Wall-E won the Best Animated Feature Oscar, but the little robot himself is absent at Disney World. Never fear, if you want to link up with Oscar celebrities, you can meet the stars of fellow nominee “Bolt” at Disney Hollywood Studio.
Bolt and his friend Rhino greet visitors throughout the day in the Animation Building at the Studio. You can also see a selection of memorabilia from the making of the film, including some early concept drawings by Chris Sanders. Sanders, of “Lilo and Stitch” fame, was removed from the Bolt project by John Lassiter, but you can see his influence in the original storyboards. The early Penny looks suspiciously like Lilo, while Bolt has an odd resemblance to Stitch.
As you can see by the photo, Mittens used to appear with Bolt and Rhino at the Studio. Unfortunately, she is missing in action, but Bolt and Rhino are still there. Their hours vary, so check the park schedule when you arrive. Their line can be quite long, but they spend quality time with each family so it’s well worth the wait. There may or may not be a Photopass photographer present, so bring you own camera just in case.
here are usually several other characters in the Animation building, such as Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Frozone, and Sorcerer Mickey. If you’re lucky, some unexpected characters might show up.
Wall-E may show up someday, but in the meantime you can get your Oscar fix with Bolt and Rhino.
Finally there’s a date. Mercurynews.com is reporting that The American Idol Experience, an attraction inspired by the “American Idol” TV show offically opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Feb. 14. Read more.
The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that Car characters from the 2006 Disney- Pixar movie Cars finally have a permanent home at Walt Disney World for a new photo-opportunity location called Luigi’s Garage. Read more here.
According to Jim Hill Media, Walt Disney Imagineering will be adding a new Monsters, Inc. attraction to Pixar Place in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The queue area will recreate the Monsters, Inc lobby, complete with Mike Wazowski’s snake-haired girlfriend Ceilia behind the reception desk. Human visitors will tour the facility as part of an open house, and the two-minute long coaster ride will go through the ‘door warehouse’ from the film.
About a month ago my wife and I attended the Annual Pass Preview of the new Toy Story Midway Mania (Toy Story Mania for short) attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
On this ride the guests don 3D glasses and are taken through a carnival midway, stopping at a number of shooting arcades along the way. The arcades are really 3D videogame screens, and the guests use their vehicle-mounted cannons to shoot at the animated targets. You actually see the ammunition, which ranges from darts to pies and everything in-between, flying out of your cannon, and the targets react appropriately when you hit them. It’s an absolute blast (pun intended).
This attraction has a great queue as well. You are in a playroom surrounded by giant toys, as if you are shrunk down to toy-size. Near the end of the queue is a Mr. Potato Head animatronic, but this one is like nothing you’ve ever seen. He does a Don Rickles-like stand-up routine, and the rumor is that in the future he will actually interact with the guests.
I shot a very short video which I edited and posted that same afternoon from the Orlando Airport. It’s impossible to appreciate the experience of the shooting galleries from this video, since you are seeing the screen without the benefit of the 3D glasses.
Ironically, this is undoubtedly the lousiest video I’ve ever posted, and yet by far the most popular – over 7000 views in one month!
The attraction is now open to the public. Here’s the video:
Wall-E won the Best Animated Feature Oscar, but the little robot himself is absent at Disney World. Never fear, if you want to link up with Oscar celebrities, you can meet the stars of fellow nominee “Bolt” at Disney Hollywood Studio.
Posted by grumpyoldfool 
Posted by grumpyoldfool 
Posted by grumpyoldfool 
