7/04: Innoventions Dream Home, Lagging Mania?, WALL-E-WOOD, GCH Progress, +MORE
Posted 07-04-2008 at 01:58 AM by Dateline Disneyland
Updated 07-04-2008 at 04:43 AM by Dateline Disneyland
Updated 07-04-2008 at 04:43 AM by Dateline Disneyland
WELCOME TO DISNEYLAND!
The Guided Tours Garden has come out from behind its refurbishment walls sporting a nice new coat of paint.
The "Pop-Up" Gallery, in the exit lobby of the Main Street Opera House, now has a large banner to call attention to the makeshift art gallery.
Despite summer being in full swing, it isn't uncommon to enter the Resort and immediately sense that it is remarkably un-busy for the should-be jam-packed summer months. The information board at the end of Main Street, mid-day, on a weekend afternoon reflects the off-season-sized crowds. It used to be hard to catch Space Mountain at 30 minutes during the off-season, but now its pretty common now even during the so-called peak summer season.
INNOVENTIONS DREAM HOME
Even though crowds aren't as big as they normally are for a summer, Innoventions is getting the biggest lines it has seen in years thanks to the Innoventions Dream Home which has finally opened.
Innoventions with a wait time? For once in its life, yes.
Tom Morrow still welcomes guests to Innoventions.
One of the areas you enter into is a mini game show without prizes. Guests are picked to partake in a mini trivia game about hit ABC shows where the CM repeatedly encourages you to watch the shows online at abc.com. It's a little tacky.
Walls are lined with murals featuring past and present Tomorrowland icons.
Finally, after your game show spins around enough, you're let go onto the front lawn of the new Innoventions Dream Home where you're greeted by a member of the Elias family.
The introduction here, like much of the Dream Home script seems forced and didn't seem to keep much of the audience's attention. This cast member did a great job of staying in character, it's just too bad that her character was incredibly annoying (for example, she started off her spiel by squealing "O. M. G!" when she realized she had guests on her doorstep).
The Innoventions Dream Home is bogged down with a pointless backstory that does little to promote the high-tech nature of the home. Apparently the Elias family is throwing a big party in celebration of their son's soccer team victory and plans to play at the championships in China. Not only is the story pointless, but the dozen or so Elias family members and friends running around are equally pointless with over-dramatic improvisation and scripts about how their house is so great. The soccer party story is always used a cop-out to move guests along or to end a technological demonstration because "This is a party! Go have fun!"
That isn't to say the new Dream Home isn't nice, though. Aesthetically, it is very nice, even if the art nouveau and craftsman mix in decor is a bit weird. Technologically, the Dream Home pretty fun to walk through and play with. Yet, it seems guest levels of enjoyment may vary - I overheard one say "This is so cool - you could spend hours in here!" while another said "This is all just too complicated for me."
Needless to say, the Dream Home is certainly far superior to the endless rows of VMK-equipped computers that the lower level of Innoventions used to feature, still, the new Dream Home could seriously do without the forced Elias Family and their soccer championships backstory. Let the technology speak for itself and have some highly trained and informed CMs available for demos and questions.
The son's room is themed to Peter Pan and features frequent story time moments with mom, who tells the tale of Peter Pan, complete with projected film clips, a bed that launches pretend cannonballs, and special lighting.
The daughter's room includes a "magic mirror" that lets only select members of the Elias family and friends virtually "try on" the daughter's wardrobe.
The office and family room feature state-of-the-art computer and entertainment technologies.
This is probably my favorite thing in the entire Dream Home... and it doesn't even do anything.
The kitchen knows when you're running low on certain items, can help you cook by reading aloud recipes (with a program called "Cooking with Lillian"), has light up countertops, and has a retractable sink faucet, and loads of smart appliances.
The back patio includes a barbeque and simulated window into the night's sky.
The Party Tent is the last thing you're supposed to encounter before leaving the Dream Home and moving up to the second level of Innoventions. Keen-eyed Disneylanders will notice a few theming elements in this area recycled from the bottom level's previous incarnation.
The party tent includes a guestbook as well as a couple kiosks where you can enter-to-win your own Dream Home thanks to Taylor Morrison. David "Darkbeer" Micahel gave details on how to enter the contest from home in his 6/30 Monday in the Parks column.
MONORAIL READY
according to Brady MacDonald at the LA Times Funland blog, the new Monorail Red Mark VII began carrying park guests Thursday evening after months of delays. The OC Register's Sonya Smith got a ride on the all-new Monorail Mark VII and shares her experience (along with photos) on the OC Register's Around Disney blog.
