, new to the farm, struggles to get the attention of the rooster. In the next scene, our logs progress past Reynard and his goons, pretending to be members of a travelling circus performing for the animals on the farm, causing them to loose faith in Chanticleer and want Reynard to lead them instead. Reynard can be seen talking to Pheasant and offering her a makeover so that she can get the Rooster’s attention… in order to succeed his evil plans. Riders progress past Pheasant’s home where she transforms from a simpler look to a colorful feather extravaganza. She sings her song ‘’Over the Moon’’, in which she expresses her desire to be noticed by the Rooster but also about the fear to become someone she actually isn’t. A drop leads them into The Moon’s Shadow Hideout, where Reynard and their henchman are celebrating the progress they’re making. Bats, moles, vultures, owls are all bursting out in wild laughter and can be heard around every corner. We then see the Rooster, watching from a small hole in the Hideout’s wall, he looks shocked.

‘’Sacre Bleu! The farm is in danger, I need to stop them! I have to tell the others or we will be doomed and eaten as fresh coq-au-vin…’’​

Reynard the Fox catches up on the Rooster and traps him in a bird cage. The mood turns ominous as the farm animals sing about how they feel lost without a leader. At the base of the final lift hill, Reynard’s friend the Vulture bears ominous warnings for the riders. The logs begin the final ascent and shortly before the attraction’s climatic drop, Chanticleer is seen alongside the hill, about to be eaten by Reynard, but Pheasant shows up and outsmarts the Gang of Night Creatures by tricking them, giving them enough time to escape. Riders are sent down the final drop into the French vineyards, mimicking their escape. An on-ride photo is taken as the log begins to fall, and it can be purchased after disembarking the ride. From the top of the hill, riders looking toward the splashdown point will notice a full pond of water ahead of them. The log then dives under the water into an underground runout. An indoor segment follows the drop, after which the logs make a final entrance into a section of the mountain where we first see Chanticleer dueling with Senor Poco Loco, a Spanish fighting rooster and one of Reynard’s henchman who was to take over Chanticleer’s place as a leader on the farm. In the background, the sun can be seen rising in the background, without his crowing! At this moment, he realizes the error in his vanity and finds the strength to beat the rooster and chase away the baddies for a happy ending. A full cast of AA-figures of the farm animals sing ‘The Chanticleer Song Reprise’ in which they celebrate the return of their leader, who has now become a righteous Rooster, acting with a pure heart. As the logs pass through the scene, a series of glass windows can be seen near the ceiling, behind which is a tunnel used by the Disneyland Railroad track. The Rooster himself can be seen at his coop, together with Pheasant who sings ‘Yesterday is Over’ to console one another. The respective fates of Reynard and his gang are also showcased. Senor Poco Loco sees little chicks flying as he lies knocked out under a tree and the others are seen running away over the French hills. Before the return to the loading area, riders are given a preview of their picture that was taken on the final drop via an old-fashioned projector screen controlled by Rovin the Raven, a journalist character sharing and spreading the news across the farm. He calls the riders’ attention to the screen as he remarks on their expressions. After disembarking from the log, riders enter the attraction’s gift shop, Le Soleil Levant, where they preview their on-ride photograph before exiting back out into Fantasyland.

 

[MickeyWaffleCo.]

Just so you know, @TheSorcerersApprentice , the images in your post aren’t showing up for me.

 

[TheSorcerersApprentice]

Just so you know, @TheSorcerersApprentice , the images in your post aren’t showing up for me.

ohh that's strange. I think it might be because of the approval pending process.

 

[TheSorcerersApprentice]

The Museum of the Weird

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Story

A long long time ago, The Society of Adventurers and Explorers decided to open a secret vault where strange rumours of dangerous artifacts, or items of supernatural phenomena were stored. It became an unnerving display of oddities from all over the world. Dr. Otto T. came to Port Eccentric 13 years ago because of its unusually high concentration of the unusual and with him, he brought the oddities of SEA’s secret vault of items. Time went by and Otto became fascinated with the fantastic, therefore opening the Museum of the Weird. He has spent his life seeking out the Symphony of the Strange, believed to hold the answers to the supernatural. Now he welcomes Guests to this mysterious and wondrous building to uncover the secret behind the Strange.

Description

This attraction is part of Port Eccentric, a themed area which I envision at an imaginary Beijing Disney Resort. Due to Asia's different perception of spirits and the afterlife, Disney imagineering has turned to an idea that has been around since the early development of The Haunted Mansion, The Museum of the Weird. Though Port Eccentric is one of the most oddly designed areas in a Disney theme park, one building really stands out of being even more odd than the others. Elements of this attraction are inspired by The Creator Games Project Revival project by Team Drax. A sign with each letter of the title in a different fond, size or color reads, ‘’The Museum of the Weird’’. The building itself has strange corners and curves, additionally its color scheme is simply bizarre. Guests who wish to tour the Museum of the Weird wind along the queue in the Museum’s gardens, where you’ll pass by items like a strange totem pole and even a group of shrunken heads that start interacting with Guests as soon as they walk by. As you near the Museum’s entrance, you might notice how parts of the building move from time to time, like its chimney that grows and then shrinks again, or how the window appear like a face which sneezes from time to time. Once Guests reach the doorway, they’ll notice how it’s made of human parts(worked into its architecture, no actual gore or whatever, of course!) and mythological creatures. Its’ top looks like two serpentine gryphons staring down at Guests below. The gates open and a group of Guests is asked to enter the Museum of the Weird. But, instead of directly boarding your vehicle, Guests have entered a pre-show room. The walls and ceiling are adorned by colorful banners and tapestries, holding mysterious and strange symbols and signs. The floor is an illusion itself, with its red and black tiles. At first look, the furniture and artifacts might look normal, but at second glance, the room comes to life and its strange objects reveal its true appearance. Guests might start to wonder what they’re doing here, as they were promised to meet the magnificent Doctor Otto T. In the meantime, Guests might have noticed a mysterious chair in the middle of the room. All of a sudden, the chair opens its eyes and it starts to speak…

‘’Well, well, well. Welcome everyone to the Museum of the Weird, where I, Dr. Otto T., oh right…. It appears I have another appearance right now, than my usual. No reason to let that disturb the show. I have ventured to Port Eccentric over 13 years ago because of its unusually high concentration of the unusual. Ever since, I have been fascinated by the fantastic and I have spent my whole life seeking out the Symphony of the Strange, uncovering the secrets of the unusual. However, I have yet to uncover it. But let’s not waste any more time, it’s time for you to discover the wonder of the Weird. Hurry now, pass on through the halls, the Museum will guide you to your Oddity Vessels. These highly advanced touring vehicles will be your carriages passing by the various rooms filled with oddities from all over the World. Some of these oddities might be dangerous and though there is no real danger, because of our stable display protection, Guests are asked to keep hands, arms, feet and legs inside the Oddity Vessel. Oh, and please, no flash photography, some of the items may be very sensitive to its light exposure. I will see you soon.’’​

Guests then pass on, further into the Museum. This maze of winding corridors and endless staircases reminds us of such illusions like Escher’s paintings. Eventually, they’ll reach the loading area, where Guests are assigned a seat in their Oddity Vessel, which is a trackless vehicle with two rows of 4. It is adorned with a vague steel pattern winding around the vehicle in strange shapes as if it are thorn thickets with strange symbols between them. The vehicles, in groups of 4, move on to the first scene where a collection of strange artifacts can be found around the room. Guests might notice that the chair they’ve seen earlier in the pre-show room is back. He opens his eyes again and approaches the Guests,

‘’Ah there you are! Now, let me change to a more comfortable appearance…’’​

A blast of light and smoke appears and on the place where we first found the chair, a man with a top hat and in colorful Victorian attire is now standing in its place, in audio animatronic form. He bows and continues his tour.

‘’I have recently uncovered the words to an ancient hymn that awakens the Symphony of the Strange and the mysteries behind the unusual. Maybe if we read these lines aloud, we might just uncover the true essence behind the Weird.’’​

A simple metronome best plays as he starts to sing.

‘’I am curious about the curious. I wonder about the wonders all around. If you are curious and seek out the fantastic, it can always be found.​

Some say it’s crazy or call it deranged, but I just listen to the symphony, Symphony of the Strange.’’​

As soon as he finishes, he urges us to start the tour and the Oddity Vessels commence to the next room. As we leave the room, we notice the artifacts around us are starting to move, like a strange body-less figure that holds a light in the direction of the door, leading to the next scene. Guests enter the Music Room. This room is filled with strange musical instruments that seem to be made of bones, or include patterns of human or animal body parts. The central focus of the room is a large organ, but no organist. The instruments appear to be playing themselves, but as soon as the room’s lights fade out, the almost transparent figures of skeletons appear to be playing them. In one corner of the room, a few of these phantom skeletons seem to be performing a Skeleton Dance of their own…

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The Oddity Vessels carry on towards an opening with a sign that reads Portrait Gallery. This red corridor passes by some interesting artwork. From the first moment you enter the corridor, the hallway seems to be an illusion itself. Guests pass under a chandelier that appears to be a cobweb, with a gigantic spider in it. Once they’re centrally underneath the chandelier, the spider drops down at Guests, but as soon as Guests get a change to look up and see the creature, it has returned to its static state. One of the Portraits, appears to be a mosaic image of a girl from ancient Greece, but as the Vessels pass by she changes to the image of the mythological gorgon Medusa. Another has an image of a Romanian count who changes into a vampire like appearance. The Vessels then pass by a duo of busts. The one on the right seems to be following our every move, but as the Vessel turns to the one on the left, the bust seems to change to a more demonic form, with flames forming around it.

​

The Oddity Vessels quickly move on and pass by a few more portraits including one of Rasputin where his eyes change into one giant staring eye and another has an image of a young woman, suddenly turning into an old hag, following our vehicles. As we turn a corner we see a woman laying on a sofa as she paints on a white canvas. When we pass by the woman, she looks at us and suddenly changes into a white panther, a most impressive effect, similar to the Jack Sparrow effect in Pirates of the Caribbean ~ Battle for the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disneyland. At the end of the hallway, a fireplace can be found. On the right there are two extravagant suites of armor guarding a locked gate that looks like human arms holding medieval spears. As we near the fireplace, a fire starts burning inside it and the stone face of an old man awakens, urging us to pass through the secret passageway. However, beware of those suits of armor, they might just try to keep you out of there.

The Vessels then move to the Greenhouse, which at first seems to be a collection of exotic plants, but a closer look reveals that all of these plants are fully alive and even have faces. Some of them even try to lunge at the Guests for a bite, with their eerily sharp teeth. In the center of the room, a mysterious tree seems to start glowing and grows to enormous proportions. Another plant, inspired by the original design of Rolly Crump, appears to be a green child in a bucket, who starts to cry loudly when Guests pass by. In another corner, mushroom men seem to be running away from something. The branches move and reveal a reptilian creature that emerges from the plants, but as soon as it reveals itself, its appearance also shows the bells and the candle on his head.

He follows the Vessels to a dark room, where he rings his bell and the candle is dimmed. Soon afterward, the Vessels find themselves in complete darkness, until they see a light. The closer the Vessels come to the light, it becomes clearer that a man is holding the light, but not just any man, one made out of candle wax. As soon as the Vessels reach the man he slings his fiery arm at the Guests, which quickly escape the scene. They’ll then reach a room with mysterious items that seem to be of Romani origin, including a big Romani cart. Passing by the cart, activates an effect that springs the cart to life, releasing several spirits and effects from the cart.

​

The next room is the aquatic room, where we first pass by a small aquarium, oddly looking alive on its own, holds ghost fish, literally skeletal remains of fish floating around. In another corner, a creature similar to the one from Black Lagoon, emerges from a tank, friendly waving at Guests as they pass by. A mermaid placed in a bath tub holding a cocktail glass can also be seen in the room. Once the Vessel passes by, she raises her glass and bubbles float from the tub towards the Guests. After these shorter show scenes, the Vessels turn towards a large window into the bigger aquarium, where a gigantic fish drops down with a friendly smile. At the top, they’ll see how his tail accidentally hits the glass, which causes the window to break slowly. Guests will feel a spray of water, as well as seeing more and more water breaking through the window.

In a swift move, Guests enter the Zoological collection, where Guests see the throne of the Beastly King, a creature mutated between a human, butterfly, gazelle, crocodile and rabbit. He stands up and welcomes us as his other beastly creatures awaken and surround the Vessels. These creatures are mutated or combinations of animals, or even depict mythological creatures from Aztec, Grecian, Egyptian, Incan, Inuit, Nordic, Indian and Chinese origin. The Guests reach the end of the wilderness of the zoological collection and enter the Tribal Arts room, where in the first a large tiki figure dominates the room. Two tiki poles stand on either side as well as multiple other tiki statues. The room is full of chanting and tribal drums, all in tune with the music. From the ceiling, a chandelier drops down with odd birds that start singing. These tiki and tribal items, seem to have no national origin, but instead are combined to create an otherworldly feeling. The last room is the Room of the Dark Arts. The Vessels move around the circular room, which looks similar to the Séance Room.

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They see the Demonic Mirror, shaped as the devil himself. If Guests see their reflection in the mirror, it shows the devil is among them and flames emerge behind them. The focus then turns to the central table, on which a monstrous arm holds a magic ball. Inside a voice calls upon the dark arts, chanting that the Mistress of Evil has tricked the Vessels into visiting this room. It calls upon her to reveal herself. And once the Grandfather Clock of Death rings 13, she appears in her hideous form. She tries to sing her Siren song and cast her evil spells in order to subdue the Doctor and take all his oddities as a way to increase her own power. However, the Doctor seems to have been prepared for her attempted escape. He appears and with the help of an enchanting prism, the room lightens up and acts as a mystical fail safe trapping the songstress back in her chest. In the final scene of the attraction, Guests find Otto as he greets them after the tour and the dangerous encounter with the Mistress of Evil. He says that now that the Guests have been introduced to the weirdness all around, they might understand the Symphony of the Strange. Several items from all around the Museum are now present in this room and play a part in adding to the song, combining in one harmonious Symphony of the Strange. The Doctor thanks us for his visit and is glad that he finally found the Symphony of the Strange, hidden behind the unusual. He urges us to hurry back as soon as possible for a new tour, as the Museum might have something new the next time you visit. The Vessels exit the last scene and Guests find themselves at the exit dock, where they are guided to the shop of the Museum, Otto’s Antiques.

 

[spacemt354]

The Museum of the Weird
View attachment 530748

​

Story

A long long time ago, The Society of Adventurers and Explorers decided to open a secret vault where strange rumours of dangerous artifacts, or items of supernatural phenomena were stored. It became an unnerving display of oddities from all over the world. Dr. Otto T. came to Port Eccentric 13 years ago because of its unusually high concentration of the unusual and with him, he brought the oddities of SEA’s secret vault of items. Time went by and Otto became fascinated with the fantastic, therefore opening the Museum of the Weird. He has spent his life seeking out the Symphony of the Strange, believed to hold the answers to the supernatural. Now he welcomes Guests to this mysterious and wondrous building to uncover the secret behind the Strange.

