Being the Disney nerd that I am, I decided to periodically post some of the latest news and rumors from various credible websites about ride updates and different construction plans within Disneyland and California Adventure.
Fantasyland
According to micechat.com, Disney has about $100 million earmarked for a renovation of the 5 Fantasyland dark rides, namely Peter Pan, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Snow White, Pinocchio, and Alice in Wonderland. Starting with Alice in Wonderland, each of these rides is tentatively scheduled to be closed for a few months in 2014, and maybe even a bit into the early part of 2015 so that they will be open and updated for Disneyland's 60th anniversary. The renovations will include installing upgraded animatronics, updating lighting and audio, and adding all new digital special effects.
For three years, Disney has debated and rethought how to fix the outdoor portion of the Alice in Wonderland track - specifically as it relates to heightening it's safety standards. Even though I have never really thought that it posses any sort of a risk, I'm sure it's just a matter of time before an unsupervised child gets out of the ride vehicle and falls off the 10 foot high track platform and is hurt. I suppose Disney had this in mind when they decided to redo this part of the track. As a side note, the outside portion of Alice is actually my kids favorite part of the ride so I hope they don't change it too much. Regardless, it is tentatively scheduled to be closed in January 2014 and then reopen in May with a new track.
Tomorrowland
Micechat.com also reports that a major renovation to Tomorrowland is close at hand. For a long time Disney has mulled over what to do with Tomorrowland. Until Disney's recent acquisition of Star Wars about a year ago, new Tomorrowland ride concepts were based on Tron and Marvel. Now, obviously, Tomorrowland plans include a much stronger Star Wars presence. Because of the size of the renovation to Tomorrowland, Disney has decided to divide it into two phases. Phase one would be completed in time for the 60th anniversary in 2015 and phase two would start after the celebration has concluded. Thus Tomorrowland won't be under construction during the anniversary celebration.
In phase one which is rumored to get underway this winter, Captain EO get's the axe and a new 3D Star Wars movie will appear in it's place. Since I can't remember ever going to see Captain EO, I'm not quite clear on if there is room in the old Captain EO space for anything else, but from what I've read, just a movie will replace it. Disney will also be visually enhancing the buildings around Space Mountain which, for the most part, have remained unchanged since 1967. All the work would theoretically be completed by early spring 2015, in time for the 60th anniversary. In addition to the new movie in place of Captain EO and the improved aesthetics, new destinations would also be programed into the Star Tours ride. These destinations would be based on the new Star Wars movie, Episode VII, which is set to be released in the summer of 2015.
Once the 60th celebration dies down, work on phase two of the Tomorrowland renovation would begin. This renovation offers the biggest and perhaps the most exciting change to Tomorrowland which includes once again using the old People Mover track that closed permanently in 2000. After the People Mover closed in 1995, Disney used the track for a race track type ride called Rocket Rods. Because of numerous technical problems, among other things, the Rocket Rods only lasted from 1998 through 2000. Though unused, the track has been repainted a couple of times and fairly well maintained. Disney will try it's hand at another coaster type ride on the People Mover track, this time with a Star Wars theme. It is rumored to be a speeder bike coaster, I'm assuming like the speeder bikes used in Return of the Jedi in the forest scenes. Much work would have to be done to the support structure of the track though, as the track wasn't built for a high speed attraction, as was discovered when the track started to weaken from use with the Rocket Rods. More Star Wars themed buildings would also be created during the phase two process.
Condor Flats
Meanwhile, despite the recent $1.1 Billion renovation that California Adventure received as a part of the Cars Land expansion, micechat.com reports that Disney will be shooting a new film to be used in Soarin' Over California. The new film will be entitled Soarin' The World. It will be shot in digital HD format, an upgrade from the 70mm film it currently uses. New footage of some of the world's most famous land marks will be used but, as a special touch for California Adventure, the ending will once again feature flyovers of the Disneyland and California Adventure Parks. The flyover filming will take place on the night of March 12th, 2014 for several hours via a helicopter with an HD Omnimax camera. The new film is slated to be used in conjunction with the 60th anniversary celebration in 2015. Condor Flats would also be re-themed to match more of the vintage timeframe that the Grizzly River Run received in 2012.
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