New for 2009:

• Uncle Bobo’s Big Top of the Bizarre in 3-D replaces Killer Clown Kollege (under Xcelerator)

• Terror of London featuring Jack the Ripper and Dr. Jekyll replaces 13 Axe Murder Manor (in Mystery Lodge)

• Dia de los Muertos in 3-D featuring a Day of the Dead theme replaces Lost Vegas (at the bumper cars)

• The Asylum updates the existing maze as a high-security penitentiary for the insane (backstage near Ghostrider)

Returning mazes from 2008:

• Alien Annihilation 3-D laser tag
• The Labyrinth
• Slaughterhouse
• Club Blood
• Cornstalkers
• The Doll Factory
• Pyromaniax
• Black Widow’s Cavern
• Quarantine

If you are like me and love haunted houses, Knott’s “Scary” Farm’s Haunt is a must do. It is in fact one of the best “haunted” attraction on the planet. UltimateHaunt.com, a tribute site to the event describes it as such.

Not for the weak at heart, Knott’s Scary Farm is an extreme take on all of the senses. The lighting, fog and music throughout the entire park make it incredibly hard to focus on what lurks in the shadows. To find out what is lurking in the shadows is for only the brave at heart.

The mazes and attractions leave no room to run. You are set bait, put right into the action. Visiting the Haunt is like participating in a first-rate horror film, except you are not quite convinced that it is only a movie – that somehow the actors are the characters and that you are caught right in the middle of it. Knott’s Scary Farm is the most fun you will have being scared.

Although I could not find any information yet, keep a watch on the official Knott’s Berry Farm site for more information.

Here is the map itself. To enjoy the interactive version which will allow you to mouse over the various lands and attractions and learn more details, simply click on the still image below.

Map source: www.ocregister.com/ocregister/multimedia/article_2246900.php.

Abraham Lincoln had been the only speaking President from the show’s opening in 1971 until the addition of President Clinton in 1993. From that time on, the sitting President would also have a speaking role in the attraction. So, in addition to Lincoln and Obama, George Washington has also is given a voice.

Rather than write anything further about it, there is a YouTube video that shows some behind the scenes footage of the attraction as well as a video showing president Obama preparing to do the voice-over for the animatronic that represents him in the attraction.

Barack Obama Joins Hall of Presidents at Disney’s Magic Kingdom

Behind the Scenes: President Obama & Disney’s Hall of Presidents

The two trains collided at around 2 a.m. at the Transportation and Ticket Center, which is the hub for Walt Disney World’s transportation system. The pilot of the second monorail was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. No guest injuries are reported.

Vice President of public affairs at Walt Disney World Mike Griffin has released this company statement:

“Today, we mourn the loss of our fellow cast member. Our hearts go out to his family and those who have lost a friend and coworker. The safety of our guests and cast members is always our top priority. The monorail is out of service and we will continue to work closely with law enforcement to determine what happened and the appropriate next steps.”

The specifics of how the crash occurred are still unknown. It appears that Monorail Purple was stationary when Monorail Pink backed into it.

Orlando Attractions Magazine provides the following speculation of how the accident may have occurred.

Every night, the monorails are brought into the shop behind the Magic Kingdom for maintenance. The pilot we spoke with explained that in order to move from the main monorail lines onto the beams that lead into the shop (a “spur line”), the monorails must travel to a switch in the track. The Walt Disney World monorail system does have an anti-collision system built in. However, in order to perform the switch, the anti-collision system must be disabled first.

It appears that in the case of this accident, Monorail Pink should have been on its way back to the maintenance shop and likely had its anti-collision system disabled in order to make the track switch. What is unknown is why the monorail did not follow the spur line toward the maintenance shop and instead headed to the Transportation and Ticket Center, which is located on the opposite side of the track loop from the shop.

The former monorail pilot we spoke to told us that during the anti-collision override stage, the monorails can travel a maximum of 15mph. If Monorail Purple was stationary at the time of the collision, then the two could not have collided at a speed greater than 15mph. If Monorail Purple was moving, the combined speed of both monorails could not have exceeded 30mph.

