1/15: Sing and Run

[Al Lutz]

Kevin takes a look at American Idol Merchandise, and runs in the Goofy Challenge. Discuss his article here...

DIRECT ARTICLE LINK: MiceAge.com - A different look at Disney...

[danyoung]

Thanks as always for the new info. I for one have been hooked on AI for the past 4 years or so. I'm looking forward to seeing the park version, although like others I have my doubts that they'll find enough quality performers on any given day to be worth much. Rather, it'll just be the best of the mediocre, which is pretty hard to sit through. I'm not a karaoke fan, and I'm afraid this will be much more karaoke than quality entertainment.

Oh, and I have to remind you once again, Kevin, in my usual superior and haughty manner, that it's NOT the Adventurer's Club - it's the Adventurers Club. Small diff, but for some reason that apostrophe bothers me.

[Pretzel]

Andrew wrote:

Drew Carey's Sounds Dangerous (one of the worst shows in the entire existence of Disney parks)

That's pretty harsh, isn't it? No, it's not very high tech, but I found it a reasonable diversion, and it fits in with the theme of the Studio nicely. The binaural recording is actually quite realistic, IMO, and is one of the better demonstrations of that medium.

[AstroBlaster]

I think it's an accurate description of the attraction. It suffers from a lack of repeat business. If you have seen it once there is no need to see it again. It's an A ticket attraction and that's probably giving it too much credit.

[Lebeau]

Regarding attraction specific merchandise: Even most of the Pirates merchandise has more to do with the movies than the ride.

Every trip, I find myself wanting to give Disney my money. But I leave disappointed in the offerings.

[sir clinksalot]

Congrats on the Goofy Kevin. Read your blog and thought it was great. You should share it on the boards for those who didn't want to venture over there. It was a good read.

I wanted to do the Disneyland 1/2 marathon last year but didn't think I could do it. I don't know why I never thought of running 1/2 at a 12-mile pace (doable) and then walking the 2nd half. Maybe I'll re-think my plan for this year.

I also need to check into that biofreeze stuff. Wonder if it would help my shin-splints that I get on road-running, but not on the treadmill.

[KevinYee]

I wrote the "runner's story" as part of the update originally and realized it was getting pretty introspective, navel-gazing, and just looked kind of focused on ME rather than the race or Disney, so I decided to snip it out.

I also separately wrote up the training for the marathon, but that one was starting to look egotistical, so I just made that its own blog entry. I'm trying to be sensitive to the multiple audiences around here

[flynnibus]

well I think this puts it in perspective... look at how popular who wants to be a millionaire was on TV... and transformed well into a gameshow you could do in the park.

The game at the park is already gone.. the TV show is long long gone off primetime. Seems like ages ago right? Well just recently was the 10th anniversary of the US premiere. Just 10 years! So the park attraction lasted a fraction of that. How many 'anchor' attractions at Disney do you expect to last just a few years? Sad really.

AI is already on its downwards side of its popularity curve.. and they are just opening the attraction now. I think this one is going to be either completely empty or gutted in just a matter of years. $10 says it lasts even less then the Millionaire game.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

^ For the 10th Anniversary, there are rumors blowing of a Millionaire return to primetime complete with a fresh from the canned Million Dollar Password, Regis Philbin.

[DVkid07]

Many of these judge performers are apparently from the Adventurer's Club (it's tempting to speculate that the impending opening of Idol may have been one of the reasons to close the Adventurer's Club, but I have no evidence on that basis so it's best not to make that leap automatically).

Eh... I wouldn't be too quick to go digging for any more info on that. It wasn't uncommon for performers at the Adventurers Club or Comedy Warehouse to work on other shows across the park. I recall a meeting with someone in Entertainment that talked of a time when the actor for the bird show at Animal Kingdom got a cold and they went through the call list searching for a replacement. Turns out, one of the CMs at the Adventurers Club used to be in the bird show and was able to fill in. I think those actors had a lot of other experience at Disney before and after the AC.

[BrerBrian]

Just FYI, there have been non CM soft openings at AI since Thursday. Earlier today in fact, park attendance was low (normal for the season) and they still managed to pack the AI theater.

[twobluestripes]

Originally Posted by Lebeau

Regarding attraction specific merchandise: Even most of the Pirates merchandise has more to do with the movies than the ride.

Every trip, I find myself wanting to give Disney my money. But I leave disappointed in the offerings.

here, here! i don't think they realize that park lovers would swipe up merch themed to their favorite attractions, especially if well designed with graphics and stuff and not too cheesy looking.
when you don't live near the park, it's kind of a badge of pride to have been to disneyland / world and you are proud to wear your merch to find other people who have been and who love that attraction to talk to and bond with, or people who have never been so that you can tell them how fabulous it is! everyone's seen disney movies, but not everyone's been to a disney park.