Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
Haha, nice! The beauty of a camera.
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The fabulous 'Tony Baxter Tour of Disneyland' - a venture
- Thread starter Figments Friend
- Start date
Haha, nice! The beauty of a camera.
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
In the dungeon part of the queue, there's a fake book. Inside the book, there are a numerous amount of real, personal photos of the Disney family. Very cool.
James122
Well-Known Member
Figments Friend, thank you so much for starting this thread! I've really enjoyed reading the posts from your trip reports and also looking at your pictures. I like how you captured a lot of architectual details in Fantasyland (the one with the clock is great) and I'm so glad you mentioned sitting on that little porch on main street - me and my family have sat there a few times, and it's a great spot to people watch and soak in the atmosphere and ambiance of being on Main Street, USA.
Hi there James...and many thanks to you for following along!
Nice to know there are folks out there enjoying this venture, and i appreciate you posting your thoughts.
Yes, the 'little porch' on Main Street is a great spot to kick back and let the world just float by without you.
Absolutely recommend this for those wanting to take a unique breather during the day.
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Next stop on the Tour is Toad Hall, which i have to say is probably one of my favorite themed attractions in Fantasyland as far as design goes.
Just so much appeal here..from the stately manor design, to the interior packed with details in just the loading area alone.
Not to mention a strong Baxter connection....wait, i am getting ahead of myself.
Let us start at the beginning....outside...admiring the awesome exterior.
Absolutely love the exterior. SO much to see.
My latest discovery while spending more time looking over every shingle and brick - This marvelous detailing along the roof line.
You are ALWAYS rewarded when you take the time to dwell a little deeper then just what on the surface here, exspecially in Fantasyland.
The outside portion of the queue is also quite charming, evoking a English estates grounds with some fun carvings on the wall of the main 'Wind In The Willows' characters.
The interior is just as stunning....
Wish i had taken more shots, but something for next time.
The whole ambiance of the interior, exspecially at night, is fantastic.
Everywhere there are not only clever references to the film and it's characters, but also sly little nods to toads, pond lilies, and other themed reminders.
The fabulous Mural in the load area is a feast of the eyes alone in itself -
Speaking of the Mural, it is great how it foreshadows your upcoming ride experience.
It follows the ride path perfectly..and covers all the show scenes inside right to the end.
Everywhere inside and out are not only clever references to the film and it's characters, but also sly little nods to toads, pond lilies, and other themed reminders in general.
From the stained glass toad-shaped lamp on the ride control panel, to the 'etchings' high above you on the ceiling...the place is a visual feast for the eyes.
Even the wallpaper design behind the fabulous Mural inside the main loading area has lily pads, shown in the photo above.
The ride experience itself i have a real soft spot for.
It is wacky and fun, and there is just something really neat about pretending you are actually riding around recklessly in London like a certain Toad.
For a WDW vet, this is also a nice ride to re-visit since the Florida 2-track version was closed and turned into the current Pooh dark ride.
This previous slice of whimsy is sorely missed at WDW for many.
The added details to the experience really make the Toad ride come alive in your imagination...such as your ride vehicle suddenly bumping up and down as if you were actually driving on the docks, about to go over the edge.
The heat in Hades is also a fun plus...gotta love going to Hell at Disneyland !
The ride vehicles themselves are really comfy too...i throughly enjoyed leaning back in a relaxing manner while cavorting about. Felt like a nice comfy chair.
Which brings me to the 'Baxter connection' i mentioned earlier...
Already noted earlier how the entire visual look of this attraction reminds me of Tony's home.
Well, the ride vehicles do too...as he has one in his living room.
Now how awesome is that..?
Too freaking cool.
Next stop on the Tour is Toad Hall, which i have to say is probably one of my favorite themed attractions in Fantasyland as far as design goes.
Just so much appeal here..from the stately manor design, to the interior packed with details in just the loading area alone.
Not to mention a strong Baxter connection....wait, i am getting ahead of myself.
Let us start at the beginning....outside...admiring the awesome exterior.
Absolutely love the exterior. SO much to see.
My latest discovery while spending more time looking over every shingle and brick - This marvelous detailing along the roof line.
You are ALWAYS rewarded when you take the time to dwell a little deeper then just what on the surface here, exspecially in Fantasyland.
The outside portion of the queue is also quite charming, evoking a English estates grounds with some fun carvings on the wall of the main 'Wind In The Willows' characters.
The interior is just as stunning....
Wish i had taken more shots, but something for next time.
The whole ambiance of the interior, exspecially at night, is fantastic.
Everywhere there are not only clever references to the film and it's characters, but also sly little nods to toads, pond lilies, and other themed reminders.
The fabulous Mural in the load area is a feast of the eyes alone in itself -
Speaking of the Mural, it is great how it foreshadows your upcoming ride experience.
It follows the ride path perfectly..and covers all the show scenes inside right to the end.
Everywhere inside and out are not only clever references to the film and it's characters, but also sly little nods to toads, pond lilies, and other themed reminders in general.
From the stained glass toad-shaped lamp on the ride control panel, to the 'etchings' high above you on the ceiling...the place is a visual feast for the eyes.
