Captain EO Returns to Disneyland 2/23/2010! (UPDATE -- dates announced!)

[NotaGeek]

It is mid Feb. and I have heard no more about the Captin EO opening. Any news??

None yet, but as soon as Disney announces something, we'll update for sure!

[MegaDisney]

Cast member previews were today...

[2Epcot]

Cast member previews were today...

Sounds great. I was reading about that on another site. My brother is bringing his family next month. I don't think they know Captain EO will be back. I haven't told them, so it will be a nice surprise.

[Melanie]

From a reliable source, Cast Member previews have NOT started. It's still in testing phase, and they are needing bodies to fill seats.

[MegaDisney]

From a reliable source, Cast Member previews have NOT started. It's still in testing phase, and they are needing bodies to fill seats.

Thanks! I know your source is 1000 times more reliable than mine!

[MegaDisney]

Just found this on the Disney College Program Twitter:

Reminder - Captain EO TODAY (2/12) from 3:30-4:30 PM. CM's enter behind Space Mountain. Bring your ID!

So I am assuming they weren't "official" CM previews but just "butts in seats" previews???

[Paradise Pier Pinocchio]

There is still no info regarding it's opening that I am aware of.

I will be there opening day (if I know about it and have the day off work).

[MegaDisney]

It's Official:

February 23rd is the opening date of EO!

Source: Disneyland Twitter (like 2 seconds ago!)

[Paradise Pier Pinocchio]

I for one will be there on the 23rd then!

[NotaGeek]

Oh MAN, let's go next week!

If any of our members go and would like to be the INTERCOT Roving Reporter for the day, I would love some pics of the opening so I can post in the thread. Let me know if you will be going and I will get you my email!

[Disney4us2]

Boo Hoo... Due to Girl Scout activities we can't go until the begining of March.

[2Epcot]

I'll be stopping by the park on Tuesday, probably won't get there till about 4pm, but can't wait to see it again.

[MegaDisney]

Disneyland Twitter today:

"On Monday, we will be making a special "Captain EO" announcment on Twitter"

Wonder what it will be?

[citizensnoopy]

Bummer, I'm going tomorrow and was hoping it would be open. I guess I'll have to go again next weekend.

[MegaDisney]

The attraction has been added to the Disneyland Website:

Captain EO Attraction Page

And it looks like Showpass or some other priority seating will be offered (this page is not live yet so keep your eye on it):

Captain EO Priority Seating

[MegaDisney]

Todays Announcement:


"Disney enthusiasts will be excited to find special Captain EO inspired merchandise created in celebration of the re-opening of the attraction. Merchandise will include, ladies and men's tees, fleece, military and beanie style hats, posters and souvenir items. In early March, be on the lookout for a specially created Captain EO embroidered nylon jacket. See merchandise and prices listed below.

Captain EO Logo Ladies Tee - $26.95

Captain EO Logo Men's Tee - $24.95

Captain EO Poster Men's Tee- $ 26.95

Captain EO Logo Crew Fleece - $42.95

Captain EO Logo Military Cap � $24.95

Captain EO Logo Beanie Hat - $24.95

Poster - $7.95

Captain EO Logo Button - $3.95

Captain EO Embroidered Nylon Jacket - Coming in early to mid-March!

Merchandise will be available at the following Disneyland® park locations and other select locations:

Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A.

Star Trader in Tomorrowland

Tomorrowlanding in Tomorrowland "

Don't forget if you can't make it to the park and want to buy some merch you can contact Disneyland Merchandise Guest Services @ 1-800-362-4533 or via email at [email protected]

[2Epcot]

My work schedule got changed for tomorrow so now it looks like the earliest I can get to the park on Tuesday is probably 7pm. I think the lines may be too long at that point with all the other Annual Passholders getting off of work.

[Mufasa]

Don't forget if you can't make it to the park and want to buy some merch you can contact Disneyland Merchandise Guest Services @ 1-800-362-4533 or via email at [email protected]

Note from the EO Merchandise announcement page:

Please note, the merchandise listed above is available for purchase at Disneyland® park only and will not be available to purchase via Disneyland Merchandise Guest Services.

[MegaDisney]

Thanks for catching that Mufasa, I was so excited I didn't read it completely before posting.

So I guess if you want merch you will have to visit the park...sneaky!

[MegaDisney]

Today is the Day!

From the OC Register:

"The line for the Michael Jackson film, “Captain EO,” swelled to about 70 people as the sun came up on the movie’s first day back at Disneyland.

About 35 were already in line by 6 a.m. Tuesday, about four hours before the first showing of the return of the 3-D movie at the Tomorrowland theater, where it played from 1986 to 1997. Although the park opens at 9:30 a.m., Disney officials are allowing Jackson fans to line up early on the west side of Disneyland’s main entrance. Disney formed a second line before 7 a.m.

By 8:20, the line had grown to 125.

First in line is Daniel Lew, 36, from Oceanside. A reporter for California Horsetrader, he got here at 9 p.m. Monday. Eight more of his friends joined later.


“I’ve been waiting patiently with anticipation,” he said. “I didn’t sleep for one second. There’s been so much anticipation and buzz from the Disney fan community for “Captain EO.’ ‘

Also in line is a 24-year-old woman wearing a white jacket with sequins with a “Captain EO” logo on the back, as well as homemade “Captain EO” earrings. And two other young women who started driving from San Francisco at 9:30 p.m. Monday and got here at 3:30 a.m. They wore “Captain EO” shirts and had stuffed animals of “Fuzzball,” a character in the movie, resting on their shoulders.

A mom has her 6- and 8-year-old kids with her. The boys may or may not go to school after the movie, said Verdelle Reynolds, 33, of Chino.

T.V. reporters are doing live shots from the scene, as enthusiastic fans hoot and dance. About 30 Disney employees also are on hand.

Rick Rothschild, who was the show producer for the original “Captain EO,” was brought back as a consultant for the film’s revival. Disney was able to make a new print of the film, update the audio and add “tactile” elements to the movie. “The effects in it are of the time, and quite remarkable of the time,” Rothschild said.

One of the movie performers, Renee Colette, came out to the line. She said the experience was a “thrill of a lifetime,” and she remembers Jackson as “very precise and very kind.”

“To be able to actually dance with him, I was so blessed to be able to do this,” Colette said. She said she is looking forward to sharing the movie again with others.

While some people originally objected to the return of the movie because of child-molestation allegations against Jackson, no one was talking about that in line.

Instead, some in line remember “Captain EO” as a reflection of the era.

“What I love about this is this film to me, it captures a moment where music and videos are at its height,” Lew said. “This film reflects one of Michael Jackson’s highlights in the 80s when he was the most popular.”

Disneyland is reviving the 17-minute movie because of the renewed popularity of the singer after his June death. The movie is playing for a limited engagement, but Disney officials have yet to say how long it will stay.

Jackson stars, sings and dances in the science-fiction movie. The film features the songs “We Are Here to Change the World” and “Another Part of Me,” both written and performed by Jackson. The latter song is 0n Jackson’s “Bad” album in 1987.