Sam Gennawey's Blog, page 19

Japanese Village and Deer Park/Enchanted Village

Japanese Village and Deer Park/Enchanted Village

































Once upon a time, guests from around the world could gather in the small town of Buena Park to visit the largest Japanese cultural and recreational center in the Western hemisphere and then head off to look at wax figures and eat Boysenberry pie. At least that was the dream of Allen Parkinson according to historian Richard Harris.
Richard is the author of Early Amusement Parks of Orange County and a steel trap of information about the long lost centers of joy that used to be littered throughout the southland. One day we were talking about one of my Mom’s favorites - Japanese Village and Deer Park.
According to Harris, the park was the dream of Allen Parkinson who made his fortune inventing Sleep-Eze. He also owned the Movieland Wax Museum in Buena Park and he wanted to expand his empire. He was drawing as many as 1.2 million visitors a year and Knott’s Berry Farm continued to be a strong draw. Parkinson had property just 100 yards from the Santa Ana Freeway at Knott Avenue and he planned to build a 32-acre tourist attraction to open in 1967.
Harris said, “The design of Japanese Village and Deer Park was originally inspired by the deer Park that was located in Nara, Japan and was the first and only deer park in America.” Harris recalled that “Allen Parkinson had recreated a replica of a [5-acre] Japanese garden, abundantly greened and flowered, ancient temple architecture in evidence throughout and with a host of animals – ‘many sacred in Japanese custom’ – on hand to greet visitors.” It had Japanese-like pavilions, gardens as well as kimono clad attendants and a teahouse-type restaurant. The gardens were done in a traditional manner and Koto music was played through speakers hidden in the bushes. There were numerous displays of cultural artifacts.
At the heart of the park were the more than 300 deer imported from Nara, Japan. They were confined to a large holding pen toward the rear of the park. Harris said, “Special crackers could be purchased from coin-operated machines and there was an open-air restaurant bordering the pen that afforded non-stop entertainment of the deer as they beg for handfuls of deer food while guests sipped their Japanese tea and eat shrimp tempura.”
There were plenty of animal encounters. You would walk through a pavilion that was filled with white doves. Guests would hold out their hands filled with bird seed and become engulfed by flying birds. Feeding the gigantic carp was a popular pastime. Harris said, “A splash of a hand in the water brings the golden fish in swarms hoping for a nibble from a friendly visitor.”
Dolphins, sea lions, and bears at the Sea Theater entertained guests every hour. Harris described, “Tame Hokkaido bear cubs that were bottle-fed and full-grown bears that would play basketball and perform all manner of tricks on children’s swings. There was also a karate arena where exhibitions of the martial arts were held as well as competitions between various karate clubs. In 1968, well-known martial arts expert Fumio Demura would star in the first professional Karate demonstration in the world. The show lasted seven years until it moved to the Las Vegas Hilton.
In 1970, Recreation Environments, Inc. of Newport Beach acquired the property as well as the Movieland Wax Museum from Parkinson for an undisclosed sum. That did not last very long and they sold the property to the Six Flags Corporation, a subsidiary of Great Southwest Corporation in 1972.
Six Flags cited “shrinking attendance and continued unprofitability” as the reason to shut down the Orange County tourist attraction in 1975. The company cited the economic outlook for 1975 and the slowdown in Southern California tourism as part of their decision. Harris argues that tourism figures compiled by the Southern California Visitors Council had indicated that the number of out of state visitors declined less than one percent in the first seven months of that year. In fact, most southland tourist attractions were holding their own with Magic Mountain, Universal Studios, and Disneyland showing increases in attendance. Harris suggests, “The Park’s difficulties may have been more directly related to its growing emphasis on a single theme – marine oriented acts and exhibits such as the dolphin show. Closing the park marked the end of a brief but colorful life for the Buena Park tourist attraction.”
