Kevin Federline loses a child at Disneyland

The RadReport has a story on how Kevin Federline's daughter, not one from his relationship with Britney however, was temporarily separated from his party during a recent trip to Disneyland:

Sources said that the child, wearing a light yellow Belle Costume, was left alone near the Finding Nemo ride. When an employee asked her where her parents were, she said she didn’t know.

About ten to fifteen minutes after the employee found the lost little Kori, a nanny spotted her and came running over.

“She was freaked out and started yelling at the kid, asking her why she wandered off,” said the source.

See even celebrities lose their children at Disneyland. Even when they can afford to pay others to watch the tots for them. I wonder if that nanny was like "Oh my god, this is so going to cost me my job."

(Link)

Tags: disneyland, celebrity, lost child, lost parent, anaheim

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Fan's Voices do Make a Difference at Disney

"it's a small world" fans don't give up. Your voices are being heard and Disney is busy doing damage control. If you want an example of where the opinion of fans has made a difference look no further than Epcot's Spaceship Earth.

When the attraction soft-opened in February we knew via official sources that it was not complete. There was work to be done, but having that attraction capacity was important to handle the holiday crowds. Still, it was obvious to those who rode it that something was wrong with the changes.

Many changes were done well. Changing the theme of the attraction from communications to technological advancement was subtle but effective for the most part. Some special effects were added that are fun to see. The exit area of the attraction is a big improvement over the dead space that was there before.

But there were problems. Huge script issues and the complete lack of sets and design in the second half of the attraction was a big issue.

So what do we find this last week, SSE has been updated with some new phrases to tighten up the script. We also have a Seimens spokesperson admitting that they weren't happy with the attraction either and there is still lots of work to be done.

I'm hearing that some of that work involves actually adding sets and story designs back into the second half of the attraction.

So yes, Disney fans. Your voices are being heard. When the quality isn't up to Disney standards we can make a difference.

Tags: disney, its a small world, disneyland, epcot, theme park, spaceship earth, small world, iasw, disney fans

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"it's a small world" anquish continues

If you didn't see it, Disney Archivist Dave Smith has written a letter to the community that makes the same arguments as Marty Sklar's letter. John Frost at The Disney Blog let's Dave Smith have it for not bringing anything new to the table.

The Disney Blog also found this great defense of why change at Disneyland must be carefully considered from the Disneyland Nomenclature blog. It turns out even the ultimate "change agent" Walt Disney wasn't willy-nilly with his changes, but rather focused on plussing and filling in under utilized spaces.

Finally, check out the Save The Small World campaign site for it's latest bit of news and an strong argument against placing characters in the attraction.

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Disneyland setting itself up for bad PR with "it's a small world" Rainforest Downsizing

That an America scene is being added where the rainforest scene was previously and that the rainforest has been incorporated in another scene hasn't been denied and isn't ruled out in Marty Sklar's letter. He just ruled out that the scene is "Up With America" by which I assume Sklar meant "overly patriotic"... but I don't think that was ever anyone's complaint.

Even if the rainforest isn't going away, it is being downsized (and replaced) by America. If that isn't a metaphor for what's wrong with our attitude to Global Warming right now, I don't know what is.

If Disney opens "it's a small world" with those changes they're in for a hell-hole of bad publicity about how the attraction's new message is anti-green instead of pro-peace. Not exactly how a modern multi-national wants to be positioning itself in these days of rising fuel prices, disappearing ice-caps, and consumers looking for what's green instead of what's next.

Disney Public Relations had better start their spin now.

Tags: disneyland, green, disney, public relations, it's a small world, rainforest, environmental

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The truth about the changes to "it's a small world"

The real story behind the goofy change coming to Disneyland's classic and beloved "it's a small world" attraction is beginning to leak out. The changes being made this year are the sad remnants of a greater plan to massively update the attraction with new audio-animatronic style dolls, updated scenery, and a greater variety of nationalities and cultures represented in a new prayer for world unity and peace from all the world's children.

That was the plan discussed eight years ago. But somewhere over the years the original plan fell by the side and when money left in the budget to update "it's a small world" was about to be lost, forces sprung into action to do something, anything, to make a change. What is coming now is a version of plans that were made for Hong Kong Disneyland, not exactly the same, but close enough.

Disney never makes one of something when they can get two for near the same price. But how to use that second doll? Why not do something at Disneyland. Sad but true, that's the exact thought behind part of this change.

So when the new plans were leaked the press smelled a scandal this caused some people to get cold feet. WDI Ambassador and tried and true corporate spokesman Marty Sklar was asked to step in and save the day. His letter was as much desperation as it was spin. Disney was getting bad press in more than just the online fan groups, something had to be done, and the fans were the perfect scapegoats.

But as it turns out, Marty Sklar was being less than truthful in his open letter to Disney fans. When he said there would be no "Up with America" scene and that the rainforest remains, that wasn't exactly the truth. The rainforest has indeed been bulldozed to make way for a new room honoring America. The rest of the nations of the world have to share rooms with other countries on their continents, but the USA gets its own room. That prominent placement is "Up with America" enough. But to devastate the rainforest for the change is an unseemly metaphor.

