Random Thread & the *insert topic here*

[DisGirlAllie]

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTERESTING FACTS

This ride's name was changed from Tomorrowland Transit Authority to Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover as of August 5, 2010.

The ride underwent a renovation in 2009, concurrent with a rehab of Space Mountain. When the ride reopened in October 2009, it had a new audio track, which did not include the old jokes about keeping your forward facing tentacles inside your vehicle, or "paging Mr. Tom Morrow" to give his party on Saturn a ring. The narrative is now in a young man's voice and he points out the various sights along the way. For example, as you pass the Carousel of Progress, a brief description of this attraction is presented. This is in keeping with the original PeopleMover at Disneyland. To read about the previous version of the attraction, and see a video that includes the old audio track, visit Jack Spence's blog HERE.

The ride opened on July 1, 1975, as the WEDway PeopleMover. When Tomorrowland received a "face lift" to the "Future that Never Was," the attraction was renamed the Tomorrowland Transit Authority and reopened on June 11, 1994.

Walt Disney's 20th Century vision for the future (a model city) can be seen along the way. Some believe this was tied closely to Walt's own vision for Epcot Center.

 

[DisGirlAllie]

 

[AmandaSparks730]

ATTRACTION

Tomorrowland Speedway is one of the original Walt Disney World attractions, dating back to the opening of the Magic Kingdom theme park on October 1, 1971.

While waiting in a long, winding queue, guests are directed past replicas of Indianapolis 500-style race cars. Along the way to the loading area, there's a history of Indy racing, captured in photos. There are images of the Yard of Bricks, the Scoring and Timing Pylon, Gasoline Alley and the unmistakable wing and wheel logo.

The loading area of the attraction features panels of the three annual Indianapolis Motor Speedway races -- the Indianapolis 500, the Brickyard 400 and the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis. Other panels depict races around the moon, Saturn and other outer space destinations.

Riders are strapped into their cars and travel along the 4/10 mile track, with banks and turns, while hearing the calls of world famous announcer Tom Carnegie from sound speakers positioned around the track. As you cross finish line, the checkered flag is waved and you arrive in Victory Circle. The area is marked by the Indianapolis 500 logo and the display of a winning race car. Spectators can experience the attraction from the observation bridge, or from outside the attraction along the route.

 

[DisGirlAllie]

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTERESTING FACTS

Previously known as the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, the word Indy was dropped in 2009.

The Speedway is one of the original Walt Disney World attractions, opening on October 1, 1971.

The attraction features 146 authentic Autopia Mark VII race cars that travel around a 4/10-mile track.

The cars reach a top speed of 7.5 mph.

Tomorrowland Speedway features include an engine governor, belt restraints and shock absorbent bumpers.

Did you know that a checkered flag is waved at every driver who finishes at the end of the race?

 

[DisGirlAllie]

 

[AmandaSparks730]

ATTRACTION

Stitch's Great Escape takes place when Stitch is first discovered by the Galactic Federation and shortly before the events in the movie "Lilo & Stitch" occur -- at this point he's still the trouble-maker Experiment 626.

In the preshow area, you are recruited by an animated version of the Galactic Federation Grand Councilwoman (on video monitor) to provide additional security for the captured alien. Other characters from the film "Lilo & Stitch" (Gantu and Pleakley) are also represented, voiced by the original actors. You move into the second preshow area and are briefed by a robot ("Sarge," who sounds suspiciously like actor Richard Kind), then an emergency arrival is announced -- it's Experiment 626, and you're ushered into the main theater for the rest of the show.

Without spoiling the storyline, the show then features Stitch performing various Stitch-like antics, including bouncing on people, and generally creating mayhem. The show features water, smell, and other sensory effects.

The structured seating of the previous attraction, Alien Encounter, has remained intact. In fact, much of the show is very similar to Alien Encounter -- the biggest difference is the replacement of the ugly alien with Stitch. Even the popular "guinea pig" alien Skippy, who suffered a sad fate in the previous attraction, is still seen in the preshow area, only Skippy is not harmed now.

Mini-Review: What can I say that hasn't already been said about this attraction in our reader reports? While I was not a huge fan of Alien Encounter, at least it did what it was supposed to do well. The reason for redesigning Alien Encounter was ostensibly to make the show less frightening to small children. In this respect, it fails miserably. All the elements that made it scary before -- the darkness, the screaming, the chaos, the harness that makes you feel trapped and can actually hurt you -- are all still present. The chief difference is the substitution of Stitch for the menacing alien. Having experienced the show once, it's not something I'll be in a hurry to try again.

 

[DisGirlAllie]

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTERESTING FACTS

This attraction replaces the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter which closed October 2003.

Stitch, who is 39 inches tall, is the first Audio-Animatronics figure to spit.

