Mufasa
06-11-2007, 07:25 PM
:nemo:
Today is the grand opening for the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage- it's been a crazy, very hectic but fun day.
I'm not sure of any mainstream media broadcast coverage of the subs return that aired today on the major networks, but I do know that CNBC this morning pulled off a live broadcast from within a sub as it actually traveled around the lagoon early this morning which is pretty cool.
It all kicked off with a media presentation held in the HISTA theater which was very similar to the "What's Next" presentation that Intercot's webmaster John attended a few months ago.
Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier gave an update on the Year of a Million Dreams promotion and talked a bit about some of the latest Pirates related things in the park (Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island and the Nintendo DS in-park downloads which included an interruption and storming of the stage by Jack Sparrow and other pirates in a small swordfight). Later he went on to talk about the return of the Disney Cruise Line to the West Coast next year.
Next Tom Fitzgerald from WDI came out and was joined by Beaker and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew who were out with their Muppet Mobile Lab for the media to enjoy (and get sprayed a bit by water and silly string in the process).
After this, Tom went into discussion about the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and shared some of the early test animation clips and talked about the development and enhancements that went into the attraction.
To wrap up, Tom went on to talk about Toy Story Mania and shared some more concept art and video while providing a teaser of what was in store with the guest experience.
Then at around 10AM, they had the big opening ceremonies out in front of the lagoon.
First, Ed Grier talked again about the Year of a Million Dreams and specifically he introduced the winners of the Dream Job contest in conjunction with careerbuilder.com (and talked about how he's living out his dream job as president of the Disneyland Resort and told everyone later something like "thank you, don't try and take it from me")
Bob Iger was also on hand and took the stage and said “We’re here today to celebrate a classic Disneyland attraction which, through a brilliant marriage of phenomenal storytelling and innovative technology, has been transformed into a vibrant new experience – one that will no doubt rekindle nostalgic memories for many adults". He gave thanks to the team from Disney & Pixar Animation and at that point asked that Finding Nemo's writer director Andrew Stanton and John Lasseter stand to be recognized.
Jay Rasulo then next took the stage, thanked the Imagineering team that worked on the attraction and said “The return of the Submarine Voyage is a dream-come-true, How many kids – who have since become parents – have wished to take their own children on this magical voyage of discovery beneath the ocean waters?”
Out of nowhere a fairly cheesy musical number with dancers dressed in wetsuits started up and a giant inflatable whale appeared behind the stage out by the lagoon, which prompted the performers to ask if anyone spoke whale. Of course Dory (a performer with a Dory puppet like the AK show) came out and got the crowd to speak whale to ask the whale to move along so the ride could open.
To cap things off, around the bend and as a surprise to the crowd came a Disneyland monorail that was wrapped and decorated to resemble a big yellow submarine (complete with conning tower and portholes along the entire length of the monorail which looked great) and they declared the subs officially open at about 10:25am.
The media/invited guests on hand were then led to the attraction by a group of small kids (each decked out with Nemo shirts and those Nemo fish hats where it looks like he's sitting on top of your head).
The attraction opened to the public around noon where the line quickly reached out to Small World plaza and it was posted on the central plaza information board by 2pm that the wait for the subs was estimated at 4 hours and it's been hovering there about most of the day.
It was busy enough throughout the park that they were suggesting that Annual Passholders get their hand stamped while exiting if they wanted to return later in the day.
Today is the grand opening for the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage- it's been a crazy, very hectic but fun day.
I'm not sure of any mainstream media broadcast coverage of the subs return that aired today on the major networks, but I do know that CNBC this morning pulled off a live broadcast from within a sub as it actually traveled around the lagoon early this morning which is pretty cool.
It all kicked off with a media presentation held in the HISTA theater which was very similar to the "What's Next" presentation that Intercot's webmaster John attended a few months ago.
Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier gave an update on the Year of a Million Dreams promotion and talked a bit about some of the latest Pirates related things in the park (Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island and the Nintendo DS in-park downloads which included an interruption and storming of the stage by Jack Sparrow and other pirates in a small swordfight). Later he went on to talk about the return of the Disney Cruise Line to the West Coast next year.
Next Tom Fitzgerald from WDI came out and was joined by Beaker and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew who were out with their Muppet Mobile Lab for the media to enjoy (and get sprayed a bit by water and silly string in the process).
After this, Tom went into discussion about the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and shared some of the early test animation clips and talked about the development and enhancements that went into the attraction.
To wrap up, Tom went on to talk about Toy Story Mania and shared some more concept art and video while providing a teaser of what was in store with the guest experience.
Then at around 10AM, they had the big opening ceremonies out in front of the lagoon.
First, Ed Grier talked again about the Year of a Million Dreams and specifically he introduced the winners of the Dream Job contest in conjunction with careerbuilder.com (and talked about how he's living out his dream job as president of the Disneyland Resort and told everyone later something like "thank you, don't try and take it from me")
Bob Iger was also on hand and took the stage and said “We’re here today to celebrate a classic Disneyland attraction which, through a brilliant marriage of phenomenal storytelling and innovative technology, has been transformed into a vibrant new experience – one that will no doubt rekindle nostalgic memories for many adults". He gave thanks to the team from Disney & Pixar Animation and at that point asked that Finding Nemo's writer director Andrew Stanton and John Lasseter stand to be recognized.
Jay Rasulo then next took the stage, thanked the Imagineering team that worked on the attraction and said “The return of the Submarine Voyage is a dream-come-true, How many kids – who have since become parents – have wished to take their own children on this magical voyage of discovery beneath the ocean waters?”
Out of nowhere a fairly cheesy musical number with dancers dressed in wetsuits started up and a giant inflatable whale appeared behind the stage out by the lagoon, which prompted the performers to ask if anyone spoke whale. Of course Dory (a performer with a Dory puppet like the AK show) came out and got the crowd to speak whale to ask the whale to move along so the ride could open.
To cap things off, around the bend and as a surprise to the crowd came a Disneyland monorail that was wrapped and decorated to resemble a big yellow submarine (complete with conning tower and portholes along the entire length of the monorail which looked great) and they declared the subs officially open at about 10:25am.
The media/invited guests on hand were then led to the attraction by a group of small kids (each decked out with Nemo shirts and those Nemo fish hats where it looks like he's sitting on top of your head).
The attraction opened to the public around noon where the line quickly reached out to Small World plaza and it was posted on the central plaza information board by 2pm that the wait for the subs was estimated at 4 hours and it's been hovering there about most of the day.
It was busy enough throughout the park that they were suggesting that Annual Passholders get their hand stamped while exiting if they wanted to return later in the day.