Description

This attraction is part of Port Eccentric, a themed area which I envision at an imaginary Beijing Disney Resort. Due to Asia's different perception of spirits and the afterlife, Disney imagineering has turned to an idea that has been around since the early development of The Haunted Mansion, The Museum of the Weird. Though Port Eccentric is one of the most oddly designed areas in a Disney theme park, one building really stands out of being even more odd than the others. Elements of this attraction are inspired by The Creator Games Project Revival project by Team Drax. A sign with each letter of the title in a different fond, size or color reads, ‘’The Museum of the Weird’’. The building itself has strange corners and curves, additionally its color scheme is simply bizarre. Guests who wish to tour the Museum of the Weird wind along the queue in the Museum’s gardens, where you’ll pass by items like a strange totem pole and even a group of shrunken heads that start interacting with Guests as soon as they walk by. As you near the Museum’s entrance, you might notice how parts of the building move from time to time, like its chimney that grows and then shrinks again, or how the window appear like a face which sneezes from time to time. Once Guests reach the doorway, they’ll notice how it’s made of human parts(worked into its architecture, no actual gore or whatever, of course!) and mythological creatures. Its’ top looks like two serpentine gryphons staring down at Guests below. The gates open and a group of Guests is asked to enter the Museum of the Weird. But, instead of directly boarding your vehicle, Guests have entered a pre-show room. The walls and ceiling are adorned by colorful banners and tapestries, holding mysterious and strange symbols and signs. The floor is an illusion itself, with its red and black tiles. At first look, the furniture and artifacts might look normal, but at second glance, the room comes to life and its strange objects reveal its true appearance. Guests might start to wonder what they’re doing here, as they were promised to meet the magnificent Doctor Otto T. In the meantime, Guests might have noticed a mysterious chair in the middle of the room. All of a sudden, the chair opens its eyes and it starts to speak…

View attachment 530746
‘’Well, well, well. Welcome everyone to the Museum of the Weird, where I, Dr. Otto T., oh right…. It appears I have another appearance right now, than my usual. No reason to let that disturb the show. I have ventured to Port Eccentric over 13 years ago because of its unusually high concentration of the unusual. Ever since, I have been fascinated by the fantastic and I have spent my whole life seeking out the Symphony of the Strange, uncovering the secrets of the unusual. However, I have yet to uncover it. But let’s not waste any more time, it’s time for you to discover the wonder of the Weird. Hurry now, pass on through the halls, the Museum will guide you to your Oddity Vessels. These highly advanced touring vehicles will be your carriages passing by the various rooms filled with oddities from all over the World. Some of these oddities might be dangerous and though there is no real danger, because of our stable display protection, Guests are asked to keep hands, arms, feet and legs inside the Oddity Vessel. Oh, and please, no flash photography, some of the items may be very sensitive to its light exposure. I will see you soon.’’​

Guests then pass on, further into the Museum. This maze of winding corridors and endless staircases reminds us of such illusions like Escher’s paintings. Eventually, they’ll reach the loading area, where Guests are assigned a seat in their Oddity Vessel, which is a trackless vehicle with two rows of 4. It is adorned with a vague steel pattern winding around the vehicle in strange shapes as if it are thorn thickets with strange symbols between them. The vehicles, in groups of 4, move on to the first scene where a collection of strange artifacts can be found around the room. Guests might notice that the chair they’ve seen earlier in the pre-show room is back. He opens his eyes again and approaches the Guests,

View attachment 530753
‘’Ah there you are! Now, let me change to a more comfortable appearance…’’​

A blast of light and smoke appears and on the place where we first found the chair, a man with a top hat and in colorful Victorian attire is now standing in its place, in audio animatronic form. He bows and continues his tour.

‘’I have recently uncovered the words to an ancient hymn that awakens the Symphony of the Strange and the mysteries behind the unusual. Maybe if we read these lines aloud, we might just uncover the true essence behind the Weird.’’​

A simple metronome best plays as he starts to sing.

‘’I am curious about the curious. I wonder about the wonders all around. If you are curious and seek out the fantastic, it can always be found.

Some say it’s crazy or call it deranged, but I just listen to the symphony, Symphony of the Strange.’’​

As soon as he finishes, he urges us to start the tour and the Oddity Vessels commence to the next room. As we leave the room, we notice the artifacts around us are starting to move, like a strange body-less figure that holds a light in the direction of the door, leading to the next scene. Guests enter the Music Room. This room is filled with strange musical instruments that seem to be made of bones, or include patterns of human or animal body parts. The central focus of the room is a large organ, but no organist. The instruments appear to be playing themselves, but as soon as the room’s lights fade out, the almost transparent figures of skeletons appear to be playing them. In one corner of the room, a few of these phantom skeletons seem to be performing a Skeleton Dance of their own…

View attachment 530894​

The Oddity Vessels carry on towards an opening with a sign that reads Portrait Gallery. This red corridor passes by some interesting artwork. From the first moment you enter the corridor, the hallway seems to be an illusion itself. Guests pass under a chandelier that appears to be a cobweb, with a gigantic spider in it. Once they’re centrally underneath the chandelier, the spider drops down at Guests, but as soon as Guests get a change to look up and see the creature, it has returned to its static state. One of the Portraits, appears to be a mosaic image of a girl from ancient Greece, but as the Vessels pass by she changes to the image of the mythological gorgon Medusa. Another has an image of a Romanian count who changes into a vampire like appearance. The Vessels then pass by a duo of busts. The one on the right seems to be following our every move, but as the Vessel turns to the one on the left, the bust seems to change to a more demonic form, with flames forming around it.

View attachment 530895​

The Oddity Vessels quickly move on and pass by a few more portraits including one of Rasputin where his eyes change into one giant staring eye and another has an image of a young woman, suddenly turning into an old hag, following our vehicles. As we turn a corner we see a woman laying on a sofa as she paints on a white canvas. When we pass by the woman, she looks at us and suddenly changes into a white panther, a most impressive effect, similar to the Jack Sparrow effect in Pirates of the Caribbean ~ Battle for the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disneyland. At the end of the hallway, a fireplace can be found. On the right there are two extravagant suites of armor guarding a locked gate that looks like human arms holding medieval spears. As we near the fireplace, a fire starts burning inside it and the stone face of an old man awakens, urging us to pass through the secret passageway. However, beware of those suits of armor, they might just try to keep you out of there.

The Vessels then move to the Greenhouse, which at first seems to be a collection of exotic plants, but a closer look reveals that all of these plants are fully alive and even have faces. Some of them even try to lunge at the Guests for a bite, with their eerily sharp teeth. In the center of the room, a mysterious tree seems to start glowing and grows to enormous proportions. Another plant, inspired by the original design of Rolly Crump, appears to be a green child in a bucket, who starts to cry loudly when Guests pass by. In another corner, mushroom men seem to be running away from something. The branches move and reveal a reptilian creature that emerges from the plants, but as soon as it reveals itself, its appearance also shows the bells and the candle on his head.

He follows the Vessels to a dark room, where he rings his bell and the candle is dimmed. Soon afterward, the Vessels find themselves in complete darkness, until they see a light. The closer the Vessels come to the light, it becomes clearer that a man is holding the light, but not just any man, one made out of candle wax. As soon as the Vessels reach the man he slings his fiery arm at the Guests, which quickly escape the scene. They’ll then reach a room with mysterious items that seem to be of Romani origin, including a big Romani cart. Passing by the cart, activates an effect that springs the cart to life, releasing several spirits and effects from the cart.

View attachment 530896​

The next room is the aquatic room, where we first pass by a small aquarium, oddly looking alive on its own, holds ghost fish, literally skeletal remains of fish floating around. In another corner, a creature similar to the one from Black Lagoon, emerges from a tank, friendly waving at Guests as they pass by. A mermaid placed in a bath tub holding a cocktail glass can also be seen in the room. Once the Vessel passes by, she raises her glass and bubbles float from the tub towards the Guests. After these shorter show scenes, the Vessels turn towards a large window into the bigger aquarium, where a gigantic fish drops down with a friendly smile. At the top, they’ll see how his tail accidentally hits the glass, which causes the window to break slowly. Guests will feel a spray of water, as well as seeing more and more water breaking through the window.

In a swift move, Guests enter the Zoological collection, where Guests see the throne of the Beastly King, a creature mutated between a human, butterfly, gazelle, crocodile and rabbit. He stands up and welcomes us as his other beastly creatures awaken and surround the Vessels. These creatures are mutated or combinations of animals, or even depict mythological creatures from Aztec, Grecian, Egyptian, Incan, Inuit, Nordic, Indian and Chinese origin. The Guests reach the end of the wilderness of the zoological collection and enter the Tribal Arts room, where in the first a large tiki figure dominates the room. Two tiki poles stand on either side as well as multiple other tiki statues. The room is full of chanting and tribal drums, all in tune with the music. From the ceiling, a chandelier drops down with odd birds that start singing. These tiki and tribal items, seem to have no national origin, but instead are combined to create an otherworldly feeling. The last room is the Room of the Dark Arts. The Vessels move around the circular room, which looks similar to the Séance Room.

View attachment 530897​

They see the Demonic Mirror, shaped as the devil himself. If Guests see their reflection in the mirror, it shows the devil is among them and flames emerge behind them. The focus then turns to the central table, on which a monstrous arm holds a magic ball. Inside a voice calls upon the dark arts, chanting that the Mistress of Evil has tricked the Vessels into visiting this room. It calls upon her to reveal herself. And once the Grandfather Clock of Death rings 13, she appears in her hideous form. She tries to sing her Siren song and cast her evil spells in order to subdue the Doctor and take all his oddities as a way to increase her own power. However, the Doctor seems to have been prepared for her attempted escape. He appears and with the help of an enchanting prism, the room lightens up and acts as a mystical fail safe trapping the songstress back in her chest. In the final scene of the attraction, Guests find Otto as he greets them after the tour and the dangerous encounter with the Mistress of Evil. He says that now that the Guests have been introduced to the weirdness all around, they might understand the Symphony of the Strange. Several items from all around the Museum are now present in this room and play a part in adding to the song, combining in one harmonious Symphony of the Strange. The Doctor thanks us for his visit and is glad that he finally found the Symphony of the Strange, hidden behind the unusual. He urges us to hurry back as soon as possible for a new tour, as the Museum might have something new the next time you visit. The Vessels exit the last scene and Guests find themselves at the exit dock, where they are guided to the shop of the Museum, Otto’s Antiques.

Nice work with this!

 

[TheSorcerersApprentice]

[Part 1]:

The Sorcerer’s Palace of Wonders

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This next attraction will be a trackless Fantasyland ride that takes place inside Yen Sid's Palace of Wonders. Inside, Guests will find a collection of characters, items and styles reminiscent of many Disney franchises, shorts and stories. It was loosely inspired by Efteling's Symbolica, an indoor family attraction in which Guests follow the park's mascot, the Magic Jester Pardoes on a tour along secret corridors and into magical rooms of an enchanting palace. The ride features several routes and could easily become one of the largest dark rides ever.

Description

The entrance to this attraction can be found inside Yen Sid’s Castle or the Sorcerer’s Palace. In the central dome, a tunnel leads Guests down a staircase with dimly lit torches hanging on the walls and statues of the enchanted broomsticks from the Sorcerer’s Apprentice segment in Fantasia pour water down a stream that lines the queue-line. In the queue there are several signs which tell the story that we are invited to The Sorcerer’s Palace of Wonders as a generation of fresh Sorcerer Apprentices. A melody based on The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Leopold Stokowski fills the queue space. In the castle’s cellar, Guests will find themselves in the Vestibule. Tapestries and flags hang along the ceiling, representing several fictional kingdoms from the Disney Universe, like Arendelle, Corona, Wonderland, Agrabah and Neverland. Portraits of several magic-users like the Fairy Godmother, The Blue Fairy, Merlin and of course, Yen Sid himself can also be found lining the walls. Guests will half circle around a table on which Yen Sid’s sorcerer hat rests. The doors close and our preshow begins. With a sparkle of magic, a small audio animatronic Jiminy Cricket figure emerges from the ceiling, holding his little umbrella, while singing ‘When You Wish Upon A Star’. As he lands on a platform near the Sorcerer’s Hat, he welcomes Guests as Yen Sid’s newest apprentices, attempting to give a short briefing of the audience with the mighty sorcerer himself.

However, he quickly gets interrupted by a curious Mickey Mouse, who appears from behind the table on which the Hat rests and places it on his head. He quickly enchants a few broomsticks which rest against the walls, who slowly come to life and open up the large wooden doors, leading to the loading dock of the attraction. Though, Jiminy tries to halt us and brags with his role as Conscious, Guests are led to the ride vehicles, past the Castle’s catacombs, with dim lighting and even a few cobwebs, making it appear as if no one has walked this path in a long time. In the deepest depth of the catacombs is the Broom Closet. A sparkle of magic, made real by projection mapping, brings wooden buckets to life and serve as our ride vehicles on a tour through Yen Sid’s palace. This attraction is a trackless dark ride in which Guests board these enchanted wooden buckets which will tour the Palace of Wonders in groups of six. These groups will be divided into three during the ride, which will have three separate tracks which will meet one another at several show scenes. The six buckets depart the loading dock, following sparkles of magic and into Yen Sid’s Laboratory. This circular room features many interesting objects, spell books and enchanted artifacts which line the shelves. Several skeletons, models, maps and measure instruments also hint at characters and objects from various Disney movies. The real focal point of the scene is an audio animatronic figure of Yen Sid in the center of the room, who conjures up all sorts of magic from his cauldron, which looks similar to The Sorcerer’s Apprentice segment in Fantasia where smoke shapes like a bat and a majestic butterfly. Behind Yen Sid, Mickey pops up and quickly tells apprentices to leave the Sorcerer at work, since he doesn’t wish to be disturbed. One by one, the buckets are sprinkled in magic and are sent off to different rooms of the palace.

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Track A: Two of the buckets will pass by a door, which is quickly recognized as the doorknob from Alice in Wonderland. He tells Guests that he’s locked, but that we might just fit in through his mouth. An effect which is similar to the Enchanted Mirror in Enchanted Tales with Belle helps the vehicles pass through the doorknob’s mouth and into the Castle’s observatory. The vehicles carry past a beautiful room dedicated to astronomy. It is arranged in a circular manner. Various measure instruments as well as curious-looking sun dials and wind vanes start moving and spinning as we enter. In the center a telescope is set towards the ceiling where a model of stars and planets spin around one another. Suddenly Diana, the Goddess of the Moon, and her deer announce the night by firing an arrow to spread stars across the sky. Mickey appears again and uses his magic to control the stars, by making them fly in various directions. This wakes up Zeus, King of the Gods and God of Lightning who interrupts our tour of the Observatory by throwing lightning bolts for his personal entertainment.

Track B: Two of the buckets journey past a door on which music notes soar as cryptic letters. They form the notes to a song and open up the door to the Music Room. Here, many enchanted musical instruments are displayed. The Golden Harp, a golden living musical harp with yellow dress, red lips, blonde hair and brown eyes with strung music, from Mickey and the Beanstalk sits in the center of the room. The magic sparkle gives life to the instruments and music begins to play. The music follows the buckets and plays in the background for the remainder of this scene. Professor Owl, a blue owl and schoolteacher known from two Disney animated shorts – Melody and Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom, but maybe even more famous for the Disney Sing-Along series, appears in a corner and acts as the Maestro of the Music Room. Anthromorphized instruments like a piano, bass, snare and bass drums, cymbal and clarinet parade through a musical playground, while a background inspired by the Intermission/Meet the Soundtrack segment in Fantasia has a straight white line change into different shapes and colors based on the sounds played. Lastly, we pass the alto saxophone prince of the Isle of Jazz and the anthromorphized violin princess from the Land of Symphony, known from the Music Land short, harmonizing together. As soon as the Golden Harp starts to sing, the room starts to shake and the ceiling is opened up by Willy the Giant, who angrily threatens Guests as he wants to re-claim his magical harp. The Buckets quickly escape.

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Track C: In the Greenhouse we are greeted by a colorful natural paradise, inspired by The Pastoral Symphony segment in Fantasia. It is as if we are in a garden, with tranquil streams, rocky cliffs and winding hills, as well as of course many plants and flowers. Welcoming us to the Greenhouse is the Green Sprite from Fantasia 2000’s Firebird Suite, which soars along the room. Guests will pass by various show stops, a dancing spree by the trees in Silly Symphonies’ Flowers and Trees, the dancing flowers from The Nutcracker suite segment in Fantasia performing a Russian ballet on a small platform, sugar plum fairies sprinkle dew drops on every flower and stem, a cluster of tiny mushrooms dressed in long robes and coolie hats perform ‘The Chinese Dance’, fauns perform music on their panflutes, cupids soar around a colorful tree and centaurettes decorate their hair with the prettiest flowers they can find. Other references to Disney films are the cameos of the singing flowers from Wonderland, the bread-and-butterflies from Wonderland, a banana tree which morphs into a flock of toucans from Saludos Amigos, a grasshopper playing violin for a group of dancing ants from Silly Symphonies’ the grasshopper and the ants, the Sundrop Flower from Tangled, Grandmother Willow from Pocahontas and Persephone, the Goddess of Spring joined by dancing flowers and fairies from Silly Symphonies’ The Goddess of Spring. In the meantime, a beanstalk seems to be breaking out of the greenhouse, creating a hole in the glass windows, surrounding the gardens, after which the buckets hurry out of the greenhouse.