On his Facebook page, the unfortunate pilot of Monorail Purple, posted a status update on June 9, “has a 14 hr shift today.” On May 30, he similarly posted, “is working Monorails 1:00 to 1:00.” It’s clear that monorail pilots regularly have long work days so fatigue on the part of the pilot of Monorail Pink certainly cannot be ruled out as a possible contributing factor to the crash.

Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the cast member involved in this terrible accident.

Investigation into this tragic accident is ongoing.

While Disney will pay for the new construction, the Hong Kong government will convert some $775 million of its existing loans to the park into equity. Disney’s stake in the park will grow from 43% to 48% while the Hong Kong  government will retain a majority 52% stake.

Here are the details of the three new theme areas, which will give Hong Kong Disney 30 new attractions and boost the park’s size by 23%.

Grizzly Trail

Grizzly Gulch, Frontier Gold-Mining Town

The path along Grizzly Trail offers high-spirited frontier fun in an abandoned mining town called Grizzly Gulch, set amidst mountains and woods. The town was founded August 8, 1888 – the luckiest day of the luckiest month of the luckiest year – by prospectors looking to discover gold. Bears have now started causing havoc at the Big Grizzly Mountain Mining Company.

Key Technology and Creative Elements

• Guests visiting Grizzly Gulch are part of the action, experiencing hands-on water features, massive geysers and various leaking structures in the abandoned town.

• Life-size Audio-Animatronic bears set the story in motion on Big Grizzly Mountain Coaster, an adventure aboard a runaway mine train through town. Guests careen backward down an incline that propels them through twists and turns, before a launch sequence “blasts” the mine train out of the mountain.

• A Wild West stagecoach, an old time Jail House, and the world’s largest nugget of gold provide fun photo opportunities.

• Guests can relax with a Wild West refreshment at the old Saloon or shop for mining supplies and souvenirs at the Bear Necessities merchandise stand.

Mystic Point

Mystic Point is the site of mysterious forces and supernatural events in the heart of a dense, uncharted rain forest.

In Mystic Manor, home to an eccentric world traveler and adventurer and his collection of exotic international artifacts, strange things are afoot as an enchanted music box releases its magical powers, thanks to a mischievous monkey.

Key Technology and Creative Elements

• Inside Mystic Manor, a trackless ride system enables vehicles to move “freely” about the attraction as the story unfolds. Audio-Animatronic® figures and special visual and audio effects help tell the story of mystical phenomena.

• Within Mystic Point lies a beautiful garden full of relics and mythological figures, where guests discover a hidden world of illusions and mysteries that trick the eye.

• Guests can dine at the Adventurer’s Club amid a vast collection of unusual artifacts from around the world or purchase exclusive curiosities and collectibles at the Archive Shop.

Toy Story© Land

Disney·Pixar-themed Play Area for Kids of All Ages

Andy, the young boy from the Disney·Pixar Toy Story films, has left his toys unattended in this immersive and highly themed environment, based on one of Disney·Pixar’s most popular film series. While Andy is away, the toys come to life and play…and Guests are invited to join!

Key Technology and Creative Elements

• Oversized outdoor rides and photo opportunities allow Guests to experience the different perceptions of scale, and shrink to the size of a toy.

• One attraction includes a shuttle coaster which propels Guests along a U-shaped style track.

• A drop-style parachute attraction lets Guests join a “training mission,” plunging from a 25m tall tower.

• Guests will enjoy fun, immersive and interactive environments with life-size toys.

• A themed food kiosk provides a barrel of fun snacks and refreshments and Guests can shop for Toy Story inspired collectibles at the merchandise location.

The park has been a disappointment since it opened in 2005. Disney figured it could conservatively draw 5.6 million guests in its first year, but that forecast wasn’t even close. The park entertained just 5.2 million guests in its inaugural year, and the introduction of annual passes during the second year, to stimulate repeat visits, was also a dud. Attendance fell by 23% to 4 million in the park’s second year.

