New Stitch attraction at Disneyworld-how bout DL for once?

[Mr. Toad]

Could be kewl(from www.laughingplace.com)


Stitch's Great Escape! Promises Pandemonium For Walt Disney World
Mischievous Alien Busts Loose at Magic Kingdom in Fall 2004

Fans of Walt Disney Pictures' hit film "Lilo & Stitch" know him as a cuddly but destructive alien prone to hilarious fits of havoc. But what was Stitch like before the movie?This fall, Walt Disney World guests will find out when they come face to face with the mischievous character in a new Magic Kingdom attraction -- Stitch's Great Escape!

Under construction on the former site of The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, the kid-friendly Tomorrowland adventure will put guests in the middle of the mayhem caused by the naughty "Experiment 626" -- a.k.a. Stitch -- when he's captured by the Galactic Federation and teleported to a processing center for alien prisoners.

Park guests are recruited to provide additional security as the six-limbed alien arrives with a reputation for playful disobedience -- and an appetite for chaos that exceeds all limits. Sights, sounds and -- ewwww! -- smells add to the pandemonium.


(c)Disney

Walt Disney Imagineers are tackling the challenge of bringing a character from an animated film to life as an Audio-Animatronics figure. The result is a 39-inch-tall version of the unstoppable blue menace animated with a breathtaking degree of realism, one of the most complex creations of its size, custom-made by Imagineers with more than 350 detailed, hand-machined parts and more than 40 separate functions.


John Cutry of Walt Disney Imagineering helps bring Experiment 626 (a.k.a. Stitch) to life for his Fall 2004 debut in Stitch's Great Escape! (c)Disney

In addition to Stitch, the fun-filled attraction will feature several characters familiar to fans of the film, including the Galactic Federation's Grand Councilwoman, Captain Gantu and Agent Pleakley, with voices supplied by the movie's original actors. Skippy, the hapless alien "volunteered" for a teleportation demonstration in The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, will return in a new role.

Also featured will be two "plasma cannons" that follow Stitch's DNA whenever -- and wherever -- it move.


(c)Disney

Stitch's Great Escape! will offer Disney's FASTPASS, the innovative free service available to all guests that eliminates the need to wait in long lines for popular attractions.

--Posted June 22, 2004
Source: Walt Disney World Resort

[AwallaceUNC]

I'm really looking forward to this one (it doesn't look like soft openings will arrive in time for my upcoming trip as I had originally hoped, oh well). I've been following the progress of the attraction since it was announced months ago, since AE shut down, actually. I liked AE a lot, but I'm really excited for this one.

I do agree that DL is getting a little shafted, as the brunt of the 50th Year celebration for Disneyland is going to Disney World. Even though it's not the lion's share, DL is getting a decent amount- including an awesomely updated Space Mtn! I'm sure the hoop-lah at DL will surpass WDW's, though.

-Aaron

[Mr. Toad]

I would disagree that DL is getting a decent amount.

Firstly, the only reason Space Mountain is being updated is because the old ride was falling apart from metal fatigue. The best theory on why this happened was that in the 1990s they added the heavy stereo system to the ride cars. The ride was only designed to handle the original cars plus people. The extra weight thus ruined the ride. It is my understanding that it is not being updated at all, just rebuilt to original specs(although I dont have a problem with that).

Secondly, the only new rides in recent years have come from WDW. Buzz, Pooh and Tower of Terror. None of the DL versions are anywhere as good as the WDW versions. Cheapquels if you will.

At least they are putting a bunch of effort to refubishing what they have now. There were some attractions litterally falling apart like the Tiki Room.

[AwallaceUNC]

I believe SM is getting awesome newly designed 2-passenger cars, in addition to being made like-new.

Lots of WDW's attractions are inferior lifts from DL, too, so that's a problem at both parks. Overall, though, DL is definitely getting the shaft. Then again, it does make less money. But if we're celebrating the 50th of DL, then DL should get the biggest celebration (one upside, though, is that DL is being honored in all the other parks, too).

-Aaron

[Disneykid]

Is there any idea when in the fall this is coming? I ask because I'm going to WDW this September and it'd be great if this were completed by the time I go there. If not, then I'll guess I'll just have to wait until Grad Nite in April to experience it.

[Maerj]

Is there any idea when in the fall this is coming? I ask because I'm going to WDW this September and it'd be great if this were completed by the time I go there. If not, then I'll guess I'll just have to wait until Grad Nite in April to experience it.

I think that they will be at least having soft openings by then, you have a pretty good chance of seeing it.

