tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post114316566785980298..comments2024-02-08T07:33:49.907-08:00Comments on Re-Imagineering: Audio-AnachronisticsMr Bankshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12952506736745891323noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-7286431597084095242008-03-02T19:43:00.000-08:002008-03-02T19:43:00.000-08:00..........Thank you folks for this blog & the thou.............Thank you folks for this blog & the thought it takes to arrive @ this point[s] of view. I am there w/you & have been for years.<BR/><BR/>...... I am a Socal res.have seen the park change over the years. Rode the Viewliner the 1st time I went. I deal w/Disney on several biz. levels so see the park weekly.<BR/>...... With my background I am in an unusual position to "see" how things should have been. <BR/><BR/>......If I could contribute something in the future,w/your blessing I would. <BR/><BR/>......Thanks again & please continue to care enough to keep this goingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1144812812778309442006-04-11T20:33:00.000-07:002006-04-11T20:33:00.000-07:00Does anyone else find it odd that Ellen spent 3 or...Does anyone else find it odd that Ellen spent 3 or 4 days at Universal Orlando taping shows which among other things included segments where she played with guests in both Universal Studios and Island of Adventure? Even stranger was the segment where she sat in the Jurassic Park raft ride harrassing guests with a puppet dinosaur. Maybe Disney should sell the Ellen AA figure from UofE to Universal.<BR/><BR/>David HAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1144271756677092692006-04-05T14:15:00.000-07:002006-04-05T14:15:00.000-07:00I can't help but feel that a big chunk of Disney i...I can't help but feel that a big chunk of Disney integrity was lost when they bought ABC. After that happened, cheesy tie-ins starting sprouting up everywhere - take a look at Regis and Drew Carey in the ill-fated Superstar Limo ride. I really felt that this cheapened the theme parks. Late last year I was in the Anaheim World of Disney store in Downtown Disney, and there in the t-shirt section, was a Desperate Housewives t-shirt for sale!!! It really jarred me out of the Disney character fantasy world and reminded me that the Powers That Be have no problem screwing with the Disney brand in order to try to make an extra buck. And that hurts the kid in me that still tries to cling onto what going to Disneyland used to mean to me...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1144126382395162402006-04-03T21:53:00.000-07:002006-04-03T21:53:00.000-07:00I certainly feel as though some thought was put in...I certainly feel as though some thought was put into Ellen's Energy Adventure. It's evident that the budget was not there for a complete show change (with some cuts), but the production values are nothing short of impressive. It's entertaining and (unlike the modifications made to Epcot after Energy reopened) still focuses on it's topic. When one leaves Ellen's Energy Adventure they have the promise of the future that was present in all of the original attractions at Epcot. Mission: Space, Test Track, Soarin, and Honey I Shrunk the Audience lack such emotions. They focus on the show, the ride, the attraction - perhaps using factual items within the show - but do not inspire guests about the future. Energy with Ellen was not entirely about face value.<BR/><BR/>At the time Bill Nye was a very popular television show and quite the poster boy for Epcot. I still have a certificate of completion for an Epcot trivia/scavenger hunt from a Bill Nye show in Innoventions. Those were some pretty difficult questions too and, if anything, the questionare was chocked full of Epcot's history.<BR/><BR/>I feel as though, at the time, it was unknown how long Bill Nye's tenure was going to be with Disney. It was truly only Bill Nye and Figment back in Epcot 96' that was bringing the young ones in, even prior to the Kidcot or Honey I Shrunk the Audience additions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143862303899117172006-03-31T19:31:00.000-08:002006-03-31T19:31:00.000-08:00Be careful what you wish for, or the bean counters...Be careful what you wish for, or the bean counters will go wild over "Ellen's Synergy Adventure." I can hear the orchestral score rising to the words "...synergy makes the world go round" or "synergy, the crock that returns". Or maybe even "syner-cali-frali-gistic-expi-ali-docious.... even just the sound of it is totally cash-a-docious"<BR/><BR/>Just keep in mind: Today's synergy ensures tomorrow's apathy.