Is everyone getting rested and ready for the Disneyland 60th anniversary hoopla? I’ll be doing the Press Thing to a limited degree (I think) as I’m still recovering from getting hit by a truck (for real). Thanks for all the nice notes and words. My car’s in far worse shape than I am and Alice is doing great. Both the car and I will be back in fine form in a few weeks. It wasn’t totaled, it was only halved!
It’s Literally a Virtual Theme Park
Last year at E3, I got to try Oculus Rift. See?
It was really cool, but I was still sitting there. Soon, you’ll be able to go to Utah and experience gaming head-to-toe, with headset, body armor, swords, guns, you name it, says Tom’s Guide. Opening in 2016, this is going to be a whole new facet to theme parks and will once again get theme park enthusiasts arguing about what, exactly, IS a theme park. Please leave your opinion, which is valid even if others don’t share it, in the comments below or on Facebook. I’ve been known to be swayed by a good, intelligent discussion, especially if it’s Doug Barnes of MicePod’s own Season Pass Podcast!
The line keeps blurring. So is this going to be like the simulator craze of the late 80’s-early 90’s, where everything seemed to be simulators and practical effects were tossed aside, or has the theme park industry learned its lesson? Looking at Voyage to the Iron Reef, I’d say the latter. It’s a fantastic balance of gaming, practical effects, staging and dark ride.
Stuff’s Getting Real
In 2005, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company did a pop-up temporary Pokémon theme park. Check out Kotaku for the photos. Why on earth no one has taken the rich library of Nintendo characters and made a theme park out of them, I’ll never know. You have the Mario Brothers, Pikmin, Pokémon, Animal Crossing (seriously, if they made Tom Nook’s store, I’d buy everything there twice!), Zelda, you get the drift. Mario Kart racing. It’s kind of a no-brainer. Last week, Universal Parks and Resorts finally brained it, announcing that they’re doing…something…with Nintendo in their parks. This hasn’t really been to lack of trying on theme parks’ part; until recently Nintendo has been famously tight-fisted with their intellectual property. I wonder if this is what will replace Marvel Super Hero Island, if Disney is able to buy out their contract? What attractions, restaurants and experiences do you expect? Let me know.
Sitting on a Bench for Kids
I may not be riding roller coasters for a few weeks, but I do want to raise money for a good cause. Right now, it’s Give Kids the World Coasting for Kids at Cedar Point parks across the country. I’m on the Coasterpalooza 3.0 team at Knott’s Berry Farm, and the link to my donation page is here. You can sign up to ride/hang out with Fab and co. as well. I have 21 days to reach a modest goal, and every little bit helps.
Science is For Girls!
That’s what I hear Bill Nye saying every time I see his face, because when Alice was a tot, we went to the opening of Ellen’s Energy Adventure at Epcot. He approached me and the Stroller from Hell, Alice riding inside. “I think you have a little girl there!” he said. Everything he said to me that day was punctuated with exclamation marks. ! . I confirmed this. Good eye, she was wearing her favorite outfit with the trucks on it. “You know, it’s really important to teach girls science and math, because they can get left behind! But science is for girls! I hope you’ll make sure she learns science and math!” I promised, and she actually spent Kindergarten and first grade in a math and science magnet school. So, where am I going with this? She’s in college for animation now, but still loves science, especially natural sciences, and it really helps with her art. Disney seems to be listening to Bill’s advice as well, partnering with NASA and Google on Miles from Tomorrowland, which not only boasts the coolest theme song in years, but despite having an educational purpose, is actually a cute and entertaining show. As a former child and a parent, I can tell you that it is not easy to accomplish this.
They wanted to turn the negative, stereotypical geek image (cough::bigbangtheory:: on its head, so Miles’ sister codes, his mom’s inspired by real-life astronaut Yvonne D. Cagle, science is an everyday part of life. It’s cool and approachable. You know, like camera phones and satellite technology. THE FUTURE!!!
Legoland Hotel Opens with a Blast
Literally:
Wow! The fantastic Legoland Hotel is finally open at Legoland Florida, in Winter Haven, Florida, just a brick’s throw away from Orlando and theme park central. It’s a swell place to take kids, and having the hotel there turns a harried day trip into a relaxed vacation. The rooms fit right in with the theme of the resort, with Pirate, Kingdom, Adventure, and the exclusive-to-Florida Lego Friends rooms. As a lover of all things pink, I approve. They’ve also moved the Model Shop into the hotel at this resort. Guests will be able to build side-by-side with Master Builders! I think that this is a great idea.
Each room sleeps five, and is actually like a mini-suite, with a king bed in one part of the room and a trundle and bunk beds in another part, with two separate flat-panel TVs. VIP suites take this a few steps further, sleeping up to nine people! Each room also has a treasure chest, which can only be unlocked by performing a special scavenger hunt.
For reservations, go to LegolandHotel.com or contact your travel agent.
If You Aren’t Too Tired
Beach Ball Comics is holding a mega-signing event featuring the brilliant minds of Walt Disney Imagineering to celebrate the release of the FIGMENT hardcover and the new Marvel Comics Disney Kingdoms series BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN RAILROAD! Among the big names for this special Saturday event will be Brian Crosby, Jim Clark, Josh Shipley, Tom Morris, Andy Digenova and Disney Legend TONY BAXTER!
Beach Ball Comics is located just down the road from Disneyland on Ball Road: 3024 W Ball Rd Suite G, Anaheim, California 92804. The event starts at 1pm.
Virtual Fanniversary
With the D23 Expo looming on the horizon, Disney is taking this year’s Fanniversary event online so folks everywhere can participate. The theme this year is Lady and the Tramp, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary (just like Disneyland). Beginning May 29th, interested folks can begin preparing for the party by downloading invitations, decorations, crafts, games, and even a traditional spaghetti and meatballs recipe at D23.com/D23Fanniversary. The event itself kicks off June 12–14. Throughout that weekend, D23 will unveil new and classic content about this beloved animated film. They plan to wrap up the event with a watch-along and would like everyone to press play at the exact same time as we all watch Lady and the Tramp together. Don’t worry, we’ll catch those puppies if it’s the last thing we do!
I’ll be back on Thursday with more news and perhaps a tip our two about the 24 hour party at Disneyland. See you soon.
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