Notable Walt Quotes

"Disneyland is like a piece of clay. If there is something I don't like, I'm not stuck with it. I can reshape and revamp."

A Late Thanksgiving Program Gift

I was looking for something in my files and came across this. Perfect for last week.

Preview of Universal's New Transformer Ride

Panorama: Flag Ceremony

More Book Reviews

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! I hope you are having a wonderful time doing whatever it is you are doing right now. Since the gift-giving season is just over the horizon, I thought I would take a moment and write about a few books that would be perfect for the Disney theme park fan in your life. And since I am still in the process of plugging my own book - Walt and the Promise of Progress City – I figured why not. By the way, thank you to everyone who has picked up a copy.

Today’s column will feature the popular Hidden Mickey books, a terrific trip back in time to the early days of the Disneyland Hotel, and a couple of e-Books I wanted to mention.

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Leave It to Lillian

I went to visit The Walt Disney Family Museum again on Friday and found this quote from Lillian Disney. Leave it to the person who would know him best. I also found this display in the gift store. I like it.

"Enthusiasm and optimism together. Walt was enthusiastic about everything. He never thought anything would turn out badly."

Notable Walt Quotes

"Whenever I go on a ride, I'm always thinking of what's wrong with the thing and how it can be improved."

SAMLAND GUIDE TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD – Part 2

Last week I presented the first episode in the Samland Guide to Universal Studios Hollywood (USH). This week we are going to leave the entry plaza area and actually start to see the shows and go on the rides.

As you recall, the basic touring plan for USH is to start with the Studio Tour, cross over to the Lower Lot for the thrill rides, The Mummy and Jurassic Park. Then spend the rest of the day taking in all of the shows and atmosphere on the Upper Lot.

The Studio Tour

The Official Line: This tour passes through several attractions, which contains loud explosions, large flame effects, fog effects and tidal wave effects. The vehicle rocks aggressively from side to side and up and down during certain attractions. Certain effects may be too intense for children.

The world famous Studio Tour is the whole reason why USH exists in the first place. In 1961, in order to gin up business in the Studio Commissary, legendary movie mogul Lew Wasserman decided to let tour buses drive through the back lot if the drivers agreed to drop people off for something to eat. It worked.

It worked so well that in 1964 Wasserman decided to take over the tours himself and hired Disney Legend Harper Goff to design the iconic GlamorTrams and Edith Head to design the tour guide costumes.

The Studio Tour experience has changed a lot over the years. The current version lasts about 45 minutes and features guest host Jimmy Fallon along with a highly trained, live tour guide. Because the tour has to traverse through a real working studio there is a high level of randomness and repeatability. Every tour is different depending on what is being filmed on the backlot or what show element is working that day. The Studio Tour is great and the must-do attraction within the park.

The custom built trams consist of 4 cars. Each car is huge and comes complete with hi-def video monitors. My preferred seat is toward the back of car 2 and anywhere in car 3. As we shall see, this will afford you the best view for most of the little adventures you are about to experience. If you have Gate A privileges, they will guide you toward the first car but it is worth asking to sit farther back.

Our tour begins with the tram descending down a steep hill behind The Simpsons Ride. Once upon a time this is where you got caught up in the middle of Battlestar Galatica or a bunch of rubber rocks before that. As you continue down the hill you will see the backstage side of Jurassic Park. On both sides of the tram are movie posters reflecting the history of the studio. Once you are on the Lower Lot, the tram will drive past the haunted Stage 28, home of the set from Lon Cheney’s Phantom of the Opera.

Over the years, USH realized that just driving by some movie sets would not make for a very interesting tour. So they started to add little sideshows that represent a particular film or demonstrated movie making technologies. This is the peeling back the tinsel I talked about last week.

The best immersive experience is also the newest addition to the park - King Kong 360 3D. I have encountered many guests who think this is a stand-alone attraction and they are surprised to learn that it is part of the Studio Tour. You grab a pair of 3D glasses at the beginning of the tour and awkwardly hang on to them the entire way. However, once you have experienced King Kong you are bound to agree with me that it was well worth it.

Your tram grinds its way up a hill just below the old Collapsing Bridge and waits (and waits, and waits, and…). Once it gets a green light it enters a portal protected by skulls. Peter Jackson guides us into the tunnel and then tells us we can finally put on our glasses. The room goes black and then we find ourselves rolling along in Skull Island. You sense that you are moving and you get caught in the action but that is just movie magic consisting of a giant fans and a tram that is mounted on a gimbal.

The screens on both sides of the tram surround the vehicle and create a very convincing illusion. This is why sitting toward the back is better then toward the front. More screen therefore more action. The battle between dinosaurs and King Kong is very intense and may freak out the little ones. Kong has a habit of crossing over the roof of the tram and you will get used to being splattered with dino blood. At least that is what I think that was. Even the last car of the tram gets caught up in the action in a grizzly way (sort of). Once you escape you need to find a place to stow those glasses because you won’t be needing them again. As you walk around USH notice how many 3D glasses are orphaned on trashcans or in corners. Amazing.

I especially enjoy driving through the very large sets of through New York Street and Courthouse Square. The ever-changing facades are a reminder that real movies are made here. Due to production schedules sometimes much of the area is block off. Good luck.

We continue along encountering more immersive experiences. An old favorite, the Mexican village, is still being ravaged by flash floods every few minutes. The shark from Jaws still lunges at you and then does the backstroke. A couple of the shows need a bit of TLC including the BART station that suffers from the earthquake as well as the Mummy’s tomb. My hope is that at some point the Fast and Furious dancing cars and the fossils left over from Jurassic Park will be retire and something worthy can take their place. According to a proposed master plan of the entire property, this is an area slated for theme park expansion.

Placing The Grinch Who Stole Christmas next to the Bates Motel from Psycho is rather inspired and driving through the War of the World crash scene is a powerful moment and reminds you why the neighbors may hate living next to this theme park.