The rainforest has been downsized and moved to another area of the attraction to make way for athe US of A. And when Marty said that Mickey Mouse won't be added to the attraction, that didn't mean that other Disney characters, non-humans like Mickey and Minnie, wouldn't be added. What do non-children characters have to do with the theme? No one has yet said.

How to explain those little lies? They can't, so you'll just have to trust them that they know what's best.

Oh Disney fans, you have been snookered. While you weren't looking Disney has ripped out the heart and soul of one of Walt's most memorable and meaningful attractions. There is no more world unity, there is America and we're more important than y'all. The rainforest has been harvested and Wal-Mart put in its place. There is no more children's prayer for peace and world unity, there is Disney merchandise opportunities with a famous Disney character in nearly every scene. There is no more small world, just a faceless soulless corporation out to get every last buck from their 'guests' with no care for its legacy.

Tags: disney, disneyland, imagineering, wdi, iasw, its+a+small+world, save+disney

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Monorail Red Video - running on rails at Disneyland

The problem with Monorail Red appears to have been less serious than originally thought. When first tested, the new Mark VII Monorail was unable to make it around the first turn from the maintenance shed onto the track. The problem was thought to be with the design of the undercarriage, but turns out a piece was just installed incorrectly. That's been fixed and now Monorail Red is cycling at night in order to work out any further kinks.

There is even video of Monorail Red running. Unfortunately since all the testing is done at night, it's pretty dark. But you can just make out the new retro style of the Mark VII and see that it is running under its own power. I'm also hearing that Monorail Blue is back on schedule to be the second Mark VII to be delivered.

No word on when the public will be able to ride.

Parts of this article was sourced from the LA Times.

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Disney Park Parade Rotation coming soon

The first leg of the Parade Do-see-do has just been completed with California Adventure sending it's "Pixar Block Party Bash" to Disney's Hollywood Studios. California Adventure was rewarded with a brand new parade the "Pixar Play Parade", of course that's experienced a bump or two in the road lately.

Another rumor site recently posted that Disney's Animal Kingdom won't be getting a night parade after all. The infrastructure change required to make the DAK parade corridor capable of handling a night parade were deemed too drastic and therefore "Rivers Of Light" has been snuffed out. Having walked Disney's Animal Kingdom explicitly looking for how a night parade would work, I have to agree that any widening of the pathways would affect a drastic change on the intimate feel of the park.

Hopefully the Rivers of Light idea can be revived at another theme park; one also in need of a night parade... can you say Epcot? Although the death of ROL at DAK has not been confirmed by my sources.

Now I'm hearing that as soon as October 2009 the Parade of Dreams from Disneyland will be exported to the Magic Kingdom. This is in addition to rumors sending SpectroMagic to Paris in exchange for Fantillusion, which originally debuted at Tokyo Disneyland. I'm not sure if the Rivers of Light change will factor into this. It would be nice to get an original night parade at Walt Disney World soon.

Tags: disney, disneyland, magic+kingdom, wdw, disney+world, parade, spectromagic, fantillusion, dak, rivers+of+light, imagineering

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Bob Iger confirms Pixar's Carsland coming to DCA

Over at The Disney Blog, Cody Davis posted his notes from a recent investor call by Disney CEO Robert Iger. Hidden in there was this gem.

Concerning theme parks, Iger confirmed that the “parks are in great shape” and that Disney will continue to invest in capital, not just in maintenance. “Everything we have done with Pixar in the parks has worked extremely well,” he asserted. He also confirmed a new attraction for Disney’s California Adventure: “We are going to build a Carsland at California Adventure. Which will be a real anchor for that park in the near future.”

Concerning theme park attendance, Iger suggested that “it is possible that we will end up with record attendance at our domestic parks.”

I believe that's the first time the 'Carsland' project has been officially announced. Now, the question is when. (Read)

Tags: disney, pixar, bob iger, theme park, dca, california adventure, carsland, walt disney company

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Resort Expansion

Lots of news in the resort expansion front this week. Starting on the west coast, there has been lots of speculation about Disney building two hotels over at the Anaheim Garden Walk property. This is something I saw coming as soon as the AGW property was announced. However, it seems that concept art, architect drawings, and other more serious signs are showing up in the usual places. These properties would be targeted not at the usual family visitor, but rather at the young and hip and those looking for more of a spa/nightclub experience.

If these two new hotels are built they will be in addition to the new hotel that is planned for the property to the west of Disneyland Hotel right now. Expect a fourth hotel as part of the Disney Vacation Club too.

Speaking of the DVC, I wrote about the Oahu Hawaii possibility last week. Now two international destinations have been added to the list. Japan at Tokyo Disneyland and Spain on the Costa Del Sol (check out the August newsletter at this link), are being talked about as possible Urban Entertainment Centers (UEC) locations. This would be a combination of Hotel/DVC/Water Park with possible other attraction elements involved.

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Indiana Jones Adventure to get effects from fourth movie

Disneyland's Indiana Jones Adventure is going down for rehab August 28-30. Rumor has it that Imagineering will be looking to see if they can incorporate some of the plot and effects from the upcoming fourth Indiana Jones movie into the attraction. That would be cool. But I also heard the rumor that the fourth movie is drawing some of its ideas from the attraction. So don't get too excited.

Tags: disneyland, indiana+jones, disney, imagineering, wdi

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