(Video) Sneak Peek of Disney’s Most Sophisticated Audio-Animatronics Technology

sponono88

sponono88

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2009/11/blog-exclusive-first-video-of-the-most-sophisticated-audio-animatronics-technology-yet-abraham-lincoln/

Today’s video gives a first glimpse of the new Abraham Lincoln figure that will be the main attraction in the returning “The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” show. The new, advanced figure features Disney’s most sophisticated Audio-Animatronics technology, with incredibly lifelike facial features and expressions.

The new, fully-electric head allowed Imagineers to add new technology and functionality to a figure that has entertained Disneyland guests since 1965. The previous Lincoln head and face had seven functions, and the new and improved head and face has a total of 20 functions. Lincoln can now purse his lips, smile, grimace and form an “O” with his lips. Don’t take my word for it. Check it out for yourself.
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this reopens in December. can't wait! :sohappy:
 
TP2000

TP2000

Well-Known Member
They had some of this tech displayed in the Animatronics exhibit room of the Parks & Resorts Pavilion at D23 Expo. You could talk to the guys who program these things even!

It's interesting that they didn't make this investment for the Hall of Presidents and their big overhaul that opened earlier this year. Washington, Lincoln, and Obama could have used this technology to great effect. I don't think I'll ever understand why WDW so often only gives about 70% or 80% effort when they go to the trouble of doing major rehabs, while Disneyland shuts stuff down for a year or more and gives 105% effort and investment. It's something that never ceases to fascinate me.

But I look forward to seeing this show for myself in a few weeks when it opens at Disneyland! :sohappy:
 
Rufus T Firefly

Rufus T Firefly

Well-Known Member
TP2000 said:
I don't think I'll ever understand why WDW so often only gives about 70% or 80% effort when they go to the trouble of doing major rehabs, while Disneyland shuts stuff down for a year or more and gives 105% effort and investment. It's something that never ceases to fascinate me.
Click to expand...

I don't understand it either. Maybe DL feels the pressure to maintain and protect Walt's legacy at his park. But, for whatever reason, DL does rehabs right. Because of this, I would love to see the Carousel of Progress returned to DL, where it can be properly refurbed and updated and treated with the respect that one of Walt's attractions deserves.
 
Uncle Lupe

Uncle Lupe

Well-Known Member
sponono88 said:
Today’s video gives a first glimpse of the new Abraham Lincoln figure that will be the main attraction in the returning “The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” show. The new, advanced figure features Disney’s most sophisticated Audio-Animatronics technology, with incredibly lifelike facial features and expressions.

The new, fully-electric head allowed Imagineers to add new technology and functionality to a figure that has entertained Disneyland guests since 1965. The previous Lincoln head and face had seven functions, and the new and improved head and face has a total of 20 functions. Lincoln can now purse his lips, smile, grimace and form an “O” with his lips. Don’t take my word for it. Check it out for yourself.

this reopens in December. can't wait! :sohappy:
Click to expand...

It's been a long time since he has made an O face. Good for him.
 
EPCOT Explorer

EPCOT Explorer

New Member
TP2000 said:
They had some of this tech displayed in the Animatronics exhibit room of the Parks & Resorts Pavilion at D23 Expo. You could talk to the guys who program these things even!

It's interesting that they didn't make this investment for the Hall of Presidents and their big overhaul that opened earlier this year. Washington, Lincoln, and Obama could have used this technology to great effect. I don't think I'll ever understand why WDW so often only gives about 70% or 80% effort when they go to the trouble of doing major rehabs, while Disneyland shuts stuff down for a year or more and gives 105% effort and investment. It's something that never ceases to fascinate me.

But I look forward to seeing this show for myself in a few weeks when it opens at Disneyland! :sohappy:
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I have to disagree. (OMG, I'm a DOM!:lookaroun) WDW's refurb was stellar, and Obamabot certainly is a great AA. Very lifelike.
 
TP2000

TP2000

Well-Known Member
EPCOT Explorer said:
I have to disagree. (OMG, I'm a DOM!:lookaroun) WDW's refurb was stellar, and Obamabot certainly is a great AA. Very lifelike.
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But why wouldn't they install this new electronic head technology into him? I understand that the sculptors did a great job with Obama, and the basic hydraulic animatronic figure got a nice tune-up. (Older animtronic technology still looks great, so long as it is maintained well and kept in tune)

But why not go all out and install the new electronic heads onto the hydraulic bodies of the three principal speakers at Hall of Presidents?
 
EPCOT Explorer

EPCOT Explorer

New Member
TP2000 said:
But why wouldn't they install this new electronic head technology into him? I understand that the sculptors did a great job with Obama, and the basic hydraulic animatronic figure got a nice tune-up. (Older animtronic technology still looks great, so long as it is maintained well and kept in tune)

But why not go all out and install the new electronic heads onto the hydraulic bodies of the three principal speakers at Hall of Presidents?
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Honestly...I can't tell the difference between the two.:shrug:
Uncle Lupe said:
HOw close are you on the HoP to the Obamabot, could you tell a difference between the old/new and the newer?
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Maybe Mr. Lupe is right....WDW doesn't need it, because it would just look the same at a distance.

Are you close to Lincoln in DL?
 
Z

Ziffell

Member
TP2000 said:
I don't think I'll ever understand why WDW so often only gives about 70% or 80% effort when they go to the trouble of doing major rehabs, while Disneyland shuts stuff down for a year or more and gives 105% effort and investment. It's something that never ceases to fascinate me.
Click to expand...

There was a recent article in the Orlando Sentinel about the Space Mountain rehab that kind of explains the difference in philosophy between the two resorts regarding rehabs. In a nutshell, most of DL's guests tend to be repeat guests who visit at least once a year, and sometimes more frequently than that. So if an attraction goes down (even a major one like Space Mountain), then it's not as impactful because most of the guests will just see it the next time they visit... not as big a deal. At WDW, on the other hand, most of the guests are ones who visit once every few years at most. So if they plan a vacation around their favorite attraction and it's closed when they arrive, it's a bigger deal.
 
TP2000

TP2000

Well-Known Member
EPCOT Explorer said:
Honestly...I can't tell the difference between the two.:shrug:

Maybe Mr. Lupe is right....WDW doesn't need it, because it would just look the same at a distance.

Are you close to Lincoln in DL?
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No closer than at HoP. The Lincoln theater seats a few hundred people, and it has about 20 rows of seats, so you can sit quite far back if you want to. The big difference between the Lincoln theater and the HoP theater is that the HoP stage is very w-i-d-e and sweeping, like a custom CinemaScope movie screen compared to a smaller regular movie screen.

The distance from the rows of seats to the figures on the stage is about the same in both theaters. It's the width of the theaters and stages that is most different.
 

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