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Track A: After leaving the chaos in the Observatory behind, stone brick walls seem to be flowing in a wave-like manner, opening up to reveal the path to the Castle’s Enchanted Library. This room will truly be a sight to see, walls are lined with endless bookshelves and feature almost every literary work you could imagine, from Homerus’ Odyssey to Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote. Books flapping their pages as if they were wings, float around the library, while other pages magically open up to reveal literary creatures and characters emerging from them, as well as illustrations which magically start to animate. Though, there are some hints to the Beast’s library from the Beauty and the Beast, like a warm fireplace in which fire starts to dance as buckets pass by, the Sorcerer’s library will be much more ancient. Bookcases seem to move and shift, creating a moving labyrinth of books. Stone busts of literary legends like Hans Christian Andersen, William Shakespeare and Charles Perrault appear to be having a discussion with one another, exchanging ideas and concepts. Buckets will also pass by several objects and models related to famous literary works like a model of the Nautilus submarine, which is grabbed by tentacles which emerge from the nearby novel reading ’20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne’. One gigantic book titled ‘Dance of the Hours’ drops down and opens on a page where the illustration of Hyacinth the Hippo and Ben Ali performing a dance routine together. With a sparkle of magic, the enchanted buckets are led into the pages of the book.

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Track B: Dodging Willy the Giant in the Music Room, rushes buckets into the Toy Room of the castle. This will be a true children’s paradise, almost like we’ve just stepped into Santa’s workshop. Toys of all shapes, colors and kinds roam this room in hope that we’re willing to play with them. In one corner, a puppet show like Stromboli’s is performed, even Pinocchio joins the fun! In the center of the room the toy ballerina performs a dance with her Steadfast Tin Soldier from Fantasia 2000’s Piano Concerto No. 2 Allegro, Opus 102 segment. A miniature-model train rides on a suspended train track around the Toy Room. Other toys, inspired by Silly Symphonies’ Broken Toys also roam the scene. Suddenly toy soldiers come marching in, pushing buckets into a corner, where a Heffalump-in-a-box pops out and blows us out of the Toy Room and into the next scene.

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[TheSorcerersApprentice]

[Part 2]:

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Track C: Our buckets follow a magical butterfly, which flies past a Panorama Salon, overlooking a Storybookland model as seen in Storybookland Canal Boats. Various wind effects can be felt and the scene comes to life in a way similar to flying over London and Neverland in Peter Pan’s Flight, we quickly follow the butterfly again, into the Castle’s kitchen. We first pass by the Regal Wine Cellar, where Bacchus and his donkey enjoy a swim in a fountain of wine, while champagne bottles can be seen popping all around the rider. In the kitchen, Guests are welcomed by the aroma of some feast-for-the-eye foods, from cakes in all flavors, colors and shapes to Eat-Me cookies from Wonderland. It all forms to be a cornucopia of Disney treats. Jolly chefs seem to be dancing among characters from Silly Symphonies’ Cookie Carnival, including candy cane men, angel food cakes, devil’s food cakes and acrobatic upside-down cakes. Silverware, plates and glasses seem to be dancing to the scene’s music, almost like a Kitchen Cabaret as seen in Beauty and the Beast’s Be Our Guest.

All: The buckets all meet in a Grecian temple, decorated with charming mosaic murals on the wall and a painted ceiling mural similar to the Beast’s ballroom, which magically comes to life. Guests have just entered Madame Upanova’s Dance Class. The ride vehicles start to ‘’dance’’ as an AA-figure of Madame Upanova from Fantasia’s Dance of the Hours, similar to Daisy Duck in Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, who instructs them to waltz, before she is interrupted by a bunch of Yo-Yo-ing flamingos who cause chaos, flocking the buckets to different rooms again.

Track A: The ride vehicles pass under a Grecian arch, where they find themselves in an Art Gallery, where they are greeted by a floating brush, similar to the one seen in Aquarelo do Brasil in Saludos Amigos. As it floats around the room, it literally ‘paints in’ the décor. Guests will then pass by a few works of art, which magically come to life, like a chalk drawing of a Jolly Holiday in the park with Mary Poppins, or a wall mural drawn by Princess Rapunzel herself. A Grecian urn depicts Hercules fighting the Hydra, starts to animate in a similar way to the vase in Mystic Manor. Lining the walls in another corner are Victor, Hugo and Laverne, the anthomorphic gargoyle trio from The Hunchback of Notre Dame who spring to life. Among the Disney artworks are a few props inspired by actual artworks like a Mona Lisa who bursts out into laughter as Guests pass by, almost as if she’s laughing at Guests, Edvard Munch’s The Scream and Rodin’s Thinker.

Track B: The ride vehicles pass under a Grecian arch and find themselves in the Castle’s Bestiary, a room inspired by the magical creatures and animals in the Disney universe. This room is by far the most vibrant as the buckets dance in circles with each other to a bunch of enchanting creatures as colored lights and natural elements grow throughout the room. We see a group of baby Pegasi, flying from their mom’s nest, similar to the ones seen in the Pastoral Symphony segment in Fantasia, the Cheshire Cat mysteriously appears and disappears in various locations, Cerberus the monstrous Underworld dog sleeps in a corner (BEWARE! DO NOT DISTURB!), Elliott from Pete’s Dragon blows smoke at vehicles and even the Sea Serpent from the 20,000 Leagues under the Sea attraction joins the cabinet of curious creatures, bathing in a small pond. Other creatures in the room are based on actual legendary creatures like unicorns, griffons and phoenixes or are based on animals like the ones seen in Wonderland’s Tulgey Wood.

Track C: The ride vehicles pass under a Grecian arch, from which a waterfall parts to open up the path to the castle’s Aquarium. This completely glass surrounded room features many undersea creatures like Merbabies floating past on seahorses, as well as sea snails playing sea shells as a musical instrument and even King Neptune from the Silly Symphonies short greets Guests with a parade of sea creatures playing musical instruments. Although this is already an impressive scene, it becomes even grander once Willie the Whale emerges behind the aquarium glass. He sings a beautiful song, but he doesn’t notice that his vocal strength causes the glass to crack, resulting in leakages. As water starts to rise in the aquarium, vehicles quickly flee the scene.

Track A: The paint brush in the Art Gallery paints a door which slightly resembles the Cave of Wonders from Disney’s Aladdin. Inside, Guests will be in awe of the Treasure Vault, it will be like the Cave of Wonders, Treasure Planet and Tamatoa’s Lair in one. Guests will pass by many artifacts known to be valuable items like King Midas’ Gloves, King Triton’s Trident, The Golden Goose and Hercules’ Medal of Heroes. As Guests watch in awe at the endless piles of artifacts, they are suddenly surprised by a gigantic diamond rising from a treasure chest that magically opens and reflects a rainbow of colors around the room.

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Track B: Leaving the wild madness of the Bestiary behind, brings us to the Hall of Enchanted Objects. This is where we will be able to behold possessions of great magic. We will pass by the Beast’s Enchanted Rose, the Bed from Bedknob and Broomsticks, the Genie’s Lamp, Cinderella’s Glass Slipper, the Jewel of Atlantis and Maui’s Fish Hook, some of them will even mysteriously interact with Guests. The enchanted rose will still drop its petals, the Genie’s lamp sometimes reveals Genie’s head emerging from it in a blast of smoke and the Bed from Bedknob and Broomsticks starts rocking around as if it wants to launch off.

Track C: Curiously, the buckets seem to pass into a wardrobe, instead of a door. Here they’ll find themselves inside The Enchanted Garderobe of the Castle, where a few of the most iconic costumes, dresses and suits can be found. In the center of the room, birds and mice seem to be making a dress similar to the one they make during the Work Song in Cinderella, while Aurora’s color-changing dress hangs in another corner; Even Cruella de Vil’s fur coat can be found here. Madame Wardrobe from Beauty and the Beast welcomes us to this room and wants Guests to pose in front of the mirror.

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All: The buckets pass through a hallway where we can hear a medley inspired by The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Shadows of magic brooms march on the walls. All of the buckets meet in a circular dome, where a staircase leads upstairs. On the staircase’s steps are enchanted brooms filling the room with water. Mickey anxiously reads in his book, trying to look for a solution. One by one, the buckets are released onto a flume ride drop down to the lower level of the attraction.

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[TheSorcerersApprentice]

[Part 3]:

Track A: The buckets land in the Castle’s Workshop. Here we can find Geppetto, Practical Pig, Maurice and other handy characters hard at work to create their newest inventions. It is as if we have just walked into a hall of inventions, capturing the magic of Geppetto’s workshop, but less focused on toys. However, one of the buckets will bump into one of Maurice’s machines, causing an error in their systems. The machines run wild and forces us to quickly head out of the magical workshop.

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Track B: The buckets land in the Weaponry Room. It is filled with weapons and armor that we have come to learn the existence of in many movies and shorts. First seen is the sword Excalibur, tried to be released from its stone by Mickey himself. Other weapons are Mulan’s Lotus Blade, Zeus’ Lightning Bolts blasting electricity from its sealed cage, Taran’s Magic Sword which magically floats around a cage trying to release itself, Merida’s bow which magically shoots a bullseye and nearly misses Guests and even Rapunzel’s frying pan. The buckets pass through a hallway containing three suits of armor, their helmets floating next to their bodies and singing along with the music. When a series of accidents causes the release of some of the magical weapons, buckets have to rush out of the Weaponry Room.

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Track C: The buckets land in the Dark Magic Room. It is here that we find some of the evil enchanted objects. The Black Cauldron seems to emit some purple smoke, the Magic Mirror magically interacts with Guests looking into it, Ursula’s necklace glows while a mysterious siren song seems to be coming from it, Facilier’s Talisman starts to glow while voodoo masks start singing, Jafar’s Snake Staff shines a hypnotizing red light onto your bucket and even a mysteriously green-glowing spinning wheel starts to attract our attention to it. Portraits of some of the most notorious Disney villains line the walls of this room, who strangely follow our every move. It is almost too obvious that the buckets should really not be here and we quickly head out of here.

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All: The six buckets meet again, each having escaped their own type of chaos. Yen Sid silences the chaos and although he looks with a strict face upon Mickey as he takes back his hat, he welcomes everyone into the Castle’s Ballroom, where buckets will waltz to an enchanting symphony together with animatronic couples. It will truly be like a happier and magical ballroom experience similar to the Haunted Mansion’s ballroom, but we the Guests really get to be part of it. The room is decorated with ornate chandeliers and lights, and resembles a French mirror ballroom with Renaissance-styled murals of Fantasia-like scenes. The buckets then slowly move towards the unloading dock. Leaving the sorcerer’s castle through The Apprentice’s Cabinet, a gift shop offering Fantasyland items.

 

[TheSorcerersApprentice]

Geyser Mountain

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Guests follow a trail out into a rough wilderness area, filled with pine trees, scenic buttes as well as Bryce Canyon-like spires. Bordering the queue are several steaming hot springs, many bubbling mud pots and some small sputtering geysers. Moving deeper into the woods and past these geothermal features, Guests are automatically put to the thought, ‘’No wonder they call this area ‘Geyser Mountain’ . Finally, they come to a clearing in the forest. There – in front of you – is a tumbledown cabin with a barn attached. And behind this … the craggy peak of Geyser Mountain. Which would rumble ominously every now and then. And what’s that you hear in the distance? Could that be… people screaming? In front of the cabin a yard full of weird machinery, all property of Jason Chandler, a young inventor who lived in the Wild Frontier who has devised a drilling machine with the capability of boring into the very heart of mountains. Once we enter his home, Guests are introduced to Chandler and Bullion’s story to conquer the Frontier by drilling to the core of some of the most precious locations like Big Thunder Mountain, where the veins of gold ran so deep, it was rumoured they could produce a mother lode that would bring a man enough wealth to last a hundred lifetimes and more. Prior to tunnelling through the mountainside over at Big Thunder – Bullion and Chandler tried out their digging contraptions by digging dozens of test holes in the side of Geyser Mountain. While testing his mining rig – Chandler discovered many strange and wondrous things under the ground.

Guests wind through the inventor’s study, filled with colourful crystals and enormous geodes that he’s recovered while tunnelling under Geyser Mountain. There are also black-and-white photographs of some truly impressive stalagmite and stalactite formations that he must have encountered while exploring the underworld. Yet, the most intriguing piece of decoration in the inventor’s study is a hand-drawn map of the interior of Geyser Mountain, which is pinned up to one wall and clearly shows the networks of tunnels that crisscross through the mountainside. There – at the very centre of the map – is a drawing and description of this extremely fierce, totally unpredictable but extremely powerful geyser, known as ‘Ole Unfaithful’, which intermittently erupts from deep down inside the mountain. Also, on this hand-drawn map is a note that Chandler has written to himself, reminding him about a certain bridge that he’s installed at the very heart of Geyser Mountain. The note reads: ‘Reminder to self: Temporary bridge has been taking an awful pounding from geyser eruptions. Must remember to make repairs.’ The only problem is… the note is dated back in the early 1920s. Guests exit the study and find themselves in a barn where we find the amazing mining machine that Chandler has used for digging all those tunnels over at Big Thunder Mountain.

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Guests are then directed to the loading station where a lethal looking machine will take Guests for a trip over, around and under Geyser Mountain. Guests roar out of the barn and rumbles through several very colourful caverns, rolling by giant glowing crystals and fantastic underground waterfalls. We then wind out of the mountain, and climb further and further up the side of Geyser Mountain, where we encounter odd balancing rocks that may just lose their balance as our machine passes by and a few Saguaro cacti that look strangely human. As the machine reaches the very top of the mountain, Guests are treated to an impressive view from up there. They are then planning to make their descent back to Chandler’s cabin, though a recent landslide has blocked our return route. The only way back down Geyser Mountain now is to go across that rickety old bridge that was shown on the hand-drawn map in Chandler’s study. Our mining machine slowly starts to cross the rickety old bridge. The ancient span of timbers creaks ominously as this heavy piece of equipment chugs across the darkened chasm. The only light in this entire area is the sunlight that comes pouring in from above. The top of Geyser Mountain appears to have been blown off in some previous eruption, like a sort of cone in some sort of dormant volcano. As our vehicle reaches the centre of the bridge, the span suddenly starts to sag in the middle. As the amazing mining machine tilts to one side, we all think we’re all about to fall to our deaths. Once the bridge collapses, we’ll be impaled on all those lethal looking stalagmites below. It all seems hopeless, but then… a rumbling sound!

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Ole Unfaithful is about to erupt! And – with that – seemingly heaved up off the collapsing bridge and into the air by the power of the geyser, our mining rig is thrown straight up into the sky. We literally seem to bounce up and down on top of this powerful stream of super-heated water. For just a moment, our vehicle pops out of the top of Geyser Mountain itself. We get a brief glimpse of Frontierland below us. Luckily, the force of that geyser has heaved us out of the chasm, away from that collapsing bridge. This sends the cart speeding towards the barn as stalagmites can be seen to give the impression of being deep underground. The rumbling continues and the Guests’ vehicle is pushed further, past a band of coyotes, who shockingly look up and start howling once they realize that Guests could possibly still their hunger today. The track switches and sends Guests into a lava-filled chamber deep in the mountain’s core. A slight eruption quickly sends Guests safely on the rim of Geyser Mountain, then quickly rumble back down to the barn. We climb out of our ride vehicle and stumble into the nearby gift shop, Stalagmite Supplies.

 

[TheSorcerersApprentice]

The Gathering

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This concept is one that is inspired by the rumors and ideas for a Disney-villain themed land. This evil version of Fantasyland is home to all your favorite (or most despised) Disney baddies roaming around the land in spite of their loss. Ramshackle medieval facades are host to various shops and eateries themed to these characters, as if these Disney villains run their very own businesses. Guests will be able to try on a furcoat of their own at DeVil Fashion, pick their own poison at Yzma's Potion Lab or get their voodoo, hoodoo and everything dark magic at Doctor Facilier's Voodoo Emporium. The land as a whole will be quite similar to the scale of Treasure Cove at Shanghai Disneyland. The ride is anchored by a major e-ticket attraction, which takes place inside Bald Mountain, towering over the rest of the land. Even the ride itself will in many ways parallel the Pirates of the Caribbean ~ Battle for the Sunken Treasure attraction, especially in terms of the scale of the show scenes. During the ride Guests will venture into castle ruins and discover the evil plans of some of Disney's most notorious villains, attempting to awaken the dark spirit of Chernabog.