Jimmy Fallon replaced Whoopi Goldberg as host and it is a refreshing change. His bits are quite funny and I wish there were more of them. Not sure if “have a tramtastic day” has reached deep into the popular culture but USH is trying.

Now let’s go back up the escalator, past the giant clown head and head down one of the longest esclator systems to the Lower Lot. Enjoy the amazing view (most of the time) of the San Fernando Valley. Off in the distance is Warner Brothers studio as well as the Disney Studio. The planes you see are flying in and out of Bob Hope Airport. The golf course below is the very exclusive Lakeside Golf Club. This view is one of the most underrated features in the park.

THE LOWER LOT

Jurassic Park – The Ride

The Official Line: This ride is a water journey on a touring raft. The raft will suddenly and dramatically accelerate, turn and drop. Riders will get wet. 42” height limit.

A common storyline used at theme park attractions from Disney and Universal goes something like this. You step into an exotic vehicle and you plan on taking a leisurely trip from Point A to Point B. All of sudden, something goes horribly wrong and then you are plunged into an adventure that will surely result in nothing less then certain death.

This is a ride that makes a great first impression. For me, the best part of is the opening sequence when your boat flows through the iconic gates and you enter the first dino enclosure. We see dinos munching away peacefully and then, say it with me, something goes horribly wrong. Somehow we are pushed backstage were all of the bad dinos live. Not good. The tour boat before did not fare well. Look closely for the floating Mickey Mouse hat in the debris.

Every turn brings about another horror and it just keeps getting worse. You are pulled up hill and then… You see for yourself. The drop sounds ferocious and can get quite wet, especially in the front row but during the cooler months you will be surprised how dry you can stay as long as you avoid the first row. During this past summer water cannons were added and you were sure to get soaked. Really soaked.

This ride also exists on the east coast at Islands of Adventure. Most bi-coastal park goers prefer the Hollywood version but just slightly.

Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride

The Official Line: Plunge into the immortal horror of the The Mummy on the world’s first psychological thrill ride. It will hurtle you screaming through the darkness, forwards and backwards, with special effects at every turn! 48” height limit.

If you have experienced The Mummy in Florida prepare to be extremely disappointed. The east coast version is an amazing coaster with a solid, believable backstory. In Florida, you are going to be used as an extra in an upcoming sequel to the Mummy series. However, something goes horribly wrong (where have I heard that before?). You are trapped in your mine car and the Mummy is trying to suck out your soul. That version contains a false ending and some amazing effects that combine to create a great indoor coaster. The west coast version…not so much. In Hollywood, they had to shoehorn the coaster into a much smaller building and the editing was brutal. The pre-show is abrupt and just a room with a video screen yelling at you. You step out of the coaster and walk right into a non-theme hallway toward the exit. Over!

Get ready to board the mine cars. The seats are cramped and the lap and knee restraints are incredibly uncomfortable and I am not a big person. The train leaves the station and you crawl through some very detailed creep scenes. A very cool audio-animatronics character tries to make you an offer you can’t refuse but you do. The coaster is launched into the blackness while swordsman fall out of the ceiling to cut your head off. Blacklight demons haunt you as you spin about in the dark. You come to a very sudden (and for many a painful) stop and get attack by scarab beetles. Oh joy. Then you go backward. Luckily the return trip is mercifully smooth and short. My biggest disappoint comes at the end. The ride’s climax has been hacked into nothing over the years. There is sometimes a single rider line that is sometimes open.

The NBCUniversal Experience

The Official Line: Go behind the scenes of Universal’s films legacy in this interactive exhibit featuring authentic props, wardrobe and artifacts from past, present and upcoming Universal productions.

The NBCUniversal Experience is well worth a brief visit. This little museum is often overlooked, especially since nothing is at that end of the Lower Lot right now. Props from movies past and present are behind glass. Each artifact is well documented. A small area is dedicated to the theme park and tour.

Over the past summer I noticed that the air conditioning was set so low that you could store meat in the museum. This space will no doubt become the prime waiting area for those not riding Transformers. The area is scheduled for some changes to accommodate the large crowds expected for Transformers once it starts running early next year.

THE UPPER LOT

For most visitors, the Upper Lot is where you will spend most of your time. This is where the majority of shows are located as well as lots of shops and restaurants. Just a reminder that the best way to get around the Upper Lot without getting lost is to walk around the perimeter pathway. For the purposes of this tour we will start at the front entrance and make a counter-clockwise loop. Once you enter go straight and stick to the right. To the right you will pass the Waterworld entrance, Shrek 4-D, The Adventure of Curious George, and the Studio Tour entrance. Continue around the loop and there is The Simpsons Ride, the escalator to the Lower Lot, Special Effects Stage, Universal Animal Actors, T2:3D, The House of Horrors, and the exit.

WaterWorld

The Official Line: Experience death-defying stunts and breathtaking feats as we enter the midst of a live sea war spectacular. There are loud explosion noises, pyrotechnics, large flame effects and performers in close proximity to the audience.

WaterWorld is the must see show at USH. I hold this opinion even after seeing this show hundreds of times. I worked in Show Control for this show and, along with the Special Effects Stage, this is the show I saw the most. Along with I still think it is a fantastic show and well worth seeing each time you visit.

The stunt show is based on the odd film Waterworld with Kevin Costner. In some ways this show picks up where the film leaves off. Well, sort of. For the 12 or 13 of you who saw the original classic, Helen does find “dry land”, ditches the little girl and comes back to the Atoll where all of her buddies live. However, what she does not realize is the Deacon, the bad buy who dies in the first film but is reincarnated for the stunt show, has followed her. Madness and mayhem ensue and by the end just about everybody is dead with most dying in a grizzly way. What could be more entertaining then that?