Even the wallpaper design behind the fabulous Mural inside the main loading area has lily pads, shown in the photo above.
The ride experience itself i have a real soft spot for.
It is wacky and fun, and there is just something really neat about pretending you are actually riding around recklessly in London like a certain Toad.
For a WDW vet, this is also a nice ride to re-visit since the Florida 2-track version was closed and turned into the current Pooh dark ride.
This previous slice of whimsy is sorely missed at WDW for many.
The added details to the experience really make the Toad ride come alive in your imagination...such as your ride vehicle suddenly bumping up and down as if you were actually driving on the docks, about to go over the edge.
The heat in Hades is also a fun plus...gotta love going to Hell at Disneyland !
The ride vehicles themselves are really comfy too...i throughly enjoyed leaning back in a relaxing manner while cavorting about. Felt like a nice comfy chair.
Which brings me to the 'Baxter connection' i mentioned earlier...
Already noted earlier how the entire visual look of this attraction reminds me of Tony's home.
Well, the ride vehicles do too...as he has one in his living room.
Now how awesome is that..?
Too freaking cool.
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The special PhotoPass picture has arrived in the mail.
This was the short shoot i did in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle holding up Tony's photograph...the same used for the Splash Mountain photo.
It came out fantastic, and perfectly sums up the entire experience.
Will share eventually...once i have a chance to scan and post.
In the meantime, we shall continue with the Tour.
Coming up next - the other 'Land' i spent a LOT of time in....Tomorrowland !
The special PhotoPass picture has arrived in the mail.
This was the short shoot i did in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle holding up Tony's photograph...the same used for the Splash Mountain photo.
It came out fantastic, and perfectly sums up the entire experience.
Will share eventually...once i have a chance to scan and post.
In the meantime, we shall continue with the Tour.
Coming up next - the other 'Land' i spent a LOT of time in....Tomorrowland !
-
Ah..i forgot to include this lovely image of the Teacups ...one late evening after most Guests had left the Park and i was slowly meandering towards Main Street -
Before i get spaced out and start getting enmeshed in the wonders of Tomorrowland , i should probably comment on a few areas of the Park i really enjoyed inbetween...here and there.
The Matterhorn Bobsleds.
Absolutely love it. A true classic!
I so wish i rode it before the bumpy new cars though...ouch!
I was too unsure and nervous about trying it when i first visited in 2007, and last year it was closed for the refurb/new cars...so missed my chance then.
THIS year however i made it a point to do it since 'Tony's Mountain' was closed for the track replacements.
It was a absolute must-do-no-matter-what this time however, as it fits in with the theme of the Tour, as even The Matterhorn has a fun Tony Baxter related story.
First, a photo...your typical shot...but it will set the scene for the tale to come...
So the story :
Tony once told the tale of how he excitedly went to the Grand Opening of this attraction back in 1959, his freshly minted 'E-Tickets' burning a hole in his pocket.
For months ahead of time he had been pumped up by all the marketing on the Disneyland television show, where Uncle Walt would proudly show off what his folks at WED were designing for Disneyland 59'.
It was a pretty awesome slew of attractions being rolled out...the original Submarine Voyage, the Skyway, and Monorail, and the first steel coaster ever- The Matterhorn Bobsleds !
So Tony...already being a uber-fan even at that young age, rushed down to the Park on Opening Day of the attraction and takes the ride of his life.
Who could have known that some 20 or so years later, he would make his own personal stamp on the Park's history with his own Mountain...
So there you have it...another stop on the Tony Baxter Tour of Disneyland.
I rode my first ride on the Matterhorn thinking of that story...and i think i rode another 20 times or so in the four days i was in town. Loved it.
Yes, i came away with a bonus souvenir though....bruises on the side me. Ahhh..but it was worth it..
Both tracks...great...and riding at dusk was EPIC. A must-do.
Time it right and make it happen the next time you ride...and think of Tony !
Okay...so i covered that...next should be Critter Country.
I mentioned earlier in this thread my adventures at 'Tonys' River Run' ( aka Splash Mountain )...the photo shoot, the awesome CM interaction when picking up said photo...
That alone ( the CM interaction ) was the utmost highlight of the trip.
That epic photo is coming by the way....believe me i am looking forward to sharing it with everyone!
I am saving it for the Grande Finale...the best for last.
I wanted to mention the non-Splash Mountain highlight of that quiet area....and that is the Hungry Bear Restaurant
Check out the delicious Fried Green Tomato Sandwich and Lemon 'Bumblebee' Cupcake -
The 'Bumblebee' Cupcake is awesome...not only does it taste good, it LOOKS good -
If you look closely at the 'bee hive' frosting...there is actually finely ground gold 'glitter' on it making it sparkle.
The food was great, and i had two more great CM experiences here.
One was the server behind the counter who i chatted with while waiting for my order to come up.
A young man, maybe in his late teens/early 20s.
He spotted the 'Tony Baxter Fan Club' buttonback pin and his face lit up...immediately excited as he recognized the picture.
Turns out he is aspiring to be a future Imagineer, and knew all about Mr. Baxter.