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Guests begin their journey by entering a ruined Fort at the foot of Bald Mountain. Once a base for ancient heroes and knights, it is now a hiding place for villains. Boarding the boats, Guests pass a foreboding gate past a dining area for the the Poisoned Apple Tavern (a common meeting place of the villains and the land's largest and most popular dining option) before entering a mysterious laboratory. Here, we are greeted by an ominously looking raven perched on top of a skull. The laboratory is filled with potions and magical ingredients, which are mixed in various glass tubes and bottles. This laboratory belongs to no other than The Evil Queen, who stands tall in front of her Magic Mirror as she calls upon the forces of evil to join forces and scare Guests so that they can wake Chernabog. This figure will be similar to the Jack Sparrow figure in the transformation scene of Shanghai Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean ~ Battle for the Sunken Treasure, where, with a flash of lightning, she turns around and is then changed into a hideous old hag, who reaches out her arm at Guests, offering them a poisoned apple.

'' Have a bite! ''​

Our boats rush into the next cavern, where we pass by several skeletal animal remains, tar pits and mischievous geysers, erupting randomly as we glide through Scar’s domain. Hyenas ambush us from behind rocks and bones. In a corner, Scar himself is revealed, menacingly looking down at Guests, as if he was ready to charge and eat us for lunch. He urges us to move into the next Cave, which is marked by a large tiger’s head, almost like the mysterious Cave of Wonders from Aladdin. Amongst the glittering gold is the black lamp which Jafar got trapped in. As we move closer, smoke starts to emit from it, giving the gigantic snake figure of Jafar enough time to rise from behind the piles of treasure. He ambushes us and sends us down a drop and into the Underworld where we meet Hades who abruptly starts playing a creepy pipe organ, and decides to attack us, setting the room in a glowing flame. He tells us to meet his Friend on the other side.

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A gate reminiscent of the one leading to the River of Souls in Disney’s Hercules is where our boats pass under and into a dark cave that starts to come alive with the sound of drums played by voodoo dolls. Large, scary voodoo masks with glowing eyes start singing and shadows float past on the walls. Doctor Facilier appears in the center of the scene, revealing that Guests don’t have a bright future ahead of them. Leaving the Shadowman, we see ourselves rising up from the Underworld, together with other shipwrecks rising from their watery tombs for great battle, with Ursula already on the scene in her gigantic form. She conjures a powerful storm, blasting winds and rain in a whirlpool of evil. Behind her, the Jolly Roger sails past and turns to attack us. The boat turns to a physical set of the Jolly Roger with Captain Hook sending cannonballs towards us. Passing under the cannons, we enter a cave on a black rock coast.

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Here, we meet Maleficent, mistress of all evil. She claims that we have not emitted enough fear to free Chernabog from his prison and thus we have to deal with her. She transforms into her dragon form, where a gigantic AA-figure rises from the show scene, breathing fire and sending our boats backwards and into the climatic scene of the attraction. Guests will pass through a quiet and dimly lit cave which appears empty but with a blast of wind, we start to see mysterious ghostly appearances flying past on the walls as flames start to take over the water inside the cave.

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From behind a few rocky cliffs, an enormous figure of Chernabog rises up and wildly swings his arms around. Boats quickly dodge him and nearly escape the wrath of the villains by passing under him down a huge drop which leads to the large lagoon at the foot of the mountain. Moving back into the Fort ruins, Guests will be greeted by the Evil Queen's Magical Mirror once again. Two alternate endings play-out here: Either he congratulates Guests for their bravery, as projections of fairy dust guide us towards the unloading dock or he warns Guests to quickly head out of the fort, now that Chernabog has been awakened, with various ghostly heads and figures cover the walls as seen in 'The Night on Bald Mountain'. Guests are then led through a series of dark corridors, escaping the mysterious run-down ruins.

 

[TheSorcerersApprentice]

Diaval's Flight

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In a dark corner of the Enchanted Moors lies Maleficent’s Forbidden Mountains, eerie castle ruins of a long-forgotten kingdom. In the queue, Guests will wander through the Enchanted Forest Kingdom of the Moors, home of Maleficent and many other magical creatures. Here they pass through the woods, past enchanting waters and cascading waterfalls, even encountering some of the magical beings that call the Moors home, almost in a Pandora ~ The World of Avatar-style. At night, the Moors become an enchanting sight to the eye, with glowing plant life and mysterious orbs and sprite roaming the forest.

To reach the loading dock of Diaval’s Flight, Guests must venture into an ominously dark cavern, where dimly lit torch fire offer the slightest bit of illumination. Cob webs and skeletal remains almost give a foreboding feeling, yet there is no real need to be afraid. At the loading dock, Guests will find an inverted steel coaster train, with a pattern reminiscent of the Maleficent movies’ style. An AA-figure of Diaval in his raven form is perched on a thorn thicket, reaching to the outside world. Guests board their vehicle and as soon as we depart the loading dock, we hear Maleficent say,

‘’Into a dragon…’’​

A glowing sparkle surrounds the Guests, and we hear how the caw of the raven changes into a grumbling roar. Upon departing from the station, the train makes a slight left turn leading into the transfer track section before beginning to climb the 125-foot lift hill. Once at the top and after going through a pre-drop, the train makes a sharp 115-foot left-hand drop back to the ground, over and through the magical forest realm. Then the train goes back up, through an Immelmann followed by a slight air-time downwards right turn before entering an air-time hill. Next, the train drops back down turning left slightly, leading into a second Immelmann. After a downward right helix and a short section of straight track, the train goes through the second former near-miss point with the rocky peaks, a vertical loop. After the loop and another section of straight track, the train makes a right turn leading into the third and final near-miss element, which is a corkscrew. Then, the train makes a left turn followed by a small drop leading into another section of straight track before entering the final element in the coaster layout, another corkscrew. The train then makes a left turn into the final brake run. Following a left turn, the train returns to the station where riders are unloaded and the next riders loaded.

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[TheSorcerersApprentice]

The Castle in the Sky

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This concept is an idea for a new Disney park weenie or icon, located in this hypothetical Disney Park's central hub. As many other castles, it lures Guests from the park's opening land to the rest of the park, especially Fantasyland. From here, this impressive and innovative structure will challenge the standards for a Disney Castle and will pay homage to a classic fairy tale.

A major visual feature of the park’s central hub area is The Castle in the Sky. The 175 foot(53 m) – tall structure employs forced perspective to appear larger than it physically is, and is held aloft by steel beams concealed with beanstalk, rockwork and a cloud-like mist. These visual effects simulate the feeling of the gigantic castle being located high in the clouds, surrounded by a moat and a small grove, dividing it from the central hub. The structure’s primary façade is a great Romanesque/ Baroque -inspired masterpiece with magnificent archways, narrow turrets, imposing statues and gargoyles, and curved towers, held up by thick green beanstalk vines. Its’ imposing features lure Guests nearer and nearer, inviting them to cross a wooden drawbridge. While doing so, their breathe will be taken away by the charming view of the castle and its’ gentle waterfalls into the mysterious and cloudy depths that lay below. An oversized gate serves as the entrance to the structure.

Stepping foot within the castle, Guests are immediately welcomed by a choral and orchestral rendition of ‘’My Favourite Dream’’, a song sung by the Golden Harp (Anita Gordon) in Mickey and the Beanstalk, a segment from the 1947 Disney Film, Fun and Fancy Free, which serves as the overall inspiration for the park’s icon structure. The sheer size and magnificence of the Castle in the Sky is fully realized once inside the castle’s lavish interior, multi-storied and laden with décor reminiscent of the medieval era; vivid tapestries, stone statues, fine-glass windows, and a hand-painted mosaic mural illustrating the tale of Mickey and the Beanstalk. High above us, a stained glass window casts an almost yellow light onto the centre of the interior, shining upon a statue of the Golden Harp. Often times, her enchanting voice seems to echo through the castle’s interior, bringing happiness, peace and prosperity with it.

Ye Olden Shoppe resides on the first floor of the castle, the broom closet-turned abode of Mickey Mouse and his many stories. In this enchanted chamber, the famous mouse re-tells the tales of short films like Ye Olden Days (1933), The Brave Little Tailor (1938) and The Prince and the Pauper (1990). Replica swords, daggers and shields, in addition to family crests, tapestries and medieval paraphernalia line the shop’s selection of provision. Willie’s Treasury sells all thing s fantasy, from sorcerer hats to princess gowns, all surrounded by the collection of magical objects that the Giant of the castle, Willie has collected.

A backdoor leads down to the Castle Grotto, while a stone passage on the other side of the castle leads out into the castle’s surrounding grove filled with lush greenery and colourful flower beds. In the Castle Grotto, Guests will be able to encounter the magical giant Willie in audio animatronic form usually asleep, but occasionally waking from his slumber to interact with Guests, casting spells with his infamous ‘’Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum’’. His somewhat abnormal playfulness is sure to bring smiles and grins to bypassing Guests. This experience would be somewhat similar to Efteling's Tom Thumb in their Fairy Tale Forest walkthrough. Within the Castle’s Gallery, Guests find the entrance to the other points of interest on the castle’s second floor. Soaring archways and cathedral ceilings create a dramatic atmosphere for Mickey’s Royal Banquet Hall, a fantastical feast for the eyes and taste buds. As the story goes, Mickey Mouse is holding a banquet in Willie’s castle.

​

As such, we dine in splendour and feast on the restaurant’s many specialties, such as the Magic Bean Stew or the Giant Burger. However, Guests will be surprised by pulling up giant champagne corks and taking seat among oversized décor, an array of bottles, vases, candles etc. In the chambers across the way from Mickey’s Royal Banquet Hall, The Fairy Tale Gathering gives lords and ladies of all ages the chance to rub elbows with royalty in a lavish labyrinth of boudoirs, libraries and converted-dungeons. The Fairy Tale Gathering is the place to go if you want to meet the likes of Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Rapunzel and more. In addition, the second floor of The Castle in the Sky features a doorway that leads out onto an intricately styled balcony, which offers a panoramic view of the magical township and grounds that lie beyond the castle walls, Storybook Land.

Blue birds chirp as the sunlight dimly falls onto the ornately decorated town facades lining the cobble stone roads winding throughout the land. Heading back downstairs, we pass through the northernmost-facing portico of The Castle in the Sky into a truly enchanting Storybook Village, a quaint little village displaying a romanticized version of life in the Dark Ages, based on descriptions of literary masters like the Grimm Brothers, Hans Christian Andersen and Charles Perrault. Architecture of Bavarian, Dutch, Swiss, and Tudor origin meets the colour and whimsy of Toontown and together craft the town.

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[TheSorcerersApprentice]

Home on the Range: Mine Cart Madness

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Though Home on the Range has never been close to one of Disney's greatest works, I've actually always enjoyed it a lot. The humor, the characters, the soundtrack and the story are just fun and a shift from what Disney has done in other films. In a way it seems as if the movie was always meant to have been for some type of influence for Frontierland, with the Mine Cart Chase Scene posing as a theme for a roller coaster ride. And for that, this concept today will explore the possibilities for a Home on the Range themed attraction in Frontierland, in which they race rickety mine rails through Alameda Slim's secret hideout.

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Guests will notice that there are wanted posters all over Frontierland, on which is announced that Alameda Slim, the yodeling villain from Disney’s animated film, Home on the Range has escaped jail and is once again terrorizing Western ranches with his cow hypnosis. Guests enter the queue, which is set around a Wild West mining company, where they will board a mine cart to tour the echo mines. In the queue, Guests will find many references related to the film’s plot and story, including an experience in which Guests overhear The Willies discussing their evil scheme . At the station, Guests will board trains of two mine carts, which are somewhat similar to the vehicles in the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train attraction. The vehicles begin to move and dip into a cave, themed to the echo mines. A reveal zips them out of the dark and onto a lift hill, passing under a tree bark over which our three main characters, Mrs. Calloway, Grace and Maggie pass by. At the top, we can see two vultures, themed to the two characters from the film, menacingly looking down on the bypassing mine carts.

The vehicles then go down a drop which winds around a hill and into a mine shaft. Here they’ll find themselves trespassing into Alameda Slim’s secret hideout. Guests will pas by Slim in AA-form, threatening Guests now that they’ve found his hideout. Nearby are several grazing cows. Alameda Slim starts yodeling his Yodel-eedle-adle-oo, which hypnotizes the cows. They raise their heads, and by projection mapping effects, change into a colorful cow army. The vehicles race out of there as several technicolor cows come charging at the Guests. The vehicles dip again and go outside where they begin to go up a hill. Here Guests will be able to look down into a valley which appears to be much deeper than it actually is, through forced-perspective. After the hill, they once again go down a bit and enter another indoor portion.

Through the use of screens it will seem as if the vehicles are racing Maggie, Mrs. Calloway and Grace in their own mine cart which yell at Guests to try and help them find a way out. In another cave, an AA-figure of Mrs. Calloway tries to explain their plan to capture Slim, but is interrupted by several hypnotized cows who break open a water basin, causing a flash flood. The vehicles rush out as water outs into the cave. Right as a waterfall comes down, Guests quickly race out of there! As the vehicles race around the mountain range, they make various dips and helixes as well as pass by several scenes featuring the film’s many characters. Junior pops out of a closed shaft, nearly missing the Guests’ mine carts, Buck lassoes one of Slim’s cousins up to a cactus, the three cows hanging on tight to each other as they nearly fall down the edge of a mine shaft’s dead end and Slim’s other two cousins hanging out of a teetering mine cart, trying to stop the Guests.

As Guests leave the scene they pass by a track switch in which Jack Rabbit gets stuck and changes the mine cart’s direction into one of the attraction’s two elevators. Yes, you read that right, an elevator! The mine carts are escorted into one of the attraction’s mining elevators, to the highest point of the attraction. Here they find another Alameda Slim AA-figure who is fed up with all the chaos that we’ve caused and thus ignites a stick of dynamite. However, it ends up lighting up all the boxes of dynamite which accidentally happen to be here. Slim quickly escapes the scene in panic, followed by a huge launch out of this blasting scene. Guests who are off-ride will be able to see an explosion emerge from the ride’s climax tunnel, similar to the cannon launch scene of Disneyland Paris' Space Mountain. The vehicles first go backwards a bit and are then launched out of a tunnel in which explosions violently go off and causes walls to cave in. This climatic drop causes the cart’s to land on regular train tracks, nearly escaping a nearing locomotive. Guests then stop at a final scene in which the film’s characters celebrate as they’ve tied up Alameda Slim in a mine cart. Jack Rabbit hits him in the face with a frying pan. The cows thank Guests for helping them capture Slim, and the carts then proceed back to the attraction’s unloading dock.

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[TheSorcerersApprentice]

Mr. Toad's Motor Car Mania

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In the queue we enter Toad Hall and find out that Toad is again imprisoned, this time for his reckless driving. The queue winds through Toad's home and ends up in the carriage house. Here we are loaded into an antique motorcar and zoom out onto the grounds. We barrel over the crowded streets of London, avoiding obstacles and forcing townspeople to scatter for safety. As we leave behind the madness, we head to our destination, the forbidding Tower of London. Wee crash into the gates and surprisingly see the guards unconscious and slumped against the wall with large lumps on their heads. With a sudden crash Toad flies into the view. He is using his ball and chain around his ankle to careen around the cell, smashing into the stone walls, with the keys in his hands. This illusion is created with the use of strategically glass panels and digital animation of Toad which is projected from areas beyond guests' view.

''Ho Ho, you're just in time! ''Toad says. ​

Toad hurls his ball over our heads (thanks to physical effects) and goes sailing out of sight. We pursue and see Toad's shadow (another projection) on a far wall, unlocking his shackles. As our car rounds a pillar we see that Toad in the flesh (AA) is free of his ball and chain gesturing to the large prison door, which is open for our escape. A loud train whistle is heard. ''There is my ride now'' says Toad as we escape the tower. Your vehicles move outside where a moving train is coming our way. We escape the train and find our car back among the pleasant green hills of the English countryside. We see sheep here and there, but our noisy approach causes them to scatter and disrupts the daily life of the shepherds and their flocks. Even a cunning wolf about to pounce can't help but stop and stare as we pass. One poor shepherd finds his entire flock cowering in his arms. The tower of sheep totters precariously over our car as we pass.

Then our vehicles go down a hill into the river. We cause quite a commotion with the waves created by the car. Ratty who is out enjoying a row shouts recriminations at us, while they try to get their boat under control again. The Ratty character would be waterproof and simple in his motions. The illusion is helped by the soundtrack, the natural motion of the boat and ours and the speed at which the guests cars pass the figures. The river is narrow at this point and we see a pack of weasels waiting for us on the other bank. We can tell by the way they greedily eye our motorcar that they are up to no good. As our car reaches the other bank, we send up a great splash and the surprised weasels are left soaked on the riverbank. They will have simple movements and will also be waterproof.