You have to admire the real who make up. All of the cast work as professional stunt people and are frequently featured in movies and television. For many, they use this show as a steady paycheck between film projects and to keep up their skills. They are all extraordinary athletes that are very experienced and can really hurt themselves if something were to go wrong. The crew and stage managers also highly trained since they are carting pyrotechnics all over a hot metal set. I had a chance to see the pool when it was drained and it is an amazing piece of architecture. Some spots go down a low as 30 feet below the surface.

The queue is designed for guest torture. The places you are most likely to stand if you get there early are not in the shade or near the misters. If you open an umbrella, even in the rain, a show controller will hurl their bodies upon yours and tackle you, beat you senseless then take it away from you. There is a front door that goes through the tower and a back door. Both get you to the grandstands and excellent seats.

There are two types of seats. The green seats are within the “splash” zone and you will get wet. How wet? In some cases you will want to buy a souvenir towel on the way out. The one spot where you will generally get really blasted is the first couple of rows at aisle 2, grandstand 3 all the way around to the other side. Those seats are not protected by any of the set pieces and the guys on the jet skis have a certain something about making a point to those sitting in that section. Another good spot include the lower rows at the intersection of grandstands 1 and 2.

If you want to stay dry sit in a silver seat. I prefer the seats toward the top of the grandstands. And it is best to avoid going all the way around toward grandstand 3. Late in the afternoon the sun can be blinding.

One request. Please do not ask the Show Control folks if you can leave your sleeping baby inside of the stroller while you go to watch the show from the grandstands. Yes, this does happen more often then you can possibly image. With all of the explosions, your kid would not be sleeping for very long. Plus, if you are sitting in a wet zone with an infant be prepared to have one angry baby when you get splash with water fired at you at the velocity of a jet ski.

The Stuff Between

Two hidden treasures exist between WaterWorld and Shrek 4-D. During certain times of the day a couple of people who are very much from New York hang out of the windows above and talk with passing guests. The actors are excellent improv artists and get off some pretty funny lines. Not easy to find a seat but if you can relax and take in a bit of the show. Just beyond is an interactive Donkey audio-animatronics that is also good for a few laughs.

Shrek 4-D

The Official Line: This is a 4-D movie presented in theatre-style seating. The presentation will involve strobes and other localized effects. The seats will exhibit tilting and jarring movements coordinated with dramatic action-packed events of the movie.

Shrek was a big hit and it must have seemed obvious that there was a lot of merchandise to be moved if the park had the right attraction. So, when in doubt make a 4-D experience. 4-D combines a 3-D film with in-theater effects. In the case of Shrek 4-D this includes a very funny well made film, weird moving seats, and water tossed occasionally in to your face.

The storyline for Shrek 4-D bridges the gap between the first two Shrek movies. The posters around the queue area are some of the funniest bits and well worth taking some time to scout out. You grab a pair of 3D glasses as you pass through the turnstiles and funnel into a dark dungeon. Dark. Come in from the daylight and you will be tripping over people.

Hanging on the wall are the three little pigs, Pinocchio, and the Magic Mirror. What comes next is a very clever, rather funny pre-show set up. One thing that Universal does do much better then Disney is Post-Modern humor. When Disney tries to be hip and clever it never seems to work out. Universal is best when tongue is firmly planted in one cheek. This pre-show is a great example.

I can see it now. During a meeting at Universal Creative the boss turned to his minions and said, “Folks, Dreamworks wants a 3-D movie for the Shrek franchise. We know we are going to squirt water at them and I want to do something unique but I don’t really what else to do.” Somebody from the back shouted out, “Make the seats move! We have the technology and it really doesn’t fit anywhere else.” And the idea of featuring moving seats at Shrek 4-D was born.

The movie is very entertaining and the digital projection is crisp and bright. The script if very funny and the action wonderfully rendered. They take full advantage of 3-D filmmaking, even poking a bit of fun at the genre. The moving seats are more of an annoyance as they are a benefit. The movement reminds me of being a small child sitting on the knee of an adult who thinks they are being playful by bouncing you up and down on their knee but what they are really doing is just being irritating.

The show does not run continuously most days so be sure to check your show schedule. The identical attraction in everyway exists in Florida as well.

Next week we will wrap up our tour of USH with the rest of the Upper Lot. What are your thoughts?

New Book Explores Walt Disney and His Prized EPCOT Project

PASADENA, Calf.–In the middle of Central Florida swamplands and ranch property, Walt Disney aspired to build the greatest American city ever conceived--EPCOT. While Disney would die before realizing this epic achievement, he still left behind the blueprint for one of the boldest and most unique projects ever proposed on American soil.

Walt and the Promise of Progress City is an amazing new book that explores how Walt Disney—the master of fiction—was determined to bring new life to the non-fiction world of city design and development and, in doing so, fundamentally improve the Great American way of life.

This 374-page paperback by Sam Gennawey explores Walt Disney’s vision for a city of tomorrow, EPCOT, and how this great city would be a way for American corporations to demonstrate how technology, creative thinking, and hard work could change the world. Quite simply, Disney saw this project as a way to influence the public’s expectations about city life, in the same way his earlier work had redefined what it meant to watch an animated film or visit an amusement park.

Gennawey, a professional planner and highly-respected theme park and attractions industry expert, also breaks new ground in detailing the process through which meaningful and functional spaces have been created by Walt Disney and his artists as well as how guests understand and experience those spaces.

Gennawey has spent years researching the history of EPCOT and Walt Disney’s love for city planning while interviewing a wide variety of key players familiar with Walt and his vision for EPCOT.

"Walt and the Promise of Progress City explains how the architecture and design of Disney theme parks is so successful,” explains Len Testa, Co-Author, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. “Far from being a lucky accident, Sam Gennawey shows that Walt's interest in urban planning led Disney Imagineers to draw upon established architecture theory to build one of the most popular, successful urban landscapes of the 20th century."