We talked about 10 minutes..mostly about his upcoming Main Street Window ceremony, and then my order was up and he passed it to me.
I wished him good luck on his journey to make it to the halls of Flower Street and he broke out into this big smile and said thanks.
The second experience was when one of the dining area CMs spotted my Figment t-shirt and came over to say how much he liked it.
He expressed that he so wished Figment merch was made availible at DL to buy..which i thought was interesting.
Nice to see Figment's fan base is indeed World-wide !
The food is great...the CMs were great...and the backside of the dining area upstairs is great.
One of the nice little 'happy accidents' was sitting way in back by the water.
Nobody was sitting back there...everyone was clumped together further forward in the main eating area. They missed all this fabulous scenery and space!
My guess is most visitors did not realize that you could walk further along the outside of the restaurant porch and end up in this other dining area near the backside of the building.
It was a GREAT place to sit and unwind for a while.
Sitting here gave you this special spot to experience many nice kinetic elements of the Park.
First, you have the view...a nice one of the waterway and greenery of Tom Sawyer Island to your right.
The Mark Twain would pass by every so often which added to the atmosphere.
Across the water, you could hear the 'Davy Crockett' song playing on TSI drifting on the wind.
On your left, you have the train tracks and the train would often pass by...tooting and steaming it's way off to Frontierland in the bush.
So as you sat there enjoying your meal, you had all of this nice ambiance happening all around you.
A bit of randomness now...
I was walking through Fantasyland one afternoon and stopped mid-walk to let a group of people walk across the pathway to visit the Mad Hatter shop.
When i looked down at my feet, this was right in front of me -
I felt bad for the person who lost it, but i was not sure if there was really any way Guest Relations could have somehow returned it to them.
I ended up putting it away and keeping it as a 'souvenir' since these are about to become a thing of the past.
Instant 'collectible'...!
I guess in hindsight it was good i stumbled upon it, as someone could have gotten a hold of it that knew what it was and used it in a rather dishonest way.
It is in my little archive now..with my other DL related paper goods.
Ah..i forgot to include this lovely image of the Teacups ...one late evening after most Guests had left the Park and i was slowly meandering towards Main Street -
Before i get spaced out and start getting enmeshed in the wonders of Tomorrowland , i should probably comment on a few areas of the Park i really enjoyed inbetween...here and there.
The Matterhorn Bobsleds.
Absolutely love it. A true classic!
I so wish i rode it before the bumpy new cars though...ouch!
I was too unsure and nervous about trying it when i first visited in 2007, and last year it was closed for the refurb/new cars...so missed my chance then.
THIS year however i made it a point to do it since 'Tony's Mountain' was closed for the track replacements.
It was a absolute must-do-no-matter-what this time however, as it fits in with the theme of the Tour, as even The Matterhorn has a fun Tony Baxter related story.
First, a photo...your typical shot...but it will set the scene for the tale to come...
So the story :
Tony once told the tale of how he excitedly went to the Grand Opening of this attraction back in 1959, his freshly minted 'E-Tickets' burning a hole in his pocket.
For months ahead of time he had been pumped up by all the marketing on the Disneyland television show, where Uncle Walt would proudly show off what his folks at WED were designing for Disneyland 59'.
It was a pretty awesome slew of attractions being rolled out...the original Submarine Voyage, the Skyway, and Monorail, and the first steel coaster ever- The Matterhorn Bobsleds !
So Tony...already being a uber-fan even at that young age, rushed down to the Park on Opening Day of the attraction and takes the ride of his life.
Who could have known that some 20 or so years later, he would make his own personal stamp on the Park's history with his own Mountain...
So there you have it...another stop on the Tony Baxter Tour of Disneyland.
I rode my first ride on the Matterhorn thinking of that story...and i think i rode another 20 times or so in the four days i was in town. Loved it.
Yes, i came away with a bonus souvenir though....bruises on the side me. Ahhh..but it was worth it..
Both tracks...great...and riding at dusk was EPIC. A must-do.
Time it right and make it happen the next time you ride...and think of Tony !
Okay...so i covered that...next should be Critter Country.
I mentioned earlier in this thread my adventures at 'Tonys' River Run' ( aka Splash Mountain )...the photo shoot, the awesome CM interaction when picking up said photo...
That alone ( the CM interaction ) was the utmost highlight of the trip.
That epic photo is coming by the way....believe me i am looking forward to sharing it with everyone!
I am saving it for the Grande Finale...the best for last.
I wanted to mention the non-Splash Mountain highlight of that quiet area....and that is the Hungry Bear Restaurant
Check out the delicious Fried Green Tomato Sandwich and Lemon 'Bumblebee' Cupcake -
The 'Bumblebee' Cupcake is awesome...not only does it taste good, it LOOKS good -
If you look closely at the 'bee hive' frosting...there is actually finely ground gold 'glitter' on it making it sparkle.
The food was great, and i had two more great CM experiences here.
One was the server behind the counter who i chatted with while waiting for my order to come up.
A young man, maybe in his late teens/early 20s.