Our path turns away from the river and takes us towards the looming trees. In a shadowy glen we see the house of Mr. Mole and our car takes us in. Inside we find a stressed Mr. Mole and various figures of weasels ruining Mole's house. We go outside and find ourselves in Wild Wood. Here other weasels can be seen trying to get us off the way and to make us crash. Our cars accelerate and crash into cardboard weasels. We then race to badger's house. He yells at us telling that we have to hurry back to Toad Hall. We exit and crash into policemen yelling STOP STOP. We drive past cliffs.

Another car with weasels in them drives next to us (it will be a real car with audio animatronic weasels on another track). The vehicle gets pushed by the weasels. Then we go around the corner where we lose the weasels. Then we meet them again, but the car brakes and the vehicle with weasels (a different one than the one that tries to crash into us) falls down the cliffs. Our car turns and the police are seen apologizing, realizing that the weasels were the real villains. Then we enter Toad Hall where Mr. Toad thanks you for helping him escape. We get back to the station and unload.

 

[TheSorcerersApprentice]

This write-up was based on the concept as seen in the YouTube Video Link below:

Hollywood Twilight Zone Terror Tracks

‘’Travel into the mysterious depths of ‘The Twilight Zone’ and experience a haunting and scary adventure on Platform 13.’’​

Story

It’s October 31st, 1939, beneath the hustle and bustle of a young movie town at the height of its Golden Age, the Hollywood Transit System offered opulence in motion, coveted by the industry’s brightest stars. Yet on this peculiar night, a train filled with Hollywood’s greatest promises of tomorrow departs from The Hollywood Transport Center. Lightning struck the building just as a train departed from Platform 13, causing it to de-rail, killing its 2 passengers and making the building dysfunctional. Rescue services reached the site too late and for a long time the origin of the accident was inexplicable according to the police, especially with the heavy smoke development, obstructing further investigation. The Transport Center closed indefinitely after the events that occurred on this tragic night. 10 years later, an initiative was started to re-open the Transport Center, as the abandoned building was an eye-sore among the other glamorous buildings. However, the Transport Center had to be evacuated during the memorial ceremony of the terrible accident and the re-opening ceremony of the building. After a short moment of silence, the mayor, Bruce Aldwell, would have declared the Center back open. Despite the many careful measures taken to prevent any accident, the ceremony went wrong after fireman commander Robert Langley stepped onto the ceremonial stage and asked people to slowly look for the closest emergency exit, due to the dangerous conditions inside the building. Rumors say that a fire broke out somewhere on a track and that smoke was coming from Platform 13. Authorities were unable to release any further information about the situation. The people present were safely evacuated, yet it left rescue services astonished what had occurred at the Center. The Center closed down after, as emergency services were trying to control the situation. After that, many curious journalists and investigators have tried to enter the closed building and uncover its mysteries, yet none of them have ever returned. The Hollywood Transport Center is now famed for its cursed reputation. Guests will act as curious journalists and investigate the strange phenomena at the Transport Center.

Description

Throughout Hollywoodland (at my hypothetical Disneyland Resort Second Gate, Disney's American Adventure Park) old trolley tracks scatter the land, a foreshadowing of the haunting and scary adventure at The Hollywood Transport Center. Though the building still screams Hollywood grandeur, a foreboding sense of abandonment and a dark past seems to be attached to its exterior. Guests enter the once glamorous Hollywood Transport Center through its main entrance, the in-story explanation being that you are investigating the station for its mysterious past. The queue winds itself through the halls of the Transport Center, where ghostly 1930s jazz music plays. The station truly captures the feeling of an abandoned platform center from the 30s with its green and white glazed tiles against the walls and old exfoliated advertising posters, providing a scary atmosphere. It is filled with decades worth of dust, cobwebs, and various items left by Guests from the night of the incident and the re-opening ceremony ten years later. A mysterious radio sits in a corner of the grand hall, randomly popping on and announcing old news broadcasts.

‘’This is Bob Cuddington for the HLBC News live from Hollywoodland. Good evening ladies and gentlemen, this is HLBC News. A few minutes ago we received this breaking news that a serious accident has taken place on Platform 13 at The Hollywood Transport Center. Rescue services at the scene are unable to comment on this matter and how it started. Police officers are uncertain about the cause of this event. Heavy smoke development hackles any attempt at further investigation on the incident. We are now attempting to set up our telephone connection with our reporter at the scene, William Denn. Will, can you hear us?

Evening Bob and the people at home. As we just arrived at the scene we saw dozens of firemen and police officers rushing to and from the scene. They are desperately trying to get the situation under control. As far as I can tell the accident involves one de-railed train nearby platform 13.

Police officer: Sorry gentlemen, I have to ask you to leave the station, it is far too dangerous. Could you move yourselves to the end of the street, please.

I don’t know if you were able to hear that, Bob, but we are urged to leave the station. If there are any new developments, I will get back to you… this was William Denn for HLBC News.

That was William Denn reporting live on our telephone connection at Platform 13 at the Hollywood Transport Center. We will keep you informed if there are any more updates on this event. For now, our thoughts are with the victims and their families. Good night!



This is Jim Upton for HBC News. Good evening ladies and gentlemen, this is the HBC News with the headlines for today. The Hollywood Transport Center has been evacuated during the memorial ceremony and re-opening of platform 13. Ten years after the tragic and mysterious accident that cost the lives of 2 young and promising people, a memorial service was held. A part of the ceremony was the reopening of platform 13. After a short moment of silence, the mayor of Hollywoodland, Bruce Aldwell, would have declared the renovated platform 13 reopened. Despite careful measures prior to the ceremony, it all went wrong when fireman commander Robert Langley stepped on stage and calmly asked the crowd to head towards the nearest emergency exit due to calamities inside the station. Rumors say that a fire broke out somewhere on the tracks and that smoke was heading towards platform 13. The authorities are unable to give more detailed information about the size of the fire and its exact location. What we can share at this moment is that the gathered crowd has safely left the station and that emergency services are left astonished. The station is currently closed down as emergency services are trying to come in hand and deal with this mysterious situation. More headlines… after the break.



This is Isaac Moore for the HBC News. Good evening. Today mayor Heisel has released a press statement saying that platform 13 will remain closed down and will not be re-built in the future. He came to this conclusion after reading the reports of the task force assigned with evaluating the safety of platform 13. In this report, allegedly claims too many uncertainties with both the constructional and biological circumstances. These biological circumstances might implicate the information of reports of the unusually large and aggressive rats cited earlier this year by local youngsters. This task force will continue their investigation with hopes to find definitive answers for all those involved. It is still unknown whether the train collision earlier this year has anything to do with the platform 13 mystery. Coming up, we’ve got news on Iraqi missiles striking U.S. frigate Stark, killing 37 and on the nuclear tests conducted earlier this week by U.S. in their Nevada test site. All that and more, after the break. ‘’ ​

From this point, Guests are lead into the First Class Waiting Room as their train has yet to arrive. Through the window, Guests can observe that there is a thunderstorm going on outside. Lightning strikes and the television set comes on, apparently of its own accord. The opening sequence from Seasons 4 and 5 of The Twilight Zone plays, followed by an explanation of how one of the trains de-railed on platform 13 hosted by Rod Serling:

‘’It’s October 31st, 1939, beneath the hustle and bustle of a young movie town at the height of its Golden Age, the Hollywood Transit System offered opulence in motion, coveted by the industry’s brightest stars. Now, something is about to happen that’ll change all that. The time is now on an evening very much like the one we have just witnessed. Tonight’s story on the Twilight Zone is somewhat unique and calls for a different kind of introduction. This, as you may recognize, is a maintenance track inspection vehicle, still in operation, waiting for you. We invite you if you dare to step aboard, because in tonight’s episode, you are the star and this train travels directly to.... The Twilight Zone.’’​

With that, the TV abruptly shuts off and a sliding wall in the back of the waiting room opens. The Guests exit and travel into the station’s tunnels. A mysterious scent of burning metal and ominous mist roams these tunnels, a nod to the station’s dark past. At one point, holes seem to appear in the tunnel walls leading to the platform. The unsuspecting Guests walk through these tunnels and are suddenly surprised by the loud sounds of a train rushing by, leaving a gush of wind racing past Guests faces. At the end of the tunnel is the entrance to Platform 13, yet it’s closed off so that curious journalists could not enter the cursed platform. This is why they have found another way, through the sewers. Through a hole in the wall, Guests wander into the sewer system, where rats roam around and water slowly drips from the ceiling. Guests will see sewer drain covers in the ceiling, from which the slightest bit of light and sound emerges. From time to time, it turns dark above Guests heads: someone is walking over the sewer drain cover. At the end of the sewer system, Guests can find another hole in the wall, into the station’s tunnels. Old posters and a few old ticket booths line the walls. If Guests near the ticket booths, they are given a sudden scare. Special air-pressure mechanisms suddenly make the hatches of the booths rattle, almost warning Guests to not move any further into the Center. From here Guests are lead to the maintenance track. It will truly boast the look of an underground train station platform with two loading docks, left and right. It would be somewhat similar to the loading dock of Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts at Universal Studios Florida. Guests will then board the maintenance track inspectation vehicle to venture into the darkness of the train tunnels. As the train departs we hear Rod Serling’s voice again,

‘’You are the passengers on a railway unlike any other, about to embark on a search for souls, long lost. Picture, if you will, a trip beyond the end of the line. Deep within these tunnels lies a land exceeding the deepest, darkest corners of your imagination.’’​

Passing through these dark tunnels, gives us the shivers as Serling’s ominous voice echoes. Guests are left astonished by how the tunnel is able to become darker and darker from the maintenance tunnel to the actual service tunnel. When it becomes even darker, the tunnel seems to fade away into a starry sky, as if we have just transported into another dimension. A door lights up and opens up the path to the service tunnel of platform 13. Strange and mysterious green mist suddenly fills the space as we pass a glass wall, our vehicle stops and Guests look at their own reflection, slightly distorting as lightning strikes and suddenly disappears.

‘’Take one last look at the world… for you are about to enter… The Twilight Zone.’’​

We then travel to platform 13 itself. This set will boast the style of an actual underground train platform from the 1930s, abandoned for many years. The vehicle stops again.

‘’What happened here to empty the platforms of Hollywood’s sharpest transport is about to unfold once again.’’​

Guests are left studying the platform until a mysterious glow reveals the sight of the ghostly passengers stepping onto a ghost train. Lightning strikes and it suddenly disappears from sight, once again leaving an empty platform. But the platform mysteriously fades away to a starlit night sky, except the tunnel opening at the end of the platform.

‘’One fateful night, long ago, 135 passengers stepped aboard a vacant rail car and into a nightmare. That train has returned to operation once again, but this time it’s arrived for you…’’​

And as Serling finishes his line, Guests are launched into the tunnel, past lights and loud train noises as if they are about to collide with an oncoming train. However, on the contrary, they end up in the attraction’s gigantic show building simulating the Twilight Zone, a mysterious dimension beyond space and time. Smoke colored in pink, green, blue and purple fills the room as we rush past familiar symbols from the Twilight Zone series like an eyeball, an almost hypnotizing circle, a ticking clock, a shutting door, a shuttering window and the E=MC2 symbol. First they rush into a steep turn to the right and into an inversion that leads into another curve. The curve leads to straight track that goes up a hill and past the E=MC2 symbol. The train ducks down to the right into several turns and down into a blast of green smoke, eye to eye with a gigantic eyeball. Up a small hill for a short straight track, above which two train lights switch between red and green. The train then ducks down again into another series of twists and turns. We then arrive back into something that looks a lot more familiar, a train tunnel! Serling’s voice slowly fades back in.

‘’The next time you board a deserted simpler in the dark side of Hollywood, make sure you know just what line you’re travelling or you may find yourself a permanent resident of The Twilight Zone.’’​

As soon as you turn the corner to the right, we’ll pass by a de-railed train. But just as Guests do, a blast of fire emerges from the train and slowly, you’ll move into the unloading dock, resembling a normal train platform, leaving Guests questioning what they have just experienced.

 

[TheSorcerersApprentice]

Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland

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This concept is based on the question, 'What if Disney had maintained the mine train's original narrative for it's change to a thrill ride?' and is based on the now extinct attraction, 'Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland (Rainbow Caverns Mine Train)'. Therefore, I'd imagine this attraction to be at Disneyland in Anaheim, its original location. Frontierland is now themed to the little mining town of Rainbow Ridge, the brightest town at the edge of Nature's Wonderland. During the ride, Guests will enlist for a journey aboard a rickety fast mine train past numerous wilderness environments of the Wild Frontier in search of the extraordinary Rainbow Caverns. However, along the way, they'll have many encounters with wildlife and escape the dangerous scenarios of the West. Upon entering the attraction, the queue winds through a narrow rock wall and passing by the tracks. Guests can hear the roar of the runaway mine train rolling through the vast wilderness, as you pass through the queue. They'll find out more about the Rainbow Cavern Mining Company, with various hints suggesting their desires to uncover the many wonders of Nature's Wonderland. A scaled-down part of Rainbow Ridge sits adjacent to the queuing lines and tracks near the station. A Western saloon, hotel, assayer’s office and mercantile appear among the buildings. An old prospector’s voice announces,

‘’Howdy folks! Welcome to the little minin’ town of Rainbow Ridge, the gateway to Nature’s Wonderland. As we head for the wilderness, a couple of suggestions: please stay seated at all times, and keep yer hands, arms, feet and legs inside the train. The animals get mighty hungry…’’​

Leaving the outdoor station, trains pass through a bat-infested train tunnel, make a right-hand turn, then a left-hand turn before climbing the first lift hill. Leaving the lift hill, the train drops away to the right which takes you into Beaver Valley where beavers are building a dam and marmots look down on Guests from the rocks. The train then levels out and makes a left-hand turn. It then crosses under the waterfalls of Cascade Peak (a rugged mountain with several large waterfalls rising majestically above a forest), known as Big Thunder (the biggest falls in all these here parts) and the other two falls they call the Twin Sisters (reckon that’s cause they’re always babblin’). The sound of bears can be heard roaring at the train as it dives into Bear Country on an old trestle. The train runs along the river. A grizzly bear uses a railswitch as a backscratcher and accidently sends passengers along a slight right-hand turn after which the train suddenly falls through a washed-out section of the trestle. After dropping down to the water level (with water jets on the sides of the track simulating a splashdown), Guests will see bears are fishing, climbing trees and scratching their backs along the river bank.

‘’ Ya know, bears are one of the most playful animals there is. Lazy, too! All they want to do is lay around and scratch and fish and swim… that is when they ain’t sleepin’ ‘’​

The trains go around a left turn on an unstable portion of trestle, passing by two elk battling for mates. Now there’s a struggle for survival. As we pass through ol’ Natural Arch Bridge, you can see the great Living Desert down below. Coyotes can be seen and heard howling (the voice of the desert) as the train drops into an underground cave. At the end of the tunnel, the train hits a trim brake, exits the tunnel and climbs the second lift hill, which is set in the Living Desert. Sights along the way include snakes, wild pigs, tortoises among whimsically shaped cacti (The desert heat sometimes gets to ya and makes these here cactus take on strange shapes, like animals… and sometimes even people). At the top of the lift hill, look down there on yer left! Them wild pigs has caught up with ol’ Mister Bobcat. He’s in kind of a sticky situation on top of a cactus. It cries at passing Guests as the train drops away to the right, cross under the lift hill and rises up into a downward spiralling clockwise helix.

Leaving the helix, the train drops down past colorful boiling mudpits known as the Devil’s Paintpots. This is the real mystery of the desert; bubblin’ pots o’ mud in all kinds o’ colors. Here it hits another trim brake, the train then makes a left-hand turn. We then rush into Geyser Country. Uh-oh, there she blows! Sure glad ya all brought yer raincoats. But look out now! We never know when she’s gonna go off. That’s why we call her Ol’ Unfaithful. She’s a-threatenin’ again! The Guests will then be crossing over another drop and making a right-hand turn as they pass through the ribcage of a T-rex skeleton. Ya know, I hear tell a long time ago, dinosaurs roamed this area. Of course, all you find now is cactus, snakes and coyotes- and sometimes the sun-bleached bones of this ancient animal.

