I have been been waiting for 3 years for all the new improvements to Disney’s California Adventure Park. Carthay Circle is a reproduction of where Snow White and the Seven Dwarf’s premiered.
Yesterday, Disney California Adventure park guests were able to see the entire exterior of Carthay Circle Theatre for the first time, and today another beautiful park landmark has been revealed. Carthay Circle Fountain is now visible, and as you can see in these brand-new images from Paul Hiffmeyer, it was worth the wait!
In the video below (filmed before the construction walls came down), Imagineer Lisa Girolami gives some insight into the inspiration for this fountain and how it helps tell the story of the Los Angeles that Walt Disney may have discovered when he first arrived.
Vinylmation is Big for collectors at the Disney Parks. Me myself I do not collect Vinylmation but Disney is releasing a new Vinylmation called Vinylmation 95.
If you are a collector of Vinylmation please share your stories below is the comments section. You can also see the article from the Disney Parks Blog or you can go directly to their blog.
I can’t believe how time flies. It seems like just yesterday I announced the concept of WonderGround Gallery right here on the Disney Parks Blog. Now, June 9 is around the corner and the grand opening is something you won’t want to miss.
One of the things I’m most excited to share with you is the debut of the new Vinylmation 95 platform! Guaranteed to get your motor racing, this new 9” form is shaped like the one and only Lightning McQueen and pays tribute to his signature number, 95. What makes it even better is that six of our WonderGround Gallery artists have been commissioned to create one-of-a-kind pieces utilizing the new platform. In addition, Artist in Residence for June, Noah, will debut a limited edition version of his Lightning McQueen Vinylmation 95 platform the same day. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look as Noah puts the finishing touches on this classic new piece.
As I mentioned above, WonderGround Gallery will feature an Artist in Residence program. Each month, a new artist will call WonderGround Gallery their home as they work on upcoming projects, live paintings, art demonstrations and more. Local Southern California artist Noah is scheduled to be our very first Artist in Residence and will be on hand every Friday and Saturday night throughout the month of June, from 5–9 p.m. In addition to our Artist in Residence, other local artisans will appear to showcase some of their new releases and collections.
There are so many great events planned for the opening and throughout the month. Here are a few things you should keep on your radar. For a complete list of artists that will be appearing on June 9, be sure to visit WonderGroundGallery.com.
Events/Artist Signings
June 9 – Vinylmation Signing, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
June 9 – 2D Artist Signings, 3 – 5 p.m.
Artist in Residence
June 15 – 16 – Noah, 5 – 9 p.m.
Artisan Showcase
June 16 – 17 – Mamas Little Babies, 1 – 4 p.m.
June 23 – 24 – Artisan, 1 – 4 p.m.
June 30 – July 1 – Artisan, 1 – 4 p.m.
What else can you expect to find in WonderGround Gallery? Well, let me paint you a picture. Not only will you find original artwork on the walls, but you can actually find some of this featured art on an array of items, including limited-edition giclées, deluxe prints, t-shirts, mugs, magnets and more. In addition, look for art-inspired home and lifestyle products, including books, journals, note cards, picture frames, novelty pens, stencils, vases, paperweights and art figures, among other items.
Now, I couldn’t let you go without a sneak peek at a few more pieces of art. Hope you like them!
In our last post I shared with you Disney World’s Star Wars Build a Droid here is a great addition to that. In Disney Worlds Star Wars Weekend you can be frozen in carbon just like Han Solo from Star Wars the “Empire Strikes Back”.
You also get a collectable to remember the experience check it out below!
After being caught spying on Darth Vader’s latest Death Star plans, I was sentenced to eternal imprisonment frozen in carbonite. Maybe it didn’t go quite like that, but I did indeed step into a carbon freezing chamber at Walt Disney World, voluntarily, as part of the newest line of custom collectibles offered during Star Wars Weekends 2012, which began yesterday.
