I'm so excited to hear that this is finally happening! I sadly missed seeing the old walk thru on my trip to Disneyland back in 2003, but I wonder what they'll be doing for the new walk-thru. I really hope this comes true and it'll be opening sometime at the end of this year!
This was always one of my favorites too. Why did they close it again? Somethig about 911? Well it'd be perfect to open the day the DVD/Blu-Ray are released!
Poody wrote:This was always one of my favorites too. Why did they close it again? Somethig about 911? Well it'd be perfect to open the day the DVD/Blu-Ray are released!
That, and I also heard because it wasn't handicapped accessible and no video camera security system. I think that besides improving and adding more to the new walk thru, they're also going to try to make it handicapped accessible and widen the hallways.
I really hope that manage to get it open in time for the DVD/blu-ray release or for the 50th anniversary. I'm looking forward to seeing what they might add for the new walk thru.
The castle will not be handicapped accessible. Since there is not going to be any change to the actual structure, the castle does not have to comply with more "recent" laws.
Similar to Tarzan's Treehouse and the Nemo Submarines.
It would be great to offer an alternative experience. But where would there be room?
This is really exciting. I remember when i first went to WDW i was disappointed that there was no "ride" inside Cinderellas castle. I have never been to Disneyland but i really want to and this is now just another incentive.
dizfan wrote:It would be great to offer an alternative experience. But where would there be room?
I was just thinking that too. The article mentioned that parts of the former attraction was ruined because they installed things for the fireworks show. I wonder if they're going to build around that stuff and if so, what on earth will fit?
Has anyone been inside? Is there room for the original attraction and the fireworks machinery?
Either way, I hope that they are able to restore the attraction. I read in a Disney book (I think it was the 100 Years of Disney) that a lot of the dolls used in the attraction were donated by Shirley Temple from her personal collection. It would be a shame if a lot of them were cooped up never to be enjoyed again.
Hey Kram Nebuer, I hope you know that there were two different types of this attraction. The original 1957 one featured dioramas by Eyvind Earle, who came up with the overall design of everything for the Sleeping Beauty film, as I'm sure you knew, so his work on the attraction looked very much like the film, but even darker. In 1977 someone thought the attraction looked dated, and so it was updated with those dolls, and there was more physical depth and movement in the new dioramas, as well as more scenes that made it closer to the film. But, it did not look nearly as artistic, cool, dark, or scary as Eyvind Earle's original. Okay, that's a matter of opinion, but overall the original really was darker, focusing heavily on Maleficent and the side of evil in the film. It missed scenes of Aurora meeting Phillip, or Phillip defeating Maleficent! To be honest, this made sense, as anything that happened outside of the castle was ommited, and when inside a castle, you expect to only see things that you could see inside a castle!
The new opening of the attraction in December will show an attraction more like the original 1957 one. Inspired by it, based on it. I hope it is as unique from the film as the original was, feeling like the film but telling a slightly different, darker story.
Does anyone know how I could contact James Baxter? Please?
Well, it looks it's finally come true! Last Wednesday at 5 pm, the doors to the walk-thru opened for a soft opening during the weekend, and even Tony Baxter and Chris Merritt were there, greeting and talking to people who were in line.
I can't say enough how amazed and beautiful it looks from the pictures and video that I have seen of it. They've beautifully replicated the original charming artistic and storybook-like design of the original attraction, complete with a new goon corridor and Maleficent's shadow at the end. There's also an amazing new scene of Phillip down in the thorns staring up at the castle. From the tower Maleficent transforms into the dragon, and then breathes green fire down towards him.
I have to applaud Imagneering greatly for their effort in recreating this beautiful attraction, with a wonderful new scene and special effects. Kudos to Tony Baxter, Chris Merritt, and the rest of the WDI involved with this! I can't wait to experiece this myself on my next trip to DL!
supertalies wrote:Only the whole part about that they lived in the woods is missing!
That's how it was in the original walkthrough. I'd rather have all the cool stuff in Maleficent's domain than just a straightforward retelling of the movie.
supertalies wrote:Only the whole part about that they lived in the woods is missing!
That's how it was in the original walkthrough. I'd rather have all the cool stuff in Maleficent's domain than just a straightforward retelling of the movie.
I completely agree. I love how in attractions like this, as well as the original Snow White's Adventures and Mr Toad's Wild Ride, they have many new scenes taken by inspiration from the movie, rather than just a rehash of the entire film. I think it makes for a more interesting experience, as if you're experiencing or seeing more of the movie's world in a whole different way.
Also, an interesting point that Mike brought up to me a while ago I'd like to mention that I enjoy more about the original and the current version of the attraction: most of the scenes you witness inside the castle are as if you're still looking through them inside the castle. It's as if you're peering through a doorway or an archway to see another room of the castle that you're already inside (the cradle room, the tower, the banquet hall, the dungeons), or peering outside into the area surrounding the castle (the courtyard, a view of Forbidden Mountain, Phillip fighting Maleficent).
dizfan wrote:The castle will not be handicapped accessible. Since there is not going to be any change to the actual structure, the castle does not have to comply with more "recent" laws.
Similar to Tarzan's Treehouse and the Nemo Submarines.
It would be great to offer an alternative experience. But where would there be room?
They do have an alternative experience at Sleeping Beauty's Castle. They show the walk through in video and it's very nice. Well worth it. My mom couldn't do the stairs and we both saw the video. I also went up in the castle and it's different from when I saw it in 1987. They also have an alternative experience with Finding Nemo's sub.
I saw a picture of the alternative wheelchair accesible version of the walk-through, where you watch a video of it. And in the photo I saw, it looked like the video was THE SAME ONE FROM THE PLATINUM DVD! Is this true, is it just that video? Because if it is, that is really crappy and mean of Disney, to just re-use that which is NOT accurate to the actual new walk-through with the new scenes. And actually, I know the new artwork they made for the new walk-through did not make it into the video because in the shot of Maleficent calling the demons, Maleficent is the black shadow the DVD has, while the new, real walk-through actually shows her in light, in a lot more form and definition.
Sadly yes, Mikey, the video in the room is just a rehash of the walk thru tour of the DVD/ Blu-Ray. I was hoping they would edit it to make it more like the current walk thru, including that major scene of Phillip facing off with the Mally dragon, but apparently not.
I think that is really bad and I think people should outcry against it! I mean, anyone could see that video by getting the DVD or Blu-ray, it's not an exclusive experience you can only experience there, now. How did James Baxter, usually a nice guy, and who loves quality, allow that? Can we get Disney to fix this meaness? Those poor handicapped people, you know?
Well it'd be perfect to open the day the DVD/Blu-Ray are released!