WALL•E•WOOD LAND
Over at Disney's California Adventure, a new WALL•E photo-op has appeared in the far end of the Hollywood Pictures Backlot.
This area used to feature two trailers for Cruella de Vil. The new photo op is pretty nice, and could be a nice area for future meet-and-greets with the Audio Animatronics WALL•E.
With the trailers gone, its much easier to see behind the Hollywood "set."
New Hollywood-themed sponsor ad posters have been added outside of the Backlot restrooms for Quilted Northern.
WHERE'S THE MANIA?
If Disneyland proper has been seeing underwhelming crowds this summer, then DCA is no exception.
With the extended outdoor queue often empty at the new Toy Story Midway Mania, or only partially filled, it seems like the initial swarm of Annual Passholders didn't yield to equally big crowds of anxious tourists wanting to see the brand new ride on Paradise Pier.
The posted wait time says 40 minutes, but after waiting in the line, it was more realistically a 25-minute wait. A short wait for most rides in the middle of summer, let alone a heavily marketed brand new attraction.
Mr. Potato Head looks like he might need some cleaning up already.
And perhaps better hiding of his inner workings.
GRAND CALIFORNIAN HOTEL PROGRESS
The new wing of the Grand Californian Hotel is progressing nicely.
Inside the Hotel, the Hearthstone Lounge has re-opened from its brief refurbishment.
In Downtown Disney, a huge inflatable WALL•E has landed between the AMC Theaters and the Disneyland Hotel.
And inside the Disneyland Hotel new paintings of various Disneyland delights have been added behind the check-in counter. These may not be brand new, but definitely within the year.
The Guided Tours Garden has come out from behind its refurbishment walls sporting a nice new coat of paint.
The "Pop-Up" Gallery, in the exit lobby of the Main Street Opera House, now has a large banner to call attention to the makeshift art gallery.
Despite summer being in full swing, it isn't uncommon to enter the Resort and immediately sense that it is remarkably un-busy for the should-be jam-packed summer months. The information board at the end of Main Street, mid-day, on a weekend afternoon reflects the off-season-sized crowds. It used to be hard to catch Space Mountain at 30 minutes during the off-season, but now its pretty common now even during the so-called peak summer season.
INNOVENTIONS DREAM HOME
Even though crowds aren't as big as they normally are for a summer, Innoventions is getting the biggest lines it has seen in years thanks to the Innoventions Dream Home which has finally opened.
Innoventions with a wait time? For once in its life, yes.
Tom Morrow still welcomes guests to Innoventions.
One of the areas you enter into is a mini game show without prizes. Guests are picked to partake in a mini trivia game about hit ABC shows where the CM repeatedly encourages you to watch the shows online at abc.com. It's a little tacky.
Walls are lined with murals featuring past and present Tomorrowland icons.
Finally, after your game show spins around enough, you're let go onto the front lawn of the new Innoventions Dream Home where you're greeted by a member of the Elias family.
The introduction here, like much of the Dream Home script seems forced and didn't seem to keep much of the audience's attention. This cast member did a great job of staying in character, it's just too bad that her character was incredibly annoying (for example, she started off her spiel by squealing "O. M. G!" when she realized she had guests on her doorstep).
The Innoventions Dream Home is bogged down with a pointless backstory that does little to promote the high-tech nature of the home. Apparently the Elias family is throwing a big party in celebration of their son's soccer team victory and plans to play at the championships in China. Not only is the story pointless, but the dozen or so Elias family members and friends running around are equally pointless with over-dramatic improvisation and scripts about how their house is so great. The soccer party story is always used a cop-out to move guests along or to end a technological demonstration because "This is a party! Go have fun!"
That isn't to say the new Dream Home isn't nice, though. Aesthetically, it is very nice, even if the art nouveau and craftsman mix in decor is a bit weird. Technologically, the Dream Home pretty fun to walk through and play with. Yet, it seems guest levels of enjoyment may vary - I overheard one say "This is so cool - you could spend hours in here!" while another said "This is all just too complicated for me."
Needless to say, the Dream Home is certainly far superior to the endless rows of VMK-equipped computers that the lower level of Innoventions used to feature, still, the new Dream Home could seriously do without the forced Elias Family and their soccer championships backstory. Let the technology speak for itself and have some highly trained and informed CMs available for demos and questions.
The son's room is themed to Peter Pan and features frequent story time moments with mom, who tells the tale of Peter Pan, complete with projected film clips, a bed that launches pretend cannonballs, and special lighting.