Disney calls the experience “Carbon Freeze Me,” enabling theme park guests to have their faces scanned and 3D-printed onto a small collectible figurine featuring their likeness sculpted onto Han Solo’s body, frozen in carbonite, a la “Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.”
With the aid of my pal Kenny the Pirate, I recorded my trip into the Carbon Freeze Me experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, seen in the video below, including the variety of amusing faces I made while trying to act like I’d just been doomed by the Dark Lord of the Sith.
Video: Carbon Freeze Me experience at Star Wars Weekends 2012
For the duration of Star Wars Weekends, which takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through June 10, Carbon Freeze Me is setup inside the ABC Sound Studio, formerly home to Drew Carey’s “Sounds Dangerous” attraction. But for this new experience, Disney has decked out the stage to resemble the famous carbon freezing chamber from the second (or fifth?) “Star Wars” film.
Complete with dramatic shades of orange, blue, and red, winding ducts overhead, and plenty of fog, the ominous setup certainly sets the mood for being turned into Jabba’s next wall decoration. And Disney’s Cast Members were playing the part too, frequently referring to me as a “rebel spy” and asking what I “did” to receive my sentence.
In the end, the product that’s being created from Carbon Freeze Me is an 8-inch tall, highly-detailed Star Wars figurine, featuring Han Solo’s famous pose but with the 3D face of whoever takes part in the experience.
The actual “carbon freezing chamber” is a comfortable seat situated between a blue screen, several bright lights, and a small LCD monitor. After brief instruction and requiring me to pull my long hair back away from my face, a robotic voice counts down from 3 before my first 3D photo is snapped. Instead of smiling for the camera and saying “Cheeeeeeese,” the proper expression here is to wince in pain as the voice exclaims, “Freeeeeeeeeze.” Clever.
Before me, I watched one adult and several children step into the “chamber” and get their likenesses captured. Guests of all ages seemed to be enjoying it, particularly due to Disney’s attention to detail in making it more than a simple photo opportunity. The ambiance, props, sound effects, and Cast Member dedication to the story all combined to create a proper Star Wars experience.
I was given three chances at making various faces before stepping around to a nearby computer monitor to see the results. I chose my third face, as it looked like I was in the most pain and my clenched teeth made the photo different enough from how Harrison Ford posed, mouth open, as Han Solo. I had to make it my own.
After choosing that photo, the Cast Member clicked a few buttons and my 2D image was suddenly turned into a 3D computer model, fully colored and textured, able to be manipulated on-screen. It was rather creepy.
Another mouse click replaced all the color in my face with shades of grey, showing me roughly how I’d appear when frozen in a small carbonite figurine.
The 3D-scanned image will act as a base for the final figurine, the design for which will be touched up before being created.
The final step, naturally, was to pay for the experience and my figurine, which was not available in the park but rather would be shipped to my house in 3-4 weeks. The price tag is $99, though the total actually comes out to around $122 once sales tax and shipping are factored in. The extra costs offer a bit of sticker shock for those expecting $100 a head – literally. But ultimately the price not only pays for the figurine itself, nicely packaged inside an official Star Wars box, but also the fun theme park experience, which is only open to those who buy into it and their friends and family who join them to watch.
I didn’t leave totally empty handed, given a “tracking wristband” so the Empire could keep tabs on me, since they were unable to truly imprison me in carbonite.
At the touch of a button, the wristband’s face cycles between red, blue, and green colors.
So is it all really worth $122? I can’t say that until my figurine arrives in a few weeks. So check back then for my final thoughts on this experience. If it’s successful, and it seems to be, I have a feeling Disney will find ways to extend it past the end of Star Wars Weekends, perhaps rolling it out when Star Wars Celebration VI arrives to the Orange County Convention Center in August.
Matterhorn allays has some of the longest lines but the lines move quick for as many people wait inline.
One of the things I really enjoy about this rides it takes you back to classic Disney this ride was built in the 1950’s. The cars are the same cars I remember being a kid from the 80’s on space mountain which now also has new cars.
