Disneyland Resort

[Nightfall]

Same as above although more specifically I want to say that those animatronics are mind blowing. I genuinely thought some of those cars were film clips on a screen but then the vehicle moved around them and you could see they were three dimensional. I know that recreating something that was computer animated is easier than creating realistic animations but I was still impressed just how accurate the motions are.


Also just to note I heard the area wasn't due to open until the 15th so this is probably part of a soft opening.

[Johno]

The eyes and features are actually projected on when you look closely!

[Sam]

That is nothing short of stunning.

Those animatronics are breathtaking. Steals the crown from Ursula (in the same park!) for world's best animatronic. I know it's easier as they're non-biological characters, but these must be the first animatronics to 100% completely represent their characters perfectly. It doesn't look like there is even the slightest gap at all between fiction and reality, for the first time in animatronic history.

My only slight criticism is the main ride looks a bit short, but I wasn't expecting so much dark ride so all is forgiven!

[AstroDan]

Test Track's main ride is probably similarly short. So the high speed duration isn't much concern to me.

Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using Tapatalk

[BigAl]

Those animatronics are amazing! I really can't believe they're real! I thought they were projections or on some sort of screen, but I noticed the pieces of track that run under them and as Nightfall pointed out about them being 3D as the cars moved. This is just another ride that shows how far Disney is ahead than everyone else.

[Nightfall]

The eyes and features are actually projected on when you look closely!

Yes I noticed that some of the mouths are projections and I think that's the one aspect that still needs a bit more tweaking. Sometimes the mouth didn't quite follow the rest of the vehicles motion. However the one's with full animated mouths (can't remember what the cop cars called but that's the one I was most impressed by) look really impressive. The eyes of course are a nifty trick.

Also did we get a glimpse of something that might be coming to the new Test Track? I’m sure that as the car passed through Luigi’s Tires there’s a screen which becomes a mirror which reflects the car but it looks slightly different to normal (different tyres I think).

[aru]

Wow! They really have excelled themselves on the animatronic side of things. The characters flow so well, I had to watch again to check it wasn't partly CGI.

[Nightfall]

I've found a missing alternative scene from the above video! If you're racing on the other side of the track there's a whole different scene inside Ramone's House of Body Art store rather than Luigi’s Tires. It is basically the same thing but with a change of body coat rather than a change of wheels.

Video of the alternative route:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zve0m5Awmjc&feature=related

[Owen]

Tower of Terror has now been announced to close on early 2017 to be rethemed to Gaurdians of The Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!

Deep inside his fortress-like collection, the mysterious Taneleer Tivan (aka The Collector) is displaying his newest acquisitions, the Guardians of the Galaxy. They are trapped in customized display cases, suspended over a vast abyss. Unbeknownst to their unscrupulous captor, the intrepid Rocket has escaped and is enlisting the Collector’s VIP guests for help. Guests board a gantry lift, which launches them into a chaotic and hilarious adventure as they join Rocket in an attempt to break his fellow Guardians out of captivity.

Below are some concept images of the attraction exterior and interior.







Here's a short video about the attraction.

Although this looks fantastic, I feel as though rather than re-theming what is arguably the resorts most iconic attraction, they should have created a whole new attraction.

[Max]

I'm interested to see how this plays out. Just as long as they don't touch the Florida version.

[Owen]

The Floridian and French versions were considered, however this is the only one that is expected to go forward

[abigsmurf]

I can't stop staring at his ear. Why do people do that? Still, I suppose he doesn't have to worry about losing his car keys again...

Concept looks interesting but it's something that should have maybe been done as an original ride from scratch, despite the work on the facade, I think a lot of people will look at it and see a Tower of Terror re-theme.

[Owen]

Hello all and here is a little update. Firstly we have a model for Mission Breakout and a slightly unimaginative logo to go with it.



Whilst it looks fairly nice, I have to admit they have really taken a leaf out The Smiler's book adding pipe work as theming (just with a very out there gold).

Here is the logo I mentioned.




It also seems to have angered comic book fans, as the story line and location for the attraction have any relevance to The Guardians of The Galaxy franchise. This aside, the latest in the line of disappointing Disney decision has now been announced - MaxPass.

Many of you will be aware of the FastPass+ system available at Disney parks - a free way to skip the lines of attractions by booking in advance on their smart phone. Well unfortunately it seems at least at Disneyland and California's Adventure this system will be being removed. Instead we will be seeing MaxPass. MaxPass will cost $10 and essentially be the same system asFastPass+ - with photopass downloads included and at a price. This has really upset the Disney fans in California as it seems as though they are the only Disney resort to see this change. On the plus side, guests will be able to obtain FastPasses for free in the traditional manner of walking up to a kiosk at the park and hoping for availability, however many are concerned with MaxPass there will be no point as most FastPasses may be sold out. On a lighter note two attractions are finally being added to Fastpass in the form on Matterhorn Bobsleds and Toy Story Mania!

So, do you agree the magic of Disney is beginning to show it's true money-coloured self or are you unphased by this change?

[ThemeCrafter264]

Disney has stated that star wars land on both coasts will open sometime in 2019

[Burniel]

Photo update from Disney Geek shows some of the top of Mission Breakout:



Personally, I think it looks fantastic from the open-minded perspective I'm trying to have with this project, but nothing compared to the incomparable beauty of what it's replacing. Although I hope this project is successful for the park, I would not want to see this spreading to Florida or Paris.

[Burniel]

The Disney Parks Blog has announced that Guardians of the Galaxy will open on May 27th. Seems fairly early given the "summer 2017" tag, but I'm not complaining!

[Disneyland Dreamer]

If anybody has any questions about a visit or ride, do please ask. I will admit to having been once or twice

[Owen]

First reactions of Breakout have been reported by @Imaginat1on and they're, well I'll let you read for yourself in this summery I've put together...

"Mission: Breakout's interior has extremely minimal architecture change. Just paint. Almost zero change to boiler room. Disappointing. It looks… exactly how you’d expect it to look from the garbage WDI glue and stapled to the outside. The lobby has Figment & Matterhorn’s Harold (course) and all sorts of other eye-roll fan-service cheap “collector” theming. As well as this, “Theming” an attraction using leftover props decaying in a warehouse is what I’d expect from Six Flags, not Disney. Come on… Demand better.

The on-ride experience is 100% screenzzz. No more physical sets like Tower of Terror had. Cheap, easy, replaceable. The new mandate. The elevator is constantly in motion, it is also way more intense than Tower of Terror ever was and not in a good good way - it made several people physically ill who really used to love Terror. Here’s hoping it doesn’t happen to you…

One bright spot in Breakout is the raccoon AA in the library which people described as “extremely well done” and “very cool.” continuing the new WDI tradition of only needing one good AA figure in new rides. Pandora, Roaring Rapids, Toy Story…

That’s what I’ve got on Breakout. Enjoy."


I had hope in this but if these reviews are accurate, then I really have to question what is going on behind the scenes at Disney...

[Robert.W]

Sounds like this Guardians ride has been nothing short of a disaster! They'll know now not to tamper with any more Towers!

[theparklifekid]

Theme Park Insider was given a early sneak peak of Mission: Breakout, so he made a video showing the various pre-shows in the ride as well as the queue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPYTsTXFHYY

Even though I'd still prefer ToT, this revamp is slowly growing on me.....