Toward the end of the Park’s life a greater tragedy would fall upon the signature herd of deer. It was determined that some of the animals had reacted positively to tests for tuberculosis and more than 200 were quarantined. However, that was not enough and those animals were destroyed. A veterinarian administered lethal injections. Although some healthy animals remained on display it was determined that the cost of the anti-tuberculosis drugs was to high and the rest of the animals were destroyed.
The Park went bankrupt but would reopen as the Enchanted Village in 1977. Ralph Heifer who was the originator of a new method for training wild animals now ran the Park. He called his new system Affection Training. The first step in training was to get the animal used to being touched. Heifer said, “We start off with a stick and then work toward the petting stage. It is a system based on mutual love, respect, patience, and understanding.” Harris said, “Heifer’s new method would call for kindness and a lot of nerve. He went on to train animals for movies and television including “Daktari” and Cowboy in Africa.”
To prepare for the reopening, more then 100 would work in two shifts on the multi-million dollar project. According to Harris, the goal was to have “a tropical setting featuring affection-trained animals. There would be several hundred animals in the park, ranging from lions, tigers, and elephants all the way to snakes and tarantulas. A new mountain and jungle entrance to the Park had been designed that featured the Bridge to Enchantment.” This portal would lead to a 3,000-seat Wilderness Theater with the Park’s Bicentennial Tribute To Animals show. The 2,500-seat Lost Island Theater featured “animal handlers putting land and water Animals through complicated routines to a ‘swampland’ theme.
Due to his innovative training method, Heifer felt that the animals could be exhibited in more “intimate” surroundings than what they normally were.” Harris said, “The Park was organized around ‘scenes’ that would be set up around the park so the visitor will appear to have just ‘happened’ onto them. Here and there elephants would ‘lie down’ and ‘roll over’ like huge dogs, while chimpanzees fold their hands behind their backs and take a walk in the Park like worried executives. Ferocious-looking Bengal tigers wrestle gently with their handlers and even the dreaded black tarantulas crawl unbitingly over the bare skin of the trainer.”
Harris said that one of the main draws was Oliver, described as “the only other animal in the world not interested in dropping on all fours.” He was billed as an anthropological mystery, though dismissed by some authorities as a mere monkey. Oliver stood 4 feet 6 inches and weighed about 125 pounds. He was covered in coarse body hair with a little hair on his head. Besides the lack of hair, Oliver had other interesting facial features including a slight flare of the nose, compared to the almost flat chimpanzee nose, and highly placed ears.
Two New York attorneys named Michael Miller and David Landay purchased Oliver for $8,000 from a South African explorer. Heifer purchased him from the attorneys even though he was unable to establish if Oliver’s origins were truly from the Dark Continent. His age was never firmly established but he was believed to be seven years old. He ate fruits, vegetables, cheese, and some lean meat, and made unusual warbling sounds.
From the beginning, Enchanted Village was in financial trouble. Within a year the Park had filed for bankruptcy again and the officers decided not to file a reorganization plan with Judge Aaron Phelps of the Federal Bankruptcy Court in Santa Ana. Ralph Heifer told Judge Phelphs that he had assets of $6.9 million but had little cash and could not pay its bills as they come due. His primary assets were the Enchanted Village area of 32-acres, the park buildings, and his stock of animals. The Park finally closed its doors in the fall of 1977.