I now people will enjoy the Matterhorn’s refurbishment but I will miss the classic part to this ride. We will keep you up dated with that I think of the updates.
Respectfully,
Chris Brown
The Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland park are undergoing refurbishment. Currently, the view of the snow-capped Matterhorn is covered in scaffolding for a 6-month-long, detailed face-lift. Check out what’s been going on inside and out! Read more at the Disney Parks Blog: http://bit.ly/x27wQo
In my family, special bragging rights went to the first person who spotted Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland park from the I-5 freeway. Currently, the view of the snow-capped mountain is a bit obstructed. For the first time, the entire attraction was covered in scaffolding for a 6-month-long, detailed face-lift.
Check out the video below to see what’s been going on inside and out!
I was just at Disneyland last Friday and did not see this on Star Tours as of right now this is only at Disney World. I am sure Disney will also add this to other Disney Parks.
I loved the build your own light saber that is a both parks Disneyland and Disney World.
I am also a collector of the Disney / Star Wars action figures.
Ever since I was a little boy, I’ve dreamed of owning my own droid just like Luke Skywalker in Star Wars. Granted, I also wanted to learn the ways of the Force, but I think having an Astromech droid will be slightly easier with the Droid Factory experience launching during Star Wars Weekends 2012. Fans will be able to build and name their own R-series Astromech droid action figures. I spoke with product developer Cody Hampton who said this experience was in development for three years!
“We began discussing the Droid Factory in 2009,” explained Cody. “We know that personalization is an important aspect of the popular build-your-own light saber experience. We felt the same thing could be done with action figures but on a much larger scale.”
Large scale indeed – the Droid Factory has 71 different pieces to create the 3 ¾-inch figures! To get started, guests chose a dome, a body and legs offered in a variety of colors and styles (Cody said that availability of various parts and colors may change). There are optional third legs and novelty hats that can be added.
“We wanted lots of options for [the Droid Factory],” continued Cody. “There are literally thousands of combinations making each droid unique. Guests can also name their droids with sticker sheets provided at checkout.”
Three domes – R6, R8 and R9 – were created exclusively for this experience at Disney Parks. Cody also told me the multi-colored ear hats were inspired by Jedi Mickey’s Astromech droid, R2-MK. Four additional hats arrive later this summer including a Goofy hat, a pirate hat, a fedora and a Yoda cap.
Droids will be sold either in single or dual packs (the latter has a value price). They can also be used with the playsets we’ve created like the Starspeeder 1000.
Cody and fellow developer Brad Schoeneberg built Astromech droids for this article.
“My favorite droid is named R7-C4,” Cody continued. “He has an orange body like my favorite clone trooper, Commander Cody. He wears the Yoda cap as a nod to the actual hat created in the 1980s when I fell in love with Star Wars.”
Brad built R9-EIU in honor of Eastern Illinois University, where he completed his bachelor’s degree. He explained, “[The droid] would have been great to have around while I was in school.”
I can’t wait to create one for my office. Happy building!
For more updates on Star Wars Weekends 2012, see the posts below:
Port Orleans has always been my favorite mid priced resorts at Walt Disney World. I love New Orleans Jazz which this resort if filled with.
My family would stay at Fort Wilderness Resort we would then pick different resort to go swimming at Port Orleans was always one of my favorites. As you will notice Disney has made improvements.
Just like what Disney has done with their cruise ship Disney is now doing this with their room. Enjoy the article below from the Disney Parks blog and the video.
More than 500 rooms have been transformed with beautiful décor and majestic touches – fit for royalty. They really immerse guests in beloved Disney tales full of princes and princesses. There is a lot to discover, from the art work and custom bedspreads to cool fixtures and glittering headboards (I won’t give away the surprise with the headboards…). So if you are looking for a new experience at a Disney resort, these specialty rooms may be just right for you. FYI, all the rooms at Port Orleans are undergoing a renovation that is set for completion in June 2012.
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