It seems in the last month or so the Disney-Pixar folks have left me eating their dust when it comes to getting out the word on Cars 2! I need to burn rubber and try to play catch-up right now! :)
Worldwide racing and mistaken identities -- Click above to watch the final trailer for Cars 2 before it races into theaters on June 24th! Who are you rooting for in the World Grand Prix? - Disney-Pixar Facebook
(Left to right, front row) Keith Richards, executive producer John DeLuca, Penélope Cruz, Johnny Depp, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, and Ian McShane; (left to right, back row) Geoffrey Rush, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Rob Marshall, Sam Claflin
Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, and more portraits from May 7 premiere at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.
Kind of a motley crew, no? Something looks really posed about the group shot. Ian McShane is about the only one there that is looking at all comfortable in his skin. Everyone a bit jet lagged, maybe?
Fun, Geoffrey Rush-narrated ''Disneyland' to 'PotC' films':
'Inspired by' the Disneyland ride, 'Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides' is Pirates #4--all starring Johnny Depp.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides opens in theaters May 20th, 2011.
Cast: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Kevin R. McNally, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Sam Claflin, Geoffrey Rush
Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Rob Marshall, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise—this time in Disney Digital 3D™. Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in an action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise. When Jack crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), he's not sure if it's love—or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past. The international cast includes franchise vets Geoffrey Rush as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa, and Kevin R. McNally as Captain Jack's longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs, plus Sam Claflin as a stalwart missionary and Astrid Berges-Frisbey as a mysterious mermaid.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides trailer courtesy Walt Disney Pictures. Premiere on May 20, 2011.
This part of the Pirates of the Carribean ride is really well done: cannon balls are landing in the water near you as you cross between two warring ships.There are little explosions near you. When they added the 3 life-size Captain Jack Sparrows/Johnny Depps, they added 'Barbossa' as well. You can hear Barbossa 'curse' Jack Sparrow out here, too.
Above: Previously in the PotC quadrilogy: Being dead (cursed) didn't stop Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) from having a swig.
I guess he is now 'un' dead?
'PotC' was my hands- down favourite Disneyland ride for decades. Then Pixar's Toy Story happened and some years after that Disneyland installed Buzz Lightyear Adventure and then TOY STORY MIDWAY MANIA @ (DISNEY'S) California Adenture ' and Pirates, though still very awesome and now featuring three Jack Sparrow/Johnny Depps (!) animatronic guys--I wonder if he'll get a fourth, now?-- just wasn't number one with me anymore.
I'll still go on the 'Pirates' ride at Disneyland--the most I think was on a low-crowd day and I went a dozen times. I would go twice that on the 2 Toy Story-themed Disneyland - Cali Adventure rides, though. 'Midway Mania" totally immerses the rider in the 3-D game-ride to the point where you are very nearly 'inside it.' Totally addictive, mind-blowing great fun.
I also find it hard to stop riding 'Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters' in Disneyland.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Mermaid Concept Art:
The new issue of Entertainment Weekly has a look at concept art of the mermaids in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. We've scanned the page from the magazine, which features the art for the creature Syrena in her water form. Onshore, she adopts the human appearance of French-Spanish actress Astrid Berges-Frisbey. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer describes the mermaids as "gorgeous, sexy, and vicious!"
Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Rob Marshall,Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise—this time in Disney Digital 3D™. Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in an action-packed adventure. Crossing paths with the enigmatic Angelica (Penelope Cruz), he's not sure if it's love -- or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the "Queen Anne's Revenge," the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or Angelica, with whom he shares a mysterious past. The international cast includes franchise vets Geoffrey Rush as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa and Kevin R. McNally as Captain Jack's longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs, plus Sam Claflin as a stalwart missionary and Astrid Berges-Frisbey as a mysterious mermaid.
NEW Pirates of the Caribbean 4! Cool Zombie Concept Art!:
CLICK through to my Picasa album for full Pirates of the Caribbean 4 (some poster) size!
CLICK on Image to Enlarge to FULL Size
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Mermaid Concept Art:
The new issue of Entertainment Weekly has a look at concept art of the mermaids in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. We've scanned the page from the magazine, which features the art for the creature Syrena in her water form. Onshore, she adopts the human appearance of French-Spanish actress Astrid Berges-Frisbey. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer describes the mermaids as "gorgeous, sexy, and vicious!"