The train then shoots through a small canyon before climbing the third and final lift hill of the ride in the Balancing Rock Canyon. Now folks, we gotta get through this risky territory. You know, last trip, a mountain lion showed up right over that tunnel. There’s one now, so you better all be real quiet! But then, the mountain lion lets out a loud roar. Look out! The balancing rocks are startin’ to tumble! The surroundings are starting to rumble and artificial smoke/dust is blasted in Guests’ faces, simulating the slow collapse of the canyon, as the train crests the lift and exits the canyon.

The train dives into the earth to view the dazzling Rainbow Caverns and undoubtedly the most beautiful scene of the attraction. You’ll see giant stalagmites, stalactices, ‘n colorful falls on ever’ side. Say if you look real careful, you’ll see geyser grotto, ‘n even the witch’s cauldron. The trains hit a trim brake, then make a right hand turn into the final brakes. The train then travels back to the loading station of the attraction, as the spiel announces,

‘’Well, I see you’re comin’ back to Rainbow Ridge again. I hope you all enjoyed yer trip into Nature’s Wonderland. Please stay in yer seats until I get the train stopped, will ya? And then just lift up the jump seat in the middle, and the door’ll come right open. Now, to find the exit, folks, just head right for the front of the train. And if ya got a mountain lion sittin’ next to ya, don’t feed him. Just tell him to hop out and hightail it back to his own stompin’ ground. Well, thanks for ridin’ along, and come on back when yer out here in these here frontier parts, will ya? So long!’’​

For Guests who feel uncomfortable or are unable to ride Main Train Through Nature's Wonderland, The Nature Wonderland Trails allows them to explore the beauty of America's nature and dive down into the caves of Cascade Peak, passing through old mining shafts revealing Rainbow Ridge's history and connection to SEA, to see the Rainbow Caverns from a different perspective.

 

[TheSorcerersApprentice]

Alice's Return to Wonderland

​

Guests will find themselves wandering off on a golden summer day in the park in England. We walk past the tree where Alice was listening to her sister aloud from a history book, to which Alice vocally expressed her boredom. Colorful flowers adorn the grassy hills among which slow rushing streams scenically complete the scenery. A British cottage is laid out in the scenery and is designed in a classic English countryside style and is inspired by the original drawings for the 1951 Alice in Wonderland film. Once inside, we find ourselves inside Alice’s family residence, filled with many references to Wonderland and its many inhabitants. A tea party is set out for Alice’s toys, a caterpillar hangs from a cocoon inside a glass pot, a castle of cards is set out and a Tweedle toy sits next to a mirror (reflecting the image of a second Tweedle), a rabbit toy lays nearby, a chessboard is set up as if someone has just left to make their move and a book is opened up to reveal a 3D image of a cottage that somewhat looks similar to the White Rabbit’s house. If you look very closely there are suitcases placed out and a note reading ‘To Wonderland’, revealing Alice’s desire to return to Wonderland. Guests enter the main room of the cottage and immediately will recognize the occupants of the dwelling from the stacks of books, ones with pictures and ones without, as well as portraits, including of Alice, her sister, Dinah and her parents. In the window, Dinah can be seen sleeping. She is occasionally awoken by the sound of a tea kettle heating up to the tune of ‘I’m Late’.

​

We see Croquet gear set out for a game in the garden in another corner. After passing through an armory hall, revealing Alice’s ancestry and history of the house, guests enter the pre-show room. From there, they are admitted to the library of the house where Alice awaits Guests to tell of her adventures in Wonderland. A stained glass image of a wonderful garden adorns the back of a wide staircase, on which an animatronic of Alice can be found. Guests can see a fireplace and the Guests are surrounded by bookshelves with references to various great European authors. During the preshow, Alice will start to tell her story. ‘My adventures in Wonderland began when I followed the White Rabbit into the Rabbit Hole…’ She is almost immediately interrupted by the White Rabbit himself. An animatronic of the White Rabbit appears at the top of the stairs from behind a curtain. He is here to tell Guests that Alice and they have been invited to the Queen’s Unbirthday Tea Party, but everyone’s very late and thus we have to make a hurry to Wonderland. He blows his trumpet, after which the stairs split and an entrance appears. Alice is obviously shocked by the situation, but rushes Guests to head into the next room. Immediately Guests are ushered into an octagonal room where furniture is placed on a slightly elevated level above Guests. We see a grandfather clock, a lamp on a salon table, a rocking chair, a mirror, another high blue chair, a portrait of flowers and more.

​

The wall that let us into this room immediately closes and the walls begin to stretch. As the walls stretch, the colors in the room start changing and the furniture seems to slowly fall along while several effects are activated. The rocking chair seems to rock like crazy and even makes a spin while falling down, the mirror reflects Guests upside down, vases seem to be falling off the shelves but just nearly rock back straight, the grandfather clock rings loudly and the lamp seems to be falling upward instead of downward. The room acts as an elevator to take Guest down to a lower level where the attraction’s show building is mainly located. Guests find themselves in a large hallway lit by candelight with a tiny door at the other end. When Guests are ready to be admitted to the loading station, this door will be magically transformed before their eyes into a larger portal opening up into multiple doors, making way to the loading dock. We find ourselves in another octagonal room where the back is fenced off with loading positions for Guests to board. In the back of the room, two curtains open up to reveal an impressive figure of the doorknob who tells us that we have to hurry. In the middle of the room stands a glass table next to which another figure of Alice stands holding a box of eat-me cookies. The doorknob urges us to eat it and as soon as she does, the room starts to change size.

​

The doorknob magically transforms to a larger shape and the Alice figure and the table disappear in smoke. We look up and in the ceiling we see Alice’s face crying that she’s stuck. We seem to have shrunk. Projections show how water forms in the room and a hole opens up to reveal our ride vehicles, trackless Wonderland tea cups that dance along to the music of the show scenes. The now enormous doorknob urges us to step aboard and as we do we swirl along the river of tears through his mouth and into the attraction itself. Each of the cups enter their own separate coves that are partially enclosed with individual screens. Alice is shown drifting alongside Dodo and his Caucus Race Friends. Dodo accidentally tips over the bottle and we are soon met by a wave that swings us out to a beach scene. Here they enter a Caucus Race themselves, led by an animatronic figure of the Dodo Bird, as they circle him with various animals as the movie presents the scene. The other animals will be simpler figures placed on a carousel that circles the room. The cups swiftly hop along to the quick tune until they are met by another wave. Instead of flowing into the forest however, we end up on a tropical island. Here we bump into an eccentric duo that never made it into the original 1951 film, The Gryphon and the Mockturtle. It is here that we engage in a 'Lobster Quadrille' in which the Mock Turtle musically recites the poem of the same name while dancing with Alice, some lobsters, oysters and baby turtles.

​

A next wave rocks the tea cups into the woods. As the vehicles unite to leave the room, the Tweedles emerge from behind the bushes in a bouncing manner. The cups then enter a dark room with three screens surrounded by trees. Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee come in and start singing and bouncing to ‘How do you do and shake hands’. The entire room, the trees and the tea cups then begin to bounce with the Tweedles as they bounce from screen to screen. They then come to a stop and turn to the side as the Tweedles are about to recite their version of ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter’ through a puppet theatre. As the cups near, the theatre grows bigger, opening up an entrance for us into the next scene which will be somewhat similarly set up to Under the Sea scene in The Little Mermaid dark rides. This scene features a new technology known as 2 and a half D to give depth to the 2D environments as if the theatre has just come to life to re-tell the story of the Walrus and the Carpenter. The Tweedles manage to transform the room into a coastline scene. The vehicles enter in complete darkness until we look up and see Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee as the Sun and Moon respectively.

Tweedle Dum: The sun was shining on the sea, shining with all his might.

Tweedle Dee: He did his very best to make, the billows smooth and bright.
Tweedle Dum: And this was odd because it was...
Both: The middle of the night!

The dark ride scene is slowly revealed more and more through lighting while these heads float along to narrate the story.

Tweedle Dee: The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand.
Tweedle Dum: The beach was wide
From side to side,
But much too full of sand!

The ride vehicles turn to reveal the slow moving figures of the Walrus and the Carpenter moving over a sandbank.

Carpenter: Mr. Walrus!
Tweedle Dee: Said the Carpenter.
Carpenter: My brain begins to perk,
We'll sweep this clear
In half a year,
If you don't mind the work!

The vehicles turn again and find themselves facing another figure of the Walrus.

Walrus: Work?
The time has come...
Tweedle Dee: The Walrus said.
Walrus: To talk of other things,
Of shoes and ships and sealing wax,
Of cabbages and kings!
And why the sea is boiling hot,
And whether pigs have wings,
Calloo-Callay,
No work today!
We're cabbages and kings!

​

Guests see a wall projection of the Walrus walking into the sea. Guests turn around a corner behind a coastal rock. Guests are seemingly following close behind and fall with him into the water, emerging moments later in an underwater set. It is filled with baby oysters moving to music with some playing music on their shells.

Walrus: Oh, uh, Oysters, come and walk with us,
The day is warm and bright!
A pleasant walk,
A pleasant talk,
Would be a sheer delight!

An animatronic figure of the Carpenter reveals from an opening in the ceiling which is simulated to look like a layer of seawater.

Carpenter: Yes, should we get hungry on the way,
We'll stop and, uh, have a bite.
Walrus: Ahem!

Mother Oyster appears from her shell and looks at Guests and her calendar.

Mother Oyster: The sea is nice,
Take my advice,
And stay right here.

Tweedle Dee: Mum said.
Walrus: Yes, yes, of course, of course, but, uh, ha, ha!

The time has come, my little friends,
To talk of other things,
Of shoes and ships and sealing wax,
Cabbages and kings!
And why the sea is boiling hot,
And whether pigs have wings, ha ha!
Callo-Callay,
Come, run away
With cabbages and kings!

The vehicles emerge out of the water again and the set uses its 2 and a half D to show how the Carpenter builds a wooden fish shack out of nowhere on a small coastal rock. Turning just around the corner, Guests have now entered the fish shack. Through a special effect we will see the Carpenter preparing bread for his friend and him. The Walrus is seated at the table with the little oysters. As we pass by, the scene changes and as the Carpenter turns around with his bread, the oysters seem to have been eaten up by the Walrus.

Walrus: Now, if you're ready, Oysters, dear,
We can begin the feed!

Oysters: Feed?
Walrus: Oh, yes...
The time has come, my little friends,
To talk of food and things...

Carpenter: Of peppercorns and mustard seeds,
And other seasonings!
We'll mix 'em all together
In a sauce that's fit for kings!
Calloo-Callay,
We'll eat today
Like cabbages and kings!

As we leave the scene, we hear the Carpenter in the back. We then head back outside where we see the Carpenter chasing the Walrus over the beach and the scene slowly fades back to dark.

Carpenter: Little Oysters? Little Oysters?
Tweedle Dee: But answer, there came none.
Tweedle Dum: And this was scarcely odd because...
Both: They'd been eaten!
Every one!

Walrus: Hm... Well, uh... Ha, ha. Ha, ha. Ha, ha. Ahem, uh... The time has come...

All: With cabbages and kings!!!

The cups find themselves drive into a large space that is full of diverse flora: the flower garden with flowers as tall as trees to Guests. The vehicles move through the garden when the light goes out and the flowers reveal their appearances. They start to sing and dance a rendition of ‘In the Golden Afternoon’. Bread-and-butterflies fly by, dog- and caterpillars move past. A Dandelion pops up and roars at Guests. We then turn into the Caterpillar’s Mushroom Lair, and see the Caterpillar smoking his hookah while it says quotes from the movie. Tea cups circle the room during this scene and see how his smoke comes alive around the room. During their last circle, vehicles are each met by a gust of colored smoke as the Caterpillar asks, ‘O R U?’ Around him oversized greenery swirls along in the spin. Upon leaving the scene, and making a left into the next scene, the tea cups swiftly move into a forest area.

​

The tea cups come to stop in a line in front of a tree where the Cheshire Cat appears and welcomes us to the Tulgey Wood. Signs of all kinds direct us in various ways; ‘This way’ ‘That way’ ‘Here’ ‘There’ ‘Up’ ‘Down’ etc. There are many sights in this room, and the vehicles take turns visiting the various scenes by following the footsteps of the mysterious Cheshire Cat that appears and disappears in various locations throughout the scene to confuse Guests. The wood features strange animals like the Mome Raths, a broomdog sweeping away the path and Umbrella birds bathing under a waterfall. Guests are then led into a secret passageway inside a tree opened up by the Cheshire Cat himself, spontaneously appearing above the opening. Guests are transported to the Queen’s royal rose gardens and labyrinth. Here we see some singing playing-cards who are painting a white rose tree red, splashing nearby bushes with paint. The White Rabbit announces the Queen’s tea party.

​

The tea cups enter a decorated tea table where various Wonderland characters sit around the room. The Mad Hatter appears from a niche in the hedge wall to conduct our tea pots and cups to dance through the song. As we move around the room, watching the party come along, the tea table acquires more elements as the song builds to its finale. The dormouse explodes from the large birthday cake in the center, which angers the Queen. They then enter the Queen’s courtroom and she orders for Guest their execution while a brigade of a playing-cards leap towards them. The Queen or her card soldiers pop up from time to time, while she screams her famous "Off with their heads!" They escape by pushing their way through the courtoom doors past two guards poised to attack. The vehicles then pass through a spinning colorful tunnel reminiscent of the movie's final chase in which they are chased by the Queen and her card soldiers in a similar way to the diorama chase effect with the Dinosaurs in Jurassic World Adventure at Universal Studios Beijing. Guests are then directed back to an exit dock where the cups will come to a stop.

 

[spacemt354]

Alice's Return to Wonderland
View attachment 642637
​

Guests will find themselves wandering off on a golden summer day in the park in England. We walk past the tree where Alice was listening to her sister aloud from a history book, to which Alice vocally expressed her boredom. Colorful flowers adorn the grassy hills among which slow rushing streams scenically complete the scenery. A British cottage is laid out in the scenery and is designed in a classic English countryside style and is inspired by the original drawings for the 1951 Alice in Wonderland film. Once inside, we find ourselves inside Alice’s family residence, filled with many references to Wonderland and its many inhabitants. A tea party is set out for Alice’s toys, a caterpillar hangs from a cocoon inside a glass pot, a castle of cards is set out and a Tweedle toy sits next to a mirror (reflecting the image of a second Tweedle), a rabbit toy lays nearby, a chessboard is set up as if someone has just left to make their move and a book is opened up to reveal a 3D image of a cottage that somewhat looks similar to the White Rabbit’s house. If you look very closely there are suitcases placed out and a note reading ‘To Wonderland’, revealing Alice’s desire to return to Wonderland. Guests enter the main room of the cottage and immediately will recognize the occupants of the dwelling from the stacks of books, ones with pictures and ones without, as well as portraits, including of Alice, her sister, Dinah and her parents. In the window, Dinah can be seen sleeping. She is occasionally awoken by the sound of a tea kettle heating up to the tune of ‘I’m Late’.

View attachment 642653​

We see Croquet gear set out for a game in the garden in another corner. After passing through an armory hall, revealing Alice’s ancestry and history of the house, guests enter the pre-show room. From there, they are admitted to the library of the house where Alice awaits Guests to tell of her adventures in Wonderland. A stained glass image of a wonderful garden adorns the back of a wide staircase, on which an animatronic of Alice can be found. Guests can see a fireplace and the Guests are surrounded by bookshelves with references to various great European authors. During the preshow, Alice will start to tell her story. ‘My adventures in Wonderland began when I followed the White Rabbit into the Rabbit Hole…’ She is almost immediately interrupted by the White Rabbit himself. An animatronic of the White Rabbit appears at the top of the stairs from behind a curtain. He is here to tell Guests that Alice and they have been invited to the Queen’s Unbirthday Tea Party, but everyone’s very late and thus we have to make a hurry to Wonderland. He blows his trumpet, after which the stairs split and an entrance appears. Alice is obviously shocked by the situation, but rushes Guests to head into the next room. Immediately Guests are ushered into an octagonal room where furniture is placed on a slightly elevated level above Guests. We see a grandfather clock, a lamp on a salon table, a rocking chair, a mirror, another high blue chair, a portrait of flowers and more.