Billy HIll and the Hillbillies

In the book,  DisneyWar , author James B. Stewart suggests that the definition of the Disney ‘magic’ is that point when the guest’s apprehension turns into awe and delight. You can frequently see this moment as you watch a child’s eyes as they meet their favorite character or when an adult laughs because they made it through a thrill ride unharmed. I feel that one of the most reliable places to find this magic is watching Billy Hill and the Hillbillies inside of the Golden Horseshoe Saloon at Disneyland. 


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THE BATHROOMS OF ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE

It is the little things. Once upon a time, during a visit to Islands of Adventure in Florida, I decided to document the variety of themed signs used for the men's restrooms. Very creative.

Trader Sam's

Trader Sam’sThe next time you are visiting the Disneyland resort and looking for something a little different, a little more adult, then I highly recommend you visit Trader Sam’s at the Disneyland Hotel. The bar opened May 27, 2011 to great acclaim and has now become a regular watering hole for many Disneyland regulars. The myth begins…"Who is Trader Sam? Why, he’s the head salesman of the jungle, the one who’s always ready to trade two of his heads for just one of yours! His expertise in head-shrinking potions grew into an interest in mixology."Trader Sam’s is very small with a three sided bar and a few tables and chairs along the perimeter. There are more seats outside where you can usually find live Hawaiian music. Bring a flashlight because much of the detail is hidden on the walls within the shadows. There is so much stuff it would take days to get through everything. Is that really a Tiki Room drummer? And if you were a fan of The Adventurer’s Club at WDW you will feel very welcome. You can even get either version of a Kungaloosh.
Speaking of drinks, some come in odd glasses while other fire up special effects within the bar. A group can share the Uh OA! Be prepared for the bar and staff to erupt in celebration. My favorite is the Krakatoa Punch. Order this baby and a volcano comes alive just outside the window. This drink, as well as the HippopotoMai-Tai is available in souvenir Tiki Glasses.
The Shipwreck on the Rocks brings about the sinking of a model ship inside of a bottle high up on the bar. Other popular drinks include the Ka-Blue-Ie!, the Shrunken Zombie Head, and the Lost Safari. There are even non-alcohol options such as the Schweitzer Falls. Hawaiian beers and California wines round out the mix.
“Aloha, ahoy, aha! And welcome to the mystery, romance, and adventure of Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar. Here, at the edge of civilization, a poisons dart’s throw from the deepest, darkest, most dangerous region where the hand of man has never step foot, my fearless friend Sam established this happy outpost for all to enjoy!”
Plenty of appetizers are available including the Pu Pu Platter and flatbreads. You can also order food next door at the Tangaroa Terrace. Be warned that mischief is played upon the patrons and you may be feeling small after a few drinks. It can also get very crowded, both inside and out. With all of that in mind, a visit to Trader Sam’s is worth the visit.
“In the tiki bar business, it’s a jungle out there. But once Trader Sam began serving his exotic elixirs to tourists, the word really spread! So welcome aboard…ashore…or wherever you are!”

While I was in Florida, I took a trip to the Magic Kingdo...

While I was in Florida, I took a trip to the Magic Kingdom specifically to pay my last respects to the soon to be removed Snow White’s Scary Adventures attraction. After 41 years, Snow White and her mighty little troop are being evicted by a coup made up of Snow White’s fellow princesses who were jealous she got so much space. They will replace the Snow White ride with a princess meet and greet. Once again, our fair maiden has been banished outside of the Castle walls to fend for herself while trying to share space with seven men of varying temperaments. They'll take up residence in a small mine ride in the new Fantasyland expansion. Maybe it is all for the better. Maybe not.


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June Events at the Walt Disney Family Museum