Captain Jack Sparrow is back in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides:
Fourth installment of Disney's 'Pirates' franchise arrives May 20, 2011
Captain Jack's new adventure includes an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink mix of 'mermaids, zombies [and] Blackbeard,' the most dreaded "pirate that all pirates fear," played by noted bad guy Ian McShane. The woman in Jack Sparrow's ('Shouldn't there be a 'captain' in there somewhere?" wonders Jack) life this time 'round is the enigmatic 'Angelica' (Penelope Cruz), a woman from his past with an agenda all her own. Angelica enlists Jack's help in finding the Fountain of Youth, then forces him to board Blackbeard's ship, and the story takes off (we hope).
The trailer shows us a peek at the gorgeous Angelica, a woman of action, Blackbeard being his nasty/scary self and Jack being all Jack-like. I'm fairly certain that I saw a cameo by Jack's dad (and Depp's inspiration for his character) played by Keith Richards. If so, yay! There's also a luminously beautiful mermaid (Astrid Berges-Frisbey) and the gallant young missionary (Sam Claflin) who attempts to keep her from harm's way.
With the ToyStory 3: Buttercup Audition video, I believe that Disney Pixar has tapped out the Toy Story 3 fountain of wonderfulness. The Buttercup video is incredibly short and utterly meh. Judge for yourself. (I still love Disney-Pixar, tho'.)
The
creators of the beloved Toy Story films re-open the toy box and bring
moviegoers back to the delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our favorite
gang of toy characters in TOY STORY 3. Woody and Buzz had accepted that
their owner Andy would grow up someday, but what happens when that day
arrives?
I read my first sort of middling review of Toy Story 3 today. The reviewer waxed on about how the Toy Story franchise has always being about life and death and loss, etc. but took issue with Toy Story 3's lame getaway from the daycare facility sequence. He did however really enjoy the parts where the toys, having "escaped" on a garbage truck went through the giant sorting machines and then almost got incinerated. Also, he worried that kid's movies were not for kids anymore. I have to totally disagree with that assessment.There has long been "kid's movies" that have a layer for the adults that the kiddies do not grasp.The cool thing is if the movies stand the test of time, they can be re-watched with a new eye--and level of appreciation.
The
creators of the beloved Toy Story films re-open the toy box and bring
moviegoers back to the delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our favorite
gang of toy characters in TOY STORY 3. Woody and Buzz had accepted that
their owner Andy would grow up someday, but what happens when that day
arrives?
Ken (of Barbie and...) was amusing but also sinister. I'll never look at/ think of a Ken doll in quite the same way again. Barbie was more like I would expect (sort of a bubblehead). Ken was positively evil at times and I don't agree with the excuse that "Lotso" turned Ken bad. Spanish Buzz Lightyear was truly funny.
I hope they integrate some Spanish Buzz on one of the Toy Story/Buzz Lightyear rides at Disneyland.
Do that and skip the truly lame idea of a LOST ride. Three Cap'n Jacks on a single ride (Pirates of the Caribbean) was a big enough gaffe. One Depp doppleganger would've been fine. Three was (were?) jarring. LOST--a teevee show that...I'll just say not enough mass appeal/understanding of the show to warrant a Disneyland ride. I hate to put it this way but LOST was too 'niche.'
My spouse's 49 th birthday (again) is on Friday and being the Disney-Pixar fanatics we are we (my son and I) decided that what he wanted was to see is Toy Story 3.
IMO, what is just as fun and fascinating about the creative genius of a finished Disney-Pixar project is what the creators were going for when they dreamed up what (or perhaps more properly, "who") came to end up on the screen. In a recent NYTimes online interview with Toy Story 3's director Lee Unkrich, who has been with the Toy Story franchise since the beginning, he explains the painstaking process of choosing a new character--and there are 14 added this time to the original 12 (my fave original, hands down--Mr. Potato Head) reminds me of how the Disney "Imagineers" explain how they do what they do. A common theme is that they retain the ability to see the world through the eyes of a child. It's something that adults either get or do not because generally we are discouraged by the world at large to allow our imaginations to exist unfettered and so we give up our childish things. We are the same people who no matter what our age get tremendously excited at the prospect of several days in Disneyland.