The alien language seen throughout the Prisoner Teleport Center was inspired by designs created for the opening scenes of "Lilo & Stitch." Graphic artists with Walt Disney Imagineering turned the designs into a practical alphabet that can be decoded into English.

"Skippy," an alien seen previously in The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter attraction, returns in a new role in Stitch's Great Escape!

The two "plasma cannons" that track Stitch's DNA were inspired by devices seen in "Lilo & Stitch." Each weighs more than 1,600 pounds.

Walt Disney Feature Animation produced all of the attraction's character animation. Many of the animators who worked on "Lilo & Stitch" partnered with Imagineers for Stitch's Great Escape!

 

[AmandaSparks730]

NEW! On August 30, 2010, Space Mountain at Walt Disney World unveiled an "enhanced audio experience" that features a new, exclusive composition. The music will play on all "flights" along with varying sound effects on 60 newly installed speakers. The so-called "Starry-O-Phonic Sound" compliments enhancements that debuted on Space Mountain last year, including new lighting, storyline elements and updated decor.

 

[DisGirlAllie]

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTRODUCTION

Tomorrowland's Space Mountain has provided thrills to many guests at the Magic Kingdom since it opened January 15, 1975. Space Mountain actually originated in the early 1960s when Walt Disney came up with the idea of a high-speed attraction themed around the space age. Located at the far end of Tomorrowland, the attraction's towering white structure is unmistakable.


ATTRACTION

Entering Space Mountain, you find yourself in a dimly lit queue that seems to go on and on and on. As you near the Space Port (loading area), you hear shrieks from the space travelers who have gone before you. Eventually, you'll reach the loading platform, and will board six-passenger rockets, seated single-file, for your journey into space.

Slowly your vehicle makes its way into a tunnel of strobe lights and colors. You're then thrust into the darkness of space via a roller coaster that dips and swerves through the galaxy, past shooting stars and glowing planets! The entire ride lasts two and a half minutes with peak speeds of 28 miles per hour.

Basically speaking, Space Mountain is a very fast, bone-rattling roller coaster in the dark!

 

[DisGirlAllie]

[/IMG]

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTERESTING FACTS

The cone shaped peak of Space Mountain is 183 feet above ground. Space Mountain measures 4,508,500 cubic feet -- capable of holding a small skyscraper inside. The base's diameter of 300 feet took two years to build. The basic structure of the mountain is composed of great ribbed slopes -- 72 massive pre-stressed concrete beams forming a gigantic sealed cone. Each of the 74-ton concrete beams was cast near the Space Mountain site and then hoisted into place by mammoth cranes to complete the cone. Each beam is 117 feet long, 13 feet wide at the bottom and 4 feet wide at the top.

RCA was the official sponsor of Space Mountain from its opening in 1975 until 1993. In 1993, Federal Express Corporation became the official sponsor, as well as the official express delivery service of the Disney theme parks in the U.S. Federal Express ended its sponsorship of the ride in the late 1990s.

When Space Mountain officially opened, it joined the Country Bear Jamboree as the only two Disney theme park attractions to debut at the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort in Florida.

When fully operating, there are two sides of Space Mountain which have almost identical ride tracks. One side is 3,186 feet, the other 3,196 feet.

While the main structure is painted "icy white," its base is a light blue color.

The stripe on the side of the Space Mountain ride vehicles is produced by a special clear paint with phosphorous added. The paint is illuminated by the black lights in the load/unload area and by the all-night maintenance lights throughout the ride. There are four incandescent-bound black lights.

Space Mountain can be found at all four global Disney theme parks. It is said that the Disneyland Paris Space Mountain, followed by Disneyland in California, are the best.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Your favorite Disney characters are transformed into magical musical light forms... This is a not-to-be-missed parade which combines lights, fiber-optics, music and magic! Generally it is only run during the busiest times of the year when the Magic Kingdom is open late.




On this magic night,
A million stars will play beside us,
Cast a spell of light,
Glimmering, shimmering, carouselling
'Round the world tonight,
A symphony in SpectroMagic.
Pure enchantment lights our way!

[Jiminy Cricket]

Welcome to the splendor, the spectacle, the sparkling sensation, where the romance, the comedy and the thrill of Disney fantasies come to electric life.








And now, the Magic Kingdom proudly presents, in a million points of musical light, the magic worlds of Disney... in SpectroMagic!

On this magic night,
A million stars will play beside us,
Cast a spell of light,
Glimmering, shimmering, carouselling
'Round the world tonight,
A symphony in SpectroMagic.
Pure enchantment lights our way!








[Children's Voices]

Music surrounds us
Laughter that found us
Whirling around this
Carousel of light and wonder!

Though we say goodbye
We cast a spell that won't be broken
Let this night forever
Live in our dreams!











[Jiminy Cricket]

So long! From Jiminy Cricket... in SpectroMagic!

 

[AmandaSparks730]

WISHES, the NEW fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom, debuted to the public October 9, 2003, replacing the long running Fantasy in the Sky fireworks which premiered in 1976.

