What's going on at WDW?

[tirian]

It's odd: while DL devotees seem to always know what's going on, WDW junkies rarely know more than what the company officially announces.


Thus, I was wondering if anyone knows...

1. What Cinderella's Castle will look like for Disneyland's 50th Anniversary. WDI implied gold gilding...have any sketches or plans been released? As long as it doesn't look like Elton John designed it, it shouldn't be too bad...

2. What's going on within IASW. True, we have pics of the SGE attraction; but does anyone know what the new queue or refurbished segments look like within IASW?

3. When the arm is coming off SE. Yes, I know the answer is "Not soon enough"; but since new WDW guidemaps and advertisements show SE without the arm, I was hoping it would be removed soon. Did anyone else notice that the new WDW promotional DVD carefully shows SE without the arm--the Mickey arm/wand structure is nowhere on the entire disc, and it's not in the included paperwork. Even the web video of Tiger Woods riding M:S began with an old video clip of SE sans arm.

4. What the new water coaster will be like in Typhoon Lagoon. How will it be themed? Will it consist merely of pipes and cages like Master Blaster at Schlitterbaun, or will it be contained within some other structure?

5. Whether or not PotC still going down for refurb sometime after IASW opens, as originally announced.


If anyone has reputable (i.e. honest, truthful) answers to these questions, post them!

 

[Main Street USA]

It's odd: while DL devotees seem to always know what's going on, WDW junkies rarely know more than what the company officially announces.


Thus, I was wondering if anyone knows...

1. What Cinderella's Castle will look like for Disneyland's 50th Anniversary. WDI implied gold gilding...have any sketches or plans been released? As long as it doesn't look like Elton John designed it, it shouldn't be too bad...

2. What's going on within IASW. True, we have pics of the SGE attraction; but does anyone know what the new queue or refurbished segments look like within IASW?

3. When the arm is coming off SE. Yes, I know the answer is "Not soon enough"; but since new WDW guidemaps and advertisements show SE without the arm, I was hoping it would be removed soon. Did anyone else notice that the new WDW promotional DVD carefully shows SE without the arm--the Mickey arm/wand structure is nowhere on the entire disc, and it's not in the included paperwork. Even the web video of Tiger Woods riding M:S began with an old video clip of SE sans arm.

4. What the new water coaster will be like in Typhoon Lagoon. How will it be themed? Will it consist merely of pipes and cages like Master Blaster at Schlitterbaun, or will it be contained within some other structure?

5. Whether or not PotC still going down for refurb sometime after IASW opens, as originally announced.


If anyone has reputable (i.e. honest, truthful) answers to these questions, post them!

1. Sorry, i've got nothing on the Castle.

2. No one has any news on the new queue because it's not even close to being there. Behind those walls lies a HUGE mess, and nothing more.

3. My personal knowledge, along with good sources, say there ARE NO PLANS to ever remove the wand from SE. Will it eventually come down? Of course, everything changes over time. But I can guarantee it won't come down without a good, solid reason to do so....and an opinion that it looks bad won't be counted as a reason.

4. I can also assure you that the new slide at Typhoon lagoon will be fully themed to cover an steel beams and/or other supports.

5. POTC may go down for a rehab, but it won't include anything from the movie.

Hope that helps....even if only a little bit.

 

[tirian]

But I can guarantee it won't come down without a good, solid reason to do so....and an opinion that it looks bad won't be counted as a reason.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid you're right. I actually liked the thing when it first went up--I thought it was a nice touch for the 2000 celebration, and it tied Epcot into the Disney magic that saturates the Magic Kingdom. Now, however, the cardboard-look is just an insult to the architectural genius of the geosphere. The arm isn't a matter of opinion; it's a matter of personal pride (on behalf of WDI and Epcot management).

Still, because the arm is off SE on the newest WDW maps and literature, I'm hoping that it comes down soon. If it doesn't, I'll live. My life doesn't depend on it!

...but it's still interesting that the WDW advertising and design departments are taking such pains to use old footage featuring the geosphere without the arm. They have plenty of new video clips with the arm/wand, and even last year's maps and guides showed it; yet the company is choosing to use older pictures. Even on WDW's official website, you'd only know that the arm/wand structure is still there if you specifically go to the SE attraction page. Everywhere else, the site shows the old geosphere. As a graphic designer, this issue intrigues me.