View attachment 642654​

The wall that let us into this room immediately closes and the walls begin to stretch. As the walls stretch, the colors in the room start changing and the furniture seems to slowly fall along while several effects are activated. The rocking chair seems to rock like crazy and even makes a spin while falling down, the mirror reflects Guests upside down, vases seem to be falling off the shelves but just nearly rock back straight, the grandfather clock rings loudly and the lamp seems to be falling upward instead of downward. The room acts as an elevator to take Guest down to a lower level where the attraction’s show building is mainly located. Guests find themselves in a large hallway lit by candelight with a tiny door at the other end. When Guests are ready to be admitted to the loading station, this door will be magically transformed before their eyes into a larger portal opening up into multiple doors, making way to the loading dock. We find ourselves in another octagonal room where the back is fenced off with loading positions for Guests to board. In the back of the room, two curtains open up to reveal an impressive figure of the doorknob who tells us that we have to hurry. In the middle of the room stands a glass table next to which another figure of Alice stands holding a box of eat-me cookies. The doorknob urges us to eat it and as soon as she does, the room starts to change size.

View attachment 642655​

The doorknob magically transforms to a larger shape and the Alice figure and the table disappear in smoke. We look up and in the ceiling we see Alice’s face crying that she’s stuck. We seem to have shrunk. Projections show how water forms in the room and a hole opens up to reveal our ride vehicles, trackless Wonderland tea cups that dance along to the music of the show scenes. The now enormous doorknob urges us to step aboard and as we do we swirl along the river of tears through his mouth and into the attraction itself. Each of the cups enter their own separate coves that are partially enclosed with individual screens. Alice is shown drifting alongside Dodo and his Caucus Race Friends. Dodo accidentally tips over the bottle and we are soon met by a wave that swings us out to a beach scene. Here they enter a Caucus Race themselves, led by an animatronic figure of the Dodo Bird, as they circle him with various animals as the movie presents the scene. The other animals will be simpler figures placed on a carousel that circles the room. The cups swiftly hop along to the quick tune until they are met by another wave. Instead of flowing into the forest however, we end up on a tropical island. Here we bump into an eccentric duo that never made it into the original 1951 film, The Gryphon and the Mockturtle. It is here that we engage in a 'Lobster Quadrille' in which the Mock Turtle musically recites the poem of the same name while dancing with Alice, some lobsters, oysters and baby turtles.

View attachment 642656​

A next wave rocks the tea cups into the woods. As the vehicles unite to leave the room, the Tweedles emerge from behind the bushes in a bouncing manner. The cups then enter a dark room with three screens surrounded by trees. Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee come in and start singing and bouncing to ‘How do you do and shake hands’. The entire room, the trees and the tea cups then begin to bounce with the Tweedles as they bounce from screen to screen. They then come to a stop and turn to the side as the Tweedles are about to recite their version of ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter’ through a puppet theatre. As the cups near, the theatre grows bigger, opening up an entrance for us into the next scene which will be somewhat similarly set up to Under the Sea scene in The Little Mermaid dark rides. This scene features a new technology known as 2 and a half D to give depth to the 2D environments as if the theatre has just come to life to re-tell the story of the Walrus and the Carpenter. The Tweedles manage to transform the room into a coastline scene. The vehicles enter in complete darkness until we look up and see Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee as the Sun and Moon respectively.

Tweedle Dum: The sun was shining on the sea, shining with all his might.

Tweedle Dee: He did his very best to make, the billows smooth and bright.
Tweedle Dum: And this was odd because it was...
Both: The middle of the night!

The dark ride scene is slowly revealed more and more through lighting while these heads float along to narrate the story.

Tweedle Dee: The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand.
Tweedle Dum: The beach was wide
From side to side,
But much too full of sand!

The ride vehicles turn to reveal the slow moving figures of the Walrus and the Carpenter moving over a sandbank.

Carpenter: Mr. Walrus!
Tweedle Dee: Said the Carpenter.
Carpenter: My brain begins to perk,
We'll sweep this clear
In half a year,
If you don't mind the work!

The vehicles turn again and find themselves facing another figure of the Walrus.

Walrus: Work?
The time has come...
Tweedle Dee: The Walrus said.
Walrus: To talk of other things,
Of shoes and ships and sealing wax,
Of cabbages and kings!
And why the sea is boiling hot,
And whether pigs have wings,
Calloo-Callay,
No work today!
We're cabbages and kings!

View attachment 642660​

Guests see a wall projection of the Walrus walking into the sea. Guests turn around a corner behind a coastal rock. Guests are seemingly following close behind and fall with him into the water, emerging moments later in an underwater set. It is filled with baby oysters moving to music with some playing music on their shells.

Walrus: Oh, uh, Oysters, come and walk with us,
The day is warm and bright!
A pleasant walk,
A pleasant talk,
Would be a sheer delight!

An animatronic figure of the Carpenter reveals from an opening in the ceiling which is simulated to look like a layer of seawater.

Carpenter: Yes, should we get hungry on the way,
We'll stop and, uh, have a bite.
Walrus: Ahem!

Mother Oyster appears from her shell and looks at Guests and her calendar.

Mother Oyster: The sea is nice,
Take my advice,
And stay right here.

Tweedle Dee: Mum said.
Walrus: Yes, yes, of course, of course, but, uh, ha, ha!

The time has come, my little friends,
To talk of other things,
Of shoes and ships and sealing wax,
Cabbages and kings!
And why the sea is boiling hot,
And whether pigs have wings, ha ha!
Callo-Callay,
Come, run away
With cabbages and kings!

The vehicles emerge out of the water again and the set uses its 2 and a half D to show how the Carpenter builds a wooden fish shack out of nowhere on a small coastal rock. Turning just around the corner, Guests have now entered the fish shack. Through a special effect we will see the Carpenter preparing bread for his friend and him. The Walrus is seated at the table with the little oysters. As we pass by, the scene changes and as the Carpenter turns around with his bread, the oysters seem to have been eaten up by the Walrus.

Walrus: Now, if you're ready, Oysters, dear,
We can begin the feed!

Oysters: Feed?
Walrus: Oh, yes...
The time has come, my little friends,
To talk of food and things...

Carpenter: Of peppercorns and mustard seeds,
And other seasonings!
We'll mix 'em all together
In a sauce that's fit for kings!
Calloo-Callay,
We'll eat today
Like cabbages and kings!

As we leave the scene, we hear the Carpenter in the back. We then head back outside where we see the Carpenter chasing the Walrus over the beach and the scene slowly fades back to dark.

Carpenter: Little Oysters? Little Oysters?
Tweedle Dee: But answer, there came none.
Tweedle Dum: And this was scarcely odd because...
Both: They'd been eaten!
Every one!

Walrus: Hm... Well, uh... Ha, ha. Ha, ha. Ha, ha. Ahem, uh... The time has come...

All: With cabbages and kings!!!

The cups find themselves drive into a large space that is full of diverse flora: the flower garden with flowers as tall as trees to Guests. The vehicles move through the garden when the light goes out and the flowers reveal their appearances. They start to sing and dance a rendition of ‘In the Golden Afternoon’. Bread-and-butterflies fly by, dog- and caterpillars move past. A Dandelion pops up and roars at Guests. We then turn into the Caterpillar’s Mushroom Lair, and see the Caterpillar smoking his hookah while it says quotes from the movie. Tea cups circle the room during this scene and see how his smoke comes alive around the room. During their last circle, vehicles are each met by a gust of colored smoke as the Caterpillar asks, ‘O R U?’ Around him oversized greenery swirls along in the spin. Upon leaving the scene, and making a left into the next scene, the tea cups swiftly move into a forest area.

View attachment 642657​

The tea cups come to stop in a line in front of a tree where the Cheshire Cat appears and welcomes us to the Tulgey Wood. Signs of all kinds direct us in various ways; ‘This way’ ‘That way’ ‘Here’ ‘There’ ‘Up’ ‘Down’ etc. There are many sights in this room, and the vehicles take turns visiting the various scenes by following the footsteps of the mysterious Cheshire Cat that appears and disappears in various locations throughout the scene to confuse Guests. The wood features strange animals like the Mome Raths, a broomdog sweeping away the path and Umbrella birds bathing under a waterfall. Guests are then led into a secret passageway inside a tree opened up by the Cheshire Cat himself, spontaneously appearing above the opening. Guests are transported to the Queen’s royal rose gardens and labyrinth. Here we see some singing playing-cards who are painting a white rose tree red, splashing nearby bushes with paint. The White Rabbit announces the Queen’s tea party.

View attachment 642658​

The tea cups enter a decorated tea table where various Wonderland characters sit around the room. The Mad Hatter appears from a niche in the hedge wall to conduct our tea pots and cups to dance through the song. As we move around the room, watching the party come along, the tea table acquires more elements as the song builds to its finale. The dormouse explodes from the large birthday cake in the center, which angers the Queen. They then enter the Queen’s courtroom and she orders for Guest their execution while a brigade of a playing-cards leap towards them. The Queen or her card soldiers pop up from time to time, while she screams her famous "Off with their heads!" They escape by pushing their way through the courtoom doors past two guards poised to attack. The vehicles then pass through a spinning colorful tunnel reminiscent of the movie's final chase in which they are chased by the Queen and her card soldiers in a similar way to the diorama chase effect with the Dinosaurs in Jurassic World Adventure at Universal Studios Beijing. Guests are then directed back to an exit dock where the cups will come to a stop.

View attachment 642659​

Awesome! This would be a great addition to any Fantasyland in any park!

 

[TheSorcerersApprentice]

Splash Mountain

​

Guests enter the queue in front of the main drop viewing area. The queue winds past the attraction marquee on which the attraction’s title can be found and then heads into the main entrance where a number of Mardi Gras decorations like banners, cut-outs, masks and beads. Various references from the Princess and the Frog movie are featured throughout the queue, which winds in and around a Mardi Gras float warehouse, festooned with authentic festive parade props. Posters are hung out throughout the queue advertising a party performance by Tiana and her friends at the Mardi Gras Festival. The poster’s would be in style of Tiana’s Place Art-Deco style. The loading dock would be in a canyon-like area where a boathouse decorated with lanterns and banners is where Guests will be directed to their logs. Passengers ride aboard eight-passenger logs, seated two by two. The log departs the loading area, where Louis provides the introductory narration and safety spiel. The log departs the loading area into a typical bayou scene where they ascend the first small lift hill and see Tiana on a drifting barge in her party dress. The barge is filled with Mardi Gras decorations, fireworks etc. Next to her, Louis stands out in the water with his trumpet.

​

Tiana: Fireworks?

Louis: Check!

Tiana: Beads?

Louis: Check!

Tiana: Music?

Louis plays a tune on his trumpet. Tiana and him laugh.

Tiana: Check! I sure hope we have everything ready before the big spectacle tonight. Well hello, I see that some of our Guests are arriving already! I need to ask Mama Odie for a favor still. Louis, can you take them to the city so we can get Naveen and go?

Louis: Of course, we’ll meet you there!

Eventually the logs reach a water mill. The water mill is located next to a two-conveyor type lift which drags the log up a waterfall before floating gently through scenery designed to evoke the feeling of a bayou in the southern state of Louisiana. On the water mill’s deck sits an old man rocking along in a rocking chair humming along to ‘Down in New Orleans’. Along the way, Guests find traces of more Mardi Gras decorations scattered around the scenery; someone must have lost some along their way through the bayou. A instrumental version of ‘Down in Orleans’ can be heard emanating from hidden speakers along the waterway. Before the logs enter the indoor portion, we encounter Louis who emerges from the swampy water and greets guests.

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Louis: Hey, fellahs! Come, come! Quick, this way! The city is just ahead.

After a short drop, Guests enter the indoor portion of the attraction, where the logs are nearing the docks of the city with its lights and buildings ahead. Various audio animatronic animals such as geese, frogs, otters, opossums are curiously looking out over the city from the Bayou. As we near, we head into the streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter with its wrought iron buildings. Residents of the city swing and sing along to ‘Down in New Orleans’; a jazz band of five players play a the instrumentals, a boy is dancing out in the street (while a dog joyfully watches him while wiggling its tail), a woman throws out a bucket of water from her balcony, nearly missing the log, a man is leaning into a car and reads the newspaper etc. Rounding the bend, we see the back of Tiana’s Place. Tiana and Naveen are merrily dancing to an instrumental version of ‘Ma Belle Evangeline' under the moonlight. The water lily flowers lit up in the water. As soon as they notice the log passing by, they turn around and wave at us.

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Tiana: Hey gang, glad you’re here! Now we have to get to Mama Odie so I can ask her about the festival tonight.

Naveen: This is going to be amazing! Let’s go!

We slowly drift towards the bayou again, but we first see a New Orleans cemetery with Facilier’s grave with his face still cast in a horrified scream after he broke his deal with the voodoo spirits on the other side. However, some ominous shadow cross through the scene and over the grave, causing Facilier’s stone eyes to periodically open and shift.

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Facilier: How y’all doin’? Hahahah. Headed to Mama Odie are we? Well, let’s see who gets there first. Go, now!

The shadows quickly move through the scene in the direction of the bayou. We continue our journey and find Naveen and Tiana in a boat. Louis sits out in the water next to us and waves at some critters that curiously gather around. In the back we hear a jazzy rendition of ‘Gonna Take You There’ in the background.

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Tiana: Mmm..mmm..mmm do you hear those tunes? That’s the animals that I’ve been teaching to play for our performance tonight. That’s why I wanted to ask Mama Odie to give them voices tonight for the show.

Naveen: Oh that’s a great idea! Are you sure we’re still going the right way, Louis?

Louis: Hmm.. maybe Ray was right when he told you to never take directions from a gator…

Tiana: Ray must have heard that, I see the fireflies up ahead! We’ll just follow them.

The logs fall down a small drop into the bayou where audio animatronic animals are playing music to ‘Gonna Take You There’ along the riverbanks. The scene itself will be one of the most magical ones as we drift underneath the swinging streams of glowing fireflies that guide us through the scenic bayou greenery. We then pass by a clearing where Tiana and Naveen are seen on the riverbank pointing at Mama Odie’s house.

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Tiana: There it is guys! Climbed the mountain, crossed the river and we’re almost…

Just before Tiana is able to finish. Shadows cast over the scene and a small blast of purple smoke reveals the return of Doctor Facilier in audio animatronic form, almost similar to the Wicked Witch of the West in the former Great Movie Ride.

Facilier: You messed with the wrong shadow man, princess. After I get Odie’s powers for my own, the citizens of New Orleans will live the rest of their lives as slimy little frogs and the city will be mine! You’re all going to my world now!

The logs drop down into a cavern where voodoo puppets are drumming along to an ominous version of ‘Friends On The Other Side’. Voodoo masks are floating around and sing along to the song. Green mist drifts above the water, fortune cards spin around and mysterious relic signs form in the air and on the walls and then disappear again. The mood turns very ominous and we drift towards Odie’s treehouse. The logs begin climbing up the final and longer conveyer lift belt, passing beneath masks that are humming along to the ‘Are you ready?’-part of the song. On the walls, Facilier’s friends on the other side crawl up to the drop. Facilier’s voice can be heard echo-ing through the tunnel.

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Facilier: Time to be turnin’ around… if only you could!

Shortly before the attraction’s climactic drop, Doctor Facilier is seen alongside the hill, with Tiana, Naveen and Louis tied up on the wall. At the top of the hill, the largest and scariest voodoo mask is lurking at us.

Facilier: Happy Mardi Gras! Let’s make you the first frogs in Facilier’s Orleans.

Just before he is able to cast his spell, a Mama Odie figure pops out.

Mama Odie: The only one who’s going to be turned into a frog is you. JuJu!

Facilier disappears and riders are sent down the final drop out of Odie’s treehouse and back into the swamp. The top half of the drop is highly visible from the adjacent areas of the park. An on-ride photo is taken as the log begins to fall, and it can be purchased after disembarking from the ride. From the top of the hill, riders looking toward the splashdown point will notice a full pond of water ahead of them. The log then dives underwater into an underground runout. The collective weight of the riders generally determines the degree to which they get wet here. We float over the river past the outdoor seating deck for Tiana’s Place built near the mountain complex and hear an instrumental version of ‘Dig A Little Deeper’ play. An indoor segment follows the drops, after which the logs make a final entry into the mountain, where a full cast of audio animatronic animals and humans sing ‘Dig A Little Deeper’ with Tiana, Naveen and Louis (all in Mardi Gras attire). Most of them stand aboard a typical Louisiana sternwheeler. Jazzy music and colorful fireworks fill the air and jolly fireflies roam around the scenery. In the back we see New Orleans again shining bright with its Mardi Gras festivities. Just a little further upstream we see Mama Odie holding a glass pot in which she holds Facilier in frog form.

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Mama Odie: Not bad for a 197-year-old blind lady, huh?