<BR/><BR/>(As a side note, I rode EEA on Wednesday and it actually is alot of fun, but aging quickly. The lines were far longer in Living with the Land, which although updated, remains a timeless treasure."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143751378117306042006-03-30T12:42:00.000-08:002006-03-30T12:42:00.000-08:00As a former employee of the Disney company, I can ...As a former employee of the Disney company, I can tell you that the usage of pop culture personas is driven largely by the marketing department's ridiculous and sometimes unintelligible stress on synergy. Remember - Disney owns ABC. Why not use the theme park to promote shows on the network they own? Sure it's invasive to the rides and annoying as hell at times but please remember, when Epcot was built, ABC wasn't owned by Disney. If anything they were branding their own movies and characters. In 1995, when Disney acquired ABC, all bets were off...and yeah, we had the synergy speeches shoved down all of our throats to the point where you kind of felt you were listening to a tape loop over and over.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143643197402285582006-03-29T06:39:00.000-08:002006-03-29T06:39:00.000-08:00EEE is a truly strange ride; besides being terribl...EEE is a truly strange ride; besides being terribly dated, it actually admits how silly it is within the ride itself -- after the Jeopardy intro, Bill Nye says something like, "So uh, let's go look at dinosaurs!" as the segue into the animatronic portion. The entire ride is essentially a way to make use of some 30-year-old really impressive animatronics, rather than let them go to waste.<BR/><BR/>That said, if you're going to have a silly attraction that makes fun of itself, you could do a whole lot worse than Ellen and Bill Nye... and the gag with Einstein writing a theoretical equation instead of his name is one of the biggest laughs in the park.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143570878325160082006-03-28T10:34:00.000-08:002006-03-28T10:34:00.000-08:00First, thanks for pointing out "timelessness" as o...First, thanks for pointing out "timelessness" as one of the attributes of the great Disney rides and movies. I was thinking about just that the other day, but you beat me to posting it.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I think the overuse of current pop culture and current celebrities is really laziness in marketing. The thought is that using popular celebrities makes an easier connection with the guests since the guest already know the celebrity's personna, etc. In other words, "Sounds Dangerous with Drew Carey" is an easier sell than just "Sounds Dangerous", since we all know that Drew Carey's on-screen personality is light, humorous entertainment.<BR/><BR/>And they're right: it does work - up to a point. One, as everyone here has mentioned, is that using Ellen or Drew is fine when they're popular but most celebrities are not timeless as thus are soon forgotten. For example, imagine if the American Adventure was hosted by an animatronic Larry Hagman instead of Mark Twain (<I>Dallas</I> was huge in the early 80's when EPCOT was built).<BR/><BR/>Second, celebrities are only useful if you know who they are. Not only are there foreign visitors, but (contrary to what Hollywood execs likely think) not everybody watched or even knows who Ellen and Drew are.<BR/><BR/>So I guess my point is that using celebs as themselves is fine as long as they are very widely known *and* you are planning to replace or update that ride in a few years. Other rides - particularly the large, expensive E-tickets that you want to last for decades - need to be timeless. Timeless rides may be tougher to market, but you get to amortize that effort over a much longer period of time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143462418986534752006-03-27T04:26:00.000-08:002006-03-27T04:26:00.000-08:00But there's a difference between a Tiki Bird singi...<I>But there's a difference between a Tiki Bird singing in the voice of Maurice Chevalier or calling the vehicles in Haunted Mansion 'Dune Buggies' and Ellen Degeneres hosting the Energy Pavilion. A big difference. Those who want to nit-pick on details like that are completely and sadly missing the point.</I><BR/><BR/>No, I get it. I think using Ellen and Bill Nye really puts a sell-by date on an attraction, and misses the opportunity to create a more timeless attraction. And it's LAME!<BR/><BR/>You can have a mix of timeless and dated and short-shelf-life attractions all in the same park. The trick is to keep rotating your stock, and make sure you're not rotating out the good stuff. The Eisner years were not kind in that regard.