The daughter's room includes a "magic mirror" that lets only select members of the Elias family and friends virtually "try on" the daughter's wardrobe.
The office and family room feature state-of-the-art computer and entertainment technologies.
This is probably my favorite thing in the entire Dream Home... and it doesn't even do anything.
The kitchen knows when you're running low on certain items, can help you cook by reading aloud recipes (with a program called "Cooking with Lillian"), has light up countertops, and has a retractable sink faucet, and loads of smart appliances.
The back patio includes a barbeque and simulated window into the night's sky.
The Party Tent is the last thing you're supposed to encounter before leaving the Dream Home and moving up to the second level of Innoventions. Keen-eyed Disneylanders will notice a few theming elements in this area recycled from the bottom level's previous incarnation.
The party tent includes a guestbook as well as a couple kiosks where you can enter-to-win your own Dream Home thanks to Taylor Morrison. David "Darkbeer" Micahel gave details on how to enter the contest from home in his 6/30 Monday in the Parks column.
MONORAIL READY
according to Brady MacDonald at the LA Times Funland blog, the new Monorail Red Mark VII began carrying park guests Thursday evening after months of delays. The OC Register's Sonya Smith got a ride on the all-new Monorail Mark VII and shares her experience (along with photos) on the OC Register's Around Disney blog.
WALL•E•WOOD LAND
Over at Disney's California Adventure, a new WALL•E photo-op has appeared in the far end of the Hollywood Pictures Backlot.
This area used to feature two trailers for Cruella de Vil. The new photo op is pretty nice, and could be a nice area for future meet-and-greets with the Audio Animatronics WALL•E.
With the trailers gone, its much easier to see behind the Hollywood "set."
New Hollywood-themed sponsor ad posters have been added outside of the Backlot restrooms for Quilted Northern.
WHERE'S THE MANIA?
If Disneyland proper has been seeing underwhelming crowds this summer, then DCA is no exception.
With the extended outdoor queue often empty at the new Toy Story Midway Mania, or only partially filled, it seems like the initial swarm of Annual Passholders didn't yield to equally big crowds of anxious tourists wanting to see the brand new ride on Paradise Pier.
The posted wait time says 40 minutes, but after waiting in the line, it was more realistically a 25-minute wait. A short wait for most rides in the middle of summer, let alone a heavily marketed brand new attraction.
Mr. Potato Head looks like he might need some cleaning up already.
And perhaps better hiding of his inner workings.
GRAND CALIFORNIAN HOTEL PROGRESS
The new wing of the Grand Californian Hotel is progressing nicely.
Inside the Hotel, the Hearthstone Lounge has re-opened from its brief refurbishment.
In Downtown Disney, a huge inflatable WALL•E has landed between the AMC Theaters and the Disneyland Hotel.
And inside the Disneyland Hotel new paintings of various Disneyland delights have been added behind the check-in counter. These may not be brand new, but definitely within the year.
Alright, that should do it for this Independence Day edition of Dateline Disneyland. Happy July 4th to all of our American readers! Hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!
See you all next week!
-Andy
Total Comments 29
Comments
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Fantastic Dateline this week Andy!! Great pictures and great detail!
Posted 07-04-2008 at 04:19 AM by peoplemover1
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Lame paintings. What, they couldn't get Thomas Kinkade?Posted 07-04-2008 at 05:18 AM by pussnboots - Did anyone else see this quote in the article about the monorail:
Did they add air conditioning, or was the 8-year-old just wrong?Quote:“It was air conditioned and it was pretty,” said 8-year-old Bethany Masten from Sacramento. Masten and her family were on the first public trip with the new monorail.Posted 07-04-2008 at 06:22 AM by ahecht -
great picsPosted 07-04-2008 at 07:56 AM by disney lady -
Hi Ahecht, The Red Monorail has A/C in the front and back sections; the middle three sections have no A/C. So if you’re in the front or back, I guess it’s nice and cool, the middle starts to cook because windows only open a few inches. Check out the pics on my blog today (link), I was there yesterday and it was buzzing around the rail (no guest in it) and it had all its windows open. Great update Andy!
--
Visit: www.VintageDisneylandTickets.Blogspot.comPosted 07-04-2008 at 08:56 AM by Disneyland Tickets -
I know that people don't walk the hotels very often, but those paintings have been up for months!Posted 07-04-2008 at 09:16 AM by Jerm -
Great update! Happy 4th of July everyone!Posted 07-04-2008 at 09:27 AM by llama5492 -
Great report! Be safe today everyone!Posted 07-04-2008 at 09:55 AM by WheresMickey -
I actually like the back-story to the dream home.Posted 07-04-2008 at 11:55 AM by Kritter -
Nice Update: It's much appreciated for those of us who can't get to the park as often as we'd like.