BON VOYAGE! BRINGS SUMMER VACATION TO THE WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUMAlso Ongoing Special Exhibition in the Museum’s Theater GalleryHeinrich Kley: From Fantasy to Fantasiathrough September 17, 2012Celebrate the start of summer by going on a trip to The Walt Disney Family Museum for the film of the month – Walt Disney’s Bon Voyage! Based on the book by Marrijane and Joseph Hayes, Bon Voyage! stars Disney Legend and film celebrity Fred MacMurray, who had leading roles in seven Disney feature films. This summer marks the 50th anniversary since the film’s original theatrical release in 1962, and will be screened daily at 1 and 4 p.m. in The Walt Disney Family Museum’s state-of-the-art digital theater throughout the month of June.  FILM SCREENINGSBon Voyage! (1962)Screens daily at 1 and 4 p.m. (except Tuesdays, June 16, 23 and 29)Films are free with Museum admission or $7 general; $5 under 17, without Museum admission.SPECIAL EXHIBITIONHeinrich Kley: From Fantasy to FantasiaThrough September 17, 2012 | Theater GalleryFree with Museum admission.Heinrich Kley: From Fantasy to FantasiaThe Walt Disney Family Museum is also pleased to present the special exhibition Heinrich Kley: From Fantasy to Fantasia featuring drawings by Heinrich Kley—Walt Disney’s most admired European illustrator—paired with art from Disney’s famed animated film Fantasia (1940). On view through September 17, 2012, this exhibition features 29 drawings by Kley alongside more than 25 sketches, concept art, and maquettes from the Walt Disney classic film. Also on view are four of Kley’s sketchbooks which feature some 50 pages of intricate drawings. The Kley artworks are from Walt Disney’s personal collection and are on view for the first time as a collection in the United States.SPECIAL PROGRAMSThe Bridge on the Big Screen: Movies Starring the Golden Gate BridgeVertigo + Discussion with KRON 4’s Jan WahlSaturday, June 166 p.m. | TheaterFree on a first come first served basis starting at 10 a.m. on the day of the screening.Come see Vertigo (1958), the classic Alfred Hitchcock psychological thriller! Film critic Jan Wahl will present interesting and little known facts about the making of the film, and discuss what role the Golden Gate Bridge plays in one of the greatest films ever made.    This film screening is part of The Bridge on the Big Screen: Movies Starring the Golden Gate Bridge series presented by the Walt Disney Family Museum and The Presidio Trust in honor of the Golden Gate Bridge 75th anniversary.Selling Walt: The Business (and Fun) of Movie PromotionSaturday, June 233 p.m. | Theater$10 general; $7 under 17Join author (The Disney Treasures, The Mickey Mouse Treasures)—and past manager of the Walt Disney Archives—Robert Tieman as he delves into the little-known, almost-forgotten world of the Advance Promotion Campaign. Once the standard practice in Hollywood motion picture studios, the job was to get the word out on each new movie, introduce the stories and characters to the public, and build excitement in advance of a film’s opening at the local theater; in other words: sell the movie. Illustrated with rare ad materials and photos, this program offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Walt’s public image—and his Studio’s standing in popular culture.Look Closer: Walt and the 1964 New York World’s FairFriday, June 22; Saturday, June 23; and Sunday, June 24 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. | Gallery 9Free with Museum admission.Learn how Walt stretched his Imagineers to create four innovative attractions that amazed the world!CLASSES + ACTIVITIESSaturday, June 9 and Sunday, June 10Disney Discoveries!1–3 p.m. (drop-in program) | Learning Center Art Studio Bonjour! Let your fingers be the paint brush as you create your very own “pointillism” masterpiece like the great French painters.Free with Museum admission.Saturday, June 16Step into a Cartoon1 p.m.–3 p.m. (drop-in program) | Learning Center Art StudioHave you ever wanted to play with animated characters such as Alice in the Alice Comedies, or dance with singing penguins like Bert and Mary in Mary Poppins? This is your chance to star in an animated cartoon using green screen technology just like these beloved characters!Saturday, June 23Teen Animation Workshop 2.010 a.m.–2 p.m. | Learning Center$18 Museum members | $20 generalLearn an intermediate approach to hand-drawn animation. You will receive critical feedback on your animation scene focusing on timing, secondary motion, and follow-through.  Space is limited. Registration and additional fee required. Contact: education@wdfmuseum.org
Tickets for all films and programs are available at The Walt Disney Family Museum Reception Desk or online at waltdisney.org. 

