Disney hopes Gourd works magic in China
From azcentral.com:
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HONG KONG – Disneys latest China strategy doesnt involve Mickey, Minnie or Goofy. Its all about an enchanted vegetable.
The Walt Disney Co. China announced Wednesday it will release a Chinese-language movie, The Magic Gourd, this summer – its first co-production with the state-run China Film Group.
The movie, based on a novel written by the late Chinese childrens writer Zhang Tianyi, is about a boy who discovers a gourd – a vegetable often used in Asian dishes – that grants him wishes. The story has already been adapted into a TV cartoon by state-run CCTV.
The movie, a mix of live action and animation, marks a departure from Disneys established strategy of promoting its mainstay stories and characters, such as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.
Disneys famous animators are not prominently credited in The Magic Gourd. Hong Kong special-effects studio Centro Digital Pictures, which worked on Kill Bill, made the movie.
“We respect and appreciate the deep-rooted, rich Chinese local culture,” Stanley Cheung, managing director of Disney China, said in a statement.
Disneyland Sound History
Here is a brief history about all of the various sound systems that have been used in Disneyland.
From soundandcommunications.com:
TweetHere’s a bit of fun looking back. I was able to talk with and work with guys who had originally set up the Disneyland Electrical Parade perhaps the most viewed parade in history. When it originally debuted in 1972, the parade had the first show-control system in existence. A Berkey Colortran “computerized†lighting console, if I recall correctly, was used to trigger audio, lighting and machinery to operate the parade. One of our sound-shop technicians figured out that the console’s control output of 0-10V could be configured to control some ITC radio-station VCAs, two of which were available per each parade zone. In front of the VCAs was a custom Disneyland router controlled by the console’s “non-dim†outputs.
Mystery Mine Ride – Dollywood
From themeparkreview.com:
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Mystery Mine, scheduled to open at Dollywood in spring 2007, is the United States’ first system based on Gerstlauer’s Euro-fighter ride, which combines an intimate guest experience with hair-raising 95-degree drops. Located in Dollywood’s Timber Canyon area, Mystery Mine is themed as a long-abandoned coal mine with an eerie past. Mystery Mine utilizes a state-of-the-art show experience built on special effects, audio and lots of excitement.
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What You Get With VIP Status At Theme Parks
From wsj.com:
To see if spending extra money really makes you feel like royalty, we booked VIP tours at four prominent theme parks without revealing our affiliation with The Wall Street Journal. We noted everything from the guide’s attitude to the number of attractions covered. We also tested the guide’s knowledge of the park and threw in an kingly request or two. If we were going to be VIPs for a day, we wanted to feel, well, important.
At times, we certainly did: Nothing brings out your inner spoiled child quite like breezing past a long line of tired park-goers waiting to ride an attraction. But at other times, we didn’t appreciate the nasty looks (or threats of physical harm) that our jump-the-queue status engendered.
A very interesting article that lists what you get for your money on different theme parks VIP tours.
TweetWild New Splash Zone at Cedar Point
From cedarpoint.com:
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Splash Zone is a multi-story interactive play area with more than 100 different wet and wild water gadgets that spray, squirt and drench guests. Racy water slides, speedy chutes, spewing geysers, activity pools and many other cascading aqua elements entertain and amuse water enthusiasts of all ages.
The centerpiece attraction of this colorful aqua oasis is a gigantic bucket that pours 1,000 gallons of water on guests below every 10 minutes. Located 48 feet above the entire Splash Zone area, this tipping bucket is the perfect refresher for those looking for a way to cool off. Four slides accommodate guests over 40″ tall while three slides are reserved for shorter guests.
