Sam Gennawey's Blog, page 31

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