He spotted the 'Tony Baxter Fan Club' buttonback pin and his face lit up...immediately excited as he recognized the picture.
Turns out he is aspiring to be a future Imagineer, and knew all about Mr. Baxter.
We talked about 10 minutes..mostly about his upcoming Main Street Window ceremony, and then my order was up and he passed it to me.
I wished him good luck on his journey to make it to the halls of Flower Street and he broke out into this big smile and said thanks.
The second experience was when one of the dining area CMs spotted my Figment t-shirt and came over to say how much he liked it.
He expressed that he so wished Figment merch was made availible at DL to buy..which i thought was interesting.
Nice to see Figment's fan base is indeed World-wide !
The food is great...the CMs were great...and the backside of the dining area upstairs is great.
One of the nice little 'happy accidents' was sitting way in back by the water.
Nobody was sitting back there...everyone was clumped together further forward in the main eating area. They missed all this fabulous scenery and space!
My guess is most visitors did not realize that you could walk further along the outside of the restaurant porch and end up in this other dining area near the backside of the building.
It was a GREAT place to sit and unwind for a while.
Sitting here gave you this special spot to experience many nice kinetic elements of the Park.
First, you have the view...a nice one of the waterway and greenery of Tom Sawyer Island to your right.
The Mark Twain would pass by every so often which added to the atmosphere.
Across the water, you could hear the 'Davy Crockett' song playing on TSI drifting on the wind.
On your left, you have the train tracks and the train would often pass by...tooting and steaming it's way off to Frontierland in the bush.
So as you sat there enjoying your meal, you had all of this nice ambiance happening all around you.
A bit of randomness now...
I was walking through Fantasyland one afternoon and stopped mid-walk to let a group of people walk across the pathway to visit the Mad Hatter shop.
When i looked down at my feet, this was right in front of me -
I felt bad for the person who lost it, but i was not sure if there was really any way Guest Relations could have somehow returned it to them.
I ended up putting it away and keeping it as a 'souvenir' since these are about to become a thing of the past.
Instant 'collectible'...!
I guess in hindsight it was good i stumbled upon it, as someone could have gotten a hold of it that knew what it was and used it in a rather dishonest way.
It is in my little archive now..with my other DL related paper goods.
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Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
Matterhorn has always been bumpy haha. It just feels worse now, since they took away a lot of the space in these new sleds.
The 'bumpiness' was part of the appeal for me...not knowing what to expect, exspecially the left track.
A real teeth-rattler..exspecially at night when you cannot see the track layout in front of you as clearly.
I preferred the right side...love that splashdown in the alpine river at the end !
Something else cool about the Matterhorn...that track section that can move a entire bobsled out of the way of the main ride track.
For some reason, i saw this happen once with Guests already loaded into the bobsled.
Not sure why ( maybe seatbelt issues..?)...but all of a sudden this neat rig underneath the loading platform 'pushed' the entire section of track with the bobsled on it off to the side.
Two sleds went by them as they sat there...confused of course...but they were eventually 'slid' back onto the main ride track and sent on their way.
It was neat to see in action.
I am sure one of our DL Experts can elaborate of what i saw take place.
A real teeth-rattler..exspecially at night when you cannot see the track layout in front of you as clearly.
I preferred the right side...love that splashdown in the alpine river at the end !
Something else cool about the Matterhorn...that track section that can move a entire bobsled out of the way of the main ride track.
For some reason, i saw this happen once with Guests already loaded into the bobsled.
Not sure why ( maybe seatbelt issues..?)...but all of a sudden this neat rig underneath the loading platform 'pushed' the entire section of track with the bobsled on it off to the side.
Two sleds went by them as they sat there...confused of course...but they were eventually 'slid' back onto the main ride track and sent on their way.
It was neat to see in action.
I am sure one of our DL Experts can elaborate of what i saw take place.
-
Speaking of the Matterhorn, here is a photo that makes a nice transition from that mountain to the valley known as Tomorrowland....
So here we are...our next stop on the Tour.
Tomorowland.
I hardly know where to begin really, as there was a lot i liked here and so much related to this particular themed venture.
Add into that some great moments..CMs do make the Magic happen indeed.
Spent a lot of time here...and did everything multiple times.
I enjoyed DLs version of TL quite a bit.
The differences appeal to me, but i can understand why some fans may not be overly pleased with how it stands today.
I however had a great time here...lots of eye candy and much to talk about...so let's begin.
I guess i should start at the beginning, or in this case, the entrance to Tomorrowland with the fabulous Astro Orbiter -
Yes, i called it 'fabulous'...absolutely love the way it looks at night.
I wish this photo i snapped came out better....
This attraction has a lot of appeal to me. Why?
Well, i would say partly because of Tony's influence here..partly the whole DLP Discoveryland vibe emanating from the design...and partly because i NEVER get to ride the WDW version !
The lines at WDW for their version of the attraction are always insanely long, due to Guests needing to be ascended up by elevator to the top deck above the WEDway.
Being able to actually ride..although closer to the ground...was nice and a lot of fun to boot.
When you angle the position of your rocket somewhere in the middle, it packs a little hidden punch!