I'm missing my family trips to the Land of the Mouse for a few years whilst my son is in college however Toy Story 3 will help bridge the gap between everyday reality and the world of Disney-(Pixar).
Since he liked the appearance of Barbiein “Toy
Story 2,” Mr. Unkrich was interested in having her be a part of the
new film. “Then very quickly on the heels of that decision, we thought
well, if we have Barbie, we had to have Ken,” he said. “I literally went
through the catalog of every Ken from the ’60s to now and looked at
them all. And the one that absolutely stood out for me is this one Ken
from the late ’80s called Animal Lovin’ Ken.” The safari-print shirt and
short shorts are part of the exact outfit from that particular version
of Ken. Naturally, he has frequent costume changes throughout the film,
allowing the filmmakers to snatch clothing designs from his history.
“We could have made up outfits,” Mr. Unkrich said, “but I don’t think we
could have come up with anything as outlandish or as garish as the real
outfits that have existed over the years.”
I did not know this about Toy Story or hadn't really thought it through. This Disney-Pixar collaboration is non-3D? That it is offered in 2 dimensions is good regardless but also...
if it is only in 2-D I congratulate Disney-Pixar for realizing a certain type of film is best-suited to being rendered in the 3D medium as well as a certain type that isn't.
If Toy Story had radically changed--going to 3D is pretty radical at this point in the resurrection of 3D--then it wouldn't be Toy Story.
The creators of the beloved Toy Story films re-open the toy box
and bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our
favorite gang of toy characters in TOY STORY 3. Woody and Buzz had
accepted that their owner Andy would grow up someday, but what happens
when that day arrives?
DisneyPixar—May 28, 2010
—
Toy Story 3 will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ in select
theaters on June 18th, 2010.
The creators of the beloved Toy
Story films re-open the toy box and bring moviegoers back to the
delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our favorite gang of toy characters
in TOY STORY 3. Woody and Buzz had accepted that their owner Andy would
grow up someday, but what happens when that day arrives?
*** I'm way behind--but catching up! "Ken" is only three days old. Besides, don't you like having lots of Toy Story goodies all in one place? I knew you would!
In the third installment, Andy is preparing to depart
for college, leaving his loyal toys troubled about their uncertain
future. Lee Unkrich (co-director of Toy Story 2 and Finding Nemo)
directs this highly anticipated film, and Michael Arndt, the Academy
Award®-winning screenwriter of Little Miss Sunshine, brings his unique
talents and comedic sensibilities to the proceedings.
Toy Story 3
will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters on June
18th, 2010.
I wonder if Johnny Depp's partner Vannessa Paradis, had any say in this? The goss just last week was that Depp, who is currently working on,"TheTourist" with Angelina Jolie (described as 'eating' her male co-stars for lunch) is trying to get out of a steamy love scene with Jolie if not the entire film--at Paradis's behest. I applaud her if she's got that much sway with JD.There's no doubt that Depp has that much pull with Disney. He cemented that with his appearance three times on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. That and all the moola that the Pirates film franchise is pulling in almost completely due to Depp's performance as pirate Jack Sparrow, a character who he based in large part on Rolling Stone, Keith Richards.
Disney may be going au naturale for Pirates of the Caribbean: On
Stranger Tides.
The movie studio has banned actresses with artificial enhancements
for the fourth Piratesinstallment, the New York Postreports.
Filmmakers sent out a casting call last week, according to the paper,
seeking "beautiful female fit models. Must be 5 feet 7 inches-5 feet 8
inches, size 4 or 6, no bigger or smaller. Age 18-25. Must have a lean
dancer body. Must have real breasts. Do not submit if you have
implants." The potential ladies will also have to undergo a
test involving jiggling and jogging to determine their breasts'
authenticity, the Post says.
The movie, which is set for a May 2011 release, will star Johnny Depp
as Jack Sparrow, Ian McShane
as Blackbeard, and Penelope
Cruz as Sparrow's love interest, replacing Keira
Knightley as the female lead.
Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis
Now if Disney (or Vanessa) could have a word about this requirement of the 'Pirates' 4 film:
Must be 5 feet 7 inches-5 feet 8
inches, size 4 or 6, no bigger or smaller.
The 'no smaller' part is OK but no bigger than a size 4 or 6? So a size 7/8 on a 5'8" woman is considered too big? Has Disney taken a look recently at the animatronic ladies that Johnny is cavorting with in Disneyland? (j/k He doesn't cavort--only hides--then gleefully sits upon a huge pile of gold coins.)