FORT WILDERNESS CABINS

On my last visit to Walt Disney World in the fall of 2011, I stayed at a Fort Wilderness cabin. The rooms are considered a moderate along the same lines as Port Orleans or Coronado Springs but it has a special charm that made this a delightful visit.

Keep in mind that I was alone and this room is really designed for a group. But I had a blast. Felt like I was coming to my little home during my breaks and after I was done in the parks. I enjoyed having a full kitchen and took advantage of that asset. In the morning, I would take a bowl of cereal out to my porch and enjoy the cool morning while enjoy nature and the cabin next door.

The Mousekeeping folks tend to be towel animal happy.


I had three bed choices and took advantage of two. The double bed in the bedroom was cozy. Next door are bunk beds, perfect for storage or little ones, your choice. My other choice was a Murphy bed in the living room. Both were comfortable and I traded off each night.

The best way to get to the Magic Kingdom is by boat. You cruise along the old River Country water park and Discovery Island.


Even the landscaping people get in the Mickey act. Found this out on my "lawn" one morning while walking to the bus stop. That is one important thing. I was lucky because my cabin was near the bus stop. Since they are arrayed around a loop road, some units can be a very long walk.




I found my cabin clean, comfortable, and very roomy.

SEA WORLD

Every once in a while it is a good thing to go out and explore new worlds. A few weeks ago I decided to do just that with a weekend trip to LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad and SeaWorld in San Diego. I documented my impression of LEGOLAND last week and this week my focus is on SeaWorld.
I really cannot remember the last time I went to SeaWorld. It had to be more then 25 years since my last visit. There are some memories of visits from the past but I honestly can’t tell them apart from memories of Marineland, the former aquatic park on the Palos Verde peninsula in Southern California.
When I arrived, I noticed a very long line for the one and only open ticket booth. As usual, I was there well before opening. Just to the right are ticket vending machines that are very sophisticated. You can purchase whatever type of ticket you need, even an annual pass or the use of an AAA discount.
I had three objectives for this visit. First, I just wanted to relax and enjoy the experience. I had all day, the crowds were light, and everything for the most part was open - Except the sky tower. What is up with the tall rides in the parks being closed on this visit? I ran into the same thing at LEGOLAND.
Second, I am always looking for new material for this column. Thank you for visiting.
My third objective may seem a bit eccentric but it reflects the twisted kind of thinking that runs through my brain. As long time readers have seen, Disney’s Animal Kingdom (DAK) in Florida fascinates me. Although it tends to get flamed for not being a full days worth of entertainment or other deficiencies, I think it may be the most beautiful of the six North American Disney parks. At DAK, the heavy-handed conservation message has been reduced since the early days but the park’s physical design is still consistent with its original theme - the celebration of animals from the past, the present, and of our imaginations.
DAK was, in part, a corporate reaction to the success of SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, two animal-based theme parks in Florida. I have always admired how integrated the animal exhibits at DAK are within the landscape. I was curious to see how others approached the same design opportunity.
It was raining very hard when I woke up. I stayed locally so that I could be there early. Fortunately, by the time I made the five-minute commute from my hotel to the park’s entrance, the rain had stopped. The overcast skies held their moisture for the rest of the day. It was a perfect day to be a theme park.
My first impression of SeaWorld was how suburban the theme park felt. Everything is spread out with wide, gently winding paths connecting various pavilions that seem to be buried into the landscape.
parks. As you wander about the Disney and Universal parks, as well as LEGOLAND, the designers try to put you within an immersive environment based on a given theme that hopefully manipulates your emotions and ties all of the visual elements together. At SeaWorld, there is never that critical mass of buildings. Don’t get me wrong the landscaping is outstanding. The park is beautiful and a very casual walking environment. Much of the time, I felt as though I was walking through a garden. It only hit me when I got home and downloaded all of the photos that I took of my trip. I came to realize that the park is very pretty but it does not photograph well. That may be a good thing. Most of the best things are inside while viewing the animal habitats. The architecture is not the star. The park meanders and is not logical. You basically loop around the outside and work your way in and out of the attractions in the middle as you need to by the show schedule.
This may be due in part to the park trying to live up to the park’s mantra outlined by Senegalese environmentalist Baba Dioum. He said, “For in the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.” This theme is reflected in virtually everything you see.
For many, SeaWorld is Shamu. The killer whale is the heart and soul of the park. Shamu is so important to the image of SeaWorld they have customized a VW Bug dressed it as the whale out front.The current show, Shamu Show: One Ocean, is a sentimental plug for conservation blending videos, whales, music, and trainers. The trainers are no longer able to enter the tank as recall from the old days so they are limited in what they can do. Regardless, the shear size (males can be 19 to 22 feet and weigh 8,000 to 12,000 lbs, while the females average 16 to 19 feet and weigh 3,000 to 8,000 pounds), the power, and the novelty of the whales doing jumps and flips are still a big thrill. The show was a touch over the top trying to tug at your heart but it is not inconsistent with many theme park shows today.
Shamu Stadium surprised me. The facility seats 5,500 people in steeply banked rows of benches. Fortunately, the benches have backrests something other parks should copy. The lower half of the stadium was marked “soak zone” and I took that warning seriously. Good idea. It seems the trainers and whales have conspired to get guests as wet as they possibly can. That sideways tail flip thing just tosses buckets forward. Unless you are an eight year old who likes to have whales spitting water at you may want to aim higher up in the bleachers.
Take your time before and after a show. The enclosure is actually multiple tanks and you can peek in from above through a series of catwalks. There is also an underwater viewing area that is well worth the time.