Disney hopes this expansion will not only help to boost the park’s performance but enable to compete with the much larger $ 3.59 billion Shanghai Disneyland once it is complete.

The actual location of this new land will be where the Timon parking lot currently resides. A recent photo reveals that the parking lot is shrinking in preparation for the development of Cars Land.

As you can see, Cars Land will sit behind the California Screamin’ roller coaster or just to the south of the Paradise Pier area. It will sit on 12 acres of what’s left of Disneyland’s original parking lot.

The featured attraction will be Radiator Springs Racers. While Disney has been sparse on the official info about this E-ticket attraction, the talk is that it will use a ride system similar to the one at Test Track in Walt Disney World’s Epcot. Since that attraction is reminiscent of slot cars, adapting it for a racing ride sounds like a great idea. Look for hairpin turns, banked curves, and plenty of peel outs.

Cars Land will also offer two other, smaller rides based on the film’s characters, Luigi and Mater, as well as a Flo’s Cafe restaurant.

Here is an early concept drawing of what the land might look like.

Cars Land is scheduled to be completed by 2012.

Timon parking lot photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix of MousePlanet.

The application, which is available online at the Apple App store, is one of the first iPhone applications designed for an individual hotel property.

Whether a guest is planning a trip to the 2,265-room property located in the heart of Walt Disney World Resort or currently staying there, users of the application can access items such as specific information on the resort’s guest rooms; investigate the various hotel dining options, navigate the property using a detailed map and experience the resort through a video tour.

“At the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort we are constantly seeking new ways in which to improve our customer experience,” said General Manager Paul Scott. “The development of this tool is one more way in which we can assist our guests in having the best possible experience during their stay with us.”

Programmers in the FSU College of Business MIS program worked with the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort to develop an application that takes advantage of the iPhone’s and iTouch’s large color screen and video capabilities. The application goes beyond text information to offer the user a visual experience featuring video provided by Hotel View, the world’s largest travel and tourism library distribution network, as well as photography.

“We live in a world where information is sent and received instantaneously, and this technology allows companies to play a role in this communication arena,” says David Paradice, department chair and the Sprint Professor of Business Administration. “Creating this cutting edge technology is the passion of our department and our students, and having companies incorporate it is a realization of its success in the marketplace.”

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort application marks the first of what FSU plans to be an ongoing project to create similar iPhone and iTouch applications for other individual hotel properties. They already have begun work on an application for the Westin Times Square hotel in New York.

Walt Disney World Resort guests can access information, screen shots, and direct links to download the application at www.swandolphin.com/aboutus/iphone.html.

Simply play Toontown daily between now and July 31, 2009 and each day you log in and play, you will automatically be entered for a chance to win (must be 13 years old or above).

One grand prize winner and three guests will enjoy:

• Round-trip airfare
• Disney Resort hotel accommodations
• Disney Theme Park tickets with Park Hopper® option
• And MUCH more!

Winners will be notified via email, so make sure Toontown Online has a valid email address for you. To verify your email address on record, log in at https://account.toontown.com/webLogin.php.

For the full contest and submission rules, see http://play.toontown.com/disneyparks/ and good luck!

Captain EO, a 3-D adventure starring Michael Jackson and directed by Francis Ford Coppola as well as executive-produced by George Lucas, opened in Disneyland’s Magical Eye Theater situated in Tomorrowland in September of 1986.

Most guests reacted favorably to Captain EO. However, over years the crowds disappeared. After a run of over ten years at Disneyland, Captain EO closed quietly in April 1997. It was replaced with “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience” in May 1998.

The final place at which you could see Captain EO was at CinéMagique, presented by Kodak, in Discoveryland at Disneyland Paris. In late summer 1998, the Captain departed from Paris as well.

