WDI UNveils Mysterious Painting

[DizneyFreak2002]

On Disney Parks Blog, a portrait/painting has been released to the public... The article is below:



Who doesn’t love a good mystery – and we just happen to have one to share with you today. Our friends in Walt Disney Imagineering just sent us this portrait as a sneak peek of one of their upcoming Walt Disney World Resort projects. Any ideas which attraction this may soon be a part of?

Here’s one hint to the identity of this fine fellow: “His obsession with gold will ultimately lead him to ruin.”

The painting resembles Tony Baxter... My guess, BTMRR queue...

[PopPhan]

I saw the portrait and immediately thought of a young(er) Donald Sutherland.....But, as for what it relates to, it would seem to be something to do with BTMRR...Gold/gold mining....A tease for the interactive queue perhaps?

[PirateLover]

Definitely looks like Tony Baxter... Who also resembles Donald Sutherland! All signs point to BTMRR, if not I have no clue!

[Melanie]

Donald Sutherland was my first thought.

If it is Tony Baxter, what's with the present execs in these 'old' portraits (like the one in Belle's new FL shop)?

[PirateLover]

Donald Sutherland was my first thought.

If it is Tony Baxter, what's with the present execs in these 'old' portraits (like the one in Belle's new FL shop)?

Maybe it's the "next gen" of names on the windows?? :shrug: :D

[BrerGnat]

Isn't there talk of a television series being made based on Big Thunder Mountain RR?

Perhaps something to do with that?

[DizneyFreak2002]

Isn't there talk of a television series being made based on Big Thunder Mountain RR?

Perhaps something to do with that?

Yep... ABC/Disney is planning a BTMRR television series...

I thought Disney did things like add in Inagineers images into attractions, just not so recognizable? Joe Rohde's likeness is in the Tower of Terror at Toyko Disney Sea... He portrays Harrison Hightower... And we all know Phil Holmes has a portrait in New Fantasyland...

[Melanie]

And we all know Phil Holmes has a portrait in New Fantasyland...

Right. That's the one I was referring to. Narcisstic much? :rolleyes:

[DizneyFreak2002]

Right. That's the one I was referring to. Narcisstic much? :rolleyes:

He is the last person who should have any kind of tribute... Want to make a bet that, while he is still in charge of MK (hopefully not for much longer), that his portrait is the only one kept looking good? LoL...

EDIT: Interesting thing I just read online... Baxter's character in this painting may be tied to the back story of Phantom Manor... His name is Henry Ravenwood, an industrial baron... He owned Thunder Mesa Mining Company... His gold ran out and did his luck... An earthquake rattled Thunder Mesa, killing him and his wife...

Interesting back story if this is the way they are going with BTMRR... well, only the part about Henry Ravenwood, obviously they cannot do the Phantom Manor portion, or, as the story goes, the Western River Expedition portion either...

BTW, this information can be found in Jason Surell's book The Haunted Mansion as well as Disneyland Paris: From Sketch to Reality...

[Disney Hungarian]

The announcement today is also a clue. BTMRR opened November 15, 1980. :secret:

[Tekneek]

I saw the portrait and immediately thought of a young(er) Donald Sutherland.....

I immediately thought of Donald Sutherland as well. It is for their new Cloudbusting attraction*.

*Very obscure Donald Sutherland reference there.

[Ed]

For those wondering what picture they're referrring to:

[Main Street Jim]

Tony Baxter's first project as an Imagineer was Big Thunder Mountain RR, wasn't it? Maybe that's the connection?

[DizneyFreak2002]

Well, we were right... BTMRR back story:


Last week, we shared an image of a portrait that’s a part of a new project our Walt Disney Imagineers are currently working on – and today we’re happy to reveal the identity of that man and share details on the role he’ll play in the enhanced storyline of a certain Magic Kingdom Park attraction, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

The fellow’s name is Barnabas T. Bullion, and he’s the gold magnate who rules the Big Thunder Mining Company with a golden fist. Imagineers have already begun working overnight in the park on the attraction’s new interactive queue, where you’ll be able to see this portrait, as well as an additional landscape portrait of the mountain itself.