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18019636595142924105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143447971820314242006-03-27T00:26:00.000-08:002006-03-27T00:26:00.000-08:00Alas, anonymous, at least Eddie Cantor and Sophie ...Alas, anonymous, at least Eddie Cantor and Sophie Tucker had talent that transcended several generations! I still love them!Mr Bankshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12952506736745891323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143445951740897972006-03-26T23:52:00.000-08:002006-03-26T23:52:00.000-08:00It's a shame that this has become the norm, but th...It's a shame that this has become the norm, but that's been the DIsney business plan for years now-short term ideas for short term profit. <BR/><BR/>As far as Robin Williams' genie- that Arsenion Hall thing was old when the film came out. Now, watching it with kids, you have to explain who that caricature is, since, well, what has Hall done for the last 10 or more years? It reminds me of those old Looney Tunes that take place at the Brown Derby, with Eddie Cantor and Sophie Tucker jitterbugging. It just amounts to investing in obselescence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143405949081445542006-03-26T12:45:00.000-08:002006-03-26T12:45:00.000-08:00I was going to defend the ride a little, note that...I was going to defend the ride a little, note that I thought it was character driven, not celebrity driven, and generally talk about how much of what we remember as "inspiring" from EPCOT, was really callous corporate nonsense presented as the future, but I don't have the energy - instead, I just have to defend the score:<BR/><BR/><I>science fact was replaced with science light and the brooding orchestral score was replaced with, well, the theme song from Jeopardy.</I><BR/><BR/>In fact, EEE has one of the finest scores written for EPCOT since the opening - the only thing that would compete would be ROE - and I'm not talking about the Jeopardy theme. The EEE score is quite musically complicated and very emotional - perhaps not catchy, but really quite stirring. It's one of the overlooked gems of that redo - a redo which really was/is successful relative to the energy nonsense / universe of sleep. <BR/><BR/>Though, to defend the original, if you say the word "shale" to anyone my age who grew up in florida, they turn around and say "the rock that burns?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143396507357093822006-03-26T10:08:00.000-08:002006-03-26T10:08:00.000-08:00>>It's not a conspiracy devised by less dedicated ...>>It's not a conspiracy devised by less dedicated Imagineers or slick suits. <<<BR/><BR/>Though it certainly plays to their weaknesses.Merlin Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13397520005969644808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143395996199158602006-03-26T09:59:00.000-08:002006-03-26T09:59:00.000-08:00It's also Epcot, not Six Flags over Orlando.It's also Epcot, not Six Flags over Orlando.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143393498228944272006-03-26T09:18:00.000-08:002006-03-26T09:18:00.000-08:00I love the attractions with "updatable software" (...I love the attractions with "updatable software" (Star Tours, Soarin', CircleVision, Country Bears, DisneyQuest etc.) - - though part of the sell on these things was that they could change, remain current and be updated frequently, the company rarely reinvests in something on that level - especially if it isn't one of the Big E attractions. Except for Innoventions, which is dependant on the sponsorship, so seems to get changed out occasionally, when do the tiresome updatable attractions ever get an update? <BR/><BR/>Instead people seem to be obsessed with peeing on the Haunted Mansion and Pirates, which no one ever tires of as they are. They don't need the updating.Merlin Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13397520005969644808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143393253561974332006-03-26T09:14:00.000-08:002006-03-26T09:14:00.000-08:00Interesting discussion - and I stand corrected abo...Interesting discussion - and I stand corrected about Sid Cesar - but it's a bit of a moot point relative to what I was saying.<BR/><BR/>When Ellen's Energy Adventure closes, I don't expect you will hear the equivalent of a "bring back Figment" outcry. EPCOT has gotten almost 25 years out of Figment, and folks are still looking for the Dreamfinder.