 

[Main Street USA]

Ha, yeah, seems like SOMEONE in the art department has a taste for "no wand." lol

It's been well over a year ago when I saw a piece of advertisment without the wand, but it still hasn't amountd to much.

I actually still like it. It was definitely cool for the millenium celebration, and it still makes for a pretty picture. It really depends on what mood I'm in on what day. :lol:

 

[Mary Poppins]

It's odd: while DL devotees seem to always know what's going on, WDW junkies rarely know more than what the company officially announces.


Thus, I was wondering if anyone knows...

1. What Cinderella's Castle will look like for Disneyland's 50th Anniversary. WDI implied gold gilding...have any sketches or plans been released? As long as it doesn't look like Elton John designed it, it shouldn't be too bad...

Do you mean Sleeping Beauty castle? The gold overlay is planned for Disneyland, not Walt Disney World.

 

[bhg469]

Do you mean Sleeping Beauty castle? The gold overlay is planned for Disneyland, not Walt Disney World.

no there are plans for cinderella's castle as well. im not sure if it will be the same but they are going to be doing something to it for the celebration. but there was talk about putting in scaffolding soon.

 

[joviacdan]

I could have sworn about 6 months ago, there was a thread on Cinderella Castle where it was said that there already was a scaffoliding up, parts of it were being painted gold, and it would be done by September.

I was there in September and it looked like it always has, beautiful as ever. I don't think they should EVER touch Cinderella Castle. I think it is absolutely perfect just the way it is.

 

[Sharon L]

5. POTC may go down for a rehab, but it won't include anything from the movie.

I did read somewhere (I can't remember what magazine) that Captain Jack Sparrow will be added to the ride to coincide with the release of the second movie, which is supposed to come out in 2006.

 

[dandaman]

(choking on morning coffee) Wait... next movie? Someone tell me as much as they know, I'll buy all the merchandise...

 

[Sharon L]

(choking on morning coffee) Wait... next movie? Someone tell me as much as they know, I'll buy all the merchandise...

According to what I have read in magazines and on the internet, Disney is planning two more Pirates movies, which they hope to film back to back next year, with the first of the two being released in 2006. There are also rumors that Keith Richards has signed on to play Jack's father. As you may or may not know, Johnny Depp based some of this character's mannerisms on Keith Richards.

Apparently, all of this depends on coordinating all the main actors' schedules so they can be available for shooting.

 

[Lee]

1. The castle is not getting a major change for DL's 50th.
2. Small World is still in the "tearing out" phase...not in the rebuilding phase
yet.
3. The situation with the arm varies with who you ask. It is not very
popular with many at WDI and Epcot, but it cost a lot to put up, and
will cost a lot to take down. Odds are it has a few years left.
4. The water coaster will look nothing like what is at Schlitterbaun. It
will have extensive themeing with rockwork, plants, etc. In other words,
it will fit in with the rest of TL.
5. As for POTC...as far as I know, there was never a definate plan to refurb
it. May happen...may not. Needs it, though. Where was this
announced?

 

[joel_maxwell]

1. yeh, kind of glad castle is staying the same..................... im still visually bothered by that cake castle............... nightmares often
2. IASW, man i dont care if it were a pile of dirt, i wish we had some secret pics of the progress.
3. eeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. not going there. blood pressure will rise.
4. i am so excited about the water slide. since it is getting extensive theming, i wonder how long it will take to install. are we thinking maybe by end of summer 05???? probably christmas 05.
5. keep PoTC the same. please no Johnny D and Orlando.

 

[Atta83]

I could have sworn about 6 months ago, there was a thread on Cinderella Castle where it was said that there already was a scaffoliding up, parts of it were being painted gold, and it would be done by September..

I thougth it was just being repainted.???

 

[joviacdan]

I thougth it was just being repainted.???

I heard that too, but I could have sworn someone said they were painting parts of it gold.

Just so I'm not misunderstood, I think it's FANTASTIC that Disney repaints the castle every so often. They keep that thing looking brand spanking new. I have never seen that thing look bad (except for the birthday cake.)