Walt and the Promise of Progress City (ISBN 978-0615540245) is published by Ayefour Publishing at a list price of $19.95 for the book version and $9.95 for the Kindle version. More information can be found at www.ayefourpublishing.com.

Panorama: Disney's Hollywood Studios Hub

Theme Park Insider Interview

Had a chance to speak with Robert Niles at Theme Park Insider and the result was a very fun interview. Go here to read Part One. Part Two will run on Monday.

The Samland Guide to Universal Studios Hollywood - Act III

For the last two weeks, we've been taking a look at Universal Studios Hollywood (USH), and my guide to making the most of your visit. If you are catching us at the end of the series, please start with Part One of the Universal Studios Tour HERE. This week, we'll wrap things up by heading down to the attractions on the Lower Lot as well as the world famous Studio Tram Tour.

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Notable Walt Quotes

The more I go to other amusement parks in all parts of the world, the more I am convinced of the wisdom of the original concepts of Disneyland. I mean, have a single entrance through which all traffic would flow, then a hub off which the various areas were situated. That gives people a sense of orientation - they know where they are at all times. And it saves a lot of walking."

18th Annual Thea Awards Recipients Announced by TEA

The Buzz Price Thea Award - Recognizing a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements

(formerly the Thea Lifetime Achievement Award)

Joe Rohde, Walt Disney Imagineering

Joe Rohde is a 30-year veteran of The Walt Disney Company, starting his career as a model designer on Epcot, and continuing with projects for Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif.; Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.; and Disneyland Paris. Joe led the team that conceptualized, designed and built Disney's Animal Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort. He continues to oversee new attractions for that park and is also responsible for the creative design and content of Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa, at Ko Olina, O'ahu, Hawai'i, which debuted in August 2011.

The challenge of creating Disney's Animal Kingdom, a park with a strong wildlife conservation message, involved years of research and negotiation with constituents from the scientific community, the world of zoos, and representatives of indigenous communities involved in the stories created in the park. In the process of developing the park itself, Joe was instrumental in the development of the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, which has supported more than 180 nonprofit organizations in 111 countries totaling nearly $18 million.

Joe speaks regularly about design and narrative and has appeared at NASA, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the TED conference, Portland Creative conference, and has been the keynote speaker at SIGGRAPH in Boston and Yokohama, Japan, as well as many other venues. He is also a member of the Explorers Club.

Star Tours - The Adventures Continue at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World (Attraction Refresh)

This nomination recognizes the complete reimagining of Star Tours, the first simulator experience installed in a themed environment. The original attraction had been in operation since 1987; new technologies were available that could enhance the experience. At the same time, the Star Wars mythology has remained ever relevant to succeeding generations of fans. The challenge was to remain true to the vivid stories while making use of new technical tools and guest interactive capabilities.

The refreshed attraction has succeeded both operationally and with the extremely loyal Star Wars fan base. For the guests, the most compelling feature is the variable content that affords multiple storylines, locations and characters. This element of surprise is driving multi-generational audiences to return again and again to get a shot at exploring different vistas into many realms of the Star Wars Galaxy.

Comments from the Thea Awards Committee:

Today's audience expectations for a high tech science-fantasy world as renowned as Star Wars far

Star Tours - The Adventures Continue

surpass the analogue entertainment world that existed back in1987 when Disney originated this granddaddy of simulators that became an industry template. To achieve a breakthrough experience, all new "state of the art" 3D digital media systems were a given, but what really brings Star Tours-The Adventures Continueto life is a unique branching story structure employing multiple destinations and characters. This non-traditional storytelling device evokes curiosity by providing 54 potential show experiences resulting in a dramatic increase in attraction repeatability. To bring a layer of personalization and relevance, image capture systems are used to integrate riders into the varied story branches. All of this is fed into multiple motion programs designed for each random sequence, creating a multiplicity of kinetics for the 54 distinct profiles and unique real-time guest integrations. While the major components create the guest "wows", every nook and cranny along the pre-show queue likewise received new story elements and advanced special effects. This has extended the experience of this "galaxy far, far away" way beyond the doors of the Starspeeder 1000 and repositions the total experience firmly in a new century.

The Magic, The Memories, and You! at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom (Show Spectacular)

A new nightly show at Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom, Florida. "The Magic, The Memories and You!" is a richly emotional and spectacular 10 minute show presentation. Using classic Disney icons and images, the show uses "mapped projection" to transform the castle into an ever-changing and magical canvas. In preparation for this nightly event, photographers have spent the day out in the park, capturing thousands of images of that day's guests having fun. Five hundred of these images are selected and incorporated into the show that night. The result? A show that is different at every performance and engages the audience in a unique way, and at a whole new level.

Comments from the Thea Awards Committee:

This show demonstrates excellence for the artistic and creative way that technology was utilized to create a memorable and compelling experience. Impressive as the technology is, the show is

ultimately successful because it uses that technology, along with visual creativity, adept directorial pacing and showmanship together with a stirring musical score in an innovative and compelling way to create a most memorable, unique and emotionally fulfilling experience for its audience.

Animation Magic in the Animator's Palate Restaurant aboard Disney Cruise Line's Ship - Disney Fantasy (Ingenious use of Technology)

Animator's Palate on the Disney Fantasy brings the visual joy of Disney animation into the dining room with a new show called "Animation Magic." Guests are invited to draw a character of their own using a simple template on their placemat. After dinner, animated curtains are opened on screens and Sorcerer Mickey conjures guests' drawings - now fully animated and brought to life side-by-side with characters such as Mickey Mouse, Jiminy Cricket, Cinderella and Snow White in scenes from beloved Disney movies. At the conclusion of the show, Mickey returns to say "so long" to the guests and, as he does, credits roll onscreen showing each guest's name listed as a guest animator.

Comments from the Thea Awards Committee:

Delightful image capturing and video magic have made it possible for a guest's sketch to come to life moments after being drawn. The amazing animation, from a simple face expression to a complicated dance step, is made possible in this ingenious use of technology. Everyone from Grandpa to a child can be an "Animator" and see their drawings come alive. A refreshing new take on "interactive" without the typical monitor screen.

SAMLAND GUIDE TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD – Part 1

Although I generally write about the Disney theme parks, I have been known to stray on occasion. This time I thought it might be fun to try and create a guide to Universal Studios Hollywood (USH). For a few months I worked as a minion in Show Control department as well as a few days as a Stage Manager for Terminator 2:3D (T2:3D). Now that my theme park career and I back writing about the places and I have learned a lot of great tricks and tips that might make your next trip to USH more enjoyable.

Welcome to the Samland Guide to Universal Studios Hollywood.

For almost 50 years, Universal Studios Hollywood (USH) is where local Southern California residents took out of town guests to see “Hollywood” instead of visiting the very real, sometimes scary, place along Hollywood Boulevard. Since 1964, millions of visitors have boarded the world-famous Harper Goff designed custom built trams. Along the way, the tourists get to see a clever blend of the Hollywood myth mixed with dose of moviemaking reality.

USH is unique because it is built with a different DNA then the Disney parks and Universal parks in Florida (Universal Studios Orlando or Islands of Adventure). All of the other parks are based on one of Disneyland’s organizing principles; by eliminating the visual contradictions that are contrary to the story and might unsettle you, the environmental design lulls you into conformity and comfort.

USH doesn’t care. It primary mission is to remain a profitable working movie and television production studio that features the largest backlot in Hollywood. It just happens to have an almost 50-year old studio tour and theme park shoved inside its borders. Visual contradictions are less important then efficiency and the ability to “redress the set.” USH is as random as the creative process. It is a hodge podge of disconnected environments with everything turned up to 11. Like an actual movie set, everything seems temporary. That is the charm of USH. It does “hip” and “edgy” very well.

As you visit, you will quickly learn that the park has been cobbled together over many years with seemingly no real rhyme or reason. The park has grown over the years in a pretty random fashion and it is easy to get lost. Visitors get lost so often the management has started to specially train employees to look for people staring at a map with glazed eyes and try to assist them.

Even though USH is within a working studio, I noticed that they did not adopt the use of the theatrical language that is at the heart of the Disney parks. For example, Disney has attractions and adventures while USH has rides. Disney has Cast Members while USH has employees (sometimes called Team Members). Cast Members wear costumes and play a role “in the show” while employees at USH were uniforms and do their assigned jobs. One difference that I found emblematic was the policy at Disney to force its Cast Members to go “backstage” and use the restrooms while USH figures what is good enough for the guest is good enough for the employees.

A walk through a Disney park is an invitation to find a bench and take a rest. At USH you won’t want to be sitting in one place very long. You will be bombarded by very loud music, sometimes with more then one soundtrack. One day, somebody asked me where there was a quiet spot to make a phone call. I paused. I asked my co-workers. We could not think of one spot where you won’t have to plug one ear. USH doesn’t really have those quiet spots that you find at other parks by design. However, there is one area that comes close. If you head back toward the smoking area behind the T2:3D building you will have one of the most spectacular views of the San Fernando Valley. This is a view worth seeking.

I believe USH works best when it is doing one of two things; creating an illusion that completely immerses you as if you have entered a scene from a movie or peeling back the tinsel to let you see the real Hollywood tinsel underneath.

OPTIONS

One thing you will quickly learn is USH is constantly giving you upgrade options that offer real or perceived benefits. Working through these options can make or break a trip.

You first decision is how you plan on getting to USH. The facility is right in the middle of a very dense part of Los Angeles and is truly urban theme park. One transit option is the METRO Red Line subway. The station is just across Lankershim Boulevard from a shuttle bus that will take you up the very steep hill where the USH entrance is located. My only complaint about the subway is how

If you plan on arriving by car you will be offered to upgrade to the Preferred parking section at the tollbooth. Preferred parking allows you to park close to the entrance of the theme park generally in a surface lot that is adjacent to the mall or into the top levels of the Frankenstein parking structure. The regular fee will relegate you to one of the parking structures that flank CityWalk. Remember, you have to make this decision while you have dozens of other cars lined up behind you. No pressure. In my opinion, CityWalk is a shopping and entertainment center that is a key part of the USH experience. Therefore, save the money and use it for Sparky’s Donuts or Popcornopolis for the ride home. There is also valet parking available.

You have many options when it comes to buying your admission ticket. Of course, the easiest way is to purchase your ticket online. With the online ticket in hand you can proceed straight to the entrance turnstiles.

If you must buy your ticket at the front gate then I suggest you look for any ticket booth that has a flashing light and a short line. They are usually to the right after you have gone through the security check. Often there is a roving employee who can help you find the shortest line in the morning. Most people are not listening so you can quickly get the edge and get your day started.

Now you have to figure out which of the many ticket options will best serve your needs. If you are a collector of Coke Rewards points they currently have an offer for a free ticket. The one-day ticket can be upgraded to two days or an annual pass with block out days. Annual passes are inexpensive and there is one level that gives front of the line privileges for the Studio Tour. There are even options for prepaid parking.

If you got enough money, you can buy a pass that lets you skip the lines or to gain special access. The USH Front of the Line pass allows you to enter virtually every show or ride through a specially marked door (Gate A), usually located near an exit. Keep in mind that there is a limited number of Front of the Line passes allocated every day. For the shows, you will be the first to enter the venue and you will receive preferred seating. During the busy months the Front of the Line option can save a guest a lot of time and waiting. There are times when the Gate A section really attracts a crowd but it is better then the stand by line. On a really busy day, it is the only way you can really see everything. The preferred seating areas are the best in the house.