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143389504477514652006-03-26T08:11:00.000-08:002006-03-26T08:11:00.000-08:00Let me start by saying, I have agreed with all the...Let me start by saying, I have agreed with all the posts here- but this one- not so much. I don't know if you guys are running out of ideas to pick on disney, but this seems a little... forced.<BR/><BR/>As a writer and persuader, you have every right to leave out the good stuff of Ellen's Energy Adventure- and you did. I love how they still incorporate the dinosaurs from the original ride, I always find it entertaining and humorous(as well as educational), and you make it seem as if the only music we hear is the Jeopardy theme- not true. A moving instrumental theme is heard before, during, and after the ride, and it's one that evokes emotion and mystery.<BR/><BR/>You imply that Disney should make timeless attractions with no reference to our modern culture in the outside world. However, this use isn't necessarily a bad thing. At times it can connect the audience more to the message implied. <BR/><BR/>I think the main problem about your post is that this really isn't a recent problem in the disney parks. Over the years, Tomorrowlands have had to be rethemed, rides have had to be updated and changed- it's just a matter of our changing times. Ellen's UoE just appears to be dated which means it's time for a change. That's all it is, it's not a growing epidemic killing off all Disney creativity.<BR/><BR/>The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management, however, is a sad replacement and sickens me. The sound of Gilbert Godfrey singing is a horrific downgrade to a great attraction.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143353515101389452006-03-25T22:11:00.000-08:002006-03-25T22:11:00.000-08:00Thank you, Bratstar. It's impossible not to uncons...Thank you, Bratstar. It's impossible not to unconsciously date any attraction in some small way. We're all products of our current age. But there's a difference between a Tiki Bird singing in the voice of Maurice Chevalier or calling the vehicles in Haunted Mansion 'Dune Buggies' and Ellen Degeneres hosting the Energy Pavilion. A big difference. Those who want to nit-pick on details like that are completely and sadly missing the point. You, Bratstar, seem to understand. And for that I thank you. Ellen isn't playing a 'character', she's just 'Ellen'. 1996 Ellen. Pop culture Ellen.Mr Bankshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12952506736745891323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143349590491020152006-03-25T21:06:00.000-08:002006-03-25T21:06:00.000-08:00It's hard to be timeless when you go the cheap rou...It's hard to be timeless when you go the cheap route of using current pop references. It's a pay me now, pay me later sort of thing. You can invest in the undated treasures and have something that lasts a long time, or you can climb on the back of a pop reference and have something that turns over in a few years.<BR/><BR/>I've heard that one of the pirates in the prison scene in Pirates of the Carribean has the face of Sid Ceasar from when he was huge on television. What makes the scene timeless is that it doesn't rely on that face being a current TV star.<BR/><BR/>The same will be true for Johnny Depp - the scene isn't based on an actor, but a character from a movie. It's an important distinction - imho.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143327510071178432006-03-25T14:58:00.000-08:002006-03-25T14:58:00.000-08:00And who do we hear crooning inside? Bing Crosby, J...<I>And who do we hear crooning inside? Bing Crosby, Jimmy Durrante, etc.</I><BR/><BR/>Right on!<BR/><BR/>I remember countless dated references in Disneyland's past. Anyone recall the burning settler's cabin, when the captain of the Columbia would say "Looks like he's wearing an Arrow shirt..."? <BR/><BR/>"Doom Buggies" was a play on "Dune Buggies." (And notice how the Ghost Host stresses the pun.) Does anyone under 40 even know what a dune buggy was?<BR/><BR/>The problem arises when Disney tries too hard to to make the jokes hip and edgy, coming off like like a square old preacher trying to speak in the kids' own language.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18019636595142924105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143300391057309412006-03-25T07:26:00.000-08:002006-03-25T07:26:00.000-08:00Does anyone recall some of the non-Disney cartoons...Does anyone recall some of the non-Disney cartoons that contain references to 20s, 30s, and 40s stars, such as Clark Gable and the Marx Brothers? They are filled with all sorts of current "hip" references to that time period that nobody understands today. When I watch them I feel like I'm on the outside of an inside joke. Now compare that with the timelessness of the Disney classics. The Disney parks have been like an abused child that now will be given proper treatment. The golden age is on the horizon!