disney tests free roaming audioanimatronic dinosaur at dca

[d-r]

Remember that dinosaur the imagineers were working on? This one looks more like something from that "dinotopia" thing than the robot frame we saw them working on - that one had four legs, this was is two-legged and pulling a cart, which must help out somehow in the balance department. It's a step in the right direction, nonetheless. Anyway, laughingplace.com has some pictures and video of soft opening testing here-

http://www.laughingplace.com/News-PID507400-507400.asp

 

[DisFlan]

My first reaction was COOL! Followed quickly by visions of Jurassimatronic Park. West World with Dinos - or anything else.

It might not be tomorrow or next year, but we're probably seeing a big part of the future for the Parks. Just think what this could do for AK. Heck, from half way across the Savannah, hardly anyone would be able to tell if the sabre tooth tiger was real or not.

 

[WDWHound]

WOW!!! The motion on that thing is amazing, especially in the second film clip. That is one of the most convincing animatronic figures I have seen. I may have to make a trip out to DCA just to see this once it is out of testing. Bravo Imagineering!

Yes, the cart would hide a mutitude of sins in the balance department, but it doesn't seem to detract from the figure. Given the complexity of the balancing problem, its actually a rather neat solution.

Just one question, why is it in DCA? Animal Kingdom would seem to be a more likely home for this little guy.

 

[KNWVIKING]

.... a new style Bradley Hoover Matic that do park clean-up right after the fireworks in MK and people would think it was wonderfull rather then the last straw.

 

[Panthius]

looked at the pictures and I thought it looked kind of cheesy, but then I took a look at the video clips, and WOW! That is just the coolest thing I have seen in a long, long time. WOW!

Pan

 

[WDWHound]

Originally posted by KNWVIKING
.... a new style Bradley Hoover Matic that do park clean-up right after the fireworks in MK and people would think it was wonderfull rather then the last straw.

They could call it the Vacuusaur or the Hooversaurus.

 

[KNWVIKING]

The Suckasaurus.

 

[d-r]

wdwhound-
I think that disneyland resort people (Cynthia Harris) begged for it to show first at DCA before going to DAK because DCA needs any boost it can get. Also, I wonder if they built it in California.

Again, this, to me, looks like quite a departure from the four legged animatronic that we have seen in development, and it really looks like it was made with the idea of promoting dinotopia - so there may still be a four legged creature - Iguandadon? Triceratops? - parading through DAK in the not so distant future.

DR

edited to add - think about how that fella right there would look if that cart was made into a float thing and it was put into Mickey's jamming jungle parade -

Edited again to add - I wonder if the "driver" sets in that cart, or if it is more to hold power supply, etc.

 

[d-r]

I heard that Lucky is packed up and moving from California to DAK-

 

[Mr D]

Perhaps its exactly what DAK needs, an animatronic "Jurassic Park" although I would name it The Lost World, a recently discovered world of dinosaurs now taking up residence at WDW's Animal Kingdon, sponsored by Shell Oil.

 

[CWIPPERMAN]

Al Lutz wrote an interesting piece at MiceAge.com about the dinosaur. The article is here: http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al082903a.htm , along with a couple of photos.

From what I've read, the cart houses the power supply and the controls. I'm not sure if a person is inside the cart or not. There is a handler on the outside that walks with it - probably mainly to keep it from stepping on someone that whoever is operating it can't see.

I've been looking all over, but I can't remember what site did a huge article on "Lucky" a couple of months ago. The article told all about it's design and how it came to be. I'll keep looking but hopefully someone can find it. It was a great article.

From everything I've read, Lucky will be headed to Animal Kingdom (if he's not already there or on the way) and will remain there (AK).

It does bring up some interesting questions. What if in the future they could start pulling "live" animals from the Savanna at AK and replace them with animatronic animals. Or if they could create a ride with free-roaming "dinosaurs".

 

[LvsTnk]

I read that Lucky is already at WDW, is there any news on when they will have the Dino out?

 

[meowthew2]

He's supposed to be at DCA again today through Thursday...

 

[Peter Pirate]

I spoke with a couple of mgmt. CM's at AK on Saturday and Lucky hadn't arrived yet...But they are expecting him and seem very excited about him, as well...

 

[airlarry!]

I read Al's column on Lucky and was a bit puzzled. Usually his commentary is spot on when it comes to entertainment, but IMO he missed the boat on this one.

He kept comparing Lucky to Abe Lincoln. Wrong choice. Obviously, it would be a waste of money and resources for the company to get rid of Pirates and Presidents with animatronic figures that can walk around...if they wanted to hire live actors instead.

What he should have been doing is loooking to the future, not the past.

The future of this creation is in fantasy worlds. Imagine the Universe of Energy ride spiced up with moving, breathing, life-like dinos, doing different things every time you ride it.

Imagine a jazzed up Dinosaur/CTX ride with dinosaurs all around you, hiding, coming out, the works.

Then imagine the next stage...dark rides to the max: Imagine the GPS based system of Pooh meeting up with free-roaming animatronic figures.

I could write for hours and not be done with the concepts that can be created using these two imagineering marvels.

Now, where's that checkbook Cou$in Mikey's been holding on to? Open it up, Mikey!

 

[jscharf]

This looks very cool. I hope we get to see this when we're down there.

 

[tonyk]

Wow. Very cool. My boys would absolutely FLIP if they saw this. I know it's kind of a small thing; but to me, this is the kind of thing that sets Disney apart from other parks and adds to the "experience". I hope this is an indicator of similar things to come.