According to the enhanced backstory: “Barnabas T. Bullion is the founder and president of the Big Thunder Mining Company. The longtime mining magnate comes from a powerful East Coast family and considers gold to be his very birthright by virtue of his oddly appropriate name; in fact, he considers the ultimate gold strike to be his destiny. And that is why he is having so much trouble with Big Thunder Mountain. According to superstitious locals, Big Thunder Mountain is very protective of the gold it holds within, and the unfortunate soul who attempts to mine its riches is destined to fail. And so far that prophecy is coming to pass. The mine has been plagued by mysterious forces and natural disasters ever since. And yet the Big Thunder Mining Co. is still in operation. In fact, Bullion is discovering new veins of gold and digging new shafts every day, offering a closer look at the Big Thunder mining operation than ever before. But a word to the wise for anyone attempting to visit the mountain: watch out for runaway trains.”


Look for these new additions and a number of additional interactive elements in the coming months at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the wildest ride in the wilderness!

And confirmation of the interactive queue coming... So, money being spent on something that is not needed meanwhile Splash Mountain literally crumbles....

[John]

... and now that we have the back story, another attraction based film is probably in the works. :thedolls:

BTW, the biggest "confirmation" was a while back when mysterious box shaped objects appeared in the redesigned queue that didn't seem to have any purpose except to be part of a future interactive redo.

[hoop de do]

I think I saw that guy at our 15th. He was in the last boat when we did Small World. Does anyone else remember him? :thedolls:

[cer]

Yep... ABC/Disney is planning a BTMRR television series...

I thought Disney did things like add in Inagineers images into attractions, just not so recognizable? Joe Rohde's likeness is in the Tower of Terror at Toyko Disney Sea... He portrays Harrison Hightower... And we all know Phil Holmes has a portrait in New Fantasyland...

OK, I don't have much of an opinion on the practice of using an imagineer's portrait/likeness as a part of an attraction or backstory, BUT I took the time to look up all three of the portraits vs. photographs and I must say that Phil Holmes is the least convincing. The other two portraits actually 'work' for me and I think they did a great job at making them look believable as a character.

[Ian]

I find these pointless, manufactured backstories a huge bore.

Spend your time on something worthwhile, WDI.

[Tekneek]

Spend your time on something worthwhile, WDI.

Costs too much money. Making up stories is the least expensive work they can do these days. When you're posting billion dollar profits, you have to cut corners somewhere.

[Ian]

When you're posting billion dollar profits, you have to cut corners somewhere.You know odd that folks think that way, but the Ivy League MBA types that run the company today really do.

Sustainable, long-term growth that doesn't compromise the integrity of the brand is a thing of the past. Now it's just cut cut cut and raise raise raise (prices that is) until you wring every single penny of profit out of the place that you can.

It's really no different than the greedy folks who run the retailers that make their folks work on Thanksgiving so they can start their Black Friday sales a few hours earlier. Grotesque.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Sustainable, long-term growth that doesn't compromise the integrity of the brand is a thing of the past. Now it's just cut cut cut and raise raise raise (prices that is) until you wring every single penny of profit out of the place that you can.


That is the WDW of today... And if you think the raise in price the last few years were high, wait til next year... More than likely going to be a real wake up call for a lot of people...

[Ian]

Yeah, I think that's why they're offering DVC members this deep discount on AP's right now. Hold off the complaints for one more year.

[Cinderelley]

They should quit messing with what works and create new things instead.

[DisneyDawgette]

I find these pointless, manufactured backstories a huge bore.

Spend your time on something worthwhile, WDI.

Aww, I love the backstories. I think all of the attention to detail and the development of these things is one of my favorite parts about Disney! It keeps me entertained and on my toes. :mickey:

[JPL]

I don't mind backstories when they are created at the time of the attraction but when they add to them or change them it really annoys me & often gets confusing :confused:

[cer]

I don't mind backstories when they are created at the time of the attraction but when they add to them or change them it really annoys me & often gets confusing :confused:

Fair enough. I think you make a good point.

So they are creating a backstory to justify the interactive queue...

Would you consider Pirates and Haunted Mansion attractions whose backstory has been modified? I would kind of lean towards, "Yes", but what do you think?

[DizneyFreak2002]

So they are creating a backstory to justify the interactive queue...


Partially, plus, they need a story for the TV series they are developing, and maybe this helps to tie into something else in development too (if they go forward)...