[AwallaceUNC]

Yeah, the latest updates show October 1 as the targeted grand opening, with soft openings beginning in early/mid-September. But then, Mission: Space and Philharmagic ended up having way different (and in the case of MS, WAY earlier) soft/official opening schedules than planned. WDW's holding a press conference on the attraction on 6/26 (notice the significance of that date, lol), so expect to hear more then.

-Aaron

[Kram Nebuer]

Yeah, the latest updates show October 1 as the targeted grand opening, with soft openings beginning in early/mid-September. But then, Mission: Space and Philharmagic ended up having way different (and in the case of MS, WAY earlier) soft/official opening schedules than planned. WDW's holding a press conference on the attraction on 6/26 (notice the signifance of that date, lol), so expect to hear more then.

-Aaron

6/26! Funny!

Yeah, we were there when Mission: Space had a "soft opening." Probably because it was around the Fourth of July (DO NOT GO TO MAGIC KINGDOM ON THIS DATE) and they wanted to take advantage of the large number of guests to try the new ride. I don't know if they'll do the same with Stitch, but the chances are good since it is in the Magic Kingdom and will help with the high, really really high, number of guests there on the Fourth of July. Also, aren't you going to be a castmember too, Aaron? You get to be there for the official opening!

[AwallaceUNC]

I am going to be a CM, but not for awhile. One of my friends is doing the program so I talked with the CP Coordinator here and I'm putting it off one semester to go when she does.

I hope there's a 4th of July soft opening for SGE, as I'll be there, but from everything I've heard, it's nowhere near being ready enough. You never know, though. I won't actually be in the MK on the date of the 4th, I'm hitting up MGM then, instead. Therefore, I'm hoping to avoid most of the crowd.

-Aaron

[enjoy]

Wow ok Im scared now! Im going Forth of July week!! If I dodge MK on the 4th maybe will there be less crowd in the other parks?? And which is the best to go to if I want to get away from the largest crowd on the 4th?

[Kram Nebuer]

Wow ok Im scared now! Im going Forth of July week!! If I dodge MK on the 4th maybe will there be less crowd in the other parks?? And which is the best to go to if I want to get away from the largest crowd on the 4th?

Cool! I hope you have lots of fun when you go! The best reason to DO go to MK on 4th is the fireworks! They're totally awesome and they go all out on this day, but then again the new Wishes fireworks, according to my sister, who has the show memorized now, are also totally awesome and blow Fantasy in the Sky out of the...well, sky, hehe.

But if you do plan to not go to MK, you're best bet would be Animal Kingdom, since it usually seems empty anyhow because its not the most popular and it is so big. Try going to Kilimanjaro Safari in the morning or when its raining b/c you'll see the most animals then. If you can't/won't/don't want to go to AK, go to Epcot b/c it will be the next park that is not so crowded, but it still may be crowded b/c of Mission: Space and Illuminations. Anyhow, July 4th is the most crowded day of the year for MK and we were there and it was hot, squished and scary b/c of all the ppl. I'm into pin trading and went to Town Hall or some other building in Main Street in the morning to get the Limited Edition July 4th MK Donald Pin and most of them were already gone and were sold before they were placed on the rack! I did get one though, so I'm happy . Also since It's a Small World and Alien Encounter(which is turning into the Stitch Ride) are closed for refurbishment, the park may seem even more crowded since these high capicity attractions are no longer keeping chunks of the crowd in lines or on the attraction. You have been warned.

But if you and your family are true MK fans, then don't let the crowds stop you! Make sure you get fastpasses, go on favorite rides during parades, start from the back and work your way forward, and avoid eating during normal lunch and dinner hours. We ate at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe and there were so many people that while moms/dads were ordering food the kids and other parent were watching all the diners like hawks and as soon as they left they sprinted and claimed the table, no matter how messy the previous diners left it! We got lucky and went to the tables in the back by the bathrooms. All in all, I hope you have fun again and good luck on your trip!

[AwallaceUNC]

Kram's right on the money. Go to MK on the 4th only to experience the atmosphere and special events... and maybe just a couple of attractions. It's definitely not a day for the rides. If you only have 1 day at the MK and want to ride rides or see shows, you might want to put it off for another day. We'll be down there too that week, and this will be the 1st WDW trip for my grandmother, so we are skipping MK on the 4th and hitting up a different park that day, and then heading back to MK afterwards.