During the slow season USH realizes that cutting to the Front of the Line is a pretty weak incentive when everything is a virtual walk on so they plus the pass with a backstage peek at three shows; Universal Animal Actors, T2:3D, and Waterworld. Members of the cast from each show are your hosts. The backstage talks give guests a better understanding of the complexity that accompanies each of the shows. The post-show for T2:3D gives you a peek at the virtually invisible mechanical effects used to integrate the performers and the movie. You also get a chance to have your picture taken with one of the robots. You will learn about sound effects, stunt fighting, and fire diving during the Waterworld post-show. The post-show for Universal’s Animal Actors is an upclose look at some of the stars of the show including a chance to take a photo of your kids with a dog!

Is the Front of the Line Pass worth it? On a very busy day, if you are trying to see everything once, then yes. On a slow day the package is a big jump in the ticket price so consider the backstage experiences and determine if that is worth the price. My general impression is no, it is not worth the extra money unless you are entertaining out of town relatives and want to make an impression. Just having the pass around your neck and entering the shows and rides through the back door may make you feel extra special.

For the high rollers there is the VIP tour. If you can afford it, I highly recommend the VIP tour. The tour will be customized toward your interests. You will have somebody at your beck and call. That guide knows the park inside and out and will make your experience seamless. You will be treated like a VIP, have a nice lunch, and get to see things that the average guest would not be able to experience. To learn more, you can find a complete run down here on MiceChat.

THE BASIC USH TOURING PLAN

What is the most efficient way to tour USH? Like any theme park, I recommend getting there early. Arrive at least one half hour before the scheduled opening time. Sometimes they will allow guests through the gates and queue just inside the park. This is very important. Be sure you pick up a map and show schedule guide. The park has a high number of shows that you have to navigate so you cannot just wing it. If you forget to grab one at the turnstile, you can find both documents at a display board just inside the park.

Here is a fun fact. Usually 90 minutes or so before the park opens, they really do roll out the red carpet.

Here is the Samland tour in brief: Go to the Studio Tour first. Then head over to the Lower Lot and enjoy the two (soon to be three) thrill rides (The Mummy and Jurassic Park). After you are done with the Lower Lot head back up one of the world’s longest escalator systems with a tremendous view to the Upper Lot for the rest of the day.

To get to the entrance for the Studio Tour take the righthand path and aim for the giant shark that is hanging from its tail. Just across from the shark is the entrance to the tour. Remember the tour is 45 minutes plus wait time so best to visit the restroom just beyond the tour entrance upstairs.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

While the environmental design for the Disney parks and Islands of Adventure goes to great lengths to create an arrival experience that allows the guest to decompress and transition from the real world to the fantasy that lies ahead. That is not the case at USH. You enter a compact courtyard surrounded by all sides with things shouting at you. Guest Relations and lockers are to the right, a big store is to the left, and then you make your way through a gauntlet of people peddling photos and credit cards. The architecture is uninspiring and for background only.

At the end of this short corridor is…well it is a giant sign for a “value” ticket booth. Unlike the other theme parks, there is no “wienie” or beckoning hand to draw you into the park. However, there is a digital display with show times, wait times, and early in the day, a helpful employee who can answer questions.

The display board is part of the central plaza area. This undefined space acts as the distribution center for the entire park. Originating from this space are multiple paths that lead to every destination. What the area lacks are spots where families could comfortably gather themselves to figure out what they are going to do. This space represents a fundamental difference between USH and the other theme parks. Characters and performers constantly bombard this area and during certain times of the year shows are schedule pretty much back to back. The area can become very congested. There is an opportunity to create a meaningful and functional space at relatively little cost by just paying attention to the details.

Any Samland reader will know that I tend to go on and on about the way the Disney parks are physically organized. Heck, I just wrote a book on the subject. So how do you make sure that you won’t get lost at USH?

USH follows the “hub-and-spoke” pattern of distribution pioneered at Disneyland. For example, there is only one way in or out of the park and that corridor leads to a central space where all of the pathways radiate out toward the rides and shows. Now this may seem logical but it isn’t. Like cow paths, the walkways just meander and it is easy to get lost. Remember, this is a movie studio and everything is temporary so USH is not laid out in any deliberate way. You will find the park map to be of no help. Of course you can always ask for directions.

However, I think I have figured out a way to make sense of the random chaos that seems to be part of the physical plan of this park. The park is divided up into three major areas. There is the Upper Lot, the Studio Tour escalator and the Lower Lot escalator. Everything is accessed via the Upper Lot.

Think of the Upper Lot as a giant loop with the entrance plaza as the starting point. Just stick to the perimeter and avoid the middle paths unless you want to get lost or explore.

The best touring plan tends to take you in a counter-clockwise direction. Once you enter go straight and stick to the right. To the right you will pass the Waterworld entrance, Shrek 4-D, The Adventure of Curious George, and the Studio Tour entrance. Continue around the loop and there is The Simpsons Ride, the escalator to the Lower Lot, Special Effects Stage, Universal Animal Actors, T2:3D, The House of Horrors, and the exit.

Of course, your touring will vary due to the show schedule. There is only one “ride” in the Upper Lot and that is The Simpsons and The House of Horrors is a walk through. Everything else is a show with a scheduled start time. For T2:3D and Shrek showtimes can vary from one show per hour to three. With so many shows, usually running at the same time, you can see why the show schedule is so important.

The one must-see show is Waterworld and it worth organizing your Upper Lot visit around one of the performances. I prefer CityWalk for lunch instead of the in-park options. Be sure to get your hand stamped.

Next week the tour will continue and we will actually go on some rides and see some of the shows. What do you think when you walk through Universal Studos Hollywood?

New Book Explores Walt Disney and His Prized EPCOT Project

PASADENA, Calf. – In the middle of Central Florida swamplands and ranch property, Walt Disney aspired to build the greatest American city ever conceived--EPCOT. While Disney would die before realizing this epic achievement, he still left behind the blueprint for one of the boldest and most unique projects ever proposed on American soil.

Walt and the Promise of Progress City is an amazing new book that explores how Walt Disney—the master of fiction—was determined to bring new life to the non-fiction world of city design and development and, in doing so, fundamentally improve the Great American way of life.

This 374-page paperback by Sam Gennawey explores Walt Disney’s vision for a city of tomorrow, EPCOT, and how this great city would be a way for American corporations to demonstrate how technology, creative thinking, and hard work could change the world. Quite simply, Disney saw this project as a way to influence the public’s expectations about city life, in the same way his earlier work had redefined what it meant to watch an animated film or visit an amusement park.

Gennawey, a professional planner and highly-respected theme park and attractions industry expert, also breaks new ground in detailing the process through which meaningful and functional spaces have been created by Walt Disney and his artists as well as how guests understand and experience those spaces.

Gennawey has spent years researching the history of EPCOT and Walt Disney’s love for city planning while interviewing a wide variety of key players familiar with Walt and his vision for EPCOT.

"Walt and the Promise of Progress City explains how the architecture and design of Disney theme parks is so successful,” explains Len Testa, Co-Author, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. “Far from being a lucky accident, Sam Gennawey shows that Walt's interest in urban planning led Disney Imagineers to draw upon established architecture theory to build one of the most popular, successful urban landscapes of the 20th century."

Walt and the Promise of Progress City (ISBN 978-0615540245) is published by Ayefour Publishing at a list price of $19.95 for the book version and $9.95 for the Kindle version. More information can be found at www.ayefourpublishing.com.

Panorama: Canadian Pavilion EPCOT

SAMLAND GUIDE TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD – Part 2

Last week was the first installment of the Samland Guide to Universal Studios Hollywood (USH). I provided some basic information, what to expect when you arrive and how to buy tickets. Today, I will be strolling through the Upper Lot. For most visitors, this is where you will spend most of your time. The Upper Lot is where you entered. There are lots of shops and restaurants on the Upper Lot, none of which I will talk about. This series is focused more on the core of your Universal experience, we'll have to save the shopping for a future article.

READ MORE AT MICECHAT

Notable Walt Quotes

"There are many ways that you can use those certain basic things and give them a new decor, a new treatment. I've been doing that with Disneyland. Some of my things I've redone as I've gone along, reshaped them."

Notable Walt Quotes

"We are not trying to entertain the critics. I'll take my chances with the public."

Panorama: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

SAMLAND GUIDE TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD – Part One

SAMLAND GUIDE TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD – Part One

Although I generally write about the Disney theme parks, I have been known to stray on occasion. This time I thought it might be fun to try and create a guide to Universal Studios Hollywood (USH). For a few months I worked as a minion in Show Control department as well as a few days as a Stage Manager for Terminator 2:3D (T2:3D). During that time, I learned a lot of great tricks and tips that might make your next trip to Universal Studios Hollydood more enjoyable and I thought I would share the info in a series of articles called, "The Samland guide to Universal Studios Hollywood."

READ MORE AT MICECHAT.

Just Because

Notable Walt Quotes

This is a magical place. The important thing is the castle. Make it tall enough to be seen from all around the park. It's got to keep people oriented. And, I want a hub at the end of Main Street from where the other lands will radiate, like spokes of a wheel. I've been studying the way people move at museums and other entertainment places. Everybody's got tired feet. I don't want that to happen in this place. I want a place for people to sit down and where older folks can say, 'you kids run on. I'll meet you here in a half hour.' Disneyland is going to be a place where you can't get lost or tired unless you want to."

Adventureland in Disneyland - Part 2

ADVENTURELAND IN DISNEYLAND – Part 2

Last week I took some time to visit Adventureland in Disneyland. The tour continues.

Adventureland has seemingly changed little since it first opened. On opening day, the Jungle Cruise was the only attraction. By 1962, the area was freshened up with two artificial trees. One was in the Tahitian Terrace, a Polynesian style restaurant with a hula show, and the other was the Swiss Family Treehouse. You could also bag some big game at the new The Safari Shooting Gallery.

In 1963, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room opened to the public. The Tiki Room would be Crump’s next assignment. Master scuplter Blaine Gibson was first assigned the task to create the tikis that would populate the attraction but he was too busy on other projects. So he asked Rolly to do the job. Rolly’s attitude of doing whatever he asked proved to be handy considering he never sculpted before but that didn’t stop him. Today his work not only resides at the Tiki Room but his icons have found their way to Florida’s version of the attraction and they can also be seen throughout the Polynesian Resort. Rolly was also responsible for the bird mobile in the Tiki room.

Another 1963 addition to Adventureland was a bit of humor to the Jungle Cruise. Animator Marc Davis penned a number of scenes that help to move the attraction away from being serious to the comedic. These additions include the African Veldt and the Safari having a close encounter with a rhinoceros.

Then there was nothing until 1976 when seven new scenes were added to the Jungle Cruise. In 1985, the Jungle Cruise received a much-needed major rehab. Sadly, in 1993, the Tahitian Terrace was closed and the space reappeared as Aladdin’s Oasis.

Big changes came in 1995, just in time to celebrate the park’s 40th anniversary. Indiana Jones Adventure – Temple of the Forbidden Eye, a brand-new, state-of-the-art thrill ride was installed. Plus, the Jungle Cruise was significantly changed with new boats, boathouse, and a thematic overlay consistent with Indy’s 1930s time frame.

The boathouse was given a backstory. Some say that this part of Adventureland was first discovered by French soldiers and became part of a European colonization effort. Because of the surrounding dangers, the soldiers began a business that evolved into a water safari for tourists. Since French was the international language before World War II, you will frequently find French words scattered about the waiting area. The structure was designed to imply that nature has overtaken the building. It looks like it is sinking on one side and the gaps in the rooftops and railings are damaged by tree branches. Upstairs there are dangerous insects and a cobra in the rafters. The boathouse featured music from the era plus the costumes and spiel were modified to fit within the elements of the setting.

The boats also underwent a redesign from bright colored excursion boats to something a bit more distressed. To accommodate the Indy queue, a portion of the Jungle Cruise River was moved.

Reminders of the Indiana Jones films are scattered throughout the land. A prime example is the big military truck at the exit of the Indiana Jones Adventure – Temple of the Forbidden Eye. Hardcore fans will recognize that this was the vehicle central to one of the most memorable scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark. As Indy is fighting off the bad guys he hangs on to and ultimately crawls under this truck as it is speeding along. Yes, this is that truck. The golf balls you see sticking out of the bumper were used for the car chase stunt in the film and not standard issue. Today, the truck has changed missions and is part of the "Lost Delta Archeological Expeditions."

Above the Tropical Imports store are some of Indy's findings. Hmmm. Wonder if they will make it back to the University? For a brief period in the Summer of 2008, Indiana came to life and performed in a stunt show utilizing the various building throughout Adventureland.

By 1999, the Swiss Family moved out of the Treehouse and Tarzan moved in. The 50th anniversary of Disneyland in 2005 provided an excuse to give the Jungle Cruise some major TLC. New scenes were added including the piranhas and the gun happy gorillas.

It is common knowledge that key people involved in the development of Disneyland are honored with their names on a window along Main Street. There is only one such tribute in Adventureland and that goes to one of the most important influences on the theme park industry – Harper Goff.

The Harper Goff window is just beyond the storefronts on the right hand side. You will come upon a small set of stairs. Look up at the windows on the upper floor (or walk up the steps up to the gate) you can see one stenciled with “Oriental Tattooing by Prof. Harper Goff.” On the lower pane you can see he also offers “Banjo Lessons.”

Who is this mysterious Harper Goff? Was he a character in a forgotten film? After all, isn’t the rule that everything needs to tie into another Disney property? Not in this case. Harper Goff was one of Walt’s first Imagineers and had a huge influence on the design of Disneyland. If anybody deserves to be recognized, it is Goff.

Harper Goff was born in Fort Collins Colorado in 1911. His family moved to Santa Ana and he went to the Chouinard Art Institute. From there he worked at Warner Brothers as a set designer with credits ranging from Casablanca to Sergeant York to The Adventures of Don Juan.

But it was a fateful day in England in 1951 that would change everything. Goff absolutely loved model steam trains. These miniature workhorses were very popular at the time. He was at Basset-Lowke, the place to buy a model locomotive, and spotted an engine that he wanted. He was told the locomotive was on hold for a gentleman but if he came back and the other guy did not want it, Goff could buy it. To Goff’s surprise the other guy was Walt Disney. Walt got the train and Goff got a job.

Walt assigned Goff the task of sketching out a True-Life Adventure short that was going to be called 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Goff had other ideas. He was a huge Jules Verne fan and he bravely ignored Walt’s direction and drafted sketches for a live action action drama instead including the amazing Nautilus submarine. Walt was impressed, changed directions, and produced the classic film we enjoy today.

His background as the Art Director for the movie African Queen came in handy in designing the land. Goff was the designer of the Jungle Cruise. He drew the path of the waterway with a stick in the sand and the construction people followed his direction. Goff’s influence on Adventureland cannot be overstated.

After Disneyland, he went back to films and worked on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Fantastic Voyage. He returned to Disney and thought up the way the World Showcase would be organized plus he worked on the Japan, Germany, and United Kingdom pavilions. Tokyo Disneyland was his last project before his death in 1993.

But why banjo lessons? Like many of the legendary Disney creative types, they had many passions. Along with model railroading, Dixieland music was another and he spent many years as the banjo player for the Firehouse Five Plus Two.

People like Disney trivia questions and here is a good one from Kevin Yee’s 101 Things You Never Knew about Disneyland. What is the oldest object in Disneyland? According to Yee, the answer would be the petrified tree in Frontierland. Although it was only installed in 1957, the tree itself is ancient.

But there is another object that could also claim the prize if we are limited to something that existed on the site. As a planning historian, I am always looking around cities to try and find that thing, that one thing that was there and has stood the test of time through all of the changes. In Disneyland, one of those objects is the Dominguez Tree in Adventureland.

Ron Dominguez was a young man when Walt Disney bought his family's farm. He grew up on ten acres that were along Cerritos Avenue. Cerritos went east to west between Harbor Boulevard and West Street. The street was vacated by the City of Anaheim so that Disneyland could be built. West Street later became Disneyland Drive.

The original property contained citrus groves, a house, and some mature trees. The house was moved and became construction offices. Many of the non-fruit trees were integrated into the park. Today, that orange grove is now the land beneath Cafe Orleans, Pirates of the Caribbean, the rain forest portion of the Jungle Cruise, the Golden Horseshoe Saloon, and the Mark Twain dock.

However, there was one tree in particular that held special meaning to the Dominguez family and they asked Walt if he could preserve it. This particular tree was a Canary Island Date Palm and it was planted in 1896 as wedding gift to Ron's grandparents from the area's first horticulturist.

Ron Dominguez got a job at Disneyland as a ticket taker and was there on opening day. He was a tall fellow and one day was asked to portray Davy Crockett and walk around Frontierland. He enjoyed his time for a while but the constant attention got to him and he transferred to other duties. He continued to work at Disneyland and rose to the position of Executive Vice-President at Disneyland. He retired in 1994. Dominguez was honored on Main Street with a window for “Orange Grove Property Management.”

To find the Dominguez Palm walk to the Indiana Jones Fastpass entrance. Look for the fat tall tree trunk that punches through the building. They had to build the boathouse around the tree. Next time you are in the area give it a knowing nod and think of the Dominguez family.