In September, it looked better than ever.

 

[bork]

They keep that thing looking brand spanking new. I have never seen that thing look bad (except for the birthday cake.)
.

Actually, I think it had been getting rather faded. I was looking over some old pictures from 1999 (shortly after the cake was removed) and it was very bright and vibrant. In subsquent years (2000,2001,early 2004) it was quite faded in comaprision (especially the blues). But it happened so gradually, that I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't been comparing pictures.

 

[joviacdan]

Actually, I think it had been getting rather faded. I was looking over some old pictures from 1999 (shortly after the cake was removed) and it was very bright and vibrant. In subsquent years (2000,2001,early 2004) it was quite faded in comaprision (especially the blues). But it happened so gradually, that I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't been comparing pictures.

Hmmm....I haven't noticed at all. I was there in 2000, 2003, and twice this year and I thought it looked gorgeous.

Not that I have any better of any eye than anyone else but I spend a lot of time looking at the castle. I find myself just standing at the Adventureland end of Main Street for long periods of time just gazing at it.

 

[tirian]

Thanks for the responses. I knew IASW was in a state of disarray; I was just wondering how much.

As for PotC, I thought that Disney announced it was planning a massive refurbishment of every classic attraction in the Magic Kingdom, beginning with IASW. Anyway, PotC was announced to be next. It's odd: Disney will preserve some great attractions and destroy others (Journey into Imagination with Figment and Mr. Dreamfinder). At least they're keeping Carousel of Progress.

By the way, I noticed the fading towers on Cinderella's Castle, too. I'm glad they restore its glory often. I know that the castle at Disneyland Paris is gorgeous, but Cinderella's at WDW is my favorite. As for the gold gilding, I was under the impression that just the edges around the turrets--NOT the whole castle--would receive gold highlights, much like a Lenox sculpture.

 

[tigger248]

Actually, I think it had been getting rather faded. I was looking over some old pictures from 1999 (shortly after the cake was removed) and it was very bright and vibrant. In subsquent years (2000,2001,early 2004) it was quite faded in comaprision (especially the blues). But it happened so gradually, that I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't been comparing pictures.

Although the blue parts do fade (it's only natural in the hot Florida sun), I think they do an excellent job in keeping it up. On my cp in 2002, they repainted the castle in the fall (between peak seasons). I hadn't noticed that it looked faded or anything before the painting, but boy did I notice a difference afterwards. It never looked bad, but it looked so much better after. It just shined. I think they paint it every year or two to keep it that way. The only thing that bites is the crane that is required for the painting. I wouldn't want to visit WDW and see a crane behind the castle.

 

[Woody13]

no there are plans for cinderella's castle as well. im not sure if it will be the same but they are going to be doing something to it for the celebration. but there was talk about putting in scaffolding soon.

They are replacing the former Minuteman missles in the castle spires (silos) with the newer Peacekeepers.

The Peacekeeper is the first (and only) U.S. "cold launched" ICBM. Instead of igniting the main engine immediately in the silo for lift off, a thermo-chemical gas generator creates pressure to eject the missile from its launch tube. The main engine ignites after it has left the launch tube and is 150 feet in the air. This was originally attractive for launching from mobile transporters, but it allows the rapid reloading a reuse of silos for multiple launches. Cold launch is used on all U.S. submarine missiles, and the Soviet SS-17, 18, 24, and 25.

Disney is also using the cold launch system on many of its fireworks displays. Safety comes first!

 

[Steamboat_Kevin]

They are replacing the former Minuteman missles in the castle spires (silos) with the newer Peacekeepers.

The Peacekeeper is the first (and only) U.S. "cold launched" ICBM. Instead of igniting the main engine immediately in the silo for lift off, a thermo-chemical gas generator creates pressure to eject the missile from its launch tube. The main engine ignites after it has left the launch tube and is 150 feet in the air. This was originally attractive for launching from mobile transporters, but it allows the rapid reloading a reuse of silos for multiple launches. Cold launch is used on all U.S. submarine missiles, and the Soviet SS-17, 18, 24, and 25.

Disney is also using the cold launch system on many of its fireworks displays. Safety comes first!

:lol: :lol: :lol: