R.A. Pedersen's Blog, page 20
February 17, 2012
Aquaponics Workshop March 28-31 to Feature Epcot Land Pavilion Scientist
Aquatic Eco-Systems, Inc. (AES) of Apopka, FL held its first Aquaponics Workshop in late November 2011. The "Institute of Sustainable Farming: Aquaponics Technology and Design Workshop" was conducted by Aquatic Eco-Systems' AES University. The three and a half day workshop featured informative presentations, multiple facility tours and hands-on instruction with AES staff members and special guest, Dr. James Rakocy, the "Father of Aquaponics."
The success of that recent workshop has prompted...
Raytheon Engineers Week Demonstrations in Innoventions Feb 20-24
Raytheon will be holding interactive demonstrations using fundamental engineering and mathematical principles at the Sum of all Thrills in Epcot's Innoventions February 20-24, 2012. These demonstrations will be part of the larger National Engineers Week presentations the company will be doing across the country.
"National Engineers Week is a great opportunity to put the spotlight on engineering achievements and the contributions of engineers throughout the year," said Raytheon Chairman and...
February 16, 2012
So Long Bouncy Place! Pooh Queue Modifications
Disney filed permits today to begin queue modifications at the long-suffering Winnie the Pooh attraction in the Magic Kingdom. These modifications should remove the blight otherwise known as Tigger's Bouncy Place.
If you're uninitiated, Tigger's Bouncy Place was a section the interactive queue at the attraction which was added early this year. It had circular panels on springs in the ground that guests could hop on top of – and they would sink into the ground and spring back up. It was...
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom Math and Fascinating Factoids
If you've seen Disney publicity blitz for their new "attraction" then you know Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom officially opens on February 22nd. For the unaware, it's a game where you run around the park going to "portals" (read: TVs) in the windows of buildings and wave a card at it to cast "spells" against villains.
Most folks who have had a chance to test the experience have passed it off a as relatively mundane but mostly harmless addition to the Magic Kingdom. You just waggle a card at a ...
February 15, 2012
New Fantasyland Skyway Photos: Dirt! Lots of it!
Disney is in the process of tearing down the old Skyway ride station in Fantasyland to build new restrooms and a bypass walkway toward the Haunted Mansion. The project had stalled out for several months but recently kicked into high gear.
The adjacent Fantasyland walkways near "small world" and Peter Pan are an epic-cluster in the meantime, but thankfully this should all be sorted out before the major elements of New Fantasyland open later this year. Also, no worries about any major changes...
Epcot's VISION House to Open Earth Day and New Concept Art
We've gotten word that Epcot's new VISION House in Innoventions East is scheduled to open in celebration of Earth Day this year. That's April 22, for the holiday impaired. We also managed to come across some new concept art showing what the house will look like from the exterior.
Front View (toward Sum of All Thrills and Habit Heroes)
Note the use of greenery and foliage. The tall tree will actually be right near the doorway leading out into Future World East by the Universe of Energy. It...
February 14, 2012
Mission: SPACE and Missing Paint
A quick update.. remember when Disney opened Mission: SPACE in Epcot and touted the following:
"Nearly 100 shades of red were mocked up before Imagineers decided on the color of the red planet that dominates the dramatic facade of Mission: SPACE."
Apparently no one bothered to test any of those colors to see if they were weather-proof at all. As you can see in the photos below, entire panels of the building's facade are stripped clean of the lauded paint color. Elements, they is harsh.
Queue Work for Nemo at Epcot Continues with Interior Restructuring
There's been a good of disagreement in the fan community over what exactly is being done at the Seas with Nemo and Friends pavilion in Epcot. Late last month a refurbishment wall popped up (photos) in the exterior queue just before the doors do the building. A look through a crack in the wall revealed that the wall itself and the mural on it were having holes into them. Additionally, the planter against the wall was completed removed and concrete on the ground dug up as well.
All signs point t...
New Fantasyland Photo Update: Chimneys and Paint!
New Fantasyland is coming along nicely in the Magic Kingdom. This expansion of Walt Disney World's oldest park should have its first of many phased openings in March, with the Circusland section complete and accessible by the middle of the month. The train station, Barnstormer, and Double Dumbo should all open at that point. Rather than being a dead end, the Circusland section will actually have a looping pathway from the Mad Tea Party and then past the attractions to the old Tomorrowland...
February 13, 2012
Magic Kingdom Monorails at Reduced Capacity Due to Beam Damage
Last night the monorail beams between the Grand Floridian Resort and the Magic Kingdom suffered damage that is causing delays in travel times between monorail stops. CM's are saying it was a beam joint that was damaged due to the extremely low temperatures.
Monorails traveling over this section of the track are forced to a crawl, barely at speeds above an idle. The monorails are essentially coasting on momentum in short spurts to cross that portion of the track. This is significantly...