The changes in Innoventions are an improvement, but I'm not sold on the "House of the Future" looking like a hundred year old Greene & Greene mansion - When I see the set, I'm more reminded of the Harthstone Lounge rather than the world of tomorrow today.Posted 07-04-2008 at 11:56 AM by Katella Gate - The small crowds are worrisome, there's been a lot of talk about the high gas prices and how people would be staying close to home for the holiday and for vacations, I would have thought that Disneyland would have an increase in attendance. But maybe it's a natural down turn after several years of bumper crop crowds, if I can use that term.Posted 07-04-2008 at 11:03 PM by Disneykin Kid
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WDW is bloody PACKED. Magic Kingdom was open until 4am the past two nights... regular closing was 1am and Extra Magic Hours were until FOUR! Must have been an interesting time. I haven't seen the parks that crowded in years, and MK is open until 12 or 1 (regular hours) more often than not. Even when advertised at 11pm closing, it often on-the-spot extends it to 12 if it's not an EMH night. Crazy.Posted 07-05-2008 at 02:47 AM by LongtimeReader -
Great Post Andy! I've been waiting for a chance to ride Monorail Red! It's nice to see I might get a chance really soon! =)Posted 07-05-2008 at 04:44 AM by headkaes -
Great update. I really love those pics inside the hotel. I want to get some like that for my living room. I went to the park last Tuesday and there was a 2 hour wait for Toy Story Mania and to see the new Dream House it was a 60 min wait.Posted 07-05-2008 at 11:59 AM by Craigroy8287 - Thanks for the great photos. Great report. Miceage is our much appreciated "Window To Disneyland".Posted 07-05-2008 at 12:12 PM by Root Family
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I don't mind the whole backstory thing and Elias family for the Dream Home. I like their enthusiasm! Sure it's a little cheesy, but it's not the first cheesy thing I've seen at Disneyland.
But interesting on two points you mentioned...when I went, we had a CM asking us what our dream home would be like, and it was basically a giant plug for a company that put the dream home together. Showing us that you could basically make it look like anything you'd desire. Also, for the magic mirror in the girl's room, we were never told only an Elias family member could use it (though I will say it wasn't very cooperative when anyone else tried to make it work-then again it was still kinda screwy with the family member that was giving the demonstration).
Can't wait to ride (the front or back) of the Monorail, and take pictures with WALL-E...still wish the AA would've been there, though. I wonder why they're not letting him come out this summer.Posted 07-05-2008 at 12:56 PM by pineapplewhipaddict -
I absolutely CANNOT wait to ride the Mk VII!! It looks like the coolest thing ever!!!!!Posted 07-05-2008 at 05:23 PM by SouthHrbrBlvd - I would think that the heat would have a bit to do with attendance - concerning locals, at least.Posted 07-05-2008 at 05:41 PM by Marko50
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Thanks for the info ... I figured they weren't brand new, so thats why I mentioned that I wasn't sure when they were added.Quote:Originally Posted by JermI know that people don't walk the hotels very often, but those paintings have been up for months!
Interesting. If this is the case at WDW, then I wonder why Disneyland is appearing to be so impacted by the economic downturn. It's interesting because Disney obviously isn't expecting the record crowds they've been getting for the past three years -- even though Disneyland Park is staying open until midnight every night this summer, DCA is closing at 9 p.m every night this summer (except July 4). The last few summers DCA has been open until 10p.m. to help absorb some of the record 50th Anniversary-sized crowds. So DCA closing at 9pm this year is an interesting move, especially since it just opened a brand new ride that is getting a lot of media and advertising attention.Quote:Originally Posted by LongtimeReaderWDW is bloody PACKED. Magic Kingdom was open until 4am the past two nights... regular closing was 1am and Extra Magic Hours were until FOUR! Must have been an interesting time. I haven't seen the parks that crowded in years, and MK is open until 12 or 1 (regular hours) more often than not. Even when advertised at 11pm closing, it often on-the-spot extends it to 12 if it's not an EMH night. Crazy.
-- Andy
Dateline DisneylandPosted 07-05-2008 at 06:11 PM by MasterGracey 
Updated 07-05-2008 at 06:16 PM by MasterGracey -
some of the artwork at the end of the update is soo cool. Great job!Posted 07-06-2008 at 02:15 AM by SplashMoun10