I realize I'm being unrealistic in pointing this out but Disney started it when it took a stand on ladies with fake boobies.Why not go a step further and bump up the range of sizes a bit?
OMG! Helena Bonham Carter was born to play The Queen of Hearts. She is so freaky-scary-enthralling. Scene stealing, anyone? She just may de-focus all the attention that has been lavished upon Johnny Depp by the media for his part as the Mad Hatter. I'm sure, reticent as he is about the glare of the spotlight, he would not at all mind.
(Above) "Did you steal my tarts?" - Queen of Hearts
Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter crashes hit own party.
At this moment, Johnny Depp is shooting his new thriller "The Tourist"
with Angelina Jolie in Venice, Italy. On Friday, however, he'll find
himself in London for the Royal Premiere of "Alice in
Wonderland."
The expected blockbuster finds Depp reuniting for the...seventh
time with director Tim Burton. Speaking at a press conference for
"Alice" this past weekend, Depp talked about how much pressure he puts
on himself to get his performance right. Whether it's Ed Wood, Edward
Scissorhands or Willy Wonka, the superstar clearly doesn't want to
disappoint his good friend and director.
"The initial thing for me is to come up with a character, but there is a
certain amount of pressure where you go, 'Jesus, is this the one where I
disappoint him?' [I try to come up] something he hasn't experienced
before and that would stimulate and make him inspire him to make choices
based on that character," Depp says. "I try not to embarrass him
basically."
..."Alice" opens in theaters on March 5. In the meantime, Depp
appears as the quirky and emotionally unstable Mad Hatter in one of these new clips from the film... What moviegoers might
find even more entertaining is Helena Bonham Carter's royally inspired
and scene-stealing turn as The Queen of Hearts...in her own clip above.
See my previous post for a scene in which Alice (Mia Wasikowska) meets the Red Queen just as she's lost--and gained something very important.
The creators of the beloved “Toy Story” films re-open the toy box and bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our favorite gang of toy characters in Toy Story 3. Woody and Buzz had accepted that their owner Andy would grow up someday, but what happens when that day arrives? In the third installment, Andy is preparing to depart for college, leaving his loyal toys troubled about their uncertain future. Lee Unkrich (co-director of “Toy Story 2″ and “Finding Nemo”) directs this highly anticipated film, and Michael Arndt, the Academy Award®-winning screenwriter of “Little Miss Sunshine,” brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities to the proceedings. Toy Story 3 will be presented in Disney Digital 3DTM in select theaters.
NEW Disney Alice in Wonderland UHQ Promotional Photos (large) were made public today by Spoiler TV.
Also, within the last week Disney released the soundtrack listing for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.
The album, which is being called Almost Alice, will be in stores in
March 2nd, with a video for the soundtrack’s first single, “Alice
(Underground)” by Avril Lavigne, due in early February.
1. “Alice (Underground)” performed by Avril Lavigne
2. “The Poison” performed by The All-American Rejects
3. “The Technicolor Phase” performed by Owl City
4. “Her Name Is Alice” performed by Shinedown
5. “Painting Flowers” performed by All Time Low
6. “Where’s My Angel” performed by Metro Station
7. “Strange” performed by Tokio Hotel and Kerli
8. “Follow Me Down” performed by 3OH!3 featuring Neon Hitch
9. “Very Good Advice” performed by Robert Smith
10. “In Transit” performed by Mark Hoppus with Pete Wentz
11. “Welcome to Mystery” performed by Plain White T’s
12. “Tea Party” performed by Kerli
13. “The Lobster Quadrille” performed by Franz Ferdinand
14. “Running Out of Time” performed by Motion City Soundtrack
15. “Fell Down a Hole” performed by Wolfmother
16. “White Rabbit” performed by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Film Synopsis: From Walt Disney Pictures and visionary director Tim Burton comes an epic 3D fantasy adventurea magical and imaginative twist on some of the most beloved stories of
all time. JOHNNY DEPP stars as the Mad Hatter and MIA WASIKOWSKA as
19-year-old Alice, who returns to the whimsical world she first
encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the
White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar,
the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter. Alice embarks on a
fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen’s
reign of terror. The all-star cast also includes ANNE HATHAWAY, HELENA
BONHAM CARTER and CRISPIN GLOVER. The screenplay is by Linda Woolverton.
Capturing the wonder of Lewis Carroll’s beloved “Alice’s Adventures
in Wonderland” (1865) and “Through the Looking-Glass” (1871) with
stunning, avant-garde visuals and the most charismatic characters in
literary history, ALICE IN WONDERLAND comes to the big screen in Disney
Digital 3DTM on March 5, 2010.
"The toys are back for a whole new 3D adventure. In theaters June 18, 2010"
Hopefully I'm not the only one grappling with catching up on the past two weeks of entertainment news.
Among the gems released over winter break is this video short which introduces the plot of Toy Story 3-D as well as a brand new character, a hedgehog named Mr. Pricklepants.
Here is a shot of Mr.Pricklepants as well as a couple of screen caps from the most recent Toy Story 3-D preview/promo.
My favourite non-TV Muppet experience is at Disneyland/California Adventure /Backlot /Muppet Show in 3-D interactive entertainment experience. Seriously, it's can't miss, classic Disney quality. And the nature of the Muppet Show lends itself really well to the whole spectacle.Can't wait to go back (though I have to). In the meantime these videos are great fun. ;)
From Walt Disney Pictures and visionary director
Tim Burton comes an epic 3D fantasy adventure "Alice in Wonderland," a
magical and imaginative twist on some of the most beloved stories of
all time. Johnny Depp stars as the Mad Hatter and Mia Wasikowska as
19-year-old Alice, who returns to the whimsical world she first
encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the
White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar,
the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter. Alice embarks on a
fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen's
reign of terror. The all-star cast also includes Anne Hathaway, Helena
Bonham Carter and Crispin Glover; Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay.
Capturing the wonder of Lewis Carroll's beloved "Alice's Adventures in
Wonderland" (1865) and "Through the Looking-Glass" (1871) with
stunning, avant-garde visuals and the most charismatic characters in
literary history, "Alice in Wonderland" comes to the big screen in
Disney Digital 3D™ on March 5, 2010.
The Toy Story franchise keeps chugging along with this third installment, Toy Story 3 (D). Disney has pronounced 3D as the format that they intend to heavily incorporate into their future endeavors and the future is now.
Frankly, I have not seen a single modern-day 3-D feature film that really benefited from being 3-D. The 3-D is usually so spotty that if you blink you miss it.
Contrast that with the amazing Muppets 3-D show at Disneyland in which being a member of the audience gives one the feeling of being pulled right into the show and the differences become even more striking. I'm still waiting for a 3-D film to wow me as much as the first one I ever saw, "Vincent Price's House of Wax."
"By popular demand, the Toy Story 1 and 2 in 3D double feature has
been extended in theaters. For more info and tickets click here: http://disney.go.com/toystory/"
"Directed by Lee Unkrich. The creators of the beloved "Toy Story" films re-open the toy box and bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our favorite gang of toy characters in "Toy Story 3." Lee Unkrich (co-director of "Toy Story 2" and "Finding Nemo") directs this highly anticipated film, and Michael Arndt, the Academy Award®-winning screenwriter of "Little Miss Sunshine," brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities to the proceedings. Hits theaters June 18, 2010 in Disney Digital 3-D."
You would totally not see me gushing about Toy Story III without my experiences at Disneyland this April past.
First, let me tell you about me, my family, & Disneyland.
I'd wanted to go to Disneyland my whole life but lived on the east coast and had parents that were not at all interested in the idea(!)
Even though I knew a fair number of kids that went to what we then called "Epcot," an adjunct to Disney World in Florida along with Disney World, I hadn't wanted to go there anywhere near as much as I wanted to go to the original Disneyland.
When I was 19 y.o. I moved to Southern California, eventually settling in Huntington Beach and as often as I could afford it I went to Disneyland and a few years later I married a guy whose Mom worked for Disney and who could bring her family to the Disneyland Park for free--anytime!
Dream come true!
I went often and solidified my love for the Disneyland Park.
Life circumstances forced a move to the Chicago area, which though a great place to bring up my kids left us way too far from Disneyland. Also, I did not bring my then spouse, whose best qualities it turned out, began and ended with a mom who worked at Disneyland (j/k but only slightly).
Since I've lived in the Chicago area I've again met lots of folks who've travelled to Disney World which I still have zero interest in, and few that have been to Disneyland.
They don't realize that it costs the same or less to vacation at Disneyland as it does Disney World.
Why? Because often, it is nearly the same airfare from here to Disneyland as it is to Disney World and definitely the configuration of Disneyland being in the center of a regular suburb where you can run out and get all of your day-to-day necessities and save a ton of money-- eating out less often (for example, continental breakfast at the motel, pack sandwiches, snacks and drinks in your backpack for lunch, a nice dinner--and a chance to rest in the park) versus Disney World which was plunked way out where you pretty much have no choice or need to be very inventive about saving money on meals and anything else you need to run to the store for.
So to the point, I'm sort of on a fixed income due to heart failure and so we really, really pinch pennies to be able to go to Disneyland so it is a really big deal $$$ to go but it's been a priority of mine to expose my sons to it as it is truly magical in the realm of man-made wonders. My now-17 y.o. gets excited about very little but Disneyland is one place that he honestly loves and even his like-minded father loves going. I gave them the opportunity to get hooked--which once inside the gates took no effort at all. We spend about 4 days in the park and break it up with trips to the beach or San Diego or L.A. or Hollywood--tons of stuff to do in So.Cal.
This time--April 2009, as you probably recall, the economy was going down the tubes fast. The airlines had increased fares and fees and overall, it was a much bigger challenge to pull off this trip but it had been tradition to go every two years and this time we stretched it to 2.5 years and I just wasn't waiting any longer.
I'm so glad we went (though that is my normal reaction)! They've done a bunch of things to add spit and polish to Disneyland proper (ongoing) and all the main attractions were open. It's the adjoining park to Disneyland that is going through a really radical change and based on the blueprints I've seen--and they are proudly showing off plans that will continue for years--the park is going to be what Walt Disney himself would have imagined.
I'd thought California Adventure was just fine and really love some of its awesome attractions both big and small. Soaring Over California--not to be missed, Grizzly River Run--my son's favourite ride in the park and way fun as long as you wear your swimsuit under whatever else you don't care about getting wet. You also need to go on it at least 10 times in a row or more. Crush! Turtle Talk with Crush is awesome, dude! All of the sometimes-overlooked Disney Animation section is great--and constantly being updated.
But!The biggest surprise and the most satisfying ride in California Adventure was one of the first of many changes to come, with a name that needs more zing, Toy Story Midway Mania!
OMG! This is the "funnest" ride since I stumbled across Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters in the Fantasyland section of Disneyland. To call Midway Mania a "4-D attraction" really gives you no clue about how immersed you get in it and how incredibly fun and addictive it is.You really feel a part of the game-ride which involved all the characters from Toy Story in different settings that look straight out of a Toy Story movie and has you trying to take them out with a paint gun whilst in a car moving along, making it way more difficult to do so. As per usual Disney, there are little tricks and shortcuts that you can find and utilize to your advantage though some not so easy to pull off--you must be very quick and accurate.
Midway Mania is perfect for gamer people with their stellar shooting accuracy, but it pulls in a complete non-gamer like me because of the interactiveness and because I'm shooting paint balls, not clicking a keyboard, though I admit my hand got sore after a couple of days of going on it. It encompasses everything the Imagineers and the Pixar people have learned and turned it into an experience that is fun every time. The original Toy Story attraction in the adjacent Disneyland is somewhat similar but on a bigger scale and utilizes "laser" guns. I had actually passed it up the first time out there--didn't go on it once, decided 2 years later to give it a shot and it immediately became my favourite Disneyland attraction. I went on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters a bazillion times.
So this is a long-winded way of saying that the Pixar people and Disney Imagineers just keep getting better and I'm truly looking forward to Toy Story III as a way to get a taste of the fun of the rides and to appreciate the continuing evolution of Disney/Pixar animation.
I've added on the current promo materials for Toy Story III (premiere: June, 2010) but plan to incorporate Disney's near complete re-thinking of California Adventure and the progress of the changes in the next few years with an additional photo album.
I have all the "blueprints" that were on display at Disney and I'm putting them together and will include them in a post to come so you can have a better idea about how Disney is able to integrate the worlds of our reality with the brilliant minds of Disney Pixar and their resulting mind-blowing interactive creations.