I really like the look of this attraction...as these photos shameless reveal.
I was really loving this fence design work...intricate and playful, yet classy.
If i could take home a used, in-Park souvenir, it would be this barrier to use as home decor.
The visual appearance of the rockets themselves i think are very cool.
Love the color choices here, and all the additional details.
Each rocket having a different astrological sign was a nice touch.
This attraction seems to be a sore spot for some fans, at least based on some of things i have read while preparing for this themed venture, but i guess i am looking at it with different eyes.
All i saw was beauty and some neat design elements.
Speaking of the Matterhorn, here is a photo that makes a nice transition from that mountain to the valley known as Tomorrowland....
So here we are...our next stop on the Tour.
Tomorowland.
I hardly know where to begin really, as there was a lot i liked here and so much related to this particular themed venture.
Add into that some great moments..CMs do make the Magic happen indeed.
Spent a lot of time here...and did everything multiple times.
I enjoyed DLs version of TL quite a bit.
The differences appeal to me, but i can understand why some fans may not be overly pleased with how it stands today.
I however had a great time here...lots of eye candy and much to talk about...so let's begin.
I guess i should start at the beginning, or in this case, the entrance to Tomorrowland with the fabulous Astro Orbiter -
Yes, i called it 'fabulous'...absolutely love the way it looks at night.
I wish this photo i snapped came out better....
This attraction has a lot of appeal to me. Why?
Well, i would say partly because of Tony's influence here..partly the whole DLP Discoveryland vibe emanating from the design...and partly because i NEVER get to ride the WDW version !
The lines at WDW for their version of the attraction are always insanely long, due to Guests needing to be ascended up by elevator to the top deck above the WEDway.
Being able to actually ride..although closer to the ground...was nice and a lot of fun to boot.
When you angle the position of your rocket somewhere in the middle, it packs a little hidden punch!
I really like the look of this attraction...as these photos shameless reveal.
I was really loving this fence design work...intricate and playful, yet classy.
If i could take home a used, in-Park souvenir, it would be this barrier to use as home decor.
The visual appearance of the rockets themselves i think are very cool.
Love the color choices here, and all the additional details.
Each rocket having a different astrological sign was a nice touch.
This attraction seems to be a sore spot for some fans, at least based on some of things i have read while preparing for this themed venture, but i guess i am looking at it with different eyes.
All i saw was beauty and some neat design elements.
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James122
Well-Known Member
I've never seen this happen on the Matterhorn, but I've seen it several times on Space Mountain when they load handicapped guests onto the ride, only in reverse. The handicapped loading area is located near the seatbelt check area, adjacent to a small piece of side track that isn't connected to the main track. When everyone is loaded in, the entire side track (along with the coaster train) moves over the right, in order to connect to the main track. At the same time, a piece of the main track shifts over to make room for the side track.
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
This happens a lot with Space Mountain as well. It's mainly used for the handicapped, when they can't immediately board. It allows for the ride to keep going and refrain from backing up and possibly breaking down, while the handicapped guests can take their time getting on.
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Thanks for the insight Raven.
Makes sense, and a neat little contraption it is to see in action.
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Continuing the Tour now...we come to another part of Tomorrowland that intrigued me.. the 'Observatron'..
I did not know this at the time, but apparently this sculpture moves...or at least used to.
I found this description about it when doing a little more research about this particular structure post-visit -
"The Observatron is a kinetic sculpture utilizing the ride system of the former Rocket Jets attraction, replacing the rockets with faux satellite dishes.
Every 15 minutes, the Observatron would play music and move, though the sculpture has worked sporadically over the years."
Some concept art i came across...
I did not see it do anything during my visit, but i would have liked to.
Looking at this held some kind of fasination for me.
The remnants of two attractions from the past ( neither of which i had the opportunity to experience at DL ) still present but re-dressed.
Not sure entirely why it held such fasination for me, but besides the extensive photo shoot inside 'Tony's Temple of Wonders' i would say i shot just as many photos of this from all angles.
It was both cool and strange at the same time.
I am a avid fan of the WEDway at WDW...so maybe seeing a non-working version held some odd novelty?
Would love to have been given the chance to ascend these stairs!
Tomorrowland view with the Monorail crossing -
This photo reminds me of another fun CM encounter...on the Monorail platform high above the Subs.
Once again the 'Tony Baxter Fan Club' pin was spotted and one of the Mono Pilots commented on it.
It sparked off another pleasant conversation, and we both expressed delight in his upcoming Main Street window ceremony.
I think a lot of CMs will want to be there that day...whenever it happens.
Continuing the Tour now...we come to another part of Tomorrowland that intrigued me.. the 'Observatron'..
I did not know this at the time, but apparently this sculpture moves...or at least used to.
I found this description about it when doing a little more research about this particular structure post-visit -
"The Observatron is a kinetic sculpture utilizing the ride system of the former Rocket Jets attraction, replacing the rockets with faux satellite dishes.
Every 15 minutes, the Observatron would play music and move, though the sculpture has worked sporadically over the years."
Some concept art i came across...
I did not see it do anything during my visit, but i would have liked to.