While Captain EO attendance had dwindled over the years (a very important factor in keeping Disney attractions open) I have to imagine that the Michael Jackson’s sexual abuse scandal of 1993 had some affect on the whole scenario.

The Story

The movie itself tells the story of Captain EO and his ragtag crew who are on a mission to deliver a gift to a wicked alien queen, the Supreme Leader, on her world of rotting, twisted metal and steaming vents.

Captain EO’s alien crew consists of his small flying sidekick Fuzzball, the double-headed navigator and pilot Idee and Odee, robotic security officer Major Domo, a small robot Minor Domo (who fits like a module into Major Domo), and the clumsy elephant-like shipmate Hooter (Tony Cox) who always manages to blunder the crew’s missions.

Upon arriving on the planet, the crew is captured and sentenced to enhanced interrogation. Before being sent away, EO tells the Queen that he sees the beauty hidden within her, and that he brings her the key to unlock it – his song, “We Are Here To Change The World”.

The two robot members of the crew transform into music instruments and the crew members begin to play the various instruments. As Hooter runs toward his instrument, he trips over EO’s cape and breaks his instrument, stopping the music. The spell broken, the Queen orders her guards to capture Captain EO and his crew.

Hooter manages to repair his instrument and sends out a blast of music, providing EO with the power to throw off the guards. He uses his power to transform the dark hulking guards into agile dancers who fall into step behind him for a dance number. As EO presses forward toward the Supreme Leader she unleashes her Whip Warriors, two cybernetic defenders each with a whip and shield that can deflect EO’s power.

The others all run away leaving Captain EO to fight the whip warriors alone. EO is trapped by a closing gate and is preparing for a last stand as both the whip warriors draw their whips back for a final blow. Fuzzball drops his instrument and speedily flies over to tie the two whips together, causing the whip warriors to be thrown off balance giving EO an opportunity to transform them as well. With no further obstacles, EO uses his power to transform the Queen into a beautiful woman, her lair into a peaceful Greek temple and the planet into a verdant paradise.

A celebration breaks out to “Another Part of Me”, as EO and his crew triumphantly exit and fly off into space.

Disney Special Effects

Captain EO made full use of its 3-D effects. The action on the screen extended into the audience, including lasers, laser impacts, smoke effects, and starfields that filled the theater. These effects resulted in the seventeen-minute film costing an estimated $30 million dollars to produce. At the time it was the most expensive film ever produced on a per-minute basis.

I remember visiting this attraction once in 1983 or 1984 I believe, during my second visit to Disneyland. And while never a Michael Jackson fan myself, I did appreciate the 3-D movie experience.

So, as we say goodbye to the “king of pop” I say thank you Michael for contributing to a piece of Disney history.

Here is the film in it’s entirety broken down into two segments.

Pet guests will enjoy plush amenities such as luxury suites with television and raised bedding, activities such as nature walks and playgroups, and services ranging from ice cream treats to bedtime stories. Mmm… do they accept humans as well?

In anticipation of opening the new facility, Best Friends has assumed operating responsibility for the five existing pet boarding facilities in Walt Disney World Resort which are currently located at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. This will enable them to get to know pet guests and their owners even better before the new pet resort opens.

“We are thrilled to have this opportunity to come to Walt Disney World Resort to create the premier vacation destination for pets,” said Dennis Dolan, president and CEO of Best Friends Pet Care. “This project is still in the design phase, but our goal is to create a true resort destination for pets. This facility will be designed to fit into the Walt Disney World vacation experience and will be unlike anything else in the industry.”

Kenneth Janik, regional manager, Walt Disney World Operating Participants says, “We are very pleased to have Best Friends working with us on this project. Best Friends is well-respected both for the quality of care they provide, and for their innovative pet amenities and hospitality services. We know they will deliver a unique experience for the family pets of our guests and employees that is both fun and consistent with the Disney approach.”

The state-of-the-art facility will be located on Bonnett Creek Parkway in Walt Disney World Resort and is expected to open in 2010.