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143297217719565562006-03-25T06:33:00.000-08:002006-03-25T06:33:00.000-08:00I could not agree more with the original entry. As...I could not agree more with the original entry. As much as we may enjoy "Ellen's Energy Adventure", or the "Under New Management" Tiki Room, they readily reveal that they will not stand the test of time. Unfortunately, the use of these sorts of things, and the related downturns they cause, has been used as cause to completely destroy and remove attractions. There is already talk that Universe of Energy will be completely removed, ala Horizons, and together with the mothballed Wonders of Life, an all new, and large, attraction will replace them both. Put me down as someone that doesn't think that is the answer.<BR/><BR/>Returning the Tiki Room to its original show is appealing to me. From a marketing standpoint, though, the existence of the original at Disneyland is making me want to get my son out there for it before he loses interest. He does love the original songs that we have on CD much more than what you get at WDW.<BR/><BR/>No offense to Ellen or Bill Nye. It is no reflection on them personally. They just aren't timeless and only serve to remind people of an existence outside of Disney. If I went through Universe of Energy right now, I would think about how Ellen is actually going to be taping over at Universal Studios soon. I also love the original music and would trade Ellen for the old show in a second.Lidstromhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01299935418508698525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143274817738643682006-03-25T00:20:00.000-08:002006-03-25T00:20:00.000-08:00I first encountered Ellen's Energy Adventure in 20...I first encountered <I>Ellen's Energy Adventure</I> in 2004 - by which point it was already dated, and far beyond any hope of relevance it might have been hoping to achieve. The original Universe of Energy ride <I>was</I> itself obsolete - horribly so - as was much of Future World.<BR/><BR/>The answer, however, is to upgrade the technology to keep people thinking about their future - not throw them an animatronic celebrity to ogle at while reciting the same old tired info.Andrew McFerrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07419262227168149810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143265682765047912006-03-24T21:48:00.000-08:002006-03-24T21:48:00.000-08:00Having Ellen, Bill Nye and Alex Trebek isn't so mu...Having Ellen, Bill Nye and Alex Trebek isn't so much the problem as it is the story they are intertwined with. A "timeless" story starring Ellen and Bill Nye could still play out. Just keep out the obvious references to pop-culture, here-today-gone-tomorrow world. Humor and good story telling has nothing to do with present day scandals, the hippest songs or the trendiest catch phrase. It is about heart and simple humor. Like in Field of Dreams, "If you write a timeless story, it will be retold forever". Ellen's Energy Adventure will never last IMO. And not that it's bad. It's not. But I believe future audiences that have yet to see it will be underwhelmed as father time ravishes what is essentially a very narrow period-piece. I do still enjoy it today, but my enjoyment lessens more and more as time presses on. <BR/><BR/>PS: Get rid of the wand! And PLEASE do something INSPIRING with the travesty that is Stitch's Great Escape. I still remember being 4 years old and going to Mars in that building and it really saddens me to see what has happened there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-1143258086338704742006-03-24T19:41:00.000-08:002006-03-24T19:41:00.000-08:00I agree with most of what has been written, but I ...I agree with most of what has been written, but I wanted to remind everyone that the actress, Whoopi Goldberg, does not play herself. She portrays the immortal Amazonian goddess, Califia, in "Golden Dreams". <BR/><BR/>It hasn't been mentioned, yet, but I dislike knowing the actors and actresses who provide the voices of characters in animated films. I believe Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel made a similar observation years ago, and I also think that the phenomenon was partly responsible for the decline in Walt Disney Feature Animation.Pragmatic Idealisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04255511952763116962noreply@blogger.com