Looking at this held some kind of fasination for me.
The remnants of two attractions from the past ( neither of which i had the opportunity to experience at DL ) still present but re-dressed.
Not sure entirely why it held such fasination for me, but besides the extensive photo shoot inside 'Tony's Temple of Wonders' i would say i shot just as many photos of this from all angles.
It was both cool and strange at the same time.
I am a avid fan of the WEDway at WDW...so maybe seeing a non-working version held some odd novelty?
Would love to have been given the chance to ascend these stairs!
Tomorrowland view with the Monorail crossing -
This photo reminds me of another fun CM encounter...on the Monorail platform high above the Subs.
Once again the 'Tony Baxter Fan Club' pin was spotted and one of the Mono Pilots commented on it.
It sparked off another pleasant conversation, and we both expressed delight in his upcoming Main Street window ceremony.
I think a lot of CMs will want to be there that day...whenever it happens.
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The next place of interest i found in Tomorrowland was in a place i was not expecting....
Tomorrowland Terrance, which is a quick-service location that also hosts the 'Jedi Training Academy' stage shows.
I stopped there one afternoon to catch a show and have a cool beverage.... and was thrilled to see a very accurate Darth Maul. He was awesome in action, and perfectly height-cast.
While watching the show way in the back by the food service area i happened to look up as something caught my eye...
It was this beautiful paint work done on the underside of the Terrance's 'roof'. My mouth was agape...loved what i was seeing here.
One of the great unexpected discoveries this visit.
I want this ceiling in one of my rooms now ...complete with the 'planet' lights !
So i am wondering when was this added? Was it during the Tomorrowland 98' redo, or after that when repainting was done?
I love the design...and the color choices in this. Incorporating the needed lighting and making them look like astral bodies is brilliant.
Reminds me a lot of the awesome old-school murals we used to have at EPCOT Center back in it's glory days.
Some stunning pieces of art, real museum worthy efforts, were sadly lost over the years.
Glad to see that fine art of mural making lives on in a few other places.
The next place of interest i found in Tomorrowland was in a place i was not expecting....
Tomorrowland Terrance, which is a quick-service location that also hosts the 'Jedi Training Academy' stage shows.
I stopped there one afternoon to catch a show and have a cool beverage.... and was thrilled to see a very accurate Darth Maul. He was awesome in action, and perfectly height-cast.
While watching the show way in the back by the food service area i happened to look up as something caught my eye...
It was this beautiful paint work done on the underside of the Terrance's 'roof'. My mouth was agape...loved what i was seeing here.
One of the great unexpected discoveries this visit.
I want this ceiling in one of my rooms now ...complete with the 'planet' lights !
So i am wondering when was this added? Was it during the Tomorrowland 98' redo, or after that when repainting was done?
I love the design...and the color choices in this. Incorporating the needed lighting and making them look like astral bodies is brilliant.
Reminds me a lot of the awesome old-school murals we used to have at EPCOT Center back in it's glory days.
Some stunning pieces of art, real museum worthy efforts, were sadly lost over the years.
Glad to see that fine art of mural making lives on in a few other places.
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This brings us now to the Subs, which i really enjoyed in several ways.
Finally able to ride since the re-do back in 2007...as i visited right before they re-opened and missed the hullabaloo. My last visit i missed them because of the long lines and tighter timeline ( was only in town for one day ).
THIS visit however it was a must-do.
Man i SO miss the Sub experience that used to be at WDW. This was like a 'step back in time' moment...and oh, the irony in this particular photographed submarine's name..!
I spent a lot of time just watching them float through the lagoon. It was a nice way to take a break from walking, and gazing out into the turquoise waters envoked a kind of dreamy state.
I loved the ride experience, although the fussy toddlers present during one ride made me practice a good exercise in self-control.
As i commented much earlier in this thread, i am not at all a 'Finding Nemo' fan by any means...so the overlay is not entirely my cup of tea. However, if it was a necessary 'evil' to ensure the Subs stayed at DL they i will back that decision. That is being said by someone who is not a fan of the currant trend of 'character overlays' to exsisting attractions, but in the case of the Subs, i make a exception because of their unique ride experience. It would be sad to lose that uniqueness.
As much as i would personally prefer a more serious themed adventure (the 'Atlantis' theme i touched on earlier in this thread) i am glad the Subs are still there.
Much of the ride experience was pleasant, and the views were nice.
The in-sub lighting effects were a neat surprise...i will admit it. Hope that was not a 'spoiler' for anyone...
I would say the two aspects i found somewhat distracting or outright annoying were the video projections and hearing the name 'Nemo' said over fifty times during the voyage. Much of the video animation is recycled somewhat from the 'Nemo' dark ride at EPCOT, but it was still interesting to me to see how that similar footage was incorporated into a completely different setting.
Still, despite those aspects, i enjoyed this more then i thought i would and i thank Tony for letting me have the opportunity to experience the Subs at Disneyland.
I was thinking a lot about Mr. Baxter during this ride...as of course folks here likely know he used to work this attraction as a CM.