THE STORY: Narrated by Jiminy Cricket, "Wishes" tells of making wishes come true, using classic Disney songs and character voices accompanied by meticulously choreographed fireworks.

According to Disney, "Wishes" was created in honor of the launch of Magical Gatherings, the new program designed for friends and extended family traveling together to Walt Disney World. The show is designed to bring guests together at night for a heart-tugging spectacle that will create lasting memories.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTERESTING FACTS

The show runs approximately 12 minutes, about five minutes longer than "Fantasy in the Sky," the previous fireworks show at Magic Kingdom.

There are 557 fireworks firing cues, and 655 individual pieces of pyrotechnics.

"Wishes" features the voices of:

* Jiminy Cricket, the Blue Fairy and Pinocchio (from 1940's "Pinocchio")
* Snow White and the Evil Queen (from 1937's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs")
* Cinderella (from 1950's "Cinderella")
* Peter Pan (from 1953's "Peter Pan")
* Ariel (from 1989's "The Little Mermaid")
* Aladdin and Genie (from 1992's "Aladdin")
* Tinker Bell (also from "Peter Pan"), flies from atop Cinderella Castle during a key moment in the show.

Steven Davison, the creator/show director, is creative director with Walt Disney Creative Entertainment. He also developed the "Believe... There's Magic in the Stars" fireworks spectacular at Disneyland.

Fireworks designer is Eric Tucker, an award-winning pyrotechnics designer who previously designed the fireworks for "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" at Epcot.

Music director is Steve Skorija, music director for Walt Disney Entertainment.

The composer/arranger is Gregory Smith, who previously worked on such Walt Disney World productions as "IllumiNations 25" and "Splashtacular" at Epcot, and the "Mickey Mania" parade at Magic Kingdom.

In addition to Gregory Smith's original theme, which is based on the children's nursery rhyme "Starlight, Star Bright," the score for "Wishes" contains portions of 12 songs from 10 classic Disney animated features:

* "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937)
* "Pinocchio" (1940)
* "Fantasia" (1940)
* "Cinderella" (1950)
* "Peter Pan" (1953)
* "Sleeping Beauty" (1959)
* "The Little Mermaid" (1989)
* "Beauty and the Beast" (1991)
* "Aladdin" (1992)
* "Hercules" (1997)

"Wishes" features pyrotechnic effects never seen before in a Disney theme park, including several developed especially for the show:

* The show's "wishing star" crests approximately 100 feet above the castle's bright spires.
* The Blue Fairy is represented with a spectacular star-shaped shell that "paints" each wish high in the sky with enchanted starlight.

*Debuted October 9, 2003.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

ATTRACTION

Ariel's Grotto -- This colorful grotto out just beyond Cinderella's Golden Carrousel is decorated with starfish, coral, and waterfalls, and affords the opportunity to meet Ariel, the beautiful mermaid heroine of "The Little Mermaid," throughout the day. There's also a play area with a spongy flooring -- originally there were squirting fountains here, but they haven't operated for some time.

Since mermaids have difficulty walking on land, Ariel will greet you from her chair draped with seaweed -- young mermaid fans can sit right next to her for their photo op!

Ariel's usually there at her grotto from 10 a.m. until park closing, but check your daily Times Guide just to be sure.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Grand Return - May 28, 1999
Last Show April 1, 2001



“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Walt Disney World proudly presents our spectacular festival pageant of nighttime magic and imagination in thousands of sparkling lights and electrosynthomagnetic musical sounds . . . the ‘Main Street Electrical Parade!’”

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- It’s time to say “good bye” to a cherished favorite. The “Main Street Electrical Parade,” one of the most beloved attractions in Disney history, will close its run at the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom April 1, 2001.

After more than 500 performances before hundreds of thousands of guests, the parade’s lights and music will dim, making way for another spectacle of nighttime entertainment and music, “SpectroMagic.”

The “Main Street Electrical Parade” is a beloved procession of Disney stories brought to life in shimmering colored lights and bouncy, bubbly music. “Alice in Wonderland,” “Cinderella,” “Peter Pan,” “Dumbo,” “Snow White” and “Pete’s Dragon” are featured during the 20-minute spectacle.

“The ‘Main Street Electrical Parade’ has had an enormously successful return to the Magic Kingdom,” said Erin Wallace, vice president for Magic Kingdom. “We wanted to let its fans know the parade is going away so they can catch one of the final performances.”

Magic Kingdom guests can share in the delight of the “Main Street Electrical Parade” every night of the week beginning Feb. 16. Show times will vary.

“Historically, the ‘Main Street Electrical Parade’ has been a Disney favorite,” said R.K. Kelley, Walt Disney Entertainment senior show producer for Magic Kingdom. “Our six-week finale will give many fans an opportunity to enjoy it one last time.”