Another show that hammers home the conservation theme is Blue Horizons. The show brings together dolphins, birds, pilot whales, acrobats, and more dancing trainers. There must have been a memo to the production team to check out as many Cirque du Soleil shows as they could. Let’s just say the bird lady on the flying rig and matching parrots….
The interaction between the trainers and the dolphins was priceless. I realize this is a show and they were going to do this twice that day but there was a sense of joy in the play between the trainer and dolphin that was truly captivating. And then came the bungee jumpers. And the divers. And the trained flock of birds.
In both shows, the ability and marvel of the animals is melted down. Not so with Pet’s Rule!This was one of the big surprises of the day. It is a delightful and entertaining show with all sorts of animals including more then 50 trained cats, dozens of dogs, a couple of Kangaroos, pigs, and whatever else, this show is non-stop. There was a bit of play between trainers and animals but most of the time it was a slapstick paced blur of animal stunts, most of which are kind of corny but in a good way. For example, a bunch of white cats jump into a barrel of ink and a bunch of black cats jump out. A large dog goes into a dryer and comes out an identical small dog. Imagine what happens to the long hair cat that jumps into the hair remover. Yes. That is what happens.
The other shows? I did not see the Sesame Street presents Lights, Camera, Imagination!, a 4-D movie. Just couldn’t do it. Sadly, I missed the Sea Lions LIVE show. That was because I had to take multiple rides on the Bayside SkyRide.
The have a sky bucket ride!!!
The Bayside SkyRideis a sky bucket ride just like the long lost Skyway that ran between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland at Disneyland. While that one went from one world, through a mountain, and landed in the future, the SeaWorld version takes you high above the water, down into the station where a guy with a camera yells, “Smile!” and you go right back up and return right where you started. I can’t tell you how excited I was to see this. With the rain, I was fearful this attraction would be closed. I made it a point to get to the outskirts where this attraction is based as early as I could. I sensed this was going to take multiple rides. Warning, this ride goes high over the water. I forgot about the little butt tingle one gets when you are hanging way other there on just one cable. The ride is a round trip and lasts about five minutes. The pathway to get to the SkyRide follows along one of the waterways in Mission Bay and a pleasant walk.
To stay competitive, SeaWorld is beginning to add big thrill rides, The focus is on the rides and not so much the animal encounter experience. The big one right now is Journey To Atlantis, a hybrid that combines elements of a rollercoaster and with a boat ride. Two large towers, one equipped with a huge waterslide, dominate the vista. You would think that the waterslide would be the dramatic climax but you would be wrong. This is the first element that you experience once you are strapped into the little boat. Once you make the big hairpin turn you are whisked up into an elevator and lifted to the top of the second tower. Although the use of a lift is a fun element it would have been more effective if the forward view was screened and you were not seeing the inside of the building. From this point it is a fun, swooping rollercoaster that uses a water break (naturally) to slow you down. The exit checks the box for the animal encounter with a huge tank filled with manta rays.
I am looking forward to the opening of the Manta rollercoaster in late May. This coaster is going to be a huge hit and I sense will begin to change the overall character of the park.
Wild Arctic is an attraction that uses thrill ride technology as a tool to set up a grouping of animal exhibits. We are about to go on a nature expedition in a specially equipped helicopter (a simulator vehicle). Our destination is an archeological dig where two sailing ships are being dug out of the ice.
This helicopter has the ability to poke its nose into the water to give an underwater view of the wildlife. Somehow the propeller blade is still able to operate and the “quiet” mode reduces the ambient noise by more then 90%. During the simulator ride we get to see beluga whales, polar bears, and walruses.
If you miss the older version of Star Tours then you owe it to yourself to ride this thing. Of course, something goes horribly wrong and barely escapes death. The real treasure lies beyond the exit doors of the simulator. You enter the set of the research base and walk among the hulls of the ships. We get to see all of the animals featured in the simulator ride. The habitats were beautifully designed with multiple viewing spots so that everybody can get a good view and both underwater and above the water observation areas. Each of the habitats furthered the storyline. I say well done. 
This was just one example of way the newer habitats have been designed. The designers took care to provide different spaces so that guests that who want to rush through can without getting frustrated while those who want to linger can do so in Turtle Reefand the Penguin Encounter. The Shark Encounter features a walkthrough tank with sharks passing all around you.
If you need to get wet, Shipwreck Rapids is not groundbreaking raft ride but you will get wet, and you will have some laughs. The park also sports a number of dressed up traditional amusement park rides for the real little ones.
Want to get closer to the animals? That is very easy to do. Each of the exhibits has feeding programs and there are upcharge activities like having breakfast, lunch or a late afternoon snack with Shamu. All in all, I found the park clean, friendly, lots to see and do. Since I want to ride the new coaster I took advantage of their buy a day buy a year program.
I have to come back. They have a sky bucket ride. Plus, the SeaWorld Skytower was unfortunately closed. I found it strange that both of the tower rides at LEGOLAND and SeaWorld were closed on my trip. Have you been to Sea World? What was your experience?

Progress City Presentation

It's been a busy week for me. I was in Florida for a series of over 15 talks, podcasts and events. One of which I'd like to share with you today. On Saturday, I spoke to the Disneyana World Chapter Meeting about Walt Disney and how he changed the public's expectations with regards to the public realm.

Now let's go to the video shall we?


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Transformers and Omnimovers?

Time to cut to the chase as they say in Hollywood. The soon to officially open Transformers at Universal Studios Hollywood is a home run and one of the most exciting thrill ride additions to the Southern California theme park scene in years. The ride should drive record numbers of people to Universal the same way the addition of the King Kong experience on the tram tour did a couple of years ago. ...


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