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Further evidence of the genius of Pixar.
A child leaving their toys behind is wholly universal- it is part of human right of passage. Told nostalgically in the visual style- the rich gold tone of fond memories of playtime, the mournful and longing tone of the music soon reveal a tragic side of growing up.
These two factors combined create a story that no person cannot be touched by. No matter that it’s one of the most moving cinematic moments I’ve ever seen.
Totally getting one of these for my car.
Stunning Neverland illustration.
You can argue for Hakuna Matata, Circle of Life, or Can You Feel the Love Tonight… but I don’t think there’s a better song and animated sequence combo from the Lion King than Just Can’t Wait to Be King.
Stylized colors and visual style breaks away from the largely very true-to-life look of much of the film, especially the scenery, and it conveys the impetuous fun Simba and Nala have in the song.
Splash Mountain Finale, Magic Kingdom, WDW.
The job of an imagineer, in its most basic explanation, is to simply create a series of rooms that a vehicle will pass through. Sometimes, the sequence of rooms tells a story. Other times, it doesn’t- or worse, does so poorly- and that is often the key to an attraction’s failure, whether immediately discernable or not. To me, there is no better ride that tells a story, from the moment you walk past its sign, through the queue, up the hill, and slide back down again, than Splash Mountain. I believe Walt would be fully thrilled with the attraction.
It’s most certainly my favorite ride that isn’t in EPCOT that didn’t get demolished in 1999- on our most recent trip, a trip that only held three visits to the Magic Kingdom, I rode the ride six times. SIX. Twice back to back. I have a problem.
I love the story, I love the scenes, I love the thrills mixed with this dark ride that essentially the length of the new Little Mermaid ride 3 times over. It’s not just a ride, it’s an experience. It fully puts you in another world, more than any other ride I’ve been on.
I would love to see the attraction receive the love and attention it deserves in the future- under the scrutiny of the guests of today’s parks, the attraction is not the breathtaking experience it could be. Dated animatronics and aging special effects giving way to new technology and updated mechanics would surely bring the ride to a level that nothing could touch.
I know for me, just as my friend here in the picture demonstrates, I love just taking it all in, both to start and end my Disney day. Coming over the hill of the five-story drop at night, with the whole park laid out before you, Cinderella’s Castle and Space Mountain gleaming brightly in the distance and making a silly face for the camera- it is the quintessential experience of any visit to me.
Oh, to pick this man’s brain. (All Things Digital Conference Interview with Bob Iger)
I love that he not only has a favorite attraction, but he challenges the interviewer on her attitude towards the parks (she admits to enjoying Philharmagic and its “appropriate” 3D). There is something for everyone in the Magic Kingdom.
Universe of Energy Pavilion Building, EPCOT Center, WDW.
On my last trip, I got the chance to finally experience the Universe of Energy pavilion (which, to my knowledge, only holds Ellen’s Energy Adventure today. A post-show was held across the way where Innoventions is currently located). The building itself is beautiful, both up-close and from a distance. Walking inside reveals a dated if not interesting tile mural. Turning the corner, however, leaves interesting behind into the spartan and, quite frankly, industrially boring (not to be confused with spartan and interesting) interior. This probably was because the pre-show, mentioned below, probably captured the attention of everyone at this point.
I did not leave the building unimpressed with the experience, though knowing what I know about the history of the ride made it a little disappointing, especially the pre-show’s apparently amazing Radok “kinetic mosaic.”
The opening of the ride, wherein our heroine dreams of a clash for the ages on Jeopardy, was fairly clever, especially if you appreciate Ellen’s sarcastic yet positive delivery. The animatronics were great, especially the motion of the Ellen figure. But, for reasons that I cannot fathom, the animatronic looks nothing like Ellen. I don’t know if I’m alone in this, but seriously- it looks more like a man from the early 90s (staying clear of any jokes at the expense of Ellen’s pantsuits today) than anything.
The conclusion of the ride, though I found not terrible, apparently pales in comparison to the original’s mirror-driven finale. Oh well. It was a nice, if predictable, conclusion to the story.
Overall, I found the ride’s length and air conditioning to be great reasons to visit and ride. I also enjoyed the ride’s unique and innovative ride system. The information was a tad dated at this point, though well-presented by a childhood icon, Bill Nye the Science Guy. And I think that speaks to the pavilion as it is today: a ride-through version of a 90s edutainment video that was shown in schools. Not total mind-rot, but not something that presents anything ground-breaking. And in today’s Epcot, I’ll take it.
Not sure if you’ve had the chance to see the video of Vader on his visit to Disneyland for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, but here it is. And it is quite possibly one of my favorite advertisements, ever.
Listen to the music, and check out the ornate interwovenness of the theme of each ride they’re on, or the action on screen, the sense of fun… and the Imperial March. Genius.
What a year, indeeed.
… Well, except Malestrom. I guess because the first time I rode it I waited in an hour-and-a-half queue (in the most bland queue in the parks, it should be noted), I just have a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to that ride.
Oh wait, that’s just the water that splashed in my mouth.
As conceived here [in the 1977 Walt Disney Productions Annual Report], EPCOT will be a “Showcase for prototype concepts,” demonstrating practical applications of new ideas and systems from creative centers everywhere. It will provide an “on-going forum for the future,” where the best thinking of industry, government and academia is exchanged to communicate practical solutions to the needs of the world community. It will be a “communicator to the world,” utilizing the growing spectrum of information transfer to bring new knowledge to the public. Finally, EPCOT will be a permanent “international people-to-people exchange,” advancing the cause of world understanding.
In addition, we are convinced that Epcot will provide a much-needed symbol of hope and optimism that our major challenges can, and will be met. It will provide outstanding family entertainment from which people may draw enlightenment, as well as enjoyment. And it will, of course, represent a major new extension of our business activities around the world.