Today's CMs there seem to be well aware of this themselves based on the fun responses i received from them ( that 'Fan Club' pin really sparked off so many conversations Park-wide..)
Both the day-ride and night-ride are great....i recommend experiencing this both ways. Each has it's pluses.
Speaking of 'plussing'....one afternoon while admiring the lagoon i noticed the Gulls on the buoy were joined by a relative...a real seagull...!
( See him standing on the bottom of the buoy, to the left..)
A fun story i can relay related to the Subs...
Later in the evening i was back in Tomorrowland and decided to grab a pasta meal at the Pizza Port.
One of the neat little gems hidden in here are the reprints of famous old original Attraction Posters on display along one of the dining area walls.
The Skyway, PeopleMover, and other long gone ride experiences live on in these works of art.
I get my meal and sit at a tiny table under the large reprint of the original 'Submarine Voyage' poster...have to keep things in theme with the Tour, ya know!
Within about five minutes i am approached by a CM who starts asking me a lot of questions...nice things.
I guess i looked really lonely sitting there by myself, eating my pasta dish.
Turns out, the 'Fan Club' pin has done it again....and he spotted it a mile away and wanted to come over and chat with me.
After this interesting exchange, he wants to know if i am 'celebrating anything'.
Having been asked this on previous visits to Disney Theme Parks i knew where this was leading, but the only answer i could come up with was a slight pause for a moment of thought, and then a 'I'm celebrating Tony Baxter !' exclamation.
He smiles and then gives me two button back pins, one of which is this one :
So i was made a 'Honorary Citizen of Disneyland' right there in Tomorrowland.
I will admit, i was rather thrilled about this.
Like i said, being a member of the 'Tony Baxter Fan Club' has benefits !
This brings us now to the Subs, which i really enjoyed in several ways.
Finally able to ride since the re-do back in 2007...as i visited right before they re-opened and missed the hullabaloo. My last visit i missed them because of the long lines and tighter timeline ( was only in town for one day ).
THIS visit however it was a must-do.
Man i SO miss the Sub experience that used to be at WDW. This was like a 'step back in time' moment...and oh, the irony in this particular photographed submarine's name..!
I spent a lot of time just watching them float through the lagoon. It was a nice way to take a break from walking, and gazing out into the turquoise waters envoked a kind of dreamy state.
I loved the ride experience, although the fussy toddlers present during one ride made me practice a good exercise in self-control.
As i commented much earlier in this thread, i am not at all a 'Finding Nemo' fan by any means...so the overlay is not entirely my cup of tea. However, if it was a necessary 'evil' to ensure the Subs stayed at DL they i will back that decision. That is being said by someone who is not a fan of the currant trend of 'character overlays' to exsisting attractions, but in the case of the Subs, i make a exception because of their unique ride experience. It would be sad to lose that uniqueness.
As much as i would personally prefer a more serious themed adventure (the 'Atlantis' theme i touched on earlier in this thread) i am glad the Subs are still there.
Much of the ride experience was pleasant, and the views were nice.
The in-sub lighting effects were a neat surprise...i will admit it. Hope that was not a 'spoiler' for anyone...
I would say the two aspects i found somewhat distracting or outright annoying were the video projections and hearing the name 'Nemo' said over fifty times during the voyage. Much of the video animation is recycled somewhat from the 'Nemo' dark ride at EPCOT, but it was still interesting to me to see how that similar footage was incorporated into a completely different setting.
Still, despite those aspects, i enjoyed this more then i thought i would and i thank Tony for letting me have the opportunity to experience the Subs at Disneyland.
I was thinking a lot about Mr. Baxter during this ride...as of course folks here likely know he used to work this attraction as a CM.
Today's CMs there seem to be well aware of this themselves based on the fun responses i received from them ( that 'Fan Club' pin really sparked off so many conversations Park-wide..)
Both the day-ride and night-ride are great....i recommend experiencing this both ways. Each has it's pluses.
Speaking of 'plussing'....one afternoon while admiring the lagoon i noticed the Gulls on the buoy were joined by a relative...a real seagull...!
( See him standing on the bottom of the buoy, to the left..)
A fun story i can relay related to the Subs...
Later in the evening i was back in Tomorrowland and decided to grab a pasta meal at the Pizza Port.
One of the neat little gems hidden in here are the reprints of famous old original Attraction Posters on display along one of the dining area walls.
The Skyway, PeopleMover, and other long gone ride experiences live on in these works of art.
I get my meal and sit at a tiny table under the large reprint of the original 'Submarine Voyage' poster...have to keep things in theme with the Tour, ya know!
Within about five minutes i am approached by a CM who starts asking me a lot of questions...nice things.
I guess i looked really lonely sitting there by myself, eating my pasta dish.
Turns out, the 'Fan Club' pin has done it again....and he spotted it a mile away and wanted to come over and chat with me.
After this interesting exchange, he wants to know if i am 'celebrating anything'.
Having been asked this on previous visits to Disney Theme Parks i knew where this was leading, but the only answer i could come up with was a slight pause for a moment of thought, and then a 'I'm celebrating Tony Baxter !' exclamation.