The Independence Day crowds are only really bad on the weekend of the 4th (7/2-7/2 this year). The weekdays aren't normally too bad. Granted, tourism is up big time this year. However, I suspect the normal crowds to be seriously divided. The 4th falls on a Sunday, so about half the people will be getting off of work/school for the first week, and half for the second. Therefore, your typical 4th crowd will be split in half and only overlap on the weekend.

The same goes for restaurants- they'll only be really bad on the weekend. Outside of those 3 days, this is just moderate/value season for WDW- even on the week of the 4th, so crowds won't be horrible. Furthermore, the bulk of the weekend crowd is made up of local visitors, so the hotels shouldn't be too crowded either.

So here's the parks in order of how crowded they'll be on 7/4:

1. Magic Kingdom* - Big Independence Day version of Wishes fireworks and just a few things here and there. Virtually guaranteed to close the gates by lunch time (at least), due to capacity crowds.
2. Epcot - Big Illuminations fireworks show and all sorts of patriotic celebrations going on, especially in the World Showcase
3. MGM - Sorcery In The Sky fireworks
4. Animal Kingdom - If they are doing anything special, I haven't heard of it

And then there's always Downtown Disney and things like that to consider. All the parks have extended hours this weekend.

*Magic Kingdom will be even worse this year. WDW parks are always way more crowded on their Extra Magic Hour days. Sunday is an EMH day for MK, and it also just happens to be one of the more crowded days for the park on average. So you have 3 crowds: the EMH crowd, the weekend crowd, and the 4th of July crowd. I won't be surprised if it sets a record. Only Christmas Day will be worse.

-Aaron

[enjoy]

Kram's right on the money. Go to MK on the 4th only to experience the atmosphere and special events... and maybe just a couple of attractions. It's definitely not a day for the rides. If you only have 1 day at the MK and want to ride rides or see shows, you might want to put it off for another day. We'll be down there too that week, and this will be the 1st WDW trip for my grandmother, so we are skipping MK on the 4th and hitting up a different park that day, and then heading back to MK afterwards.

The Independence Day crowds are only really bad on the weekend of the 4th (7/2-7/2 this year). The weekdays aren't normally too bad. Granted, tourism is up big time this year. However, I suspect the normal crowds to be seriously divided. The 4th falls on a Sunday, so about half the people will be getting off of work/school for the first week, and half for the second. Therefore, your typical 4th crowd will be split in half and only overlap on the weekend.

The same goes for restaurants- they'll only be really bad on the weekend. Outside of those 3 days, this is just moderate/value season for WDW- even on the week of the 4th, so crowds won't be horrible. Furthermore, the bulk of the weekend crowd is made up of local visitors, so the hotels shouldn't be too crowded either.

So here's the parks in order of how crowded they'll be on 7/4:

1. Magic Kingdom* - Big Independence Day version of Wishes fireworks and just a few things here and there. Virtually guaranteed to close the gates by lunch time (at least), due to capacity crowds.
2. Epcot - Big Illuminations fireworks show and all sorts of patriotic celebrations going on, especially in the World Showcase
3. MGM - Sorcery In The Sky fireworks
4. Animal Kingdom - If they are doing anything special, I haven't heard of it

And then there's always Downtown Disney and things like that to consider. All the parks have extended hours this weekend.

*Magic Kingdom will be even worse this year. WDW parks are always way more crowded on their Extra Magic Hour days. Sunday is an EMH day for MK, and it also just happens to be one of the more crowded days for the park on average. So you have 3 crowds: the EMH crowd, the weekend crowd, and the 4th of July crowd. I won't be surprised if it sets a record. Only Christmas Day will be worse.

-Aaron

Thanks for the help from both of you and ill be sure to try my best to avoid MK, my plans are to go two days after the 4th on a Tuesday and hopefully the crowd will have died down, or would a Monday be a better day?

[AwallaceUNC]

Either way is fine. I'll be down there then as well. I expect a lot of the people to be heading home on Sunday night or Monday morning.

These are the parks' most crowded days of the week (this pretty much goes for all year):

MK - Th, Su
AK - M, F
MGM - T, Sa
Epcot - W

-Aaron

[Kram Nebuer]

So you have 3 crowds: the EMH crowd, the weekend crowd, and the 4th of July crowd. I won't be surprised if it sets a record. Only Christmas Day will be worse.

-Aaron

You could look on the bright side because some guest and families may belong to all three classifications .

enjoy- Glad we could help and I hope you're plan works well and I hope no one else is reading this and planning to do the same thing !

[DreamerQ18]

Yay I am so excited about this ride anyting dedicated to Stitch or made in the honor of him makes me HAPPY . Incase no one could tell Lol