Before the return to the loading area, riders are given a preview of their picture that was taken on the final drop via an overhead screen. Louis in audio animatronic form calls the riders’ attention to the screen as he remarks on their expressions. After disembarking from the log, riders pass by a little shrine for Ray shining in the moonlight. Mardi Gras beads surround his picture, as if he is joining in on the festivities. An orchestral swing arrangement of 'Almost There’ can be heard along the exit path. Tiana’s Place, the culinary crown jewel of New Orleans, is set inside a former sugar mill. Once inside, they will be welcomed by a vibrant atmosphere. Inside, Guests are able to be seated on one of two levels, separated by copper wrought iron pillars and side fencing. The restaurant’s ceiling is adorned with similar iron details and has a large open window with the art-nouveau like patterns.

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A large central chandelier is supported by smaller lanterns throughout the restaurant, including ones that look like bayou water plants. The round tables decorated in green are lit up by water lily pad candles in the middle. are directed towards the stage in the back, where the Firefly Five Plus Lou often perform their musical renditions of The Princess and the Frog soundtrack, as well as some other familiar Disney tunes. Exotic and vibrant house plants are hung out and stand around the restaurant. Once in a while Tiana, Naveen and Louis can be seen walking around the restaurant, greeting Guests. Around the restaurant you will find several references to the movie, including a mark of honorable recognition by some of the restaurant’s highest acclaimed regulars, the royals of Maldonia. In terms of food, Guests will be able to try typical Louisianan gumbo, jambalaya, boudin and of course, Tiana’s famous beignets for dessert.

 

[TheSorcerersApprentice]

La Belle Au Bois Dormant: Enchanted Fantasy
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*Queue Line: The Enchanted Castle Journey*

As you step into the realm of La Belle Au Bois Dormant: Enchanted Fantasy, the very entrance whispers of a story waiting to be unveiled. A majestic castle façade, reminiscent of the timeless charm of Snow White's Enchanted Wish or Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains, draws you in with its grandeur. However, this castle is a unique reflection of the enchanting world of Sleeping Beauty. Towers soar gracefully toward the sky, each one adorned with intricate architectural details that weave the tale of Aurora's remarkable journey. The façade is adorned with stained glass windows that stand as portals into Aurora's captivating narrative. These windows, illuminated by sunlight during the day and softly lit by night, depict key moments from her extraordinary tale. Vivid and rich in color, they shimmer and dance with a magical radiance, evoking a sense of wonder as you stand before them. The building features references to the Disney movie in a similar way to how Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant features hints to the movie in its architecture, like the forest animals carved into the pillars, or roses carved into the archways etc.

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As you enter the medieval town/castle-themed queue building, the world of Sleeping Beauty unfolds around you. The surroundings exude an aura of old-world charm, with wooden beams, stone walls, and flickering lanterns lending an authentic atmosphere to the experience. You're enveloped in an immersive environment that immerses you in the world of castles, forests, and enchantment. Storybooks, carefully placed within alcoves and displays, beckon you to explore the pages of Sleeping Beauty's tale. Each page shares a snippet of her journey, inviting you to trace her steps from a sleeping princess to a triumphant heroine. Artifacts, heirlooms, and trinkets rest upon shelves and tables, like treasured relics of the past, each one hinting at the magic and adventure that await. A captivating fireplace serves as a focal point within the building. It crackles and glows with warmth, and upon its hearth, spinning wheels rest, their intricate designs reflecting centuries-old craftsmanship. The juxtaposition of these spinning wheels, an emblem of Aurora's destiny, within the safety of the hearth's embrace adds a layer of intrigue to the surroundings.

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For the observant and the curious, a treat awaits as you peer into a room adjacent to the fireplace. Here, the fairies' wishes manifest on the wall through the use of enchanting projection mapping technology. The room becomes a canvas of enchantment, displaying vivid scenes that narrate the fairies' blessings upon the newborn princess. The interplay of light and imagery casts a mesmerizing spell, drawing you into the heart of Aurora's story. As you navigate through this captivating queue line, you become part of the tale, connecting with the characters and events that have captured the hearts of generations. The Enchanted Castle Journey serves as a portal into a world where magic, courage, and love intertwine—a world where the timeless story of Sleeping Beauty comes to life in all its enchanting glory.

*Ride Vehicles: A Carriage of Enchantment*

Embark on your enchanting adventure as you step into the exquisite world of Sleeping Beauty. The ride vehicles themselves are a testament to the artistry and attention to detail that define the Disney experience. As you approach your designated vehicle, you're greeted by an intricately designed carriage that captures the essence of the Sleeping Beauty tale. The exterior of the carriage is adorned with a breathtaking mural that depicts the beloved characters who play a role in Aurora's journey. Each brushstroke brings to life the charm and personality of Flora, Fauna, Merryweather, Aurora herself, Prince Philippe, Samson the horse, and even the whimsical forest creatures. But the enchantment doesn't stop there. As you settle into your seat, the mural begins to fade, seamlessly transitioning from a two-dimensional image to a fully dimensional set that transports you directly into the story. The carriage becomes a window into the magical world of the Three Fairies' cozy cottage in the woods.

Our innovative ride system has been meticulously designed to immerse you in the story of Sleeping Beauty like never before. Blending trackless movement with storytelling precision, the ride vehicles navigate seamlessly through each scene, creating a fluid and immersive experience that draws you deeper into the narrative. The ride system operates with a level of intricacy that allows for graceful movements, subtle shifts, and dynamic interactions with the scenes around you. As the story unfolds, your carriage moves with a natural elegance, guiding you through the enchanted forest, the grand castle, and the climactic battle against Maleficent. The combination of technology and artistry ensures that you're not merely a spectator but an active participant in the unfolding tale.

With the trackless movement, the ride system offers the flexibility to adjust the vehicle's path, allowing you to explore different angles and viewpoints of each scene. Whether you're watching Aurora dance with forest animals, witnessing the Three Fairies' enchantments, or engaging in the dramatic dragon battle, the ride system ensures that you're always at the heart of the action. Every movement, every turn, and every transition has been thoughtfully orchestrated to enhance the storytelling experience. As you journey through Sleeping Beauty's world, the ride system seamlessly weaves together the threads of the narrative, creating a captivating and enchanting adventure that lingers in your heart and memory long after the ride concludes. In La Belle Au Bois Dormant: Enchanted Fantasy, the ride vehicles and the innovative ride system join forces to deliver a spellbinding journey through the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty. As you step into the carriage and experience the fluid, trackless movement, you'll find yourself truly living the story, immersing yourself in the magic, and discovering the beauty of Disney storytelling in a whole new dimension.

*Three Fairies' Cottage: A Whimsical Haven*

As the carriage turns a corner, it gracefully glides into a scene straight out of a storybook—The Three Fairies' Cottage. This enchanting setting brings the warmth and magic of Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather's presence to life in ways that truly captivate the heart. Diaval, Maleficent's black raven perches nearby, cawing playfully each time a vehicle leaves the station, as if offering its own form of magical commentary on the unfolding adventure. From the chimney of the cottage, blue and pink smoke playfully pops out, adding a touch of whimsical magic to the surroundings.

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The interior of the cottage is a delightful burst of color and activity. The room is alive with energy as animatronic fairies bustle about, each engrossed in tasks that exude their individual personalities. The craftsmanship of the animatronics captures the essence of each fairy, from Flora's elegance to Fauna's gentleness and Merryweather's spunky spirit. Merryweather, known for her feisty spirit, stands near a self-cleaning broom and a magically animated bucket, both playfully demonstrating the fairy's skills in managing household chores with a touch of magic. The broom sweeps on its own, while the bucket sways and swirls in a choreographed dance, showcasing the fairies' clever use of magic to make everyday tasks a joyful spectacle. Nearby, Fauna is seen working on an intricate birthday cake, each layer adorned with delicate fondant flowers that mirror the enchanting surroundings. Her kind and gentle nature shines through as she carefully adds the finishing touches, creating a confection that's as delightful to look at as it is to taste.

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Flora, with her poised and graceful demeanor playfully interacts with a magical sewing machine, which whirs to life under her skillful guidance. She stitches an exquisite dress for Aurora, the fabric flowing like liquid moonlight as it takes shape under her hands. The attention to detail in every stitch and fold is a testament to the craftsmanship and care that the fairies put into their tasks. Throughout the scene, the air is filled with an air of whimsy. As you observe the fairies at work and take in the vibrant details of the cottage, you're enveloped in a sense of wonder. It's a moment that captures the essence of Sleeping Beauty's charm, where the everyday becomes extraordinary through the touch of magic and the spirit of camaraderie. In La Belle Au Bois Dormant: Enchanted Fantasy, the Three Fairies' Cottage scene becomes a joyful ode to friendship, magic, and the enchantment of everyday moments. With animatronic fairies, self-cleaning brooms, and magical cake creations, this scene invites you to step into a realm where even the most ordinary tasks are transformed into a mesmerizing spectacle of Disney magic.

*I Wonder: A Dance of Enchantment*

As your carriage gently glides away from the Three Fairies' Cottage, you find yourself immersed in a serene and mesmerizing landscape—the Atmospheric Enchanted Forest. This scene transports you to a realm where time seems to stand still, inviting you to witness the ethereal beauty of Aurora as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery. The forest around you is a breathtaking tableau of nature's splendor. Towering trees sway gently in an unseen breeze, their branches adorned with delicate leaves that flutter like whispers. Soft, dappled sunlight filters through the canopy, casting a luminous glow that dances upon the forest floor. It's a world that beckons with an otherworldly charm, a place where enchantment weaves its delicate threads.

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Aurora's silhouette comes into view, moving with a grace that echoes the melodies of the forest itself. The exquisite detail of her flowing gown and the play of light and shadow on her form capture the essence of her elegance and innocence. She moves in harmony with the music, her every step a delicate dance that mirrors the enchanting melodies of Tchaikovsky's "I Wonder." An enchanting voice, soft yet powerful, resonates through the air, echoing Aurora's innermost thoughts and yearnings. The iconic melody of "I Wonder" fills the forest, its hauntingly beautiful notes intertwining with the rustle of leaves and the faint murmur of distant streams. The voice seems to emanate from all around you, infusing the atmosphere with a sense of magic that awakens the heart.

As Aurora's silhouette weaves through the trees, the forest responds to her presence. Flowers bloom in a symphony of color, their petals unfurling as if in response to her delicate touch. Butterflies flutter around her, their wings creating intricate patterns that mirror the fluid movements of her dance. The forest itself seems to come alive, embracing Aurora's spirit as if it were an extension of her very being. You become an observer, privy to a private moment of introspection and wonder—a moment where the enchantment of the world intertwines with the dreams and aspirations of a young princess.

As the scene unfolds, you're transported into the heart of Aurora's emotions. The fusion of music, movement, and atmosphere creates a sensory experience that transcends time and place, allowing you to feel the allure of the forest's enchantment and to connect with the profound sense of wonder that defines Aurora's journey. In La Belle Au Bois Dormant: Enchanted Fantasy, the "I Wonder" scene becomes a mesmerizing tapestry of light, sound, and motion—a symphony of nature's beauty and Aurora's innermost thoughts. This is a moment where the boundaries between reality and magic blur, inviting you to become part of a timeless dance that celebrates the power of self-discovery and the enchantment of the natural world.

*Once Upon A Dream: Captivating First Encounter*

From the enchanting forest, your carriage smoothly transitions into a sun-dappled glade—a place where magic and destiny intertwine to create a moment that embodies the essence of true love's first encounter. This is the scene where the enchanting melody of "Once Upon A Dream" comes to life, filling the air with a sense of romance and wonder. The glade is a breathtaking tableau of nature's beauty. Golden sunlight filters through the leaves, casting a warm and inviting glow upon the scene. Flowers of vibrant colors carpet the ground, their petals swaying gently in the breeze. You find yourself surrounded by an atmosphere that resonates with the promise of love and adventure.

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Aurora stands at the center of the glade, her gown a vision of elegance as it ripples in harmony with her graceful movements. She dances with a group of forest animals, each one a charming companion in this magical ballet. Squirrels, rabbits, and birds move in joyful harmony with Aurora, as if sharing in her happiness and excitement. The movement of the forest animals is a symphony of grace, a dance that mirrors Aurora's own elegance. The intricate details of their animations capture the personalities of each creature, from the playful twirl of a squirrel to the delicate flutter of a butterfly's wings. Together, they create a tapestry of movement that enchants the senses and transports you into the heart of the scene.

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Peeking out from the bushes, you spot Prince Philippe and his loyal steed, Samson. Their presence is a tender and endearing sight, capturing the timeless magic of true love's first meeting. Philippe's gaze is fixed upon Aurora, a mixture of awe and admiration in his eyes. Samson, too, seems to sense the significance of this moment, his gentle demeanor echoing the connection between human and steed. The chemistry between Aurora and Philippe is palpable, their gazes locked as they share an unspoken understanding that transcends words. As Aurora dances with the forest animals, Philippe and Samson remain hidden in the background, a silent witness to a love story that is just beginning to unfold.

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The scene is a blend of visual and emotional beauty, an exquisite tableau that captures the essence of the "Once Upon A Dream" sequence from the film. The music weaves its enchanting melodies through the air, enhancing the emotions that radiate from the characters and the surroundings. In La Belle Au Bois Dormant: Enchanted Fantasy, the "Once Upon A Dream" scene becomes a captivating tribute to the power of love and destiny. Through the delicate movements of the forest creatures, the unspoken connection between Aurora and Philippe, and the melodies of the iconic song, this scene invites you to witness a moment that defines the heart of Sleeping Beauty's enchanting tale. The vehicles turn around a corner and we see a projection of the two young lovers dancing along a slow flowing stream in the forest; their reflection slowly waltzing along with them.

*Maleficent's Castle: A Convergence of Shadows and Laughter*

As your enchanted journey through La Belle Au Bois Dormant: Enchanted Fantasy continues, you find yourself on the threshold of Maleficent's Castle—a realm that beckons with an aura of darkness and intrigue. This scene serves as a convergence point where Maleficent's malevolent power meets the playful antics of her bumbling Goons. The castle itself stands as a stark testament to Maleficent's dominion over the land. Its imposing architecture rises ominously, its dark spires reaching for the sky like claws of darkness. The aura of foreboding is palpable, accentuated by the eerie glow of torchlight that dances upon the stone walls. Shadows seem to whisper secrets, secrets that hint at the sorcery that resides within.

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As your carriage navigates through the castle's courtyard, a delightful spectacle unfolds—an elaborate dance of the Goons around a crackling fire. These mischievous minions move in a coordinated yet chaotic rhythm, their exaggerated movements and playful interactions adding a touch of whimsy to the scene. Their shadows flicker against the castle walls, casting an eerie play of light that contrasts with the imposing presence of Maleficent's domain. Amidst the dance of the Goons, your attention is irresistibly drawn to the focal point of the scene—the formidable throne where Maleficent reigns. Seated in an air of menacing power, her horned headdress casts an ominous silhouette that frames her intense gaze. Her presence is commanding, a force that seems to permeate every stone of the castle itself.

As you watch, Maleficent conjures a cursed spinning wheel within the heart of the fire, her magic tangible in the air. The flames respond to her command, shaping the spinning wheel's ominous design. The cursed spinning wheel becomes a visual emblem—a symbol of Maleficent's malevolence and the dire fate she has woven for Aurora and the kingdom. But within the darkness, pockets of laughter and whimsy emerge—pop-up comic-style encounters with the mischievous Goons. These unexpected interactions add a layer of lightheartedness, creating a bridge between Maleficent's ominous presence and the playful antics of her minions. With each pop-up appearance, the Goons break the tension, inviting smiles and chuckles as they navigate their way through the shadows.

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The Maleficent's Castle scene is a masterful blend of light and shadow, of darkness and laughter. It captures the complexities of Sleeping Beauty's tale—the clash between good and evil, the whimsy that thrives even amidst darkness. As you journey through this scene, you're invited into a realm where Maleficent's power meets the playful antics of the Goons, creating an atmosphere that is both foreboding and light-hearted, mysterious and amusing. In La Belle Au Bois Dormant: Enchanted Fantasy, the Maleficent's Castle scene becomes a captivating tableau that embodies the essence of the story—a realm where shadows and laughter converge, where Maleficent's power is challenged by the antics of her minions, and where the ultimate showdown between light and dark is about to unfold. As you progress through this scene, you'll experience a rollercoaster of emotions that encapsulate the heart of Sleeping Beauty's enchanting tale.