Expedition: Everest!

[Sarangel]

From the Orlando Business Journal:

Speaking of secrets. A red-faced Michael Eisner managed to "unofficially" announce plans for a brand new coaster to be built at Animal Kingdom during the recent shareholders meeting.

In the recorded question-and-answer session, Eisner announces the new attraction — with a working title of Expedition: Everest — already has started construction. Reportedly, the same company that did the Rock 'n Roller Coaster attraction at Disney-MGM Studios will develop this one.

Eisner more or less describes it as the biggest and best attraction in the park, calling it an amazing trip through the Himalayas and a testosterone-driven ride for the teenage boy in the family.

Eisner then asks No. 2 mousketeer, President Bob Iger, about the opening date. Iger responded to the big cheese that the project hadn't been announced yet.

Sources say the Mount Everest replica will be about 200 feet tall, with a look similar to the Mysterious Island volcano at Tokyo's DisneySea park.

One insider describes it as "a modern-day version of the Matterhorn," complete with plenty of Yeti.

 

[KNWVIKING]

Does that mean they have broken ground in AK, or just the coaster is being fabricated somewhere?

 

[Luv2Roam]

Loews' full house, Eisner's red face, fishy entertainment
Bob Mervine

All the hospitality industry doom and gloom relating to the Iraq war hasn't -- yet -- turned into reality here.

"We've seen no major shifts in our occupancy patterns," says a spokeswoman for the three Loews hotels at Universal Orlando.

"In fact, we're sold out this weekend."

Longer term, experts like Gary Sain, a partner at the hospitality marketing firm of Yesawich, Pepperdine, say, "We expect a surge in family travel after the war ends. There's pent-up demand already."

A spokesman for Fairfield Resorts Inc. agrees.

"We've seen some lag in our short-term rental business where visitors appear to be taking a wait-and-see attitude," he adds.

Big 3 agree. A quick look at the calendar between now and summer offers even more reassuring news from the theme parks.

The Big Three parks all plan to stage special events tied to new attractions.

First up: Universal. The animated character Jimmy Neutron, his dog Goddard and a cast of new characters including the Rugrats, SpongeBob SquarePants and the Wild Thornberrys are set to debut April 11.

By late June, Shrek 4D -- an extension of the original hit animated feature -- will open in the former Alfred Hitchcock theater. And just like the DreamWorks movie, look for lots of digs at Disney along the way.

Speculation is that the park will also take the -- ahem -- wraps off a long-awaited indoor coaster based on The Mummy film series in May. Sections of the track for the new coaster are already visible from guest areas inside the park, making short shrift of the "secret."

Speaking of secrets. A red-faced Michael Eisner managed to "unofficially" announce plans for a brand new coaster to be built at Animal Kingdom during the recent shareholders meeting.

In the recorded question-and-answer session, Eisner announces the new attraction -- with a working title of Expedition: Everest -- already has started construction. Reportedly, the same company that did the Rock 'n Roller Coaster attraction at Disney-MGM Studios will develop this one.

Eisner more or less describes it as the biggest and best attraction in the park, calling it an amazing trip through the Himalayas and a testosterone-driven ride for the teenage boy in the family.

Eisner then asks No. 2 mousketeer, President Bob Iger, about the opening date. Iger responded to the big cheese that the project hadn't been announced yet.

Sources say the Mount Everest replica will be about 200 feet tall, with a look similar to the Mysterious Island volcano at Tokyo's DisneySea park.

One insider describes it as "a modern-day version of the Matterhorn," complete with plenty of Yeti.

SeaWorld makes three. They're coloring in the details of new entertainment at SeaWorld's planned waterfront expansion opening May 26.

Concepts being finalized include a 30-minute musical revue in the SeaFire Inn called Rico and Roza's Family Feast; and Katie's Cats, a display of exotic purebred cats from around the world that not only look feline -- they perform.

Street performers include the Harbormasters, a salty old sea captain character, a troupe of acrobatic comics called the Longshoremen and, possibly, a peg-legged sailor, complete with a talking parrot.

Also planned are the Seaport Symphony, musicians wearing chef's attire and banging out their rhythm on kitchen pots and pans.


© 2003 American City Business Journals Inc.

 

[Sarangel]

Sorry, Luv2Roam, a portion of the article you posted had already been posted. I've merged the two threads. I know it's difficult, but please try to read through the stuff that's already been posted before putting up a new article. I know most of you have the luxury of skipping the stuff that doesn't interest you, but lrodk & I have to read every single post on every single thread.

Sarangel