He smiles and then gives me two button back pins, one of which is this one :
So i was made a 'Honorary Citizen of Disneyland' right there in Tomorrowland.
I will admit, i was rather thrilled about this.
Like i said, being a member of the 'Tony Baxter Fan Club' has benefits !
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A couple of other Tomorowland related bits...
ASMIO at Innoventions !
I was thrilled to see this presentation was being held while i was in town, as i have read about him for years.
Being a big robotics and animatronics fan i was well aware of him, and for years i have watched the various videos of him performing his famous movements.
I never dreamed that one day i would have the opportunity to see ASIMO perform live right in front of me...but this visit was it !
Sat in the front row...he was a mere 4 feet in front of me. VERY cool experience.
ASIMO is absolutely amazing.
Anyone not already familiar with this incredible robotic creation needs to check out his official website :
http://asimo.honda.com/
Be sure to check out the videos too..mindblowing.
Better still, get yourself to Disneyland and see him in person.
Absolutely amazing creation !
http://asimo.honda.com/disneyland/
And speaking of amazing creations, what is a visit to Tomorrow without Ray Bradbury..?
This framed photo was actually on display in the Disneyland Hotel....but Ray always makes me think of futuristic things...so i am including him here.
A couple of other Tomorowland related bits...
ASMIO at Innoventions !
I was thrilled to see this presentation was being held while i was in town, as i have read about him for years.
Being a big robotics and animatronics fan i was well aware of him, and for years i have watched the various videos of him performing his famous movements.
I never dreamed that one day i would have the opportunity to see ASIMO perform live right in front of me...but this visit was it !
Sat in the front row...he was a mere 4 feet in front of me. VERY cool experience.
ASIMO is absolutely amazing.
Anyone not already familiar with this incredible robotic creation needs to check out his official website :
http://asimo.honda.com/
Be sure to check out the videos too..mindblowing.
Better still, get yourself to Disneyland and see him in person.
Absolutely amazing creation !
http://asimo.honda.com/disneyland/
And speaking of amazing creations, what is a visit to Tomorrow without Ray Bradbury..?
This framed photo was actually on display in the Disneyland Hotel....but Ray always makes me think of futuristic things...so i am including him here.
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Our final glance back at Tomrorowland....before moving on with the Tour....
Should have mentioned this earlier when i began covering the TL adventures, as it relates to the entrance of the land...but i was too enamored with the Astro Orbiter.
These great stylized walls that flank the walkway as you pass between the two show buildings beyond the entrance to Tomorrowland -
Again, yet another feast for the eyes design-wise...and darn cool.
I had read ahead of time about how all the plantings in TL are of the eatable variety, and it was clear the internet has spread the word rather well.
The plants here by the walls within reach were visibly 'picked over' by passing Guests for free samples.
The herbs smelled nice...so i guess folks could not resist.
Finally, a framed photo over at the DL Hotel, but it relates to a Tomorrowland attraction so i am including it here -
The ribbon cutting ceremony for when 'Captain Eo' first opened in 1986
I really like that attraction.
There were some lively CM spiels made during the three showings i attended that were quite fun to witness.
Our final glance back at Tomrorowland....before moving on with the Tour....
Should have mentioned this earlier when i began covering the TL adventures, as it relates to the entrance of the land...but i was too enamored with the Astro Orbiter.
These great stylized walls that flank the walkway as you pass between the two show buildings beyond the entrance to Tomorrowland -
Again, yet another feast for the eyes design-wise...and darn cool.
I had read ahead of time about how all the plantings in TL are of the eatable variety, and it was clear the internet has spread the word rather well.
The plants here by the walls within reach were visibly 'picked over' by passing Guests for free samples.
The herbs smelled nice...so i guess folks could not resist.
Finally, a framed photo over at the DL Hotel, but it relates to a Tomorrowland attraction so i am including it here -
The ribbon cutting ceremony for when 'Captain Eo' first opened in 1986
I really like that attraction.
There were some lively CM spiels made during the three showings i attended that were quite fun to witness.
It is mostly herbs that are planted in the areas i described, but yes, everything planted in TL in indeed something digestible.
I believe there were some small fruit bearing trees too...but i did not notice anything hanging from them.
I had read pre-visit when brushing up on my DL Tomorrowland history that the decision was made to incorporate eatable plants to instill the idea of tomorrow*s future harvests.
Since in the future food production will be done in unique ways, the idea was presented to incorporate eatable plants into the landscape to instill that *design with a purpose* thought process.
One of those cool little details most visitors are probably not overly aware of unless they did some research beforehand or are uber Park Fans.
I had no idea either until a couple of weeks before i visited. I had done a lot of digging for information about the TL 98 project and found out about the plantings then.
I was curious as to if they were still being used, and sure enough, they were there.
The internet has no doubt helped people find out about them...as i had mentioned it was obvious the ones planted closest to the walkway were somewhat picked over.
Since we are still on the topic of Tomorrowland, i found another photo i forgot to include...
I finally got my drivers license...at 43 !
WOo hOo !
Too bad i then *lost* it when i was busted for driving recklessly through the streets of London later on....
...dang it....!
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